MMA News
Dana White blasts Merab Dvalishvili for revealing pre-UFC 306 cut: "Our guys are so dumb!"
Curtis Calhoun - August 20, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White isn’t happy with bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili for leaking a pre-UFC 306 cut he suffered this week. Dvalishvili is scheduled to face UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley in the UFC 306 main event on September 14th in Las Vegas. The bantamweight main event caps off a stacked card in the first major sporting event held at the Las Vegas Sphere venue.
VIDEO | Merab Dvalishvili suffers nasty face cut just weeks before UFC 306
Curtis Calhoun - August 20, 2024
The UFC 306 main event could potentially be in jeopardy after Merab Dvalishvili suffered a severe facial laceration just weeks before the event. Dvalishvili is scheduled to face UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley in the UFC 306 main event on September 14th in Las Vegas. The card marks the first major sporting event at the Las Vegas Sphere, a one-of-a-kind venue and a potential one-off in UFC history.
Dricus du Plessis betting odds vs. four different UFC title challengers revealed
Curtis Calhoun - August 20, 2024
Four different possibilities for Dricus du Plessis’s next UFC title defense present different odds for the South African champion. Du Plessis defeated former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in his first title defense last weekend in Perth. After a back-and-forth first three rounds of the fight, du Plessis swarmed Adesanya and eventually submitted him by rear-naked choke.
Tom Aspinall laughs off Jon Jones' latest comment about him: "Make sure you pass me the belt on the way out"
Josh Evanoff - August 20, 2024
UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has responded to Jon Jones. The British fighter is fresh off his return to the cage last month at UFC 304. Back for the first time since winning interim gold in November against Sergei Pavlovich, Tom Aspinall faced Curtis Blaydes. It took only one round for the heavyweight to dispatch of ‘Razor’, scoring a first-round knockout win in Manchester.
Mateusz Gamrot breaks silence after UFC 305 loss to Dan Hooker: "It's easy to slip"
Curtis Calhoun - August 20, 2024
UFC lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot has addressed fans for the first time since his loss to Dan Hooker at UFC 305 last weekend in Perth. Gamrot lost to Hooker by split decision on the UFC 305 main card on Saturday. The loss snapped a three-fight winning streak for Gamrot, and despite finding success with his wrestling, he took the more significant damage in the fight from Hooker.
Charles Oliveira interested in facing former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski next: "Why not?"
Josh Evanoff - August 20, 2024
Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira is interested in facing Alexander Volkanovski next. ‘Do Bronx’ hasn’t appeared in the cage since a split-decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300 in April. That defeat prevented the Brazilian from earning a rematch with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who defeated him back in October 2022. Since then, Charles Oliveira hasn’t booked a return to the cage.
Jon Jones teases move to submission grappling after attending ADCC 2024: "What an amazing event"
Josh Evanoff - August 20, 2024
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is interested in making a move to the mats. ‘Bones’ has been out of the cage since a first-round submission win over Ciryl Gane last March. While Jon Jones was expected to face Stipe Miocic that November, he was forced out due to an injury. In his absence, Tom Aspinall has won and defended the UFC interim heavyweight title. However, Jones is still expected to face Miocic next.
Sean Strickland believes Israel Adesanya was never a good fighter: "You had a close fight against Kelvin Gastelum"
Josh Evanoff - August 20, 2024
Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland believes Israel Adesanya was never that good. ‘The Last Stylebender’ returned to the octagon on Saturday night in Australia. Back for the first time since a decision defeat to Sean Strickland last year, Israel Adesanya faced Dricus du Plessis. The South African won the gold from ‘Tarzan’ in January by split-decision, and was excited to face the former champion in his first title defense.
Jan Blachowicz doesn't understand why he didn't get title shot against Alex Pereira: "No one asked me"
Cole Shelton - August 20, 2024
Jan Blachowicz doesn’t understand why the UFC didn’t ask him to fight Alex Pereira at UFC 307. Pereira is set to defend his light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 307 on Oct. 5 in Salt Lake City against Khalil Rountree. The fight booking caught many by surprise as Rountree is coming off a suspension for a failed drug test. Those who were caught by surprise include Jan Blachowicz who believes he should have gotten the title shot.
Benson Henderson vs. Chris Avila added to Misfits Boxing 18 tournament
Curtis Calhoun - August 20, 2024
MMA legend Benson Henderson will make his boxing debut against fellow UFC veteran, Chris Avila, at Misfits Boxing 18 in Newcastle, UK. The Henderson vs. Avila fight was announced in a press release on Tuesday. The September 14th event also features the return of OnlyFans star Elle Brooke in the main event against former Bare Knuckle FC fighter Jenny Savage.
Kamaru Usman welcomes Dricus du Plessis into the "Four African horsemen" after UFC 305 victory
Curtis Calhoun - August 20, 2024
Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, a prominent member of the self-described ‘Three African Kings’, is willing to make room for Dricus du Plessis. Du Plessis tapped out Israel Adesanya in the UFC 305 main event last Saturday in Perth, Australia. In his first middleweight title defense, du Plessis withstood a striking barrage from Adesanya to retain the belt in a gutsy fashion.
Israel Adesanya says he’s not friends with Dricus du Plessis but doesn’t think he’s a bad person: “We’re cool, and I respect him”
Harry Kettle - August 20, 2024
UFC legend Israel Adesanya has said that while he isn’t friends with Dricus du Plessis, he certainly respects him. Last weekend, Israel Adesanya failed in his attempt to capture the UFC middleweight championship for the third time. He lost to Dricus du Plessis, suffering a fourth round submission defeat at UFC 305. After the bout, though, it seemed as if the two men buried the hatchet following what seemed to be a bitter feud heading into the contest.
Mackenzie Dern booked for December rematch against Amanda Ribas at UFC Tampa Bay
Harry Kettle - August 20, 2024
Mackenzie Dern is reportedly set to face off against Amanda Ribas in a rematch at UFC Tampa Bay later this year. For the longest time, Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas have been two of the most notable names in women’s mixed martial arts. From their fight styles to their personalities, they have become real fan favorites in recent years. Back in October 2019, they even squared off against one another. On that night in Tampa, Ribas won and brought an end to Dern’s unbeaten run in the sport.
Darren Till responds after being trolled by Dricus du Plessis after UFC 305 title defense: “I might come back the UFC just to beat DDP”
Harry Kettle - August 20, 2024
Darren Till has issued a response to Dricus du Plessis as the two former foes continue to go back and forth on social media. Right now, Dricus du Plessis is on top of the world. He is the reigning UFC middleweight champion after retaining the belt against Israel Adesanya last weekend. Now, there’s a lot of excitement in the air as fans wait to see what’s next for the South African champ.
Kade Ruotolo looks to sustain momentum at ONE 168 following million-dollar win
BJPENN.COM Staff - August 20, 2024
Before Kade Ruotolo defends his World Title at ONE 168: Denver on September 6, he embarked on a side quest that earned him a hefty payday. Along with twin brother Tye, Kade participated in the under-80-kilogram tournament of the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational. This went down on August 16 and 17 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
What's next for the Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya after UFC 305?
Cole Shelton - August 19, 2024
The UFC was in Perth, Western Australia for a UFC 305 card that saw the middleweight title up for grabs. In the main event of UFC 305, middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis was looking to defend his belt for the first time against former champ Israel Adesanya. It was a highly-anticipated bout as the two have had a rivalry for years.
Israel Adesanya thought Dricus Du Plessis was "done" in the fourth round
Cole Shelton - August 19, 2024
Israel Adesanya felt like Dricus Du Plessis was done in the fourth round just moments before he got the submission win. Adesanya was fighting for the first time in nearly a year as he headlined UFC 305 against Du Plessis for the middleweight title. It was an intriguing matchup and in the fourth round, it looked like Adesanya was starting to take over. He was having success on the feet, and he says there was a moment in the round when he felt like Du Plessis was done.
Daniel Cormier points out why Sean Strickland should be "worried" about getting next MW title shot
Curtis Calhoun - August 19, 2024
UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier thinks Sean Strickland isn’t a sure thing for the next middleweight title shot after UFC 305. UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis defeated Israel Adesanya in the UFC 305 main event last Saturday. After a back-and-forth first three rounds, du Plessis retained the title by submitting Adesanya with a rear-naked choke.