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  • Sean Strickland Suspended For Six Months By NSAC

    Sean Strickland Suspended For Six Months By NSAC

    The Nevada State Athletic Commission has finally ruled on a suspension for UFC fighter Sean Strickland, suspending the former UFC middleweight champion six months.

    The suspension is retroactive to June 29, the date of the incident at a Tuff-N-Uff event that led to Strickland’s suspension. Strickland will be eligible to return to action on December 29.

    The NSAC, however, further ruled that Strickland’s suspension can be reduced to four-and-a-half months if he completes an anger management course. This would make him eligible to return on November 14.

    Strickland also faces a $5,000 fine, plus fees.

    This ruling comes one month after the initial planned NSAC hearing for Strickland.

    Sean Strickland Suspended Six Months After Punching Fighter At Tuff-N-Uff Event

    Strickland was present at an event hosted by Tuff-N-Uff, and broadcasted on UFC Fight Pass, on June 29. Strickland and teammate Chris Curtis were in the corner of Miles Hunsinger as he took on Luis Hernandez.

    After submitting Hunsinger, Hernandez taunted Hunsinger’s corner, looking in the direction of the two UFC fighters. This caused Strickland and Curtis to come into the cage, with Strickland throwing punches at Hernandez, with at least one landing before security intervened to break the altercation up.

    Curtis was not suspended; however, he was fined $2,500 plus fees.

    Strickland has not been in action since losing to Dricus Du Plessis in a middleweight title rematch at UFC 312 in February.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Didn’t Even Use Advanced Grappling Techniques to Control Dricus Du Plessis “Only the Basics” – MMA Analyst

    Khamzat Chimaev Didn’t Even Use Advanced Grappling Techniques to Control Dricus Du Plessis “Only the Basics” – MMA Analyst

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has provided an interesting perspective on Khamzat Chimaev‘s dominant UFC 319 win over Dricus du Plessis.

    In the main event of UFC 319, Khamzat Chimaev defeated Dricus du Plessis to become the new UFC middleweight champion. He did so by utilizing his superior wrestling skills from start to finish, and by the time the fight was over, it was pretty clear to see that he had comfortably earned the right to call himself the new champ.

    While Khamzat Chimaev was impressive, though, many felt as if Dricus du Plessis produced a disappointing performance. Of course, only DDP himself knows what he was capable of in there, and it’d be intriguing to see what would happen if they ran it back one day.

    In a recent video, Chael Sonnen provided an analysis of how Khamzat Chimaev was able to control Dricus du Plessis in Chicago.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 319 win

    “It’s very important that you understand how Chimaev controlled Dricus because you’ve never seen this before. I have never seen it and that includes in the practice room. Not to this extent, not with somebody of that level… So picture Dricus, he’s on all fours… Chimaev’s behind him… Dricus would like to stand up at that point, and he tried, but he failed. 

    “When you fail at that, your next best option is to get under attack. And when Chimaev attacked him, Dricus was ready for it. Dricus got reversals at one point, but he looked good. It created a grappling atmosphere, which is what Dricus is used to.”

    “Chimaev didn’t confuse and control Dricus due to his advancements. He controlled Dricus with the basics. Bump him forward. Pull him back. Take him left. Take him right. Make him reset. Make him reset. Make him reset as the time is ticking down. And that was the part that was the most fascinating. 

    “He outgrappled him by demonstrating less grappling than he was capable of. And that really bothered some people. I will just tell you, I’ve never seen it before.”

  • Caio Borralho Not Impressed with Khamzat Chimaev’s Safe Performance Against Dricus Du Plessis

    UFC middleweight Caio Borralho has given his thoughts on Khamzat Chimaev’s win over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319.

    As we know, Khamzat Chimaev is the new king of the middleweight division after taking the championship from Dricus du Plessis in the main event of UFC 319. We also know that Caio Borralho is a rising contender at 185 pounds and in his next fight, he’ll face Nassourdine Imavov in an attempt to move one step closer to receiving a title shot.

    Caio Borralho is certainly an interesting prospect but in the eyes of many, Khamzat Chimaev seems pretty unstoppable right now. One of the reasons for that was the nature of his win over DDP, as ‘Borz’ was able to pretty much dominate him on the ground from the first minute until the last.

    In a recent interview, though, Caio Borralho gave an interesting point of view on how Chimaev was able to perform.

    Caio Borralho’s view on Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 319 win

    “I’m not impressed about the domination. I think he did what he always does in all his fights. The only difference is that he didn’t finish this time. That’s why people are upset—because people want to see a finish. But he dominated in a dominant fashion. Dricus didn’t have any response to anything. But to be fair, he did a great job defending the chokes and all the attacks Khamzat did. But besides that, he just couldn’t take it. He had no answers for that.”

  • Sean O’Malley Addresses Retirement Rumors: “Life comes at you fast”

    UFC star Sean O’Malley has opened up on the possibility of him retiring from mixed martial arts sooner rather than later.

    As we know, Sean O’Malley is one of the biggest names in mixed martial arts today – and especially in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is a former UFC bantamweight champion and while he may have lost his last two fights to Merab Dvalishvili, many believe he still has what it takes to climb back to the top of the mountain, either at 135 pounds or 145.

    Recently, though, Sean O’Malley had some fans worried when he teased the idea of retiring at some point in the near future. Some felt as if he was just messing around but either way, it certainly feels like something he’d contemplate given how many other ventures he has outside of the fight game.

    In a recent interview, Sean O’Malley made it clear that he’s grateful for every single time he gets the chance to train and compete.

    Sean O’Malley discusses possible retirement

    “Life comes at you fast, but there’s no plans as of now to stop fighting. But you can never know what’s going to happen. Every time I get on the mats and I’m training, I’m grateful for that session.”

    ‘Suga’ went on to suggest that he could be back in the cage competing for the UFC by the end of the year.

    Sean is a determined guy and it’ll be interesting to see whether or not he continues to push for gold.

  • Zhang Mingyang ‘Respects’ Johnny Walker’s Power But Will Knock Him Out at UFC Shanghai

    Zhang Mingyang ‘Respects’ Johnny Walker’s Power But Will Knock Him Out at UFC Shanghai

    UFC light heavyweight contender Zhang Mingyang is ready to strike with Johnny Walker when the two collide in the main event of UFC Shanghai this weekend.

    For Zhang Mingyang, this is an incredibly important fight at this point in his career. The youngster is ready to prove that he’s ready for even bigger opportunities at 205 pounds and in order to do that, he has to get through Johnny Walker. We all know that the Brazilian is a strange and difficult guy to deal with in the cage, but he’s also someone who has picked up his fair share of losses over the years.

    Zhang Mingyang wants to make a statement and given the current state of the division, a big win here could take him to within just one more victory of a championship opportunity. That may have seemed crazy not so long ago, but it certainly seems to be the case now.

    In a recent interview, Zhang Mingyang made it clear that he’s more than happy to strike with Johnny Walker.

    Zhang Mingyang looks forward to Johnny Walker challenge

    “I am very honored to fight Johnny Walker in this main event. Johnny is a very tough fighter with great skills. I have been preparing very hard for this fight.”

    “I have a lot of respect for Johnny Walker. He’s a powerful and experienced fighter. I will do my best to bring a great fight for the fans.”

    Buckle up, folks, because it looks like we could be in for a fun one.

  • Brian Ortega: “The next chapter is WARTEGA”

    Brian Ortega: “The next chapter is WARTEGA”

    UFC featherweight contender Brian Ortega has said that he’s heading into UFC Shanghai with a ‘WARTEGA’ state of mind.

    This weekend, Brian Ortega will make his return to the cage when he squares off with Aljamain Sterling. The fight looks set to be one of the biggest of the month, especially given the stakes involved at 145 pounds. Both men are hoping to make a push for a title opportunity, and both are known for their work on the ground.

    With that being said, Brian Ortega has certainly used his hands effectively in the past. In addition to picking up some big knockouts, he also managed to drop Alexander Volkanovski in their previous title showdown. Now, he’s hoping to do the same to Sterling.

    In a recent interview, Brian Ortega made it crystal clear that a new version of him will be heading into battle in Shanghai.

    Brian Ortega looks ahead to next chapter in his career

    “The next chapter is WARTEGA. It’s just time that I not care and just go to war. I do good when I just go to war. Sometimes I try to care about the intricacies of the point scoring and this and that and I get too deep into that, and it’s like, bro, let’s just fight, man. Let’s go to war and let’s not do it in a dumb way.”

    “For me where I’m at is just fighting, man, that’s kind of where I’m at. I don’t know if it… yeah. For me it’s just fighting, going to war, and just loving what I do.”

  • Baisangur Susurkaev Pledges To Claim Middleweight Title Within Two Years Following UFC 319 Win

    Baisangur Susurkaev Pledges To Claim Middleweight Title Within Two Years Following UFC 319 Win

    Baisangur Susurkaev envisions his path to UFC gold with the same pace he set this past week.

    Susurkaev has enjoyed a whirlwind few days. On Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series, he scored a first-round knockout over Murtaza Talha to secure his UFC contract. Buoyed by his victory, “Hunter” approached UFC CEO Dana White to be added to the UFC 319 undercard alongside his countryman Khamzat Chimaev, and the promotion head honcho granted his wish.

    After stepping into his DWCS bout on just four days’ notice, Susurkaev was booked for his UFC debut with the same short turnaround to face fellow newcomer Eric Nolan, and he certainly didn’t disappoint.

    The undefeated Russian weathered a late flurry from Nolan in the first round that nearly rocked him, but he stayed composed and maintained relentless pressure. In the second round, he secured a takedown and repeatedly dragged the fight back to the canvas.

    Gradually working his way to Nolan’s back, he unleashed a series of punches to create an opening. With a perfectly locked-in rear-naked choke, Susurkaev forced “Night Time” to tap at 2:01.

    After scoring back-to-back wins in just four days, “Hunter” is riding a wave of unstoppable confidence.

    Image: @dwcs/Instagram

    Baisangur Susurkaev Confident He Will Be UFC Middleweight Champion Within Two Years

    During the UFC 319 post-fight press conference on Saturday, Baisangur Susurkaev recapped his incredible week and confirmed he intends to keep the momentum going, aiming for one, and possibly two, more fights before the year ends.

    “I’m hoping for New York [in November],” Susurkaev said. “I really would like to fight in September, but I do feel like I have an injury in my foot, so I don’t know if I’ll be ready in time.”

    “Hunter” firmly stated that while he isn’t in a hurry for his first UFC title shot, he expects to capture the middleweight championship within just two years.

    “In two more years, I’m going to be champion. I don’t need it fast. One month, two months to get ready for the next fight, and I’m ready. I’m going to be champion.”

    Baisangur Susurkaev boasts an unblemished professional record of 10-0, with nine of those victories coming via finishes within the second round.

    Image: @realhuntermma/Instagram

  • Johnny Walker Has Been Learning the Chinese Language To Better Connect with the Shanghai Audience

    Johnny Walker Has Been Learning the Chinese Language To Better Connect with the Shanghai Audience

    Johnny Walker feels confident he can get the crowd on his side as he endeavours to learn more Chinese to better endear himself to the Shanghai crowd on Saturday. Speaking on MMA Junkie Radio ahead of his UFC Fight Night 257 headliner, the 33 year-old combatant spoke about his journey with the local language ahead of his clash with Zhang Mingyang this weekend.

    This is a high stakes clash in the light heavyweight division with Walker vs. Mingyang pitting the number thirteen contender agaisnt the number fourteen ranked light heavyweight, respectively. When describing his desire to connect with the Chinese fanbase and his broader vision of thingsbeyond August 23rd, Johnny Walker said,

    “Wherever I go in the world, I feel at home. I see the Chinese here, they all like me, you know. I’m learning a little bit of Chinese as well to connect with the fans already. And I can’t wait to come back to China to fight again. I’m going to get the crowd on my side too and I’m going to do a good job here because it’s a good place to be, China, big market, and it’s really a good city, has good food, good everything here as well.”

    “Even if they’re not, they’re going to be on my side after, because I’m going to win this fight and I’m going to conquer the crowd for sure. And the dream of the Chinese belt championship is going to still live in me, you know? I can bring the belt back here when I get it.”

    “Of course, I’ve been practicing my Chinese a bit and I know some Chinese words, and one is very special that is going to connect with the crowd.”

    “Wherever I go in the world, I feel at home. The Chinese fans are amazing, they like me. I’m already learning some Chinese to connect with them. I can’t wait to come back and fight again here.”

    Johnny Walker’s Xtreme Couture shift was ‘one of the best moves for my career’

    Johnny Walker has been trying out some newer things lately beyond learning a new language and that extends to a change in what gym he hones his skills at. The Brazilian combatant has been working out of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas as of late and describing in the same MMA Junkie Radio interview how much of a difference just being in Vegas in general has made for him, Walker stated [via MMA Junkie],

    “It was a very good move, one of the best moves I did for my career. Not just because of Xtreme but because of the UFC Performance Institute. Of course, Eric is an amazing coach. He’s been an amazing add to my career. A lot of big guys there to train [with]. Performance Institute have breakfast, lunch, dinner, physiotherapy, recovery, strength and conditioning, so everything I need to achieve the next level. I’m very happy. That was my best training camp that I did, and I just feel very excited and amazing.”

  • Marc Goddard Receives Herb Dean’s Backing After UFC 319 Main Event Intervention Controversy – ‘I’m Okay With Those Standups’

    Marc Goddard Receives Herb Dean’s Backing After UFC 319 Main Event Intervention Controversy – ‘I’m Okay With Those Standups’

    Marc Goddard finds support from a fellow community member in the wake of the recent fight dispute.

    Last week, in the UFC 319 main event, Khamzat Chimaev overpowered Dricus Du Plessis to claim the middleweight title with a one-sided unanimous decision.

    “Borz” overwhelmed Du Plessis throughout the fight, dictating the action with constant chain wrestling and suffocating top control. He landed 12 takedowns, repeatedly trapping the defending champion in crucifix positions and keeping him on the defensive for most of the bout.

    Khamzat Chimaev dethrone Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319
    Image: @ufc/X

    Late in the fourth round, referee Goddard stepped in to separate Chimaev from “Stillknocks,” seemingly due to a stalemate. The 51-year-old official made a second stand-up late in the final frame, a decision that has ignited widespread debate within the MMA community, drawing criticism from former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and other pundits.

    Herb Dean Defends Marc Goddard Amid Debate Over UFC 319 Headliner Intervention

    During a recent interview with MMA journalist Helen Yee, veteran referee Herb Dean weighed in on Marc Goddard’s decision to separate Khamzat Chimaev from Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319. While Dean acknowledged that “Borz” was clearly dominating, he defended his fellow official, noting that MMA should not reward fighters who simply hold dominant positions without actively pursuing a finish.

    According to Dean, stand-ups in such scenarios are appropriate to keep the action flowing and preserve the excitement of the sport.

    “I don’t think anything was wrong with his [Marc Goddard] standups, Dean said. “Khamzat dominated the fight round. This is an ongoing conversation that stakeholders and everyone in the sport has, but what do we want this sport to look like? Do we want people to achieve a dominant position, which, if you’re not using it to beat your opponent, could almost be looked at as a hiding place, as a place to burn time? And I’m never gonna accuse Khamzat of hiding because, I mean, the man’s a savage.

    “But if you get a position, we can break that one down, the crucifix chest-to-chest position, not a lot of height, very difficult to get to a place where you can punch your opponent. Sometimes he’s able to get elbows, and you want to reward people. But we can talk about 10-8 [round], and at the same time you want to reward someone with a 10-8 for trying to finish their opponent, for taking a risk… I’m okay with those standups that Marc Goddard did.”

    Goddard, with over two decades of officiating experience, has established himself as one of MMA’s most respected referees, having overseen hundreds of high-profile bouts in the UFC and other major promotions.

    MMA referee Marc Goddard
    Image: @marcgoddard_uk/Instagram
  • Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz Didn’t Want to Face Me Even For $5 Million

    Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz Didn’t Want to Face Me Even For $5 Million

    Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz have not entered live competition in years but they are still getting lucrative offers to compete with former UFC champions. The former UFC champion in this instance is Tyron Woodley with ‘The Chosen One’ mentioning the GSP and Diaz gialogue while speaking to Action Network.

    Woodley has also not competed in a few years since being stopped inside the distance during his boxing rematch with Jake Paul in late-2021. When touching on the situations with both St-Pierre and Diaz as well as why the respective fights never ended up getting traction or materializing at all, Tyron Woodley said,

    “I offered GSP $5 million to fight me in the Middle East. I had an organization, and we was gonna promote a fight, for me and GSP and he just flat out said, ‘Tyron, I’m not in that space any more, I’m not fighting anymore. I appreciate the offer,’ I said,’ cool, well, if you’re not in that space, we’re not’. It was nothing disrespectful, because he is the best welterweight of all time. He’s the greatest. So why would I not want to fight him?”

    “If I beat Georges St. Pierre, nobody would care about [my losses to] Gilbert Burns, Vincente Luque, Colby Covington, or Kamaru Usman. None of those losses matter. I’m the best welterweight of all time, so I was looking at it from that standpoint. I did think I could beat him. I never got a chance to prove it when I was at my peak.”

    “And, he just declined the fight. And then I turned around and Nick Diaz offered him the same amount of money off, $5 million to fight in the Middle East. He liked the message I sent him. He hearted it, but he never replied back.”

    Georges St-Pierre
    (Tyron Woodley & Georges St-Pierre on Instagram)

    Georges St-Pierre and his last fighting foray

    Georges St-Pierre last stepped into the cage in November 2017 and cemented himself even further in the history books. GSP would compte at the world’s most famous arena and ascended to the UFC championship throne once again and in a new weight class no less. At UFC 217, the Canadian combatant would do battle with Michael Bisping for the middleweight crown.

    The long time welterweight kingpin would vault himself into that rareified air of two division UFC champions when Georges St-Pierre submitted ‘the Count’ to claim the 185 pound strap inside of Madison Square Garden in the pay-per-view headliner.

  • Aljamain Sterling is Confident in Avoiding Brian Ortega’s Nasty Chokes

    Aljamain Sterling is not obtuse to the problems on the ground that Brian Ortega presents but is confident in how his own skillset matches up with that in their UFC Fight Night 257 co-main event bout. This consequential contest at featherweight takes place in Shanghai on August 23rd.

    Speaking to Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie, the former UFC bantamweight champion covered several subjects as he aims to further climb the UFC’s featherweight hierarchy by taking on a former multi-time title challenger at 145 pounds in the promotion. This Saturday will see Sterling and Ortega do battle for a higher rankings position with the number seven and number five ranked contenders in the division, respectively, testing skills.

    When getting into the machinations of this massive matchup at 145 pounds this weekend, Sterling said,

    “I think my style matches up well with him. He does have some tricky stuff off of his back and on top. He’s pretty tough and has a really nasty head and arm choke. I haven’t really seen him go for many other submissions, maybe a guillotine and a triangle, but overall he’s pretty well versed with chokes, so I’ve got to be careful.”

    “I think my top pressure and passing game should be good enough to get to some good dominant positions. Hopefully, I can get to where I’m really strong, which is side control or the back mount.”

    Aljamain Sterling thinks UFC Shanghai bout being 5 rounds is “kind of f***ing stupid”

    Aljamain Sterling is prepared for twenty five minutes of competition but is still unsure why the promotion booked his Brian Ortega bout for five rounds. This was expressed by Aljo during a recent interview with Mike Heck of MMA Fighting as Aljamain Sterling stated [via MMA Fighting],

    “Yeah, I don’t know why it’s five rounds. I don’t know if Brian Ortega is the one who asked for five rounds. But like, five-round main events, if you’re not the champion, you get an extra pay incentive. So I’m kind of annoyed because we’re not getting extra pay for five rounds.”

    “I’m like, ‘Did he want to fight five rounds for no extra money?’ I think it’s kind of f*cking stupid. Like, what are we getting out of this? We’re not getting a trophy at the end of this, so why are we fighting five rounds? This is 10 extra minutes of training, 10 extra minutes of fighting. I don’t know. I legitimately do not know. We’ve got the same manager, so. I don’t want 5 rounds. Like, who wants to do five rounds? Who wants to fight more for the same pay rate that they’re going to get? It doesn’t make any sense.”

  • Bryan Battle Axed From UFC Roster Days After Missing Weight At UFC 319

    Bryan Battle Axed From UFC Roster Days After Missing Weight At UFC 319

    Bryan Battle’s struggle to make weight appears to have come with serious consequences.

    Battle was scheduled to face Nursulton Ruziboev in a middleweight clash at UFC 319 this past weekend at Chicago’s United Center. However, the fight was called off just a day before the event after the 30-year-old American tipped the scales four pounds over the 186-pound limit.

    As confirmed by MMA journalist Damon Martin on X Wednesday, “The Butcher” has been cut from the UFC only days after failing to make weight for his UFC 319 matchup.

    Battle last competed at UFC 310 this past December, securing a hard-fought split decision victory over Randy Brown to extend his unbeaten streak to five fights. He made his promotional debut at UFC Vegas 35 in August 2021 and quickly built a decent record of 7-1 with one no contest, including five wins by stoppage.

    His sole setback in the Octagon came at UFC 66 in December, where he fell to a unanimous decision loss against Rinat Fakhretdinov.

    UFC welterweight Bryan Battle
    Image: UFC.com

    How Many Weight Misses Has Bryan Battle Had In The UFC?

    Bryan Battle earned his UFC spot by submitting Andre Petroski in the second round of The Ultimate Fighter 29 semifinal at middleweight in August 2021. After entering the promotion, “The Butcher” moved down to the welterweight division, where he struggled to make weight, missing the limit on two separate occasions.

    Battle’s first weight miss occurred at UFC Charlotte in May 2023, where he came in over the limit for a bout against Gabe Green, which he ultimately won via knockout. His second miss came in his most recent fight against Randy Brown at UFC 310. With the latest incident at UFC 319, “The Butcher” has now failed to make weight three times over his four-year UFC career.

    Bryan Battle Axed From UFC Roster Days After Missing Weight At UFC 319
    Image: UFC.com

  • Khamzat Chimaev as UFC Champion is a ‘Disaster’ – But Not How you Expect, Former UFC Champ Explains

    UFC legend Michael Bisping has explained why Khamzat Chimaev being UFC middleweight champion is a nightmare for the rest of the division.

    Khamzat Chimaev captured the middleweight title at UFC 319 by dominating Dricus du Plessis. He did so with his incredible wrestling ability and ever since then, people have been wondering the same thing: who on earth is going to stop this guy? He is a force of nature and if he can do that to DDP, he can probably do it to a lot of other middleweights – if not all of them.

    Recently, Din Thomas said that he was concerned about Khamzat Chimaev being world champion due to his inactivity. He isn’t someone who tends to fight a great deal inside the cage, raising a few eyebrows about whether or not he would be an active champion.

    Michael Bisping, however, has a different thought process when it comes to the reign of Khamzat Chimaev.

    Michael Bisping’s thoughts on Khamzat Chimaev as UFC champion

    “I don’t mean because of what Din Thomas said. Din Thomas was like, ‘He isn’t going to be able to fight too frequently. He struggles to get visas and stuff like that.’ No, when I say this is a disaster, it’s a disaster for the division because from what I see there, ain’t nobody—ain’t nobody apart from Reinier de Ridder—ain’t nobody beating him. Reinier de Ridder is the only guy that has a shot because of the jiu-jitsu, because of the skills that he has off his back. Okay.”

  • Paulo Costa makes big claim about Khamzat Chimaev’s security at UFC 319

    UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa has told a story about Khamzat Chimaev’s reported security at UFC 319.

    As we know, Paulo Costa isn’t a big fan of Khamzat Chimaev – who is now the middleweight champion after his dominant win over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319. It seems unlikely that we’re going to see the two square off anytime soon, mainly because there are plenty of others in the division who are currently ahead of Costa in the pecking order.

    Still, you never know what could happen, especially after Paulo Costa’s impressive win over Roman Kopylov. He has the skills necessary to make a real run in this division but as so often seems to be the case, he may well be his own worst enemy. With that being said, that isn’t going to stop him from going on a verbal tirade against the champ from time to time.

    In a recent interview, Paulo Costa had the following story to tell about ‘Borz’.

    Paulo Costa’s story about Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319

    “We had everything set up to go to Chicago after my fight against Roman Kopylov. We contacted UFC, and they said, ‘Paulo, it’s better you not go there because he might have like 20, many people surround him to protect him from you. So it’s better not to go.’ They said it’s a big fight to protect him from you. 

    “That’s what they said. I can’t believe that. He brought a whole army. He is the kind of guy who always walks with some guys to protect him too. They said, ‘It’s better you not go there because we don’t know where this guy is going to be in the arena and they can attack you or do something against you.’ So that’s crazy.”

  • Khamzat Chimaev’s style: Michael Bisping responds to critics of his dominant wrestling

    Khamzat Chimaev’s style: Michael Bisping responds to critics of his dominant wrestling

    UFC legend Michael Bisping has some thoughts on those who are going after Khamzat Chimaev for what they perceive to be a boring style of fighting.

    As we know, Khamzat Chimaev is the new UFC middleweight champion. He dominated Dricus du Plessis over five rounds in the main event of UFC 319 and in doing so, he firmly established himself as the best 185-pounder on the planet. Of course, because of his wrestle-heavy style, a lot of people weren’t big fans of how he secured the title.

    Despite that, Khamzat Chimaev will still likely be recognized as one of the biggest stars in the sport today – and rightfully so. He has had a great rise to the top, and it’ll be really interesting to see how long he remains champion.

    In a recent video, Michael Bisping had some words for those who have been criticizing Khamzat Chimaev in recent days.

    Michael Bisping’s view on Khamzat Chimaev

    “Some people might not have liked the performance, but those people should watch boxing or kickboxing. This is mixed martial arts. I hated fighting wrestlers. I wanted to stand and trade punches, knees, elbows, kicks. But you have to be able to fight wrestlers and stop takedowns. You can’t blame Khamzat for taking someone down like that. The man had 21 minutes of control time in a 25-minute fight. It’s ridiculous, but that’s the sport.”

    Love him or hate him, Khamzat has found a style that works, and it’s taken him all the way to a championship.

  • Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Must Make the Hard Decisions About His Future – UFC Veteran

    Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Must Make the Hard Decisions About His Future – UFC Veteran

    Dricus du Plessis‘ coach Morne Visser needs to make an important decision about his student’s future, says UFC veteran Chael Sonnen.

    As we know, Dricus du Plessis is no longer the UFC middleweight champion. He was beaten and dominated in his UFC 319 main event against Khamzat Chimaev and while he had a brief window of opportunity in the last round, he was ultimately outmatched pretty heavily in the wrestling department.

    As you can imagine, a lot of people have been going after Dricus du Plessis for his inability to stop Khamzat Chimaev. In a recent video, Chael Sonnen weighed in on the issue and had some words of advice.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Dricus du Plessis’ future

    “Okay. What does Dricus’ coach do now? In a couple of categories. He sends Dricus out. Hey, we don’t have it right here in our gym. We don’t have these answers, but they do exist and I’m going to send you to where they are. University of Iowa comes to mind. University of Iowa has offered to host Dricus for two weeks and let him be part of their room and training. 

    “Okay, there’s one idea. Or the other is bring somebody in, right? And again, we could probably turn right back to Iowa, get him on a plane, have him go and work with Dricus. But you still have, do you send him out? Do you bring somebody in? You must come to the conclusion of we don’t have the answers right now. And this is very normal, by the way. 

    “That’s not an insult. I came through that at Team Quest. We brought in John Lewis and we brought in John Hackleman. We had the work ethic, the bodies, the dream, but we didn’t have the skills that were needed in this sport.”

  • Reinier de Ridder Knows He Can Beat Khamzat Chimaev Anywhere

    Reinier de Ridder Knows He Can Beat Khamzat Chimaev Anywhere

    UFC middleweight contender Reinier de Ridder firmly believes that he will be able to defeat Khamzat Chimaev if the two do fight each other.

    As we know, Khamzat Chimaev is the current king of the middleweight division after knocking off former champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319. We also know that Reinier de Ridder is set for a title eliminator at UFC Vancouver when he squares off with Anthony Hernandez, who is also in the midst of his best ever run as a UFC fighter.

    Reinier de Ridder has wasted absolutely no time since arriving in the promotion and he’s showing the kind of drive that is always going to appeal to Dana White and the matchmakers. If he can get through ‘Fluffy’, there will be absolutely no way of denying that he is next in line for a championship opportunity at 185 pounds.

    In a recent interview, Reinier de Ridder opened up on a possible showdown with Khamzat Chimaev and why he feels so confident about it.

    Reinier de Ridder discusses Khamzat Chimaev fight

    “The main thought in my mind is if he takes me down, great. If I take him down, great. If it’s in a clinch, great. If it’s in the stand up, it’s great. I’m not worried about where it goes at all. I think I can hit him with some good knees. I believe I can take him down. I have some cool stuff off my back as well, so yeah, we’ll see.”

  • Rob Font vs. Raul Rosas Jr Announced For Noche UFC Co-Main Event On September 13

    Rob Font vs. Raul Rosas Jr Announced For Noche UFC Co-Main Event On September 13

    The Noche UFC card now officially has a co-main event.

    This year’s Noche UFC will be the third annual event celebrating Mexico’s Independence Day, set for September 13 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. The card was initially planned for Guadalajara, Mexico, as UFC 320, but delays in the construction of Arena Guadalajara forced the promotion to relocate the event to U.S. soil and rebrand it as a Fight Night.

    On Wednesday, the promotion confirmed that seasoned bantamweight contender Rob Font will square off against rising prospect Raul Rosas Jr. in the co-main event of Noche UFC.

    Font is set for his second Octagon appearance of the year after edging out Jean Matsumoto by split decision at UFC Seattle in February. The 38-year-old veteran enters on a two-fight win streak, though his form has been uneven in recent years, going 3-4 across his last seven outings. The American striker carries a 12-7 UFC record, with seven of those victories coming by way of stoppage.

    Meanwhile, Rosas Jr. enters the bout on a four-fight winning streak, most recently outpointing Vince Morales by unanimous decision at UFC Mexico City in March. ‘El Niño Problema’ carries just one blemish on his professional record, a decision loss to Christian Rodriguez at UFC 287 in April 2023. The 20-year-old Mexican standout has already compiled a 5-1 record in the UFC since debuting in December 2022.

    Raul Rosas Jr.
    Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC

    Who Is Set To Headline Noche UFC This Year?

    Noche UFC will be headlined by a pivotal featherweight showdown, as ex-title challenger Diego Lopes squares off against surging knockout artist Jean Silva. The card also features a high-stakes strawweight clash between former title challengers Tatiana Suarez and Amanda Lemos.

    Here is the confirmed lineup:

    • Featherweight: Diego Lopes vs. Jean Silva
    • Bantamweight: Rob Font vs. Raul Rosas Jr.
    • Strawweight: Tatiana Suarez vs. Amanda Lemos
    • Welterweight: Rodrigo Sezinando vs. Daniil Donchenko
    • Lightweight: Jared Gordon vs. Rafa García
    • Flyweight: Jesus Aguilar vs. Luis Gurule
    • Women’s bantamweight: Alice Pereira vs. Montserrat Rendon
    • Lightweight: Claudio Puelles vs. Joaquim Silva
    • Middleweight: José Medina vs. Duško Todorović
    • Middleweight: Zach Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas
    • Flyweight: Alessandro Costa vs. Alden Coria
    • Bantamweight: Quang Le vs. David Martinez
    Image: UFC.com

  • Jake Paul Set To Face Gervonta Davis In An Exhibition Bout On Nov. 14 As Anthony Joshua Negotiations Reportedly Crumble

    Jake Paul Set To Face Gervonta Davis In An Exhibition Bout On Nov. 14 As Anthony Joshua Negotiations Reportedly Crumble

    Jake Paul appears to have secured yet another marquee name to add to his growing list of opponents.

    In recent years, “The Problem Child” has carved out a unique lane in combat sports, headlining a series of crossover showdowns, many against former UFC standouts. Though his matchmaking has largely leaned on star power and spectacle, the YouTuber-turned-boxer has consistently maintained that his ultimate goal is to capture a recognized world title.

    Paul had long campaigned for a showdown with multi-division champion Canelo Alvarez, but those hopes were dashed after the Mexican superstar signed a lucrative four-fight deal with Riyadh Season, which includes his September 13 clash against undisputed titleholder Terence Crawford.

    With that door closed, the former Disney star shifted his sights to a potential clash with former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, eyeing either late this year or sometime in 2026. Yet with recent developments, it seems that ship has already sailed, though Jake Paul has now landed a fight against a long-coveted opponent.

    Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis on Nov. 15
    Image: @jakepaul/Instagram

    Jake Paul To Fight Gervonta Davis In An Exhibition On Nov. 14

    According to a recent report from boxing insider Mike Coppinger, negotiations for a potential Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua super fight have officially fallen through, with broadcasting conflicts cited as the key stumbling block given “AJ’s” exclusive deal with DAZN.

    In the aftermath, “The Problem Child” has secured an exhibition showdown with reigning WBC lightweight champion Gervonta Davis, scheduled for November 15 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, and set to stream live on Netflix.

    The fight features a major weight gap, with “Tank” competing at lightweight, where the limit is 135 pounds. Paul, on the other hand, came in at 200 pounds for his last bout and usually fights in the cruiserweight division.

    Jake Paul last stepped into the ring in June, earning a unanimous decision victory over former WBC middleweight champion Julio César Chávez Jr. He now holds a record of 11-1, with seven of those wins coming by knockout.

    Meanwhile, Davis last competed in March, battling Lamont Roach Jr. to a hard-fought majority draw. “Tank” currently boasts an unbeaten professional record of 30-0-1, with an astounding 28 victories coming by knockout.

    Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis on Nov. 15
    Images: @jakepaul/@gervontaa/Instagram
  • Michael Venom Page Is ready to Go Through Fire, Show Valor vs. Khamzat Chimaev Post-UFC 319

    Michael Venom Page Is ready to Go Through Fire, Show Valor vs. Khamzat Chimaev Post-UFC 319

    Michael Venom Page is not obtuse to the fact that Khamzat Chimaev would be a rough night of work but it is a challenge he is game for, all the same. Appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show in the wake of his win over Jared Cannonier at UFC 319, MVP touched on multiple subjects related to his win over the former UFC middleweight title challenger.

    The former Bellator MMA star also touched on the fact that he is intrigued by a fight with the current UFC middleweight champion who emerged as the newly minted titleholder at the same UFC card Page just bested Cannonier on. In Chicago on August 16th, Chimaev defeated Dricus du Plessis in a dominant performance that saw him notch historic numbers in terms of the striking metrics as ‘Borz’ ascended to the throne.

    While MVP normally plies his trade at welterweight, he now has a pair of impressive wins at middleweight to his credit over Shara Magomedov and the aforementioned Cannonier. When discussing what could be a desired next step or a challenge in the future at the very least, Page said,

    “I was thinking about the champ, Khamzat Chimaev. I’ve had the privilege of being in the gym and watching him work. He is an absolute beast, an absolute animal. What he did was insane. At times I felt like he was being nice when he got someone in the crucifix. I don’t understand why he wasn’t raining down elbows. He was there for like four minutes at a time.”

    Michael Venom Page knows what he would be getting into, but wants to work against Khamzat Chimaev

    As Michael Venom Page further expounded upon his thoughts on the new UFC middleweight titleholder Khamzat Chimaev, Page continued,

    “That guy’s amazing. And I’ve got to make a decision to be really prepared to defend myself and get back up because in my head it doesn’t matter. You have to walk into that fight knowing that you’re going to spend some time on your back and you have to work from there.”

  • Rizin 51: Huge flyweight Grand Prix semifinals and Reserve Bout are Set

    Rizin 51: Huge flyweight Grand Prix semifinals and Reserve Bout are Set

    The RIZIN flyweight Grand Prix semifinals have been set, as well as an alternate bout for the tournament, for Rizin 51 in the Fall. On September 28th, Yuki Motoya will be taking on Makoto Shinryu in one of the semi final clashes.

    Motoya is a veteran of over fifty professional MMA bouts and the 35-year-old has tested skills with several notable names during his tenure in the sport. Motoya has battled the likes of Tatsumitsu Wada, Masakazu Imanari, Kyoji Horiguchi, Patchy Mix, Hiromasa Ougikubo, Victor Henry, Justin Scoggins, Kai Asakura, and Rogério Bontorin to name but a few.

    For Shinryu, he is entering with around half the professional MMA experience of Motoya who is ten years Shinryu’s senior. After Shinryu lost a narrow split decision to Jose ‘Shorty’ Torres, the 25-year-old combatant would secure bounce back wins over Yuki Ito and Erson Yamamoto. Shinryu has also fought in mixed martial arts with individuals who have big combative cache like Hiromasa Ougikubo, Tatsumitsu Wada, Diego Paiva, Hideo Tokoro, and Kyoji Horiguchi.

    The other side of the grand prix bracket will see Hiromasa Ougikubo versus Alibek Gazhammatov transpire.

    Ougikubo notably has a win over current UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja and the tenured veteran is on a three fight win streak that is comprised of victories against John Dodson, Makoto Shinryu, and Jose ‘Shorty’ Torres. The 38-year-old has tested skills with fighters like Kai Asakura and Kyoji Horiguchi with Ougikubo previously capturing the 2021 Rizin bantamweight Grand Prix championship with a focus on also adding a RFF flyweight GP title to his mantle.

    For Gazhammatov, while he only boasts a 6-0 pro MMA record, the Dagestan native has a one hundred percent finishing rate. Gazhammatov is 2-0 specifically under the Rizin banner after a four fight run with ACA Young Eagles and most recently finished the well regarded Takaki Soya with strikes at Super Rizin 4 in July.

    Rizin 51 semi finals set and the reserved bout has been announced

    The reserve bout is only fifty percent filled out at this juncture as Yuki Ito will test skills with the dreaded TBA with a more firmed up bout cofnirmation expected in the coming weeks.

    Rizin 51 emanates from IG Arena in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan with a headliner set between Razhabali Shaydullaev and Viktor Kolesnik for the RFF featherweight championship.

  • Julio Cesar Chavez Jr Deported To Mexico, Facing Charges Over Alleged Cartel Connection

    Julio Cesar Chavez Jr Deported To Mexico, Facing Charges Over Alleged Cartel Connection

    A little less than two months after his initial arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has been deported to Mexico, where he is currently in a prison.

    “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security deported Julio Cesar Chávez Jr. to Mexican authorities to face charges in accordance with his country’s justice system,” Ronald Johnson, U.S. ambassador to Mexico, said in a statement on social media. “This action reflects the strong cooperation between our governments, demonstrating that collaboration yields results and strengthens the security of both nations.”

    Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Deported To Mexico

    In early July, Chavez Jr. was detained by ICE near his residence in Los Angeles, facing allegations of unlawful entry into the United States.

    Chavez Jr. is alleged to be involved with the Sinaloa Cartel, a group that has been deemed terroristic by the U.S. government. Chavez Jr. allegedly has had an arrest warrant in Mexico since 2023, reportedly due connections to the Cartel, and he is alleged to have helped traffic firearms, ammunitions, and explosives.

    Per Damon Martin of MMA Fighting, After 46 days in detention, Chavez Jr. was transported to a jail in Sonora.

    Chavez Jr. and his team and family have maintained the boxer’s innocence in this matter.

    The arrest by ICE came just days after the former WBC middleweight champion dropped a decision to Jake Paul in a highly criticized and lackluster bout.

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 2 Highlights As 5 Awarded UFC Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 2 Highlights As 5 Awarded UFC Contracts

    The latest season of Dana White’s Contender Series continued with a memorable night of action filled with highlights in Las Vegas.

    DWCS began in 2017 and has produced a notable number of fighters currently on the UFC’s roster. Since the show’s inception in 2017, a couple have even gone on to claim UFC championships. Known as “The ultimate job interview,” DWCS features five fights weekly, over the course of 10 weeks, as combatants compete to impress UFC CEO and President Dana White and earn a UFC contract.

    Last year’s edition saw 42 fighters earn a contract with the world’s leading MMA organization across 10 events, slightly down from the 46 handed out in 2023. Episode two of season nine this week saw five prospects earn the opportunity to taste the Octagon’s bright lights.

    The night got started with a strong performance from Ramiro Jimenez, who scored a first-round finish of Tommy Cuozzi Jr. Jimenez worked over Cuozzi’s body early, especially with the left hand, before a one-two scored a knockdown of Cuozzi. Jimenez continued to target the body and do damage with powerful shots, ending things by grabbing Cuozzi and landing a pair of elbows. That dominant performance earned him the nod from Dana White for a UFC contract.

    Former NFL player and collegiate wrestler Josh Hokit looked to make a statement with his victory over Guilherme Uriel. Hokit completely controlled the action with wrestling, attempting nine takedowns during the first round and scoring on most of them. Though Uriel started to defend takedowns during the later part of the round, it was clear he was worn down. Hokit then scored an easy takedown seconds into the second round, dominating on the ground before finishing things with elbows.

    Hokit then delivered a Colby Covington-esque promo after his win, claiming himself to be the savior of the heavyweight division.

    Louis Lee Scott was also in action on the night, defeating Kaushik Saikumar, the first Indian fighter to compete on DWCS. Despite his weight miss, Lee Scott shook off Saikumar’s grappling, including a pair of leg lock attempts, and put on a fairly strong striking performance. Lee Scott would overwhelm Saikumar with strikes to score a third-round TKO. And despite the weight miss, White gave him a contract as well.

    Cam Rowston and Brandon Holmes’ co-main fight was a violent affair for how long it lasted, but it was Rowston who scored the win after an elbow rocked Holmes, leading eventually to a flurry of strikes that’d result in not only another first-round finish and contract — but also Rowston earning a spot on the UFC Perth card next month.

    The main event of the evening saw Jose Delano put up a dominant performance over a durable Manuel Exposito. Despite Exposito trying to get to a strong start early, Delano seemed to land at will on Exposito, busting him open and putting on a beating for a full 15 minutes. In spite of not getting the finish, his performance was enough to earn the nod from White, giving all five winners on the night UFC contracts.

    Ramiro Jimenez def. Tommy Cuozzi Jr. via TKO (R1, 2:53)

    Josh Hokit def. Guilherme Uriel via TKO (R2, 1:06)

    Louis Lee Scott def. Kaushik Saikumar via TKO (R3, 2:20)

    Cam Rowston def. Brandon Holmes via TKO (R1, 2:58)

    Jose Delano def. Manuel Exposito via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

  • Reinier de Ridder vs. Anthony Hernandez To Headline UFC Vancouver On October 18, Other Fights Announced

    Reinier de Ridder vs. Anthony Hernandez To Headline UFC Vancouver On October 18, Other Fights Announced

    Two men who recently made headway in the UFC middleweight title picture will gain another opportunity to inch even closer to a shot at Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC Vancouver main event.

    Renier de Ridder and Anthony Hernandez competed in the card’s main event, which goes down on October 18 at the Rogers Arena.

    UFC CEO & President Dana White officially confirmed this bout, as well as others, during an Instagram live stream.

    White also hinted that the winner who performs best between this fight and the Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho bout that takes place at UFC Paris on September 6 may be first in line to challenge Chimaev. Chimaev defeated Dricus Du Plessis for the middleweight title at UFC 319 this past Saturday.

    Reinier De Ridder vs. Anthony Hernandez To Headline UFC Vancouver, Marlon Vera vs. Aiemann Zahabi To Serve As Co-Main

    De Ridder, the former two-division champion in ONE Championship, is 4-0 in the UFC since making his promotional debut this past November. He has scored submissions over Gerald Meerschaert and Kevin Holland, a TKO of Bo Nickal, and a split decision over former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. The Whittaker fight took place just last month in the UFC Abu Dhabi main event.

    Hernandez has won eight straight and is 9-2 in the UFC. He fought just a couple of weeks ago in the UFC Vegas 109 main event, dominating Roman Dolidze en route to a fourth-round submission.

    The UFC Vancouver co-main event will see former bantamweight title challenger Marlon “Chito” Vera taking on Aiemann Zahabi.

    Vera has lost two straight and three of his last four, having last fought in a loss to Deiveson Figueiredo at last year’s UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Night event. Zahabi, meanwhile, has won six straight and is 7-2 in the UFC. Zahabi fought in a featherweight bout at UFC 315, defeating former bantamweight king Jose Aldo, who retired from pro MMA a second time following the bout.

    The aforementioned Holland will also be competing at UFC Vancouver, facing Mike Malott. Holland is 3-3 in his last six, dropping a decision to Daniel Rodriguez in a wild fight at UFC 318 that Holland took on short notice. Malott is 12-2-1 in professional MMA, which includes a 5-1 UFC record since joining off a first-round finish on Dana White’s Contender Series. Malott most recently fought at UFC 315, knocking out Charles Radtke.

    An important women’s flyweight contest was also announced, as Manon Fiorot will take on Jasmine Jasudavicius. Fiorot unsuccessfully challenged Valentina Shevchenko for the women’s flyweight title at UFC 315 — a fight that snapped a 7-0 unbeaten run in the UFC and a 12-fight winning streak Fiorot had since dropping her pro MMA debut. Jasudavicius, meanwhile, has won five straight and seven of eight, submitting Jessica Andrade on that same UFC 315 card.

  • Gable Steveson, Former Olympic Gold Medalist And NCAA Champion, Set To Make Pro MMA Debut

    Gable Steveson, Former Olympic Gold Medalist And NCAA Champion, Set To Make Pro MMA Debut

    Another former Olympic champion will be joining the professional MMA world, as Gable Steveson is set to make his debut in the sport next month.

    Steveson, who won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021, will be featured in the co-main event of LFA 217 on September 12, taking on Braden Peterson.

    The MMA fight will also come just a couple of weeks following Steveson’s scheduled submission grappling debut. Steveson will compete against Craig Jones at the Craig Jones Invitational 2 on August 31.

    Gable Steveson To Make Professional MMA Debut At LFA 217

    Competing in wrestling for nearly all of his life, Steveson, who competed for the University of Minnesota, is perhaps one of the best NCAA wrestlers in modern history. He was a five-time NCAA Division-I All-American, a two-time national champion, a four-time Big Ten conference champion, and a two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner.

    Steveson fell short of capturing the 2025 NCAA heavyweight national title this past March, falling short in the final seconds of his bout with Wyatt Hendrickson. The bout, the last of Steveson’s NCAA career, snapped a 70-bout win streak.

    In addition to his freestyle wrestling Olympic gold and NCAA success, Steveson was a 2021 Pan-American champion, a 2017 U20 world champion, and a 2015 and 2016 U17 world champion.

    Steveson’s career, however, was briefly halted in 2019 when he and a teammate were arrested and suspended from all team activities at Minnesota following accusations of sexual assault. Criminal charges were dropped at the end of the year due to a lack of evidence.

    Steveson also halted his NCAA senior season after signing an NIL (Next In-Line) deal with the WWE in 2021, becoming the second Olympic gold medalist to be signed by the WWE, following 1996 Olympic gold winner Kurt Angle. Steveson’s appearances, however, were sporadic and he would be released in 2024.

    Not long after his WWE release, Steveson, despite never playing football before, tried to make the roster of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. He would be released following the 2024 pre-season.

    Peterson, Stevenson’s opponent, went 4-1 on the amateur MMA circuit this year, picking up an amateur super heavyweight title in the process. Peterson made his professional MMA debut in July, scoring a 14-second finish of Chris Thompson.