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  • Is Conor McGregor Fighting at the UFC White House Event? Dana White Gives Interesting Answer

    Is Conor McGregor Fighting at the UFC White House Event? Dana White Gives Interesting Answer

    UFC boss Dana White has provided an update on Conor McGregor potentially competing at next summer’s planned UFC White House event.

    We all know that Conor McGregor is one of the biggest stars in the history of mixed martial arts. Alas, in the last few years, his reputation has taken a bit of a battering, with many wondering if we’re ever going to see him compete again for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

    Following the announcement that UFC White House is likely going to happen in summer 2026, Conor McGregor made it known that he is interested in the idea of coming back for the card. Of course, it all comes down to whether or not he’s serious about his interest.

    In a recent interview, Dana White once again made it clear that he’d be open to booking Conor McGregor on the card.

    Dana White discusses Conor McGregor at UFC White House

    “Yeah, we’ll see how this thing plays out. I’ll start making this card in February. If it all plays out that way, Conor can be on the card.”

    The interviewer, Jim Rome, then questioned whether Conor can do what Dana needs him to do.

    “This is the fight business. This isn’t tennis! This is the fight business.”

    Before anything else, Dana White is a businessman – and he is well aware of the eyes that ‘Notorious’ brings to the sport. Who knows, maybe if the cards fall right, this event will end up being even bigger than UFC 300.

  • Tatiana Suarez SLAMS UFC Fans Over Reactions to Patchy Mix’s Debut: “It’ll shut everybody up”

    Tatiana Suarez SLAMS UFC Fans Over Reactions to Patchy Mix’s Debut: “It’ll shut everybody up”

    Tatiana Suarez has called out some of the critics who questioned Patchy Mix’s performance in his UFC debut against Mario Bautista.

    For those who don’t know, Tatiana Suarez and Patchy Mix have been in a relationship for a few years now. They’ve both been viewed as elite fighters throughout their respective careers, with Suarez recently picking up a win over the weekend to get back into the win column. Mix, meanwhile, is set to come back at UFC 320, where he is scheduled to battle Jakub Wikłacz.

    Given his loss to Mario Bautista earlier this year, Mix is eager to prove a lot of his haters wrong. Tatiana Suarez, meanwhile, made it clear in a recent interview that Patchy is ready to show the very best he has to offer.

    Tatiana Suarez blasts critics of Patchy Mix

    “Honestly, we could give two shits about what people think. They didn’t get a real dose of Patchy Mix and on October 4th I’m super excited for that to happen because it’ll shut everybody up and they’re going to see how exciting he truly is and what an amazing fighter he is.”

    “He’s always trying to evolve and even though he’s such an amazing grappler, he’s still getting better and improving, still hungry to get better and become the best version of himself.”

    “They didn’t get to see the true version of him. He took it on three weeks’ notice. He’s a massive fan of weight, so that weight cut was very difficult for him. This fight he’s had weeks to prepare and he’s going to show the real version then.”

  • How Mexico Powered Diego Lopes to his Noche UFC Main Event Victory

    How Mexico Powered Diego Lopes to his Noche UFC Main Event Victory

    UFC star Diego Lopes has praised his Mexican fans for helping guide him to victory in San Antonio last weekend.

    On Saturday night, Diego Lopes defeated Jean Silva in front of a pumped up crowd in Texas. It was an incredibly back and forth affair between these elite featherweight fighters but in the end, it was Diego who was able to get the last laugh and take a big step towards securing another UFC featherweight championship opportunity.

    As we look ahead to the future at 145 pounds, you’d have to think Diego Lopes is going to be an important player for a good few years to come. He’s only 30 years of age and every time he goes out there, he seems to be adding more to his game.

    In his post-fight interview, Diego Lopes made it clear that he wants to give back to those who have supported him over the years.

    Diego Lopes praises Noche UFC crowd

    “It’s very important for me to give to all the crowd, the Mexican crowd, the Latin American crowd, the people who made an effort to come here, to give them what they wanted. The message I am sending to everybody in the division is that I’m here, I belong with the elite. I’m here to stay.”

    “I feel amazing. I work hard for this time and now I finish the job. I told you all week this fight is not going to five rounds. I told many times I’m finishing this fight before five rounds.”

  • Dana White Outlines His Future Plans in the Sport of Boxing

    Dana White Outlines His Future Plans in the Sport of Boxing

    UFC boss Dana White has spoken openly about the kind of plans he has for professional boxing in the future.

    For the longest time, Dana White has been teasing the idea of a proper move into the world of boxing. Now, as a result of his Saudi-backed partnership, he finally seems to be taking steps to making it happen. That really started with the Canelo/Crawford fight over the weekend, which Dana played a big role in helping to promote.

    Of course, while that was easily one of the biggest fights of this generation, you’d also have to think that it’s only the beginning. Dana White has the financial backing necessary to do some really interesting things in the sport and while the morality of it all is something that will continue to be questioned, we’re likely to see even more high profile fights moving forward.

    In a recent interview, Dana White spoke candidly about his plans.

    Dana White discusses his entry into boxing

    “The Contender style, I think that I can add a lot of value to the sport and to a lot of these young up-and-comers. We did all the groundwork for this thing — television deal, arena deal, production — this is going to be the third biggest fight in history. And what I’m focused on is what we want to do in 2026, where we do my own thing with Turki Al-Sheikh, a Contender style series in boxing, where the top, undefeated fighters face each other, making the entire card exciting from the first fight to the last. 

    “I promise within a couple of years, you’ll have people tuning in to all the fights from start to finish consistently.”

  • Artem Lobov Coming Out of Retirement Due to Personal Animosity Against Zubaira Tukhugov

    Former UFC fighter Artem Lobov has explained why he’s opted to come out of retirement for his upcoming PFL fight against Zubaira Tukhugov.

    Throughout the course of his career, Artem Lobov has largely been known for his association with Conor McGregor. Of course, that’s a friendship that has collapsed in the last few years, but that doesn’t stop Artem from remembering what went down between Conor’s team and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team back in the day.

    Between Khabib and his teammates trying to intimidate Artem Lobov to the post-UFC 229 brawl that occured, Artem and Tukhugov have quite a history together – which is probably one of the reasons why this fight was booked in the first place.

    In a recent interview, Artem Lobov spoke candidly about what he’s decided to make his mixed martial arts return at PFL Champions Series 2.

    Artem Lobov talks end of his MMA retirement

    “I said it when I was retiring that look, this I’m retiring, but this fight here has to happen. You know, it’s very personal and I have to I have to take that off, you know, I have to close that chapter otherwise it’s always going to be in the back of my mind, you know, and I’m always going to be thinking about it. So I want to get in and get it done. 

    “So, I’m not sure if you can call this a comeback or what this is, but it’s just something that I knew I was going to do. I said I was going to do it. It was always in the back of my mind.”

  • WWE Star Stephanie Vaquer Eyes UFC Opportunity “Do something together”

    WWE Star Stephanie Vaquer Eyes UFC Opportunity “Do something together”

    Stephanie Vaquer has been making massive waves in WWE in recent times and seems passionate about other TKO properties as she has recently expressed how much she enjoys the UFC. This was expressed during a recent interview done with Sports Illustrated as the former New Japan Strong women’s champion has articulated a desire to want to collaborate with the Ultimate Fighting Championship in some capacity going forward.

    Vaquer has had anecdotal training experiences at the Mexico-based UFC Performance Center and also has a friendship with fellow Chilean compatriot, UFC combatant Ignacio Bahamondes. The former concurrent NXT champion and NXT North American champion was offering up her predictions on the Canelo vs Crawford fight, which also had TKO heavily invovled, and when discussing another TKO property, Vaquer said,

    “I love the UFC. I’ve been training in Mexico at the UFC Performance Center, and I have a really good friend there. I’m a big fan of the UFC, and I hope one day we can do something together. I know it’s a different discipline from pro wrestling, but we are both fighters. My friend Ignacio Bahamondes is famous in Chile, and he’s also my best friend. In both fighting and wrestling, he understands me, the sport, and the discipline. That’s why I hope one day we can do something together.”

    Stephanie Vaquer as a microcosm of the WWE and UFC synergy under TKO

    Stephanie Vaquer drew a fair bit of attention earlier this year when in March, she showcased her pro wrestling prowess at the aforementioned UFC facility. The appearance took place around the time UFC put on a Fight Night Card in Mexico with Vaquer being a featured personality on-screen during the broadcast.

    The WWE and UFC synergy udnerneath the broader TKO umbrella has become more and more prevalant over the years since that merger happend in 2023. The comments above from Vaquer do not specifically indicate competing in mixed martial arts and can also refer to a myriad of options like broadcasting, digital content creation, etc.

  • Top Five Best Mexican UFC Fighters in History

    Top Five Best Mexican UFC Fighters in History

    The rise of Mexican talent in the UFC mirrors the country’s long tradition of combat sports and martial arts. From world title reigns to show-stealing performances, these five fighters have shaped the sport and inspired a generation of athletes. Their accomplishments span weight classes and eras, but each has left an indelible mark on the Octagon.

    Top Five Best Mexican UFC Fighters in History

    5. Diego Lopes

    Diego Lopes transitioned from Brazil to Mexico at age 19, where he taught Brazilian jiu-jitsu and competed in local promotions. He captured the LUX Fight League featherweight title with a first-round kneebar, defended it once, and later joined the UFC. Since his debut in May 2023, Lopes has earned three Performance of the Night and three Fight of the Night honors, including a technical knockout over Jean Silva at UFC Fight Night 259. Ranked second in the featherweight division, he also founded a non-profit academy for underprivileged children in Puebla, Mexico, extending his impact beyond competition.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h6ocoVkp1c

    4. Yair Rodríguez

    Yair Rodríguez had a journey included the last-second knockout of Chan Sung Jung at UFC Fight Night 139, when a reverse elbow won Performance of the Night honors. Rodríguez’s striking toolkit, featuring unorthodox kicks and spinning attacks, consistently produced highlight clips. His main event run against the champion underlined Mexico’s capacity to compete at the top of lighter divisions.

    3. Alexa Grasso

    Alexa Grasso made history as the first Mexican woman to claim a UFC title. After challenging for the flyweight belt twice, she secured the championship via rear-naked choke in her third attempt. Grasso’s evolution involved refining her striking against elite opponents and augmenting her ground game under coaches at Jackson-Wink MMA. Her title win marked a key moment for women’s divisions and inspired female athletes in Mexico.

    2. Cain Velasquez

    Cain Velasquez emerged as the first Mexican-born champion in UFC history with consecutive wins over Brock Lesnar that secured and then reaffirmed the heavyweight title. His victories combined high-volume striking and a wrestling base, forcing opponents into grappling exchanges and punishing ground-and-pound sequences. Velasquez defended the belt twice, submitting Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva and finishing Junior dos Santos by knockout. His training at Jackson-Wink MMA in Albuquerque also helped integrate modern wrestling methods into Mexican fight camps.

    1. Brandon Moreno

    Brandon Moreno forged his path through the flyweight division, winning the inaugural Ultimate Fighter Latin America tournament before facing long-time champion Deiveson Figueiredo. Their trilogy included a draw, a knockout loss, and ultimately Moreno’s submission victory that made him the first Mexican UFC champion since Velasquez. Moreno defended the belt once, submitting Kai Kara-France, and his 2022 Fighter of the Year recognition underscored his consistency over multiple bouts.

  • Artem Lobov: Prime Conor McGregor Takes Out Ilia Topuria

    Artem Lobov: Prime Conor McGregor Takes Out Ilia Topuria

    Conor McGregor in the prime of his career was a true phenomenon and a former compatriot of ‘The Notorious’ thinks that version of McGregor can put out the lights of reigning UFC lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria. This was a sentiment recently expressed by Artem Lobov during an interview with Jordan Ellis for Bloody Elbow.

    ‘The Russian Hammer’ covered several subjects during that chat ahead of his return to combat sports after over four years as Lobov will finally clash with long time rival Zubaira Tukhugov at PFL Champions Series 2 on October 3rd in a catchweight contest at 165 lbs. Conor McGregor and Artem Lobov had a publically documented fall out with each other but the latter does still hold the former’s fighting ability in high regard.

    When touching on how a hypothetical mega fight would play out between the pair of fighters who’ve both held UFC gold at featherweight as well as lightweight, Lobov said,

    “I’ll be honest with you. I’m a massive fan of Ilia. You know, his style is incredible. You know, he’s incredible striking, very ballsy, you know, he fights aggressively, you know, comes in fearless, you know, good wrestling. It’s; I put him up very, very high up there. I still do think, if I’m really honest, I might be a little bit biased. But I do think that in their prime, Conor still, I think, edges it, you know.”

    “He was just honestly; just watching Conor like in his prime was incredible. Just untouchable, you know, and I watched him in trainings, you know. I annihilate and annihilate, you know, like five guys in a row one by one, you know. They all coming in fresh, including me and him not even breathing heavy. Like he was just a killer, you know.”

    Conor McGregor could have beat Topuria as well as Mayweather and Nurmagomedov

    Further expressing how pedigreed of a pugilist he felt that Conor McGregor was during his prime in the UFC, Lobov continued,

    “So for me, as I said, I’m probably biased, but for me, it’s hard to imagine anyone doing anything to that corner, you know. I feel that Conor could have beat everyone that; that’s, you know, for me. He could have beat even [Floyd] Mayweather and Khabib [Nurmagomedov], you know, that corner. But Ilia is probably a very close second to me.”

    “Right behind Conor, right behind top level Conor, you know. But right now Ilia is the best. There’s there’s no question about it. He’s the number one guy now. Yeah, he’s so dominant and so exciting to watch and yeah, I love watching his fights.”

  • UFC Superstar Conor McGregor Announces Withdrawal From His 2025 Irish Presidential Bid Accusing Election Bias

    UFC Superstar Conor McGregor Announces Withdrawal From His 2025 Irish Presidential Bid Accusing Election Bias

    Conor McGregor is no longer running for the Irish presidency.

    Over the past few years, the former two-division UFC champion has been outspoken on Irish politics, regularly criticizing the government and its policies, particularly its stance on immigration.

    Conor McGregor
    Image: Christian Petersen/Zuffa LLC/UFC.com

    McGregor’s political profile surged after he accused Irish authorities of making him a “scapegoat” for the 2023 Dublin riots. “The Notorious” alleged that the government deliberately shifted blame onto him in order to divert attention from a series of knife attacks reportedly carried out by immigrants, incidents that had ignited widespread anti-immigration protests nationwide.

    The 37-year-old UFC superstar has long hinted at a presidential bid, and earlier this month he made his intentions official, declaring his interest in becoming Ireland’s head of state in 2025. In a video shot outside Dublin’s government buildings, he doubled down on his anti-immigration and nationalist positions, outlining the policies he would pursue if elected.

    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1963532107386372388

    Conor McGregor Confirms He Will Not Contest 2025 Irish Presidency Elections

    Conor McGregor was due to address county councils on Monday, as candidates for the Irish presidency must secure nominations from either 20 Oireachtas members or four local authorities.

    However, he had not received backing from any Oireachtas members or councils. On Sunday, “The Notorious” officially announced his withdrawal from the race in a lengthy statement posted on social media.

    “Following careful reflection, and after consulting with my family, I am withdrawing my candidacy from this presidential race,” Conor McGregor wrote on X. “This was not an easy decision, but it is the right one at this moment in time.”

    McGregor further alleged that the electoral system is stacked in favor of establishment-backed candidates. Although stepping away from the presidential bid, the former UFC champion vowed to keep speaking out for the Irish people and suggested he may re-enter the political arena in the near future.

    “While I will not contest this election, my commitment to Ireland does not end here. I will continue to serve my people by using my international platform to promote Irish interests abroad, to strengthen our economic opportunities, and to advocate for transparency and responsibility in public life at home… I want to assure the people of Ireland that this will not be my last election. You will see me canvassing again in the future, fighting for your rights and representing the best interests of our nation.”

    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1967415396576751793

    Conor McGregor has been out of action since a brutal leg break during his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. His much-anticipated comeback was scheduled for UFC 303 in June 2024 against Michael Chandler, but a toe injury forced him to pull out just weeks before the fight.

    However, “The Notorious” has now confirmed his determination to return to action at the UFC event tentatively scheduled on the White House lawn in June 2026. McGregor also disclosed that he has officially rejoined the UFC’s drug testing pool.

    Conor McGregor
    Image: ESPN.com
  • 5 Hits And 2 Misses From Noche UFC: Diego Lopes vs. Jean Silva

    5 Hits And 2 Misses From Noche UFC: Diego Lopes vs. Jean Silva

    The MMA world turned its eyes toward San Antonio, Texas, on September 13, as the UFC held its third annual Noche UFC event, with this year’s card taking place at the Frost Bank Center.

    Since 2023, the UFC has annually held a card on Mexican Independence Day weekend, promoting Mexican heritage and celebrating the legacy of Mexican athletes who have competed in combat sports. After the inaugural event was a Fight Night card at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, last year saw the UFC hold the event (Noche UFC 2: UFC 306) at The Sphere in Las Vegas. Plans for this year’s card were initially for it to take place in Guadalajara, Mexico, but a new arena was unable to be constructed in time.

    The main event saw a battle of featherweight contenders as Diego Lopes took on Jean Silva. This was Lopes’ first fight since a loss in a featherweight title bout with Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 314. Silva, meanwhile, had been on a 13-fight win streak, coming into this bout off a submission of Bryce Mitchell at UFC 314.

    The co-main event saw Rob Font took on David Martinez, who filled in for an injured Raul Rosas Jr. Font had won back-to-back fights, most recently scoring a decision over Jean Matsumoto at UFC Seattle in February. Martinez made his UFC debut in March, scoring a knockout of Saimon Oliveira.

    Who impressed? Who fell short of expectation? Let’s get into it with the Hits and Misses for Noche UFC!

    Hit: Danill Donchenko Is TUF Enough

    The Ultimate Fighter may not mean as much to people as it did years ago, but Danill Donchenko caught some attention the way he scored a first-round finish of Rodrigo Sezinando to claim the TUF welterweight title.

    Sezinando started strong with a takedown, looking to use his grappling to get a strong start. Donchenko not only made his way back to his feet, however, but he landed short flurries, which included an elbow that busted Sezinando open. Donchenko’s striking would end up being too much, as Donchenko scored the first-round finish to win the competition.

    Donchenko entered TUF 11-2, having served as Naiza FC lightweight champion on once occasion. He appeared to be one of the wiser participants in terms of fight strategy and analysis during the show. And after the way he performed throughout the tournament, hopefully for him this is the start to a successful run in the Octagon.

    Miss: Tatiana Suarez’s Win Was Dominating But Dragging

    With Weili Zhang moving up to flyweight to challenge Valentina Shevchenko, Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern will be squaring off next month to determine the new champion. This presented a strong opportunity for former title challengers Tatiana Suarez and Amanda Lemos, who faced off at Noche UFC in a pivotal strawweight contenders’ matchup. Unfortunately, neither woman came out of it looking convincing of another title opportunity.

    Suarez used her wrestling and grappling throughout the fight, keeping Lemos pinned against the fence and taking her down to the ground. Lemos had a late scare with her striking, but it was far too late as Suarez took a decision win — to the boos of many in San Antonio.

    This was a dominant showing that allows Suarez to rebound from her unsuccessful challenge of Zhang earlier this year. While she clearly won the fight, it wasn’t anything that screamed she had to have the next title shot. She’ll have to hope no one else around her makes a more convincing case for the rest of this year.

    Hit: Santiago Luna’s Star-Making Showing

    Five Mexican-born fighters competed on the Noche UFC card this year, and perhaps none had as impressive of a showing than Santiago Luna. Luna pulled off a come-from-behind, first-round finish of Quang Le to open the main card.

    Luna looked to be in trouble early on after Le dropped him with a jab in the fight’s first minute. Le attacked, looking to pour on pressure and score a quick finish. That finish came, but it was Le who was the victim of it. Luna survived the barrage and wobbled Le with a hook, laying in a flurry of ground-and-pound before the referee stopped the fight.

    Luna has been an impressive finisher during his time on the regional circuit, and now he’s already gained momentum in his UFC debut. Hopefully for his case, the UFC can use this to build up another new Mexican star for their roster.

    Hit: Alexander Hernandez Great For Second Time In Month’s Span

    It was just last year when things didn’t look so great (pun intended) for Alexander Hernandez. But now he has newfound momentum, an exclamation point stamped on it after a hard-hitting finish of Carlos Diego Ferreira.

    Ferreira controlled the action early on with his kicks, but Hernandez’s patience ended up paying off with a powerful right hand in the second that put Ferreira down and out.

    Hernandez has now won four straight, all coming within the last 12 months. It’ll be worth seeing if they give Hernandez another unranked opponent or if they put him up against someone in the lower portion of the lightweight rankings next.

    Hit: Kelvin Gastelum And Dustin Stoltzfus Bring Spirit-Filled Outing

    It’s unfortunate that Kelvin Gastelum’s five-pound weight miss leaves a bit of a black eye in his fight. And that’s because he and Dustin Stoltzfus had a fight that pretty much tore the house down.

    Stoltzfus focused on attacking the body of Gastelum during the opening round, and he did so effectively. Gastelum, however, stormed back in the second round, which proved to be a wild, back-and-forth affair where Gastelum rocked Stoltzfus a couple of times. He then controlled the third round with his boxing to seal the victory.

    After a long losing streak, Gastelum has now scored three wins in his last five. The question is if he’ll be allowed to continue at middleweight after a weight miss like this (and after he’s already been forced to move up to middleweight previously after weight misses at 170).

    Hit: David Martinez With Upset Of The Year Nominee

    David Martinez was all that was left to get all Mexican fighters to score wins at Noche UFC. But he had a tall task, coming in on short notice to take on all of the best bantamweights in the world — Rob Font.

    Fortunately, Martinez was up for the task. Martinez came out firing with speed in the opening round, getting through Font’s decision to seemingly start slow and load up for power shots. Font did land some powerful strikes, and Martinez slowed down during the second, but Martinez’s volume came back in the third, taking the decision on all three judges’ cards.

    This is massive for “The Black Spartan.” Just two fights into his UFC run, and he’s now beaten one of the best 135ers in the world — and doing so in a fight he wasn’t even originally supposed to be in. He should have a strong number next to his name come Tuesday, and opportunities for him have more than opened up.

    Hit: Diego Lopes Lights Up The Night

    Even in a loss to Alexander Volkanovski this past April, Diego Lopes has had a lot of stock placed in him since his UFC debut a little over two years ago. And his popularity may have reached bigger levels with the way he performed in a finish of Jean Silva.

    Lopes was dominant ealry on, stopping a takedown attempt and working his way into mount, landing a barrage of ground strikes that could have stopped the fight. Silva, however, survived and rocked Lopes early in the second round, with the two trading blow for blow in an outing that had the San Antonio crowd on its feet. Lopes would end things with a sudden spinning back elbow that floored Silva in a highlight-reel fashion.

    Consider that Lopes’ only losses in the UFC are a controversial one against Movsar Evloev and the fight against Volkanovski, he’s really made a name for himself in this division. If he gets another win, perhaps he could be in line to challenge Volkanovski again — or challenge Evloev in a rematch for the title.

    Miss: Fighting Nerds Eating Ls

    It’s one thing for me to trash on Silva giving a blow to the back of Lopes’ head post-fight. That was completely unprofessional, but it was also in the heat of the moment.

    What can’t be argued against, however, is that the Fighting Nerds have reached a low point.

    It wasn’t long ago when some of us, yours truly included, said it wouldn’t be long — maybe in 2026 — when one of the Fighting Nerds would be a UFC champion. But now all of the Fighting Nerds present in the UFC have lost their unbeaten records — and this one comes just one week after Caio Borralho lost his UFC 0 in Paris.

    This is a pivotal point for this team — either they’re going to take lessons from their losses and come out a stronger camp, or all of the momentum is going to crash out and they will just be a blip on the UFC radar. For their sake, I hope it’s the former.

  • British Boxing Legend Ricky Hatton Found Dead At 46 In His Manchester Home

    British Boxing Legend Ricky Hatton Found Dead At 46 In His Manchester Home

    Ricky Hatton has passed away at the age of 46.

    On Sunday, the Manchester Evening News first reported that Hatton was found dead at his Greater Manchester home, with local police confirming the discovery and declaring that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his passing.

    “Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, at 6:45am today where they found the body of a 46-year-old man, a police spokesperson stated. “There are not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances.”

    The English boxing legend had previously endured suicide attempts and a painful family rift, but later found reconciliation after candidly confronting his struggles with mental health and addiction.

    Back in July, “The Hitman” had revealed plans for a comeback, with a middleweight bout against Arabian boxer Eisa Al Dah scheduled for December 2 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    Following Hatton’s tragic passing, tributes from across the boxing world flooded social media. Former WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury honored him with an Instagram post reading, “RIP to the Legend,” while promoter Eddie Hearn, former WBO super featherweight champion Jamel Herring, and many others also paid heartfelt respects to the beloved Stockport native.

    Image: @rickyhitmanhatton/Instagram

    When Did Ricky Hatton Officially Retire From Boxing?

    Ricky Hatton officially retired from professional boxing in November 2012, following a ninth-round knockout defeat to Vyacheslav Senchenko. His final bout came three years after a crushing second-round loss to Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao in May 2009, where he surrendered his IBO and The Ring light welterweight titles.

    Over the course of 48 professional bouts, “The Hitman” captured multiple world titles across different weight classes. He closed out his career with an impressive record of 45-3, including 32 victories over elite names such as Paulie Malignaggi, Kostya Tszyu, and José Luis Castillo.

    After hanging up his gloves, Hatton turned his attention to shaping the next generation, guiding fighters such as Zhanat Zhakiyanov and Damien Hooper as a trainer and promoter.

    The late multi-division champion last stepped through the ropes in November 2022, when he shared an exhibition bout with fellow legend Marco Antonio Barrera.

    Image: @rickyhitmanhatton/Instagram

  • “One Of The GOATs” – Fans And Fighters React To Terence Crawford Putting On Classic Display Over Canelo Alvarez For Undisputed Super Middleweight Title

    Jumping up two weight classes from his last bout, Terence Crawford has made history in the inaugural Zuffa Boxing card at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, defeating Canelo Alvarez to become the new undisputed super middleweight champion.

    Crawford remains undefeated and becomes the first male boxer in history to become undisputed champion in the four-belt era in three weight classes.

    The two used the first round to feel each other out, with Alvarez having more activity, but Crawford landing the cleaner shots. Crawford looked to use quicker shots in the second round, while Alvarez looked to cut off the ring and bully the body of Crawford.

    Both men looked strong in the fourth round, with Crawford keeping the momentum early on before Alvarez picked up his pace in the later stages of that round. Alvarez continued to pour things on in the fifth round, only for Crawford to respond in kind in the sixth.

    After a closely contested round seven, Crawford took control in round eight, not letting Alvarez’s body shot attempts slow him down. Both men, however, brought their power in round nine, which also saw Crawford opened up following an accidental headbutt.

    Crawford landed more big shots in the 10th, but Alvarez appeared to trouble Crawford at one point, pressuring him against the ropes. Crawford returned fire with an all-around performance in the 11th before the two risked it all in the championship rounds.

    All three judges scored the bout for Crawford, with one 116-112 score and two 115-113 totals.

    Terence Crawford Defeats Canelo Alvarez For Undisputed Super Middleweight Title

    Crawford, a world champion in four weight classes, previously was an undisputed champion at light welterweight and welterweight, having previously been a world champion at 147 for over five years. Crawford came into this bout off a win over Ismail Madrimov, winning a pair of titles at light middleweight in the process.

    Alvarez, who also has been a world champion in four weight classes, won his first belt at super middleweight in December 2018. He’d become undisputed champion at 168 with a finish of Caleb Plant in November 2021 before becoming a two-time undisputed champion when he regained the IBF title in May by defeating William Scull.

  • “Diego Lopes Is That Guy” – Fans And Fighters React As Diego Lopes And Jean Silva Put On Fight Of The Year Nominee With Highlight Finish To Close Out Noche UFC

    “Diego Lopes Is That Guy” – Fans And Fighters React As Diego Lopes And Jean Silva Put On Fight Of The Year Nominee With Highlight Finish To Close Out Noche UFC

    In what was a wild outing that proved to be one of the best fights in MMA this year, Diego Lopes has rebounded from his unsuccessful featherweight title challenge earlier this year to score an amazing second-round finish of Jean Silva in the main event of Noche UFC.

    Silva attempted a takedown early in the opening frame and paid a heavy price for it. Lopes threatened a choke and then worked his way into full mount, landing a barrage of ground-and-pound for minutes on end, nearly getting Mike Beltran to stop the fight. Silva managed to get back to his feet, but not before having to escape a triangle from Lopes.

    Silva came storming back in the second round, landing a right hand that appeared to rock Lopes. Silva seemed to get things going, but Lopes started firing right back, providing quite the spectacular firefight between the two. Then, with just seconds remaining in the second round, Lopes landed a surprise spinning back elbow that bloodied Silva and sent him crumbling.

    Lopes then landed ground-and-pound until the referee waved off the contest.

    Diego Lopes Stops Jean Silva In Wild Brawl That Headlined Third Annual Noche UFC

    Lopes has now won six of his last seven. This was his first fight since facing Alexander Volkanovski for the then-vacant UFC featherweight title at UFC 314.

    This loss snapped a 13-fight win streak for Silva, who tastes defeat for the first time in the Octagon. He came into this bout off a submission of Bryce Mitchell at UFC 314.

  • “Well Deserved Top 10” – Fans And Fighters React As David Martinez Stuns Rob Font In Second UFC Appearance At Noche UFC

    “Well Deserved Top 10” – Fans And Fighters React As David Martinez Stuns Rob Font In Second UFC Appearance At Noche UFC

    In just his second UFC fight, taking a UFC co-main event opportunity in a fill-in fashion, David Martinez pulled off a highlight performance as he scored a decision over bantamweight contender Rob Font at Noche UFC.

    Martinez looked to show off with his speedy strikes early as he took control to start the fight. Font looked to load up, landing a strong right hand, but Martinez landed a pair of strong shots not long after.

    Font picked things up with his pressure and power shots, finding a rhythm in the second round while going tit-for-tat with Martinez. Martinez seemed to slow down during the second round, but he came alive again in the third round, completely overtaking control to score the decision win on all three judges’ scorecards.

    David Martinez Pulls Off Decision Over Rob Font In Noche UFC Co-Main Event

    Martinez, who now improves to 13-1, made his UFC debut in March, scoring a first-round finish of Saimon Oliveira.

    This snaps a two-fight win streak for Font. He’s now lost three of his last five.

  • “I Know That 30 Percent Hurt” – Fans And Fighters React As Kelvin Gastelum And Dustin Stoltzfus Put On War At Noche UFC

    “I Know That 30 Percent Hurt” – Fans And Fighters React As Kelvin Gastelum And Dustin Stoltzfus Put On War At Noche UFC

    Kelvin Gastelum may have left a stain on this fight with a five-pound weight miss, but his victory over Dustin Stoltzfus still brought some of the best action that could be found at Noche UFC.

    Stoltzfus managed to start strong in the opening round, chopping at Gastelum’s legs and body while adding in a pair of submission attempts. Gastelum fired back in the second round, however, going blow-for-blow with Stoltzfus and rocking him with sharp left hands. Gastelum looked like he could have been near a finish, but Stoltzfus threw up an unsuccessful late choke attempt.

    Gastelum then used his boxing and takedown defense to control the third round and take the decision victory.

    Kelvin Gastelum Bests Dustin Stoltzfus In Entertaining Noche UFC Battle

    Gastelum has now won three of his last five, having traded wins and losses consistently since 2023.

    Stoltzfus has now lost two straight and three of his last four.

  • VIDEO: Alexander Hernandez Earns Second Finish In A Month After Crushing Carlos Diego Ferreira At Noche UFC

    VIDEO: Alexander Hernandez Earns Second Finish In A Month After Crushing Carlos Diego Ferreira At Noche UFC

    After running through Chase Hooper in impressive fashion a little less than a month ago at UFC 319, Alexander Hernandez put on an encore at Noche UFC, brutally battering Carlos Diego Ferreira.

    Ferreira looked to be in control during the opening round, landing with body kicks as he pressured Hernandez. Hernandez’s patient seemed to pay off during the second round, however, as he dropped Ferreira with a powerful right hand.

    Some follow-up ground-and-pound, which some may feel was unnecessary before the ref finally stepped in, not only sealed the deal for Hernandez’s victory — but left a nasty hematoma on Ferreira’s head.

    Alexander Hernandez Leaves Hematoma On Carlos Diego Ferreira At Noche UFC

    Hernandez has now won four straight and is a perfect 3-0 in 2025. He’s teased another fight before the end of the year, calling out Michael Chandler.

    Ferreira has now lost two straight and three of his last five.

  • “We Have A New Star In Mexican MMA” – Fans React As Santiago Luna Impresses In UFC With Speedy, Highlight Finish Of Quang Le At Noche UFC

    “We Have A New Star In Mexican MMA” – Fans React As Santiago Luna Impresses In UFC With Speedy, Highlight Finish Of Quang Le At Noche UFC

    Santiago Luna made the most of his UFC debut opportunity, putting on quite the display against Quang Le en route to an entertaining first-round finish that opened the main card for Noche UFC.

    The 21-year-old didn’t look like he’d see this success, however, as Le dropped him with a jab in the fight’s first minute. Le followed it up with a barrage of strikes, and he appeared to be in serious trouble.

    Luna, however, turned things around and wobbled Le before dropping him with a left hook. Some follow up ground-and-pound later, and Luna scored a first-round finish, sending the San Antonio crowd into a frenzy.

    Santiago Luna KOs Quang Le In UFC Debut At Noche UFC

    Luna now moves to 7-0, entering the UFC following fights with UWC, LXF, and Tuff-N-Uff.

    Le is now just 1-3 in the UFC.

  • “Lemos Would Have Won A 5-Rounder” – Fans Blast Tatiana Suarez’s Performance In Dominant Decision Win Over Amanda Lemos At Noche UFC

    “Lemos Would Have Won A 5-Rounder” – Fans Blast Tatiana Suarez’s Performance In Dominant Decision Win Over Amanda Lemos At Noche UFC

    It was far from the most exciting fight, but Tatiana Suarez came out on top over Amanda Lemos in a battle of high-ranked strawweights during the Noche UFC prelims.

    The first round featured a lot of Suarez pressing Lemos against the fence looking for the takedown. After a few minutes of attempting — a span that also included a low blow and a missed fence grab — Suarez was able to take Lemos down and hold her there for the final minute of round one.

    This pressured continued into the second round, with Suarez scoring another pair of takedowns and keeping Lemos pressured and stuck, threatening a guillotine choke at one point. Lemos was able to lock her legs around a standing Suarez and threaten a choke in the closing seconds of the second round, but time expired.

    Suarez continued to execute her gameplan, and while Lemos at one point was able to turn things around on the ground, Suarez took control right back. Lemos landed a couple of late elbows and ground-and-pound in the bout’s final minute, but it wasn’t enough.

    Tatiana Suarez Uses Grappling To Control, Earn Decision Over Amanda Lemos At Noche UFC

    This win is a rebound for Suarez after coming up short in a women’s strawweight title shot against Weili Zhang at UFC 312 this past February, which was the first loss of Suarez’s MMA career.

    Lemos has now lost three of her last five.

  • “Not Sure Why They Are Trying To Push The Full 5 Minutes” – Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas Ends In No Contest After Low Blow Less Than A Minute Into Noche UFC Bout

    “Not Sure Why They Are Trying To Push The Full 5 Minutes” – Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas Ends In No Contest After Low Blow Less Than A Minute Into Noche UFC Bout

    Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas barely got started before it was over — and no one in that Noche UFC 3 preliminary card bout came out the winner in the end.

    The bout was ruled a no contest after a low blow from Reese that was deemed an accidental foul but left Dumas unable to continue.

    Dumas tried to get things going with aggression early, but Reese looked to answer with low kicks. Unfortunately for them, one of those kicks ended up landing hard on Dumas’ groin, putting him down in a world of pain. Despite nearly the full five minutes to recover, Dumas was unable to continue, resulting in the no contest.

    Low Blow Ends Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas At Noche UFC Early With No Contest

    Reese had come into this bout with three wins in his last four, most recently scoring a decision over Dusko Todorovic in May.

    Dumas, known in the MMA community for his lengthy arrest history, is now winless in three of his last four. He entered tonight off a loss to Michal Oleksiejczuk at UFC 314.

  • Molly McCann Wins Professional Boxing Debut, Scores Knockdown Despite Getting Kicked During Bout

    Molly McCann Wins Professional Boxing Debut, Scores Knockdown Despite Getting Kicked During Bout

    After retiring from MMA earlier this year, Molly McCann has made a successful transition into professional boxing thus far, coming out on top in her debut against Kate Radomska.

    The bout came as part of a Matchroom Boxing event held on September 13 at Windsor Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

    It was a dominating, all-around performance from McCann, who pressured and landed punches in bunches all throughout the fight’s six rounds until Radomska’s corner threw in the towel.

    Molly McCann Wins Professional Boxing Debut

    In one noteworthy moment, Radomska threw a kick to push McCann back while McCann bullied her in a corner. The move went unnoticed by the referee, however.

    McCann would score a knockdown in the fifth round, landing a solid right hand on Radomska, before finishing her off in the sixth.

    McCann had a 10-year career in MMA, becoming Cage Warriors women’s flyweight champion before joining the UFC in 2018. McCann went 7-7 during her time with the promotion, which ended with a loss to Alexia Thainara at UFC London this past March.

    Radomska now falls to 4-7 in professional boxing.

  • Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford: Former UFC Star Dustin Poirier Makes His Pick For Superfight

    Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford: Former UFC Star Dustin Poirier Makes His Pick For Superfight

    Dustin Poirier has shared his prediction for the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford showdown.

    The highly anticipated Alvarez vs. Crawford clash takes place tonight (Saturday, September 13) at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Mexican boxing superstar will put his undisputed super middleweight belts (WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO) on the line against the undefeated Crawford, the former undisputed welterweight and light welterweight champion who has moved up two weight classes in pursuit of greatness at 168 pounds.

    The marquee bout takes on added weight as it marks the debut of Zuffa Boxing. The historic card is being promoted by UFC CEO Dana White under the TKO banner, in collaboration with Saudi Arabian sports chief Turki Alalshikh.

    Dana White Announces $100K Bonuses For Canelo vs. Crawford Undercard
    Image: @Zuffa_Boxing/X

    Dustin Poirier Predicts Terence Crawford Will Pull Off An Upset Against Canelo Alvarez

    According to BetOnline.ag, heading into fight night the defending undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez is listed as a solid -170 favorite, while Terence Crawford stands as a +140 underdog looking to overturn the odds.

    However, former UFC interim lightweight champion Poirier bucks the consensus of oddsmakers and combat sports analysts, predicting “Bud” Crawford will outbox Alvarez and pull off a shocking upset tonight to achieve three-division undisputed glory.

    “I’m thinking Crawford for the upset tonight,” Poirier wrote on X.

    Canelo Alvarez enters this bout fresh off a unanimous decision victory over William Skull this past May, successfully defending his 168-pound titles. The 35-year-old from Guadalajara boasts an impressive professional record of 63-2-2, including 39 knockouts against elite opponents such as Caleb Plant, Billy Joe Saunders, and Amir Khan.

    His last defeat came in May 2022, a hard-fought unanimous decision loss to the now-undisputed light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol.

    Meanwhile, Terence Crawford returns to the ring after a year-long hiatus. The 37-year-old Nebraska native last stepped into the squared circle in August 2024, securing a unanimous decision victory over Israil Madrimov to capture the WBA and vacant WBO interim light middleweight titles.

    “Bud” remains unbeaten in his professional career, boasting a flawless 41-0 record with 31 wins by knockout. His victories include formidable opponents such as Errol Spence Jr., José Benavidez Jr., and David Avanesyan.

    Image: @Turki_alalshikh/X


  • “Going To Be A Real Problem For The Division” – Fans React To Danill Donchenko Winning Welterweight TUF Title With Violent Performance Against Rodrigo Sezinando At Noche UFC

    “Going To Be A Real Problem For The Division” – Fans React To Danill Donchenko Winning Welterweight TUF Title With Violent Performance Against Rodrigo Sezinando At Noche UFC

    Danill Donchenko is the welterweight winner of season 33 of The Ultimate Fighter, claiming that accolade by finishing teammate Rodrigo Sezinando in the opening bout of the Noche UFC 3 prelims.

    Donchenko came out aggressive, despite Sezinando landing a pair of strong right hands. Sezinando scored a takedown and attempted to use his grappling, but Donchenko landed well in the clinch and then landed a strong elbow that opened up a cut around one of Sezinando’s eyes. The two continued to throw their power, with Donchenko troubling him at one point against the fence.

    After a failed takedown attempt from Sezinando, Donchenko easily knocked Sezinando down with a flurry and finished things with ground-and-pound to become The Ultimate Fighter.

    Danill Donchenko Becomes TUF 33 Welterweight Winner

    https://twitter.com/Bullish_Bruh/status/1966944186789195933

    This fight had been originally scheduled to go down at UFC 319 last month, but the bout was delayed after Seinznado suffered an injury. Joseph Morales won the flyweight portion of TUF 33 at that event.

    Sezinando, a member of Team Cormier, reached the final today with a unanimous decision over Diego Bianchini and a split decision win over teammate Jeff Creighton. Prior to the show, was 8-1, picking up a pair of titles on the regional circuit.

    Donchenko, also a member of Team Cormier, advanced to the final with a decision over Richard Martins and a first-round finish of Matt Dixon. Prior to joining TUF, Donchenko was 11-2, which included a reign as Naiza FC’s lightweight champion in 2024.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Diego Lopes TKO’s Jean Silva

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Diego Lopes TKO’s Jean Silva

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, featherweights Diego Lopes and Jean Silva clashed. While in the co-main event, Rob Font faced off with David Martinez in a bantamweight matchup.  

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Featherweight bout: Diego Lopes def. Jean Silva via TKO: R2, 4.48
    • Bantamweight bout: David Martínez def. Rob Font via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Lightweight bout: Rafa García def. Jared Gordon via TKO: R3, 2.27
    • Middleweight bout: Kelvin Gastelum def. Dustin Stoltzfus via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2) 
    • Lightweight bout: Alexander Hernandez def. Carlos Diego Ferreira via KO: R2, 2.48

    Preliminary Card

    • Bantamweight bout: Santiago Luna def. Quang Le via TKO: R1, 2.48
    • Middleweight bout: Duško Todorović def. José Daniel Medina via submission: R1, 4.21  
    • Lightweight bout: Joaquim Silva def. Claudio Puelles via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Strawweight bout: Tatiana Suarez de. Amanda Lemos via unanimous decision (29-28×3) 
    • Flyweight bout: Jesús Santos Aguilar def. Luis Gurule via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)
    • Middleweight bout: Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas ends in no contest (groin strike): R1, 0.51 
    • Flyweight bout: Alden Coria def. Alessandro Costa via TKO: R3, 0.47
    • Women’s bantamweight bout: Montserrat Rendon def. Alice Pereira via split decision (29-28, 30-27, 28-29)

    TUF 33 welterweight final bout: Daniil Donchenko def. Rodrigo Sezinando via TKO: R1, 4.27

    Preliminary Card Highlights 

    Daniil Donchenko def. Rodrigo Sezinando

    Alden Coria def. Alessandro Costa

    Duško Todorović def. José Daniel Medina

    Santiago Luna def. Quang Le

    Main Card Highlights

    Alexander Hernandez def. Carlos Diego Ferreira

    In this lightweight bout, Alexander Hernandez earned a KO of Carlos Diego Ferreira in round two.

    Kelvin Gastelum def. Dustin Stoltzfus

    In this middleweight bout, Kelvin Gastelum got the decision over Dustin Stoltzfus.

    Rafa García def. Jared Gordon

    Rafa García earned a TKO in round three of this lightweight bout.

    David Martínez def. Rob Font

    In the co-main event, David Martínez got it done with a unanimous decision.

    Diego Lopes def. Jean Silva

    in the main event, Diego Lopez earned a TKO of Jean Silva in the second round.

  • Mike Perry, Jeremy Stephens Get Physical In Build Up To BKFC 82 King Of Violence Title Bout

    Mike Perry, Jeremy Stephens Get Physical In Build Up To BKFC 82 King Of Violence Title Bout

    When Mike Perry vs. Jeremy Stephens was first booked for a King of Violence bout at BKFC 82, you already knew there was going to be physicality. But some of that physicality showed weeks before the two are scheduled to enter the ring and throw down.

    Both Perry and Stephens were present at BKFC 80, which took place on September 10 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The two were at one point both brought into the Squared Circle, taking part in a segment during the event to promote the highly anticipated outing.

    As the promotion ended, however, Perry and Stephens faced off. There, the two exchanged words before Perry shoved Stephens. “Lil’ Heathen” attempted to respond with the two having a brief scuffle before officials and security intervened.

    Mike Perry, Jeremy Stephens Have To Be Separated During Promo Time For Upcoming BKFC 82 Bout

    Perry and Stephens got nose-to-nose again before each was led away from the ring.

    The bout is one of the BKFC’s most prominent ever given the finisher status and violent intensity of both men, as well as their past UFC experience. It’s also been previously teased that Conor McGregor may want to face the winner in his own potential BKFC debut down the line — especially if Perry wins, given their history.

    This will be Perry’s sixth BKFC bout, and he is currently a perfect 5-0 in the promotion. Perry originally became the King of Violence with a finish of Eddie Alvarez in December 2023. This will be Perry’s first BKFC bout since stopping Thiago Alves in a minute at Knucklemania IV in April 2024.

    Stephens is 3-0 in BKFC thus far, coming into this bout off his own finish of Alvarez at Knucklemania V this past January.

    BKFC 82 takes place on October 4 from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

  • Khalid Taha eyes Losene Keita’s vacant throne with strong Oktagon 75 title eliminator win

    Khalid Taha eyes Losene Keita’s vacant throne with strong Oktagon 75 title eliminator win

    Khalid Taha clashes with Edgar Delgado Jimenez at Oktagon 75 on September 13th but that was not always going to be his opponent in the Oktagon MMA cage. Taha appeared on Bowks Talking Bouts to discuss how he was initially supposed to fight Max Holzer before an illness popped up recently which scrapped the bout booking.

    When discussing if it is a profoundly different experience fighting this new opponent now relative to the approach he would have had against Max Holzer, Khalid Taha said,

    “The opponent has like almost the same fighting style like Holzer. He’s also southpaw. He’s also a jiu-jitsu to black belt. And yeah, I think it’s going to be the same. He’s going to look for the shoot, for the takedown, try to take me down, try to finish me on the ground. Exactly the same what Holzer wanted to try. Yeah, so it’s like almost the same fight.”

    When discussing the feeling of getting a new opponent but where the same skills he worked on in the camp can still be applied to his new Oktagon MMA opposition, Taha stated,

    “Yeah, definitely it is because like there were; we knew from the pull out, what was it like maybe 13 days, 12 or 13 days before the fight. 14, maybe two weeks, around two weeks. So like there’s no time anymore like to change a lot, you know. So it worked well for us.”

    Taha now prepares to fight a man many see as the highest ranked fighter from South America and someone who was the Mexican LUX Fight League champion. When discussing his thoughts on fighting the former four-time LUX Fight League champion here and what he sees as some of Jimenez’s better skills heading into this weekend, Khalid Taha quipped,

    “I think he’s very dangerous. Like he’s very experienced fighter and like I saw from his fights, you have to be careful until the very last second, you know. So it doesn’t matter how the fight goes, he never gives up. He can change the fight like in the last second and because of that like we have to be very aware. Hve to stay focused, stick to the game plan, and do our thing.”

    When touching on the excitement with this being his third straight MMA fight in Germany and the partisan crowd sentiment towards him, Taha quipped,

    “Yeah, sure. because almost I don’t know like 6, 7, 8 years before that like I couldn’t fight in Germany, you know. I was like fighting all around the world and honestly it’s also for me like much easier, you know [laughs]. I don’t have to travel a lot, I don’t have all this jet lag stuff. I don’t have all the expenses as well you know. I like honestly, I like to fight in front of my crowd, my family, my fans. So yeah, it’s a win-win situation, you know.”

    Khalid Taha and chasing Losene Keita’s former Oktagon MMA strap

    Khalid Taha knows that this is a key fight for the Oktagon MMA featherweight title picture in Oktagon with prior champ Losene Keita moving to the UFC. As he addressed the current landscape in Oktagon MMA’s 145 pound title scene, Khalid Taha stated,

    “Of course, like now Losene Keita is in the UFC, the title is vacant and it was like almost; it was almost a title contender fight, you know, between me and [Max] Holzer. It was the plan like the winner of us is going to fight Keita. Then Keita moved to the UFC and I’m sure I’m the next in line. I will fight next week. If [it’s] God will, [I’ll] win this fight and then I’m next in line and I will fight for the belt.”

    In any event, the chance to cement himself in the Oktagon MMA record books someday is clearly important as Taha quipped,

    “Yeah, of course. Especially it’s very nice because I don’t know, do you know who the champion was before Keita or was he the first Oktagon featherweight champion? I know they had the lightweight champion. Oh, I know they had the lightweight champion and the featherweight champion was Ivan Buchinger, I think. The first one, then Keita, and I think I’m going to be the third one. If I, of course, if I get the belt and it’s like history. You know, like it’s very nice to write that history for me and for the fans. I’m very excited to get that chance, you know.”