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  • Khamzat Chimaev Is Standing My Way of Becoming the Greatest of All Time, Says Dricus Du Plessis

    Khamzat Chimaev Is Standing My Way of Becoming the Greatest of All Time, Says Dricus Du Plessis

    Khamzat Chimaev is nothing more than another stepping stone toward Dricus du Plessis’ ultimate MMA goal.

    After bagging impressive title defenses against Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, ‘DDP’ will face his toughest test yet when he puts his undisputed middleweight gold on the line against ‘Borz’ at UFC 319 this Saturday night, August 16, in Chicago.

    Sitting on an impressive 9-0 run inside the Octagon, du Plessis dreams of one day retiring from mixed martial arts as the greatest fighter the sport has ever seen. With a win over Chimaev, the South African sensation believes he’ll be one step closer to achieving that goal.

    “I don’t care what the fans see,” du Plessis told Helen Yee. “Every time I defend that title, there’s going to be a next best guy. And that’s how I see him. He’s the next step. He’s the next guy in my way to becoming the greatest.”

    Will Dricus du Plessis continue to defy the odds against Khamzat Chimaev?

    As was the case in seven of his nine fights under the UFC banner, du Plessis goes into UFC 319 as the underdog. As it stands, the undefeated Chechen monster is a 2-to-1 favorite to leave ‘Chi-Town’ with the 185-pound crown wrapped around his waist.

    Of course, du Plessis has made a career out of defying the odds.

    Robert Whittaker was a -400 favorite to defeat ‘DDP’ before getting brutally knocked out by ‘Stillknocks’ at UFC 290. ‘DDP’ was then a +130 underdog in his first title tilt with Sean Strickland and a +150 dog in his subsequent title defense against ‘The Last Stylebender’ in August 2024.

    Will du Plessis defy the odds once again and take another giant step towards MMA immortality? Fortunately, we won’t have to wait much longer to find out.

  • UFC & Paramount: Why Fans Are the Biggest Winners and Fighters The Biggest Losers

    UFC & Paramount: Why Fans Are the Biggest Winners and Fighters The Biggest Losers

    Fans are going to win big with the UFC’s new Paramount partnership. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for fighters.

    On Monday, it was announced that the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s broadcasting deal with ESPN+ will end after Paramount plunked down $7.7 billion to obtain the company’s exclusive streaming rights for the next seven years starting in 2026.

    Perhaps the most exciting bit of news is the fact that fans will no longer have to shell out $80 per month for pay-per-view events as all UFC cards, including premium numbered shows, will air exclusively on on Paramount’s streaming service, effectively killing the promotion’s antiquated pay-per-view era.

    That’ll save UFC fans nearly $1,000 annually, but it may come with a cost.

    “The fans are big winners because now it goes from having a plus subscription, plus having to buy pay-per-views for $79.99,” Ariel Helwani said while discussing the UFC/Paramount deal. “If you’re a hardcore fan, that equals approximately $1,000 a year. Now, you don’t have to do that anymore. And as of right now, it’s either eight bucks or 13 bucks to be a Paramount+ subscriber. Way cheaper than being an ESPN Plus UFC fan.”

    “The fighters, to me, they’re the big losers here. Not because the viewership gets affected, that remains to be seen. But they’re sitting here watching all the executives wave their pompoms and say how great this is. They’re hearing Dana White say, this is good for the fighters. So I ask, how is it good for the fighters? Is the base pay going up? Is the introductory pay going up? Are they getting rid of the show-win model? Are the performance bonuses now going to be $100k a pop as opposed to 50k? What becomes of the champions with pay-per-view points? No one has told the fighters. They didn’t consult them. They don’t have to. There’s no collective bargaining agreement.”

    Dana White confirms fighter bonuses will increase with Paramount deal

    With implementation of the UFC/Paramount deal still months away, there’s plenty of time for Dana White and Co. to figure out how to make up for a fighter’s lost PPV points, though White did acknowledge that bonuses would be “going up” following Tuesday’s episode of DWCS.

    “Bonuses are obviously going up,” White said. “So that’ll be big. And just forget about the tide rising with all the other fighters. I mean, just the number that the bonuses bring to a fighter is millions of dollars.”

  • What will the Fighters Get from the New Paramount & UFC Deal? Dana White Explains

    What will the Fighters Get from the New Paramount & UFC Deal? Dana White Explains

    Dana White attempted to quell some of the concerns regarding fighter pay following the UFC’s groundbreaking deal with Paramount.

    On Monday, it was announced that starting in 2026, Ultimate Fighting Championship events will be exclusive to Paramount+ after the streamer plunked down a whopping $7.7 billion dollars for seven years. Perhaps the most exciting bit of news was the reveal that the UFC’s premium numbered events typically reserved for pay-per-view would be included in the deal, meaning fight fans will no longer have to shell out $80 per month on top of a subscription fee.

    However, the deal did leave pundits with one question — how will this effect fighter pay? Specifically, what happens to the hundreds of thousands of dollars that UFC champions and top stars earn annually via PPV points?

    “The fighters are going to get tons of promotion, you know, built by all these different unbelievable networks that these guys own,” White said following Tuesday’s new episode of DWCS. “And, you know, they’re aggressive, smart guys that that are going to build a big media company.

    “It’s not massive restructuring. You know, we got a bunch of smart kids over there that work in the accounting department to figure out how to make all this stuff work. But it’s so good for the fighters and what I love about being with one company that made such a big investment in us is they’re all in with us.”

    White confirms fighter bonuses will be ‘going up’ with new Paramount partnership

    While White was light on the specifics, he did confirm that fighter bonuses would see a significant increase starting next year.

    “Bonuses are obviously going up,” White continued. “So that’ll be big. And just forget about the tide rising with all the other fighters. I mean, just the number that the bonuses bring to a fighter is millions of dollars.”

  • Baysangur Susurkaev To Make UFC Debut At UFC 319, Four Days After DWCS Appearance

    Baysangur Susurkaev To Make UFC Debut At UFC 319, Four Days After DWCS Appearance

    When he was awarded his new UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, Baysangur Susurkaev held up four fingers. The message was he wanted a quick turnaround — he wanted to fight at UFC 319 this coming weekend to be on the same card as his teammate, UFC middleweight title challenger Khamzat Chimaev.

    And now, it appears Susurkaev is going to be getting his wish.

    As initially reported on social media by Zac Coffman, host of the 4oz to Freedom podcast, Susurkaev will be competing in a short-notice bout for this weekend’s pay-per-view card, taking on Eric Nolan.

    Baysangur Susurkaev vs. Eric Nolan Booked For This Weekend’s UFC 319 On Three Days’ Notice

    Susurkaev was arguably the only standout performer of the premiere for season nine of Dana White’s Contender Series, which took place yesterday, August 12. Susurkaev scored a body-kick KO of Murtaza Talha in the night’s sole finish, leading to the UFC CEO and President to say he loved everything about him and told him to stand by for a major opportunity.

    The opportunity for Susurkaev mirrors that of Chimaev’s first appearances with the UFC. After Chimaev quickly submitted John Phillips at UFC Fight Island 1 in July 2020, Chimaev turned around 10 days later for a short-notice fight with Rhys McKee at UFC Fight Island 3, scoring a first-round finish.

    Prior to the DWCS appearance, which improved him to 9-0, Susurkaev had most recently fought in February, finishing Irakli Kuchukhidze at Fury FC 102.

    Nolan, who is 8-3, won the CFFC welterweight title in May with a three-minute knockout of Blayne Richards at CFFC 142.

  • Mike Perry vs. Jeremy Stephens For King Of Violence Title Booked For BKFC 82

    Mike Perry vs. Jeremy Stephens For King Of Violence Title Booked For BKFC 82

    Two UFC veterans who are all about the violence will clash for BKFC’s King of Violence title when the promotion appears in New Jersey for the first time this fall.

    BKFC President David Feldman announced on The Ariel Helwani Show on August 13 that Mike Perry will defend his King of Violence title against Jeremy Stephens in the main event of BKFC 82 on October 4.

    Feldman additionally told Helwani that while original plans called for Perry to face Darren Till at this event, an agreement was unable to be reached. Robbie Lawler also served as a backup idea, but he’s still under UFC contract control post-retirement.

    Mike Perry vs. Jeremy Stephens Booked For BKFC 82 This October

    This will mark Perry’s first appearance for BKFC since his one-minute finish of Thiago Alves at KnuckleMania IV in April 2014.

    Perry would end up competing in a boxing match with Jake Paul that July, losing by sixth-round TKO. Since that loss, Perry has had public spats with BKFC part-owner Conor McGregor.

    Stephens fought at KnuckleMania V this past January, finishing Eddie Alvarez. He then had a one-off fight in the UFC in May, dropping a decision to Mason Jones in a barnburner at UFC Des Moines.

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

  • Lerone Murphy explains why Mike Tyson has always been his inspiration ahead of UFC 319

    Lerone Murphy explains why Mike Tyson has always been his inspiration ahead of UFC 319

    Undefeated UFC featherweight Lerone Murphy has explained why Mike Tyson has always been a big inspiration of his.

    On Saturday night, Lerone Murphy will attempt to make his case for a shot at the UFC featherweight championship. He’ll do this by trying to defeat Aaron Pico, who has a lot of hype behind him after making the move over from the Bellator-PFL brand. Of course, while Murphy may be unbeaten, this isn’t exactly going to be a walk in the park for him.

    For Lerone Murphy, it’s about proving a point. He isn’t the most thrilling fighter in the division when it comes to picking up stoppage wins, but so long as he can keep grinding out victories, it’ll be hard to deny that he deserves a shot at the belt.

    In a recent interview with Card Player, Lerone Murphy spoke candidly about why he sees Mike Tyson as an inspiration in his career.

    Lerone Murphy reveals Mike Tyson as his inspiration

    “My inspiration has always been Mike Tyson, just because I believe he had a similar upbringing as me, around the same stuff. And then turned his life around, went into fighting early and just smashed it and he was just himself. I’ve read his book and I’ve watched all his podcasts. That’s somebody that inspired me the most in terms of combat sports. He also had a crazy mindset that I relate to.”

    Quotes via Card Player

    Can Murphy extend his unbeaten run on Saturday? We’ll have to wait and see.

  • Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev: Michael ‘Venom’ Page believes both are beatable

    Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev: Michael ‘Venom’ Page believes both are beatable

    UFC star Michael ‘Venom’ Page has given his thoughts on the upcoming UFC 319 main event between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.

    On Saturday night, we will see Dricus du Plessis defend his UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev. It’s a fight that has been a long time coming, and it’s easily one of the most unpredictable title bouts of the year. They have dramatically different styles, they’re both physical, and they both go on the hunt for a finish.

    There are a lot of different ways it can go, and the predictions that have been flying in are all over the place. Some are backing Dricus du Plessis to simply outlast Khamzat Chimaev, whereas others can see ‘Borz’ getting the champ out of there early.

    In a recent podcast appearance, Michael Page became the latest fighter to weigh in on what could go down when Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev finally collide.

    MVP previews Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev

    “When we talk about Dricus Du Plessis versus Khamzat Chimaev, the thing people don’t realise is that both fighters are so different in their chaos. Dricus is unorthodox and unpredictable, and that makes him dangerous even when he looks like he’s slowing down. Khamzat is pure intensity from bell to bell, but if you can survive that first hurricane, you start to see the openings. Both are beatable, but you have to be willing to walk through fire to get there.”

    Who’s going to get it done, fight fans?

  • Joe Rogan: Being a UFC Fighter is the ‘Nuttiest’ Job in the World

    Joe Rogan: Being a UFC Fighter is the ‘Nuttiest’ Job in the World

    UFC commentator Joe Rogan has explained why being a fighter is one of the craziest jobs out there.

    As we know, Joe Rogan has served as one of the main voices of the Ultimate Fighting Championship over the course of the last few decades. In that time, he’s seen a lot of fighters come and go – and he’s seen the sport of mixed martial arts evolve in ways that few of us could’ve imagined was possible. In the present day, the UFC has just signed a new blockbuster deal with Paramount that looks set to take the promotion to a whole new level.

    Joe Rogan will be along for the ride, continuing to defend and promote mixed martial arts against all of those who criticize it. While not everyone is going to be a big fan of the product, largely due to the violent nature of the sport, it certainly seems to be getting accepted more so now than it was even just a few years ago.

    In a recent episode of his podcast, Joe Rogan spoke candidly about what it’s like to be a professional fighter.

    Joe Rogan hypes up mixed martial arts

    “It’s very different than a street fight because you’re agreeing to it and you’re training for it. You’ve got this other person who’s like training. You know they’re scary as [expletive] and they’re on the other side of the cage and then you step in and the two of you are about to go to war. It’s the nuttiest job in the history of the world. It really is. Other than war and being a firefighter or a cop, it is the nuttiest job in the history of the world. You’re agreeing to throw bones at each other in front of the world. Millions of people. People love it.”

  • Khamzat Chimaev via Submission Over Dricus Du Plessis, says Undefeated Featherweight

    Khamzat Chimaev via Submission Over Dricus Du Plessis, says Undefeated Featherweight

    Undefeated UFC featherweight Lerone Murphy believes that Khamzat Chimaev will be able to pick up the win over Dricus du Plessis in the main event of UFC 319.

    On Saturday night, Khamzat Chimaev will challenge Dricus du Plessis for the UFC middleweight championship. It’s expected to be a highly technical, back and forth affair, and in truth, it’s pretty hard to conclusively say who is the favorite. Chimaev has his incredible wrestling ability, whereas du Plessis is one of the most unpredictable fighters in UFC history.

    They both have numerous paths to victory, and regardless of whether it ends via early finish or decision, we expect that there are going to be plenty of chaotic moments for fans to enjoy.

    In a recent interview with Card Player, the aforementioned Lerone Murphy backed Khamzat Chimaev to secure the win and the title via submission.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HapRvYu44is

    Lerone Murphy’s view on Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev

    “Khamzat’s all gas on the pedal. Everyone’s saying if Khamzat wins he wins in the first round and if Dricus wins he wins later rounds. But I think you have to put more respect on Khamzat. He is not just going to gas out after the first round and give up if you don’t finish him. It’s going to be a tough fight for both of them, to be honest. But I see Khamzat getting his hand raised – maybe getting a third or second round submission.”

    Quotes via Card Player

    Do you agree with Lerone? Let us know, fight fans.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Not Impressed with Khamzat Chimaev’s Size After Meeting Him

    Dricus Du Plessis Not Impressed with Khamzat Chimaev’s Size After Meeting Him

    UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis isn’t impressed by the size of UFC 319 opponent Khamzat Chimaev ahead of their clash on Saturday night.

    This weekend, Dricus du Plessis will defend his middleweight crown against Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC 319. It’s expected to be a pretty competitive back and forth affair, and while it’s hard to predict what’s going to happen, there’s no denying that DDP will do well to overcome the dominant wrestling style that Chimaev possesses.

    Recently, the two men bumped into one another during fight week. Khamzat Chimaev came up to Dricus du Plessis and shook his hands, the pair seemed to be pretty professional about the whole thing. Of course, that could all come crumbling down like a house of cards during the upcoming UFC 319 press conference.

    In a recent interview, Dricus du Plessis made it clear that he didn’t feel like Khamzat was that much bigger than him.

    Dricus du Plessis doesn’t care about Khamzat Chimaev’s size

    “I don’t give a s*** how big he is. It’s not what wins fights, but yeah, I saw him. He’s not definitely not bigger than me.”

    du Plessis has never been the kind of guy who is going to shy away from a fight. If anything, he’s going to embrace it. The South African sensation is heading into this one with all the confidence in the world and if he can pull off the win, he’ll started to be talked about as one of the greatest middleweights of all time.

  • Dubai to Host PFL Champions Series on October 3 Featuring Two World Title Rematches – Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 2

    Dubai to Host PFL Champions Series on October 3 Featuring Two World Title Rematches – Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 2

    The PFL will stage a major championship event in Dubai on October 3, headlined by two world title bouts at the Coca-Cola Arena. The card, titled PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch, will feature the return meeting between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes, as well as a light heavyweight title clash between Corey Anderson and Dovlet Yagshimuradov.

    Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 2

    The main event will see undefeated lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov (19-0, 1 NC) defend his title against Ireland’s Paul Hughes (14-2). The pair fought earlier this year in January at the same venue, producing a five-round contest that many regarded as one of the best fights of the year. Nurmagomedov was declared the winner by decision, though the result was the subject of fan debate. Hughes has since returned with a rapid 42-second win over Bruno Miranda in May, using his post-fight interview to directly call for the rematch.

    Nurmagomedov, known for his technical control and tactical approach, holds notable wins over former champions Patricky Pitbull and Benson Henderson, competing in what is considered one of MMA’s most competitive divisions. The October meeting will mark his latest defence against one of his closest rivals.

    Corey Anderson vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov

    The co-main event will revisit a previous encounter between former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Corey Anderson (19-6) and reigning PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament Champion Dovlet Yagshimuradov (25-7-1). Anderson won their first match in the 2021 Bellator World Grand Prix Quarterfinal by third-round stoppage. Since that bout, Anderson has collected the Bellator title and recently halted 2024 PFL Heavyweight Champion Denis Goltsov. Yagshimuradov, representing Turkmenistan, has gone unbeaten in his last seven fights, securing the PFL light heavyweight belt with a victory over Impa Kasanganay.

    2025 PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series: at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, UAE, Saturday, Saturday, January, 25, 2025. (Jose Peñuela / PFL)

    PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch

    The undercard will include an undefeated heavyweight meeting between Pouya Rahmani (4-0) and Slim Trabelsi (8-0). Also scheduled is a 165-pound grudge bout between Zubaira Tukhugov (20-6-1) and Artem Lobov (14-15-1), originally planned for 2018 but cancelled after the UFC 229 post-fight incident. In welterweight action, 2024 PFL MENA Champion Omar El Dafrawy (14-5) meets PFL Europe Champion Florim Zendeli (10-1-1), with both fighters riding unbeaten streaks.

    2025 PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series: at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, UAE, Saturday, Saturday, January, 25, 2025. (Jose Peñuela / PFL)

    The event is part of the PFL’s ongoing “Road to Dubai” initiative, run in partnership with the Dubai Sports Council and Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. Launched in November 2024, the campaign has brought multiple international MMA cards to the UAE and will culminate in the Road to Dubai Finale in January.

    PFL CEO John Martin called the October event one of the league’s biggest nights, noting the significance of staging two championship fights in Dubai. He cited the city’s growing position as a host for major MMA events and the PFL’s role in presenting high-level competition on a global stage.

  • Georges St-Pierre: Big, New $7B-Plus UFC-Paramount Deal “Terrible for the Fighters”

    Georges St-Pierre: Big, New $7B-Plus UFC-Paramount Deal “Terrible for the Fighters”

    UFC has just announced a new massive rights deal with Paramount but the promotion’s decision to phase out pay-per-views when we enter 2026 has Georges St-Pierre concerned for the future well being of fighters and their financial situation. The rights agreement was announced on Monday with Paramount that netted the MMA leader a whopping $7.7 billion dollars over the course of the seven year deal.

    Paramount+ or CBS will now carry numbered events for the UFC but Georges St-Pierre does not seem convinced this idea will be beneficial to the in-cage competitors contracted to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Negotiating a cut of the capital accrued by pay-per-view events used to be a major piece of the negotiating equation for combatants with GSP likely cashing sizable cheques from the PPV points that the massive shows he was featured on would have garnered.

    This subject was discussed during an interview with Covers when St-Pierre said,

    “It could be good for the UFC, as a promoter, but terrible for the fighters because when I was competing I was able to have a great argument to negotiate on my contract. I could tell the UFC, ‘Hey, if you want me to do all the promotion, I want to become a partner. I want a piece of the pie to negotiate a part of the pay-per-view revenue.”

    “Because if I’m doing all the promotion, I’m helping you, but you need to help me. You need to make me a partner.’ So it might be a bad thing for the fighters in a way that they have less leverage. “That’s what I think. I think it’s going to take off some leverage for the big names to have an argument to negotiate more money.”

    UFC PPV points and Georges St-Pierre’s legacy as a star

    While the UFC PPV points were not historically widely available to the public as far as specific amounts fighters would receive, it provided a lane for standout athletes to at least earn a bit more in a spot that is notorious for having such low revenue share among the athletes. GSP’s last outing took place in November 2017 when he finished Michael Bisping to become the UFC middleweight champion at UFC 217 and has been in some of the biggest blockbuster bouts in the history of mixed martial arts.

    Georges St-Pierre’s involvement with UFC 100 made it an all time iconic show for the company with Brock Lesnar engaging in a rematch with Frank Mir in the headliner but GSP also did huge nights of business with Nick Diaz at UFC 158, BJ Penn in a rematch at UFC 94, Jake Shields at UFC 129, and a sequel clash with Josh Koscheck at UFC 124 to name but a few.

  • How Controversial Figure CM Punk Earned the Respect of a BKFC Edmonton Victor

    How Controversial Figure CM Punk Earned the Respect of a BKFC Edmonton Victor

    CM Punk is a well known WWE star who also does broadcasting work for CFFC with a multi-fight BKFC competitor recently recalling his interaction with the former AEW and WWE champion after fighting on a past card for the New Jersey-based MMA promotion. Adam De Freitas has a history at the 2300 Arena even prior to his March fight in Philly for BKFC with a previous foray into the CFFC cage under his belt at the old ECW Arena.

    De Frietas touched on this subject while he appeared on Bare Knuckle Bowker before eventually securing his first ever bare knuckle win with a first round knockout of Skyler Mauller at BKFC Edmonton on August 9th. When asked if there were interactions that were had with CM Punk while both did their thing for CFFC on that event from a few years ago, De Freitas said,

    “Actually yeah. So I’m trying to remember the name of the guy I fought. He was really good. We had a great fight. I thought I won. It was a split decision for him. He took me down a lot, but he did nothing on the ground. I lit him up, dropped him twice, almost had a submission. Even on the ground, I was hitting him with elbows.”

    “But I have to respect the fact that if he’s on top, even if he’s doing nothing, if he’s on top, in a lot of judges eyes, he’s winning, right? But I lost a split in Philly, which you know, you lose a split to the hometown guy, you can kind of walk away thinking you won that fight. But I went backstage. CM Punk did come up. He did say he thought I won. We probably have about a 5 minute conversation.”

    “I doubt he even remembers it because it was probably 5-6 years ago. But yeah, he honestly he seemed pretty cool. He didn’t act like this giant character or anything like that. He came up and told me, “Yeah, [I] thought [you] won that fight.” and it was kind of just like shooting the s**t with one of the gym bros. He was pretty laidback and seemed like a pretty humble guy. I don’t watch too much wrestling and I don’t know him from his character, but I seem to be a fan, man. I didn’t mind the guy, seemed pretty cool.”

    The Adam De Freitas-CM Punk Interaction at CFFC: “He didn’t have to do that”

    When recalling more of his CM Punk meeting that happened when fighting in CFFC, in a bout that saw the Canadian combatant lose to Ryan Rizco via split decision, De Freitas stated,

    “Yeah, I think he [Rizco] was same team as Eddie Alvarez. Decent boxing, but I was a way better boxer, but it was the wrestling. He kept taking me down and I made the mistake of thinking because I’m throwing up submissions and hitting him with elbows off my back that I didn’t have to stand up. So again another loss and I still think I won but I got to own it, man.”

    “I didn’t try to stand back up, so I lost a split decision to him. But yeah, I met CM Punk backstage he was like yes, a super cool guy you know. Came up and showed respect to the fighters backstage after. He didn’t have to do that, right, so I respect that.”

  • “Bright Futures Ahead Of You” – The TUF Stuff: The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 Episode 12 Recap

    “Bright Futures Ahead Of You” – The TUF Stuff: The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 Episode 12 Recap

    Welcome, everyone, to the 12th and final edition of The TUF Stuff!

    Each week, I’ll be guiding you through a recap of this season’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter, providing updates on what happens in each episode — from the drama and storylines out of the Octagon, to the looks into who the competing fighters are, to what goes down inside the cage.

    This season celebrates the 20th anniversary of TUF. That inaugural season from 2005 helped to influence many future MMA fans, media members, and fighters (yours truly included). And now, two more fighters this summer will get the opportunity to call themselves TUF champions when it’s all said and done.

    Last week saw the second flyweight semifinal, with Team Sonnen’s Joseph Morales scoring a highly controversial decision over Team Cormier’s Imanol Rodriguez. Morales will face Alibi Idiris in the flyweight finale during the UFC 319 prelims this Saturday.

    Recap of The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 – Episode 12

    Now, Team Cormier’s Daniil Donchenko faces Team Sonnen’s Matt Dixon for the right to face Team Cormier’s Rodrigo Sezinando in the welterweight finale at UFC 319!

    Let’s get into episode 12 of The Ultimate Fighter!

    Out In Las Vegas

    As a thank you to the fighters for partaking in the celebration of TUF’s 20th anniversary, Dana White, Daniel Cormier, and Chael Sonnen took the fighters out to Las Vegas. A Vegas Hilton billboard spotlights TUF artwork. Sonnen says while it’s hard for them to call themselves one, considering it’s a competition, tonight is a night they could celebrate their accomplishments. Cormier tells the TUF cast they are all special kids with bright futures ahead of them.

    The fighters take time out at Fuhu Restaurant at Resorts World.

    Cormier says the attitudes of the teams are telling, with Cormier and his team being wild, while Sonnen and his team acting professional.

    TUF House

    Members of Team Sonnen sat around a fire, reflecting on how they got to partake in such an experience. Andreaas Binder reflects that he will miss everyone in the TUF House.

    Team Sonnen Training Session – Rashad Evans Joins

    Assistant Coach Jamie Huey brings in a UFC Hall of Famer to join them with Chael Sonnen unable to join afternoon practice — TUF season two winner and season 10 coach, and former UFC light heavyweight champion, Rashad Evans.

    Evans tells the guys that this is a “savage sport” despite the comradery. “You have to tap into that savagery when you’re out there,” Evans said. “Because guess what? That’s what you’re up against.”

    Dixon says Evans is deep and wise from his experience.

    Evans works with the team on transitions, saying the best fighters fight in transition. He adds that fighters have to bring the violence and be willing to sacrifice to get to the top.

    Matt Dixon Call Home

    Dixon receives a call from his family, looking in awe especially at his daughter, whose first two teeth have grown in.

    Dixon says this call from his family re-motivated him, reminding him why he’s here and why he does what he does.

    Dixon says he’s super grateful he got to do this opportunity, and his family are proud of what he’s doing.

    Daniil Donchenko Fight Prep

    Cormier says that Donchenko needs to fight smart and creatively, and he needs to out-pressure Dixon.

    Donchenko says he saw holes in Dixon’s game and feels he has the ability to knock Dixon out.

    Cormier says Dixon will put on pressure and try to brawl with Donchenko — a kind of fight that falls into Donchenko’s hands.

    Cormier says the fight will be a war, and that while Dixon likes to bring the fight, Donchenko takes that kind of fight in.

    Donchenko says his knees and elbows will go into Dixon’s face and body and promises to do damage. Donchenko compares he and Dixon’s fighting styles to fire and water.

    Team Cormier Training Session & TUF House

    Michael Chiesa presents Donchenko with a fish, named Papito, Donchenko’s “Fighting Fish.” Donchenko says the gift means a lot to him because of his connection to his late father, whom he spent time fishing with, who passed away following a drug overdose.

    An emotional Donchenko says it was that experience that reminded him to enjoy life and take nothing for granted — and to do everything you can to make it yours.

    Matt Dixon Fight Prep

    Sonnen says Dixon is both the strongest and most conditioned fighter on the team, calling him an animal.

    Sonnen says Dixon has the power to knock Donchenko out, and he’s not sure about the other way around.

    Dixon says his plan is to pressure and close the distance, implementing dirty boxing. When asked about taking Donchenko down, Dixon says he’s planning to mix that in.

    Dixon says he’s prepared to go to a gritty place to take Donchenko out, calling himself both the better grappler and striker in this fight.

    Dixon says we’ll find out if Donchenko is tough enough to take his shots, adding that if the fight is a three-round brawl, he’ll be happy with that.

    Sonnen says this will be the fight of the season.

    Daniil Donchenko Call Home

    Donchenko has a conversation with his girlfriend. Donchenko says it feels strange being away for so long and now seeing her on television screen.

    Donchenko’s girlfriend says the family is all supporting him and plenty of people are asking about him. Donchenko says he really misses her and will see her soon.

    The Fight: Danill Donchenko vs. Matt Dixon

    —–IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED THE EPISODE AND DON’T WANT TO BE SPOILED, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO TURN AWAY NOW.———

    Both fighters weigh in at 171. The fight is on!

    Roybert Echeverria says the two have different kinds of striking styles. He wants to see how Donchenko reacts to Dixon’s pressure. Tumelo Manyamala says Donchenko says he’s good at countering the kind of pressure Dixon brings, with kicks included.

    Dana White says this is perhaps the best of the semifinal matchups. He says both are explosive strikers who look for knockouts.

    Danill Donchenko vs. Matt Dixon

    Round 1

    The two move to the center. Dixon pressures Donchenko to the fence and lands an elbow. Donchenko tries to come in and Dixon clinches him against the fence. Donchenko pressure. Dixon lands a knee. Clinch battle and both men score. Knee to the body by Donchenko. Left hand by Dixon. Low kicks by Donchenko. Body shot by Donchenko. Dixon presses Donchenko to the fence again. Donchenko lands a strong elbow. Series of punches! But they’re landing on the back of the head! Referee Marc Smith calls time out!

    The doctor clears Dixon, who is bloodied. Smith gives Donchenko a hard warning. Low kick by Donchenko. Donchenko tries to pressure. Right hand by Dixon. Donchenko lands a small flurry, but Donchenko is briefly dropped by a right hand! The two trading! One-two by Dixon, but Donchenko lands a power shot. More power shots! Donchenko pressures Dixon to the fence! Dixon goes down! Ground-and-pound! That’s it!

    Danill Donchenko wins an explosive battle to reach the final!

    Winner: Donchenko via first-round KO

    Conclusion

    Cormier says this was a fight that they all expected. White says Donchenko came to knock Dixon out, but Dixon fought back. Dixon ended up rocking Donchenko, but Cormier told Donchenko to take his time and search for opportunities. That came with an elbow that busted Dixon open.

    Sonnen and Cormier says Dixon could have taken a DQ win, but Sonnen says that’s not the way the game is played — and Dixon followed that. Cormier says Dixon “got up and fought like a man.” White, however, says he doesn’t think Dixon was recovered fully when he chose to continue. Sonnen said he knew at that point Donchenko had won.

    Cormier says Donchenko was the better fighter. White, however, gives credit to both men.

    Dixon says he wanted a fight like this and called Donchenko a warrior.

    Donchenko is hyped to be in the finale. He says he’ll be proud of himself today, but the next day it’s back to work as he chases the TUF title.

    Face-offs are then held for the finale fights: Team Sonnen’s Joseph Morales vs. Team Cormier’s Alibi Idiris at flyweight and Rodrigo Sezinando vs. Danill Donchenko (both of Team Cormier) at welterweight.

    Thanks for joining me on this ride for season 33 of TUF and for the final edition of The TUF Stuff!

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 1 Highlights As 2 Awarded UFC Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 1 Highlights As 2 Awarded UFC Contracts

    The latest season of Dana White’s Contender Series kicked off with a bizarre, and downright disappointing, night on 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 one of season nine this week saw 2 prospects earn the opportunity to taste the Octagon’s bright lights.

    The big moments for season nine kicked off (literally and figuratively) with a bang courtesy of Baysangur Susurkaev. Susurkaev delivered an impressive body kick that dropped Murtaza Talha, scoring a walk-off KO just three minutes into the bout.

    Ty Miller would then follow up with a strong performance, thanks to his advanced boxing skills, to sweep the scorecards against Jimmy Drago and earn his own Octagon deal.

    The featured fight of the evening at middleweight saw Ilian Bouafia defeat Neemias Santana via a controversial decision. Bouafia was hit with an intentional headbutt early on in the fight, resulting in a timeout and what could have been a DQ finish. Bouafia fought on, with Santana receiving a one-point deduction, but the fight was lackluster. Though commentary (among pundits), as well as White himself, believed the fight was a draw, Bouafia came away with a unanimous decision.

    Needless to say, Bouafia did not earn a contract.

    The night began with Yuri Panferov besting Chris Ewert by decision. Panferov managed to outwork Ewert with powerful strikes and eight minutes of control time on the ground, but it wasn’t enough for a deal.

    Radley Da Silva followed up with a grappling-heavy victory over George Mangos, but it also wasn’t enough to impress the UFC boss.

    Yuri Panferov def. Chris Ewert via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Radley Da Silva def. George Mangos via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Baysangur Susurkaev def. Murtaza Talha via KO (R1, 3:04)

    Ty Miller def. Jimmy Drago via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Ilian Bouafia def. Neemias Santana via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27 x2)

  • Carlos Prates Explains How Smoking Cigarettes Helps His Weight Cut Ahead Of UFC 319 Return

    Carlos Prates Explains How Smoking Cigarettes Helps His Weight Cut Ahead Of UFC 319 Return

    Cigarettes seem to be a constant companion in Carlos Prates’ daily grind.

    Prates is set to make his Octagon return this Saturday, August 16, at UFC 319, where he will face veteran welterweight Geoff Neal at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The bout was originally scheduled for UFC 314 last April, but an injury to “Handz of Steel” forced the fight to be postponed.

    “The Nightmare” is celebrated for his explosive finishes inside the cage. Outside the Octagon, though, he’s equally notorious for his hard-living lifestyle, often seen indulging in alcohol and, most notably, as a dedicated chain smoker in his social media posts.

    Despite numerous warnings from his coaches about the health risks, Prates openly admits to smoking daily. Even while actively competing, lighting up before and after fights has become a deeply ingrained ritual he refuses to break.

    Carlos Prates
    Image: UFC.com

    Carlos Prates Claims Smoking Cigarettes Supports His Weight Cut

    During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Carlos Prates was questioned about whether he had cut back on his smoking ahead of his fight with Geoff Neal. The Fighting Nerds standout openly admitted his enduring love for cigarettes, revealing that he still lights up around eight smokes a day.

    “The Nightmare” revealed he’s attempted to reduce his smoking, but doing so led to overeating. He ultimately accepted that he’d rather light up than risk struggling with weight cuts.

    “Sometimes I start to smoke a little bit less, but it’s hard,” Carlos Prates said. “I get really excited, and I want to eat. I cannot eat pizza all day, so I prefer to smoke rather than have some problem with making weight… I like to smoke before I go to the stadium. We cannot smoke in the locker room. Smoke before, then I go there.”

    Prates last stepped into the Octagon at UFC Kansas City this past April, where his 10-fight knockout streak was snapped by a unanimous decision defeat to Ian Garry. Before experiencing his first UFC loss, “The Nightmare” was riding a four-fight winning streak, featuring dominant finishes over notable opponents like Neil Magny and Li Jingliang.

    Carlos Prates, who secured his UFC contract in August 2023 via Dana White’s Contender Series, boasts a professional record of 21-7, with an impressive 19 victories coming by way of stoppage.

    Image: @thenightmare_170/Instagram

  • VIDEO: Dricus Du Plessis And Khamzat Chimaev Display Mutual Respect Ahead Of UFC 319 Title Showdown

    VIDEO: Dricus Du Plessis And Khamzat Chimaev Display Mutual Respect Ahead Of UFC 319 Title Showdown

    Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev recently came face to face for the first time.

    Du Plessis will put his middleweight crown on the line against Chimaev in the UFC 319 main event this Saturday, August 16, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

    The build-up to this highly anticipated clash has been charged with tension, fueled by frequent back-and-forth exchanges between the fighters on social media. Many expected sparks to fly when they finally came together in person, but the encounter turned out to be quite the opposite.

    Dricus Du Plessis And Khamzat Chimaev Meet In Person Ahead Of UFC 319 Clash

    On Tuesday, Khamzat Chimaev’s jiu-jitsu coach, Alan Do Nascimento, posted an Instagram video capturing the moment “Borz” crossed paths with reigning UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis ahead of their clash this weekend.

    To the surprise of many, the two rivals greeted each other with respect, shared a light moment of camaraderie, and chatted briefly in a friendly manner.

    “Stillknocks” enters UFC 319 riding the momentum of a dominant unanimous decision victory in his second title defense, a rematch against Sean Strickland at UFC 312 this past February.

    He first captured the 185-pound crown via split decision over Strickland at UFC 297, then successfully defended it with a submission win against former champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 305. Du Plessis remains unbeaten in the UFC, boasting a perfect 9-0 record.

    Meanwhile, Chimaev is fresh off a first-round submission victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in October 2024. “Borz” has seen limited action in recent years, competing just four times since 2022. Still, he maintains an undefeated 9-0 record in the UFC, with notable finishes over opponents such as Kevin Holland and Li Jingliang.

    Why Dricus Du Plessis Demanded a Fight with Khamzat Chimaev I have fought everybody
  • Paramount In Advanced Talks, Nearing Deal With Zuffa Boxing

    Paramount In Advanced Talks, Nearing Deal With Zuffa Boxing

    Just one day after Paramount acquired the UFC in a major money deal, they look to suddenly be adding another piece of the TKO pie to their empire.

    Per a report from Front Office Sports, Paramount is now being considered the “front-runner” to acquire Zuffa Boxing, the TKO-backed boxing promotion that is being overseen by Dana White, the CEO and president of the UFC, and Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia.

    This news comes approximately 30 hours after the UFC inked a new $7.7 billion U.S. broadcasting rights deal with Paramount, which is slated to begin in January.

    Terms of a deal are currently unavailable.

    Zuffa Boxing is slated to begin as a fight league in 2026; however, they will serve as the main promoter for the upcoming Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight that takes place in Las Vegas on September 13 and airs on Netflix.

    The FOS report states TKO will promote 2-3 “super fights” per year with Saudi Arabia.

    Zuffa Boxing Nearing Deal With Paramount One Day After New UFC U.S. Broadcasting Agreement

    “This is a low risk and TKO receives a roughly $10 million fee for serving as the managing partner and providing day-to-day operational management oversight,” Shapiro said in an earnings call last week. “And that’s all margin for us. TKO has no funding obligation.

    “We get a fee to promote it, each one of these super fights. We get a fee to negotiate the media rights for each fight, which IMG does. So another reason we’re strong and proud that we brought IMG into the fold of our flywheel. We get a fee for On Location to sell hospitality packages. And we will put Zuffa Boxing fighters on the undercard of each of these super fights. We expect to net on average another 10 million [dollars] for every super fight we manage and promote.”

    The UFC’s new broadcasting deal in the U.S. with Paramount, signed on August 11, will see 43 fight cards (13 numbered UFC events and 30 Fight Night cards) air on the Paramount+ streaming service. A number of those numbered cards (White and TKO executives Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro have given differing answers) will be simulcast on the linear CBS network.

    Certain platforms, however, were not part of the agreement. Zuffa Boxing was one of these, as well as Dana White’s Contender Series, The Ultimate Fighter, and Road to UFC.

    White teased yesterday that a broadcasting partner for Zuffa Boxing had been agreed upon but not yet announced. This included speculation on if ESPN would be involved in airing Zuffa Boxing after it parted ways with Top Rank Boxing last month.

    ESPN is the current home of the UFC, though that deal expires in December. Last week, ESPN signed a five-year, $325 million U.S. broadcasting deal with the WWE, also under the TKO umbrella, to broadcast their Premium Live Events (PLEs) on their new direct-to-consumer ESPN app that launched Thursday, August 21.

    Like the UFC-Paramount deal, Alalshikh announced last month that all Riyadh Season boxing cards, which air on DAZN, will no longer be pay-per-view beginning in November.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Laughs At Khamzat Chimaev’s Resume Heading into UFC 319

    Dricus Du Plessis Laughs At Khamzat Chimaev’s Resume Heading into UFC 319

    UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has compared his resume to Khamzat Chimaev’s ahead of their clash at UFC 319 this weekend.

    On Saturday night, Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev will finally collide with the UFC middleweight championship being up for grabs. It’s pretty tough to say who’s going to come out on top with the win, but one thing we know for sure is that both men are going to push the pace and bring the action from the very first moments of the fight.

    Dricus du Plessis has been a fantastic champion at 185 pounds and he’s hungry to improve his legacy even further in the years to come. He’s certainly talented enough to do that, but in order to reach that next level, he needs to be able to get through Khamzat.

    In a recent interview, Dricus du Plessis spoke candidly about his resume in comparison to Chimaev’s as we get closer and closer to fight night.

    Dricus du Plessis talks about comparisons with Khamzat Chimaev

    “I fought a guy that was ranked number seven because number one got injured, and he was the only guy that’s gonna take the fight. I wanna fight the best of the best and that is what I’ve been doing. 

    “If you go look at me and Khamzat, he’s [got] eight wins in the UFC, I’m nine. Just go compare our resumes. It’s ridiculous.”

    Either way, we’re going to get some real clarity on the state of the middleweight division soon.

  • Paddy Pimblett is the One to Beat Ilia Topuria, Says Former UFC Title Contender

    Paddy Pimblett is the One to Beat Ilia Topuria, Says Former UFC Title Contender

    Former UFC fighter Darren Till believes that fellow Liverpudlian Paddy Pimblett could be the man to defeat Ilia Topuria.

    For a while now, Paddy Pimblett has been on the rise in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He’s rubbed a lot of people the wrong way in that time but in equal measure, he’s also proven himself to be a top star in the lightweight division – and in doing so, he’s proven a whole lot of critics wrong.

    One of the most notable things about Paddy Pimblett’s UFC run thus far has been his feud with Ilia Topuria. Following their recent face-off in the cage, some have questioned whether or not the UFC will book that fight next.

    In a recent interview with Compare.bet, Darren Till gave his thoughts on how Ilia Topuria vs Paddy Pimblett could go.

    Darren Till believes Paddy Pimblett could beat Ilia Topuria

    “Paddy has probably got the best chance to beat Ilia, and I know it sounds ridiculous because I don’t think Paddy’s on his level in terms of skillset yet–he will get there.

    “But I just think Paddy with his coaches and the way they strategise, and how big he is, and how sort of loose he is–I think Paddy has a great chance of beating Ilia Topuria.

    “A lot of people will be against that opinion, but I’ve said this for years about Paddy, people like to give Paddy shit, but he can fight. He’s got a solid team around and he obviously works hard because of the shape he gets in.

    “Whether you love or hate Paddy, and he’s not a close friend by any sense of it, but you have to give Paddy props. I know his opponents are questionable and the loss and stuff, but you can only fight who is in front of you.

    “And people will say ‘he’s getting built’ – of course he’s getting built – like me. Because we speak, we talk the talk, why wouldn’t you build Paddy? Stop being a hater.”

    Quotes via Compare.bet

  • Tom Aspinall Tells UFC Fans to Give up On Jon Jones’ Comeback: “Not Interested”

    UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has told fans to move on from the idea of him fighting Jon Jones at next year’s UFC White House event.

    For the longest time, Tom Aspinall was actively asking for the opportunity to face Jon Jones for the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship. Unfortunately, ‘Bones’ never seemed particularly interested in that idea, and he eventually made the decision to retire from mixed martial arts altogether.

    Alas, it didn’t take long for him to start suggesting that he will, in fact, make his way back into the cage one day. Many rolled their eyes at this, noting that it was only the UFC White House card that led to him suggesting a comeback. Tom Aspinall, meanwhile, still isn’t buying it.

    In a recent interview, Tom Aspinall almost seemed exhausted at even having to discuss Jon.

    Tom Aspinall issues warning to fans over Jon Jones’ possible return

    “Do you want me to be honest? It has spent zero seconds in my mind. [I’m] not interested mate, and the world shouldn’t be interested either. What’s the point? [It’s] just false hope.”

    Aspinall is currently preparing to defend his title against Ciryl Gane later this year. If he’s able to win that, and do so convincingly, he could really set himself up for some special things to come in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

    Either way, it feels like the ship has sailed for Jon Jones, especially given that even Dana White is hesitant to trust him with another main event spot.

  • Lerone Murphy Feels More Comfortable as the Underdog: “I do my best work with no pressure”

    Lerone Murphy Feels More Comfortable as the Underdog: “I do my best work with no pressure”

    UFC featherweight star Lerone Murphy is feeling good heading into his battle with Aaron Pico in the co-main event of UFC 319.

    For the longest time now, Lerone Murphy has been battling his way towards a hopeful title shot at 145 pounds. The 34-year-old is unbeaten in his mixed martial arts career and in the wake of his win over Josh Emmett earlier this year, he’s opted for a quick turnaround as he prepares to collide with Aaron Pico on Saturday night.

    It’s always difficult when you’re welcoming someone to the UFC, and it’s even harder when it’s someone who has as much hype as Aaron Pico does. Alas, it doesn’t seem to be something that’s bothering Lerone Murphy too much.

    In fact, even being listed as the underdog by some is great motivation for Lerone Murphy, as he noted in a recent interview with Card Player.

    Lerone Murphy doesn’t mind being underdog

    “I believe it’s going to be a great fight. I think it’s probably the toughest match-up I’ve had so far in my career stylistically and it’s going to be a great fight, man. But I think I can find holes and I believe I’m going to come out victorious. I want to go out there and make a big statement. And I want to finish him.”

    “I prefer to be an underdog, to be honest. With pressure you don’t perform as well, I believe. When I go in there and I just think it is what it is, I’m a fighter anyway. I’m going to be focused on that night and put the pressure on. I believe I do my best work with no pressure, which might be strange to some. Some people perform under pressure but I think I do my best work [when I’m relaxed]. I’m less hesitant and I let it all go and that’s what you’re going to see.”

    Quotes via Card Player

  • Khamzat Chimaev vs Dricus du Plessis: Darren Till makes his prediction

    Khamzat Chimaev vs Dricus du Plessis: Darren Till makes his prediction

    Former UFC fighter Darren Till has given his thoughts on the UFC 319 main event between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.

    On Saturday night, Dricus du Plessis will defend his UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev. This is expected to be a pretty close, intense battle between two of the best middleweights on the planet – and two of the most unique. At this point, nobody really knows what way it’s going to go, and there are many different predictions flying around.

    One man who knows a thing or two about these men is Darren Till. The Liverpudlian fought and lost to Dricus du Plessis during his UFC run, and he trained extensively with Khamzat Chimaev, becoming quite close friends with ‘Borz’.

    In a recent interview with Compare.bet, Till had the following to say about Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev.

    Darren Till’s view on Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev

    “DDP will be facing the highest level of wrestling, especially in MMA. Can Khamzat beat him early on? Most definitely.  But can DDP give Khamzat hell? Most definitely.

    “I think it’s 60-40 in Khamzat’s favour, but I just say, when it gets into later rounds, does Khamzat have it [the stamina] to go that? But I think he’s training with Arman Tsarukyan, so I think it’s going to be a demolition job, well I hope it is. But don’t be surprised if DDP gives him problems because he is a phenomenal fighter.

    “I think he’s going to drag Khamzat into deep waters, but I think Khamzat is going to be prepared, so I do see Khamzat winning any which way. But you cannot look past DDP. “

    Quotes via Compare.bet

  • ‘What A Let Down’ – Fans Split Over Khamzat Chimaev’s Custom Shorts For UFC 319 Title Fight Against Dricus Du Plessis

    ‘What A Let Down’ – Fans Split Over Khamzat Chimaev’s Custom Shorts For UFC 319 Title Fight Against Dricus Du Plessis

    Khamzat Chimaev will enter the Octagon in standout gear this weekend.

    Chimaev will challenge reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis in the main event of UFC 319 on August 16 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

    Back in 2020, UFC fighter Bryce Mitchell made history by debuting his signature Reebok camouflage shorts. However, since last year, the UFC’s official fight kit partner Venum has rolled out a wave of custom designs for some of the sport’s biggest names including Alex Pereira, Israel Adesanya, Dustin Poirier, Merab Dvalishvili, and Ilia Topuria, among others.

    The trend shows no signs of losing momentum, with the latest unveiling arriving just in time for UFC 319. As Khamzat Chimaev prepares for his first UFC title shot, the undefeated challenger will debut bespoke Venum fight shorts inspired by his moniker “Borz,” the Chechen word for wolf. The design features a striking pair of howling wolves on each side, set against a bold blue and grey backdrop.

    However, Chimaev won’t be the only one showcasing unique fight gear on Saturday night. His opponent, Du Plessis, will also step in wearing his own custom-made shorts, adorned with the bold and vivid colors of the South African flag, a proud tribute to his heritage.

    “Stillknocks” first sported the distinctive design during his successful title defense against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August 2024.

    Dricus Du Plessis custom shorts
    Image: @dricusduplessis/Instagram

    Khamzat Chimaev’s Custom Shorts For UFC 319 Ignite Fan Debate

    The unveiling of Khamzat Chimaev’s custom-made shorts for UFC 319 drew a flurry of mixed reactions from MMA fans online. While many praised the striking howling wolf design, others were quick to criticize, arguing that several fighters have sported far more impressive gear.

    Khamzat Chimaev last competed at UFC 308 in October 2024, where he secured a dominant first-round submission over former champion Robert Whittaker. “Borz” boasts an undefeated 8-0 UFC record and a perfect 14-0 overall, with 12 victories coming inside the distance.

    UFC Analyst Warns Why 'It’s A Disaster’ If Khamzat Chimaev Wins At UFC 319
    Image: UFC.com
  • UFC Rankings Report: Anthony Hernandez Rising Up Middleweight Ranks

    UFC Rankings Report: Anthony Hernandez Rising Up Middleweight Ranks

    The latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the UFC rankings toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of Saturday’s UFC Vegas 109, MMA News has you covered with this week’s complete updates.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Strawweight: Following her win last weekend, Iasmin Lucindo moves up one spot to No. 7. Tabatha Ricci moves down one spot to No. 8 and Gillian Robertson moves down one spot to No. 9.

    Lucindo’s opponent, Angela Hill, remains at No. 12.

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.

    Flyweight: No changes.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: No changes.

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: Following his main event victory last weekend, Anthony Hernandez moves up three spots to No. 7. The man he defeated, Roman Dolidze, moves down two spots to No. 11.

    As part of these moves, Robert Whittaker and Jared Cannonier fall one spot to No. 8 and No. 9, respectively. Meanwhile, Brendan Allen moves up one spot to No. 10.

    Light Heavyweight: No changes.

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    This week’s new UFC rankings were first reported by John Morgan. UFC.com’s rankings section still to be updated as of publication time.