Tag: Top Stories

Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Official For Noche UFC Main Event At The Sphere

Sean O’Malley’s bantamweight championship will be on the line when mixed martial arts’ leading promotion arrives at the Sphere for UFC 306 on September 14. The promotion will stage its sophomore celebration of Mexican Independence Day on September 14. While Las Vegas is once again the host destination, the Octagon will be in a much […]

Continue Reading Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Official For Noche UFC Main Event At The Sphere at MMA News.

Sean O’Malley’s bantamweight championship will be on the line when mixed martial arts’ leading promotion arrives at the Sphere for UFC 306 on September 14.

The promotion will stage its sophomore celebration of Mexican Independence Day on September 14. While Las Vegas is once again the host destination, the Octagon will be in a much different environment this time around.

Instead of the T-Mobile Arena for the second straight year, the 2024 edition of Noche UFC is set to go down inside the unique Sphere venue. In the lead-up, UFC CEO Dana White has promised a spectacle like nothing seen before.

And he confirmed this week that O’Malley will be tasked with closing it out in defense of his belt opposite Merab Dvalishvili. White announced the expected news in a video uploaded to the UFC’s social media accounts on Friday night.

O’Malley Targets Second Successful Defense At The Expense Of Dvalishvili

When the pair share the Octagon inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere, O’Malley will be looking to make Dvalishvili the second victim of his title reign.

O’Malley (18-1, 1 NC) captured the 135-pound gold in memorable fashion last August, concluding the Boston-held UFC 292 pay-per-view event with a shocking second-round knockout of longtime champ Aljamain Sterling. The result brought “Funk Master’s” record-breaking rule to an end and set up the chance for his teammate to avenge the setback.

While he’s had to wait for “Sugar” to settle unfinished business with Marlon Vera at UFC 299 in Miami this past March, Dvalishvili (17-4) finally has his first shot at title glory in mixed martial arts booked in.

The Georgian has had to win 10 straight fights and go unbeaten since 2018 to make it happen. He’s most recently defeated three former champs, getting the better of José Aldo, Petr Yan, and Henry Cejudo on the scorecards to leave no doubt about his status as the unrivaled number one bantamweight contender.

Continue Reading Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Official For Noche UFC Main Event At The Sphere at MMA News.

‘The PFL Will Get A Great, Undefeated Guy’ – Dana White Reveals Muhammad Mokaev Will Be Let Go By UFC

Muhammad Mokaev will not be coming back to the UFC, according to promotional CEO Dana White at the UFC 304 post-fight press conference. Mokaev scored a win over Manel Kape during the UFC 304 prelims. In spite of being promoted as a potential flyweight title eliminator, the fight proved to be disappointing and widely panned. […]

Continue Reading ‘The PFL Will Get A Great, Undefeated Guy’ – Dana White Reveals Muhammad Mokaev Will Be Let Go By UFC at MMA News.

Muhammad Mokaev will not be coming back to the UFC, according to promotional CEO Dana White at the UFC 304 post-fight press conference.

Mokaev scored a win over Manel Kape during the UFC 304 prelims. In spite of being promoted as a potential flyweight title eliminator, the fight proved to be disappointing and widely panned. The bout marked the final one on Mokaev’s current deal.

According to White, matchmakers are not a fan of Mokaev’s conduct, and the Dagestani-Englishman has caused unnamed issues in the past few months.

“I think the PFL will get a great, undefeated guy,” White said. “Good luck to him.”

Dana White, UFC Appears To Formally Part Ways With Muhammad Mokaev

The unbeaten Mokaev, a noteworthy flyweight contender, was a big talking point heading into this card. Mokaev and Kape had bad blood between them, resulting in a number of confrontations in the week leading up to the fight.

The bout was also notable for the number of times it moved in the card order, going from the main card, to the televised prelims, to the early prelims, then finally settling in as the opening bout of the televised prelims.

Despite the supposed bad blood, the fight proved to be lackluster. The first round saw little actual action from both men. Early in the second, Mokaev grabbed Kape’s shorts in a grappling exchange and appeared to show disrespect to referee Mike Beltran, causing Beltran to loudly admonish him during the pause in the action.

Mokaev ultimately won the fight by unanimous decision.

Earlier in the week, Mokaev acknowledged this being the last fight on his deal and desired a guaranteed title shot in a new deal, following a win.

Mokaev has not commented on the matter as of press time, but he did tweet this out after the event.

Continue Reading ‘The PFL Will Get A Great, Undefeated Guy’ – Dana White Reveals Muhammad Mokaev Will Be Let Go By UFC at MMA News.

Francis Ngannou Provides Positive Update On PFL Debut: ‘I Think It’s Going To Be Him…’

It appears that all systems are finally go for Francis Ngannou’s debut under the Professional Fighters League (PFL) banner. Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, hasn’t competed in mixed martial arts since his successful title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022. Since then, he’s departed the UFC off the back of […]

Continue Reading Francis Ngannou Provides Positive Update On PFL Debut: ‘I Think It’s Going To Be Him…’ at MMA News.

It appears that all systems are finally go for Francis Ngannou’s debut under the Professional Fighters League (PFL) banner.

Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, hasn’t competed in mixed martial arts since his successful title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022. Since then, he’s departed the UFC off the back of a lengthy contractual dispute and found a new home.

“The Predator” put pen to paper on an exclusive MMA deal with the PFL last May, which also sees him as the chairman of PFL Africa, set to launch in 2025. He’s yet to enter the SmartCage, however, instead using the freedom granted to him to complete a long-desired venture to the boxing ring.

And after shocking the world with his performance against then-WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, Ngannou remained in the boxing world for a blockbuster matchup with former two-time unified champ Anthony Joshua.

A brutal knockout loss to “AJ” in Saudi Arabia this past March appeared to put a stop to his charge in the ring for the time being, and it now appears that Ngannou’s sights are back on the sport in which he made his name…

Ngannou Says PFL Debut In The Works For October

During a recent appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience, Ngannou revealed that his MMA return and PFL debut is in the works over a year on from his signing.

“The Predator” confirmed that the promotion’s second pay-per-view is targeted for October 19 in Saudi Arabia, and that the current plan is for him to share the cage with 2023 PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira.

“We have a good relationship. I have a fight. I will be fighting by the end of the year,” Ngannou said. “I think Renan Ferreira is the guy. I’ve been telling people about this guy for almost two years. Very athletic, fast hands, one-two…very athletic. I think it’s going to be him.

“That’s what the PFL is working on. … They’re working on October. It’s not finalized yet, but they (were) talking about October 19,” Ngannou added.

Ngannou’s remarks come as the second indication that the PFL will stage a major card in Riyadh on Oct. 19. Earlier this month, former UFC title challenger Yoel Romero claimed he’s set to challenge Corey Anderson for the Bellator light heavyweight title on that date.

While the date comes as a fresh update for “The Predator’s” MMA return, Ferreira has been lined up as the opposition ever since his standout performance in the main event of the PFL vs. Bellator PPV card this past February.

In the main event, “Problema” knockout out Bellator Heavyweight Champion Ryan Bader just 21 seconds into the very first round. He now looks in line to be rewarded for that performance with the kind of handsome payday set to come with fighting Ngannou in the PFL.

Continue Reading Francis Ngannou Provides Positive Update On PFL Debut: ‘I Think It’s Going To Be Him…’ at MMA News.

Conor McGregor Takes Issue With ESPN’s List Of Top 10 Women’s MMA Fighters: ‘Cyborg Is A Convicted Steroid Cheat!’

Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor was seemingly not pleased to see one name high up a recent list of top women’s MMA fighters. This week, ESPN has released two lists ranking the top 10 male and female mixed martial artists of the 21st century. UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones took top spot above runner-up […]

Continue Reading Conor McGregor Takes Issue With ESPN’s List Of Top 10 Women’s MMA Fighters: ‘Cyborg Is A Convicted Steroid Cheat!’ at MMA News.

Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor was seemingly not pleased to see one name high up a recent list of top women’s MMA fighters.

This week, ESPN has released two lists ranking the top 10 male and female mixed martial artists of the 21st century. UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones took top spot above runner-up Georges St-Pierre for the men.

The women’s list, meanwhile, was topped by former two-division titleholder Amanda Nunes, who brought her career to an end following a successful defense of the bantamweight belt last June.

The “Lioness” pipped Cris Cyborg and Ronda Rousey to the post, with the pair of ex-champs coming in at second and third, respectively.

The entries included a description of each woman’s accomplishments in the game. For Cyborg, that’s currently occupying the Bellator featherweight throne and formerly holding UFC, Strikeforce, and Invicta FC gold, making her the only fighter to win championships in four major MMA promotions.

McGregor, however, thinks ESPN missed out a key piece of information.

McGregor Sends Cyborg Reminder After Seeing ESPN List

The former featherweight and lightweight UFC champ was a point of discussion following the release of the men’s top 10, having missed out on a spot among the likes of Chuck Liddell and Kamaru Usman.

Perhaps agitated by his omission or simply keeping up with his habit of targeting fellow fighters on social media, McGregor looked to take away from Cyborg’s accomplishments and high placement on ESPN’s list with a reminder about her past drug failure.

Conor McGregor
Image: @TheNotoriousMMA on X

“Cyborg is a convicted steroid cheat let’s not forget,” McGregor wrote in a now-deleted post on X.

Cyborg tested positive for stanozolol, an anabolic steroid commonly used as a performance-enhancing drug, in December 2011. The California Athletic State Commission suspended Cyborg’s license for one year and fined her $2,500 for the indiscretion.

The Brazilian’s drug test failure remained a topic of conversation in the years that followed, with UFC CEO Dana White making reference to it prior to Cyborg’s bitter split from the promotion in 2019.

“We brought in her after she tested positive for steroids and we made her a clean athlete with the best drug testing policy in all of sports the entire time she was here,” White said during a media scrum. “When she talks about her legacy and her brand, her legacy and her brand, nothing’s better than knowing she’s a clean athlete after testing positive for steroids and all the negativity that surrounded her about being a dirty athlete. We bring her in here, we do all this stuff, and she was just never happy.”

Cyborg hasn’t tested positive for banned substances aside from the 2011 case.

When it comes to her legacy and spot in women’s MMA greatness, Cyborg appears far from done. While Nunes remains on the sidelines pondering a return from retirement, Cyborg has been pushing for her PFL debut since the promotion acquired Bellator.

By all accounts, the Bellator featherweight champ is being lined up to face her PFL counterpart, Larissa Pacheco, at a pay-per-view event in Saudi Arabia this fall.

Continue Reading Conor McGregor Takes Issue With ESPN’s List Of Top 10 Women’s MMA Fighters: ‘Cyborg Is A Convicted Steroid Cheat!’ at MMA News.

Jon Jones Reacts After ABC Officially Approves Removal Of Ban On 12-6 Elbows

Some big changes are coming to the Unified Rules of MMA later this year. The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) is holding its annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky, this week. The latest rule vote took place on Tuesday, and it saw a couple of long-awaited changes approved. The first surrounds the ban […]

Continue Reading Jon Jones Reacts After ABC Officially Approves Removal Of Ban On 12-6 Elbows at MMA News.

Some big changes are coming to the Unified Rules of MMA later this year.

The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) is holding its annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky, this week. The latest rule vote took place on Tuesday, and it saw a couple of long-awaited changes approved.

The first surrounds the ban on fighters throwing “12-6” elbows. The linear downward elbow is notably responsible for the sole defeat on the record of light heavyweight legend and reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones.

Debate has long raged on over the prohibition on the move, with the direction of the elbows perceived to be more dangerous than a conventional, angled strike by some. But after many in the community argued against that claim, committee members unanimously voted on the ban’s removal this week.

Jones, who was handed a disqualification defeated against Matt Hamill back in 2009, reacted to the news on Instagram. Alongside an image of his bout with Hamill, “Bones” tagged Dana White and reiterated his desire to get the blemish scrubbed from his record.

“Undefeated then, undefeated now,” Jones wrote. “@danawhite we gotta get that loss out of the history books.”

While Ariel Helwani has reported that Jones will be able to retroactively appeal the defeat, it would appear unlikely for the result to be overturned given that the ban was in place at the time.

Changes To Definition Of A Grounded Fighter Also Approved By ABC

Removing the ban on “12-6” elbows wasn’t the only successful rule change at this year’s ABC conference. The committee also looked to rectify the confusion and disagreement regarding what constitutes a grounded fighter.

The topic notable reared its head this year when Arnold Allen fired off knees to the head of Movsar Evloev at UFC 297 this past January. The blows were deemed illegal owing to the Russian placing one hand on the ground.

Many suggested that the Englishman was unfairly robbed of a potential finish, and from November 1 onwards, he’ll now be able to utilize that offense.

Previously, the language in the rulebook stated that any part of the body other than the sole of the feet touching the floor would make a fighter grounded. The new language approved this week is as follows:

“A fighter shall be considered grounded and may not be legally kneed or kicked to the head when any part of their body other than their hands or feet is in contact with the canvas (ground).”

Both the new definition for a grounded fighter and the removal of the ban on “12’6” elbows officially come into place on November 1, 2024.

Continue Reading Jon Jones Reacts After ABC Officially Approves Removal Of Ban On 12-6 Elbows at MMA News.

Former UFC Champion Feels Alex Pereira vs. Jake Paul Not A Foregone Conclusion: ‘I Don’t Think It’s An Unwinnable Fight For Jake’

Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman believes that the potential boxing match between Alex Pereira and Jake Paul is anything but predictable. “The Problem Child” has persistently shown an avid fascination in taking on UFC stars in the boxing ring, and he’s already notched victories against retired fighters such as Ben Askren, Anderson Silva, Tyron […]

Continue Reading Former UFC Champion Feels Alex Pereira vs. Jake Paul Not A Foregone Conclusion: ‘I Don’t Think It’s An Unwinnable Fight For Jake’ at MMA News.

Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman believes that the potential boxing match between Alex Pereira and Jake Paul is anything but predictable.

“The Problem Child” has persistently shown an avid fascination in taking on UFC stars in the boxing ring, and he’s already notched victories against retired fighters such as Ben Askren, Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley (twice), and Nate Diaz.

However, after securing a sixth-round TKO over former UFC fighter Mike Perry in a cruiserweight bout last weekend, Paul shocked the combat sports world by calling out reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Pereira.

The YouTuber-turned-boxer connected with “Poatan” via FaceTime. During the call, he asked the Brazilian and his manager if Pereira could negotiate his release from the UFC to turn this crossover matchup into a reality.

Pereira shared his perspective of the call, capturing a moment of uncertainty as he glanced sideways at his manager. This subtle gesture likely hinted at the complexities involved in securing UFC CEO Dana White’s approval for the boxing match.

However, if the stars ever align, “The Nigerian Nightmare” holds a view contrary to the general consensus, believing that Paul has the potential to defeat striking phenom Pereira in a boxing showdown…

Usman Believes Paul’s Arsenal Has ‘Really Good’ Moves To Challenge Pereira

During a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast with former two-division champion Henry Cejudo, Usman shared his thoughts on “The Problem Child’s” callout of Pereira for a boxing match. The former welterweight titleholder expressed skepticism about the potential clash, citing Paul’s strained relationship with White as a major obstacle.

“No, it won’t happen,” Usman said. “I just don’t think it’s… Jake Paul, in the name of promoting nowadays, has done a lot of things and said a lot of things about Dana White that I feel are Colby Covington-esque. In that case, you’ve put yourself off to where I don’t think Mr. Dana White ever wants to do business with you.”

“The Nigerian Nightmare” added that if the matchup were ever to materialize, Paul would stand a fair chance of overcoming Pereira with his slick jabs and diverse arsenal.

“I do believe Alex Pereira can win that fight, but I don’t think it’s an unwinnable fight for Jake Paul. Jake Paul definitely showed some really good things there, being able to stick by the jab. When he was able to commit to the jab, the jab was working. Yes, I know Alex Pereira is very good at doing the thing that gave Mike Perry success in that fight, but Alex Pereira also holds his hands very low.

“Yes, he has a mean left hook, but he also holds his hands very low. That head moves when he’s slipping and ripping, but other than that, it’s not like it’s constantly moving. It’s not constantly doing what a boxer’s head movement should be doing. So, I’m not completely counting Jake Paul out.”

Paul is slated to face boxing legend Mike Tyson in a rescheduled bout on November 15. The social media influencer is currently riding a four-win streak in his 11-fight career, marred by only one setback—a split decision loss to Tommy Fury in February 2023.

Continue Reading Former UFC Champion Feels Alex Pereira vs. Jake Paul Not A Foregone Conclusion: ‘I Don’t Think It’s An Unwinnable Fight For Jake’ at MMA News.