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Coach Ray Longo Pushes Back On Dana White’s Criticism Of Merab Dvalishvili: ‘He’s Far From A Dummy…’

Ray Longo, a longtime coach for UFC bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili, has hit back at some comments recently made by Dana White. Dvalishvili is set to ride a 10-fight winning run into his first title challenge this weekend, which comes in the main event of the highly anticipated Noche UFC 306 pay-per-view at the Sphere. While […]

Continue Reading Coach Ray Longo Pushes Back On Dana White’s Criticism Of Merab Dvalishvili: ‘He’s Far From A Dummy…’ at MMA News.

Ray Longo, a longtime coach for UFC bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili, has hit back at some comments recently made by Dana White.

Dvalishvili is set to ride a 10-fight winning run into his first title challenge this weekend, which comes in the main event of the highly anticipated Noche UFC 306 pay-per-view at the Sphere.

While the overall card has had its critics, the headliner between the Georgian contender and reigning champion Sean O’Malley has created significant intrigue and drawn a variety of predictions.

There was a time a few weeks ago, however, when some feared for the matchup’s place on the card after Dvalishvili revealed a deep-looking cut sustained in training on social media.

“The Machine’s” decision to publicly display the cut caused debate, with the UFC CEO being among those unimpressed by Dvalishvili’s antics.

“The whole world knows about Merab’s cut. He posted it. Our guys are so dumb, it’s next-level unbelievable,” White said during a DWCS press conference. “All the stuff I talk about boxing, what I will give boxing, is when something happens in a camp, man, let me tell you what, it does not leak. Our guys can’t f*cking wait to throw it up on social media.

“It’s a small cut. It’s no big deal. But obviously, it needed to be posted,” White continued. “Why the f*ck would you want him to know that? It is next-level stupid. Some of these guys are so stupid it’s mind-boggling. It’s unbelievable.”

After Aljamain Sterling leapt to Dvalishvili’s defense and branded White’s reaction “over the top,” coach Longo has now shared a similar sentiment.

Longo On Dvalishvili’s Cut: ‘One Thing Dana Was Really Wrong On…’

During a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Longo looked ahead to Dvalishvili’s long-awaited first opportunity to reach the mountaintop in the UFC.

The veteran trainer was asked about the cut suffered by the Georgian in training, which became one of the hottest topics in the lead-up to Noche UFC 306.

Longo dismissed the importance of revealing such a blemish to an opponent like O’Malley, and he strongly pushed back on White’s reaction to “The Machine’s” social media activity.

“I’m not the social media guy, so I don’t get it. But you have to expect this sh*t with these kids today. They film everything. They film tying their shoelaces,” Longo said. “He’s been a camera guy since the second I met him. He’s crazy with the camera. But look, if it was a knee injury, I’d say that would be a problem. Now you’re gonna target something. (But) he’s gonna get cut in the fight. It is what it is. He’s gonna get punched in the face. … A cut’s a cut, and if it opens up, I don’t think it’ll have an impact on the fight.

“One thing Dana was really wrong on was he called him a dummy. He’s far from a dummy,” Longo continued. “(Dvalishvili’s) very intelligent. He’s a humble guy, got humble beginnings. He’s fighting for his country. There’s certain guys that that type of sh*t means a lot. He’s one of them. He’s (O’Malley’s) gonna have to beat this kid dead, that I guarantee you.”

Dvalishvili will look to display a different type of intelligence come fight night in Las Vegas on Saturday by using his fight IQ to secure a memorable title crowning inside the Sphere.

His opportunity to do so comes in the final fight of the 10-fight lineup, on which he’ll mark the second championship challenger to make the walk after Valentina Shevchenko’s attempt to achieve two-time status at Alexa Grasso’s expense.

While “The Machine” trains in Las Vegas with John Wood these days, he’s still expected to have the likes of coach Longo and teammate Sterling in his corner this weekend.

An unexpected media day run in! #UFC306

[ @RiyadhSeason #NocheUFC LIVE from @SphereVegas ] pic.twitter.com/81p8Cfqbhe

— UFC (@ufc) September 10, 2024

Read More: Noche UFC 306: Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Staff Predictions

Continue Reading Coach Ray Longo Pushes Back On Dana White’s Criticism Of Merab Dvalishvili: ‘He’s Far From A Dummy…’ at MMA News.

Ray Longo rips ‘Atrocious’ Colby Covington after UFC 296 trash talk: ‘I have absolutely no use for the guy’

Ray Longo rips atrocious Colby Covington after UFC 296 trash talk I have no use for the guy Veteran head coach, Ray Longo has unleashed a scatching response to former interim welterweight champion, Colby Covington after the…

Veteran head coach, Ray Longo has unleashed a scatching response to former interim welterweight champion, Colby Covington after the UFC 296 headliner’s verbal onslaught aimed at opponent, Leon Edwards ahead of their title fight over the weekend, labelling the outspoken contender as “atrocious”.

Headlining UFC 296 over the course of the weekend, Clovis native, Covington suffered a one-sided unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) loss to Birmingham native Edwards in his third pursuit of undisputed welterweight championship.

Receiving a slew of criticizm ahead of his bout with Edwards, Covington was blasted after he poked fun at the murder of the former’s father inside a London nightclub, claiming the former crime boss was likely residing in hell – where he vowed to take Edwards during their title fight.

Ray Longo blasts Colby Covington after UFC 296

And sharing his thoughts on Colby Covington’s comments, Serra-Longo MMA head coach, Ray Longo hit out at the former, labelling him and his display as “atrocious”.

“I got absolutely no use for the guy (Colby Covington), at all,” Ray Longo said on the Anik-Florian Podcast. “I just don’t. Ever since he threatened you (Jon Anik), he knows where you live, he can go f*ck himself. Couldn’t give a sh*t about that guy. What he did with Leon Edwards I think is atrocious. You know, there’s promoting a fight, then there’s being a total misfit in life and that’s the way I see it with that guy.”

“…And, man, talk about karma, because what a piece of sh*t that fight was,” Longo explained. “I mean, the guy did absolutely nothing. And to be able to take a pro-Colby crowd, and by the end of the fight have the crowd against you – good luck, man man. I hope it was worth the money, the extra 25 percent… I think he cost (Donald) Trump the election, how about that? ‘Oh, Mr. President, Mr. President is here to watch me. Who do you got? The Queen of England.’ This motherf*cker called somebody a dope? I’d love to see this guy’s f*cking college transcripts. He’s a f*cking moron.”

Coach raises concerns about Chris Weidman’s return at UFC 292: ‘I’m a little nervous about the leg’

Former middleweight champion, Chris Weidman will make his first Octagon walk in over two years at UFC 292, after suffering a catastrophic leg injury back in 2021. And the Baldwin native’s head coach, Ray Longo, has admitted he’s apprehensive over the possibility of the former titleholder suffering another leg injury. Weidman, a former undisputed middleweight […]

Weidman, a former undisputed middleweight champion under the banner of the promotion, has been sidelined since he featured on the main card of UFC 261 back in April 2021, where he suffered a gruesome compound fracture of his right tibia and fibula inside the opening minute of his rematch with the now-retired, Uriah Hall.

Slated to make his return to competition this weekend at the TD Garden, Weidman will take on promotional veteran, Brad Tavares in his first outing since suffering his grisly leg fracture.

Ray Longo addresses the condition of Chris Weidman’s leg ahead of UFC 292

However, Weidman’s coach, Longo has raised some concerns regarding the integrity of his student’s leg, fearing that a potential injury could occur.

“I’m a little nervous,” Ray Longo told CBS Sports. “I’m nervous about the injury, because if he (Chris Weidman) fights the fight he wants to fight – he told Ariel Helwani he’s gonna kick the guy (Brad Tavares) as hard as he can, and he might. I’ll get over it, but I think I’m a little nervous about the leg. It would kill me if he hurt that leg again.”

“Supposedly, it’s a bionic leg now,” Longo explained. “He threw it in the gym, but didn’t go shin to shin, it was on the heavy bag but he was whipping it. He was a vicious leg kicker back in the day, never really got to show it too much in the UFC, but he dropped a lot of guys in the gym with leg kicks back in the day. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, that’s the only thing I’m nervous about.”

Are you nervous ahead of Chris Weidman’s return at UFC 292 in Boston?

UFC accused of ‘Favoritism’ toward Islam Makhachev amid Aljamain Sterling rift: ‘It’s the inconsistency’

Ray Longo has claimed that the UFC are showing what he described as “favoritism” toward lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev – when compared with the quickfire turnaround they are currently targeting for bantamweight counterpart, Aljamain Sterling. Most recently headlining UFC 284 back in February of this year, Islam Makhachev successfully defended his lightweight title from the […]

Most recently headlining UFC 284 back in February of this year, Islam Makhachev successfully defended his lightweight title from the siege of featherweight titleholder, Alexander Volkanovski, landing a unanimous decision victory in their Perth, Australia outing.

Expected to make a return atop a UFC 294 pay-per-view card in Abu Dhabi, UAE in October, Islam Makhachev revealed in the weeks following his win over Volkanovski, how UFC brass had encouraged him to take some time off and prepare to compete toward the end of the year on the October card in the Middle East.

However, as for Sterling, the Uniondale native has once more engaged in a war of words of sorts with UFC leader, Dana White, pointing to the timely comeback they expect from him – with a UFC 292 title fight against Sean O’Malley announced officially, just weeks after he defeated Henry Cejudo this month at UFC 288.

UFC accused of showing “favoritism” toward lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev

As far as Longo is concerned, the long-time head coach would like to see some consistency from the UFC when it comes to them booking certain champions on their schedule, claiming there appears to be some form of “favoritism” at play for Islam Makhachev.

“To me, in business and even down here, you know what people like, consistency,” Ray Longo said on The Anik and Florian Podcast. “Like if I come in here, everybody pays $200 a month, and then they’re walking around the gym, and someone says no, he only charges me $75. That’s not good, you know what I mean? It’s got to be consistent. That’s why I said we’re giving examples where it seems like favoritism almost, you know.”

“I think it’s the inconsistency of well [Islam] Makhachev hasn’t fought in a year (sic), why are you forcing me to fight in two months like that’s where I have a problem,” Longo explained. “I like fairness, and I like the transparency of knowing everybody’s doing the same thing. Like if Dana (White) wanted to turn everybody around every two months, then that’s it, that’s what you signed up for. This is their rules. It’s their company. He built it up. He gets to call the shots, but to do one thing one time and not the other time, I think that’s where it gets a little sticky for me.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

UFC Hall of Famer Matt Serra once bit a man’s ear off during a fight: ‘As a coach I’m like, I got a fighter’

Legendary MMA coach Ray Longo recently shared a long-lost Matt Serra story, revealing that the former UFC welterweight champion had once bitten a man’s ear off during a fight. Longo, who currently presides as the head coach of the Serra-Longo Fight Team in New York, has made his mark in mixed martial arts by coaching […]

Legendary MMA coach Ray Longo recently shared a long-lost Matt Serra story, revealing that the former UFC welterweight champion had once bitten a man’s ear off during a fight.

Longo, who currently presides as the head coach of the Serra-Longo Fight Team in New York, has made his mark in mixed martial arts by coaching some of the biggest names in the sport, including Chris Weidman, reigning bantamweight world champion Aljamain Sterling, and, of course, Matt Serra. Joining the gentlemen on Morning Kombat’s Room Service Diaries, Longo went into great detail breaking down his legendary career. Along the way, Longo shared some pretty crazy stories, including an incident where his Hall of Fame pupil did his best Mike Tyson impersonation while defending himself.

“When I met Matt Serra, my gym was down the block from the courthouse in Nassau County and he’s in court because he bit a guy’s ear off in a fight,” Longo revealed. “He doesn’t mind me saying this now. We never really talked about this. He’s at the pizza parlor, he calls his girlfriend up…

“I could get this story a little wrong too, but he calls his girlfriend up, the brother picks up the phone and basically tells him to go f*ck himself. Matt tells him to go f*ck himself. The guy’s a juice head. He runs down, breaks his boss’ nose. He grabs Serra in the back… This is before jiu-jitsu. He’ll always say, ‘If I knew jiu-jitsu, this would have never happened.’

“He bit the guy’s ear completely off. As a coach I’m like, ‘I got a fighter. This is the shit I’m looking for,’ you know what I mean. Once you’ve got the balls, it’s easy. If you’ve got a guy who’s gun-shy, you can show him all the boxing you want. He doesn’t want to get hit. There’s nothing you can do about it unless you figure out a way to make him at ease with that which obviously there’s ways to do.

Ray Longo said on the most recent episode of Room Service Diaries with @lthomasnews & @BCampbell that Chris Weidman, Matt Serra & Aljamain Sterling all live within 3 miles of the Serra-Longo gym. All champions. It’s incredible what Longo and that team has done for Long Island.

— Hannah Rose (@mrsmmacasual) May 23, 2023

“He beats the criminal case,” Longo continued. “Then they sue him for like 12 million civilly and he’s coming to court every day. We’re hanging out talking and the guy… It was total self-defense, but the guy was saying Serra knocked him down then he bent over and bit his ear off. I’m like, ‘Dude, if you did that I want you to get the f*ck out of the gym.’ That’s a different level. Self-defense is one thing, but that’s cannibalism at that point.”

Longo went on to confirm that Matt Serra beat the civil suit while also revealing that the man who lost an ear was fitted with a prosthetic piece at some point afterward.

Matt Serra’s Hall of Fame Career Highlighted by ‘Upset of the Decade’ Against GSP

Matt Serra’s career in mixed martial arts lasted little more than a decade. During that run, he amassed a record of 11-7 and is credited with scoring the biggest upset in UFC history after defeating then-welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre at UFC 69 in 2007 via a first-round knockout. Serra would hand the title back to GSP one year later. He would drop three of his last four contests en route to his retirement in 2012.

Serra was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018 as part of the pioneer wing. His win over St-Pierre was also dubbed the upset of the decade by Sports Illustrated.

Ray Longo defends Jon Anik, blasts Colby Covington: ‘Leave the f*cking kids out of it, you’re a complete idiot’

Veteran mixed martial arts head coach, Ray Longo has jumped to the defense of his fellow podcast host, UFC play-by-play lead, Jon Anik – blasting UFC welterweight contender, Colby Covington after the latter fired barbs at Anik during a scathing rant following UFC 286 earlier this month, Receiving major flak for his comments, Covington, a […]

Receiving major flak for his comments, Covington, a former interim welterweight champion, claimed he would not like to see Anik’s children grow up without their father, before threatening the UFC commentator, leading to an outpouring of support from fighters under the UFC’s banner and the wider mixed martial arts community.

Ray Longo hits out at Colby Covington in defense of Jon Anik

Notably, Anik’s podcast co-host, the above-mentioned, Longo explained how he no longer cared if Covington was just utilizing an act to drum up interest from fans, calling for the Clovis native – whom he labelled a “complete idiot” to leave kids out of promotional material.

“If I hear one more person say, ‘It’s just an act,’ – stop with it,” Ray Longo said during an appearance on Anik & Longo. “You do have young kids, right? An 11-year-old and a 12-year-old, they don’t have the defense mechanisms to determine if it’s an act or not. So, you can have your f*cking act, but leave the f*cking kids out of it, you’re a complete idiot.”

“… If he had kids – to be even remotely, remotely affected by that, Jon (Anik) – I don’t care if it’s an act or not,” Ray Longo explained, “Get your act together and change it then.”

Himself addressing the threat levelled toward him from Covington, Anik admitted that he was surprised to have been dragged into the former’s rivalry with Belal Muhammad, and explained how he will likely have to address the threat made with his young children in the coming days.

“It’s sort of weird for me to be trust into the middle of all the promotion, right,” Jon Anik said. “And there’s two sides of it, I certainly don’t really feel like there’s any sort of legitimate threat there. But, yes, my 11-year-old daughter, obviously is going to come across that soundbite either on Snapchat or somewhere, and I’m going to have to have that conversation. I think even Colby (Covington) would admit to me privately that he crossed the line.”