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Chris Weidman unsure of Alex Pereira’s ability to keep UFC title: ‘I see such an opening with the wrestling’

Whilst appearing to sell the majority of the mixed martial arts community on his dominance off the back of…

Whilst appearing to sell the majority of the mixed martial arts community on his dominance off the back of his stunning first round win over Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 earlier this month, Alex Pereira’s apparent wrestling shortcomings have caught the eye of former middleweight kingpin, Chris Weidman.

Pereira, a former undisputed middleweight titleholder and the current undisputed light heavyweight champion, headlined UFC 300 earlier this month in a title fight return against ex-champion, Hill, turning in a dominant first round knockout win over the Illinois native.

Alex Pereira rejects UFC 308 clash with Magomed Ankalaev in Abu Dhabi I want to fight sooner — Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari – Zuffa LLC

As for Weidman, the former middleweight champion returned to the winner’s enclosure for the first time since his gruesome compound leg fracture back in 2021 with a controversial decision win over Bruno Silva at UFC Atlantic City last month.

Chris Weidman admits he’s not sold on Alex Pereira

And linked with a title fight against surging Russian contender, Magomed Ankalaev as well as a heavyweight division leap in his return, Alex Pereira – as per Weidman, is likely there for the taking against a proficient wrestler and grappler, despite his thunderous knockout power.

Chris Weidman lands egregious decision win over Bruno Silva after multiple eye pokes UFC Atlantic City — Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari – Zuffa LLC

“It’s hard for me to get fully behind (Alex) Pereira, because I do see such an opening with the wrestling, and he hasn’t really fought wrestlers who will take advantage of that,” Chris Weidman said during an appearance on Believe You Me. “It’s hard to deal with, but it’s so crazy and it’s such a deficiency in what we’ve seen so far.”

Alex Pereira tipped for success at heavyweight everybody is in trouble against him UFC — Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – USA TODAY Sports

“It’s almost like Ben Askren coming into the UFC and being able to just become a multiple-time champion with no hands [striking],” Weidman explained. “It’s like a striker looking at Ben Askren and thinking, ‘How the hell is this guy the world champion?’ He was able to do it in Bellator, he was able to do it in ONE FC. The guy had an unbelievable MMA career and had no striking at all. It looked awful but he was so good at wrestling he was able to do it.”

Do you agree with Chris Weidman’s take on Alex Pereira’s ability?

Coach Benched Dariush To ‘Focus On His Health’

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Beneil Dariush was just one victory away from a 155-pound title shot.
The longtime lightweight veteran captured eight straight wins in the promotion’s deepest div…

UFC 179: Ferreira v Dariush — Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Beneil Dariush was just one victory away from a 155-pound title shot.

The longtime lightweight veteran captured eight straight wins in the promotion’s deepest division and found himself sitting in the Top 5 in the official rankings. Then came a technical knockout loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 289, followed by a first-round knockout defeat to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Austin, and it all came crashing down.

That doesn’t include the damage Dariush took in the gym.

“Benny had a very rough year last year,” head coach Rafael Cordeiro told MMA Fighting. “He had two knockouts and three knockdowns. He was knocked down twice and knocked out once in the gym, and then fought Charles and was TKO’d. He fought Arman next and was knocked out. He had five situations during the year where his head was hurt. He’s a young kid, and it was a request I made for him to take some time.”

With both Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira losing at UFC 300 and Dustin Poirier fighting Islam Makhachev at UFC 302, the No. 6-ranked Dariush, who turns 35 in just a few days, could very easily find himself back in the lightweight title chase with a couple of big wins. He’s also not short on callouts, though a return date has yet to be determined.

“I don’t worry as a coach, I worry as a father. I have him as my kid and I don’t need to put him to real test for nothing right now,” Cordeiro continued. “Benny won eight and lost two of his last 10 fights and some people want him to retire. That’s absurd. It’s disrespectful with his story, but since we can’t listen to noise or things we can’t control, we’ll focus on his health. Let’s see the fights that make sense for him for the moment he’s physically recovered. I’m not talking about confidence. He has confidence. It’s more of a neurological thing. I want him to worry about it for a moment because he was hit a lot.”

See you in 2025?

Ronda Rousey’s coaching staff blamed for ruining ex-UFC star’s career: ‘They had a Lamborghini and wrecked it’

Former UFC bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey’s team have been hit with the blame for the Riverside native’s career downturn…

Former UFC bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey’s team have been hit with the blame for the Riverside native’s career downturn back in 2015, with veteran coach, Louis Taylor comparing her talents to a “Lamborghini” – which he team eventually “wrecked”.

Dana White trashes Scott Coker in antitrust lawsuit deposition I turned Ronda Rousey into a star UFC

Rousey, the promotion’s inaugural bantamweight champion having struck gold under the banner of the now-defunct, Strikeforce promotion, called time on her decorated career in mixed martial arts after consecutive knockout losses to Amanda Nunes and Holly Holm back in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Ronda Rousey claims she was destined to lose Holly Holm fight I got touched and my bottom teeth got knocked loose — Mandatory Credit: Pat Scala

Enjoying a stunning unbeaten run up until her title fight with Holm in Australia, Rousey’s dominant reign was ended courtesy of a savage second round high-kick KO loss, before returning the following year in a blistering first round TKO defeat against the above-mentioned Brazilian star, Nunes.

Ronda Rousey described as Lamborghini which had been “wrecked” by coaching staff

Revealing a bleak history of neurological issues as well as consecutive concussions suffered during her tenure with the UFC, which limited her ability to engage with fighters, and ultimately attributed to her decision to call time on her career, Rousey’s coaches did no benefit to her in the long run, according to the previously noted, Taylor.

Ronda Rousey reveals concussion secret let to her exit from the UFC that's why I had to retire — Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari – Zuffa LLC

“Her (Ronda Rousey) coaching is – I would still slap her entire coaching staff – like, bro, they had a Lamborgini and just wrecked it,” Taylor said during an appearance on the Money, Loyalty, Legacy podcast. “But, you know again, if you coaches – and Belal (Muhammaed) will tell you, too, I’m a good friend, ‘cause I’m the one that’s going to tell you you’re f*cking up, you know what I’m saying?”

“There’s not a fight, whether we win or lose, that I’m just like, you did great,” Taylor explained. “No because I’m there to look for the mistakes, I’m there to look for what the next coach is looking for.” (H/T MMA News)

Do you think Ronda Rousey’s coaching staff are to blame for her career downfall?

LIVE! UFC Vegas 91 Early Weigh Ins!

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is just over 24 hours away from its upcoming UFC Vegas 91 mixed martial arts (MMA) event, headlined by a 125-pound showdown between fly…

UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev v Walker 2 Weigh-in — Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is just over 24 hours away from its upcoming UFC Vegas 91 mixed martial arts (MMA) event, headlined by a 125-pound showdown between flyweight rivals Matheus Nicolau and Alex Perez. The action gets underway this Sat. night (April 27, 2024) on ESPN and ESPN+ from inside the promotion’s APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, and also features a light heavyweight co-headliner between 205-pound stalwarts Bogdan Guskov and Ryan Spann.

Before the ESPN/ESPN+ live stream gets underway this weekend in “Sin City,” which includes the flyweight showdown pitting Ariane Lipski opposite Karine Silva, all 26 fighters must hit the scale to prove themselves worthy. Note: Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) affords a one-pound allowance in non-title fights.

The UFC Vegas 91 weigh ins will stream LIVE in the embedded video player above beginning promptly at 12 p.m. ET (9 a.m. PT). We’ll also have real-time text updates for the “Nicolau vs. Perez” weigh ins listed below, updated as they happen. Remember too that staredowns will commence at the conclusion of today’s weigh ins (roughly 2 p.m. ET).

Complete UFC Vegas 91 weigh ins text results below:

UFC Vegas 91 Main Card on ESPN/ESPN+:

125 lbs.: Matheus Nicolau () vs. Alex Perez ()
205 lbs.: Ryan Spann (205.5) vs. Bogdan Guskov (204.5)
125 lbs.: Ariane Lipski (126) vs. Karine Silva ()
265 lbs.: Austen Lane () vs. Jhonata Diniz ()
145 lbs.: Jonathan Pearce () vs. David Onama ()
170 lbs.: Tim Means (171) vs. Uros Medic ()

UFC Vegas 91 ‘Prelims’ Card on ESPN/ESPN+:

135 lbs.: Rani Yahya (136) vs. Victor Henry ()
155 lbs.: Austin Hubbard () vs. Michal Figlak (155)
265 lbs.: Don’Tale Mayes () vs. Caio Machado ()
125 lbs.: Marnic Mann (115.5) vs. Ketlen Souza ()
155 lbs.: Chris Padilla (154.5) vs. James Llontop ()
125 lbs.: Ivana Petrovic () vs. Liang Na (126)
155 lbs.: Gabriel Benítez (155) vs. Maheshate Hayisaer ()

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 91 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ preliminary card matchups, which are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining main card balance (also on ESPN/ESPN+) at 7 p.m. ET.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC Vegas 91 news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archives here and here. For the updated and finalized “Nicolau vs. Perez” fight card and ESPN/ESPN+ lineup click here.

UFC star Amanda Ribas reveals ‘Crazy’ encounter with creepy stalker: ‘He told people I was his wife’

UFC fighter Amanda Ribas had a recent encounter with a stalker. Ribas says before her UFC Vegas 89 main…

UFC fighter Amanda Ribas had a recent encounter with a stalker.

Ribas says before her UFC Vegas 89 main event against Rose Namajunas, a Ukrainian man reportedly tried to meet Ribas multiple times. The Brazilian says she met the man during her UFC 251 fight week against Paige VanZant.

Since then, Ribas says the man has been trying to meet her and contact him, which has creeped her out.

“I don’t remember his name, but he was a bit of a crazy guy,” Amanda Ribas told Ag. Fight (via MMAFighting). “On the first day, I arrived at the hotel — usually the fans are there for us to sign something, take a picture — but this citizen was a little crazy. He kept screaming, ‘Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.’ That same day, the guy at the front desk called my room and said, ‘Amanda, Alex is here wanting to go upstairs.’ Except that Alex is the name of my manager. I said, ‘Hey, the sensei is here now’. He went and said a crazy last name, I said, ‘I don’t know.’ I thought that was kind of weird.

“The next day, when we arrived again at the reception, the young man was waiting. But he said he wanted to talk to me, and I said I couldn’t at the moment. He spoke to my father, handed him a letter, a bracelet and a teddy bear. So far, so normal, because it’s something that happens. I even like it, I love to get gifts. Then I read in the letter that he was in love with me as a man since 2020, that he met me in Abu Dhabi.”

“We went to do some research. This young man, on his social network, it was written that I was his wife, that he lived in such and such a country and was going to move to [my hometown] Varginha [Minas Gerais, Brazil]. There was a picture of a teddy bear, everyone in my family, saying, ‘This is Marcelo, this is Arthur, this is Mirelly, this is Amanda, my wife’. I had some crazy business.”

Along with the gifts, the fighter reportedly got into the UFC PI and told people he was Amanda Ribas’ wife.

“The other day, this citizen managed to get into the P.I., I don’t know how, and he was telling people that I was his wife,” Ribas laughed. “[My manager] Alex [Davis] found out about it first, then he told me. Then he notified the UFC and they left a security guard with me 24 hours a day to be even more protected. It seems that they found out that he is a fighter, and he couldn’t fight in an event because he had taken a sword (laughs).”

Amanda Ribas Coming Off Loss To Rose Namajunas

In her last fight at UFC Vegas 91, Amanda Ribas suffered a five-round decision loss to Rose Namajuans.

Ribas has alternated wins and losses in seven fights, as she’s 3-4 during that stretch and is 7-4 overall in the UFC. Before the loss to Namajunas, Ribas scored a knockout win over Luana Pinheiro. In her UFC career, Amanda Ribas has notable wins over Paige VanZant, Mackenzie Dern, and Viviane Araujo.

Ribas is currently ranked eighth at strawweight and ninth at flyweight as she’s been competing in both weight classes. She does not have her next fight booked.

UFC veteran Donald Cerrone ‘Rushed to surgery’ after nasty bull riding accident: ‘I ain’t going out like this’

UFC veteran Donald Cerrone had surgery after a bull riding accident. Cerrone had agreed to ride Dana White’s bull,…

UFC veteran Donald Cerrone had surgery after a bull riding accident.

Cerrone had agreed to ride Dana White’s bull, “Twisted Steel,” at the upcoming Professional Bull Riders (PBR) “Unleash The Beast” event on May 18 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. With that, Cerrone was practising bull riding, but he suffered an injury tearing his biceps completely off the bone and had to have surgery, which White hooked up for him.

“Well if y’all want to see what happened to the one-arm man, this is it. Now if you’re thinkin’ this is it, and ol’ cowboy is down and out— no sir. @danawhite hooked me up with one of the best surgeons for a full bicep tear and give it six-eight weeks and with help from @transcendHrt and I’ll be back at it. Ain’t going out like this!!,” Cerrone wrote.

After Cerrone announced the injury, White released a statement saying it was a bad idea from the start for ‘Cowboy’ to try and ride his bull.

Dana White confirms post-fight bonus winners will receive $300,000 checks at UFC 300 It's done — Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari – Zuffa LLC

“I thought this was a bad idea for Cowboy from the start,” White said in a statement provided to MMAmania.com. “Twisted Steel is the nastiest bull in the PBR. He’s bucked 90-percent of his riders. Let’s leave it to the pros at the PBR World Finals in Arlington.”

Dana White Accepted Donald Cerrone’s challenge

UFC CEO Dana White has been promoting his bull for quite some time, and because of that Donald Cerrone requested to ride it.

After Cerrone publicly called to ride the bull, White accepted ‘Cowboy’s’ challenge and even offered him a cash reward depending on how long he lasted.

Donald Cerrone receives UFC Hall of Fame induction — Mandatory Credit: Carmen Mandato

“Cowboy Cerrone called [Twisted Steel] out saying that he wants to ride my bull,” White said on X. “Now, my bull is a legit badass. The last PBR guy that rode him, a professional bull rider, lasted 2.5 seconds. So, Cowboy Cerrone, I accept your challenge. I will donate $50,000 to the charity of your choice for you to ride him. If you last eight seconds, I will give you $100,000.”

Donald Cerrone last competed in MMA at UFC 276 in July of 2022 when he lost to Jim Miller by submission. He announced his retirement from MMA following the loss.