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UFC color commentator Joe Rogan believes there’s a clear choice for the top pound-for-pound fighter on the planet right now. Though he’s previously declared Jon Jones the greatest of all time, he’s giving the current title to Featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski, despite his competitive loss to Islam Makhachev earlier this year.

“He’s No. 1 pound-for-pound,” Rogan said of Volkanovski (via MMAFighting.com). “They have him as not pound-for-pound [No. 1 in the UFC] because he lost that fight [to Islam Makhachev]. I think you could make a real argument that he won that fight. I think he won the fight. In my mind, he won the fight.”

“He did more damage,” Rogan continued. “I think he imposed his skill set. It’s also insanely impressive that he goes up from [featherweight] to fight a massive [lightweight]. That guy is as big at [155 pounds] as anybody is, and at the end of the fight, [Volkanovski] is on top beating him up.

“He drops him, gets on top of him and had massive moments throughout the fight.”

Indeed, Rogan was stunned when Makhachev was named the victor over Volkanovski at UFC 284. Currently, Volkanovski stands at No. 2 on the official UFC pound-for-pound rankings, sandwiched between Jones and Makhachev in that order.

Volkanovski is still working to earn a second shot at Makhachev to really prove himself the better man. At 145-pounds, however, his greatness is not up for debate. The Australian champion has won 11 straight at Featherweight, defending his belt five times in the process. If he can handle streaking Spanish contender Ilia Topuria in his next defense, he’s pretty effectively cleared out the division and can fully focus on Lightweight gold.

Insomnia

I don’t care to learn who Tristan Tate is, but I’d love if this story ends when Sean Strickland randomly beating up Andrew Tate in a free sparring match while talking trash.

A banger Featherweight booking with an intriguing style clash! Both Jonathan Pierce and Joanderson Brito are on the cusp of a ranking.

A trio of Brazilian legends hanging out:

Tosses and throws in super slow-mo!

Canelo Alvarez really walked all over Jermell Charlo, pushing him around and working the body.

Michael Bisping, man on a mission.

A big boxing match (potentially) in the making!

Slips, rips, and KO clips

Walking out to the rules of Fight Club is actually kind of innovative.

Now, I’m not a martial arts legend like One’s Chatri Sityodtong, but this seems bonus-worthy to me!

A heavy low kick, body-head combo, and fight-finishing high kick — what a lovely sequence of strikes!

Random Land

A big ol’ block.

Midnight Music: Rock, 1991

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.

Melanie Shah just might be built differently.

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) touched down in Salem, Virginia for BKFC 51 this past weekend (Sept. 29, 2023). The promotion’s Strawweight title was on the line in the event’s headliner, featuring the champion, Britain Hart, defending opposite the previously undefeated 2-0 Shah. Unfortunately for Shah, she suffered a punishing five round beating from the title holder, resulting in a unanimous decision (and tooth) loss (watch highlights).

Despite the facial rearrangements Hart provided her with on the night, Shah had no regrets.

“I think after the first round, I realized that she was a lot tougher than I was expecting,” Shah told Bareknucklenewstv in the embedded video above. “Although I expected her to be tough, I just expected her to show a bit more tiredness. It didn’t go the way I wanted, but I was still happy that I went all the five rounds.

“Even if I don’t look like it, I enjoyed the whole process,” she continued. “I enjoyed being in the ring and challenging myself. If I could fight Brit again, I think what I’d do is — although I fought the way I like to fight — I’d have backed off a little bit more than maybe I should have. I’d probably try to do other things I wouldn’t normally do.”

The 2-1 Shah had an uphill battle ahead of her when matched with Hart. The reigning champion has come into her own as a bare-knuckle boxer, winning eight of her last nine matches (8-3 overall). Hart has earned notable wins on her run over the likes of former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Flyweights, Paige VanZant, Bec Rawlings, and Pearl Gonzalez. Hart already has her next match lined up as she’ll head to Thailand to face Chisakan Ariphipat on Nov. 4, 2023. Meanwhile, Shah will likely take a decent amount of time to let herself heal up before getting back into action. Well, we sure hope so, anyway.

Cedric Doumbe set the mixed martial arts (MMA) world ablaze in his Professional Fighters League (PFL) debut this past weekend (Sept. 30, 2023).

PFL touched down in Doumbe’s home of France with its third European event in 2023, taking place in Paris. The highly-talented free agent signing was supposed to debut earlier in the year, but suffered a wrist injury that forced him from his scheduled bout opposite Jarrah Al-Silawani in San Antonio, Texas in June 2023.

Everything worked out better than the 31-year-old Doumbe could have asked for with his debut coming in front of a raucous Paris crowd. Inside the cage, Doumbe (5-0) delivered in spades, knocking out Jordan Zebo in nine seconds (watch highlights). After getting his MMA career back in motion, the former Glory Welterweight kickboxing champion has no qualms about how things fell apart with him and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

“The thing about them, they did what they did,” Doumbe told The MMA Hour. “They f—ked up (laughs). They f—ked up. It is what it is.

“Now, I’m part of the PFL,” he continued. “For me, PFL is the future. It’s the future. They are doing very great. We got Francis [Ngannou] now. He’s part of the team. I mean, I’m part of the future, you know? We are changing something. We are doing something great. So, I didn’t even think about them. They are doing their thing. I’m doing my thing. I think I’m the best. They lost something. Now, PFL earned something. So, it is what it is.”

Doumbe has lived up to his nickname of “The Best” thus far in his five-fight MMA career (75-7-1 in kickboxing), finishing all of his opponents with strikes. After the star-making performance and atmosphere provided by the French faithful, Doumbe believes he’s now his country’s biggest star in the combat sports world.