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  • Khamzat Chimaev is looking to Make History at UFC 319 – Former UFC Champ Weighs-In

    Khamzat Chimaev is looking to Make History at UFC 319 – Former UFC Champ Weighs-In

    Khamzat Chimaev could make history for the Russian republic he comes from and a former UFC middleweight champion could see ‘Borz’ being a consistent competitor with defending his crown should he capture it. Chimaev will have that chance later this week on August 16th when he clashes with reigning 185 pound titleholder Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in Chicago.

    A member of the UFC’s middleweight title lineage weighed in on this looming matchup when Michael Bisping spoke about Saturday’s pay-per-view headliner via his personal YouTube channel. When touching upon the hype train that the title challenger has been riding leading into this weekend and what could potentially transpire thereafter, Bisping said,

    “It’s all well and good having a ton of potential. But if you don’t realize that potential, then none of it really matters. You come here, you have a few good wins, you dominate some people, you go viral for a few finishes, you pick up Li Jingliang and you have a conversation with Dana White, you just smoke all these people, but you don’t become the champion.”

    “Then you’re just going to be forgotten about in years to come. Khamzat Chimaev wants to be a champion. He wants to be the first Chechen champion, and he wants to defend the belt, and he wants to be active.”

    Khamzat Chimaev has his eyes on becoming a three division UFC champion

    Khamzat Chimaev is pursuant of the middleweight crown later on this week but it’s not the only weight category that he has designs of conquering in the octagon. The undefeated mixed martial artist began his UFC tenure as a welterweight and seems to have designs to one day return to that weight class with a peripheral focus on one day becoming a champion at 205 pounds.

    Addressing his future championship aspirations during an ESPN interview, Chimaev stated [via Sherdog],

    “I work with a new coach. I talk to him about going down again, back to my first fights at 170. He said if they give me a couple months, we’re gonna make it. This Australian guy [welterweight champ Jack Della Maddalena] would be a good fight for me. I go down, fight with him and could take the belt there.”

    “If I go up, and there is [Magomed] Ankalaev and Alex Pereira — they are fighting now. I can fight for that belt as well.”

  • BKFC Edmonton Victor on Lightweight Title Tournament: “Putting 2 Divisions on Hold”

    BKFC Edmonton Victor on Lightweight Title Tournament: “Putting 2 Divisions on Hold”

    BKFC has four hungry fighters ready to vie for the vacant lightweight title in a looming tournament and a fighter outside of that immediate field has some thoughts on matters. Hasan Al-Ghanim is now 4-0 inside of the BKFC ring after his victory over the weekend at BKFC Edmonton and he aims to go 5-0 before 2025 closes out. A lightweight title shot is an express goal for the surging Wolfhouse product someday and Al-Ghanim appeared on Bare Knuckle Bowker ahead of his Zach Pannell fight recently in Enoch at the River Cree.

    Addressing the announcement of the four-man lightweight tournament for the vacated 155 pound championship after they had stripped Franco Tanaglia of the belt, Hasan Al-Ghanim said,

    “Honestly, I thought it was a good idea. Obviously they stripped him [Franco Tenaglia]. Ben Bonner fought for the interim [title] with, who was it? Was it [Tony] Soto?… Yeah, they fought for the interim [title]. It’s fine. The tournament is a good idea, but I think they should have opened it up from four-man to maybe an eight-man tournament.”

    “You know, there’s a lot of people who deserve their respect within the division. One of them being like HD [Howard Davis]. You know, he went five rounds with what’s his name? I forgot his name, f**k… He went five rounds with [Luis] Palomino, right?… He [Howard Davis] lost that fight because of a decision. But I feel like a person like him should have been thrown in there, you know, thrown in that mix.”

    “Then make it a six-man tournament, make it an eight-man tournament, and have potential up and comers like myself join in as well. Just to see if we can keep up, if we are part of the part of the top, you know what I mean? But to me, having the same four guys, one guy coming from ’65, one guy coming from ’45, and both champions coming in, you know, it defeats the purpose.”

    “You know, we’re putting the division on hold. We’re putting two divisions on hold. Obviously Austin Trout vacated his, but we have Kai [Stewart] still the champion of 145. He’s just holding up the division there. You know what I mean? I think they should have made it an eight-man tournament, but hey, I’m not in the seats, you know?”

    BKFC Lightweight Championship scene and where Al-Ghanim fits in

    With big name former as well as current champions in BKFC like Franco Tenaglia, Austin Trout, Luis Palomino, and interim champ Ben Bonner vying to become undisputed champion, it’s all about staying the course for ‘Hungry’.

    As the Iraqi-born combatant fighting out of Alberta was discussing his own route to his crack at the crown down the line while observing the tournament from the outside looking in following his dominant BKFC Edmonton win, Al-Ghanim stated,

    “Yeah, it’s a weird situation, but hey, you know, they decided a four man tournament. The rest of us just got to work our way up until we get a contender shot or a title shot or something like that.”

  • Dana White: Zuffa Boxing TV Deal Done, Announcement Coming – ESPN in the Mix?

    Dana White: Zuffa Boxing TV Deal Done, Announcement Coming – ESPN in the Mix?

    Just as one broadcasting deal for Dana White’s combat sports empire got done, another one might be on its way.

    It’s been noted that the UFC’s $7.7 billion deal with Paramount only includes the numbered UFC events and Fight Night cards — nothing for Dana White’s Contender Series, The Ultimate Fighter, Road to UFC, or Zuffa Boxing.

    However, in a new interview with Sports Business Journal, White says that a broadcasting for Zuffa Boxing has been completed, just not announced yet.

    “We’ll see how this plays out,” White simply stated.

    Zuffa Boxing Broadcasting Deal To Be Announced, Could ESPN Be In Plans?

    Sports Business Journal also made reference to a report from World Boxing News last week that ESPN, whose deal with the UFC ends in December, may be involved in broadcasting Zuffa Boxing.

    ESPN’s broadcasting deal with Top Rank Boxing concluded at the end of July, and World Boxing News suggested ESPN looked at a potential deal with Zuffa Boxing as a “trade” of sorts.

    Top Rank Boxing’s end on ESPN means there is no boxing on any American television broadcast or cable channel for the first time in 80+ years.

    Zuffa Boxing and its parent company, TKO, also parent company of the UFC and WWE, have also been a key supporter of the much-debated Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act. The act would allow for fighters to pursue opportunities with UBOs — which Zuffa Boxing would be, where the promoters can award their own championships, host their own events, and rank their own fighters — as opposed to the major sanctioning alphabet organizations.

    White’s UFC signed a new U.S. broadcasting deal with Paramount on August 11, bringing 43 UFC events — 13 numbered cards and 30 UFC Fight Night cards — to Paramount+, with certain numbered cards airing on the linear CBS channel.

  • Dana White Says “PPV Isn’t Dead”, Suggests Potential One-Off UFC PPVs Under Paramount Deal

    Dana White Says “PPV Isn’t Dead”, Suggests Potential One-Off UFC PPVs Under Paramount Deal

    After all the celebration about the death of pay-per-view, UFC CEO & President Dana White is telling everyone to hold their horses.

    In an interview with the New York Post, despite the proclamations made in the new $7.7 billion deal with Paramount about the future of numbered UFC events, White says that he isn’t eliminating the pay-per-view concept entirely in this mind.

    White suggest he may toy with the idea of a potential 14th numbered UFC pay-per-view event during the Paramount deal that could see be put behind a pay-per-view paywall.

    “Anything is possible,” White said. “And you could do a one-off pay-per-view. I am going to be on pay-per-view this Saturday. Pay-Per-View is not dead.”

    This comes not even 24 hours after TKO executives Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro gave an interview to CNBC for the deal’s announcement, during which Shapiro referred to the pay-per-view model as “a thing of the past” and “an outdated, antiquated model.”

    Dana White Hints PPV Format May Still Appear In New UFC-Paramount Deal

    The UFC and Paramount’s new deal, which is set to begin in January, calls for 43 total UFC events per year — with 30 Fight Night cards and 13 numbered events.

    These numbered events, however, would not be pay-per-view as they have since the UFC’s inception in 1993. Instead, these cards, along with the UFC Fight Nights, would air exclusively on the Paramount+ streaming service.

    The initial announcements also noted that a select number of events would air on the linear CBS network in the United States.

    How many cards air on CBS has also been a point of discrepancy amongst the TKO and UFC executives. Despite the press release mentioning “select” events, Emanuel and Shapiro hinted at the possibility all of the UFC numbered cards are simulcast between Paramount+ and CBS, citing a desire for the most eyeballs possible.

    A later CBS Sports interview with White saw him state four “big” events would air on the network.

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Not Part Of UFC-Paramount Deal, Broadcast Rights TBD

    Dana White’s Contender Series Not Part Of UFC-Paramount Deal, Broadcast Rights TBD

    UPDATE: The New York Post’s Erich Richter has confirmed that Dana White’s Contender Series, The Ultimate Fighter, and Road to UFC are all not part of the UFC-Paramount package, and that the UFC is still shopping homes for these platforms.

    The major seven-year, $7.7 billion U.S. broadcasting deal between the UFC and Paramount may not include Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS), the UFC CEO and President confirmed to Sports Business Journal.

    One of the notable things to come out of the new UFC deal was what the press release to announce it did not make mention of UFC properties outside of the events that include the likes of DWCS, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), Road to UFC, etc.

    White confirmed an interview that while the UFC and all of its numbered and Fight Night events are part of the Paramount package, which begins in January, the U.S. rights to air DWCS are still to be determined.

    “Yeah. That could be split up,” White said. “We’ll see how that plays out.”

    UFC Properties May Be Split Up After All, As DWCS Not Part Of UFC-Paramount Deal

    While the interview did not mention TUF or Road to UFC, it may be assumed that those rights are also still up in the air.

    TUF was created by the UFC when it first partnered up with Paramount Network (then known as Spike) in 2005, the same year it started airing Fight Night events on the cable channel. TUF has since followed the UFC throughout its times with FOX and ESPN as well.

    Road to UFC has aired exclusively on UFC Fight Pass since its inception and may likely remain there.

    DWCS first premiered on UFC Fight Pass in 2017 before moving over to ESPN+ as part of the UFC’s deal with ESPN that began in 2019. The UFC’s U.S. broadcasting rights with ESPN ends at the end of the year. DWCS not being part of the Paramount deal keeps the possibility that ESPN could have some piece of the UFC umbrella.

    White added that he doesn’t see ESPN shying away from UFC coverage after the deal.

    “When we first started out over there, you’re going to have some rockiness when you’re figuring how you’re going to work with each other and who’s who, what’s what, and, ‘How are we going to do this?’ and we had some of that with ESPN,” White said. “Let me tell you what, over the last seven years, we have created an unbelievable relationship with that company and the people that work there.

    “I don’t see [ESPN promoting UFC less after 2025] happening. I see the exact opposite of that happening. We wouldn’t be where we are today without ESPN and I plan on continuing that relationship for the rest of my career.”

    This deal between the UFC and Paramount calls for 43 UFC cards, featuring 13 numbered events and 30 Fight Night cards, to be broadcasted on Paramount+. A select number of the numbered events (White has said four, while TKO executives Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro claim all) will air on the lineal CBS network in the U.S.

    When current international broadcasting deals for the UFC expire, Paramount will also have a 30-day exclusive negotiating window to lock up rights in those countries as well.

  • Watch: Conor McGregor hits the gym and trains with his youngest son

    Watch: Conor McGregor hits the gym and trains with his youngest son

    Conor McGregor is getting his youngest son started early.

    Despite not competing inside the Octagon for more than four years, the former two-division champion has continued to post training clips on social media and boasting about his highly anticipated return to the Octagon. When, where, or even if that ever happens is uncertain, but it looks like McGregor is already readying his son, Mack McGregor, to follow in his footsteps.

    Check out the clip below, which features the youngest of McGregor clan showing off his boxing skills and even throwing a kick on command.

    McGregor has four children with his longtime fiancée, Dee Devlin, including three older children: Conor Jr., Croia, and Rian, and the youngest being Mack, who was born in 2023.  

    Conor McGregor maintains a strong foothold in combat sports despite a slew of legal issues and lack of activity

    Once upon a time, McGregor was the biggest star in the UFC. Hell, he was one of the biggest sports stars in the world, period. And while ‘The Notorious’ still carries a lot of star power, many fight fans have become disenfranchised with the Irish icon following a string of brutal losses inside the Octagon and a slew of legal troubles outside the cage.

    Last year, McGregor was found liable for the 2018 rape of a woman at a Dublin hotel and was ordered to pay $285,000 in damages on top of $1.5 million in legal fees to the plaintiff. McGregor attempted to appeal the ruling, but that was ultimately thrown out, leaving him on the hook for nearly $2 million.

    And that wasn’t even the worst of it.

    McGregor lost numerous sponsorship deals, including a lucrative spokesmanship job for Proper No. 12, the brand of Irish whiskey he co-founded before selling the product to Proximo Spirits for a whopping $600 million.

    Still, McGregor maintains a strong presence in the world of combat sports as a co-owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

  • Dana White Promises 4 “Big Events” On CBS Per Year Under UFC’s New Paramount Deal

    Dana White Promises 4 “Big Events” On CBS Per Year Under UFC’s New Paramount Deal

    As the hours go by, more information starts to trickle out about what the UFC may look like under its new U.S. broadcasting deal with Paramount — as well as more questions.

    Perhaps the biggest talking point coming out of the new seven-year, $7.7 billion deal between the UFC and Paramount is the end of the pay-per-view model for the MMA promotion come the close of 2025. A select number — though it’s unclear how many — of numbered cards would be simulcast on CBS.

    UFC CEO and President Dana White, in an interview with CBS Sports’ Tommy Tran — White’s first since the announcement of the deal earlier today — stated that the UFC would produce four “big” events per year on linear CBS. He added that for 2026, one of those events will be the UFC’s planned card for the White House on July 4, 2026.

    “It’s looking like we’re going to do four big events a year,” White said. “We’re talking about doing a fight at the White House next year on the 4th of July — the 250th anniversary of America. So imagine a massive fight on the lawn of the White House on CBS.”

    Dana White Claims 4 UFC Events Per Year On CBS

    White added that he will continue to make the biggest fights happen and hinted there is still a possibility that this further incentivizes the returns of Conor McGregor and Jon Jones to compete on that White House card.

    Questions have arisen, however, as to what White means by “big.” The deal’s terms are for 13 numbered UFC cards (formerly pay-per-view cards) per year, as well as 30 Fight Night events for a total of 43 cards per year.

    This White claim also comes hours after TKO executives Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro told CNBC that there was a chance every UFC numbered card would be simulcast on CBS, which brought its own set of questions given CBS’ stake in other sports properties — particularly college football.

    Some speculate that this could mean four “special” numbered events (akin to the WWE’s “big four” of WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series), which will be believed to include International Fight Week and either the late October Abu Dhabi and/or the November Madison Square Garden cards.

    White’s remarks, despite claiming he will still look to make the best fights, have also furthered thoughts amongst some fans and pundits that the UFC may not be incentivized to stack numbered cards or force title fights onto the headliners of numbered cards since all fight cards will be under the same Paramount umbrella.

    There is also no update on how fighters’ pay-per-view points, particularly with champions, will be affected and/or changed by this move to Paramount and the elimination of pay-per-view.

  • “Sue Me.” Piers Morgan Walks Back On Statements About Jake Paul’s Crap Fights After Legal Threat

    “Sue Me.” Piers Morgan Walks Back On Statements About Jake Paul’s Crap Fights After Legal Threat

    Piers Morgan has walked back previous comments he made suggesting that Jake Paul’s boxing matchups were fixed.

    In a social media post on August 9, Morgan says comments he made about the YouTuber-turned-boxer’s in-ring career being “boring staged b*******” were more in regard to the opponents that Paul faces.

    Morgan claims his comments were not to be taken as his fights being pre-determined stage shows.

    The broadcaster and media personality also said Paul was welcome onto his YouTube show, Piers Morgan Uncensored, any time to debate him.

    Piers Morgan Takes Back Remarks That Jake Paul Fights Are Staged

    “His fights have been predominantly against older, past-their-prime opponents, which may be lucrative for both sides, and may have entertainment value, but don’t reveal how he stacks up against currently ranked boxers and therefore are not a good look for the sport,” Morgan said in his statement. “I did not intend to suggest that the outcome was predetermined and certainly didn’t mean to suggest anything illegal. But if reports are correct that Jake is now in negotiations to fight Anthony Joshua, that would obviously be a seriously credible bout against one of the best heavyweights in the world.

    “Jake is welcome to come on Uncensored to discuss this, and verbally slug it out with me, anytime.”

    Paul came into Morgan’s crosshairs around the time of his June 28 bout with Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. — a bout that faced plenty of criticism from the boxing community for its one-sided nature and the credibility of Chavez Jr. Morgan blasted the opponents in Paul’s fight history, from YouTuber AnEsonGib and former NBA star Nate Robinson, to retied MMA fighters including Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, and Nate Diaz, as well as former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson — who hadn’t fought professionally in about 20 years.

    Morgan remarked that Paul was “killing boxing with this boring staged b******.” Paul, in response, threatened legal action against anyone who’d remark his fights were staged.

    Morgan jumped on hearing such remarks, taking to social media on June 30 to dare Paul to bring litigation.

    Paul is currently 12-1 in boxing, with his sole loss coming against Tommy Fury, cousin to former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. As previously mentioned, rumors have been swirling about a potential fight between Paul and former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

  • Charles Oliveira confirms interest in Max Holloway rematch

    Charles Oliveira confirms interest in Max Holloway rematch

    UFC legend Charles Oliveira has confirmed that he would be interested in running it back with Max Holloway, 10 years on from when they first met in the cage.

    As we know, Charles Oliveira is one of the greatest lightweights of his generation – and one of the most accomplished in UFC history. However, after getting knocked out by Ilia Topuria in his most recent outing, he needs to build his way back up to the top. He’ll hope to start doing so in the main event of UFC Rio later this year when he collides with Rafael Fiziev.

    For Charles Oliveira, it’s all about proving that he still has what it takes to thrive at the elite level. We all know how good he’s been over the years but the real hope among his fans is that he has at least one more run left in him.

    In a recent interview with Thunderpick, Charles Oliveira spoke about the possibility of a rematch against Max Holloway, a man who is currently looking for a UFC lightweight title shot of his own.

    Charles Oliveira confirms interest in Max Holloway rematch

    “Man, I think everyone wants to see that fight,” Oliveira told Thunderpick of Holloway. “It’s definitely going to happen at some point. Whatever people say doesn’t really matter to me. 

    “Everybody knows I was injured. I spent two days in the hospital, why would I do that for nothing? That’s just part of the game. He’s a great fighter. He’s the BMF champ. So why not make it happen later on? For now, let’s stay focused on this fight, and then we’ll see.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Jon Jones Blown Away by Khamzat Chimaev’s Words: “I’m very grateful”

    Jon Jones Blown Away by Khamzat Chimaev’s Words: “I’m very grateful”

    UFC legend Jon Jones has reacted to Khamzat Chimaev calling him the scariest guy in mixed martial arts.

    While he may not be everyone’s cup of tea, there’s simply no denying the impact that Jon Jones has had on the sport of mixed martial arts. He has been able to achieve some wonderful things throughout the course of his career and while he may have broken his retirement pretty quickly, his overall legacy will certainly highlight the unbelievable run he enjoyed at light heavyweight.

    Nowadays, Jon Jones is toying with the idea of making a second heavyweight run, even though he’s now surrendered his title to Tom Aspinall. Another man who is currently chasing UFC gold is Khamzat Chimaev, who will be challenging Dricus du Plessis for the UFC middleweight championship at UFC 319 on Saturday night.

    In a clip that’s circulating, Jon Jones has given his thoughts on Khamzat Chimaev praising him.

    Jon Jones reacts to Khamzat Chimaev’s praise

    “That’s a huge compliment coming from Khamzat. I’m a big fan of Khamzat. I don’t think he has any reason to toot my horn or to even be humble. He doesn’t have to be. I mean, heavyweights fear him. The fact he has so much respect for me really means a lot, it shows me a lot about his character and his humility to be able to compliment someone in such a huge way.”

    “I wanna see them both [DDP and Chimaev] go on and have long, prosperous MMA careers. I will watch the fight for sure.”

  • Fluffy Anthony Hernandez To Spend UFC Bonus on ‘moving back to the country’ for his Kids

    Fluffy Anthony Hernandez To Spend UFC Bonus on ‘moving back to the country’ for his Kids

    UFC middleweight contender Anthony Hernandez has explained what he plans to do with the bonus money he received courtesy of his nasty submission win over Roman Dolidze.

    Last Saturday night, Anthony Hernandez really took that next step up in his mixed martial arts development. He looked incredible throughout the course of his fight against Roman Dolidze and now, it certainly feels like he’s right there in the mix for a shot at the UFC middleweight championship. ‘Fluffy’ has been overlooked for so long now at 185 pounds, but it’s pretty difficult to do that after such a dominant triumph over someone like Dolidze.

    As we look ahead to the future, it certainly feels like Anthony Hernandez has a major fight on the horizon – even if it’s not for the title. Alas, there are plenty of other things that fighters focus their attention on outside of the cage, especially given how precious the paydays are that they receive throughout their careers.

    In his post-fight press conference, Anthony Hernandez spoke candidly about what his priority is now as he prepares for the next chapter in his life.

    Anthony Hernandez’s big priority after latest win

    “I have kids, so I got to pay some s* down and try to finish my ranch. I’m trying to move back to the country so my kids can have a good childhood.”

    Hernandez is set to head to Chicago this week where he will watch the highly anticipated title fight between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.

  • Khamzat Chimaev’s Wrestling: Former UFC Champion Explains Why It’s Unbeatable

    Khamzat Chimaev’s Wrestling: Former UFC Champion Explains Why It’s Unbeatable

    UFC legend Demetrious Johnson has explained why Khamzat Chimaev‘s wrestling is so difficult to overcome.

    In the main event of UFC 319, Khamzat Chimaev will finally get his shot at UFC gold. It’s a moment that he’s been waiting a long time for and in the eyes of many, he’s the favorite heading into this contest. Of course, we all know that Dricus du Plessis is going to put up a tough fight, and there’s a pretty good chance he’ll be able to retain the strap.

    Alas, one of the reasons for the confidence in Khamzat Chimaev is due to his wrestling. He is so precise and powerful when he shoots and when he gets you to the ground, things can get dangerous pretty quickly.

    In a recent analysis video, Demetrious Johnson broke down why Khamzat Chimaev’s wrestling is so incredibly impressive.

    Demetrious Johnson praises Khamzat Chimaev’s wrestling

    “Look how deep that shot was. He gets all the weight. He pushes the weight that way and it forces you to put your hands on the mat, which means you have to carry his weight. Then he’s also kicking out that leg, so he’s blocked this, but he’s also kicking the leg out too. He’s big for the division. He’s also longer than Robert Whittaker, so he’s able to do that as well, which puts Robert Whittaker on his butt and carrying all of Khamzat’s weight. And right now, Khamzat’s resting. He’s resting, carrying all that weight.”

    “When you look at Khamzat, you have to look at him—when he jumps on you, you better be ready for the best, you better have the best wrestling, anti-wrestling, and fighting skill ready to rock and roll, because once he locks on, he’s going to be looking to go to that position, which I call home. He’s going to sit there and wait and then see what you’re going to do.

    “Once you start to post, he’s going to take out that post, jump to the other side, take out the other post, get his hooks in, and beat you up until you give him your neck or neck crank, and he’s going to take it. That’s what he wants to do. He doesn’t want to do anything on the feet. If he could, he would wrestle all day every day.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis Vs. Khamzat Chimaev: Former UFC Champ Reveals the X Factor at UFC 319

    Dricus Du Plessis Vs. Khamzat Chimaev: Former UFC Champ Reveals the X Factor at UFC 319

    UFC commentator Michael Bisping has given his thoughts on what could be the X-factor between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319.

    As we know, Dricus du Plessis will defend the UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC 319. It’s shaping up to be one of the most intriguing fights of the year and while you’ll find a lot of people saying that about a lot of different fights, it certainly seems to be appropriate for this one.

    Khamzat Chimaev is seen by many as the favorite, but underestimating Dricus du Plessis is a mistake that many of us have made over the years. DDP just seems to be getting more and more confident every single time he goes out there, and he has more than earned the right to call himself the king of the middleweight division.

    As we look ahead to fight night, Michael Bisping recently gave his thoughts on what the determining factor could be between Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus du Plessis.

    Michael Bisping’s view on Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev

    “Mental toughness does come into this because sometimes when you are so tired and your lungs are burning and you can’t breathe and your shoulders are on fire and you just want to sit down and collapse and just be left alone, you can always find that next level. 

    “That is why coaches always say, you’ve got to dig deep. You’ve got to dig deep. You’ve got to find that area, that level to where you can push more. It is just a state of mind. Yes, your heart is beating out of your chest, but if you choose to, you can keep going. And that’s just a fact.”

  • TKO’s Ari Emanuel & Mark Shapiro: CBS To Likely Air All Numbered UFC Cards

    TKO’s Ari Emanuel & Mark Shapiro: CBS To Likely Air All Numbered UFC Cards

    The new UFC U.S. broadcasting rights deal may have just gotten bigger mere hours after it was first announced.

    As part of the new seven-year, $7.7 billion deal with Paramount, which also brings about the end of the pay-per-view model for UFC events, it was announced that certain UFC numbered cards, which historically almost-exclusively aired on pay-per-view, would be simulcasted on CBS.

    In a new interview with CNBC, however, TKO executives Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro have appeared to one-up that. They stated that the plan is actually to air all of the numbered UFC cards on the network platform.

    Shapiro emphasized a desire, despite the deal being primarily for the Paramount+ streaming service, to have CBS as part of the new UFC deal. Shapiro cited CBS’ history of sports broadcasting, from the Masters, to the NFL, to the NCAA Final Four.

    “It was important to us to have CBS play a big component in this,” Shapiro said. “This is Paramount+ exclusively, but CBS will have simulcast on many of the fights, and likely all of the numbered events, which are formerly the pay-per-view fights.”

    TKO’s Ari Emanuel & Mark Shapiro Claims CBS Will Air All UFC Numbered Cards In U.S.

    The pair were then asked about the decision to do this when Paramount+ has 77 million subscribers, and almost all of them are located within the U.S.

    Emanuel responded by saying that while part of the purpose is to drive traffic to Paramount+ and gain the platform subscribers — citing Paramount’s deal with the television program South Park last month as an example — there is also the aspect of the reach that CBS can provide. This would be, as pointed out, similar to how the NFL has never left broadcast networks completely.

    “A unified platform, more personalization, more customization, integrating sports betting, which is a big part of our fan experience when it comes to the UFC, that was all the stuff that was very attractive to us, way beyond the price,” Shapiro said.

    “But you need CBS, as Ari said, to really drive that reach. Think about it. [CEO David Ellison’s] goal is to get more subs; take that 77 million up to 300. But to keep them there, and the fact that we’re year round, the fact that every month we have a big premium fight, that will be an antidote.”

    Emanuel, in fact, claimed that TKO and the UFC tried to get more events on ABC — which almost exclusively were put on during the summer and for events that took place in the Middle East (with exceptions).

    “When we were at ESPN and Disney, we always actually were asking for a little bit of ABC, because we want the broadest reach,” Emanuel said.

    Shapiro followed it up by praising the visions of Ellison, who was Skydance CEO before the company merged with Paramount and became the CEO of the merged organization.

    “His strategy: streaming, sports, and studios,” Shapiro said. “It’s right in our wheel house. He sees media…he sees content, he sees storytelling through the prism and lens of technology.”

    What will be interesting to see is how CBS handles its sports broadcasting rights alongside the UFC, if the plan for CBS to air all of the numbered pay-per-view cards comes true. CBS currently has college football rights to air matchups in the Big Ten (since 2023) and the newly-reformed Pac-12 (starting this year). College football on ESPN was a main reason why the UFC’s Fight Night events in the fall were exclusively on ESPN+, as well as accounted for differing channel airings for prelims on pay-per-view fight cards.

    No information has also come out on what will happen for a UFC numbered cards that takes place outside the U.S. UFC pay-per-views that have been held in Australia and England have traditionally aired in the UFC’s typical 10 p.m. ET start time; however, pay-per-view cards in Abu Dhabi, which have annually taken place in the fall since 2019, have had special 2 p.m. ET start times.

    The UFC’s deal with Paramount will be for 43 events total per year — 13 numbered events (the former pay-per-views) and 30 Fight Nights.

  • UFC Secures New Streaming Partner As Paramount Strikes Whopping $7.7 Billion Deal

    UFC Secures New Streaming Partner As Paramount Strikes Whopping $7.7 Billion Deal

    The UFC will move to a new streaming home next year.

    The MMA promotion’s exclusive partnership with ESPN expires at the close of 2025, and UFC CEO Dana White has dropped more than a few hints about a shift in broadcast partners. For months, rumors had swirled that the company might align with streaming heavyweights such as Netflix or Amazon Prime, drawn by their global reach and ability to deliver high-volume content to millions of subscribers worldwide.

    However, in a twist that few saw coming, the UFC announced on Monday that it had signed a landmark seven-year media rights deal with Paramount Skydance, making Paramount+ the exclusive U.S. destination for every UFC event.

    From 2026 onward, Paramount will shell out an average of $1.1 billion annually, totaling a staggering $7.7 billion over seven years, to become the exclusive distributor of the MMA giant’s full lineup of 13 premier numbered events and 30 Fight Nights.

    Every event will stream on the direct-to-consumer platform Paramount+, with select numbered events also simulcast on CBS. In a major shift, the deal scraps the traditional pay-per-view model, instead offering these premium cards at no extra cost to Paramount+’s vast U.S. subscriber base.

    UFC Octagon
    Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC

    Dana White Talks About UFC’s New Streaming Deal With Paramount

    Following the announcement of the UFC’s landmark partnership with the Paramount network, Dana White took to social media to share his thoughts on the deal. White voiced his excitement over moving away from the longtime pay-per-view model, predicting that the shift would open the doors to a larger audience than ever before and propel the sport to unprecedented heights.

    “This historic deal with Paramount and CBS is incredible for UFC fans and our athletes, White shared in a press release on X. “For the first time ever, fans in the US will have access to all UFC content without a Pay-Per-View model, making it more affordable and accessible to view the greatest fights on a massive platform. This deal puts UFC amongst the biggest sports in the world. The exposure provided by the Paramount and CBS networks under this new structure is a huge win for our athletes and anyone who watches and loves this sport.”

    UFC CEO Dana White
    Image: UFC/YouTube
  • Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Eviscerates Khamzat Chimaev’s ‘Sh*t Stand-Up’ Ahead of UFC 319

    Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Eviscerates Khamzat Chimaev’s ‘Sh*t Stand-Up’ Ahead of UFC 319

    Dricus du Plessis’ coach, Morne Visser, is confident that his fighter will come out on top against “one-dimensional” Khamzat Chimaev.

    Emanating from the United Center in Chicago, ‘DDP’ will put his middleweight championship on the line for the third time when he takes on the undefeated Chechen monster this Saturday, August 16, at UFC 319.

    Chimaev is a perfect 14-0 and has become something of a boogeyman in the division courtesy of his relentless wrestling and brutal submissions. For many, the game plan has been the same—survive the early onslaught in hopes that Chimaev will deplete his gas tank before hitting the latter rounds. To some extent, it’s worked for fighters like Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman, though both of them still fell to the unbeaten bruiser.

    However, du Plessis’ team plans to take a much different approach.

    “Khamzat doesn’t know what it is when people wanna wrestle him,” Visser said via UFC 319 Countdown. “He’s only facing guys who are trying to get away from him, from his wrestling. We don’t want to try and get away from his wrestling, we want to f–k him up in these games.

    “You can’t think that you’re gonna beat my guy with one thing, and that’s wrestling. That guy’s one dimensional. We’ve seen his stand-up. I wouldn’t even give him a pro license for his s–t stand-up. He doesn’t present any problem for us. We are the problem.”

    Du Plessis is going to fight his fight against Khamzat Chimaev

    In seven of his nine career UFC fights, du Plessis has opened as the underdog. UFC 319 will be no different as Chimaev goes into his first title tilt as a 2-to-1 favorite. Of course, that just gives ‘DDP’ another chance to defy the odds, and he plans to do exactly that by beating ‘Borz’ at his own game.

    “I’m not going in there to fight his fight,” du Plessis said. “I’m going in there to fight my fight. Just like I dealt with Adesanya’s striking, Strickland’s boxing, I’m going to deal with Khamzat’s wrestling.”

  • Reinier de Ridder Picks Khamzat Chimaev, But Hopes Dricus Du Plessis Wins So He Doesn’t Have to Wait for a Stalled Title Shot

    Reinier de Ridder Picks Khamzat Chimaev, But Hopes Dricus Du Plessis Wins So He Doesn’t Have to Wait for a Stalled Title Shot

    Reiner de Ridder’s mind says Khamzat Chimaev, but his heart is hoping for Dricus du Plessis.

    After logging an impressive split-decision win over Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi, ‘RDR’ appears to be the next man up in the middleweight division. But before getting his first shot at UFC gold, the Dutchman will have to sit back and wait to see out things play out at UFC 319 when du Plessis puts his 185-pound crown on the line against the undefeated Chechen monster.

    Speaking with MMA Fighting, de Ridder revealed that while he believes Chimaev is likely to come out on top, he’s keeping his fingers crossed for du Plessis to pull off another upset.

    “Khamzat is of course—I think if Khamzat wins this one, especially if he wins decisively, he’ll be like a huge name,” de Ridder said. “That might come with him taking a lot of time off after. So it might be better if Dricus wins, and then we can fight in four to six months. That would be best, I think.”

    Can ‘DDP’ continue to defy the odds against Khamzat Chimaev?

    Since 2022, Chimaev has only competed once per year — a far cry from his days of beating three opponents in eight weeks. With a slew of illnesses, cancellations, and one egregious weight miss, some have speculated that Chimaev’s potential UFC 319 title win could spell disaster for the promotion.

    Clearly, ‘RDR’ feels similarly.

    But there is good news for de Ridder. In seven of his nine career fights inside the Octagon, Dricus du Plessis has opened up as an underdog, and his clash against Chimaev is no different. In fact, ‘Borz’ is trending as a 2-to-1 favorite less than a week away from fight night. But despite being repeatedly counted out, ‘DDP’ is a perfect 9-0 under the UFC banner, proving that you can never truly count out the South African sensation.

  • Michael ‘Venom’ Page Ready to Make Headlines with Statement Knockout in the UFC

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page Ready to Make Headlines with Statement Knockout in the UFC

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page is ready to deliver something spectacular in Chicago.

    After taking Shara Magomedov’s ‘O’ in February, the former Bellator star will step back inside the Octagon this Saturday, August 16, for a high-stakes scrap with perennial middleweight contender Jared Cannonier at UFC 319.

    Thus far, Page is 2-1 under the UFC banner, with a pair of fairly dominant decision victories over ‘Bullet’ and Kevin Holland. But this time, ‘Venom’ plans to make a statement and give fans a moment to remember in ‘The Windy City.’

    “I’ve always gone into a fight wanting a knockout,” Page told Ariel Helwani while discussing his upcoming clash with Cannonier. “I go in there to deliver that to the fans.”

    Page may not be necessarily known for delivering highlight-reel knockouts, but that doesn’t mean he’s incapable of doing so. Just ask Evangelista Santos…

    Clinging to his No. 8 spot in the middleweight rankings, Cannonier will look to score a second straight win after delivering an impressive bounce-back performance against Gregory ‘Robocop’ Rodrigues in February. Before that, ‘Killa Gorilla’ had dropped back-to-back bouts Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho — two fighters who will face off at UFC Paris to determine the middleweight division’s next title contender.

    ‘Venom’ claims political B.S. prompted his move up from welterweight to middleweight

    Page typically competes at welterweight, but after struggling to get big-name fights in his home division, ‘Venom’ decided to make the move up to middleweight where things aren’t nearly as political.

    “I want all the smoke, I want to go where the smoke is,” Page told The Independent. “It feels like the guys in the welterweight division are not carrying any fire. It seems to be very political, it’s a bit too technical about who fights who.

    “There’s even more people with even more claims of getting that title shot [than at middleweight], so a lot of people don’t want to take those dangerous fights if they don’t have to. And to add to the welterweight division, Islam [Makhachev] is moving up as well now, which just holds up the division even more.”

    A win over Cannonier in ‘Chi-Town’ would skyrocket Page into the top 10 of the middleweight division, instantly making him a contender in not one, but two weight classes.

  • “It is a problem” – Khamzat Chimaev Winning The UFC Middleweight Throne is a Promotional Disaster, According to UFC Veterans

    “It is a problem” – Khamzat Chimaev Winning The UFC Middleweight Throne is a Promotional Disaster, According to UFC Veterans

    Could Khamzat Chimaev’s potential title win at UFC 319 pose a big problem for the promotion?

    On Saturday, August 16, ‘Borz’ will step into the main event spotlight in Chicago, challenging reigning and defending middleweight king Dricus du Plessis.

    After making his spectacular UFC debut in 2020, pummeling three opponents in the span of eight weeks, everyone thought Chimaev was on the fast track to title contention. Unfortunately, Chimaev’s momentum was halted due to an especially difficult bout with COVID-19 followed by a slew of post-pandemic illnesses that kept his appearances inside the Octagon few and far between.

    Since 2022, ‘Borz’ has only competed once a year, leading some to speculate that a win over du Plessis in ‘The Windy City’ could be a disastrous turn of events for the UFC.

    “Would Khamzat Chimaev winning the belt be a disaster for the division?,” ex-UFC champ Michael Bisping questioned on his Believe You Me podcast. “I got to agree that as far as promotion-wise, yeah, it could be, right?”

    “Until we see him fight more regularly, then it is a question,” co-host and former fighter Paul Felder added. “It is a problem.”

    UFC 319 will be Khamzat Chimaev’s first time fighting in the U.S. since 2022

    Aside from Chimaev’s inconsistent schedule and laundry-list of cancelled bouts, another cause for concern could be his willingness to fight stateside. When ‘Borz’ steps inside the United Center this weekend, it will be his first time competing in the U.S. since September 10, 2022. On that night, Chimaev was originally scheduled to face Nate Diaz in the UFC 279 main event.

    However, Chimaev infamously stepped in the scale eight pounds over the welterweight limit, forcing the UFC to shake-up the top of the card 24 hours before fight night.

    Chimaev went on to ragdoll Kevin Holland in the co-main event, earning his sixth win inside the Octagon. He was subsequently forced to move up from 170 to middleweight, where he’s since added wins over Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker, setting the stage for his scrap with ‘DDP’ in ‘Chi-Town.’

    Between illnesses, weight misses, and cancellations aplenty, are Bisping and Felder right to be concerned about what the middleweight division could look like with Chimaev sitting on the throne?

  • Why did Nassourdine Imavov Request Caio Borralho for UFC Paris Main Event?

    Why did Nassourdine Imavov Request Caio Borralho for UFC Paris Main Event?

    Caio Borralho was just the next man up for Nassourdine Imavov.

    After stringing together a quartet of impressive victories over Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, Brendan Allen, and Israel Adesanya, Imavov was ready to take on anyone else standing in the way of his first middleweight title opportunity. As it turns out, that man just so happens to be Borralho — the Brazilian fan favorite and co-founder of the immensely popular Fighting Nerds.

    Now, Imavov and Borralho will do battle on September 6 when the UFC makes its annual pit stop in Paris, France.

    Following his impressive second-round knockout of ‘The Last Stylebender’ in February, Imavov was eager to get back to work. Speaking with MMA Junkie, the Dagestani revealed what inspired him to ask for a fight against Borralho in ‘The City of Light.’

    “I did four fights in 11 months against all top-10 ranked opponents,” Imavov said. “The next contender was Caio. So I asked the UFC to bring him in Paris.”

    A shot at UFC gold hangs in the balance between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho

    With an 8-2 record inside the Octagon, Imavov has more than earned his spot as the No. 1 ranked contender in the middleweight division. But if he hopes to keep that top spot, he’ll have to do what no man has been able to inside the Octagon — beat Borralho.

    ‘The Natural’ goes into his eighth promotional appearance with an umblemished 7-0 UFC record, including highlight-reel finishes against Michał Oleksiejczuk and Paul Craig. Borralho’s most recent outing saw him score a unanimous decision win over aforementioned contender Jared Cannonier last August.

    With a win over Imavov, Borralho could steal the No. 1 spot in the rankings, setting the stage for a massive title tilt against the winner of this month’s middleweight championship showdown between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.

  • Meeting Death Created Khamzat Chimaev as We Know Him Today: “If you’re not ready to die when it comes, you’ll be scared”

    Meeting Death Created Khamzat Chimaev as We Know Him Today: “If you’re not ready to die when it comes, you’ll be scared”

    Khamzat Chimaev does not fear death.

    Exploding onto the scene in 2020, ‘Borz’ will look to add a UFC title to his resume when he challenges reigning and defending middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 this Saturday, August 16, in Chicago.

    After winning his first three fights UFC in the span of eight weeks, Chimaev appeared to be on the fast track to fame, fortune, and gold. Sadly, his mometum was halted due to an especially bad bout with COVID-19. The illness was so extreme that the undefeated Chechen monster was contemplating retirement.

    Fortunately, Chimaev made a full recovery returned to the UFC 13 months later, but ‘Borz’ was fully prepared to meet his maker.

    “I believe in God, so I wanna meet Him as well. Life is going really fast — I’m already 31,” Chimaev told ESPN. “I remember being 6 or 7 years old, and it feels like yesterday. I believe in God, so do good things before I meet Him. If you’re not ready to die when it comes, you’ll be scared. Maybe my thinking about that made me who I am today.”

    Will Khamzat Chimaev’s reign of terror continue at UFC 319?

    Since making his return, Chimaev has added five more wins to his resume, none more impressive than his horrifying first-round submission victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi. That on top of big wins over Kevin Holland and Kamaru Usman moved Chimaev into the No. 3 spot in the middleweight rankings, setting the stage for his highly anticipated clash with du Plessis in ‘Chi-Town.’

    Overall, Chimaev is 14-0 in his mixed martial arts career with an 85% finish rate — five KOs and seven submissions. He enters Saturday’s scrap with the South African sensation as a 2-to-1 favorite to leave ‘The Windy City’ with the 185-pound crown.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Shows Off Cardio While Trash-Talking Dricus Du Plessis: “Come here and let’s see!”

    Khamzat Chimaev Shows Off Cardio While Trash-Talking Dricus Du Plessis: “Come here and let’s see!”

    Cardio won’t be an issue for Khamzat Chimaev.

    After scoring a stunning first-round submission victory over Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi, ‘Borz’ will look to cash in on his first title opportunity when he challenges reigning and defending middleweight king Dricus du Plessis this Saturday night at UFC 319 in Chicago.

    While Chimaev goes into the contest with an unblemished 14-0 record and a slew of impressive performances, some have suggested that the Chechen’s gas tank could be his biggest Achille’s heel come fight night. Chimaev recently attempted to quell any concerns that his cardio could be a problem while sending a very clear message to his opponent.

    “What did you say, Dricus? You think my cardio won’t hold up? Come here and let’s see!” Chimaev said in a training clip via The MAC Life.

    Khamzat Chimaev’s cardio coach says his strength and conditioning is on a ‘different level’

    Chimaev is always looking to end things early inside the Octagon, but in the instances where he’s dragged into deeper waters, ‘Borz’ has been known to fade down the stretch. That was ever apparent in his bouts against Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman.

    And while he went on to win both of those fights via decision, Chimaev’s cardio coach Joakim Karlsson thinks that today’s version of ‘Borz’ is far more dangerous than the one who fought Burns and the ‘Nigerian Nightmare.’

    “Man, you can’t compare Khamzat, now, this time, with (the one from) one, two years ago,” Karlsson said at a UFC 319 media event. “It’s totally different. He has a different strength and conditioning coach now. It’s a different level now. I don’t think it’s fair to compare him from one, two years ago. It’s not the same.

    “He’s just taking training more serious now. He has good dedication to what he does because now it’s serious stuff, it’s coming up to a championship fight. So he’s been more serious about everything. He’s taking care of nutrition, sleep, recovery and everything. He’s good.”

  • UFC Icon Rebuffs Brendan Schaub on Dricus Du Plessis Becoming a Three-Division Champ

    UFC Icon Rebuffs Brendan Schaub on Dricus Du Plessis Becoming a Three-Division Champ

    Brendan Schaub thinks Dricus du Plessis could be the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion. Chael Sonnen isn’t so sure.

    Following dominant defenses against Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland in his last two outings, ‘DDP’ will arguably face his toughest test yet when he puts his middleweight gold on the line against undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev. ‘DDP’ and Chimaev will headline UFC 319 this Saturday, August 16, when the promotion heads back to Chicago for a loaded pay-per-view lineup, which includes the Octagon debut of former Bellator star Aaron Pico.

    When du Plessis and Chimaev step inside the cage, they’ll be fighting for much more than gold.

    Both fighters enter the bout undefeated in their UFC careers, and both have dreams of etching their names in the history books as a three-division champion. But despite Schaub’s strong belief that ‘DDP’ can accomplish his goal, Sonnen thinks that could be a pretty tall order for du Plessis. Especially when the man you have to go through is Chimaev.

    “Brendan Schaub did a piece, and he likes Dricus,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “He likes Dricus to the point that he thinks he could be a three-division champion. Brendan laid out the math: 185, where he’s already king. Go up to 205, grab the belt, slide up to heavyweight, beat those guys.

    “I don’t hate the idea. I’m grateful that Brendan brought this to our attention because I too find that Dricus, in his next fight, is not fighting for nothing. I think there is something there. Take it from me, Mr. Division Expert: it has never been this difficult.”

    Who’s ‘O’ will go when Dricus du Plessis meets Khamzat Chimaev in ‘The Windy City’?

    ‘DDP’ heads to Chi-Town with a perfect 9-0 record inside the Octagon and wins over a slew of former world champions. Meanwhile, ‘Borz’ will look to cash in on his long-awaited title opportunity after ragdolling opponents on his way to a 14-0 record, including a teeth-cracking submission win over Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi last year.

    As it stands, Chimaev is a moderate favorite to come out on top, but du Plessis is known for defying the odds. In fact, the South African sensation has opened as the underdog in seven of his nine UFC bouts.

    Will du Plessis defy the odds once again, or is it Chimaev’s time to finally strap UFC gold around his waist?

  • UFC Icons Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman Gearing Up for Long-Awaited Trilogy Fight

    UFC Icons Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman Gearing Up for Long-Awaited Trilogy Fight

    Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman are ready to run it back one more time.

    After competing twice under the UFC banner, the former world titleholders will complete their trilogy — this time in a boxing bout. No official announcement has been made, but according to a report from Main Event TV, Weidman spilled the tea while attending a wrestling tournament in Atlanta.

    “A credible source who spoke directly with Chris Weidman at a wrestling tournament in Atlanta last week confirmed to Maurits School (@MauritsSchool) that the trilogy fight with Anderson Silva is happening, and it will be under Boxing rules,” the outlet wrote in a post on Instagram.

    Weidman ended Silva’s 2,457-day reign as the undisputed middleweight champion in July 2013, knocking out ‘The Spider’ in the second round of their UFC 162 headliner. Five months later, they’d run it back at UFC 168. Weidman once again came out on top after Silva suffered a horrific leg break just 76 seconds into the contest.

    Silva returned from the injury 13 months later, but failed to find the same success he enjoyed during the previous seven years.

    Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman 3 comes eight years after the UFC tried to book the trilogy bout

    According to Weidman, the UFC attempted to book a threequel between the two in 2017, but being that it would have been a short-notice situation, ‘All-American’ respectfully declined.

    Weidman went on to successfully defend the 185-pound crown three times, adding wins over Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort before surrendering the strap to Luke Rockhold in December 2015. Weidman would only find the win column three more times over the next nine years, prompting him to retire from the UFC following a loss against Eryk Anders at UFC 310.

    While this would be Weidman’s first foray into boxing, Silva has already tested his mettle in the sweet science, amassing a 3-2 record with wins over Julio César Chávez Jr. and Tito Ortiz. Silva’s last boxing bout came in October 2022 against YouTube sensation Jake Paul.

  • 6 Hits And 3 Misses From UFC Vegas 109: Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Hernandez

    6 Hits And 3 Misses From UFC Vegas 109: Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Hernandez

    After making its first appearance at the UFC APEX in two months, the UFC remained as its headquarters for a second straight week, hosting UFC Vegas 109 (aka UFC Fight Night: Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Hernandez) on August 9.

    Last week’s card at the UFC APEX was the first UFC Vegas event since May 31. Now, despite these back-to-back weeks, the UFC is not scheduled to return to the APEX at any point through October. The APEX, however, will be playing host to Dana White’s Contender Series events, with the new season beginning this coming Tuesday, August 12, and lasting through October 14.

    The main event of UFC Vegas 109 saw a top-10 middleweight contenders’ battle between Roman Dolidze and Anthony Hernandez.

    Dolidze entered this fight on a three-fight win streak, consisting of a decision over Anthony Smith, a finish of Kevin Holland, and a decision over Marvin Vettori. Hernandez, meanwhile, had won seven straight, most recently scoring a decision over Brendan Allen in February.

    The co-main event featured former flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg competing on bantamweight against Ode Osbourne. Erceg was originally penned to face Alex Perez until Perez pulled out with injury last month. Hyun Sung Park was scheduled to replace him until being pulled to fill in last week’s UFC Vegas 108 main event on a week’s notice. Osbourne was then called upon to face Erceg, result in the 135-pound bout.

    Erceg was looking to snap a three-fight losing skid that he’s been on since his unsuccessful title shot against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301. Osbourne had recently snapped his own three-fight losing streak, finishing Luis Gurule in April.

    Who performed well in Vegas? Who fell short? Let’s find out with the hits and misses of UFC Vegas 109.

    Miss – Another Week, More Confusing Scorecards

    I know the opening fight between Cody Brundage and Eric McConico wasn’t the most exciting and wasn’t the easiest to score. But those scorecards…what were those?

    The fight itself was back-and-forth, with Brundage controlling the early portion of round before before McConico started to rally and landed a number of combinations and scored takedowns. Brundage had his best round in the second, scoring multiple takedowns and working McConico in the clinch, as well as a damaging head kick. McConico, however, rallied back in the third, busting Brundage open with an elbow and landing at will with his pressure.

    Most of the fight wasn’t exactly one-sided, but Brundage certainly seemed to win the second and McConico the third. So, tell me dear reader, how did two judges give round two to McConico?

    This is yet another moment when I wish judges had to give responses to controversial and/or questionable decisons.

    Hit – We Need A Medic, But Not For Uros Medic

    Uros Medic really brought that “Call an ambulance, but not for me” meme into the Octagon with his knockout of Gilbert Urbina.

    Medic appeared to be in trouble just seconds into the fight, getting cracked and dropped by a right hand from Urbina. Medic made his way to his feet, and Urbina found some major confidence. Instead of trying to go to the ground with Medic, Urbina elected to follow him around the Octagon, like a predator stalking its prey.

    Unfortunately for Urbina, the prey bit back. Medic landed a left hand and knee before dropping Urbina out cold with a left, ending the fight in just over a minute.

    Medic has won four of six and is 5-3 since arriving to the UFC from DWCS. He didn’t get a performance bonus for this finish, which is a shame, so here’s his (obviously not as good) recognition. Now the test is going to be if Medic can string wins together.

    Hit – Joselyne Edwards Ready For Another Test At Women’s 135?

    One of the ones who did get a performance bonus? Joselyne Edwards, and for good reason following her knockout of Priscila Cachoeira during the prelims.

    Edwards seemed to get the better of Cachoeira with jabs early on before the Brazilian forced her back a couple of times. Eventually, the two got into exchanges. One of those exchanges saw a one-two land to drop Cachoeira. Then, Edwards dove in with a right hand to put the finishing touches on Cachoeira, knocking her out.

    Edwards has now won three straight and six of her last eight. Her two losses in that span were to two people ahead of her in the women’s bantamweight rankings — Allin Perez and Nora Cornolle.

    Edwards did also call out former title challenger Mayra Bueno Silva, who was supposed to face Edwards before being replaced by Cachoeira. After this performance, that definitely should be what’s next if that’s what Edwards wants.

    Hit – Elijah Smith Slams His Way To Viralness

    On a day of spectacular finishes between UFC Vegas 109 and PFL Africa 2, Elijah Smith may have had the best finish of them all as he put away Toshiomi Kazama.

    Smith was fast out of the gate, stopping a takedown attempt and landing heavy blows on his opponent. Kazama tried to battle back with submission attempts, and with his last, he locked up a triangle choke.

    Then, Smith lifted him up.

    A slam doesn’t always work and runs the risk of tightening the choke worse, causing the submission. But that’s not what happened. Instead, Smith brought him down powerbomb style, which knocked Kazama out cold and drew comparisons to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson doing such a knockout in PRIDE.

    Smith is now 2-0 in the UFC, having made his Octagon debut earlier this year against Vince Morales. And after this highlight, a greater spotlight should be there for his next fight — and he’ll already have one of the most memorable moments in UFC history that will be played in video packages and spread over social media time and time again.

    Hit – Have Your Eye On CLD

    His alma matter, Cage Warriors, called him a human highlight reel. And Christian Leroy Duncan looked exactly like that as he put away Eryk Anders to open the main card.

    In spite of some early foul trouble, CLD was able to utilize leg kicks to his advantage. At one point, he caught Anders dropping his hands and landed a major spinning back elbow. Anders was rocked and dropped, with some follow-up shots bringing the fight to a quick close.

    Duncan, the former Cage Warriors middleweight champion, has now won four of five and is 5-2 in the UFC, with his only losses being against Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues and Armen Petrosyan. As one person posted to X, let’s get Duncan out of the APEX. One of the next times the UFC is over in Europe and CLD is available, he should be on the card.

    Hit/Miss – Steve Erceg Breaks Losing Skid (But It Could’ve Gone Better)

    I said in last week’s Hits and Misses that I was debating doing something like this, and after another split feeling about something that happened on this week’s card, I’ll let this be both a hit and a miss.

    Steve Erceg snapped this three-fight losing streak with a win over Ode Osbourne in the UFC Vegas 109 co-main event. That’s a positive; however, while I understand this was a fight out of his usual weight class, it wasn’t his cleanest performance.

    Osbourne started strong, chopping at Erceg’s legs with kicks and landing crisp right hands that wobbled his opponent early in the first round. Erceg recovered, pinning Osbourne to the fence and nearly securing a choke. Osbourne’s speed and striking kept things competitive in the second, but Erceg controlled the distance and clinch, landing key strikes. Erceg took over in full during round three, securing a takedown and getting to mount, nearly scoring a couple of submissions and pressuring Osbourne to a decision win.

    Erceg’s losses on the losing skid, against Pantoja, Kai Kara-France, and Brandon Moreno, are not bad losses by any stretch. But Erceg put a lot of pressure on himself to perform well in the fight and break his skid. He obviously got the win, but the performance probably was not what he was hoping for — even with a real short-notice opponent.

    Erceg entered the fight ranked No. 10 at flyweight and should have someone around that range to fight next. Maybe they can still book the fight with Alex Perez at some point in the future, but with his fracture, not sure if that’s likely. And if that’s the case, perhaps the Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura winner?

    Miss – Herb Dean’s (Lack Of) Officiating (And Referees, In General, vs. Fence Grabs)

    I don’t want to take away from Anthony Hernandez’s performance in the main event of UFC Vegas 109, but I have to get this off my chest.

    Herb Dean was once known as one of the best referees in this sport, and he’s still one of the most recognized referee names. But the way he’s refereed some fights of late has left a lot to be desired.

    It took four fence grabs by Roman Dolidze for a point to be deducted in the main event. Four. There is no reason it should have taken that many. Fence grabs when both fighters are stalling against the cage one way or another is one thing. But more than one of those cage grabs were to prevent a takedown — and that’s something I and others in this community (be it fighters, fans, or media) feel should be an automatic point deduction.

    On top of that, when he was deducting the one-point in the nature that he did, he obviously didn’t want to stop Hernandez’s momentum, but one of those knees Hernandez landed in the fight-ending sequence was a pretty close call. And I don’t think he was paying enough attention because it was that moment he called the deduction.

    It’s also not a good look when Hernandez has to call his own glove grab violation on Dolidze. I know refereeing isn’t an easy job, but when a fighter is doing that to you, that’s kind of a bad look.

    But where Dean gets a pass is that, sadly, this isn’t the first time that we’ve had to have a conversation about referees and inconsistency with fence grab violations. Rarely if ever it seems does a referee call for a point-deduction right away — even when a fence grab can greatly change a fight’s outcome because of how it can stop a takedown attempt. And as stated, this case was a bad one because of repeated offense that didn’t result in a penalty.

    How we’re having this kind of conversation in 2025 is still baffling to me. But then again, we’re having conversations about proper judging still, too. Sad.

    Hit – Fluffy By Name, Violent By Nature

    Refereeing (or lack thereof) aside, “Fluffy” Hernandez is just a bad, bad man.

    Anthony Hernandez put on a dominant display of control, completely working over Roman Dolidze en route to a fourth-round stoppage in the UFC Vegas 109 main event.

    Hernandez imposed his will from the very opening of the fight, overwhelming Dolidze in the clinch and with takedown attempts that required little effort. “Fluffy” was relentless, wearing Dolidze own with his high strike volume and drowning him in grappling. After bullying Dolidze for over 15 minutes, Hernandez, despite a fence grab, just mauled and strangled Dolidze with a choke that wasn’t even sunk in completely, scoring a submission.

    That makes eight in a row for Hernandez, and it includes Dolidze, Brendan Allen, Michel Pereira, and Roman Kopylov as some of his most recent victories. We’ll see where Hernandez is in the rankings come Tuesday, but there’s no question he’s ready for the notable contenders and former champions in the division. Is it time to put him in the Octagon against someone like Caio Borralho, Robert Whittaker, or Jared Cannonier?