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Tag: Dana White

  • Dana White ‘Takes Responsibility’ For Francis Ngannou Erasure In UFC 305 Video, Apologizes To Israel Adesanya

    Dana White ‘Takes Responsibility’ For Francis Ngannou Erasure In UFC 305 Video, Apologizes To Israel Adesanya

    UFC CEO Dana White has addressed the controversy surrounding a quote from Israel Adesanya in the latest Countdown episode being edited to remove any mention of Francis Ngannou.

    The lead-up to this past weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view was heated after Adesanya took issue with some of middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis’ past comments regarding his status as the “real African” in the UFC. The Nigerian-New Zealander accused the South African of downplaying his achievements, as well as others who came before him like welterweight veteran Kamaru Usman and former heavyweight kingpin Ngannou.

    The promotion unsurprisingly included that storyline in its Countdown episode for UFC 305. But while much of what was said by “The Last Stylebender” surrounded the “three kings,” the UFC eliminated one from the equation.

    During UFC 305 fight week, AFeldmanMMA posted a video on X showing Adesanya speaking about Usman and Ngannou, who joined him as the “three kings” hailing from Africa who simultaneously held UFC titles a number of years ago. The quote came during the UFC 305 on-sale press conference weeks before the event.

    Accompanying that clip was the same moment shown on Countdown, but heavily edited to remove any mention of the “three kings” and Ngannou.

    That drew heavy backlash throughout the community, with Adesanya himself speaking out against the promotion’s apparent attempts to erase the Cameroonian’s legacy and part of history in the UFC.

    White Addresses Ngannou Erasure: ‘Somebody In The Company Made That Decision’

    During the press conference following this week’s episode of Dana White’s Contender Series, the UFC CEO was asked about the controversy surrounding the promotion’s Ngannou erasure by Kevin Iole.

    White and other senior UFC figures close by insisted they weren’t aware of the editing of the quote to remove “The Predator,” with White suggesting it had to have been an employee acting of their own volition.

    “I don’t know about this. Do you?” White asked UFC staff who were present. “It was something that we produced? Are you sure that we produced this? What show was it on? Like Embedded or something? I don’t disagree with that (Adesanya’s criticism). But literally everybody who’s sitting in here right now, including our head of PR, doesn’t know about it. When did Israel say it, post-fight? We’ll find out what happened.

    “If that’s true and that was done, and it was something that we produced, then somebody in the company made that decision,” White continued. “Listen, you know me. If I said we did it, I’d say, ‘Yeah, f*ck him and this is why we did it.’ I know nothing about it, nobody ever asked me about it, and this is the first we’re hearing about it.”

    It evidently didn’t take long for Iole to receive a follow-up statement, posting an update on social media. According to the veteran reporter, White took full responsibility for the controversy and quickly called Adesanya to apologize.

    “I had asked @danawhite tonight about the UFC scrubbing @francis_ngannou out of the Countdown show for #UFC305 tonight. He said he’d look into it. Just called me and took full responsibility. His complete answer will be in my story upcoming shortly.

    “I should also had here for full context that Dana said he’d already called @stylebender to apologize,” Iole wrote.”

    It remains to be seen whether Ngannou will also be receiving an apology. It was, after all, his legacy being erased…

  • Dana White Reacts To UFC Fighters Brawling At PFL Event With Jibe At The Rival Promotion

    Dana White Reacts To UFC Fighters Brawling At PFL Event With Jibe At The Rival Promotion

    A UFC fight appeared to break out at the venue that hosted last night’s PFL Playoffs event, as ranked middleweight contenders Brendan Allen and Marvin Vettori went at it — just not in the cage.

    The scuffle took place on the casino floor of the Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, immediately following the PFL card.

    There were multiple reports and videos that flooded social media in the immediate aftermath, but MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin brought out the clearest report. According to him, Vettori swung and missed at UFC light heavyweight Tuco Tokkos.

    Michael Johnson tried to step in to move everyone away, but Allen connected with a one-two on Vettori, dropping him to the casino floor.

    Video of the incident can be seen below:

    https://twitter.com/Im565097757086/status/1824685398997520868

    Dana White Takes Shot At PFL In Response To Brendan Allen & Marvin Vettori’s Post-Show Scuffle

    UFC CEO Dana White appeared to see the footage and decided to use the opportunity to take a light-herted jab at his rival promotion.

    “Had to be fight of the night if it was at PFL,” White wrote.

    Allen and Vettori were originally scheduled to square off in the main event of UFC Vegas 90 in April before Vettori pulled out of the fight due to injury. Since then, however, the two have continuously exchanged harsh words to one another.

    Allen instead rematched and defeated Chris Curtis in that main event. The win was Allen’s seventh in a row, and he is scheduled to face Nassourdine Imavov in Paris next month.

    Vettori, a former middleweight title challenger, has lost three of his last five. He has not fought since June of last year, dropping a decision to Jared Cannonier.

  • ‘This Is Just A Bet Between Dana & Conor To See How Long Mikey Will Wait’ – Fans React To News That McGregor Will Not Fight In 2024

    ‘This Is Just A Bet Between Dana & Conor To See How Long Mikey Will Wait’ – Fans React To News That McGregor Will Not Fight In 2024

    With every passing week, it looks like the goal posts are being adjusted for when fans can expect to see Conor McGregor return to the Octagon.

    He made the decision to withdraw from his planned comeback fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June to a broken toe that he wished to recover from.

    Unfortunately, rescheduling a fight like that isn’t as easy as seeing when both men are ready to go, and that appears to have caused some complications.

    McGregor appears to be targeting December which is yet to have any fights announced but Dana White’s recent comments clarified where the UFC is at with this right now.

    During his post-fight press conference following the return of the Contender Series, he gave this update on his communications with “The Notorious”.

    “We talked yeah, we didn’t meet up but we talked and yeah, he wants to fight so we’ll figure it out.”

    When asked how soon that may be, White clarified that McGregor will not be fighting in 2024.

    “Not this year, he won’t fight this year.”

    McGregor responded to these comments via social media with his own post that once again pushed for the fight to take place in December, stating that he has already planned out his preparations for this time frame.

    MMA Fans React To Conor McGregor’s 2024 Return Being Ruled Out

    This update was obviously disappointing for a lot of fans on social media who appear to be coming to the realization that we might never see McGregor step back inside the Octagon after this long and drawn out process.

    It wasn’t ideal to have him withdraw from UFC 303 but the Irishman seemed to be committed to taking some time to heal, before diving right back into his training, postponing the fight rather than cancelling it altogether.

    Even Chandler, who has been put through the ringer in the past few months, seems to be ready to move on at this stage.

    Fans gave their take on the latest McGregor update from the UFC boss via social media.

    “How does he go from a toe injury to not fighting this year… Ridiculous”

    “It’s over, he’s never fighting again.”

    “Idk why y’all still allowing yourselves to be strung along. McGregor and Dana are playing games. If Conor was serious this would’ve already happened. If he’s not done yet, he’s definitely close to the end. Don’t know what he’s trying to prove but this is getting sad.”

    “Unreal. This has become comical at this point. I’d love to know what the excuse is this time.”

    “I wouldn’t be surprised if this is just a bet between Dana and Conor to see how long Mikey will wait.”

    “Michael Chandler putting the red panties away. Maybe next year.”

    “it’s been “not this year” for the passed three years. hang it up already.”

    Read also: Dana White Reaffirms Stance On Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC Exit: ‘A Guy That Did Everything Wrong…’

  • Dana White Reaffirms Stance On Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC Exit: ‘A Guy That Did Everything Wrong…’

    Dana White Reaffirms Stance On Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC Exit: ‘A Guy That Did Everything Wrong…’

    UFC CEO Dana White has doubled down on the promotion’s decision not to re-sign undefeated flyweight Muhammad Mokaev.

    Mokaev appeared to be entering a title eliminator at 125 pounds when he shared the Octagon with then fellow top 10-ranked contender Manel Kape at the UFC 304 pay-per-view in Manchester, England, late last month.

    In the end, “The Punisher” was making the walk to the Octagon for the final time inside the Co-op Live. That’s despite the Dagestan-born Brit having his hand raised and remaining unbeaten, both in the UFC and across his amateur and professional careers.

    During his post-fight press conference, White revealed the promotion wouldn’t be re-signing Mokaev after he fought out his contract on home soil. While the grappler’s fight style had been pointed to as a criticism in recent times, the UFC chief insisted the issues leading to the release came away from the Octagon.

    The weeks since have seen considerable debate over Mokaev’s exit, with many accusing the UFC of double standards given the trouble caused by the likes of Conor McGregor and Jon Jones away from fights.

    White, however, is holding firm on the call to let Mokaev go…

    White Tells Mokaev: ‘You Put Yourself In This Position!’

    During the post-fight press conference following Tuesday’s episode of Dana White’s Contender Series, the UFC CEO was asked about the organization’s decision to let Mokaev go.

    White reiterated that problems outside of the cage left the matchmakers and executive Hunter Campbell less than pleased with “The Punisher,” to the point where they were content losing him from the flyweight roster.

    And when it comes to Mokaev’s complaints and disagreement on social media about the decision, White said he has nobody to blame but himself.

    “It is what it is. I always say this, this is an opportunity to be here and to perform in front of the entire world. He’s just a guy that did everything wrong and pissed these guys off,” White said. “I wasn’t involved in any of the stuff that happened with him, but you know, the matchmakers and Hunter were, and they weren’t happy with him.

    “They weren’t happy with the way he acted. They weren’t happy with a lot of things he did and said. I guess you can look back now and regret it, but you did it,” White continued. “You put yourself in this position.”

    Despite his offer to fight for free and pleas for a UFC return, it would appear that Mokaev has considerable work to do away from the Octagon if he’s to convince the higher-ups of the merits that come with re-signing him down the line.

    And in terms of where he’ll attempt that, it seems fans aren’t far away from finding out Mokaev’s first post-UFC destination.

  • Jon Anik Differs From Dana White On Jon Jones’ Future: ‘If I Could Get A Betting Line On Jones vs. Aspinall Never F*cking Happening…’ 

    Jon Anik Differs From Dana White On Jon Jones’ Future: ‘If I Could Get A Betting Line On Jones vs. Aspinall Never F*cking Happening…’ 

    Unlike UFC CEO Dana White, Jon Anik isn’t confident that Jon Jones sticks around to fight interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

    Not many topics have remained at the surface of the mixed martial arts community in 2024 quite like the UFC’s heavyweight title picture, which currently boasts two champions but uncertainty regarding whether they will ever face each other.

    That problem arose after an injury to Jones late last year saw his planned defense against Stipe Miocic canceled and an interim titleholder crowned in his absence. And when Aspinall captured that belt, talk turned to a unification showdown.

    However, both Jones and the UFC have other plans, remaining firm on rearranging the Miocic fight for the Madison Square Garden event this November. In the meantime, Aspinall has recorded the first successful defense of his gold, knocking out Curtis Blaydes in quick time at UFC 304 last month.

    While the Brit — as well as plenty of fans and analysts — has expressed doubt over his dream fight with Jones reaching the Octagon, White recently predicted that the all-time great will delay a possible retirement should he defeat Miocic in order to face the challenge of Aspinall.

    But the man who would be tasked with calling that monumental heavyweight clash doesn’t have high hopes…

    Anik Doesn’t Share White’s Confidence On Jones vs. Miocic Coming To Fruition

    During the latest episode of his podcast alongside ex-fighter Kenny Florian, Anik gave his take on the current status of the championship conversation at heavyweight.

    The longtime play-by-play commentator shared White’s sentiment when it comes to Jones wanting to challenge himself against the division’s highly regarded interim champ. Anik doesn’t, however, believe that feeling will be stronger than the Rochester native’s desire to protect his legacy on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “I would agree with Dana White in so far as that Jon Jones, if he beats Stipe Miocic, would want to challenge himself against someone like Tom Aspinall,” Anik said. “And what better way to put a capstone on your career as the consensus greatest MMA fighter of all time than to beat a guy in Tom Aspinall who is all the rage at present, and a guy who many forecast to be the greatest mixed martial arts heavyweight of all time. I think he wants the challenge — not at the expense of his legacy.

    “If he can beat Stipe Miocic as a -350 betting favorite and ride off into the Albuquerque sunset, I am expectant that that is what he is going to do,” Anik continued. “I know Dana and others have said they’d be surprised if Jon doesn’t bite off that Aspinall challenge if he beats Stipe. I would, with respect, go the other way. If I could get a betting line on Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall never f*cking happening, I would ask my wife if I could, you know, spend several figures on that.”

    For now, Jones appears to be ramping up his physical activity as he prepares to make his way back from injury later this year. What comes after a potential victory over the returning Miocic, however, remains to be seen.

  • Sean O’Malley On Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC Expulsion: ‘Make The UFC’s Life Hell For Fight Week…’

    Sean O’Malley On Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC Expulsion: ‘Make The UFC’s Life Hell For Fight Week…’

    Sean O’Malley recently weighed in on the UFC’s decision to release Muhammad Mokaev following his fight with Manel Kape at UFC 304.

    Mokaev managed to secure a unanimous decision victory over Kape last month in a bout that was fraught with trouble from the start. The tension between the two flyweights began at the hotel, where they engaged in a heated altercation. “The Punisher” later confessed to instigating the clash by sucker-punching Kape. Their animosity continued to flare up, with the pair nearly coming to blows at several media events during the fight week.

    After defeating Kape, Mokaev revealed that his UFC contract had come to an end and expressed optimism for a renewal. However, during the UFC 304 post-event presser, UFC CEO Dana White announced that the undefeated Russian would not be offered a new deal and would instead be released from the promotion.

    White clarified that it wasn’t Mokaev’s performance or fighting style that led to the decision but rather a series of off-the-Octagon issues that made the matchmakers hesitant to extend another contract offer.

    Mokaev admitted that his behavior was met with disapproval and issued a public apology to the UFC through a series of posts on X. Despite his contrition, White and the organization held firm in their decision, and he has now been removed from the official flyweight rankings.

    “Sugar” speculates that a major reason behind Mokaev’s removal from the UFC might have been his seemingly lackluster performance against Kape…

    O’Malley Finds Mokaev’s Release ‘A Bit Surprising’

    During a recent episode of the TimboSugarShow, O’Malley and his coach, Tim Welch, discussed Mokaev’s removal from the UFC roster. The reigning UFC bantamweight champion admitted that he found it a bit shocking that a young, undefeated prospect was released.

    However, he speculated that Mokaev’s antics and underwhelming performance in the cage might have played a significant role in the decision.

    “It is surprising, though, because he’s 25 [years old], and he’s one of the few fighters I can name off the top of my head,” O’Malley said. “He’s 7-0 in the UFC, so it is a little bit surprising. But yeah, also, if you’re going to go in there and make the UFC’s life hell for fight week, and then go in there with only four punches thrown in the first round—they were separating them in the Octagon before the fight even started. Then the bell rings, and three punches were thrown in the first round.”

    Mokaev recently claimed that he has already made amends for his past mistakes and even offered to fight for free if the UFC gives him another shot at redemption.

    However, “The Punisher” soon hinted that he was already in discussions with another promotion about joining their ranks. Recently, he dropped another clue, suggesting that he has officially signed on, posting an image on X of a new pair of MMA gloves with the caption: “New gloves, same goal.”

  • UFC Revenue Up By Almost $100 Million At Midpoint Of 2024

    UFC Revenue Up By Almost $100 Million At Midpoint Of 2024

    TKO Group Holdings, under the banner of Endeavor, has recently unveiled the financial results for UFC and WWE in the second quarter of 2024, illustrating a remarkable upward trajectory.

    The UFC and WWE joined forces last September, giving rise to a new powerhouse in sports and entertainment: TKO Group Holdings. Since their unification, the business has been flourishing and reaching new heights.

    According to a recent report by journalist John S. Nash, TKO Group generated an impressive $851.2 million in total revenue. The company also reported adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of $420.9 million, alongside a net income of $150.7 million.

    As per the report, the UFC experienced remarkable growth in the second quarter of 2024, with revenue soaring by 29% to $394.4 million. This impressive performance marks a half-yearly increase of $95.5 million compared to 2023. Adjusted EBITDA rose by 23%, totaling $231.9 million for the quarter ending June 30.

    This revenue boost was primarily driven by a substantial increase in media rights, which reached $250.6 million, along with higher content revenue. Additionally, the UFC saw increased income from live events thanks to an extra event held during the quarter. Sponsorship proceeds also significantly improved, with an increase of $15.5 million.

    Endeavor CEO Ariel Emanuel Reflects on TKO Q2 Earnings Growth

    Endeavor CEO Ariel Emanuel, who also leads TKO Group, recently shared his insights on the company’s impressive upward growth in the second quarter of 2024 in a statement released to the public.

    “TKO generated strong financial results in the quarter, highlighted by record quarterly revenue and adjusted EBITDA,” Emanuel said. “In light of this continued momentum, we are raising our full-year 2024 guidance for the second quarter in a row. The strength of our underlying business continues to give us great conviction for TKO’s ability to deliver sustainable long-term value for shareholders.”

    [h/t Inside the Ropes]

    In a strategic shift, Endeavor chose to go private after three years as a public company this past April, positioning TKO Group as its sole publicly traded entity. Endeavor’s initial 51% stake in TKO has since risen to 53.6%.

    However, it’s not all smooth sailing for the combat sports conglomerate. Last month, a judge rejected a $335 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit filed by former UFC fighters, setting the stage for a trial. If the case proceeds, the financial repercussions for the company could far exceed the proposed settlement amount.

  • Sonnen: UFC Should Re-Sign Mokaev After Owning Mistakes

    Sonnen: UFC Should Re-Sign Mokaev After Owning Mistakes

    Chael Sonnen recently advocated for the UFC to re-sign Muhammad Mokaev, praising the undefeated flyweight fighter for taking responsibility for his mistakes.

    Mokaev clinched a unanimous decision victory over Manel Kape at UFC 304 last month in a matchup clouded by controversy. The conflict erupted at the hotel, where the fighters got into a heated clash. “The Punisher” later admitted he sparked the confrontation by sucker-punching Kape. The pair also nearly came to blows at multiple media events before their bout.

    Following his victory over Kape, Mokaev announced the end of his UFC contract and expressed hopes for a renewal. However, during the UFC 304 post-event press conference, UFC CEO Dana White revealed that the Russian-born Englishman would not be offered a new contract. White also hinted that the reasons behind Mokaev’s departure extend far beyond his performance in the Octagon.

    The UFC’s choice to part ways with “The Punisher” ignited rumors that he had begun negotiations with the PFL before his contract ended. However, these speculations were quickly dismissed by Mokaev’s manager, Tim Simpson.

    Days later, Mokaev acknowledged that his actions were poorly received and issued an apology to the UFC in a series of posts on X. Despite this, White and the company remain steadfast in their decision, as Mokaev has been removed from the official flyweight rankings.

    However, “The American Gangster” believes the UFC should offer Mokaev a second chance to redeem himself and rectify his past mistakes…

    Sonnen Calls On UFC To ‘Show Grace’ to Mokaev

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen delved into the possible issues between Mokaev and the UFC matchmakers that ultimately led to the decision to release him from the promotion.

    “I don’t know what he could have done realistically,” Sonnen said. “He’s got to do two things: he’s got to upset the matchmakers, who are really nice guys—like, it’s really hard to ever hear a story where somebody was upset with them—and be able to keep it quiet in our industry, which is just wildly difficult to do.”

    The former light heavyweight title challenger further emphasized that if Mokaev is publicly acknowledging his errors and sincerely expressing regret for his antics, the UFC should consider re-signing him.

    “When I tell you I want to forgive him, and I do, I guess I should also offer that I don’t quite know what we’re forgiving him for, but I have guesses. He seems calm, he seems like a guy that really wants his job—in fact, stronger on the position of ‘I want to be here, please reconsider.’ He’s going out to the public, and he’s owning everything that he did, whether it’s his boring style or the hotel situation. I feel like that’s a guy that you would show grace to.”

    Mokaev recently proclaimed that he has already atoned for any missteps and has even gone so far as to offer to fight for free if the UFC grants him another chance.

  • Ben Askren Calls Out UFC’s Hypocrisy In Not Booking Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall: ‘That’s What Boxing Does’

    Ben Askren Calls Out UFC’s Hypocrisy In Not Booking Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall: ‘That’s What Boxing Does’

    Former UFC fighter Ben Askren thinks Dana White’s comments on the issues in boxing make no sense while he refuses to make the biggest fight at heavyweight.

    One topic that has remained at the surface in 2024 is Jon Jones’ return from injury. His first title defense was originally set to come against Stipe Miocic at last November’s UFC 295 event at Madison Square Garden.

    After injury forced “Bones” out, an interim champion was crowned in his absence. Tom Aspinall’s triumph over Sergei Pavlovich added a second titleholder to the division and appeared to set up a unification showdown with Jones.

    But both the Rochester native and the UFC have remained firm on rescheduling the Miocic matchup in spite of Aspinall’s gold, and that appears to still be the case following the Brit’s successful defense against Curtis Blaydes last month in Manchester.

    Plenty in the community have spoken out against plans for Jones and Miocic to meet toward the end of this year, citing the heavyweight legend’s inactivity to insist that a clash with Aspinall is more intriguing.

    And according to one former fighter, the promotion’s rejection of that goes directly against the UFC CEO’s frequent comments about what sets his organization apart from boxing’s politics…

    Askren On Jones vs. Aspinall Delay: ‘The Fact That Dana’s Playing Along…’

    During the latest episode of his Funky and the Champ YouTube show alongside Daniel Cormier, Askren gave his latest take on the heavyweight title picture.

    “Funky,” a former Bellator and ONE Championship kingpin, pointed to the UFC’s claim of putting on the biggest and best fights in comparison to boxing, a sport that White has often criticized for its politics and failure to pair the top names against one another.

    By not staging Jones vs. Aspinall, however, Askren believes White and the UFC is abandoning that principle.

    “I almost feel like maybe Jon’s got some dirt on Dana or something,” Askren said. “Dana generally would not put up with this type of behavior. He would say — and this is what the UFC’s been founded on where boxing wasn’t — ‘we want the best guys to fight. We want to see who the actual best guy is. We don’t want to waste time with shenanigans. We don’t want to pad records…we don’t do that; that’s what boxing does. In the UFC, we put the best guys in there, we see who wins.’

    “The fact that Dana’s playing along and letting him and Stipe fight — Stipe’s gonna be close to four years (since his last fight). And you have this young interim champion — I mean, he’s a beast, he smashes people,” Askren continued. “The fact they won’t put them in there together — and then there’s this obvious (chance) that Jon beats Stipe and then says, ‘I’m done, I’m gone,’ and then we never get to see that. … Dana almost always presses these issues with the best guys.”

    After pausing his pursuit of Jones and focusing on retaining his belt and securing redemption against Blaydes on home soil, Aspinall turned his attention back to the all-time great following his quick triumph.

    And the interim champ has since vowed not to return unless undisputed status is on the line.

  • Dana White: Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Have ‘Paid Their Dues’ But ‘Owe’ Tom Aspinall Title Unification Fight

    Dana White: Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Have ‘Paid Their Dues’ But ‘Owe’ Tom Aspinall Title Unification Fight

    Dana White has stuck to his guns regarding the expected upcoming heavyweight title fight between the champion Jon Jones and the returning Stipe Miocic.

    This match-up has been controversial ever since Jones was forced to push the fight back a year due to an injury – which then led to Tom Aspinall winning the interim title and defending it this past month.

    White has said that he expects the winner of that fight to then unify the division against Aspinall, stating after UFC 304 that it would be a great shame if both Jones and Miocic retire after their eventual clash, as many expect them both to do.

    He recently cleared the air once again on what he believes are the next steps for the heavyweight division now that Aspinall has defended his title whilst we await Jones’ return.

    Dana White Says That Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Deserve To Fight One Another But Owe It To Aspinall Afterwards

    In a recent interview with Kevin Iole, White addressed the idea that some of the fans believe that Aspinall deserves to fight Jones next rather than Miocic.

    He believes that this decision comes down to the two men that were originally set to meet at UFC 295 last November because of what they’ve done in the sport.

    However, he also clarifies that in his opinion, the winner of the heavyweight title fight should then have to pay it forward by giving Aspinall the chance to fight for the undisputed title before riding off into the sunset.

    “He [Aspinall] looks like the future of the heavyweight division right but at the same time, he’s working his way up. He’s climbing up the ladder and everybody’s like, ‘He deserves this and he deserves that.’ He doesn’t deserve anything. He looks great and he looks like he’s going to be the guy. You’ve got Stipe and Jon who have paid their dues, they’ve been here forever, they fought everybody, they fought all the fights that you could possibly fight. These guys deserve to fight each other.

    “Whoever wins that fight, I think that they owe it to Aspinall to fight him and give him the opportunity that they’ve been given. When you look at Jon Jones and Stipe, they beat all the guys right? And you’re either gonna be the guy that’s gonna cement your legacy forever or you’re gonna hand the torch off the way that it was handed off to you guys by all the guys that came before you.”

    Read also: Conor McGregor Brands Donald Trump’s Pick For His Favorite UFC Fighter A ‘Campaign-Ending Decision’

  • Dana White Suggests Judge’s Rejection Of UFC Antitrust Settlement Could Be Personal: ‘Me & Lorenzo Went To High School With Him!’

    Dana White Suggests Judge’s Rejection Of UFC Antitrust Settlement Could Be Personal: ‘Me & Lorenzo Went To High School With Him!’

    In the eyes of UFC CEO Dana White, the rejection of the settlement in the UFC’s antitrust, class-action lawsuits was more than just business — it was personal.

    White recently sat down for an interview with Kevin Iole. During it, he made his first public comments about the class-action lawsuits since Judge Richard Boulware formally rejected the $335 settlement from the UFC’s parent company, TKO Holdings Group.

    White feels that Boulware’s actions went beyond legalities and may have been based on a personal grudge, with White — who says he usually lets the UFC’s legal team deal with matters involving things like this — claiming that he and Lorenzo Fertitta, former UFC CEO, went to high school with Boulware.

    “It’s getting to a point now where this feels personal. You know I went to high school with this guy? Me and Lorenzo went to high school with him. I don’t know what me or Lorenzo did to him in high school, but this seems very, very personal.

    “I don’t think I did anything to this guy. I don’t know what the hell happened, but there’s no doubt in my mind that this feels absolutely personal. And whatever it is with this guy, we’ll let the lawyers deal with it, and it is what it is.”

    Dana White Claims Judge’s Rejection Of UFC Antitrust Lawsuit Settlement Stems From ‘Personal’ High School Grudge

    In March, TKO agreed to the $335 million payout to settle a pair of class-action lawsuits brought against the UFC, [Cung] Le et al. vs. Zuffa and [Kajan] Johnson et al. vs. Zuffa. The plaintiffs were seeking $1.6 billion in damages and contractual changes to UFC contracts.

    Boulware, in previous weeks, had express concern about the settlement for various reasons. Firstly, the amount obtained in the settlement greatly differed from what the plaintiffs were originally seeking, creating concern over how much each fighter would actually receive from this.

    Secondly, each class-action lawsuit had a different focus, with the Le case centered around money and the Johnson case focused on contractual changes. Boulware expressed worry that this settlement did little to nothing for fighters represented in the Johnson case.

    A jury trial is currently scheduled to begin on October 28 for Le vs. Zuffa. Johnson vs. Zuffa, meanwhile, is still in a very early portion of the legal process.

  • Steve Erceg Backs ‘Precedent’ Set By Releasing Muhammad Mokaev After Alleged Behavior Toward UFC Staff: ‘The Way He Was Treating The Nutrition Team…’

    Steve Erceg Backs ‘Precedent’ Set By Releasing Muhammad Mokaev After Alleged Behavior Toward UFC Staff: ‘The Way He Was Treating The Nutrition Team…’

    Steve Erceg recently supported the UFC’s decision not to extend Muhammad Mokaev’s contract, highlighting his alleged misconduct towards staff as a justified move.

    Mokaev secured a unanimous decision victory over Manel Kape at UFC 304 last weekend in a bout marred by turmoil. The drama began at the hotel, where both fighters engaged in a heated altercation. “The Punisher” later confessed to initiating the scuffle by sucker-punching Kape. Tensions ran high as the two nearly clashed at several media events leading up to their bout.

    After his triumph over Kape, Mokaev announced the completion of his UFC contract and expressed hopes for a new deal. However, at the UFC 304 post-event press conference, UFC CEO Dana White responded to Mokaev’s statements, revealing that the undefeated flyweight would not receive a new contract offer.

    White conceded that Mokaev might not be the most captivating fighter on the roster but hinted that the 24-year-old Russian-born Englishman’s complications with the UFC go well beyond his fighting style in the Octagon.

    The UFC’s decision not to re-sign “The Punisher” sparked speculation that he had initiated talks with the PFL prior to the contract’s conclusion. However, these rumors were swiftly quashed by Mokaev’s manager, Tim Simpson, who firmly denied any such negotiations had taken place.

    “Astroboy” believes that the MMA promotion severed ties with Mokaev due to his inappropriate behavior towards staff and fighters alike…

    Erceg Claims Mokaev’s ‘Entitled’ Attitude Didn’t Sit Well With UFC

    During a recent interview with MMA journalist James Lynch, Erceg discussed Mokaev’s departure from the UFC, attributing the decision to “The Punisher’s” disruptive behavior. The Aussie remarked that Mokaev’s antics were a driving force behind the release and praised the organization for establishing a standard to serve as a cautionary example.

    “I was very surprised, but I think it’s a cool little precedent to set,” Erceg said. “You can’t go around starting fights and jumping other fighters. Getting a photo and then sucker-punching him [Kape] is unacceptable. It’s a coward mentality, I think. The way he treats people, I don’t know if fans get to see it, but he just seems like he’s a little entitled and thinks he’s very important, which I don’t particularly like, and obviously, the UFC didn’t like.”

    “Astroboy” further revealed that he shared a UFC Fight Night card with Mokaev this past March. During that time, he observed the Manchester native exhibiting poor conduct toward the UFC personnel.

    “I saw it when I fought on the same card as him, just the way he was treating the nutrition team and that sort of thing from the UFC. Just little things that are disrespectful. I thought it was odd, but he’s a young kid. Hopefully, he’ll learn from this moment.”

    It seems that Mokaev is indeed out of the UFC for now, as he was recently removed from the organization’s rankings in their latest update.

    However, with a promising career ahead and an impressive undefeated record, Mokaev’s considerable skillset is likely to attract plenty of interest from other promotions.

    • Read More:
  • Dana White Told To Accept Blame For Uneventful UFC 304: ‘You Messed It Up For The People That Work For The Promotion & Some Of The Fighters…’

    Dana White Told To Accept Blame For Uneventful UFC 304: ‘You Messed It Up For The People That Work For The Promotion & Some Of The Fighters…’

    UK fight fans may have been treated to a title fight double header this past weekend in Manchester but UFC 304 didn’t hit expectations.

    There was a lot of disgruntlement from both fans and fighters when it was announced that the event would be taking place at US time, meaning that the night wouldn’t kick off until 11 pm local time at the Co-Op Live arena.

    It was clear to see how it affected the ticket-buyers on the night, with videos of the crowd being literally asleep in their seats during the event.

    This strange schedule will have also impacted the fighters, with Leon Edwards stating inside the Octagon after losing his welterweight title that he felt low on energy all week after training in the middle of the night.

    After Dana White slated the in-Octagon action, which had a run of seven consecutive judges’ decisions, the idea of how much the timings affected the night, was called into question.

    ‘Big’ John McCarthy & Josh Thomson Say UFC Need To Take Some Blame For Time-Related Issues At UFC 304

    On a recent episode of the Weighing In podcast, “Big” John McCarthy and Josh Thomson discussed the impact of UFC 304 taking place at US time despite it being held in England.

    McCarthy said that the UFC – namely Dana White- needs to take some of the blame for why the card didn’t end up delivering due to this decision.

    “When you’re pointing one finger forward, there’s three coming back at you Josh and you got to look at those and you gotta say well, we did put these fighters in a position where they were fighting at 3 o’clock in the morning, 4 o’clock in the morning, 5 o’clock in the morning. No one works out at those times, no one fights at those times. It is an unusual situation and even if you try to prepare for it, it’s odd. It’s just an odd time for you, your body doesn’t feel the same, you don’t feel like you’re on top of things.”

    Thomson went on to add how it wasn’t just the fighters from the UK that would have struggled with the difference in event scheduling.

    He noted how fighters and staff coming from other countries would have also experienced difficulties because they would have needed to sleep throughout the day- even if the actual time wouldn’t be any different for them.

    “You kind of offset both parties by doing this. What happens is when you go to another country and they’re there five days before, some of them get there seven days before, some of the staff, and sometimes that’s not good. But, what I’m saying though is that now you’ve asked them to stay awake during the night so they can be awake during the night.

    “So, the ones that come from the states that work for the UFC, their body clock is trying to change to get adjusted to the UK time when in fact they can’t because their show is at 5 in the morning. Then, the fighters that are there, they’re getting all screwed up because they’re having to fight when they’re normally sleeping. So you really kind of messed up both sides of this equation. You messed it up for the people that work for the promotion and some of the fighters that came over having to fight.”

    Read also: Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Heaps Praise On Belal Muhammad’s Mentality For UFC 304 Win Over Leon Edwards: ‘Covington Couldn’t Take Him Down!’

  • Dana White Laughs Off Alex Pereira vs. Jake Paul Fight: ‘I Stopped Paying Attention When He Lost To Fury’

    Dana White Laughs Off Alex Pereira vs. Jake Paul Fight: ‘I Stopped Paying Attention When He Lost To Fury’

    Many combat sports fans have criticized Jake Paul for the opponents that he tends to face when stepping inside the ring.

    Whilst the amount of experience he has means that he can’t be expected to take on top tier opponents, he tends to fight opponents that shouldn’t be in there with him.

    Paul also has a track record for calling out some of the biggest names despite there being very little chance that the fight would actually come together.

    This was once again the case following his recent win over Mike Perry, where he called out one of the biggest stars in the UFC right now, light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

    Pereira unsurprisingly instantly responded but Dana White hasn’t given the idea much thought.

    Dana White Says He Doesn’t Think About Jake Paul Anymore

    In a recent interview with TNT Sports, White was asked whether this is something he would consider just to silence Paul once and for all by putting the Pereira fight together.

    The UFC boss has been very open about his dislike for what “The Problem Child” is doing in combat sports and therefore hasn’t been paying much attention.

    He made it clear that giving Pereira a pass to go and box Paul isn’t an option that has ever been thought about because White tapped out of caring about the social media star’s boxing career long ago.

    “I haven’t even talked to Perry in a long time and I didn’t even know Jake Paul was fighting. I was on vacation in Italy, I had no idea. There’s all these stories that were written, it’s ridiculous. I stopped paying attention to Jake Paul when he lost to Fury, you know what I mean. It’s like when he fought somebody that was his age and actually boxed, he lost and I’m not s******* on the kid, I don’t even think about him anymore.

    “It doesn’t even cross my mind. I have no beef with him. ‘They’re trying to get me assassinated’. Nobody’s trying to get you assassinated especially, listen, I respect Perry. Smaller, older, I mean it’s the same blueprint that they’re fighting older, smaller guys that, it’s just I literally don’t even think about him anymore. It’s all b*******.”

    Read also: Mike Perry Tells Jake Paul Injury Sustained 10 Seconds Into Fight Affected Performance: ‘You Popped It Right Away!’

  • Tony Ferguson Reacts To Dana White’s Retirement Pleas Ahead Of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Return

    Tony Ferguson Reacts To Dana White’s Retirement Pleas Ahead Of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Return

    Former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson was unsurprisingly dismissive of Dana White’s recent retirement suggestion.

    Ferguson is among the notable names set to make the walk at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, with the Etihad Arena playing host to his latest outing on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    The TUF 13 winner has been competing inside the Octagon since 2011, with much of his stint spent toward the top of the UFC’s lightweight ladder. But while he entered 2020 riding a 12-fight win streak, he’s fallen on hard times in recent years.

    Since having his run of victories emphatically ended at the hands of Justin Gaethje, “El Cucuy” has lost a further six fights, most recently failing to stall the surge of Paddy Pimblett last December.

    Following that result, White suggested Ferguson hang up his gloves. And after the veteran had his next assignment scheduled for welterweight opposite Michael Chiesa this weekend, the UFC CEO once again suggested he shouldn’t fight beyond August 3.

    According to Ferguson, though, White has his own decisions to make…

    Ferguson Turns The Tables On White’s Retirement Advice: ‘We Want Dana To Do A Lot Of Things Last Too!’

    During his appearance at media day ahead of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, Ferguson looked ahead to his latest chance to break a lengthy losing skid and reacted to White’s retirement pleas.

    “El Cucuy” was firm in rejecting the UFC CEO’s comments, insisting he is feeling rejuvenated up at 170 pounds and is confident this weekend’s event won’t mark his farewell.

    “Well, we want Dana to do a lot of sh*t last for him too. So, I mean, we can’t discredit that either. I’m just being real with it,” Ferguson said. “At 170 pounds, I’m not killing myself to get to 155. I do feel fresher. 155 pounds is closer to my high school wrestling weight. … I’m 40 f*cking years old. … Wrestled in college at 165. 170 is what I won The Ultimate Fighter at. We do the math, we do the numbers, you’re not supposed to go backwards.

    “170 pounds, I feel comfortable. I don’t feel like this is gonna be my last fight,” Ferguson continued. “I have to do some extraordinary sh*t, is what I’m planning to do. So that’s why I feel sharp. I did two practices already this morning. … I love this company and I have plenty of fights left. This is not a fight, last or first or how everybody wants to see it. I feel so f*cking fresh.”

    Ferguson will look to show that he has more left in the tank on Saturday night at the expense of Chiesa, a fellow veteran who is also pursuing a return to the winner’s circle in the Middle East.

  • Muhammad Mokaev Dismisses PFL Talk, Pleads With Dana White To Re-Sign Him After UFC 304

    Muhammad Mokaev Dismisses PFL Talk, Pleads With Dana White To Re-Sign Him After UFC 304

    Following his seventh consecutive win inside the Octagon, 23-year-old undefeated flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev was removed from the UFC rankings and roster.

    Dana White announced in his post-fight press conference after UFC 304 that the promotion would not be renewing his contract after it expired with his fight against Manel Kape in Manchester.

    While Mokaev claimed that he had been warned by UFC staff about his wrestling-heavy fighting style, White said that this isn’t a factor and that the decision was instead made due to his conduct outside of the cage.

    Another rumor was cleared up once the news was made official as Mokaev’s manager denied any chance of his release being caused by negotiations that were being held with the PFL whilst he was still under contract with the UFC.

    Muhammad Mokaev Posts Statement, Clarifies Lack Of Interest In PFL & Hopes Of Re-Signing With UFC

    Mokaev has spoken about the current situation regarding his status with the UFC now that the dust has settled on this past weekend.

    He made it clear that going to the PFL was never a priority for him for multiple reasons. Not only has his main focus always been to achieve UFC gold, the PFL doesn’t currently have an active flyweight division, or bantamweight for that matter.

    “The Punisher” noted that despite this rocky relationship with the UFC, he still hopes to return to the Octagon in the near future to continue working his way toward the belt.

    “My dream is to become UFC Champion. I turn them all down because UFC gave me the platform to put my name out there and earn money to feed my family! btw PFL don’t have flyweight division. All these journalists that make this shit up are idiots! I hope Dana resigns me, this is my dream to become champion!”

  • Dana White Gives Muted Reaction To Belal Muhammad’s Title Win At UFC 304: ‘Wasn’t A Barnburner’

    Dana White Gives Muted Reaction To Belal Muhammad’s Title Win At UFC 304: ‘Wasn’t A Barnburner’

    Those who are not fans of Belal Muhammad must have felt justified upon seeing UFC CEO Dana White’s mood at the UFC 304 post-fight press conference immediately following his title win.

    Muhammad toppled Leon Edwards in the card’s main event via unanimous decision to capture the UFC welterweight championship. Though he was able to get his shots in on the feet, perhaps his best work came with his strong wrestling background.

    “Remember the Name” constantly pressured Edwards, bringing him to the fence on multiple occasions to score takedowns. Muhammad controlled Edwards in a way no one had ever seen before, though Edwards landed nasty elbows in the fight’s closing seconds that could have troubled Muhammad had the fight had more time.

    Muhammad’s wrestling-heavy offense has led to him being negatively received by many fans, and it appeared from the moment White wrapped the belt around his waist in the Octagon that the UFC CEO was not impressed.

    “It wasn’t a barnburner,” White said matter-of-factly at the press conference.

    Dana White Says Belal Muhammad Gameplan Was ‘What You Would Expect’

    After that comment, a reporter followed up by asking White if Edwards’ performance — along with others on the card — were compromised by a late start time. The card aired in its usual pay-per-view slot, so the pay-per-view did not begin until 3:10 AM in England after being delayed by 10 minutes due to the prelims running over time.

    It should be worth noting that the decision to not move the start time to something more UK-friendly is widely believed to have been an ESPN decision, not UFC’s. Although the extent to which the promotion could have forced alternative plans has been widely debated.

    White declined to comment on that matter, suggesting to reporters in Manchester that they’d have to ask Edwards himself about his performance.

    The UFC did, however, suggest that he was not surprised by Muhammad’s gameplan given his training time with former undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    “I know Belal has been training with Khabib,” White said. “So his performance is…what you would expect.”

    Muhammad and Edwards were competing in a rematch from their initial 2021 battle that ended in a no contest after the former was hit with a bad eye poke.

    Both men were on big unbeaten runs. UFC 304 marked “Rocky’s” first loss since his first fight with Kamaru Usman in December 2015. Muhammad, meanwhile, has not lost since a defeat at the hands of Geoff Neal in January 2019.

  • ‘The PFL Will Get A Great, Undefeated Guy’ – Dana White Reveals Muhammad Mokaev Will Be Let Go By UFC

    ‘The PFL Will Get A Great, Undefeated Guy’ – Dana White Reveals Muhammad Mokaev Will Be Let Go By UFC

    Muhammad Mokaev will not be coming back to the UFC, according to promotional CEO Dana White at the UFC 304 post-fight press conference.

    Mokaev scored a win over Manel Kape during the UFC 304 prelims. In spite of being promoted as a potential flyweight title eliminator, the fight proved to be disappointing and widely panned. The bout marked the final one on Mokaev’s current deal.

    According to White, matchmakers are not a fan of Mokaev’s conduct, and the Dagestani-Englishman has caused unnamed issues in the past few months.

    “I think the PFL will get a great, undefeated guy,” White said. “Good luck to him.”

    Dana White, UFC Appears To Formally Part Ways With Muhammad Mokaev

    The unbeaten Mokaev, a noteworthy flyweight contender, was a big talking point heading into this card. Mokaev and Kape had bad blood between them, resulting in a number of confrontations in the week leading up to the fight.

    The bout was also notable for the number of times it moved in the card order, going from the main card, to the televised prelims, to the early prelims, then finally settling in as the opening bout of the televised prelims.

    Despite the supposed bad blood, the fight proved to be lackluster. The first round saw little actual action from both men. Early in the second, Mokaev grabbed Kape’s shorts in a grappling exchange and appeared to show disrespect to referee Mike Beltran, causing Beltran to loudly admonish him during the pause in the action.

    Mokaev ultimately won the fight by unanimous decision.

    Earlier in the week, Mokaev acknowledged this being the last fight on his deal and desired a guaranteed title shot in a new deal, following a win.

    Mokaev has not commented on the matter as of press time, but he did tweet this out after the event.

  • Matt Hamill Reacts To 12-6 Elbow Rule Change: ‘Dana White, I Know You’re Desperate To Get Jon Jones An Undefeated Record…’

    Matt Hamill Reacts To 12-6 Elbow Rule Change: ‘Dana White, I Know You’re Desperate To Get Jon Jones An Undefeated Record…’

    Former UFC light heavyweight Matt Hamill has addressed the recent rule change regarding “12-6” elbows, a move that led to his victory over Jon Jones.

    Officially, Hamill is the sole man to defeat Jones across the current UFC heavyweight champion’s illustrious and record-breaking 29-fight professional career in mixed martial arts.

    The manner of victory, however, has long been a cause of debate, with “Bones” being disqualified by referee Steve Mazzagatti after being deemed to have thrown an illegal “12-6” elbow.

    Jon Jones

    The move is banned downward elbow that some perceived to be more dangerous than an angled strike. But that belief has frequently been called into question, leading to a vote on the removal of the ban at the annual conference held by the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC).

    The vote went down on Tuesday in Louisville, Kentucky, with the committee unanimously voting in favor of removing the prohibition on “12-6” elbows from November 1 onwards.

    Jones was quick to react to the news, once again calling for help from UFC CEO Dana White in getting his 2009 loss overturned.

    The man victorious on that night, however, has something to say about that…

    47-Year-Old Hamill Offers Jones Rematch In Light Of 12-6 Elbow Ban Being Lifted

    A few years on from his win over Jones, Matt Hamill washed out of the UFC off the back of a 1-3 run that included a knockout loss to Alexander Gustafsson and decision defeat to Thiago Silva.

    He subsequently lost his first three fights outside of the Octagon before bouncing back with a pair of regional triumphs in 2017 and 2018.

    “The Hammer” hasn’t competed since, but judging by a recent Instagram post reacting to the new change coming regarding “12-6” elbows, he’d be down to revisit his matchup with Jones…

    “Let’s cut this chase… @danawhite – I know you’re desperate to get @jonnybones an undefeated record,” Hamill wrote. “I see how you want to profit from that! Is also why you bail him out of all the other things… How about a rematch?! I’ll be happy to fight him for a heavyweight title. If I beat him, I want a UFC belt. Let me know if Stipe Miocic backs out. I’ll take short notice, just remember he already lost to me!”

    At Thursday’s UFC 304 press conference, White insisted that whoever emerges from Saturday’s event as the interim heavyweight champ will face the winner of Jones vs. Miocic down the line.

    Suffice to say, Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes likely won’t be too worried about having to compete with Hamill for that spot…

  • Dana White Dubs Ronda Rousey The ‘Greatest Athlete’ He’s Ever Worked With, Names His Top 3 Favorite UFC Fighters Of All Time

    Dana White Dubs Ronda Rousey The ‘Greatest Athlete’ He’s Ever Worked With, Names His Top 3 Favorite UFC Fighters Of All Time

    Ronda Rousey elevated into a superstar during her iconic UFC run between 2013 and 2015. She became one of the biggest draws in the promotion by defending the UFC women’s bantamweight title five times against top competition like Miesha Tate, Cat Zingano, and Liz Carmouche.

    Rousey’s loss to Holly Holm was a huge upset, though. It was followed by her absence from the sport for over a year, and upon her return, she suffered another loss to Amanda Nunes.

    While MMA fans are still divided over Rousey’s abrupt retirement after the loss to Nunes, Dana White has all the praise in the world for her…

    Dana White Explains How Ronda Rousey’s Greatness Led To Her Downfall In The UFC

    White recently appeared on The Big Podcast by Shaquille O’Neal and revealed his top three favorite UFC fighters to work with. Off the top of his head, he named Chuck Liddell and Rousey and then unsurprisingly mentioned Conor McGregor.

    “My two all-time favorites, the two people that were the best ever to deal with and that I absolutely love, Chuck Liddell, Ronda Rousey. Ronda Rousey is the greatest athlete I’ve ever worked with, by 100 miles, okay. And then, Conor McGregor has been a great athlete to work with for me.

    However, the UFC President highlighted that “Rowdy” has been his favorite athlete to work with by far. He appreciated the former UFC champ’s willingness to do big things in life and take on any responsibilities thrown at her.

    White remembered that Rousey never backed down from a challenge. While the rest of the women’s bantamweight fighters were solely training to beat the champ, she took part in various ventures that helped the company.

    When asked what made “Rowdy” special, here’s what he had to say:

    “She ended up becoming so big and so popular that she took on so many different things at the same time. Meanwhile, all the other women in the division are just training to beat Ronda. Exactly, right, you break Ronda down and you just figure out how to beat Ronda. Ronda took everything on her back and carried it and she would never say no to anything.”

    The UFC CEO then claimed that Rousey’s aim to keep achieving also affected her career. Had she been more focused on just fighting like the rest of her competitors, she might’ve been able to extend her remarkable title defense streak further.

    Like countless MMA enthusiasts, White credited Rousey for popularizing women’s MMA and opening his eyes to its true potential.

    Read More: Muhammad Mokaev Believes UFC Didn’t Want Him To Take ‘American Star’ Jon Jones’ Youngest Champ Record

  • Conor McGregor Reveals Latest On UFC Return Date Following Conversation With Dana White

    Conor McGregor Reveals Latest On UFC Return Date Following Conversation With Dana White

    More and more people won’t believe that Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler will occur until the two fighters are actually in the Octagon. Some, meanwhile, are believing that McGregor will just never fight again.

    The Irishman, however, wants to assure Chandler and fight fans everywhere that the bout between the two will happen before 2024 ends.

    In a tweet to “Iron,” McGregor stated that promise after apparently having a recent conversation with UFC CEO Dana White.

    “I talked to Dana today about our new date, all looking good! 24′ for sure,” McGregor wrote.

    Conor McGregor: Fight vs. Michael Chandler Will Happen Before End Of 2024

    McGregor, in fact, posted a video on his social media showing him taking a run weeks removed from his toe injury, which led to the cancellation of his planned comeback at UFC 303 late last month.

    McGregor and Chandler, after coaching season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter, were finally scheduled to face each other in the June 29 main event at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    A June 3 press conference, however, was canceled at the last minute, with the fight officially being confirmed as postponed 10 days later.

  • ‘Absolutely Sick To My Stomach’ – Dana White, Conor McGregor, & Other UFC Figures React To Shooting At Donald Trump Rally

    ‘Absolutely Sick To My Stomach’ – Dana White, Conor McGregor, & Other UFC Figures React To Shooting At Donald Trump Rally

    Donald Trump, the 45th U.S. President and likely Republican nominee in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, is reportedly safe after being rushed off stage following an apparent assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

    The Associated Press reports that Trump said “Oh” and grabbed at his ear when the shots first rang out, with the presumptive Republican nominee crouching down as two more shots were heard.

    Trump was tackled on stage by agents, who were covering to protect him from the gunfire, as screams were heard throughout the thousands gathered for the rally. When Trump got back to his feet, he appeared to have blood on his face but pumped his fist as he was escorted off stage and away from the scene.

    Spokesman Steven Cheung subsequently released the following statement.

    “President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act. He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow.”

    Multiple reports, citing Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger, state that a suspected gunman and at least one member of the rally’s audience were killed.

    UFC Fighters & Personalities React To Apparent Trump Shooting

    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1812263823421981090
    https://twitter.com/Actionman513/status/1812267379050901598
    https://twitter.com/milesxjohns/status/1812272401234960671
    https://twitter.com/Actionman513/status/1812269665365966914
    https://twitter.com/urketaraketa/status/1812274662627483785

    Trump and UFC CEO Dana White have had a long-standing loyalty and friendship to one another dating back to the UFC’s early days. When Zuffa purchased the promotion at the start of 2001, the first two events (UFC 30 and UFC 31) were held at the then-Trump Taj Mahal (now the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino) in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

    White was a big supporter of Trump during the 2016 and 2020 elections and appeared to continue to be such with Trump being the presumptive Republican Party nominee for the 2024 election.

    The Pennsylvania rally was the last Trump was holding prior to the start of the Republican National Convention that begins on July 15.

  • MMA News Today: Dana White Hits Back At Claims UFC Is A ‘Monopoly’, Ranked UFC Fighter Legally Changes First Name To ‘King’, & More

    MMA News Today: Dana White Hits Back At Claims UFC Is A ‘Monopoly’, Ranked UFC Fighter Legally Changes First Name To ‘King’, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 8, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • White argues that UFC is the best at what they do rather than a monopoly
    • There’s a new “King” in the lightweight division
    • Top 15 lightweights scheduled for UFC’s return to Paris

    Dana White Insists UFC Isn’t A Monopoly Because ‘Anyone’ Can Start An MMA Promotion

    During the long process of the antitrust lawsuit that was filed against the UFC by former members of the roster, the case was granted class certification.

    While a settlement was eventually reached, many concluded that the class certification validated the allegation that the UFC holds a monopoly over the sport. Unsurprisingly, the promotion disagreeds with that notion.

    Dana White spoke out on this during a recent interview with Fox News, where he debated the idea that the MMA leader prevents others from being able to compete at its level.

    He made the case that the UFC is simply the best at what it does, but that it’s not stopping others from trying to replicate the success achieved by the sport’s leading promotion.

    “People have called us ‘monopoly’ and all this stuff for years. We’re not a monopoly, we’re just the best,” White said. “We’re the best at what we do, there’s no barrier to entry, anyone could get into this.

    “You could start a league tomorrow and pay the guys whatever you want, you can do whatever you want but a lot of smart, talented, big business moguls have got into this sport and tried to compete with me and they couldn’t do it,” White continued. “But everybody — there’s no barrier to entry, anyone can get into this thing tomorrow.”

    Bobby Green Officially Changes His Name To ‘King’ Green Ahead Of UFC 304 Return

    Islam Makhachev sits atop the UFC’s lightweight division as the world champion and pound-for-pound best fighter in the sport. Now, however, 155 pounds has a new king.

    #15-ranked Bobby Green made his intentions clear in the past that he was looking to change his name, but it has now been made official.

    When he makes the walk at UFC 304 later this month to face Paddy Pimblett, he will do so under a new name, King Green.

    He gave fans a glimpse of the official documentation on Instagram, which clearly shows that from this point on, he will answer to King and King only.

    Renato Moicano Set To Face Benoît Saint Denis In Paris Over Five Rounds

    The Octagon is set to return to the French capital for a third consecutive year, with UFC Paris going down at the Accor Arena on September 28.

    Ag. Fight reported that top 15 lightweights will face off in Paris with France’s Benoît Saint Denis taking on Brazil’s Renato Moicano. MMA Junkie later confirmed that the contest is set to take place over five rounds.

    It remains to be seen whether that marks the break of Ciryl Gane’s streak of Paris headliners, or if “God of War” and his Brazilian counterpart are set for a five-round co-headliner.

    Moicano is riding a three-fight win streak from the #10 spot, while Saint Denis, who is two spots below him in the rankings, will look to bounce back from his defeat to Dustin Poirier in March.

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • MMA News Today: Jon Jones Teases Date For Potential Stipe Miocic Fight, Dan Ige Calls In His Favor With Dana White After Saving UFC 303, & More

    MMA News Today: Jon Jones Teases Date For Potential Stipe Miocic Fight, Dan Ige Calls In His Favor With Dana White After Saving UFC 303, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 4, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Jones says he will return at MSG in November
    • Ige calls to face Garcia
    • 303 winner makes quick turnaround to face Drew Dober

    Jon Jones Says His Return Will Be On November 9 At Madison Square Garden

    In a post on social media, UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones teased a potential date and location for the first defense of his title.

    “Bones” was set to face off with former champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 in November of last year until an injury forced him to withdraw and postpone the fight.

    Jones appears to now be targeting the rescheduled fight for the same month in the originally planned venue, Madison Square Garden in New York.

    He replied to a comment on Instagram where he named November 9 at the iconic venue as the target that he is working towards right now.

    Dan Ige Wants To Fight Ryan Garcia At UFC 306 With No Takedowns Or Weigh-In

    After he stepped up on the day of the fight to save the co-main event of UFC 303, Dana White said that he will try to make it up to Dan Ige.

    Ige didn’t get his hand raised against Diego Lopes this past weekend but his efforts to be a company man didn’t go unnoticed or without reward.

    The featherweight contender posted on social media where he made his request for his next outing with a very bold idea.

    Ige posted that he wants to face the controversial boxing star Ryan Garcia at UFC 306 inside the Sphere with a few extra rules being put in place.

    Garcia responded on social media, so clearly the call out at least caught his attention, that he’s down to compete.

    https://twitter.com/RyanGarcia/status/1808595885770543420

    Jean Silva Set To Make Two-Week Turnaround To Fight Drew Dober In Denver

    Jean Silva delivered one of the stand-out performances at UFC 303 as he stopped Charles Jourdain in the second round.

    Despite missing weight for the fight, the Brazilian is now set to make a remarkable two-week turn-around in order to take on Drew Dober up at lightweight.

    Dober was originally set to face Mike Davis in a significant bout for the 155-pound fan favorite due to him training out of Denver, Colorado where the card will be hosted.

    Brazilian outlet Ag. Fight reported the news that Silva will be looking to pick up his third consecutive win in the UFC after debuting on the first card of 2024.

    Read more on the story here.

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  • Chael Sonnen Tells UFC, Alex Pereira To Avoid Magomed Ankalaev Fight: ‘Dana White’s A Big Gambler, I Don’t Know If He’s That Big…’

    Chael Sonnen Tells UFC, Alex Pereira To Avoid Magomed Ankalaev Fight: ‘Dana White’s A Big Gambler, I Don’t Know If He’s That Big…’

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has some advice for the promotion when it comes to booking Alex Pereira’s next fight.

    Pereira further grew his stock and enhanced his legacy on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this past weekend by knocking out Jiří Procházka in the main event of the UFC 303 pay-per-view in Las Vegas.

    As was the case with his KO of Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, “Poatan” was drafted in to save the day on June 29. That was after the cancellation of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler left the headline slot open.

    The Brazilian made the most of the opportunity by recording a second win over “BJP,” repeating the feat he achieved at Madison Square Garden in New York City last November.

    While Pereira’s triumph inside the T-Mobile Arena remains the talk of the town, discussion is beginning to turn to what could lie in waiting for the UFC light heavyweight champion, and the leading option appears to be a man long touted as “Poatan’s” toughest challenge at 205 pounds…

    Sonnen: Pereira vs. Ankalaev A Risk ‘Not Worth’ Taking

    Magomed Ankalaev immediately made his voice heard in the aftermath of UFC 303, taking to social media to stake his claim for the next shot and vowing to knock out the reigning champ.

    Like many, Sonnen sees the Dagestani’s ground game as the major threat to Pereira, and for that reason, he thinks the UFC would be wise to pursue other avenues for the Brazilian’s next fight.

    “You’re gonna start hearing about Ankalaev (as Pereira’s next fight),” Sonnen said during a recent interview with Infinity Sports Network. “He’s just the only guy that’s left. The problem there is Ankalaev does have the one skillset — he’s a fighter from Dagestan, which means he has high-level grappling. … And the one style that we haven’t seen Alex dominate or even defeat is that kind of a wrestler.

    “It’s not worth the risk, in my opinion. To take the risk that this guy could get over on your biggest — this guy called Ankalaev…to take the risk of him taking the spot of your biggest star, I don’t know,” Sonnen continued. “Dana White’s a big gambler, man, I don’t know if he’s that big.”

    Ankalaev appeared to solidify his place in the title conversation by viciously stopping Johnny Walker in the first UFC main event of 2024.

    Prior to the no contest with Walker that came beforehand, the Russian reeled off nine straight wins following a shock loss to Paul Craig, a run that included victories over Nikita Kyrlov, Volkan Oezdemir, Thiago Santos, and Anthony Smith.