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Jon Jones Love Dirty Boxing and Yoel Romero: “With spinning elbows, spinning backfists, and different types of elbows.”

Jon Jones Love Dirty BoxingAt the inaugural Dirty Boxing Championship in Miami, Yoel Romero shocked everyone, including Jon Jones, with a devastating first-round…

Jon Jones Love Dirty Boxing

At the inaugural Dirty Boxing Championship in Miami, Yoel Romero shocked everyone, including Jon Jones, with a devastating first-round knockout of Duane Crespo.

Jon Jones loves Dirty Boxing

The event, held behind closed doors, featured a lineup of brutal fights, including UFC and kickboxing veterans with Jon Jones sitting ringside. Yoel Romero’s KO, highlighted by a superman punch and an overhand left, was one of five knockouts on the eight-fight card.

The promotion, led by Mike Perry and a team of notable combat sports figures, introduced unique rules that made for intense, action-packed bouts. Big names like Paige Van Zant and Jarrell Miller attended, and organizers declared the event a massive success, promising more content soon.

Two-division UFC champion, and all-time great, Jon Jones absolutely loved what he saw with Dirty Boxing. Speaking to The Schmo, he said:

“I had a great time tonight. The fights were awesome. The Dirty Boxing Championships were unbelievable. I really think this sport is going to catch on. To see boxing—clean boxing technique—with spinning elbows, spinning backfists, and different types of elbows… it was really, really cool. I can’t wait for the next event. I’m glad to be at the first one.“

Jon Jones is a huge fan of Yoel Romero, he continued:

“Yoel is just such a magnificent, unique human being and athlete. He’s special, man, and he does what special people do. He delivered exactly what we expected him to do.”

European Champion Ready To Make History As First Father & Daughter To Compete In The UFC

England has a new female champion that is ready to compete on the big show following the Cage Warriors event that took place in Newcastle on Saturday night. CW 181 saw the promotion crown Kennedy Freeman as the new women’s bantamweight champion after she stopped Mafalda Carmona. Due to the sheer size of the talent […]

England has a new female champion that is ready to compete on the big show following the Cage Warriors event that took place in Newcastle on Saturday night. CW 181 saw the promotion crown Kennedy Freeman as the new women’s bantamweight champion after she stopped Mafalda Carmona.

Due to the sheer size of the talent pool that is available, Cage Warriors isn’t a promotion that regularly has female champions. In fact, Freeman is the first since Molly McCann departed the roster to sign with the UFC in 2018 but like McCann, there is something special about Freeman.

Her exciting striking style and finishing ability has meant that she’s been on the radar for some time but after taking a five-year break between 2018-2023, the 6-0 bantamweight didn’t feel ready for whatever the next step would be even when offers came in. In a post-fight interview with the promotion after putting on a dominant performance that saw Carmona withdraw from the fight in the fourth round, her mentality has changed.

“Whatever offers come, I’m ready for them now. It’s my birthday on Tuesday and I’m 28, I’m getting on now and I think I proved to myself that I can go nearly five rounds. I was ready for a fifth round there. I felt fit, I felt ready. Yeah, I’m ready for the next step.”  

Freeman moving up to the UFC would be a big moment for her and her family because of their history with the promotion. Her father and coach, Ian Freeman, was the first British fighter to ever step inside the Octagon.

Making his debut in March of 2000, “The Machine” went on to fight six times in the UFC which included a signature first-round finish over Frank Mir at UFC 38 in 2002 where Matt Hughes defended his welterweight title against Carlos Newton in the main event. During her post-fight interview, Freeman was joined by her father who said that he’s looking forward to watching his daughter tread new ground in the UFC just like he did over two decades ago.

“I think we’re the only father and daughter in Cage Warriors, who’ve fought on Cage Warriors. I was the first ever British fighter in the UFC and I think the UFC are going to come knocking and when they do, we will be the first ever father and daughter in the UFC so I mean, we’re breaking history every single time.”  

European Champion Ready To Make History As First Father & Daughter To Compete In The UFC

England has a new female champion that is ready to compete on the big show following the Cage Warriors event that took place in Newcastle on Saturday night. CW 181 saw the promotion crown Kennedy Freeman as the new women’s bantamweight champion after she stopped Mafalda Carmona. Due to the sheer size of the talent […]

England has a new female champion that is ready to compete on the big show following the Cage Warriors event that took place in Newcastle on Saturday night. CW 181 saw the promotion crown Kennedy Freeman as the new women’s bantamweight champion after she stopped Mafalda Carmona.

Due to the sheer size of the talent pool that is available, Cage Warriors isn’t a promotion that regularly has female champions. In fact, Freeman is the first since Molly McCann departed the roster to sign with the UFC in 2018 but like McCann, there is something special about Freeman.

Her exciting striking style and finishing ability has meant that she’s been on the radar for some time but after taking a five-year break between 2018-2023, the 6-0 bantamweight didn’t feel ready for whatever the next step would be even when offers came in. In a post-fight interview with the promotion after putting on a dominant performance that saw Carmona withdraw from the fight in the fourth round, her mentality has changed.

“Whatever offers come, I’m ready for them now. It’s my birthday on Tuesday and I’m 28, I’m getting on now and I think I proved to myself that I can go nearly five rounds. I was ready for a fifth round there. I felt fit, I felt ready. Yeah, I’m ready for the next step.”  

Freeman moving up to the UFC would be a big moment for her and her family because of their history with the promotion. Her father and coach, Ian Freeman, was the first British fighter to ever step inside the Octagon.

Making his debut in March of 2000, “The Machine” went on to fight six times in the UFC which included a signature first-round finish over Frank Mir at UFC 38 in 2002 where Matt Hughes defended his welterweight title against Carlos Newton in the main event. During her post-fight interview, Freeman was joined by her father who said that he’s looking forward to watching his daughter tread new ground in the UFC just like he did over two decades ago.

“I think we’re the only father and daughter in Cage Warriors, who’ve fought on Cage Warriors. I was the first ever British fighter in the UFC and I think the UFC are going to come knocking and when they do, we will be the first ever father and daughter in the UFC so I mean, we’re breaking history every single time.”  

PFL Finalist Admits He Nearly Retired Before Fighting For His Second World Championship Win

This Friday night in Riyadh, Brendan Loughnane looks to become a two-time PFL champion at featherweight. The Brit’s 2024 campaign comes to an end when he faces the undefeated Timur Khizriev in the main event in a fascinating match-up. Loughnane’s run in the regular season has consisted of back-to-back finishes against Pedro Carvalho and Justin […]

This Friday night in Riyadh, Brendan Loughnane looks to become a two-time PFL champion at featherweight. The Brit’s 2024 campaign comes to an end when he faces the undefeated Timur Khizriev in the main event in a fascinating match-up.

Loughnane’s run in the regular season has consisted of back-to-back finishes against Pedro Carvalho and Justin Gonzales which were followed by a split decision win over Kai Kamaka III. However, what makes his journey to the finals this year so impressive is what happened in 2023.

After defeating the likes of Bubba Jenkins and Chris Wade in 2022 to become the champion, Loughnane looked to do it again for the second time in a row. Having already beaten the top names in his division, he would have been a big favorite to do just that at the start of the next season.

After stopping Marlon Moraes in his first bout, the 35-fight veteran was finished for the first time in his career when he was knocked out by Jesus Pinedo in the opening round with Pinedo going on to win the world championship. After taking the rest of 2023 off, the former champion has since returned with a rejuvenated drive.

Ahead of his return on November 29, Loughnane revealed in a recent interview with Mirror Fighting that after his loss to Pinedo, he contemplated retirement having already set himself and his family up financially by winning the 2022 season. Now, he has the chance to double that by becoming the first of 18 men to beat Khizriev.

“It was difficult. I didn’t really want to do it again,” he said. “I thought ‘I’m done with this sport. I’ve been knocked out, I’ve got way over $1million in my account. What am I doing this for?’ I had to reassess everything, but I’ve come back and I’ve shown tenacity in the champion that I am. I’ve come back and shown everyone that sometimes you get knocked down in life, or knocked out in my case and you’ve got to come back stronger.”

PFL Finalist Admits He Nearly Retired Before Fighting For His Second World Championship Win

This Friday night in Riyadh, Brendan Loughnane looks to become a two-time PFL champion at featherweight. The Brit’s 2024 campaign comes to an end when he faces the undefeated Timur Khizriev in the main event in a fascinating match-up. Loughnane’s run in the regular season has consisted of back-to-back finishes against Pedro Carvalho and Justin […]

This Friday night in Riyadh, Brendan Loughnane looks to become a two-time PFL champion at featherweight. The Brit’s 2024 campaign comes to an end when he faces the undefeated Timur Khizriev in the main event in a fascinating match-up.

Loughnane’s run in the regular season has consisted of back-to-back finishes against Pedro Carvalho and Justin Gonzales which were followed by a split decision win over Kai Kamaka III. However, what makes his journey to the finals this year so impressive is what happened in 2023.

After defeating the likes of Bubba Jenkins and Chris Wade in 2022 to become the champion, Loughnane looked to do it again for the second time in a row. Having already beaten the top names in his division, he would have been a big favorite to do just that at the start of the next season.

After stopping Marlon Moraes in his first bout, the 35-fight veteran was finished for the first time in his career when he was knocked out by Jesus Pinedo in the opening round with Pinedo going on to win the world championship. After taking the rest of 2023 off, the former champion has since returned with a rejuvenated drive.

Ahead of his return on November 29, Loughnane revealed in a recent interview with Mirror Fighting that after his loss to Pinedo, he contemplated retirement having already set himself and his family up financially by winning the 2022 season. Now, he has the chance to double that by becoming the first of 18 men to beat Khizriev.

“It was difficult. I didn’t really want to do it again,” he said. “I thought ‘I’m done with this sport. I’ve been knocked out, I’ve got way over $1million in my account. What am I doing this for?’ I had to reassess everything, but I’ve come back and I’ve shown tenacity in the champion that I am. I’ve come back and shown everyone that sometimes you get knocked down in life, or knocked out in my case and you’ve got to come back stronger.”

What’s Next For Deiveson Figueiredo?

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

UFC Macau blew the roof off Galaxy Arena in Macau, SRA, China last Saturday (Nov. 23, 2024) leaving several fighters feeling the post-fight blues. Among them was Song Kenan, who was knocke…


UFC Fight Night: Yan v Figueiredo
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

UFC Macau blew the roof off Galaxy Arena in Macau, SRA, China last Saturday (Nov. 23, 2024) leaving several fighters feeling the post-fight blues. Among them was Song Kenan, who was knocked out cold by Muslim Salikhov and his spinning wheel kick (see it again here).

And Wang Cong, who suffered the first loss of her mixed martial arts (MMA) career after she was upset and choked out by Gabriella Fernandes (video replay here). But which fighter is suffering from the worst post-fight hangover, now a few days removed from the show?

Deiveson Figueiredo.

Coming into his headlining bout against Petr Yan, Figueiredo was one more win away from throwing his name into the hat at getting a shot at Merab Dvalishvili’s Bantamweight title. Since moving up to 135 pounds, “Daico” — the former UFC Flyweight champion of the world — had won three straight fights, good enough to bump him up all the way to the No. 5 spot on the official rankings.

Unfortunately for the Brazilian ex-champion, he ran into a former champion who wouldn’t be denied. Indeed, Yan was on fire all night, landing on all fronts with his crisp striking and devastating kicks. When they grappled, Yan surprisingly got the best of Figueiredo more often than not. But it was on the feet where “The Machine” really did his damage. In the end, the two men went a full 25 minutes, which resulted in a unanimous decision win for Yan, who called for his shot at the strap after the fight.

As for Figueiredo, it’s his first loss in the division so it won’t hurt him too bad. All it hurts is his hopes of fighting for the title in early 2025.

As far as what could be next for “Daico,” perhaps a showdown against Cory Sandhagen is in order. “Sandman” hasn’t competed since losing to current top contender, Umar Nurmagomedov, earlier this year. Prior to that, Sandhagen was making his own march toward a shot at the title after reeling off three straight wins of his own.

During their previous respective win streaks, both Sandhagen and Figueriedo defeated common opponents Rob Font and Marlon Vera. Sandhagen is currently ranked No. 4, which is one spot ahead of Figueiredo. The winner of this fight will get some much-needed confidence and avoid having a bigger drop-off in the division. As for the loser, he will dig himself a deeper hole to get out of in a stacked weight class.

For complete UFC Macau results, coverage, and highlights, click HERE.