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  • Ali Abdelaziz Pitches Conor McGregor vs. Justin Gaethje at UFC White House Event

    Ali Abdelaziz Pitches Conor McGregor vs. Justin Gaethje at UFC White House Event

    Ali Abdelaziz has stirred the pot once again, this time floating the idea of Conor McGregor facing Justin Gaethje at the White House.

    The Dominance MMA manager’s pitch is blunt, referring to McGregor as an “Irish drunk guy” and questioning whether he could handle Gaethje ahead of the UFC’s historic event scheduled for June 14, 2026. The timing is particularly interesting given that Gaethje is set to face Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 this Saturday, January 24.

    Ali Abdelaziz Calls Conor McGregor ‘Irish Drunk Guy,’ Pitches Justin Gaethje Fight at UFC White House

    Speaking with Submission Radio, Abdelaziz laid out his vision with typical flair. His proposal skips the interim belt discussion entirely, instead focusing on what he describes as a long-overdue grudge match between the Irishman and “The Highlight”.

    “Justin Gaethje versus Conor McGregor. What about that? Do you understand? America’s birthday – bring an Irish drunk guy to the White House, make sure he doesn’t have any drugs on him or cocaine, and fight Justin. Conor’s been running from Justin all his life.”

    According to the manager, McGregor has been avoiding Gaethje throughout his career, turning down the fight “at least five times” over several years. Abdelaziz claims the UFC even advised him to stop mentioning the matchup because McGregor allegedly refuses to fight opponents who criticize him publicly.

    The suggestion comes with particular bite given the White House event’s significance. Set to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, President Trump announced the date coincides with his 80th birthday, and Dana White has indicated he’s holding back major fights to stack the card.

    The McGregor-Gaethje matchup has long been discussed but never materialized. Their styles suggest an explosive clash. McGregor’s precision striking and southpaw stance theoretically create openings against Gaethje’s aggressive, face-first approach and leg-heavy attack.

    However, the Irishman hasn’t won a lightweight fight since 2016, and both of his recent losses to Dustin Poirier exposed vulnerability to leg kicks, Gaethje’s specialty. The 37-year-old is coming off a broken leg sustained in 2021.

    Gaethje enters UFC 324 on Saturday with everything to prove. The 37-year-old veteran has made it clear this is likely his final run at undisputed gold after previous title shot failures against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. His coach, Trevor Wittman, confirmed this won’t be a “retirement fight” and that Gaethje has no intention of continuing without a clear championship path.

    Should he defeat Pimblett and secure the interim belt, Gaethje is expected to face Ilia Topuria later in 2026 for the undisputed lightweight championship. A McGregor fight, while lucrative, would represent a detour from that trajectory unless positioned as a White House spectacle worth the risk.

    For now, Abdelaziz’s proposal remains speculation ahead of a more immediate priority. Saturday’s UFC 324 will determine whether Gaethje even has the interim belt to bargain with.

  • Athlete Who Defeated Jon Jones Asks Whether Or Not ‘Bones’ is the GOAT

    Athlete Who Defeated Jon Jones Asks Whether Or Not ‘Bones’ is the GOAT

    UFC veteran and pro wrestling fixture Matt Riddle has weighed in on the debate surrounding Jon Jones’ status as the greatest fighter of all time, offering both acknowledgment of their shared history and respect for Jones’ accomplishments.​

    Matt Riddle Says Jon Jones is “The Baddest Dude on the Planet” Despite Beating Him in Wrestling

    Speaking with The Schmo backstage at Real American Freestyle’s RAF05 event in Sunrise, Florida, Riddle addressed his past victories over Jones during their high school wrestling days. “I mean, I did beat Jon Jones back in the day. We have some history, but he is, let’s be real, it’s Jon Jones,” Riddle said. “Anybody can say whatever they want. The guy is the baddest dude on the planet.”​

    Riddle, who won the New York State wrestling championship in 2004 while attending Saratoga Springs High School defeated Jones twice in state-level tournaments during their amateur careers. Jones, who competed for Union-Endicott High School, finished third at the 2004 state championships before winning the title in 2005.​

    However, Jones has disputed Riddle’s version of events. In January 2026, the former UFC heavyweight champion responded to Riddle’s claims on Instagram, stating he never actually wrestled Riddle. “I could be the bigger man and let it go, but there’s another side of me that can be extremely petty,” Jones wrote. “The truth is, I never wrestled Matt. I lost in the state semifinals to Jack Sullivan back in 2004.”​

    Despite the disagreement over their wrestling history, Riddle was effusive in his praise of Jones as a mixed martial artist. “And now that he’s heavyweight, let’s be real, he’s gonna kill everybody,” Riddle said. “You might hit a lucky shot, but pound for pound, time for time, minute per minute, Jon Jones is the best fighter in the world.”​

    Does Matt Riddle think he could take Jon Jones?

    When asked about a potential rematch under the Real American Freestyle banner, Riddle acknowledged the likely outcome.

    “If they want to book it, they can. Jon Jones is probably going to smoke my ass,” he said. “But at the same time, never say never. That’s what fighters have in their hearts.”​

    Jones, who retired from MMA in June 2025 at age 37, compiled a record of 28-1 with his only loss being a controversial disqualification. He held the UFC light heavyweight championship for 14 years across multiple reigns and captured the heavyweight title in 2023 after defeating Ciryl Gane. Jones recently announced plans to return for a potential fight at a White House event celebrating America’s 250th birthday.​

    Riddle competed in the UFC from 2008 to 2013, posting an 8-3 record before being released after testing positive for marijuana twice. He transitioned to professional wrestling in 2014 and spent several years with WWE before joining Major League Wrestling, where he won the MLW World Heavyweight Championship in January 2025. He lost the title in September 2025.​

  • Creating Damage: Justin Gaethje Outlines Systematic ‘Nasty’ Plan for Paddy Pimblett

    Creating Damage: Justin Gaethje Outlines Systematic ‘Nasty’ Plan for Paddy Pimblett

    Justin Gaethje has outlined a damage-focused approach for his interim lightweight title fight against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, scheduled for January 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The 37-year-old veteran detailed his plan to systematically break down the undefeated Liverpool fighter through leg attacks before targeting a knockout finish.​

    Justin Gaethje Reveals Knockout Strategy for Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324

    “Styles make matchups and I think this is a very unique one,” Gaethje said on UFC 324 Countdown. “Paddy is young, hungry, dangerous. It’s everything I wanted, and even better because this guy is hugely popular. Pretty much all of my success has come from creating damage. I really have to start at his legs and make him forget about his head, and then try to punch his hair off. He’s going to look like every other fighter that I fight at the end of the fight – a lot of damage, just nasty.

    The matchup comes after UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria announced he would step away from competition through early 2026 due to personal matters, opening the door for an interim title bout between the fourth and fifth-ranked contenders. Gaethje holds a 26-5 record with 20 knockout victories, while Pimblett enters the fight with a 23-3 record and an unblemished 7-0 UFC run.​

    Gaethje has built a reputation as one of the most devastating leg kickers in UFC history, consistently using the technique to compromise opponents’ mobility before finishing fights. His coach Trevor Wittman has been instrumental in developing this approach, which helped revive Gaethje’s career and earn him multiple Fight of the Night bonuses. Against Michael Chandler at UFC 268, Gaethje used leg kicks to systematically break down his opponent before earning a unanimous decision.​​

    The strategy appears particularly relevant against Pimblett, who has relied on grappling skills and submissions throughout his UFC career, with 10 career wins by submission. Pimblett earned his title shot after a third-round TKO victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in April 2025, his biggest career win.​

    Gaethje acknowledged the stakes involved in what could be his final run at UFC gold. “This is a battle of momentum, but I have goals and ambitions, so I’m going to have to knock him out,” he said. “I do not plan on this fight going the distance. I’ve got this mad vision of knocking him out. I just don’t see how he survives five rounds.”​

    The Arizona native emphasized the evolution of his fighting approach under Wittman’s guidance. “What really separated me from the other high-level fighters early on was my willingness to take chances,” Gaethje explained. “My best defense is a nonstop offensive attack. I am one of the absolute masters at taking your legs away from you.”​

    Gaethje has already held an interim lightweight title after defeating Tony Ferguson in 2020, but failed in two attempts to secure the undisputed championship against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. His coach Wittman recently described UFC 324 as their “last run” at the title, stating they would not continue fighting simply for money if they fail to achieve their championship goal.​

    Pimblett, 30, trains at Next Generation MMA in Liverpool and holds a second-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The Englishman has won nine consecutive fights dating back to 2018, with seven of those victories coming inside the UFC octagon.

    Pimblett, 30, trains at Next Generation MMA in Liverpool and holds a second-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The Englishman has won nine consecutive fights dating back to 2018, with seven of those victories coming inside the UFC octagon.​

    UFC 324 marks the first numbered event under the promotion’s new seven-year, $7.7 billion partnership with Paramount, making it available to Paramount+ subscribers at no additional pay-per-view cost. The main card begins at 9 p.m. ET, with the winner expected to face Topuria for the undisputed lightweight championship upon his return.​

    “Now I’m fighting for the championship,” Gaethje said. “I’m taking one more run at the title. This is my last hurrah and I would love nothing more than to finish this off exactly how I want it.”