Author: admin

What’s Next After UFC 303? Full Confirmed UFC 304 Main Card For Manchester On July 27

UFC 303 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering. The promotion was in Las Vegas, Nevada, last week, where the T-Mobile Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for International Fight Week. Of note were victories for UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex […]

Continue Reading What’s Next After UFC 303? Full Confirmed UFC 304 Main Card For Manchester On July 27 at MMA News.

UFC 303 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering.

The promotion was in Las Vegas, Nevada, last week, where the T-Mobile Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for International Fight Week. Of note were victories for UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira, fast-rising featherweight fan favorite Diego Lopes, and undefeated welterweight Ian Garry.

While the aftermath of the June 29 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the light heavyweight title picture to the 170-pound championship conversation.

At UFC 304, set for the newly built Co-op Live in Manchester, England, on July 27, reigning welterweight kingpin Leon Edwards will make the walk for the first time this year, making his third defense of the gold in a rematch against Belal Muhammad.

There will also be title stakes between familiar opponents in the co-headliner, as interim heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall runs it back with Curtis Blaydes two years on from his devastating knee injury opposite “Razor” just 15 seconds into their UFC Fight Night main event in London.

Pimblett, Mokaev, Allen Set The Stage For Title Headliners At UFC 304

Before Edwards and Aspinall defend their championships on home soil in the main and co-main events, respectively, a number of other high-profile Brits will take to the Octagon looking to make the post of their position on the major card.

That includes up-and-coming lightweight Paddy Pimblett, who gets his toughest test to date in the form of the #15-ranked Bobby Green. After extending his unbeaten UFC record to 5-0 by getting the better of Tony Ferguson, the Liverpool native has the chance to break through into the top 15 against “King,” who most recently outpointed Jim Miller on the milestone UFC 300 card this past April.

Prior to that, Dagestan-born Brit Muhammad Mokaev will look to stake his claim for a first shot at the flyweight gold when he meets former Rizin champion Manel Kape. “The Young Punisher” most recently edged past ex-title challenger Alex Perez at the Apex in March. “Starboy,” meanwhile, hasn’t competed since a victory at UFC 293 in Sydney last September, with a weight miss and injury subsequently scrapping his two scheduled rematches with Matheus Nicolau this year.

Another local favorite will open the main card, with Ipswich native Arnold Allen looking to get back on track. Following a valiant effort in defeat against Max Holloway in Kansas City last April, “Almighty” fell on the wrong side of a tight and debated decision opposite Movsar Evloev at UFC 297 in Toronto, Canada, this past January. To bounce back, Allen must halt the resurgence of striking specialist Giga Chikadze, who most recently returned to winning ways at the expense of Alex Caceres in Singapore last August.

See below for the full UFC 304 card, as it stands.

Main Card:

  • Leon Edwards (C) vs. Belal Muhammad (welterweight championship main event)
  • Tom Aspinall (C) vs. Curtis Blaydes  (interim heavyweight championship co-main event)
  • Bobby Green vs. Paddy Pimblett (lightweight)
  • Muhammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape (flyweight)
  • Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze (featherweight)

Preliminary Card:

  • Nathaniel Wood vs. Daniel Pineda (featherweight)
  • Molly McCann vs. Bruna Brasil (women’s strawweight)
  • Caolán Loughran vs. Ramon Tavares (bantamweight)
  • Mick Parkin vs. ?ukasz Brzeski (heavyweight)

Early Preliminary Card:

  • Oban Elliott vs. Preston Parsons (welterweight)
  • Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Gregory Rodrigues (middleweight)
  • Sam Patterson vs. Kiefer Crosbie (welterweight)
  • Shauna Bannon vs. Ravena Oliveira (women’s strawweight)
  • Modestas Bukauskas vs. Marcin Prachnio (light heavyweight) 
Image: Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports

Continue Reading What’s Next After UFC 303? Full Confirmed UFC 304 Main Card For Manchester On July 27 at MMA News.

Anthony Joshua on fighting in the UFC: “I would get my a** kicked.”

Anthony Joshua UFCHeavyweight boxing star Anthony Joshua has no interest in competing in the UFC. For as long as there have been combat sports, there have been crossover attempts. James Toney was a heavyweight boxer who believed he could compete in MMA. The former heavyweight boxing world champion was quickly stopped by Randy Couture in the first […]

Anthony Joshua UFC

Heavyweight boxing star Anthony Joshua has no interest in competing in the UFC. For as long as there have been combat sports, there have been crossover attempts.

James Toney was a heavyweight boxer who believed he could compete in MMA. The former heavyweight boxing world champion was quickly stopped by Randy Couture in the first round. Former WBO heavyweight champion Ray Mercer also attempted to transition into MMA and kickboxing. Mercer managed to defeat former UFC champion Tim Sylvia in MMA but lost both his K-1 Kickboxing bouts.

More recently, boxing great Claressa Shields has been making active attempts to become an MMA fighter. She currently is competing in the PFL while holding boxing world titles. Famously, Conor McGregor competed against all-time great Floyd Mayweather in a money-fight battle. Most recently, the heavyweight boxing king Tyson Fury stood in the ring and challenged UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou to a boxing match. These are just a few examples, among many, of fighters competing back and forth between boxing and MMA.

However, the Olympic boxing gold medalist Anthony Joshua is not interested.

Anthony Joshua is not interested in the UFC

The British-born Joshua obtained an Olympic gold medal during his amateur career. Professionally, he put together an impressive record defeating notable fighters such as Wladimir Klitschko, Dillian Whyte, Andy Ruiz Jr., and Kubrat Pulev, among others. He also held prestigious world titles in the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight gold.

But despite all of his impressive boxing success, he has realistic expectations about his chances in MMA and the UFC. In an interview with GQ, Joshua answered a question about competing in the UFC. Anthony Joshua said:

“I would get my ass kicked. All credit to them guys, but it’s not my profession. And I’m going to respect them guys who have spent years putting in time, training, grappling, wrestling, stand-up, takedown, and submissions. It’s like them coming over to boxing, I know I would smoke them as well.” (H/T TalkSport)

See the full interview below:

Valentina Shevchenko responds to Zhang Weili callout: “She’s gotten stronger … that’s not gonna help her.”

Valentina Shevchenko Zhang WeiliThe Chinese-born UFC strawweight world champion Zhang Weili has called out the women’s flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko for a championship super fight showdown. In a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, the Kyrgyz fighter responded. After capturing her strawweight throne by defeating Carla Esparza, ‘Magnum‘ Zhang Weili explained who she wants in her next […]

Valentina Shevchenko Zhang Weili

The Chinese-born UFC strawweight world champion Zhang Weili has called out the women’s flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko for a championship super fight showdown. In a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, the Kyrgyz fighter responded.

After capturing her strawweight throne by defeating Carla Esparza, ‘Magnum‘ Zhang Weili explained who she wants in her next bout. She told China Daily:

“There are so many great fighters in this division at the moment. I don’t have a particular name that I want to fight for now. I will wait for the call from UFC to decide which one is more appealing … [On Valentina Shevchenko] I think it would be a great fight (and) it’s one I’ve considered before. She is a very versatile fighter with a complete package. I hope it can be arranged whenever UFC sees fit.”

While speaking to Mike Bohn at the annual World MMA Awards, ‘Bullet’ Shevchenko responded:

“It’s one of the options of what can happen, definitely. I saw her recent fight. She’s gotten stronger, more tactical. But if the fight is gonna happen, that’s not gonna help her.” (H/T MMANews)

In this super fight showdown, Zhang Weili would likely be going up in weight to challenge for the flyweight crown against the long-reigning Shevchenko.

Who’s next for Valentina Shevchenko?

Aside from the Zhang match, Shevchenko has other super-fight options. She is 0-2 against the reigning two-division champion Amanda Nunes, but is interested in revenge. Regarding facing Nunes, Shevchenko said:

“Actually, always. There is interest always. And I [am] actually ready for that because it’s a fight that makes sense … Any super fight would be good.”

For challenger in her own strawweight division, the reigning champion Valentina Shevchenko said:

“I think the next challenger I would consider Alexa Grasso and [Manon] Fiorot. These are two challengers who are extremely good and ready for this title test. Any of them.”

The UFC women’s flyweight world champion Valentina Shevchenko concluded with:

“I’m ready.”

See the full interview below:

Chael Sonnen Accuses Ji?í Procházka Of ‘Being A Baby’ In Reaction To UFC 303 Loss

Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen believes Ji?í Procházka is producing a great example for other fighters when it comes to how not to handle a defeat. Just over two years on from his memorable crowning in Singapore at the expense of Glover Teixeira, Procházka looked to regain the light heavyweight crown in the main […]

Continue Reading Chael Sonnen Accuses Ji?í Procházka Of ‘Being A Baby’ In Reaction To UFC 303 Loss at MMA News.

Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen believes Ji?í Procházka is producing a great example for other fighters when it comes to how not to handle a defeat.

Just over two years on from his memorable crowning in Singapore at the expense of Glover Teixeira, Procházka looked to regain the light heavyweight crown in the main event of UFC 303 this past weekend.

In what marked his second attempt at achieving two-time champ status opposite Alex Pereira, “BJP” once again fell short. While their first showdown at Madison Square Garden last year had some controversy owing to cries of early stoppage, there was no doubt about “Poatan’s” superiority on June 29.

In the aftermath of his sophomore setback to the Brazilian knockout artist, Procházka released his first statement in the form of a video on his social accounts. In it, the Czech star gave an honest assessment of his defeat in Las Vegas, admitting that he either has to “evolve” or not return to the Octagon.

While some have praised that mindset, one former fighter was not impressed…

Sonnen Questions Procházka’s Focus On ‘Outcome,’ Not ‘Performance’

During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen looked back on Procházka’s performance in Las Vegas and assessed his first post-fight statement on social media.

“The Bad Guy” pointed to the former champ’s statement regarding the need to evolve, suggesting that usually leads to changes such as a team switch, which in turn signals the “beginning of the end” for a fighter.

In simple terms, Sonnen described “BJP’s” remarks as the defeated light heavyweight “being a baby.”

“Ji?í Procházka, already talking to the fans, already doing some weird Ji?í stuff, and I don’t know, man, being a baby. I don’t know,” Sonnen said. “I turned this camera on, I wanted to make a nice piece about Ji?í. I haven’t met him but I appreciate him. And I recognize the incredible grit to that guy. I mean, a real tough guy. … He is not going to give up. He says he’s got to either evolve or he’s got to quit. It’s just a very interesting statement.

“I do understand what Ji?í’s saying…he’s talking about, you know, ‘I’m not going to settle in. I’m here to be champion, and I don’t have the skills and tools needed right now to deal with this threat,’ which is Pereira. … That’s a very dangerous game. In theory, that is absolutely right…it’s just an interesting game in practice,” Sonnen continued. “When you attempt to evolve, the first thing that traditionally happens is you leave your current situation. … It’s generally the beginning of the end. … You can’t, when you lose a contest, decide that that’s the time you’ve got to change things. You can’t be outcome-based. It’s a huge mistake. Champions don’t make it but the top contenders do. If you are outcome-based as opposed to performance-based, you’re really missing the number one philosophy that you need to be successful.”

It remains to be seen when Procházka will look to get back into the cage following his latest setback to Pereira, or even if.

Should he take time away and return once again in pursuit of two-time champ status, however, it stands to reason that the Czech star will do so looking to show new wrinkles and improvements to his game.

Continue Reading Chael Sonnen Accuses Ji?í Procházka Of ‘Being A Baby’ In Reaction To UFC 303 Loss at MMA News.

MMA SQUARED: Combat Wombat wants to Make LHW Great Again

MMA Squared, Chris Rini, Combat Wombat | Chris Rini

A brief history of the prestige division that no longer shines as brightly.

Chris Rini

Hey all, I’m working overtime getting ready for the holiday…


MMA Squared, Chris Rini, Combat Wombat, light heavyweight, Jon jones, jamahal hill, glover Teixeira, jiri prochazka, jan Blachowicz, Magomed Ankalaev
MMA Squared, Chris Rini, Combat Wombat | Chris Rini

A brief history of the prestige division that no longer shines as brightly.

MMA Squared, Chris Rini, Combat Wombat, light heavyweight, Jon jones, jamahal hill, glover Teixeira, jiri prochazka, jan Blachowicz, Magomed Ankalaev
Chris Rini

Hey all, I’m working overtime getting ready for the holidays and this new painting exhibition, but I’d encourage you to get yourself a copy of The Fine Art of Violence books (digital or hard copy) for yourself, a person you love, or gently encourage someone who loves you to get you one. Enjoy a new painting vlog, take care of yourself, and I’ll talk to you Monday.

Chris