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Sean O’Malley needs new opponent for UFC 264

Sean O’Malley is without an opponent for UFC 264. | Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

O’Malley vs. Smolka was scheduled to open up the UFC 264 main card. With less than two weeks before UFC 264…


UFC 222: O’Malley v Soukhamthath
Sean O’Malley is without an opponent for UFC 264. | Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

O’Malley vs. Smolka was scheduled to open up the UFC 264 main card.

With less than two weeks before UFC 264, bantamweight prospect Sean O’Malley is in need of a new foe in short order or else he will miss out on being part of arguably the biggest card of the year.

Ariel Helwani reported on Tuesday that Louis Smolka has withdrawn from his pay-per-view main card opener vs. O’Malley, leaving UFC officials scrambling to find a suitable replacement on less than two weeks’ notice. Obviously if none is feasible then O’Malley will compete on another show.

O’Malley (13-1) bounced back from a TKO loss to Marlon Vera with a three-round demolition of Thomas Almeida at UFC 260 in March. ‘Sugar’ Sean has quickly developed a following with his exciting fight style and outsized personality, but has yet to really notch a marquee win at bantamweight.

Tim Elliott, Ricky Simon, and Merab Dvalishvili have all put themselves up as potential Smolka replacements. Elliott normally competes at flyweight, Simon is unranked at 135 but on a three-fight win streak, while Dvalishvili is in the top-10 and he even suggested keeping his scheduled fight with Marlon Moraes intact.

UFC 264 is headlined by a lightweight trilogy matchup between former two-division champion Conor McGregor and former interim lightweight champ Dustin Poirier.

‘Primal’ Stephens Celebrates ‘Win’ Over Crybaby Klose

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Drakkar Klose was ruled medically unfit to compete after suffering whiplash during his UFC Vegas 24 co-main event staredown earlier this year in “Sin City,” thanks to a violent shove from J…


UFC Fight Night Whittaker v Gastelum: Weigh-Ins with Drakkar Klose and Jeremy Stephens
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Drakkar Klose was ruled medically unfit to compete after suffering whiplash during his UFC Vegas 24 co-main event staredown earlier this year in “Sin City,” thanks to a violent shove from Jeremy Stephens that resulted in a concussion, as well as a “loss” to “Lil’ Heathen.”

Just another day in the life of a “savage,” according to UFC President Dana White.

“It’s a fight I won,” Stephens told MMA Junkie. “I won. I got paid a little bit of money. I feel like I won. I showed up. He didn’t. He was claiming like, ‘Oh, I’m going to do this, do that.’ He was, like, crying. Bro, you should have just showed up and fought. But he didn’t. I don’t have any ill-will toward ‘Jaffar’ or anybody in his crew. I moved on. I’m at peace with myself. I’m very happy the way that I showed up, primally ready to fucking fight. You know, Dana says that I’m a savage. I’m there to fight that. You can just tell, again, by my interview, I showed up hungry. I conquered. I won.”

Their rematch is expected to take place in the streets, according to Klose.

Since their UFC Vegas 24 incident, which resulted in the cancellation of their lightweight fight, Stephens, 35, went on to get booked against Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Vegas 31. The 33 year-old Klose, however, has yet to receive his next assignment.

Sarah Alpar Creates Go Fund Me Page To Finance Fighting Full-time

Sarah AlparUFC flyweight Sarah Alpar wants to focus on her fighting career full-time and needs your help to do it. Alpar realizes the commitment she’ll need for a successful UFC career. Alpar knows that she needs to train full-time. But like many other fighters, cannot do so without incurring financial hardship. So Alpar has done what […]

Sarah Alpar

UFC flyweight Sarah Alpar wants to focus on her fighting career full-time and needs your help to do it.

Alpar realizes the commitment she’ll need for a successful UFC career. Alpar knows that she needs to train full-time. But like many other fighters, cannot do so without incurring financial hardship. So Alpar has done what no other fighter has to date; she started her own Go Fund Me page to seek support from her fans.

The former LFA bantamweight women’s champion has already had a tough road in the UFC. Earning her UFC contract on Dana White‘s Contender Series, the transition hasn’t been easy for her. Alpar has gone 0-1 in the bantamweight division, losing to Jessica-Rose Clark at UFC Vegas 11. Alpar has also had four bouts canceled and hasn’t stepped into the octagon for a match since September of last year. No fights mean no paychecks.

Moving down to flyweight, Alpar will face Erin Blanchfield at a UFC Fight Night this upcoming September. Looking to get her career back on track, Alpar says she needs $30,000 to help her prepare.

In a lengthy statement on her Go Fund Me page, Alpar explains her goal and breaks down how she plans on utilizing the funds.

“My goal is to raise $30,000 by December 1, 2021, to train full-time. Greater success requires greater time, dedication, and resources. For this, I am calling on you to help me! My heart is in this, and you will watch my progress as finances come in, and I believe with all my heart we, the ‘Too Sweet’ Tribe, can get there. Funds will go toward food, supplements, training (gym fees, specialized coaching, etc.), living expenses, recovery, gym fees, doctor fees, travel, gas, room and board.”

“Financial Sponsorships, Donations, and having long-distance Travel Purchased with your donation of Flyer Miles – all of this is a HUGE help.”

Alpar also made a video posted to her Instagram explaining the page and seeking donations.

As fighter pay continues to be a hot-button topic in the world of MMA, we wonder if more fighters take Alpar’s approach to subsidize their careers.

Would you donate to Sarah Alpar’s Go Fund Me Page?

Khabib Nurmagomedov Reveals Dana White, UFC Still Want Him To Make Octagon Return

KhabibFormer UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov has revealed during a recent interview that the UFC, as well as the promotion’s president, Dana White are still keen on him making an Octagon return — despite his decision to walk away from the sport last October, which resulted in a drawn-out situation where the Dagestani eventually left […]

Khabib

Former UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov has revealed during a recent interview that the UFC, as well as the promotion’s president, Dana White are still keen on him making an Octagon return — despite his decision to walk away from the sport last October, which resulted in a drawn-out situation where the Dagestani eventually left the promotion in March.

Calling time officially on his professional mixed martial arts career earlier this year, Khabib was removed from the official UFC lightweight rankings, as well as the summit of the pound-for-pound pile — before vacating him championship, which is now held by Brazil’s Charles Oliveira.

Following his successful unification of the lightweight championship last October on ‘Fight Island’ against then-interim gold holder, Justin Gaethje — Khabib immediately announced his decision to retire from the sport, citing the recent passing of his coach and father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov — explaining how he didn’t want to fight again professionally without his father by his side.

In the months since, White transparently had attempted to entice Khabib to make a career u-turn and compete one final time — quite openly, in fact, in the run-up to UFC 257 in January, when he was filmed asking Khabib to project the numbers a rematch between himself and arch-rival, former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor generate.

Speaking with UFC Russia recently, Khabib explained that UFC president, White as well as the actual organization has attempted to entice him from retirement still, questioning how much money it would take for him to snap his retirement pledge to his mother.

“You know a few days ago — I don’t know whether I can go on record, (Ali) Abdelaziz called me a few weeks ago,” Khabib said. “He asked me, ‘Do you know what Dana White asked me?’ and told me (Dana asked), ‘Why does Khabib (Nurmagomedov) never ask me how much money I can offer for his return?’ I asked Abdelaziz, ‘This is the question for me through you or what?’ And he told me, ‘Nah, Dana just asked,’“

Despite the tireless effort from White and the promotion to entice Khabib to make a comeback, the 29-0 Sambo specialist remains unmotivated to make a return to professional mixed martial arts competition.

“Look, I am really not interested,” Khabib explained. “We went down this road. I said and did everything I wanted. I made the decision. However, (Dana White) is not giving up. Not even Dana but the entire UFC headquarters in Las Vegas, (Nevada). They assume I [I’ll] inflate my price or prepare my agenda for future negotiations. I left, ‘But come on guys, change my mind give me money or something.’ It feels like that for me. I believe they will understand me and my choice eventually.” (H/T BJPENN.com)

Sarah Alpar Forced To Start GoFundMe Ahead Of Blanchfield Fight

The debate over fighter pay has intensified after UFC women’s flyweight Sarah Alpar has been forced to turn to fans to help cover her fight costs. This comes ahead of Alpar’s second UFC appearance. “Too Sweet” is set to face fut…

The debate over fighter pay has intensified after UFC women’s flyweight Sarah Alpar has been forced to turn to fans to help cover her fight costs. This comes ahead of Alpar’s second UFC appearance. “Too Sweet” is set to face future star Erin Blanchfield on September 18, but despite being signed with the biggest MMA […]

Continue Reading Sarah Alpar Forced To Start GoFundMe Ahead Of Blanchfield Fight at MMA News.