MMA News

Tag: UFC 308

  • Ilia Topuria Reacts To Max Holloway’s BMF Title Not Being On The Line At UFC 308: ‘When I Beat Him, He Can’t Say He’s A BMF’

    Ilia Topuria Reacts To Max Holloway’s BMF Title Not Being On The Line At UFC 308: ‘When I Beat Him, He Can’t Say He’s A BMF’

    While not officially up for grabs in the UFC 308 main event, Ilia Topuria still believes Max Holloway’s BMF status is at risk of disappearing.

    As has been the case for the past two calendar years, lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev was being lined up to headline the promotion’s annual pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi in October.

    But with an injury set to keep the Dagestani sidelined until the end of the year or early 2025, the main event spotlight in the Middle East this time around will go to Topuria, the reigning featherweight champion, and all-time great Holloway.

    The pair will do battle for the Georgian-Spaniard’s gold, which he won at the expense of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 this past February. “Blessed,” meanwhile, garnered support for his latest chance to regain the belt by capturing the symbolic BMF strap with an emphatic last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.

    Putting this matchup together hasn’t appeared to be easy, with both men accusing the other of delaying a booking. On Topuria’s part, he originally suggested that he’d only share the cage with Holloway if the Hawaiian’s BMF belt was also put on the line.

    That wish hasn’t been granted, but “El Matador” claims not to be bothered…

    Topuria On lack Of BMF Stakes At UFC 308: ‘I’m Just Concentrating On My Title Defense’

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Topuria looked ahead to his first defense of the featherweight gold this fall.

    The champ confirmed that just his title will be up for grabs come fight night on Oct. 26. But according to Topuria, Holloway will still lose BMF status should “El Matador” deliver the kind of performance he’s expecting in the UFC 308 main event.

    “The BMF title is not going to be on the line,” Topuria said. “To be honest, I don’t care. They took that decision and, at the end of the day, it’s like, when I’m going to beat him, he can’t say he’s a BMF or however they want to call him. I’m just concentrating on my title defense and that’s it. I don’t care about anything else.”

    Topuria will have the chance to make good on his confident pre-fight predictions in close to two months’ time, when his newly started divisional rule meets about as tough a test possible from its first challenger.

  • Jamahal Hill Claps Back At Magomed Ankalaev Over LHW Title Drama: ‘Bro, You Light Work For Me!’

    Jamahal Hill Claps Back At Magomed Ankalaev Over LHW Title Drama: ‘Bro, You Light Work For Me!’

    A lot of MMA fans were surprised to see that Alex Pereira’s next UFC light heavyweight title defense will be against Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307 in October.

    Despite Rountree having an impressive run of finishes with back-to-back wins last year, many expected to see Magomed Ankalaev get the next shot at “Poatan”.

    Instead, Ankalaev will be taking on Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 where a win over another top contender will surely see him earn a second shot at the 205-pound title.

    He was unsurprisingly critical of the UFC’s decision to book Pereira against Rountree Jr. but some of his comments struck a nerve with another one of the light heavyweight division’s big names.

    Jamahal Hill Says He’d Be Willing To Fight Magomed Ankalaev At UFC 308

    During a recent YouTube video on his channel, Jamahal Hill gave his reaction to Ankalaev’s comments after the announcement.

    Hill believes that Ankalaev has looked to gain popularity from the fans by coming at him to try and win some of them over.

    The former champion also referenced how the Dagestani fighter hasn’t always been in the UFC’s good books, believing that he has bitten his tongue this time around rather than publicly slamming the promotion for not booking him as the next title challenger.

    “I made a reaction video about the Khalil Rountree and Alex Pereira fight announcement and there was one guy in particular who yeah, I will agree he’s been given the run-around by the business right and I’m assuming now, he’s learned his lesson now to watch his mouth ‘cuz as you know, we talking about Mrs, I ain’t even going to, little ‘Frudamed Gankalaev’, ankle grabber, whatever you want to call him. This dude just can’t stop trying to like clout chase in whatever way he can. bro like, you fought to a draw, you had your chance, you had your chance of winning the title.

    “Now, I am one of the people that agree that he should have been next in the title shot above Khalil Rountree, and I spoke on this. But, for you to say like, say I’m crying because I spoke on an obvious fact of the game that affects everybody in our weight class and things like that, I see what you tried to do bro. You see that the whole fan base, they’re kinda against me, they kind of want to throw s*** on me and s*** like that. You think that you can get some cool points by jumping on that bandwagon and trying to call me out. Stop it bro, stop it bro. I would expect a low IQ move like that from you, you know what I mean. You don’t want to say anything about the fight being announced because you’ve now learned your lesson from the time whenever you lost, talking about you don’t want to fight for the UFC…and now they have now smacked your hand and now you know to watch your mouth and stay in check.

    Hill ended the video by saying that he would be open to stepping in to face Ankalaev if, for whatever reason, Rakić is unable to compete on October 26 in Abu Dhabi.

    “Sweet Dreams” was originally scheduled to make a quick turnaround after losing the title but withdrew from UFC 303 in June due to an injury.

    “They don’t even like you enough to let you fight [for the title] over the #8 dude! So chill out bro, chill out tryna get cool points bro, focus on other s***. You got a fight coming up against Rakić, shout out to Rakić cuz’ he’s very well capable of putting your a** out. But, best believe if my phone ring and they need somebody to come step in and handle you, bro you’re light work for me. You’re light work for me and I can’t wait to show that.”

    Read also: Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Offers Alternative To Alex Pereira’s Middleweight Tease: ‘I Won’t Give Him The Joy…’

  • Sean Strickland’s Coach Names The Type Of Fighter Who Can Be Khamzat Chimaev’s ‘Kryptonite’

    Sean Strickland’s Coach Names The Type Of Fighter Who Can Be Khamzat Chimaev’s ‘Kryptonite’

    Sean Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, recently shared his insights on a tactical approach that could be key to conquering Khamzat Chimaev in a fight.

    Chimaev is poised to make his highly anticipated return in a five-round middleweight showdown against Robert Whittaker, serving as the co-main event of UFC 308, scheduled for October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

    Initially, both fighters were slated to headline UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia on June 22. However, just weeks before the showdown, “Borz” was forced to withdraw due to an undisclosed illness. In a last-minute effort to save the main event, Ikram Aliskerov stepped up on short notice. Whittaker made quick work of Aliskerov, delivering a knockout victory in under two minutes.

    The undefeated Chechen has earned a formidable reputation for his relentless and dominating fighting style. However, in the past two years, Chimaev’s momentum has been hampered by various setbacks, with illness being the primary factor behind his reduced activity.

    Chimaev made his long-awaited return to the Octagon after a 13-month hiatus, squaring off against former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 last October. He dominated the first round with a strong start, but the fight quickly became intense as Usman staged a spirited comeback, turning the next two rounds into a fiercely competitive contest. Despite the back-and-forth battle, Chimaev ultimately secured a majority decision victory.

    Nicksick believes that if “The Reaper” can weather Chimaev’s explosive onslaught in the first two rounds, he’ll present the toughest challenge “Borz” has ever encountered in the Octagon…

    Nicksick Suggests Chimaev Might Falter If Pushed To ‘Deep Waters’ in Later Rounds

    During a recent interview with Red Corner MMA, Nicksick provided his analysis of the showdown between Whittaker and Chimaev. The respected MMA coach heaped praise on Whittaker, hailing him as one of the all-time greats in the middleweight division, and voiced his confidence that the former champion has the potential to deliver the toughest test Chimaev has ever faced in his career.

    “I mean, it’s a great fight. You know, I think Rob has been somewhat overlooked in his last few fights, especially with the way he got beat by Dricus [Du Plessis],” Nicksick said. “Then he comes back the way he has. Robert Whittaker, I think, would have been a champion for a long time if it hadn’t been for Israel Adesanya. It’s like there’s always someone’s Kryptonite that comes into play… This is the matchup we need to see from both fighters to see how good Khamzat actually is. Would you be surprised if Khamzat blew through Robert Whittaker? No, you wouldn’t. Would you be surprised if Whittaker blew through Khamzat? No, you wouldn’t. So this is just one of those fights where you really want to see how good Khamzat truly is.”

    Nicksick further noted that Chimaev has yet to face the rigorous test of a five-round bout. He highlighted that “Borz” struggled to maintain his intense pressure in previous fights against Usman and Gilbert Burns, suggesting that his cardio issues could be detrimental in a prolonged contest.

    “I think the pace; I think somebody that can drag it into deep waters that we saw with Usman, that we saw in a three-rounder with Gilbert Burns, right? In a five-rounder, it’s always going to be the question mark because of Khamzat’s style of always trying to finish fights and get guys out of there right away. Can that be his Kryptonite? Is a guy who’s durable, who can last, get through rounds one and two, and then where does Khamzat fare in the deeper rounds? That is the question mark. We haven’t seen the unknown—that’s all we’re asking, and how well he does in these situations.”

  • Max Holloway Touted To Dispatch Ilia Topuria At UFC 308: ‘That’s Gonna Be His Downfall…’

    Max Holloway Touted To Dispatch Ilia Topuria At UFC 308: ‘That’s Gonna Be His Downfall…’

    Josh Thomson and “Big” John McCarthy recently predicted that Max Holloway could defeat Ilia Topuria at UFC 308, provided “Blessed” keeps the fight focused solely on striking.

    Topuria is poised to defend his featherweight title for the first time against Holloway in the main event of a highly anticipated pay-per-view showdown scheduled for October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

    “El Matador” captured the 145-pound championship this past February, becoming the first UFC champion from Spain by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298. Undefeated in the Octagon with a 7-0 record, he boasts five finishes, including impressive victories over Bryce Mitchell and Josh Emmett.

    Meanwhile, Holloway is set for his third attempt to reclaim the featherweight title, which he lost to Volkanovski in December 2019, followed by two unsuccessful rematches. “Blessed” has since bounced back with three consecutive impressive victories, the latest being a dramatic last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje in a lightweight bout, earning him the BMF title at the landmark UFC 300 in April.

    Thomson and McCarthy contend that despite Topuria’s formidable prowess, he will encounter significant difficulty in connecting his strikes against Holloway…

    Thomson Sees Holloway As ‘Stylistically’ Challenging Opponent For Topuria

    During a recent episode of the WEIGHING IN podcast, Thomson previewed the highly anticipated matchup between Topuria and Holloway. The former UFC lightweight fighter lauded “El Matador” for his exceptional striking abilities but pointed out that he will face significant challenges in chasing down the BMF titleholder and finding the right angles to land his shots.

    “Max on the feet, what we saw with him against Justin Gaethje, he can handle the power, he can handle the movement, he can handle the aggressiveness,” Thomson said. “Topuria is going to stalk after him, he’s just going, and Max Holloway is going to be on his bike, sticking and moving, using that long-range jab right in his face… My point is that when Topuria is gonna start stalking after him, he’s gonna start taking those jabs in the opening rounds.”

    “The Punk” added that although Topuria might be relentlessly pursuing the Hawaiian, he is likely to absorb some significant punishment in the process, which could prove decisive.

    “He’s going to be reaching and lunging to get in on Max Holloway, and that’s going to be his downfall. He’s got fight IQ and knows how to use his movement, how to put his combinations together, and how to threaten the body as well as the head. He throws everything at you, including the kitchen sink, and it lands. He’s accurate with his strikes, with no wasted movements. He knows what he’s doing. Topuria, right now, I think is a fantastic fighter; I just think stylistically this is a bad matchup for him.”

  • Whittaker On Pereira’s Next Title Defense: ‘UFC Really Don’t Like Ankalaev…’

    Whittaker On Pereira’s Next Title Defense: ‘UFC Really Don’t Like Ankalaev…’

    Magomed Ankalaev was announced to be returning at UFC 308 in October but the opponent had some left scratching their chins.

    The 32-year old contender is ranked as the #2 in the division behind the former champion and the last man to challenge Alex Pereira for the light heavyweight title, Jiří Procházka.

    Though he does have a no contest from his first fight with Johnny Walker and a draw against Jan Błachowicz, Ankalaev is undefeated since his UFC debut and has won ten in a row (excluding the two previously mentioned blemishes).

    Following his win in a rematch with Walker earlier this year, many expected that Ankalaev would be next the title challenger after Jamahal Hill’s failed attempt to reclaim the belt at UFC 300.

    Though it makes sense why Pereira would then instead be booked for a rematch with Procházka on late notice at UFC 303, Ankalaev would surely then be the next one up.

    However, he is now set to face Aleksandar Rakić, who is coming off of a loss to Procházka, in Abu Dhabi.

    Robert Whittaker Jokes That Magomed Ankalaev May Simply Not Be In The UFC’s Good Books

    In a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker gave his reaction to this fight being put together.

    Whittaker, who will also feature on UFC 308 in a co-main event clash with Khamzat Chimaev over five rounds, was also surprised to see Ankalaev back in action against someone other than Pereira.

    He laid out how there are two thought processes behind this fight with one being that “Poatan” has earned a rest and his number one contender would rather be active in the mean time.

    Whittaker also laid out how this decision may have been made due to the relationship that Ankalaev currently has with the UFC, which has been rocky to say the least in recent years.

    “Pereira deserves a break, he took that second fight with what’s his name and won it in outstanding fashion and then his toe was broken so he deserves a break. I guess I can look at it like… UFC really don’t like Ankalaev. Like when he fought against Błachowicz to that draw, they were just like cross his name out. They’re like yeah, like he didn’t have great rapport after that fight right. So that or it’s exactly as you said, Pereira needs some time out, Ankalaev doesn’t want to sit out forever. Or, bear with me here, they’re prepping him to fight Aspinall.”

    Read also: ‘Predator Is On The Hunt’ – MMA Fans React To Confirmation Of Francis Ngannou’s PFL Debut, Renan Ferreira Clash

  • Whittaker Reveals He Insisted On Chimaev Rebooking: ‘I Love Disrupting Their Plans’

    Whittaker Reveals He Insisted On Chimaev Rebooking: ‘I Love Disrupting Their Plans’

    Robert Whittaker recently revealed that the push to reschedule his previously canceled bout against Khamzat Chimaev for UFC 308 was entirely his initiative.

    Both fighters were initially set to headline UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia on June 22. However, just weeks before the contest, “Borz” withdrew due to an unspecified illness. In a bid to salvage the main event, Ikram Aliskerov stepped in on short notice. Unfortunately for Aliskerov, his night was cut short as Whittaker dispatched him with a knockout in under two minutes.

    Now, the UFC has rebooked Whittaker and Chimaev for a five-round middleweight bout as the co-main event of UFC 308, set to take place on October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

    “The Reaper” asserts that it was his idea to challenge Chimaev once again, driven by a desire to test his skills against the formidable opponent…

    Whittaker Believes Victory Over Chimaev Could Secure Title Shot

    During a recent appearance on the MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker discussed his rationale for rescheduling his fight against Chimaev. The former UFC middleweight champion expressed that he couldn’t pass up the chance to fight on enemy turf and prove his mettle.

    “Unfortunately, the business isn’t completely run on merit, and a lot of it is, but there are a lot of times and moments when it just is not,” Whittaker said. “Chimaev is a hard fight; he’s obviously a big draw, especially over there in Abu Dhabi… I think the UFC, story-wise, wants to see Chimaev get a shot at the champion or whatever. They want to see Chimaev at the top of the ladder; they want to see him in that picture. But I love disrupting their plans; I love derailing their stories, and that’s why I took the fight.

    You know, I asked for the fight straight after my last fight. I saw there was an Abu Dhabi card in October, the timeline fits perfectly, and I was like, I’ll fight Chimaev again. Let’s do it again, just make sure he turns up.”

    “The Reaper” further emphasized that he knows Chimaev is a tough opponent, but believes that defeating him would pave the way for a title shot.

    “I look forward to hard fights, and I know that if I beat Chimaev, there is nothing in my way to getting my belt back. Chimaev, as dangerous as he is, I don’t go into these fights thinking about what I have to lose. Much like how I took the fight with Ikram, I don’t look at the fights and think, ‘Oh man, it’s too big of a risk.’ Every fight’s a risk, you know, and I only go into fights because I have the confidence I’m going to beat and smash whoever is in front of me, and that doesn’t change with Chimaev.”

    “Borz” has been out of action since his majority decision victory over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 last October. During that bout, he suffered a torn ligament in his hand, which was followed by a severe infection that spread across his upper body, forcing him to take an extended break from active competition.

    Meanwhile, Whittaker is gearing up for his third Octagon appearance of 2024. Earlier this year, he secured a decisive victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 298 in February and followed it up with a win against Aliskerov.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin (7/29-8/4): Geoff Neal, Rob Font, Robelis Despaigne, & More Get Next Fights

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin (7/29-8/4): Geoff Neal, Rob Font, Robelis Despaigne, & More Get Next Fights

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to the upcoming cards.

    With UFC events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    In recent days, a few notable fights were made official by the UFC or reported by reputable sources. For more information on those matchups, check out the links below:

    A number of lower-profile matchups also came together. For those, check out this week’s quick hits:

    But it wasn’t all positive, with two fights falling through or being adjusted. For those, see below:

  • Magomed Ankalaev Misses Out On Title Shot, Faces Top Contender At UFC 308 Instead

    If he’s to earn another opportunity at collecting gold, Magomed Ankalaev must add another win to his unbeaten run at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.

    Ankalaev (18-1-1, 1 NC), who currently occupies the #2 spot at 205 pounds, was widely tipped to be next in line for reigning champion Alex Pereira following the Brazilian’s emphatic defense of his title opposite Jiří Procházka late last month.

    But despite his social media campaigning, the Dagestani will need to make it 13 fights without defeat if he’s to book a long-awaited showdown with “Poatan.”

    That was announced on Saturday by UFC CEO Dana White, who revealed a number of major matchups for this year’s Abu Dhabi-held pay-per-view on October 26. Among them is a key light heavyweight battle between Ankalaev and the #5-ranked Aleksandar Rakić (14-4).

    With White’s recent announcement, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi on October 26 are as follows:

    • Ilia Topuria (C) vs. Max Holloway (featherweight championship main event)
    • Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev (middleweight co-main event)
    • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakić (light heavyweight)
    • Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige (featherweight)
    • Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov (heavyweight)
    • Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Nursulton Ruziboev (welterweight)
    • Marcos Rogério de Lima vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (heavyweight)
  • Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev Rescheduled For UFC 308 Co-Main Event In Abu Dhabi

    Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev Rescheduled For UFC 308 Co-Main Event In Abu Dhabi

    Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (26-7) and the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev (13-0) will attempt to share the Octagon at the second time of trying at UFC 308 this year in Abu Dhabi.

    The pair were previously lined up to headline the promotion’s debut event in Saudi Arabia this past June. On short notice, however, Chimaev withdrew from the Kingdom Arena-held card after suffering from an illness.

    In his place stepped in Ikram Aliskerov, who was emphatically knocked out in the first round by “The Reaper.” While some suggested the Australian could be in line for another shot at regaining the belt next, he’ll have to keep his focus on “Borz” first.

    Their rearranged middleweight matchup was announced by UFC CEO Dana White in a video on social media. It will be a five-round co-main event, with a featherweight title fight between champ Ilia Topuria and BMF titleholder Max Holloway headlining.

    With White’s recent announcement, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi on October 26 are as follows:

    • Ilia Topuria (C) vs. Max Holloway (featherweight championship main event)
    • Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev (middleweight co-main event)
    • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakić (light heavyweight)
    • Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige (featherweight)
    • Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov (heavyweight)
    • Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Nursulton Ruziboev (welterweight)
    • Marcos Rogério de Lima vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (heavyweight)
  • Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway Headlines UFC 308 In Abu Dhabi On October 26

    Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway Headlines UFC 308 In Abu Dhabi On October 26

    The highly anticipated showdown between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway is set to headline UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, following Islam Makhachev’s recent revelation that he is dealing with an injury.

    The reigning UFC lightweight champion recently disclosed in an interview with a Russian media outlet that his persistent hand injury, incurred during his fifth-round submission victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in June, is still causing him problems. This ongoing issue has raised concerns about his ability to defend his title against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 308 on October 26 in Abu Dhabi.

    Makhachev mentioned that the UFC has not yet officially discussed the fight date with his team, but he had anticipated returning to the Octagon this year. However, MRI results have cast serious doubts on his ability to compete as planned.

    With Makhachev leaving a gap at the top of the Middle Eastern card, the UFC has turned to the featherweight title clash between Topuria and Holloway as a replacement to headline UFC 308.

    That was recently confirmed by UFC CEO Dana White in a video uploaded to social media.

    Previously, it was speculated that “El Matador” would make his first title defense against the BMF titleholder at UFC 307, scheduled to take place at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 5.

  • MMA News Today: Zabit Magomedsharipov Reveals UFC Tried To Unsuccessfully Lure Him Back Multiple Times, Muhammad Mokaev Jokingly Teases Jobs At Uber, McDonald’s After UFC Release, & More

    MMA News Today: Zabit Magomedsharipov Reveals UFC Tried To Unsuccessfully Lure Him Back Multiple Times, Muhammad Mokaev Jokingly Teases Jobs At Uber, McDonald’s After UFC Release, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For August 1, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Magomedsharipov isn’t motivated by money or other promises
    • Mokaev explores new career paths
    • Ige vs Murphy booked again for Abu Dhabi

    Zabit Magomedsharipov Says The UFC Tried To Bring Him Back Multiple Times But He Doesn’t Have The Desire

    The incredibly exciting Zabit Magomedsharipov remains one of the biggest ‘what ifs’ in MMA history.

    He went undefeated in the featherweight division and was on the cusp of a title shot before a long period of inactivity was followed by the news that he had decided to retire.

    Magomedsharipov spoke in a recent interview with Red Corner MMA, where he revealed details about his current status and how the UFC have tried to bring him back several times.

    “Yes they do from time to time since I left the sport. Three or four times they got in touch, they wanted to have a meeting with me, invited me to the US but I couldn’t go. I know that I can’t promise them anything so why should I go and meet with them?”

    He added that returning to MMA is something he has thought about in the past but he doesn’t have the passion for competing right now, only for training and coaching.

    Still only 33 years old, Magomedsharipov added that the UFC made substantial offers but that isn’t the deciding factor, adding that he doesn’t see a return ever happening.

    “No, it’s not. They promised me a lot of things, but that’s not the point. I simply made up my mind. I don’t want to prove anything to anybody. Come back, go through training camps, I have no desire to return and it’s not about money. Whatever they offer me I don’t think I will ever come back.”

    Muhammad Mokaev Jokes About Finding A New Career Option After UFC Departure

    Muhammad Mokaev finds himself in a very strange position in his career that seemed unimaginable just several days ago.

    With the UFC not wanting to renew his contract despite his clear potential and success in the flyweight division, going to another major promotion seemed the clear route for him.

    However, Mokaev has made it clear that he still hopes to come to an agreement with the UFC and isn’t interested in signing with the PFL at this stage, who would be the clear favorite to land his signature.

    “The Punisher” has instead been posting a series of memes on his social media account to show how he will be spending his time now that he is out of contract with few options.

    Dan Ige Gets Abu Dhabi Return After UFC 303 Heroics

    After he stepped up and helped save the day at UFC 303, Dan Ige has got his next assignment.

    Ige was massively in the promotion’s good books after he agreed to fight Diego Lopes on the very same day and stepped into the co-main event.

    Whilst he didn’t get his hand raised on that occasion, he will look to return to the win column at UFC 308 on October 27 in Abu Dhabi, per MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck.

    Just like how Lopes has been rescheduled for UFC 306 in his original fight with Brian Ortega, Ige will compete in a match-up that got away from him also when he takes on the #11-ranked featherweight Lerone Murphy.

    Murphy withdrew from their fight that was booked for February and went on to defeat Edson Barboza last time out.

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Islam Makhachev Reveals Injury Has Left Planned October UFC Title Defense In Doubt

    The UFC may be receiving a major blow to its schedule for the second half of 2024, as UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has revealed that he is suffering from a hand injury.

    According to a video interview Makhachev did with Russian MMA and boxing media outlet Ushatayka, Makhachev revealed that a recent MRI has shown damage to the ligaments in one of his hands.

    It is unknown when he suffered this injury, though Makhachev seemed to suggest it may have come from his victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 last month.

    Makhachev is currently exploring options and looking to see if he can recover without surgery. If he has to have the procedure, it will almost certainly leave him unable to compete for the rest of 2024.

    This would mean the planned lightweight championship fight between Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi on October 26 is in major jeopardy.

    “After the fight, my fists hurt, a lot of things hurt,” Makhachev said (translation provided via @ChampRDS on X). “We’ll take time, everything is healing little by little. An MRI recently confirmed that I have a partial ligament tear. Let’s see if I can recover. If not, I might even have to have surgery.

    “(Fighting in Abu Dhabi on October 26) is questionable. We haven’t talked about the fight yet… I really want to perform before the end of the year. I plan to, too…let’s see what happens.”

    Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan Title Fight Potentially Set For Delay

    The UFC has annually held a fall pay-per-view (originally September before moving to October) in Abu Dhabi since 2019. All but one event has seen either Khabib Nurmagomedov or Makhachev main eventing.

    Questions of Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan originally arose because of a nine-month suspension the Nevada State Athletic Commission handed down to Tsarukyan for a pre-fight altercation he had with a fan while making his entrance for UFC 300. However, it’s expected that the Russian-Armenian will do a PSA that will reduce his suspension to six months, allowing him to stay in the plans for an October title fight.

    Tsarukyan defeated former champion Charles Oliveira at the event in a lightweight title eliminator to seemingly secure a second dance with the champ.

    Makhachev, meanwhile, defeated Oliveira to claim the lightweight title at UFC 280. He retained the belt successfully against then-featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski twice in 2023.

    It is unknown what the UFC’s plans would be for Abu Dhabi in October if Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan cannot take place. Mateusz Gamrot, who faces Dan Hooker at UFC 305 in August, is the only lightweight fighter in the top five of the UFC’s lightweight rankings — minus Tsarukyan — with a win in his most recent fight.

  • MMA News Today: Fans Left Bewildered After Sean O’Malley Voted ‘Best UFC Fighter’ In 2024, David Goggins Reveals DM Exchange With Strickland, & More

    MMA News Today: Fans Left Bewildered After Sean O’Malley Voted ‘Best UFC Fighter’ In 2024, David Goggins Reveals DM Exchange With Strickland, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 12, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Fans believe Pereira was snubbed over O’Malley
    • Goggins says Strickland has not replied to his challenge
    • Gane and Volkov set to meet again at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi

    Fans Give Confused Reaction To Sean O’Malley Winning ‘Best UFC Fighter’ At The ESPYs

    ESPN’s annual awards, The ESPYs, took place last night where Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley was named the best UFC fighter.

    He came out on top in a category that featured three other world champions in Alex Pereira, Islam Makhachev and Weili Zhang.

    The instant reaction from fans online was to question how “Suga” could have possibly won the category, considering what “Poatan” has done in recent times.

    Whilst some fans questioned whether the period of time that is judged meant that the award was voted this way, many were simply baffled at the idea of Pereira not winning this award regardless of which time frame you want to look at.

    “Bro sean has fought 3 ( 4 if you county the Pedro fight) times since 2022. Alex has fought 8 smh they did bad on this”

    “Alright the UFC pushing Sean as the next superstar allegations are undeniable now”

    “what exactly is the criteria lmao”

    David Goggins Challenges Sean Strickland To Three Days Of Training For Three Rounds Of Boxing

    David Goggins vs. Sean Strickland has turned into a surprising social media beef as of late, with both men speaking about one another in videos.

    Following the former UFC middleweight champion’s comments about Navy SEALs and Goggins’ military career, the athlete and public speaker issued a challenge to him to test what Strickland is truly made of.

    “Sean Strickland, I know you’re doing all this for clickbait. We had a DM the other day, me and you, back and forth. I was pretty much DMing you because you called me a b**** and talked about my military career and going out here once again and trying to, like you said in your DM, trying to be a clown. You’re an MMA fighter and you’re also a comedian so, you know, I’m not much of a comedian at all.”

    As seen below, Goggins recently shared a look at the message that he sent to Strickland which has not received a reply as of yet, calling to train and spar with him.

    He continued to say that he is done with exchanging videos and that this is his final offer- and whether the former champion takes it or not is up to him.

    “You say you can f*** me up in training, I responded to that video to you and this is what I said. You have yet to respond to this and so anytime you want to train with me, I am ready to train with you. I am done with the videos.”

    Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov 2 Reportedly Set For UFC 308 In Abu Dhabi

    The UFC is heading back to Abu Dhabi in October for UFC 308, as has become a tradition for the MMA leader’s calendar.

    A first match-up has been reported for this card with Ag. Fight claiming that former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane will be facing Alexander Volkov in a rematch on October 26.

    Many were expecting to see Gane return on the Paris card in September, after he reportedly turned down the option to fight Tom Aspinall at UFC 304 later this month.

    Volkov will be looking to avenge his loss to “Bon Gamin” in 2021 off the back of a big victory over Sergei Pavlovich in Saudi Arabia last month.

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out: