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Exclusive – Valentina Shevchenko determined to ‘Destroy’ Alexa Grasso in anticipated UFC title rematch

Valentina Shevchenko is hell-bent on reclaiming the UFC flyweight title that she believes is rightfully hers. On September 16, ‘Bullet’ will attempt to bounce back after suffering her first loss in more than five years. Stepping into the co-main event at UFC 285 earlier this year, Shevchenko shockingly surrendered her gold to Alex Grasso after […]

Valentina Shevchenko is hell-bent on reclaiming the UFC flyweight title that she believes is rightfully hers.

On September 16, ‘Bullet’ will attempt to bounce back after suffering her first loss in more than five years. Stepping into the co-main event at UFC 285 earlier this year, Shevchenko shockingly surrendered her gold to Alex Grasso after succumbing to a fourth-round rear-naked choke submission. Seven months later, the pair will run it back at Noche UFC.

As fight week approaches, Shevchenko sat down with James Lynch in a LowKick MMA exclusive interview to discuss her mindset going into the highly anticipated title tilt. Asked if she was focusing on a specific aspect of her game going into the rematch, ‘Bullet’ revealed that her training has been business as usual.

“It’s everything. Everything as usual because in MMA, it’s a complete fight style,” Shevchenko said. “You are and I am complete MMA fighters. I have to focus on everything in terms of wins and losses to the best of [my ability]. I cannot focus on only one thing and then in the fight, something changed and I’m not prepared. The fighter who fights on a high level of competition has to work on everything.”

Valentina Shevchenko Offers Her Prediction for Rematch with Alexa Grasso

To prepare, Shevchenko has been honing her skills at the iconic Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket, Thailand. There, ‘Bullet’ feels like she’s been able to get back to the roots of what eventually grew into her becoming one of the most dangerous women in mixed martial arts.

“It’s kind of like when you are reviving everything from the beginning and it’s kinda like the same when you’re going back to the place where you were growing up,” Shevchenko continued. “You remember your feelings on this journey to become the best. To become the greatest. And definitely, all these emotions wake you up and say, ‘Okay, this is what you have to feel. This is what you have to do.’”

As for how she sees things playing out, Valentina Shevchenko is determined to destroy Alex Grasso and reclaim the flyweight crown in emphatic fashion when she returns to Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

“I go there for the victory. I go there to destroy my opponent,” Shevchenko said. “I go there not to joke around. I go there to take what is mine and show not the best version of me but the greatest version of me.”

Exclusive – Arman Tsarukyan eyes Islam Makhachev rematch at UFC 294: ‘It’s a dream fight for me’

UFC lightweight superstar Arman Tsarukyan is now hungry for a rematch with the current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 294. Tsarukyan was last seen in action fighting at UFC Vegas 75 less than two weeks ago. Tsarukyan would call out Makhavhev in his post-fight interview and would exit the cage with another impressive finish […]

UFC lightweight superstar Arman Tsarukyan is now hungry for a rematch with the current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 294.

Tsarukyan was last seen in action fighting at UFC Vegas 75 less than two weeks ago. Tsarukyan would call out Makhavhev in his post-fight interview and would exit the cage with another impressive finish on his resume. He was leaving the arena with a clear statement made that he is indeed ready for title contention after his terrific performance against Joaquim Silva.

MMA journalist James Lynch had the time to catch up with Tsarukyan after the madness that was UFC Vegas 55 on behalf of LowKick MMA. In their interview, ‘Ahalkalakets’ described just how badly he wanted the rematch with Makhachev.

“That fight makes sense,” Tsarukyan told Lynch. “I think just me (only I) can beat him in this division. It’s my opinion ya know. I wanna get that fight and that’s why I gotta call him (out) all the time after fights.”

Arman Tsarukyan talks about a potential Islam Makhachev rematch at UFC 294

“It’s like almost (a) dream fight for me now,” Arman Tsarukyan continued. “All of my focus is to be a champion. That’s why I called him out. And we’ll see, maybe next year we’re gonna fight with each other. And, I want to see my improvements. I want to see my skills. And that fight, I think that’s the most competitive fight for me.”

When asked about how the rematch would go, Tsarukyan was very confident about his improvement. He pretty much explained how in his opinion, he beats Makhachev in every aspect. He mentioned how some fans believe Makhachev will dominate him and reign victorious over him once more, but Tsarukyan isn’t very worried. He simply said everybody is entitled to their own opinions, and he hopes to be able to prove himself and test his abilities against the UFC lightweight champion in what would be an epic rematch.

How do you think Arman Tsarukyan will fair against Islam Makhachev?

EXCLUSIVE – Stephen Thompson says bulked-Up Conor McGregor is ‘Not a true welterweight’

Stephen Thompson does not consider Conor McGregor a legitimate welterweight after the Irishman spent much of his last two years putting on muscle mass. ‘Wonderboy’ had the opportunity to train alongside McGregor while filming the latest season of the UFC’s long-running reality series, The Ultimate Fighter. Scheduled to begin airing on May 30, TUF 31 […]

Stephen Thompson does not consider Conor McGregor a legitimate welterweight after the Irishman spent much of his last two years putting on muscle mass.

‘Wonderboy’ had the opportunity to train alongside McGregor while filming the latest season of the UFC’s long-running reality series, The Ultimate Fighter. Scheduled to begin airing on May 30, TUF 31 will feature the former two-division champion coaching opposite his next opponent inside the Octagon, ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler. No official date has been revealed for his highly anticipated return, but the Irishman recently suggested December is the likeliest scenario.

McGregor will be joined by Stephen Thompson on the series who will appear as a guest coach. In a LowKick MMA exclusive interview, Stephen Thompson shared some details during his time filming the new season and how it all came about.

“So I was out there doing the Jose Cuervo commercial [with Kevin Holland] and we had just got done filming and me and my brother were on the way home,” Stephen Thompson said. “We stopped to get some lunch with one of our managers and we were getting ready to head to the airport and then Conor ends up calling up. ‘Hey, we want Stephen to stick around for a guest coach.’ I’m like, ‘Say no more. I’m coming in.’ So it was really cool. It was a cool experience.”

Stephen Thompson discredits Conor McGregor as “real” welterweight

With practically every fighter under the sun calling out Conor McGregor at one time or another, it would probably be more efficient to make a list of fighters who haven’t called for a fight with the Irishman. ‘Wonderboy’ would be one of the few names on that list. Asked if he had ever considered calling out McGregor for a clash inside the Octagon, Stephen Thompson admitted that he has, but does not believe that McGregor is a true welterweight despite his significant increase in muscle mass.

“He’s not a true welterweight,” Stephen Thompson said. “Most of the guys I fight, they walk around over 200 pounds. [Conor] looks bigger, but he’s like 185. He’s not as heavy as… Not a big guy.”

‘Wonderboy’ even revealed one of Conor McGregor’s secrets to looking bigger on camera, particularly when standing next to another fighter.

“We were with him and he knows when the camera turns on. It’s like telepathy. He turns on his persona. We take a picture together and we’re in our fighting stance and he inches forward so when you look at the picture, he looks so much bigger than me. He knows how to do it.”

Though no official announcement has been made, Conor McGregor’s fight with Michael Chandler is expected to take place at welterweight, eliminating a potentially gruelling weight cut for both fighters.

Exclusive – Colby Covington calls Islam Makhachev an ‘Easy’ win: ‘I dust him inside of three rounds’

Colby Covington believes he would dispatch Islam Makhachev within three rounds should they ever square off inside the Octagon. The often controversial love-him-or-hate-him welterweight contender is slated for a 170-pound title fight against reigning champion Leon Edwards later this year. When and where that takes place is still yet to be determined, but Colby Covington […]

Colby Covington believes he would dispatch Islam Makhachev within three rounds should they ever square off inside the Octagon.

The often controversial love-him-or-hate-him welterweight contender is slated for a 170-pound title fight against reigning champion Leon Edwards later this year. When and where that takes place is still yet to be determined, but Colby Covington has kept busy in the interim, calling out practically every other fighter on the roster. That includes lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev.

Speaking with James Lynch in a LowKick MMA exclusive interview, Colby Covington was asked how he sees things playing out in a potential superfight between himself and the Dagestani destroyer.

It would play out the same way that the guy that knocked him out last time he got beat in the UFC Octagon played out,” Covington said. “I trained that guy Adriano [Martins] for that fight so I was telling him the whole time, ‘Dude, check right hook right to him. Just hit a right hook. He’s not ready for that. He’s not keeping his left hand high.’ That’s what Adriano did. Went out there and knocked him out.”

Colby Covington Claims Khabib Nurmagomedov Was Afraid to Fight Him

Colby Covington believes as a southpaw, he would present a lot of problems for Islam Makhachev. He also finds it humorous to suggest that the Dagestani champion could legitimately compete in the welterweight division despite barely getting past featherweight titleholder Alexander Volkanovski.

“He’s a southpaw like myself and [Makhachev] doesn’t do good against southpaws,” Covington continued. “Look how much trouble he was having with that little short midget from Australia, Volkanovski. Dude, he’s a 145 featherweight and you want to come to 170 now and talk this big game. He knows what would happen, just like his daddy Khabib [Nurmagomedov] knew. That’s why Khabib never came to 170. Because he knew King Colby was here. He knew he couldn’t outwrestle me and that’s what those guys from Dagestan do.

“They try to outwrestle these guys. I’m a way better wrestler and my accolades speak for themselves. Division I All-American national champion. Could have been a freakin’ Olympic champion if I had went for it, but I rather fight in the UFC because it’s the best organization in the world.”

Of course, Colby Covington will first need to get past Leon Edwards before a potential superfight with Islam Makhachev can be taken seriously. But if he manages to capture his first UFC championship, ‘Chaos’ says Makhachev will make for an easy first defense of the welterweight crown.

“The matchups great. I love the matchup. Makhachev can’t beat me in wrestling. He can’t beat me in striking and he definitely can’t beat me in jiu-jitsu. It’s a pretty easy matchup for me. I think I dust him inside of three rounds and it would be an easy first title defense and a big one. Champion vs. champion. He’s earned his stripes in this company, but there’s a guy that’s just a little bit better than him and that’s the reason why he ain’t came up to 170 yet,” Covington concluded.

Exclusive – Colby Covington calls Islam Makhachev an ‘Easy’ win: ‘I dust him inside of three rounds’

Colby Covington believes he would dispatch Islam Makhachev within three rounds should they ever square off inside the Octagon.

Speaking with James Lynch in a LowKick MMA exclusive interview, Colby Covington was asked how he sees things playing out in a potential superfight between himself and the Dagestani destroyer.

Colby Covington Claims Khabib Nurmagomedov Was Afraid to Fight Him

Exclusive – Colby Covington rips Leon Edwards for rejecting London title fight in July: ‘It’s disgusting’

Former interim UFC welterweight champion, Colby Covington has hit out at upcoming opponent, current undisputed champion, Leon Edwards for rejecting the opportunity to defend his title on home soil in the UK later this summer, branding the Birmingham native “disgusting” for rejecting a homecoming. Covington, the current #2 ranked welterweight contender, has been sidelined since […]

Covington, the current #2 ranked welterweight contender, has been sidelined since headlining UFC 272 back in March of last year in a grudge match against Jorge Masvidal, defeating the Miami veteran in a one-sided unanimous decision victory.

Expected to return to the Octagon later this year in an undisputed welterweight title fight against champion, Edwards,Covington was initially lined up a for a July bout with the defending gold holder, however, the champion confirmed he would rather fight in October toward the end of this year instead.

Colby Covington takes aim at arch-rival Leon Edwards ahead of title clash

With the earmarked UFC 291 pay-per-view event now altered to a UFC Fight Night London billed card, Covington has labelled Edwards “disgusting” for taking another title fight headliner away from the UK contingent.

“That’s disgusting,” Colby Covington told LowKick MMA reporter, James Lynch in regards to Leon Edwards’ refusal to fight in London in July. “Those people, those fans over there in London – the most passionate, most diehard fans I’ve ever seen in my life, man. I respect those guys, have so much love for the UK and London. Man, those people are amazing.”

“The fact that Leon rejected a home date over there, and he thinks, ‘Oh, they’re not worthy of a pay-per-view, let them get a Fight Night.’” Oh, Leon, you think your people aren’t worthy of a f*cking main event, world championship, undisputed welterweight world title fight? You want them to have a Fight Night instead?” Colby Covington explained.

“Just the disrespect he has towards his own people, James, is disgusting. It would be like me turning down a home date in Maralago, and I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m not gonna be able to fight there.’ And I’m gonna have to call my friend Donald Trump and be like, ‘Yeah, Donald, I’m not gonna be able to fight on this home date and defend the land.’”

Off the back of UFC 288 last weekend, in which Belal Muhammad lodged a one-sided unanimous decision win over Gilbert Burns, the above-mentioned, Edwards stressed that the entirity of the welterweight ranks presented “light work” to him.