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Dan Hardy Reacts To UFC Erasing Francis Ngannou, Compares With Own Experience

Francis Ngannou found himself in the news without doing anything the week before the press conference for his PFL debut. “The Predator” may be gearing up for his long awaited MMA return where he will face Renan Ferreira on October 19 but the legacy he left behind in the UFC will never be forgotten. The […]

Continue Reading Dan Hardy Reacts To UFC Erasing Francis Ngannou, Compares With Own Experience at MMA News.

Francis Ngannou found himself in the news without doing anything the week before the press conference for his PFL debut.

“The Predator” may be gearing up for his long awaited MMA return where he will face Renan Ferreira on October 19 but the legacy he left behind in the UFC will never be forgotten.

The MMA leader found themselves receiving some criticism during fight week for UFC 305, after claims that they had tried to erase Ngannou from the promotion’s history books due to his name being edited out during the Countdown episode preview.

Though Dana White did apologise for this and put it down to a miscommunication, it certainly wasn’t the first time that the UFC have tailored things to better suit the promotion.

Dan Hardy Says Francis Ngannou’s UFC Erasure Was Sad But Not Surprising Based On Track Record

During a recent interview with Sportskeeda MMA, PFL commentator Dan Hardy gave his thoughts on the discourse regarding the UFC’s conduct around the career of their former heavyweight champion, who left the promotion on less than stellar terms.

“The Outlaw” spoke about the comparisons between Ngannou’s treatment and that of Randy Couture, who also left to sign with another promotion and wasn’t remembered fondly by the UFC as a result.

“It was sad to see and it didn’t surprise me unfortunately and I did see what Dana’s reply was about the fact that the editors had assumed that’s what he would have chosen and what he would have wanted and look, they were probably right because it’s happened so many times in history. Ngannou and Randy, they’re two fantastically credible names in the sport.”

Hardy was also able to draw from his own experiences, even if his was on a smaller scale.

The current Head of Fighter Operations for PFL Europe left the promotion in 2021 after some disagreements with the UFC, both publicly and privately.

He recalled how he was seemingly wiped from the history of UK MMA during an event in London where his wife, Veronica, was in action.

Despite being the first Brit to challenge for a UFC title when he faced Georges St-Pierre for the welterweight belt, “The Outlaw” was nowhere to be seen across the celebrations of the sport in this region.

“My history in the UFC is far more mediocre in comparison but even so, at UFC London when Veronica was on the card, there’s posters of all the UK fighters on all of the underground tubes and everything and of course, I’m not there. It does happen, they do it a lot.

“It makes no difference to me, I can dye my hair red and walk down the street and people will remember my fights. It’s just kind of a weird thing to see and for people like Randy and Ngannou, they need to be celebrated because they’ve inspired so many people, myself included. They shouldn’t be omitted, they’re part of the fabric of the sport and I think the fans will always remember that.”

Continue Reading Dan Hardy Reacts To UFC Erasing Francis Ngannou, Compares With Own Experience at MMA News.

PFL Executive Says Tom Aspinall vs. Ngannou & Ferreira Winner Determines Best Heavyweight In The World

The heavyweight division in MMA has gone through a lot of changes over the last few years. From Francis Ngannou leaving the UFC and vacating his heavyweight title, to Jon Jones debuting in the weight class and becoming champion, to the ongoing situation regrading him, Stipe Miocic and interim champ Tom Aspinall. Ngannou is set […]

Continue Reading PFL Executive Says Tom Aspinall vs. Ngannou & Ferreira Winner Determines Best Heavyweight In The World at MMA News.

The heavyweight division in MMA has gone through a lot of changes over the last few years.

From Francis Ngannou leaving the UFC and vacating his heavyweight title, to Jon Jones debuting in the weight class and becoming champion, to the ongoing situation regrading him, Stipe Miocic and interim champ Tom Aspinall.

Ngannou is set to make his long awaited return to MMA when he debuts in the PFL on October 19 against PFL champion, Renan Ferreira.

The fight will see the winner claim the PFL Super Fights belt but with Ngannou never losing his UFC title, he has to be in the conversation for still being the best out there and therefore, Ferreira can also enter that discussion with a win.

Dan Hardy On Who The Best Heavyweight In The World Is

In a recent interview with Sportskeeda MMA, PFL commentator Dan Hardy gave his thoughts on the magnitude of the fight that is billed as “Battle of the Giants”.

The Head of Fighter Operations for PFL Europe believes that Ngannou versus Ferreira is the very highest level in the heavyweight division.

For what it’s worth, he also weighed in on the current Jones, Miocic, and Aspinall debate, making it clear who his pick is for the best of the bunch.

“We’re potentially going to find out who the best heavyweight is on the planet. There’s a lot of conversation on the other side around Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones, Miocic, etc. Right now for me, Tom Aspinall is head & shoulders above Jon Jones and Stipe just based on his activity.”

With Aspinall being his pick for the best heavyweight in the UFC, Hardy said that a fight between the Brit and the winner of Ngannou vs. Ferreira may be the very pinnacle of the weight class.

“But, then you compare Tom Aspinall to Ngannou and Ferreira and that might be the fight to determine who the best heavyweight is on the planet, the winner of the Ngannou-Ferreira fight and then Tom Aspinall. It’s exciting. As an MMA fan, I love speculating about these things, it’s very rare that we get to match a current PFL champion against the heavyweight king of the world, Francis Ngannou.”

Continue Reading PFL Executive Says Tom Aspinall vs. Ngannou & Ferreira Winner Determines Best Heavyweight In The World at MMA News.

Dakota Ditcheva compared to Ronda Rousey: ‘She has the potential to be a superstar’

Unbeaten Manchester striker, Dakota Ditcheva has drawn massive comparisons to former undisputed UFC bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey — with…

Unbeaten Manchester striker, Dakota Ditcheva has drawn massive comparisons to former undisputed UFC bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey — with the Muay Thai star on the track to stardom according to PFL (Professional Fighters League) commentator, Sean O’Connell.

Ditcheva, who featured just earlier this month the PFL flyweight tournament semi finals, booked a finale bout with an impressive first round front kick and strikes knockout win over Jena Bishop in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Sale native improved to 13-0 as a professional with the victory — and awaits Octagon veteran, Taila Santos in the finale of the flyweight tournament under the banner of the PFL later this annum — having landed in the SmartCage just two years ago.

Dakota Ditcheva touted as potential star like Ronda Rousey

Landing stoppages in each of her subsequent seven victories — including six knockout wins and a separate rear-naked choke submission success, Ditcheva is on the fast track to stardom according to another UFC alum, O’Connell — who compared her to inaugural bantamweight queen, Rousey.

“She (Dakota Ditcheva) has the potential to be a superstar but not for the same reasons as Ronda Rousey,” Sean O’Connell told talkSPORT. “Ronda was the pioneer, Ronda was the one that broke the barrier and got women into the UFC and unfortunately, that’s a milestone that can never be reached again even for someone with the star calibre of Dakota Ditcheva. You could make the argument that it’s going to be harder for Dakota to reach those heights of celebrity but she absolutely is capable of it.”

“First of all, because of how incredible she is as a fighter but also, she understands the media game, right?” O’Connell explained. “She knows exactly when to switch off that savage and become the sweetheart again. She’s got the look, she’s got the charisma and when you have that plus the ability to knock women out like she does, the sky is the limit.”

PFL 9 2024 Playoffs: Results and Highlights

Live from Washington DC, PFL 9 2024 Playoffs went down on Friday night featuring semi-final matchups in the welterweight…

Live from Washington DC, PFL 9 2024 Playoffs went down on Friday night featuring semi-final matchups in the welterweight and featherweight divisions. Let’s take a look at the results and highlights for PFL 9 2024.

PFL 9 2024 Highlights

In the featherweight main event, PFL champion Brendan Loughnane continued his quest for a second PFL championship. The British fighter secured his spot in the finals by defeating UFC veteran Kai Kamaka III over three rounds.

Russia’s Timur Khizriev defeated Gabriel Braga to remain with a perfect spotless record and improve to 17-0. The Dagestani athlete has a smothering top game and dangerous hands

Now, in the finals at 145 pounds with one million dollars on the line, Brendan Loughnane will face Timur Khizriev later this year.

The Russian athlete Magomed Umalatov kept his perfect record intact as he defeated Neiman Gracie by decision. The unbeaten Shamil Musaev defeated ONE standout Murad Ramazanov.

Later this year, with one million dollars on the line, in the PFL welterweight final, Magomed Umalatov will face Shamil Musaev. One of these undefeated fighters will receive their first career loss.

PFL 9 2024 Results

Featherweight Semifinal Main Event: Brendan Loughnane def. Kai Kamaka III by Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Welterweight Semifinal Co-Main Event: Magomed Umalatov def. Neiman Gracie by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Featherweight Semifinal: Timur Khizriev def. Gabriel Braga by Split Decision (28-29, 30-27, 30-27)
Welterweight Semifinal: Shamil Musaev def. Murad Ramazanov by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Welterweight: Mukhamed Berkhamov def. Ray Cooper III by Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Featherweight: Enrique Barzola def. Tyler Diamond by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Featherweight: Jose Perez def. Jesse Stirn by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Heavyweight: Maxwell Djantou Nana def. Kent Mafileo by KO (Punch): Round 2 – 4:50
Welterweight: Shido Boris Esperança def. Tyler Hill by TKO (Punches): Round 1 – 3:31

PFL Star Touted For Ronda Rousey-esque Growth: ‘She Knows Exactly When To Switch Off The Savage & Become The Sweetheart…’

Ronda Rousey will always be a massive part of the history of MMA and whilst she was a pioneer in many ways, no female fighter has been able to reach that same level of star power. There have been many athletes that come along with elements of star potential but the PFL’s Dakota Ditcheva appears […]

Continue Reading PFL Star Touted For Ronda Rousey-esque Growth: ‘She Knows Exactly When To Switch Off The Savage & Become The Sweetheart…’ at MMA News.

Ronda Rousey will always be a massive part of the history of MMA and whilst she was a pioneer in many ways, no female fighter has been able to reach that same level of star power.

There have been many athletes that come along with elements of star potential but the PFL’s Dakota Ditcheva appears to have everything.

It was clear that she had a special quality about her when talking to the media but of course, none of that matters if you can’t back it up in the cage.

Despite detractors regarding her quality of opponents, Ditcheva has beaten everyone that the PFL has put in front of her to go from winning the PFL Europe tournament last year to advancing to the finals of the regular season this year, where she will take on former UFC title challenger Taila Santos in a must-see bout.

Sean O’Connell Says Dakota Ditcheva Has Everything She Needs To Be A Huge Star

Ditcheva appeared on stage moments before the press conference for Francis Ngannou’s PFL debut, where she was joined by Jake Paul who compared her to Rousey.

PFL commentator Sean O’Connell believes that whilst she might be doing it in a different way, he can understand the comparisons between the former face of women’s MMA and one of the most exciting contenders around right now.

He spoke in an interview with TalkSPORT about how Ditcheva has the world at her feet because she ticks every box to become a huge star.

“She has the potential to be a superstar but not for the same reasons as Ronda Rousey. Ronda was the pioneer, Ronda was the one that broke the barrier and got women into the UFC and unfortunately, that’s a milestone that can never be reached again even for someone with the star caliber of Dakota Ditcheva. You could make the argument that it’s going to be harder for Dakota to reach those heights of celebrity but she absolutely is capable of it.

“First of all, because of how incredible she is as a fighter but also she understands the media game, right. She knows exactly when to switch off that savage and become the sweetheart again. She’s got the look, she’s got the charisma and when you have that plus the ability to knock women out like she does, the sky is the limit.”

Continue Reading PFL Star Touted For Ronda Rousey-esque Growth: ‘She Knows Exactly When To Switch Off The Savage & Become The Sweetheart…’ at MMA News.

PFL Star Touted For Ronda Rousey-esque Growth: ‘She Knows Exactly When To Switch Off The Savage & Become The Sweetheart…’

Continue Reading PFL Star Touted For Ronda Rousey-esque Growth: ‘She Knows Exactly When To Switch Off The Savage & Become The Sweetheart…’ at MMA News.

Ronda Rousey will always be a massive part of the history of MMA and whilst she was a pioneer in many ways, no female fighter has been able to reach that same level of star power.

There have been many athletes that come along with elements of star potential but the PFL’s Dakota Ditcheva appears to have everything.

It was clear that she had a special quality about her when talking to the media but of course, none of that matters if you can’t back it up in the cage.

Sean O’Connell Says Dakota Ditcheva Has Everything She Needs To Be A Huge Star

Ditcheva appeared on stage moments before the press conference for Francis Ngannou’s PFL debut, where she was joined by Jake Paul who compared her to Rousey.

He spoke in an interview with TalkSPORT about how Ditcheva has the world at her feet because she ticks every box to become a huge star.

“She has the potential to be a superstar but not for the same reasons as Ronda Rousey. Ronda was the pioneer, Ronda was the one that broke the barrier and got women into the UFC and unfortunately, that’s a milestone that can never be reached again even for someone with the star caliber of Dakota Ditcheva. You could make the argument that it’s going to be harder for Dakota to reach those heights of celebrity but she absolutely is capable of it.

“First of all, because of how incredible she is as a fighter but also she understands the media game, right. She knows exactly when to switch off that savage and become the sweetheart again. She’s got the look, she’s got the charisma and when you have that plus the ability to knock women out like she does, the sky is the limit.”

Continue Reading PFL Star Touted For Ronda Rousey-esque Growth: ‘She Knows Exactly When To Switch Off The Savage & Become The Sweetheart…’ at MMA News.