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  • Former Michael ‘Venom’ Page Conqueror Breaks Down Jared Cannonier Fight at UFC 319

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page prepares to keep carving out a path at 185 pounds by facing a former UFC middleweight title challenger in the coming weeks and a former welterweight adversary of MVP’s has weighed in on that bout. Logan Storley is preparing to face Thad Jean for the welterweight tournament title in the PFL Smart Cage on August 1st and appeared on Bowks Talking Bouts to cover several subjects ahead of this high stakes fight.

    While the credentialed amateur wrestler has a chance to add a PFL title distinction to his resume, Storley is no stranger to MMA gold and that came at the expense of Page. Storley would defeat MVP by split decision at Bellator 281 in May 2022 to capture the promotion’s interim welterweight strap. When touching upon his personal history with Page and also offering up his thoughts on MVP’s looming bout with Jared Cannonier at UFC 319 on August 16th, Storley said,

    “Yeah, obviously a big fight in the UK there when I fought him for the belt. I went out there and did something that no one has ever been able to do to him is take him down really and control him, especially for five rounds. We’ve seen him since he got into the UFC is how hard he is to navigate on the feet. No one’s really stayed on the feet with him. So Cannonier is big, but Cannonier is nowhere near as fast as MVP. So it’ll be really interesting, I guess, how it all plays out. But MVP’s speed and distance control, it’s a different level.”

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page stills sees unfinished business at welterweight

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page is getting in some middleweight matchups as of late but he is not totally turning his back on 170 pounds as of yet. This was expressed by Page ahead of his fight earlier this year that saw him jump up to middleweight and hand surging prospect Shara Magomedov his first ever pro mixed martial arts defeat.

    Leading into that February clash with Shara ‘Bullet’, MVP got across this point during an interview with MMA Junkie when Michael ‘Venom’ Page quipped [via Newsweek],

    “If there is another opportunity at middleweight that looks good, looks juicy, looks tasty, 100 percent I’ll be there to do it again. For me, timing-wise, going to middleweight, knowing I had to go through Christmas and everything, it helped. It helped a lot. It meant I could enjoy my Christmas a lot more.”

    “I’ve still got a lot of business that I want to handle at welterweight. So for me, this is a one-off, exciting fight at that weight. Maybe in the future you see me there but for now, I still find it comfortable to get to welterweight, and I’ve still got people I’d love to fight.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/DMmonTSovaZ/?hl=en&img_index=1

  • Reinier de Ridder isn’t too concerned by possible Paulo Costa fight

    Reinier de Ridder isn’t too concerned by possible Paulo Costa fight

    UFC star Reinier de Ridder doesn’t seem too concerned by the possibility of facing Paulo Costa at some point in the future.

    As we know, Reinier de Ridder is coming off the back of a huge win in which he narrowly defeated Robert Whittaker. Paulo Costa, meanwhile, just saw off the challenge of Roman Kopylov, getting himself back into the win column in the process. Costa has made it known that he’s interested in fighting RDR, but of course, the Brazilian is a bit further down the pecking order right now.

    Reinier de Ridder could easily be in line for the next title shot against the winner of Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev. While there’s no guarantee it that, it certainly feels like a distinct possibility.

    When asked about Paulo Costa in a recent interview, Reinier de Ridder had the following to say.

    Reinier de Ridder dismisses Paulo Costa

    “He’s a funny dude. It would lead to a nice press conference and a nice build-up, but I don’t give a f*ck what he says,” De Ridder said. “You can call me whatever you want to call me. Call me gay every day of the week. I don’t mind. Maybe one day (we’ll fight). But at the moment, I don’t think he’s there. I don’t think he’s at my level – though he did do very well in his last fight.

    “He does pretty well against southpaws with the body kick and the straight right hand. So, he’s alright, but I think he has some work to do first.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Arman Tsarukyan calls for huge UFC lightweight title eliminator

    Arman Tsarukyan calls for huge UFC lightweight title eliminator

    UFC lightweight star Arman Tsarukyan has called for a blockbuster UFC lightweight title eliminator with Justin Gaethje.

    For the longest time now, Arman Tsarukyan has been calling for a UFC lightweight championship opportunity – and the same is true for Justin Gaethje. Arman came close, only for an injury to rule him out of fighting Islam Makhachev at the last minute. Now, though, it’s not quite clear what direction the UFC will go in.

    Both men are qualified enough to receive a shot at the gold, but for Arman Tsarukyan, it certainly doesn’t seem as if current champion Ilia Topuria is interested. In fact, it seems like the opposite.

    In a recent interview, Arman Tsarukyan made it known that he doesn’t want to wait for the opportunity to fight for the belt at this point.

    Arman Tsarukyan calls for collision with Justin Gaethje

    “Of course I want Islam [Makhachev], but right now, it makes sense to fight with Gaethje, because he just beat the No. 11 or so [Rafael] Fiziev,” Tsarukyan told Chuck Liddell on his Out Cold show. “He doesn’t deserve title fight. That’s 100 percent, because he just lost [to Max] Holloway. Beat, on short notice, Fiziev. Fiziev knew about the fight five days, and he won, barely, a decision. Now he’s talking about title fight. It’s not fair. I think he’s got to beat me to deserve to fight for the title.”

    “They offered me a fight. I said no because I want to fight ranked fighter from top 5,” Tsarukyan said. “I’m in the position, I’m not fighting for the money right now. I just want to be a champion. Now my goal is to be a champion, that’s why I’m not taking a fight I will just beat [someone]. I know I can beat everybody. Right now, I want to pick a good fight for me and get back to the title fight.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Ilia Topuria praised as “special” by UFC champion

    Ilia Topuria praised as “special” by UFC champion

    UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria has been praised by Dricus du Plessis following his recent success in the promotion.

    As we know, Ilia Topuria is a pretty special talent – and it turns out that a lot of other fighters think so too. In his last three outings, he’s been able to defeat (and knock out) Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira. While it may sound extreme, he’s currently on a similar trajectory to Conor McGregor.

    While his next opponent isn’t quite clear, one thing we do know is this: Ilia Topuria is legit. Another man who thinks so is Dricus du Plessis, who has enjoyed a similar rise to prominence.

    Dricus du Plessis praises Ilia Topuria

    “I’m so happy for him,” Du Plessis said of Topuria in an interview with Betway South Africa. “We made our debuts on the same fight card. He was literally in my changing room. We were on the same trajectory, winning our titles one month apart, so I’m super happy for him.

    “I think he’s one of those special characters who’s going to be a Hall of Famer, no doubt. He’s the first unbeaten guy to have two titles, so I rate him very highly as an all-round fighter. And obviously, his striking power, knocking out three legends – I think he’s incredible, and in my opinion, one of the best, if not the best in the UFC right now.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

    Just how high is the ceiling for this guy? Only time will tell.

  • Justin Gaethje To Walk Away from the UFC If He Does Not Get a Title Shot Against Ilia Topuria

    Justin Gaethje To Walk Away from the UFC If He Does Not Get a Title Shot Against Ilia Topuria

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has said that he believes Justin Gaethje when he says he will walk away from the UFC if he doesn’t receive a lightweight title shot.

    As we know, Justin Gaethje is a pretty popular guy within the context of mixed martial arts. He has the kind of all-action style that will appeal to just about anyone, and he knows how to put on an exciting fight. However, in the present day, he’s been watching and waiting for a while to see whether or not he’ll get a crack at the UFC lightweight championship.

    While there are plenty of contenders in the mix, it certainly feels like Justin Gaethje is up there with the best of them. Sure, he’s had opportunities like this before, but this may be his last shot at the gold.

    After Justin Gaethje suggested that he could walk away from the promotion if he doesn’t get what he wants, Chael Sonnen admitted that he believes him.

    Chael Sonnen believes Justin Gaethje

    “Justin’s being very sincere, not joking or holding anyone hostage. He put all his cards on the table.”

    “Justin has never worked harder to get a world title shot at 155 pounds. Any time they need a short-notice opponent or a title opportunist, the answer is Justin Gaethje.”

    “Justin is standing on principle, and it sounds good, but is he right? He’s 3 wins and 1 loss in his last four fights.”

    “He said he appreciates that it’s star-driven business, but he believes it should be merit-based.”

    “He looked at the records and rankings and said it’s either him or Arman. If someone else gets the title shot, then merit-based system is not being followed, and he wants no part of that.”

  • Conor McGregor Brutally Attacks “Embarrassing” EU-US Trade Deal, Looks to Put Ireland First

    Conor McGregor Brutally Attacks “Embarrassing” EU-US Trade Deal, Looks to Put Ireland First

    Former UFC star Conor McGregor has attacked a recent EU-US trade deal as he continues to pursue a career in politics.

    As we know, Conor McGregor is an incredibly controversial individual. While he achieved great success throughout the course of his time in mixed martial arts, these days, he’s best known for his exploits outside of the cage. He continues to fall short in the eyes of many when it comes to his behavior, most notably due to his recent civil sexual assault case defeat.

    Despite this, Conor McGregor continues to hunt down the idea of becoming the new President of Ireland. While the majority of experts have noted that this is pretty much impossible regardless of how much support he may receive, that hasn’t stopped him.

    In a recent series of tweets, Conor McGregor turned his attention towards a deal between the EU and the US.

    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1950177614271816146
    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1950178736663400622

    Conor McGregor slams deal

    “Ireland, with me in as your President, I immediately correct this embarrassing trade % that “we” (EU) negotiated with the United States on “behalf of Ireland” (nothing in this set up is ever on the behalf of Ireland), and I do it by year end for us, 2025! Save our Country! Save our people! Save our money! Go hÉire! Vote McGregor.”

    “Ireland, I am extremely confident in my ability to correct this as your President. I correct this embarrassing % deficit by year end, 2025. Save our country. Save our people. Save our money. Vote McGregor! For Ireland!”

    Oh boy.

  • UFC Paris Fight Card Gets Benoit Saint Denis vs. Mauricio Ruffy On September 6

    UFC Paris Fight Card Gets Benoit Saint Denis vs. Mauricio Ruffy On September 6

    The UFC Paris lineup has reportedly been strengthened with a potential barnburner of a matchup.

    According to a recent report from Bulgarian Top Team, Benoit Saint Denis is set to take on surging knockout artist Mauricio Ruffy at UFC Paris, which is scheduled to take place on September 6 at the Accor Arena in France.

    Saint Denis last competed at UFC 315, where he earned an impressive second-round submission victory over Kyle Prepolec. The win marked a much-needed return to the win column for the 29-year-old Frenchman after suffering back-to-back stoppage losses to Renato Moicano and Dustin Poirier in 2024.

    Before those setbacks, “God of War” was riding a five-fight win streak, with all victories coming by way of stoppage against notable names like Matt Frevola and Thiago Moises. Saint Denis currently boasts a professional record of 14-3, with every one of his wins coming inside the distance.

    Meanwhile, Ruffy was seen in action at UFC 313 in March, delivering a stunning first-round wheel kick knockout over King Green. The Fighting Nerds standout earned his UFC contract with a third-round knockout of Raimond Magomedaliev on Dana White’s Contender Series in October 2023.

    Ruffy heads into UFC Paris riding a seven-fight win streak, with his lone career setback coming against Manoel Sousa under the Standout Fighting Tournament banner in November 2019. The 29-year-old Brazilian powerhouse holds a pro record of 12-1, with 11 of those victories coming by way of knockout.

    UFC 309's Mauricio Ruffy
    Image: DWCS/Zuffa LLC

    What Are The Confirmed Bouts For UFC Paris?

    UFC Paris will be headlined by a pivotal middleweight showdown between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho, with potential title implications on the line. The Fight Night event will also feature a heavyweight clash between Marcin Tybura and Ante Delija. Also on the card is a featherweight matchup pitting William Gomis against Robert Ruchała. Rounding out the announced bouts, Modestas Bukauskas is set to face Paul Craig in a light heavyweight tilt.

    Here’s the confirmed lineup for UFC Paris:

    Main Card

    • Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho; middleweight
    • Benoit Saint Denis vs. Mauricio Ruffy; lightweight
    • Modestas Bukauskas vs. Paul Craig; light heavyweight
    • Marcin Tybura vs. Ante Delija; heavyweight
    • Bolaji Oki vs. Mason Jones; lightweight
    • Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Andreas Gustafsson; welterweight

    Preliminary Card

    • William Gomis vs. Robert Ruchała; featherweight
    • Oumar Sy vs. Brendson Ribeiro; light heavyweight
    • Shauna Bannon vs. Sam Hughes; strawweight
    • Yuneisy Duben vs. Kennedy Freeman; flyweight
    • Fares Ziam vs. Kaue Fernandes; lightweight
    • Sam Patterson vs. Trey Waters; welterweight
    Photo by Tim Wheaton
  • Tom Aspinall Must Defeat Ciryl Gane Or Else it Might Be Over for the UFC Heavyweight Division, says MMA Analyst

    Tom Aspinall Must Defeat Ciryl Gane Or Else it Might Be Over for the UFC Heavyweight Division, says MMA Analyst

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen believes that the future of the UFC’s heavyweight division could well be on the line when Tom Aspinall defends his UFC title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321.

    Finally, after months of waiting, we finally have some clarity at heavyweight. The new undisputed champion, Tom Aspinall, will square off with Ciryl Gane later this year in what looks set to be a really interesting clash of styles.

    For many, Tom Aspinall is the clear favorite, but you never know what could happen in this crazy world called mixed martial arts. At the very least, we’re expecting to see the kind of showdown that reminds us all why heavyweight can be a really fun division.

    In the eyes of Chael Sonnen, however, the champion is fighting for a whole lot more than just his belt.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane

    “Never in the history of our sport has anybody had more pressure on them than Tom Aspinall.”

    “Pressure creates fatigue. It creates a chemical release… same as adrenaline, same as excitement, same as fear. It creates a release and it can paralyze you.”

    “You don’t really know what kind of guy you are until you find yourself in that position.”

    “He’s got to not just win, he’s got to win fast.”

    “I don’t know that Tom could find himself in a harder spot.”

    “I’m excited to have a heavyweight champion that wants to fight, compete, come speak, meet the public, be part of the community.”

  • Tatsuro Taira Got “Fired Up” By Last Minute Opponent Change ‘Burning in my heart’

    Tatsuro Taira Got “Fired Up” By Last Minute Opponent Change ‘Burning in my heart’

    UFC star Tatsuro Taira isn’t too concerned after his original opponent this weekend, Amir Albazi, was forced to withdraw from their bout on Saturday night.

    Tatsuro Taira vs Amir Albazi was a contest that a lot of fans were looking forward to in the flyweight division. However, after Albazi was forced to withdraw due to medical concerns, Taira will now square off against HyunSung Park. This, in itself, is also a pretty fascinating encounter at 125 pounds.

    For Tatsuro Taira, though, this is all about proving that he belongs on the big stage. He’s already been able to show glimpses of what he’s capable of in the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now, he’s ready to try and take his game to a whole new level – and he wants to do s against Park.

    When discussing the late notice change, Tatsuro Taira made it crystal clear that he’s using it as motivation.

    Tatsuro Taita isn’t bothered by last minute change

    “When one door closes, another opens. After Albazi pulled out and Park stepped in, I found myself fired up again. That’s what I meant in my Instagram post about a new fire burning in my heart, ready to show what I’ve prepared on August 2.”

    It certainly isn’t the main event that’s going to feature the biggest names this month in the UFC, but in a lot of ways, that’s what makes it more exciting. You have two hungry guys here who are looking to go out there and make a name for themselves, and we can’t wait to see what happens.

  • Vitor Belfort: Skill Means Nothing Anymore – Social Media is Destroying Fighter Drive

    Vitor Belfort: Skill Means Nothing Anymore – Social Media is Destroying Fighter Drive

    UFC legend Vitor Belfort has given his thoughts on social media, the numbers that people pull in, and how that can impact sponsorship deals.

    Throughout the course of his time in combat sports, Vitor Belfort has been known as an absolute animal. Sometimes that’s been a good thing, and sometimes that’s been a bad thing – but he was, at one point, certainly one of the biggest stars in the sport of mixed martial arts.

    These days, he’s enjoying his time as a legendary figure of MMA, with Vitor Belfort being a name that is constantly recognized for his incredible work inside the cage. With that being said, in the modern age, social media seems to take priority above a lot of other things when it comes to popularity.

    In a recent interview, Vitor Belfort explained why he isn’t a massive fan of that.

    Vitor Belfort isn’t a fan of social media

    “When you go to Nike, when you go to Under Armour and then you offer a fighter and they said how many likes he has, me and it is disgusting.”

    “How many followers he has, how many how many likes. I don’t care how many likes he has.”

    “I think you can never sign a sponsor or deal because of likes.”

    Vitor certainly has an interesting point here, and it’s one of the reasons we used Jake Paul – a social media star who made his way into boxing – as the featured image.

    What do you make of this logic? Let us know, fight fans.

  • Will Khamzat Chimaev Ever Fight Again if he Wins at UFC 319? Former Champion Weighs-In

    Will Khamzat Chimaev Ever Fight Again if he Wins at UFC 319? Former Champion Weighs-In

    MMA analyst Michael Bisping has given his thoughts on Din Thomas suggesting that it could be a disaster if Khamzat Chimaev becomes UFC champion.

    As we know, Khamzat Chimaev will challenge Dricus du Plessis next month for the UFC middleweight championship. It’s a fight that has been a long time coming, and it’s one that a lot of fans expect ‘Borz’ to win. Of course, this is mixed martial arts we’re talking about here, and you can never really know for sure.

    With that being said, Khamzat Chimaev’s abilities aren’t the thing in question here. We all know how good he is, but one thing that a lot of people are worried about is his ability to stay active. He hasn’t fought a whole lot in the last few years, which has more than raised a few eyebrows.

    In a recent video, Michael Bisping gave his thoughts on the aforementioned remarks made by Din Thomas.

    Michael Bisping’s view on Khamzat Chimaev as UFC champion

    “If Khamzat can beat Dricus, and that’s a big if, I’d probably lean towards Dricus.”

    “If Khamzat wins, do we trust him to fight again? That’s the question. Can he do it twice? Can he do it three times? Because we need movement in these divisions.”

    “You got to fight. You can’t sit on the sidelines. You can’t become the champion and say, ‘Right, I’m going to avoid fighting people now.’”

    “Din Thomas was talking… and he said it would be a disaster if Khamzat Chimaev ever won because he’s not reliable.”

    “If Khamzat wins, it’s a disaster. You can’t tell me that part of you isn’t thinking the fight might not actually happen.”

    “Khamzat Chimaev hasn’t been the most reliable guy. According to topology, he has pulled out of six fights.”

  • Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul: Former UFC Champion Questions The Validity of Boxing Match

    Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul: Former UFC Champion Questions The Validity of Boxing Match

    Former UFC champion Tito Ortiz has questioned the validity of the boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul.

    Just a matter of months ago, Mike Tyson came out of retirement for a boxing match against none other than Jake Paul. On paper, that would’ve seemed like a crazy idea less than a decade ago – but we live in strange times. Influencer boxing has become quite the thing over the years off the back of Paul, KSI and, originally, Joe Weller.

    In the present day, everyone is pretty annoyed about what went down between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul. ‘The Problem Child’ was able to pick up the victory but given Mike’s age and general health, it wasn’t considered particularly legitimate. Some people even speculated that it could’ve been staged, with Tyson being paid to lose to Paul, holding back from showing the kind of true power that he once had in his prime.

    That includes Tito Ortiz, who had the following to say about Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul in a recent interview.

    Tito Ortiz’s view on Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul

    “I was kind of bummed. I wanted Tyson to knock out Jake Paul. And I saw him pull some punches. I’m not saying that it was fixed, but I questioned a lot of it. I thought Tyson had a lot more.”

    Will any kind of fight like this ever happen again? If Jake Paul has anything to say about it, then the answer is probably going to be yes.

  • Former BKB Title Challenger Feels “Good About Being a [BKFC] Title Contender” With a Big BKFC 79 Win

    Former BKB Title Challenger Feels “Good About Being a [BKFC] Title Contender” With a Big BKFC 79 Win

    Shelby Cannon is no stranger to vying for bare knuckle gold and could find herself in another one of those opportunities with a strong showing this weekend. Cannon will clash with Taylor Starling at BKFC 79: Gogo vs. Lane in the co-main event on August 2nd and ‘Boom Boom’ Cannon appeared on Bare Knuckle Bowker to cover several subjects leading into this high stakes fight.

    Sarah Shell is the only contender ranked above the number two ranked strawweight Starling right now. Presuming they do Britain Hart vs. Shell next for the strawweight belt, when asked if BKFC has communicated to her that the winner of this fight could be vying for the title after that, Cannon said,

    “Not specifically. I mean, they obviously are making me feel good about being a title contender. Depending on the outcome of the fight, which makes sense, of course. I mean, she’s ranked number two, so yeah, I beat her [a title shot could come]. However, they make it very clear that it depends on on how the fight goes. You know, they’re looking for certain things as far as I think how they’re going to match people up. Like we said before, style versus style. Aggression is important, you know, having a purpose in what we’re doing here.”

    Shelby Cannon has less BKFC experience but touts higher world ranking than Starling

    As she further expounded upon this thought while referencing her multiple bare knuckle bouts on the BKB circuit prior to this sophomore BKFC outing in the coming days, Cannon continued,

    “I think they’re also looking for people who are interested in staying in this sport and helping grow BKFC. Although there are people, kind of touching on something you had said about people like people looking into the sport not knowing what kind of experience that I’m bringing to the table, I agree with that. But one thing I’m real grateful for is that the promotion of BKFC itself and the people that are behind the scenes, they haven’t overlooked me and they haven’t taken me for granted.”

    “They’ve done their homework, they’ve done their research, and they understand that me and Taylor is a good fight. So, even though I’m not ranked in the division, I am ranked in the world and I am ranked high in the world. Technically, I’m ranked higher than [Taylor] Starling. So I am 100% grateful to them. I think that they are also looking to grow women in this sport. I think they’re giving us a huge opportunity in being the co-main. There’s just there’s a lot going on and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”

  • Vince McMahon Issued Misdemeanor Following Car Accident

    Vince McMahon, the former Executive Chairman of WWE & TKO, parent company of the UFC, was involved in a car accident on July 24.

    Per a report from TMZ, McMahon was traveling northbound on Route 15 in Westport, Connecticut, when the 2024 Bentley he was driving crashed into the back of a 2023 BMW 430. It then collided with a median wood-beam guardrail before a third vehicle, a Ford Fusion, ran into it.

    About 30 feet of damage to the median guardrail. No one was injured, with all three drivers having worn seat belts, but all three vehicles needed to be towed. McMahon’s Bentley and the BMW had its airbags deployed.

    McMahon was issued a misdemeanor summons for reckless driving and following too closely resulting in an accident. He is scheduled to appear in court next month.

    Vince McMahon, Former WWE And TKO Executive Chairman, Cited For Car Accident In Connecticut

    McMahon was one of the leading forces behind WWE’s sale to Endeavor in 2023. The Ari Emanuel-led company then formed TKO as part of a “merger” between the WWE and Zuffa, the longtime parent company of the UFC. McMahon, who originally purchased the WWE from his father in 1982, served as executive chairman of TKO upon its original creation.

    McMahon originally retired from his role as WWE chairman and CEO in June 2022 following hush-money payment allegations. He, however, powered his way back into the position of executive chairman and Board of Directors head in January 2023 as part of WWE’s sale process.

    McMahon was ousted from TKO, however, in January 2024 follwing allegations of sex trafficking and sexual assault. He is still under federal investigation.

  • Conor McGregor’s Sexual Assault Appeal Rejected By Irish Court

    Conor McGregor’s Sexual Assault Appeal Rejected By Irish Court

    Conor McGregor has suffered a fresh blow in his ongoing legal battle.

    In November 2024, the Dublin High Court sided with Nikita Hand, ruling that McGregor was responsible for a sexual assault that allegedly occurred at a Dublin hotel in December 2018. The former two-division UFC champion was ordered to pay €248,000 (approximately $257,000) in damages following the jury’s verdict.

    Since the ruling, “The Notorious” and his longtime partner Dee Devlin have fiercely refuted the accusations, taking to social media to denounce Hand’s claims and declare their intent to appeal. McGregor followed through with the legal challenge in February; however, the appeal has now failed to sway the court in his favor.

    Conor McGregor Fails To Overturn Ruling In Civil Rape Case

    On Thursday, Conor McGregor was dealt a significant setback by Ireland’s Court of Appeal, which dismissed his bid to overturn a jury’s decision ordering him to compensate Nikita Hand, the woman who accused him of sexual assault. The court dismissed the appeal in full.

    The UFC megastar and his legal team had filed the appeal arguing that key elements of the trial had unfairly influenced the jury. McGregor’s attorneys contended that his statements to police during interviews should never have been presented in court, claiming they prejudiced the proceedings.

    Conor McGregor’s lawyer also took issue with the phrasing of a question on the jury’s “issue paper,” suggesting it lacked clarity. Additionally, the appeal challenged the trial judge’s instructions, asserting it was improper to ask the jury whether McGregor had “assaulted” rather than “sexually assaulted” the complainant. Despite these claims, a panel of three senior judges rejected the appeal on all counts.

    McGregor is also entangled in a separate civil lawsuit stemming from allegations that he sexually assaulted an unnamed woman during the NBA Finals game between the Heat and the Celtics in June 2023. The plaintiff is reportedly pursuing over $75,000 in damages, along with additional compensation.

    The suit accuses “The Notorious” of battery and further alleges that the Kaseya Center was grossly negligent, claiming its staff and security failed to uphold safety protocols by allowing McGregor to become excessively intoxicated on the premises.

    Conor McGregor has been out of action since suffering a gruesome leg fracture in his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. His long-awaited return was scheduled for UFC 303 in June 2024 against Michael Chandler, but the comeback was derailed just two weeks before fight night, as the Irishman was forced to pull out due to a toe injury.

    However, the former UFC champion has shown some serious intent to make his long-awaited return at the proposed UFC event on the White House lawn, tentatively scheduled for July 2026. He also announced that he has re-entered the UFC’s drug testing pool.

    What Are the Most Recent Developments in Conor McGregor’s Civil Trial Appeal
  • Thad Jean: “Coming Here to Collect What’s Mine” in Big PFL 2025 Finals

    Thad Jean: “Coming Here to Collect What’s Mine” in Big PFL 2025 Finals

    Thad Jean will test skills against Logan Storley for the welterweight tournament championship at PFL World Tournament 8 on August 1st. Jean appeared on Bowks Talking Bouts and when asked about the momentum of beating a former champion in former Bellator MMA titleholder Jason Jackson to punch his ticket for this PFL title bid, Jean said,

    “Yeah, exactly that. I mean, I wish the fight would have been me versus Jason Jackson for the finals actually. That would have been such a fun fight. But I’m cool with whatever I get because at the end of the day since the beginning of the year I’ve been saying that, I’ve been praying that in the name of Jesus that I would be the PFL welterweight 2025 tournament champion.”

    “Before I was even called up as an alternate. So this all just is something that’s falling into place. I’m just coming here to collect what’s mine and everything that comes with it is just an added bonus, a side quest. Which is really fun to do and I like playing games. So I love doing side quests [laughs].”

    While Jason Jackson is also a teammate of Storley’s at Kill Cliff FC, ‘The Silverback’ does not put much stock into the idea that Jackson can impart his anecdotal experience fighting Jean to Storley that will meaningfully inform this fight.

    Thad Jean thinks Logan Storley is not ‘there yet’, sees first round finish

    Thad Jean mentioned being into playing games earlier and also has an affinity for anime. The arc of an anime hero typically sees that figure face incrementally stronger adversaries as time goes on and when asked if Storley fits with that kind of anime narrative progression in his PFL Smart Cage journey, Jean stated,

    “No. No, not at all. I don’t think Logan is there yet, you know. I feel like if Logan was on my side of the bracket, he wouldn’t be in the finals. Does that make sense to you? I feel like if I was where Logan was and Logan was where I was, I would have been in the finals still and he would not have, you know. I had the harder side of the bracket. He won against good opponents but I would say none on the level that my side were on or that I am on or one that he’s on.”

    The unbeaten pro MMA fighter mentioned seeing Logan Storley as a one-dimensional fighter with a singular wrestling focus, also mentioning instances of seeing fatigue set in within Storley’s heavy wrestling approach at key junctures in the fight and how Jean plays that into his perceived path to victory. As far as what the headlines will read after the dust settles on this PFL welterweight tournament championship outing, Jean quipped,

    “Haitian representative Thad Jean, Thad ‘The Silverback’ Jean, TKO’s, knocks out Logan Storley in the first round. Gaining himself his first world MMA title, becoming the 2025 PFL welterweight tournament champion. Solidifying his position as one of the top welterweights. I think that’s what it’s going to say. I know it’s going to say something like this [laughs].”

  • Stamp Fairtex Returns at ONE 173! Big Next Bout Has Been Booked for November

    Stamp Fairtex Returns at ONE 173! Big Next Bout Has Been Booked for November

    Stamp Fairtex is preparing for her return to competitive combat and the former three sport champ will return to the ONE Circle with a defined date and opponent locked in. One of the sports that Fairtex has held ONE gold in is kickboxing and she will be returning to action under that ruleset in the fourth quarter of the calendar year.

    Kana Morimoto will be stepping into the ring against Stamp at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan which transpires on November 16th. The long awaited return of one of the promotion’s biggest stars will come at ONE 173 in what is a massive matchup that bolsters that card.

    Stamp Fairtex returns after over a year on the sidelines after sustaining an injury while training for a planned fight last Summer. Fairtex was initially slated to defend her ONE atomweight MMA title against Denice Zamboanga in June 2024 before a torn meniscus scrapped the bout and put Stamp on the bench for the foreseeable future. The rehabilitation path has clearly paid dividends as the only person to win ONE titles under MMA, Muay Thai, and kickboxing rules.

    Stamp relinquished her MMA strap to keep the division moving while she was recovering and Zamboanga was upgraded to the ONE atomweight champion outright after previously holding the interim crown. Zamboanga will also compete on the same card that mars stamp’s return as Zamboanga aims to defend her atomweight MMA strap against Ayaka Miura at ONE 173.

    Stamp Fairtex and her pedigree in kickboxing

    With Stamp Fairtex once again returning to competing under kickboxing rules, it’s only fitting to look back at her championship body of work within the ONE Circle under that ruleset. Stamp would cement herself as the ONE atomweight kickboxing champion in October 2018 when she bested Kai Ting Chuang on points. Fairtex would win that outing by way of a unanimous decision at ONE Championship: Kingdom of Heroes in Bangkok, Thailand.

    Stamp would then focus on Muay Thai for her next couple of bouts where she bested Janet Todd to claim the crown then defended her atomweight Muay Thai belt against Alma Juniku. Alas, Fairtex would then return to kickboxing only to lose her claim to the ONE Championship atomweight throne when she lost to the aforementioned Janet Todd in February 2020.

  • UFC Analyst Warns Why ‘It’s A Disaster’ If Khamzat Chimaev Claims Middleweight Title At UFC 319

    UFC Analyst Warns Why ‘It’s A Disaster’ If Khamzat Chimaev Claims Middleweight Title At UFC 319

    Khamzat Chimaev capturing the UFC middleweight title could spell trouble for the division, at least that’s what one analyst believes.

    Chimaev is set to challenge reigning 185-pound champion Dricus Du Plessis in the main event of UFC 319, scheduled for August 16 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

    “Borz” made an explosive entry into the UFC in July 2020, earning massive acclaim after securing three dominant victories within just 66 days, marking the fastest such streak in modern UFC history. However, the undefeated Chechen’s rise has been repeatedly stalled by medical complications and unforeseen obstacles, resulting in only five appearances inside the Octagon since September 2020.

    Now that Khamzat Chimaev is slated to compete in the biggest fight of his career, observers and critics are questioning whether he’ll successfully make it to the Octagon without complications. If he does and manages to dethrone Du Plessis, Din Thomas believes that could mark the beginning of an even bigger problem.

    Khamzat Chimaev
    Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC

    Din Thomas Raises Red Flag Over Khamzat Chimaev’s Future As Potential Champion

    During a recent episode of The Bohnfire with Mike Bohn, UFC analyst Din Thomas shared his thoughts on the upcoming UFC 319 headliner between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev. The UFC analyst cautioned that if “Borz” emerges as the new middleweight champion, his history of irregular appearances could halt the division’s momentum, creating a situation that, in his view, would be detrimental to the sport.

    “If Khamzat wins it’s a disaster,” Thomas said. “You can’t tell me a part of you isn’t just thinking, ‘This fight might not actually happen.’ Some of these guys habitual struggle in just making it to the dance. I’m not going to be pessimistic about it and will say he’s going to show up. But if he does show up and he’s able to win, do we trust him to be able to show up and fight again? That’s the thing.

    “Can he do it twice? Can he do it three times? Because we need movement. I hate when it’s static and there’s no movement in these divisions and in order to be movement in the divisions, the champions have to fight.”

    “Borz” last competed at UFC 308 in October 2024, where he secured a dominant first-round submission victory over former champion Robert Whittaker. Chimaev remains undefeated, boasting a perfect 8-0 record in the UFC and 14-0 overall, with an impressive 12 of those wins coming by way of finish.

    Robert Whittaker Shares Shocking Details Of Jaw Surgery After UFC 308 Loss To Khamzat Chimaev
    Image: UFC.com
  • Khalil Rountree Jr vs Jamahal Hill: Jiri Prochazka wasn’t impressed

    Khalil Rountree Jr vs Jamahal Hill: Jiri Prochazka wasn’t impressed

    UFC light heavyweight Jiri Prochazka has given his interesting thoughts on Khalil Rountree Jr‘s recent win over Jamahal Hill.

    Later this year at UFC 320, Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr will collide in a blockbuster light heavyweight contest. There’s a whole lot of excitement in the air regarding this encounter, with many believing that the winner will receive another crack at the belt.

    Recently, Khalil Rountree Jr was able to defeat Jamahal Hill in a comprehensive, impressive performance. As it turns out, though, Prochazka wasn’t overly impressed.

    Jiri Prochazka on Khalil Rountree Jr’s win over Jamahal Hill

    “A very careful performance, patient,” Prochazka said of Rountree’s win over Hill on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “My opinion, I don’t like that. I don’t like that performance because he gave Jamahal too many chances to be back in the fight, a chance to win the fight. He had many chances to finish him decisively. So, that was really not good from him. He was very patient.

    “What surprised me was Jamahal Hill’s performance. I thought after a lot of trash talking, he would show a much better fight than he showed. It was strange from Khalil that he let him recover and still survive the fight, and Jamahal didn’t show anything, and he was still too self confident after the fight. If you want to fight on the top level, go there and show your best, totally, no regrets.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

    Who are you backing here? Let us know, fight fans.

  • Ciryl Gane has different priorities ahead of Tom Aspinall title fight, says fellow UFC heavyweight

    Ciryl Gane has different priorities ahead of Tom Aspinall title fight, says fellow UFC heavyweight

    UFC heavyweight contender Ciryl Gane may not be fully focused on his UFC 321 main event against Tom Aspinall, says fellow UFC heavyweight contender Jailton Almeida.

    As we know, Ciryl Gane will face off against Tom Aspinall for the UFC heavyweight championship later this year. There’s a lot of intrigue surrounding this contest given the respective styles of both men, and nobody really knows how it’s going to go for sure – although, if there was a favorite, it’d probably be Tom Aspinall.

    For Ciryl Gane, it’s all about proving that he can really reach that next level in the heavyweight division. In a recent interview, the aforementioned Jailton Almeida had some interesting thoughts.

    Ciryl Gane questioned by Jailton Almeida

    “I’m pretty sure that Aspinall beats Gane,” Almeida said on “The Ariel Helwani Show” through an interpreter. “It seems like Gane has other priorities in his life right now, and once you’re fighting at this level there can’t be no other priority. 

    “If you’re fighting at this level, if you’re fighting for the heavyweight crown of the UFC, you have to be all in, and it doesn’t seem like that’s the case for Gane right now. I get it that he’s taking it because who’s not going to take another title fight for the heavyweight belt? But I think his priorities are in a different place now.”

    “I’m very strategic, I’m probably more explosive than anybody that he’s faced, especially on the grappling side of things,” Almeida said. “I think it would probably develop as a grappling fight. He is a BJJ black belt, but there’s levels to being a black belt. I think that I’ll be able to take him into deep waters once we get to the grappling side of things.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Khamzat Chimaev’s Secret Training Will Out-Cardio Dricus Du Plessis According to Former UFC Champion

    Khamzat Chimaev’s Secret Training Will Out-Cardio Dricus Du Plessis According to Former UFC Champion

    According to former UFC champion TJ Dillashaw, Khamzat Chimaev‘s new training regime could be the difference for him against Dricus du Plessis.

    As we know, Khamzat Chimaev is one of the most talented fighters on the planet. However, one big question has always been his cardio. We all know that he’s good enough to beat the very best, but more often than not, he does so in the first couple of rounds.

    So, how is he going to prepare for someone like Dricus du Plessis who seems to have a pretty good gas tank? In a recent podcast appearance, TJ Dillashaw discussed Khamzat Chimaev’s new training.

    TJ Dillashaw’s view on Khamzat Chimaev’s new regime

    “Not only does Sam train you to be a freak of cardio, but he’s going to help Khamzat make weight the right way. His algorithms for water displacement are next level. As long as Khamzat comes in at the right weight and hydrated on Sunday, the rest is all about taking the 

    weight off safely, just like we always did in my camps.”

    “I said the reason why Chimaev wouldn’t win is because of his cardio. But when you fix the way you’re training, and train that lactic threshold so your body isn’t gassing, you can push pace and go for five rounds. If Khamzat gets his cardio right, he wins. If not, DDP is going to put him away late.”

    “You have to break yourself in practice. You’ve got to bring in enough guys to break you. If you’re not getting beat up in training, you’re not at the right spot. That’s what Khamzat needs — to be broken in the gym, so fight night is easy.”

  • Reinier de Ridder Explains Attitude: How Does a Fighter Continue when ‘Everything Hurts’?

    Reinier de Ridder Explains Attitude: How Does a Fighter Continue when ‘Everything Hurts’?

    UFC middleweight contender Reinier de Ridder has explained how fighters get through the pain of competing and training regularly in mixed martial arts.

    When you talk about top challengers to the UFC middleweight championship, Khamzat Chimaev is obviously the first name that comes to mind given that he’s set to challenge for the title in a few short weeks. Beyond that, though, Reinier de Ridder isn’t too far behind in the wake of his split decision victory over Robert Whittaker.

    While it was seen as a controversial win by many, Reinier de Ridder was still able to prove that he can hang with the very best in the division. Now, you’d have to imagine that he’ll earn a crack at the winner of the aforementioned title fight.

    In a recent interview with Demetrious Johnson, Reinier de Ridder gave a few interesting thoughts on what it’s like to be a fighter and what it’s like to battle through some of the more painful moments of that process.

    Reinier de Ridder explains dealing with pain in MMA

    “Everything hurts, but you learn to live with training pain and keep pushing forward.”

    “The key to success in MMA is having good training partners consistently; Florida offers endless good bodies and coaches.”

    “I’m trying to do all my recovery work right—ice baths, hyperbaric chambers, UV light—I’ve got to take care of my body to keep going.”

    One thing we know for sure is that RDR is as tough as they come, and it’ll be exciting to see what he does next.

  • Tito Ortiz Calls Politics “The most vicious stuff in the world – Don’t Do It!”

    Tito Ortiz Calls Politics “The most vicious stuff in the world – Don’t Do It!”

    Former UFC star Tito Ortiz has spoken about his political run, noting that he wouldn’t recommend for others to do it.

    Throughout the course of his mixed martial arts run, Tito Ortiz was a fantastic fighter and a big star, especially in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He was involved in some incredible rivalries and incredible moments but in recent years, he’s been best known for some of his strange and often outlandish comments.

    Either way, Tito Ortiz is a character – and he’s a character that actually wound up doing okay in the world of politics. He was a member of the Huntington Beach City Council for six months, eventually resigning after a series of disputes within the council.

    In a recent interview, Tito Ortiz wasn’t afraid to give his honestly opinion on what being in politics is actually like.

    Tito Ortiz discusses his political run

    “No! Don’t do it. I did it—do not do it. It’s the most vicious stuff in the world. You gotta have a strong team. I like to make everybody happy, and you just can’t. Hats off to the politicians, but I live in Florida now—best move I ever did. My kids are happy, I’m coaching wrestling, and the people here are really, really good.”

    Ortiz is always bound to fly in the face of controversy from time to time, but it’s good to hear that he seems to be enjoying his life. Long may it continue for a man who, in many ways, was a real pioneer.

  • UFC 319 Fight Card Hit By Unforeseen Change As Planned Bout Falls Through

    UFC 319 Fight Card Hit By Unforeseen Change As Planned Bout Falls Through

    The UFC 319 lineup has undergone a slight shake-up just a couple of weeks out from fight night.

    According to a recent report from Ag. Fight, JJ Aldrich has withdrawn from her scheduled women’s flyweight bout against Karine Silva due to undisclosed issues. Stepping in on short notice, Dione Barbosa will now face Silva at UFC 319.

    Silva was last in action at UFC 309 this past November, where she suffered her first promotional loss via unanimous decision to Viviane Araujo. The 31-year-old Brazilian earned her UFC contract with a second-round submission victory over Yan Qihui on Dana White’s Contender Series in October 2021.

    “Killer” has secured four wins in five UFC outings, with three coming by submission against the likes of Ketlen Souza and Maryna Moroz. She holds a professional record of 18-5, with an impressive 17 of those victories earned via stoppage.

    Meanwhile, Barbosa most recently competed at UFC Vegas 105 this past April, where she secured a first-round submission win over Diana Belbita, bouncing back from a unanimous decision loss to Miranda Maverick in July 2024.

    “The Witch” punched her ticket to the UFC with a submission win over Rainn Guerrero on DWCS in September 2023. The former Olympic judoka holds a professional MMA record of 8-3, with four of those victories coming by submission.

    Interestingly, UFC 319 won’t be the first time Silva and Barbosa share the cage. The pair previously met in May 2019 at Katana Fight 9, where “The Witch” claimed a unanimous decision victory.

    Karine Silva to fight former foe Dione Barbosa at UFC 319
    Images: @karine_killer_ufc/@dionebarbosamma/Instagram

    How Does The UFC 319 Fight Card Look?

    UFC 319 is slated to light up the United Center in Chicago, Illinois on August 16. The ninth UFC pay-per-view event of 2025 will be headlined by reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, who will make his third title defense in a long-anticipated clash with Khamzat Chimaev. Meanwhile, the co-main event features Aaron Pico making his Octagon debut against undefeated featherweight contender Lerone Murphy.

    The main card of UFC 319 will also showcase a welterweight clash between Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates. Additionally, a middleweight showdown between Jared Cannonier and Michael Page is set to potentially bring fireworks, along with a flyweight bout pitting Tim Elliott against Kai Asakura.

    Here’s the confirmed lineup for UFC 319:

    Main Card

    • Dricus du Plessis (c) vs. Khamzat Chimaev; middleweight title
    • Lerone Murphy vs, Aaron Pico; featherweight
    • Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates; welterweight
    • Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Page; middleweight
    • Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura; flyweight

    Preliminary Card

    • King Green vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira; lightweight
    • Gerald Meerschaert vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk; middleweight
    • Jéssica Andrade vs. Loopy Godinez; strawweight
    • Chase Hooper vs. Alexander Hernandez; lightweight
    • Edson Barboza vs. Drakkar Klose; lightweight
    • Bryan Battle vs. Nursulton Ruziboev; middleweight
    • Karine Silva vs. Dione Barbosa; women’s flyweight

  • Luke Rockhold on Sean Strickland: “Bend him over and make him call me daddy”

    Luke Rockhold sent a pretty interesting ‘threat’ to Sean Strickland about a possible fight between the two men in the future.

    As we know, the UFC – and mixed martial arts – days are over for Luke Rockhold. In the present, he’s preparing to face off against Darren Till in the realm of influencer boxing with Misfits. Their collision will go down at the end of August and while many aren’t big fans of the Misfits model, there’s no denying that they’ve been able to lure in some interesting names, and this contest is no different.

    One thing that Luke Rockhold has never been afraid to do is talk trash. He’s a former UFC champion, he’s been involved in some huge fights at 185 pounds, and he’s had some legendary rivalries over the years. At this point in his career, though, he needs a big performance in order to prove that he can still get the job done athletically.

    In a recent interview, Rockhold had the following to say when discussing the likes of Mike Perry and Sean Strickland.

    Luke Rockhold makes a series of wild statements

    “I’d like to clean up Perry’s little ass. Wax that, lubricate him a little bit, you know what I mean? Get that thing nice and wet and just rip it up. Jake, if you want to fight a real fighter, we could take Jake. I don’t really like Strickland. Maybe bend him over and make him call me daddy.”

    Make of these comments what you will, fight fans.