MMA News
Sean O'Malley says he's taking an extended break after UFC 306: "No one is next"
Curtis Calhoun - September 16, 2024
Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley will follow Israel Adesanya’s lead by taking a long break from competition following his recent defeat. O’Malley lost to Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision at UFC 306 last Saturday in Las Vegas. The defeat ended O’Malley’s bantamweight title reign as Dvalishvili outpointed him from start to finish.
VIDEO | Georgian fans go berserk as Merab Dvalishvili wins a UFC title
Curtis Calhoun - September 16, 2024
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili gave Georgians a new role model to look up to after his triumphant showing at UFC 306. Dvalishvili became the UFC’s second Georgian champion by defeating Sean O’Malley by unanimous decision on Saturday. He wrestled his way to a title win and largely shut down O’Malley’s striking offensive.
Terence Crawford comments on "Intentional" Kendrick Lamar mix-up during UFC 306 broadcast
Curtis Calhoun - September 16, 2024
Boxing superstar Terence Crawford was mistaken for Grammy-award-winning artist Kendrick Lamar while cage-side at UFC 306 last weekend. Crawford sat cage-side to watch an unprecedented event at the Las Vegas Sphere. UFC 306 featured plenty of exciting moments, capped off by Merab Dvalishvili’s win over Sean O’Malley in the main event.
Umar Nurmagomedov responds after Merab Dvalishvili title potential title shot: "When Merab's friend..."
Josh Evanoff - September 16, 2024
Umar Nurmagomedov believes he’s still next in line for UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili. ‘The Machine’ is fresh off his return to the cage in the main event of Noche UFC over the weekend. Back for the first time since a decision victory over Henry Cejudo in February, Merab Dvalishvili faced Sean O’Malley. ‘Sugar’ entered the cage a slight betting favorite, but was no match for the wrestler on Saturday night.
Alexander Volkanovski open to interim title fight against Diego Lopes for UFC return: "You never know"
Josh Evanoff - September 16, 2024
Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski believes he could face Diego Lopes next. The Brazilian fighter is fresh off his return to the cage on the main card of Noche UFC on Saturday. There, Diego Lopes faced the biggest test of his career in the form of Brian Ortega. ‘T-City’ was hoping to earn a title shot with a victory, and was coming off a submission victory over Yair Rodriguez in February.
Tom Aspinall reacts to Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic fight announcement: "Give me my undisputed title"
Josh Evanoff - September 16, 2024
Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is ready to fight Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. The British fighter has been out of the cage since his first title defense in Manchester earlier this summer. In the co-main event of UFC 304, Tom Aspinall faced Curtis Blaydes, handing ‘Razor’ a first-round knockout defeat. Following the victory, the interim heavyweight champion called for a bout with Jon Jones.
Alexa Grasso issues social media statement after UFC 306 title loss
Curtis Calhoun - September 16, 2024
Former UFC women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso is already thinking about her shot at redemption after falling short at UFC 306. Grasso lost to Valentina Shevchenko by unanimous decision in the UFC 306 co-main event on Saturday. The loss snapped a six-fight unbeaten streak, including back-to-back title retains against Shevchenko in 2023.
Coach Tim Welch shares what he said to Merab Dvalishvili in opening seconds of UFC 306
Curtis Calhoun - September 16, 2024
Sean O’Malley’s head coach, Tim Welch, has revealed what he told Merab Dvalishvili in the opening seconds of UFC 306 that forced referee Herb Dean to scold him. Dvalishvili dominantly defeated Welch’s pupil at UFC 306 last Saturday in Las Vegas. Under the immense spotlight of the Sphere, Dvalishvili put on arguably the best performance of his career to earn the UFC bantamweight title.
Jon Jones reveals UFC 309 is "going to be the last time" he fights
Cole Shelton - September 16, 2024
Dricus du Plessis rages at Alex Pereira for calling him a "scared clown" over fight talks
Curtis Calhoun - September 16, 2024
Tensions are intensifying between UFC champions Dricus du Plessis and Alex Pereira ahead of a potential high-stakes super fight. Du Plessis is fresh off a triumphant first title defense against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305. He’ll likely face Sean Strickland for his next title defense, although the UFC has yet to announce the booking formally.
Merab Dvalishvili explains why he was “kissing” Sean O’Malley during their title fight at UFC 306
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 16, 2024
Merab Dvalishvili has explained why he taunted Sean O’Malley with kisses near the end of the first round of their UFC 306 title fight. It’s not often that fighters plant a big smooch on their opponent, but that’s exactly what Dvalishvili did against the “Suga” show this past Saturday night. Dvalishvili challenged O’Malley for the UFC Bantamweight Championship. Ultimately, it was the Georgian’s pressure and grappling that earned him a unanimous decision win and UFC gold.
Alex Pereira plans to train with Jon Jones ahead of his Octagon return at UFC 309: “I want to grab his experience”
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 16, 2024
Forget a super fight, Alex Pereira wants to train with Jon Jones. The stars were out for UFC 306 inside the Sphere in Las Vegas this past Saturday night. UFC heavyweight champion Jones and light heavyweight titleholder Pereira were both in attendance and got a chance to link up.
Dana White reacts to footage of Jon Jones hanging out with Ryan Garcia at UFC 306
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 16, 2024
Dana White had a priceless reaction to Jon Jones hanging out with Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas. UFC 306 took place at the Sphere this past Saturday, and Jones was in attendance. It was revealed that “Bones” will put his UFC Heavyweight Championship on the line against Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 inside Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 16th.
Michael Chandler says he’s “not mad” at Conor McCregor for holding up his UFC career: “He’s earned every right to do what he wants”
Cole Shelton - September 16, 2024
Michael Chandler says he’s not mad at Conor McGregor for holding up his career. Chandler had been waiting to get the fight against McGregor for two years, as he had been on the sidelines waiting for him. With the fight still not being booked, Chandler decided to take a fight as he will take on Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 in November in a rematch.
Mikey Musumeci clears air on weigh-in mishap: “ONE Championship never forced me”
BJPENN.COM Staff - September 15, 2024
Mikey Musumeci has finally spoken out after controversially losing the ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Title on the scales. “Darth Rigatoni” faced a series of hurdles in the lead-up to ONE 168: Denver on September 6.
Newly-minted UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili names worthy contender, and it isn't Umar Nurmagomedov
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 15, 2024
Newly-minted UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has a worthy contender in mind, and it isn’t Umar Nurmagomedov. Dvalishvili is now the king of the 135-pound division after dethroning Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 306 in Las Vegas, It was the pressure and grappling of Dvalishvili that sealed the deal en route to a unanimous decision victory.
Diego Lopes may have secured UFC 308 backup spot from Dana White: "We’d do anything for that guy"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 15, 2024
Dana White likes what he has seen from Diego Lopes, and he might just give the rising 145-pounder a backup spot for the next UFC featherweight title fight. Lopes was in action on the main card of UFC 306. It was a big opportunity for the Lobo Gym member, as he went up against the number three-ranked featherweight Brian Ortega. There will be a huge shift when it’s time to update the rankings, as Lopes, who had been ranked number 13, defeated “T-City” via unanimous decision.
Dana White reacts to Sean O’Malley’s performance against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306: “He looked flat”
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 15, 2024
Dana White doesn’t believe the best version of Sean O’Malley showed up at UFC 306. O’Malley put the UFC Bantamweight Championship on the line against Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of UFC 306. MMA fans and experts were expecting a classic striker vs. grappler matchup with this one, and it was the grappler who got his way.
Brian Ortega issues statement on UFC 306 loss to Diego Lopes
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 15, 2024
Brian Ortega has spoken out following his UFC 306 loss to Diego Lopes. Going into the big pay-per-view event this past Saturday night, many were wondering if Ortega’s experience would be too much for the rising Lopes to handle. As it turns out, the Lobo Gym MMA standout was more than ready for the step up in competition.