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Dricus du Plessis denies Israel Adesanya sparring story: ‘We did not do a single round of striking together’

Ahead of his pivotal championship-eliminator next month on the main card of UFC 290 next month, Dricus du Plessis has denied claims he was on the underhand of striking exchanges with current champion, Israel Adesanya – during a host of prior sparring sessions. du Plessis, the current number four ranked middleweight contender, is slated to […]

du Plessis, the current number four ranked middleweight contender, is slated to feature on the main card of UFC 290 next month during International Fight Week – taking on former titleholder and soon-to-be common-foe, Robert Whittaker in an official title eliminator clash.

In the midst of a five fight winning run since his UFC landing, in two recent victories, South African finisher, Dricus du Plessis submitted former welterweight title challenger, Darren Till, before defeating perennial contender, Derek Brunson at UFC 285 back in March.

And off the back of his stunning second round KO win over Brazilian rival, Alex Pereira in his championship reclamation win, Adesanya called for an immediate title defense with Pethora native, du Plessis.

Offering to fight the latter later this year in preference of a trilogy with Whittaker, Adesanya claimed the South African was dominated by him in prior sparring matches.

“So, you know what’s funny? What’s funny to me – I remember this, we actually sparred,” Israel Adesanya said. “We actually sparred. Hey, sparring is sparring. Alsjo you know what, I’m coming from China. I was doing kickboxing over there, I had no MMA, nothing. I was just kickboxing. I had MMA already, but it wasn’t sharp. It was blunt. My Jiu-Jitsu was blunt, very blunt.”

“So, we’re sparring – I don’t know if we did two rounds or one, it’s so long ago as well,” Israel Adesanya explained. “This is 2014, so, long ago. I remember like on the grappling he had me. But on striking, I just messed him up.”

Dricus du Plessis denies ever striking with Israel Adesanya while sparring

However, according to du Plessis, the contender claimed they never actually shared any standup rounds against each other in the past.

“Yeah, we trained in Thailand together,” Dricus du Plessis said during an interview with The Schmo. “He had quite a record in MMA already back then. I was 3-0, I think, when we trained together. He said I beat him in the grappling exchanges – he is one hundred percent correct in that. I did manhandle him in the grappling and wrestling exchanges.”

“But we did not do a single round of striking together, not one,” Dricus du Plessis explained. “That was his way of saving himself, saying, ‘No, but I beat him in the striking.’ We never did striking together. When we sparred, we grappled and we wrestled. We never did one single round of striking together, not as far as I know and that’s something you would remember.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

Michael Chandler provides bleak update on Conor McGregor clash: ‘I do believe I fight him in the next six months’

UFC lightweight contender, Michael Chandler appears to be losing further faith on a potential fight with former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor in the near future – providing a six month projected timeline for an earmarked clash. Chandler, the current number five ranked lightweight contender, has been sidelined since he featured on the main card of […]

Chandler, the current number five ranked lightweight contender, has been sidelined since he featured on the main card of UFC 281 back in November of last year at Madison Square Garden, suffering a third round rear-naked choke submission loss to common-foe, Dustin Poirier.

Also dropping a pair of losses to former interim titleholder, Poirier in his two most recent walks, McGregor fractured his left tibia and fibula at UFC 264 back in July 2021, resulting in a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss.

Serving as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 31 earlier this year ahead of an expected return at the welterweight limit for the pair, Chandler and McGregor have yet to be booked for an event, location, or date for their projected pairing.

Michael Chandler issues timeframe for potential Conor McGregor fight

And despite offering an update on his fighting future – in which he maintains he is still attempting to book a fight in the wake of his uncertain relationship with anti-doping agency, USADA, McGregor has been given a six month deadline to return, per Chandler.

“He’s (Conor McGregor) coming back,” Michael Chandler told Daniel Cormier during a recent interview. “Yeah, supposedly, there was a countdown with USADA, six months, and all that other stuff. That’s not for me to choose or decide. People are talking about exemptions, of course, that’s all on the table. All I know is I’m controlling the controllables and I also know that either way, I’m gonna keep on moving forward.”

“And I do believe I fight Conor within the next six months,” Michael Chandler explained. “It’s gonna be one of the biggest pay-per-views that we have ever seen, and I’m gonna go out there and knock him out within the first two rounds.”

Dana White slams door on future Jon Jones, Francis Ngannou cross over fight: ‘It wouldn’t work’

UFC president, Dana White has played down the possibility of a future fight between current division champion, Jon Jones, and former division titleholder, Francis Ngannou – stressing how a cross-over fight with the recently signed PFL (Professional Fighters League) star “wouldn’t work”. Jones, the current heavyweight champion under the banner of the UFC, is the […]

Jones, the current heavyweight champion under the banner of the UFC, is the latest heavyweight to clinch gold following the removal of Ngannou as champion, following is departing from the promotion back in January of this year.

As for Ngannou, the Cameroonian has been sidelined from active competition since he headlined UFC 270 back in January of last year, unifying and defending the heavyweight titles in a unanimous decision win over former interim titleholder, Ciryl Gane.

And despite the fact Ngannou nor Jones ever faced each other in a much-clamoured for fight during their respecteive tenures with the UFC, the two talked up a future fight during a tense showdown and face-off during PFL 5: Regular Season earlier this month.

Dana White shuts down Jon Jones x Francis Ngannou in the future

With a slew of those within the community once more lamenting how a fight between the two has failed to materialize, UFC boss, White has reiterated that a potential fight between Jones and Ngannou would never take place.

“It wouldn’t work,” Dana White said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show of a fight between Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou. “Francis was here [in the UFC], Jon Jones wanted that fight the whole time. We tried to make the fight with Francis… yeah.”

"Jon Jones wanted the fight with Francis Ngannou when Francis was here..

We tried to make that fight happen and it's not gonna work now" ~ @danawhite #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/eic7XQFd8g

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 23, 2023

Winning vacant heavyweight spoils against common-foe, Gane back in March of this year in a triumphant return at UFC 285, Jones has yet to book his first title defense, however, has been linked with a comeback fight at UFC 294 in November – with a matchup against either Stipe Miocic or Sergei Pavlovich targeted for the Madison Square Garden event.

Neil Magny calls for Ian Machado Garry fight after UFC Jacksonville win: ‘He’s been really chippy’

Off the back of his hard-fought split decision win over Phil Rowe in his return to the winner’s enclosure at UFC Fight Night Jacksonville over the course of the weekend, welterweight staple, Neil Magny has called for a clash with undefeated Dubliner, Ian Machado Garry before the turn of the year. Magny, who landed his […]

Magny, who landed his whopping twenty first Octagon win at the welterweight limit over the course of weekend – extended his lead as the most winningest fighter in the weight class in the history of the UFC.

Battling over the course of three rounds with Rowe, Neil Magny the current number eleven ranked contender, had previously suffered a dominant first round arm-triangle submission loss to Gilbert Burns in a pivotal clash on enemy territory at UFC 283 back in January in Brazil.

As for Portmarnock native, Machado Garry, the Dubliner improved to 12-0 as a professional earlier this year, snatching the number thirteenth rank in the division with a blistering first round high kick and strikes knockout win over Daniel Rodriguez back in May.

Off the back of his fifth Octagon victory, Machado Garry has been booked to return at UFC 292 in August in Boston, Massachusetts, taking on soon-to-be common-foe, Geoff Neal.

Neil Magny offers to fight Ian Machado Garry later this year

However, despite booking a summer bout with Neal, Machado Garry appears to have caught the eye of another Neil – in the form of welterweight staple Magny, who offered to fight him before the close of this annum.

“I’m going to draw a blank to his name, but I guess there’s some little Irish kid calling me out,” Neil Magny told assembled media after UFC Jacksonville. “Ian, whatever his name is. I know he’s been really chippy or whatever, but he definitely asked for the wrong Neil. If I get a chance to run that fight sometime this year, I’m definitely game for it.”

A former undisputed welterweight champion under the banner of Cage Warriors, Machado Garry has defeated Jordan Williams, Darian Weeks, Gabe Green, Kenan Song, and the aforenoted, Rodriguez since his move to the UFC.

Ronda Rousey urged to consider UFC return, featherweight move: ‘She should save the weight class’

Inaugural bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey has been urged to consider making both a UFC return following a lengthy hiatus from the sport – as well as a featherweight birth, in order to “save” a division which has seen little activity since its inception. Rousey, the inaugural UFC bantamweight champion and former Strikeforce gold holder, has […]

Rousey, the inaugural UFC bantamweight champion and former Strikeforce gold holder, has been sidelined from combat sports competition since headlining UFC 207 back in December 2016, suffering a brutal 48-second TKO loss to former two-weight champion, Amanda Nunes.

And off the back of the staggering championship challenge loss to the Brazilian, Rousey, who’s sole other professional defeat came in the form of her title defeat to Holly Holm the prior year in a blistering second round high-kick KO, made the successful move to professional wrestling with the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment).

Ronda Rousey linked with potential UFC comeback

Earlier this month, however, the future of the bantamweight title and the entirety of the featherweight division was cast into doubt, following the official retirement of former two-weight champion, Nunes.

And with former titleholder, Julianna Peña calling for a vacant title fight return, Ronda Rousey has been pegged as a potential opponent for the Washington native in what would come as a shocking Octagon comeback.

Ronda Rousey rumors circulating for vacant title fight.
How would she do against Julianna Peña or Erin Blanchfield ? pic.twitter.com/EkA15L8cYP

— Mostly MMA (@MostlyMMA) June 25, 2023

Tipped as likely the most deserving fighter to make a return to the sport and challenge for a title immediately, Rousey was backed to complete such a feat by UFC play-by-play lead, Jon Anik.

“In a true meritocracy, that’s not gonna sit well with me nor the athletes that have been donating blood, sweat, and tears to mixed martial arts over the last several years,” Jon Anik said. “If anyone is worthy of that opportunity, it’s probably Ronda Rousey, and I do believe that she would be competitive. She wouldn’t enter that setting without the guarantee that she would be competitive.”

“But, I didn’t like that Henry Cejudo came back and cut the line of a bunch of 35ers that have been active,” Anik explained. “So it would be hypocritical of me to say ‘Absolutely’ – but if there were ever a time, it would be absolutely now.”

And according to the aforenoted, Cejudo’s head coach, Eric Albarracin, Rousey should consider making a featherweight division move if she ever makes a comeback to the Octagon.

“Should be [at] 145lbs,” Albarracin posted on social media of a potential return of Ronda Rousey to the UFC. “To save the weight class.”

Jared Cannonier draws links to return against unbeaten UFC star Khamzat Chimaev: ‘I plead the fifth’

Despite featuring just earlier this month in the main event of UFC Vegas 75, streaking middleweight contender, Jared Cannonier may already have his next bout in the works, that’s according to Brendan Allen – who pleaded the fifth amendment after drawing links to a fight with the undefeated, Khamzat Chimaev. Cannonier, the current number three […]

Cannonier, the current number three ranked middleweight contender, managed to turn in his second straight victory earlier this month at the UFC Apex facility, turning in a shutout win over fellow one-time title challenger, Marvin Vettori in an impressive striking performance.

Linked with a quickfire return against the above-mentioned unbeaten, Chimaev off the back of his win against Italian contender, Vettori, Cannonier dismissed the pairing initially, however, welcomed the bout if he was guaranteed a title shot with a win.

“Does that fight [with Khamzat Chimaev] give me a title shot?” Jared Cannonier after UFC Vegas 75. “I don’t know, he’s not even ranked in middleweight. So, I mean, I know he’s popular. Everybody wants to see him do his thing and stuff like that. If they call me and say, ‘Hey, how’s that for contenders match?’ That’s a yes.”

“I’m trying to get to the title,” Jared Cannonier explained. “I’m not just fighting to entertain you people. You know what I mean? I know you guys want to see it. I know it will be a good fight. If that fights get me the title shot, yes. I just beat number three. I’m not looking back. I’m looking forward. I’m looking at the champion, So if Dana (White) and Hunter (Campbell) say he’s between you and a champion, then that’s something we can talk about. But if you saying would you fight Khamzat and welcome him in the division, I’m like, does that give me to the title? That’s the question I’d have for you.”

Jared Cannonier continues to draw links to a fight with Khamzat Chimaev

And according to the aforenoted, Allen – who turned in another impressive submission win at UFC Jacksonville against Bruno Silva, Cannonier may have a fight in the works already – failing to rule out that it could come against Chechen-born finisher, Chimaev.

“First off, sorry to Ali [Abdelaziz] – he told me not to call anyone out that has a fight, or (Jared) Cannonier because he potentially has a fight from what we understand,” Brendan Allen told assembled media after UFC Jacksonville. “But I already memorized all that stuff, so I was like, sh*t, I gotta go with it. I’m sorry, I’ll just have to take the heat later, it’s better to ask for forgiveness.”

And when questioned about the possibility of a fight between Jared Cannonier and Khamzat Chimaev, Allen candidly said “I plead the fifth.”