Tag: Top Stories

Daniel Cormier: Tom Aspinall Can Create ‘Fan Uprising’ Against Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic At UFC 304

Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier still sees a way for Tom Aspinall to stake his claim for the next shot at Jon Jones. Aspinall appeared to put himself in line for an inevitable dream showdown with Jones after capturing the interim heavyweight gold at UFC 295 last November. He did so by knocking out […]

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Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier still sees a way for Tom Aspinall to stake his claim for the next shot at Jon Jones.

Aspinall appeared to put himself in line for an inevitable dream showdown with Jones after capturing the interim heavyweight gold at UFC 295 last November. He did so by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich in a matchup that replaced the original title fight between “Bones” and Stipe Miocic.

Despite the need for a unification fight, both Jones and the powers that be have been insistent on the Miocic bout being kept together for the back end of 2024.

The Englishman and a large portion of the MMA community have frequently bemoaned that decision. With minds seemingly made up, Aspinall is focusing his energy elsewhere as he gears up to defend his interim belt in a rematch against Curtis Blaydes on home soil at UFC 304 this month.

But when it comes to pipping Miocic to the post and sharing the Octagon with Jones next, “DC” says hope is not completely lost…

Cormier: Demolition Of Blaydes Could Force UFC Into Jones vs. Aspinall

During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Cormier gave his latest thoughts on the state of the title picture in the division he formerly ruled over.

While both Jones and the UFC have remained steadfast on rearranging the Miocic fight for the promotion’s next visit to Madison Square Garden in November, “DC” doesn’t believe everything is set in stone just yet.

For that to happen. Cormier thinks UFC 304 will have to pass by without an emphatic and dominant display from the interim titleholder.

“I can’t wait to get to Manchester. Dude, could you imagine if Tom Aspinall just washes out Curtis Blaydes? Then the firestorm that will start to gather for him to fight Jones — or if Curtis Blaydes just demolishes Tom Aspinall? It would be crazy,” Cormier said. “Here’s the difference, though: for there to truly be an uprising, it would have to be Aspinall destroying Blaydes.

“You’ve seen Curtis Blaydes lose before. So people would think, ‘Oh, he beat Tom Aspinall, but we’ve seen him get beat by Francis and lose to other guys.’ … But if Aspinall goes through Blaydes in the way he did Sergei, and he’s only lost because of that injury default, people would lose their minds almost insisting that he and Jones fight,” Cormier continued. “If Tom Aspinall can get through this fight and he’s clean and he looks dominant, there may be such a fan uprising that the UFC may be forced to make Jones vs. Aspinall. I don’t know what that would do for my man Stipe.”

Judging by his recent remarks, Jones evidently doesn’t see much chance of a demolition job in Manchester.

In addition to backing Blaydes to get the job done on July 27, the Rochester native suggested “Razor” was piecing Aspinall up in their 2022 UFC Fight Night headliner. That’s despite the bout lasting just 15 seconds.

Jones has also pointed to reigning light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira as a more intriguing option than Aspinall, claiming only UK fans would rather see him fight the interim champ.

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier: Tom Aspinall Can Create ‘Fan Uprising’ Against Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic At UFC 304 at MMA News.

Nate Diaz Recalls Negotiations With UFC For First Conor McGregor Fight: ‘I Might Not Be Educated, But I’m Not Stupid…’

Nate Diaz recently looked back on how his first fight with Conor McGregor came together, and the discussions he had to ensure he was adequately compensated for the short-notice assignment. Diaz has long been a fan favorite in the sport of mixed martial arts, but his star well and truly grew to astronomical levels when […]

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Nate Diaz recently looked back on how his first fight with Conor McGregor came together, and the discussions he had to ensure he was adequately compensated for the short-notice assignment.

Diaz has long been a fan favorite in the sport of mixed martial arts, but his star well and truly grew to astronomical levels when he shared the Octagon with McGregor in Las Vegas at UFC 196 eight years ago.

Diaz answered the call on just 11 days’ notice, replacing the injured Rafael dos Anjos to face the then-featherweight titleholder in a welterweight bout.

Against the odds, the Stockton native handed McGregor his first professional defeat since 2010 and first setback on MMA’s biggest stage, countering the Dubliner’s tired takedown attempt in round two with some brutal ground-and-pound, which set up the shocking rear-naked choke submission finish.

As well as the victory, a Fight of the Night bonus, and a Performance of the Night bonus, Diaz exited T-Mobile Arena with his heftiest pay check to date. But the figure on it was apparently a far cry from what the UFC first proposed…

Diaz Says UFC Tried Offering ‘Pennies’ For McGregor 1

During a recent interview with UFC legend and current ONE Championship titleholder Demetrious Johnson, Diaz looked back on his first showdown with McGregor and discussed the short-notice bout coming together.

When discussing the financial implications that many expect to come with fighting McGregor, Diaz confirmed that UFC 196 marked his highest pay up to that point in his career.

But that was seemingly something he had to work for behind closed doors, outlining the offer originally slid across his desk by the UFC compared to what he ultimately managed to secure.

“At the time, it was (the biggest pay check I’d received). But they were trying to give me pennies for that too,” Diaz said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, right. I know what I’m doing here. I’ve been through it.’ I’d already been into it with the organization about that. So they called me and they were like, ‘Hey, while you’re going to do this, we’re going to give you a million dollars.’ I was like, ‘Hey, you’re gonna give me more than that.’

“So I got like five times more than that because of that. I knew the game by then and I was like, ‘F*ck that,’” Diaz continued. “Remember when I was telling you about how if I fight every two months, I could be rich. That basic math attitude kind of f*cking times 10, times 100, over and over again. So I knew what it was with the whole money in the business and sh*t. I might not be educated but I’m not stupid.”

Both men have had some major paydays since. For Diaz, that’s currently in the realm of boxing.

After fighting out his contract with the UFC in a submission win over Tony Ferguson, the Stockton star went on to share the ring with YouTuber-turned-pugilist Jake Paul last August.

Having kept his stock high in defeat against “The Problem Child,” Diaz is next set to revisit his rivalry with Jorge Masvidal, which was forged inside the Octagon at UFC 244 back in 2019.

Although his current focus is on boxing and his match with “Gamebred” this weekend, Diaz has been firm in insisting that the final chapter in his storied feud with McGregor is not yet written.

With their series sat level at one win apiece, a trilogy could be in store down the line.

Continue Reading Nate Diaz Recalls Negotiations With UFC For First Conor McGregor Fight: ‘I Might Not Be Educated, But I’m Not Stupid…’ at MMA News.

Conor McGregor Makes Prediction For Boxing Match Between ‘Little Play Around Dipsh*ts’ Nate Diaz & Jorge Masvidal

Conor McGregor has made his opinion known on tonight’s boxing battle between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal. As McGregor recovers from his toe injury that led to the postponement of his long-planned MMA return with Michael Chandler — and as we wait for a new date to be announced for such a fight — he […]

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Conor McGregor has made his opinion known on tonight’s boxing battle between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal.

As McGregor recovers from his toe injury that led to the postponement of his long-planned MMA return with Michael Chandler — and as we wait for a new date to be announced for such a fight — he has eyes turned toward a main event boxing showdown between two other names that have been UFC stars.

McGregor is very familiar with Diaz as a fighter, and it’s that experience that partly makes him predict that the Stockton native will come out on top in this fight at Anaheim’s Honda Center on Saturday.

In fact, McGregor took to social media to state that he has placed a major, $500,000 bet down on Diaz tonight.

Conor McGregor Places $500K Bet That Nate Diaz Defeats Jorge Masvidal In Boxing

“Range, form, experience, solely hands being used, I can’t see Masvidal causing any problems to Nate in a boxing ring whatsoever,” McGregor posted. They are both little play around dips**** in a fight, play around bollox, but I feel Nate does him in easy here for real.”

McGregor and Diaz fought in two legendary battles at UFC 196 and UFC 202. Fighting on just over a week’s notice, the American fan favorite submitted his Irish counterpart in upset fashion at UFC 196.

McGregor got his revenge in a closely contested encounter by a majority decision win at UFC 202, which at one point was the most bought pay-per-view in UFC history.

Meanwhile, Masvidal and the former two-division champion never fought in the Octagon, with UFC CEO Dana White at one point noting that McGregor would look small fighting “Gamebred” at 170 pounds.

Diaz and Masvidal faced off at UFC 244 in November 2019, with the Miami native winning via third-round doctor’s stoppage TKO to become the inaugural BMF champion.

Continue Reading Conor McGregor Makes Prediction For Boxing Match Between ‘Little Play Around Dipsh*ts’ Nate Diaz & Jorge Masvidal at MMA News.

VIDEO: Darren Till’s Combat Sports Return Ends In Brawl After Punch To Back Of The Head, Till Announced As Winner

Darren Till may have scored a win in his return to combat sports action, but the ultimate result was a disaster inside the ring. Till took on Moh Mutie in the featured contest of Social Knockout 3 in Dubai, UAE. During the fight, Mutie turned his head, with the former UFC fighter landing a light […]

Continue Reading VIDEO: Darren Till’s Combat Sports Return Ends In Brawl After Punch To Back Of The Head, Till Announced As Winner at MMA News.

Darren Till may have scored a win in his return to combat sports action, but the ultimate result was a disaster inside the ring.

Till took on Moh Mutie in the featured contest of Social Knockout 3 in Dubai, UAE. During the fight, Mutie turned his head, with the former UFC fighter landing a light strike to the back of the head.

While this would normally be considered an illegal strike, Till was declared the winner by TKO after Mutie was left apparently unable to continue, claiming to feel dizzy after the punch.

But the action did not stop there, as the pair got into a brawl following the fight ending, with both teams getting involved.

Darren Till Involved In Brawl After Defeating Moh Mutie In Combat Sports Return

Till had been originally scheduled to return in a bout with Julio César Chávez Jr. on July 20 at the originally scheduled Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson card before the main event was delayed.

Till had been out of action since losing to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 282 in December 2022. He exited the UFC last February after requesting his release to pursue other ventures.

Till’s opponent, Mutie, is a Middle Eastern MMA fighter known as “The Palestinian Gorilla” with an MMA record of 2-2-1.

Continue Reading VIDEO: Darren Till’s Combat Sports Return Ends In Brawl After Punch To Back Of The Head, Till Announced As Winner at MMA News.

Stipe Miocic Rejects Claim From ‘Crying’ Fans That He’s Holding Up The Heavyweight Division: ‘The UFC Can Pick Who They Want!’

As Tom Aspinall gets ready to defend the interim UFC heavyweight championship against Curtis Blaydes later this month at UFC 304, fight fans will have to remain patient before seeing the actual heavyweight title on the line again. That’s because the expectation is for Jon Jones to defend the title against former two-time champion Stipe […]

Continue Reading Stipe Miocic Rejects Claim From ‘Crying’ Fans That He’s Holding Up The Heavyweight Division: ‘The UFC Can Pick Who They Want!’ at MMA News.

As Tom Aspinall gets ready to defend the interim UFC heavyweight championship against Curtis Blaydes later this month at UFC 304, fight fans will have to remain patient before seeing the actual heavyweight title on the line again.

That’s because the expectation is for Jon Jones to defend the title against former two-time champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of the UFC’s annual November pay-per-view card at New York’s Madison Square Garden. This had been the plan for UFC 295 last year until Jones suffered a torn pectoral tendon during training.

In spite of Aspinall winning the interim belt on this card, however, the seeming desire of the UFC’s to have Jones vs. Miocic at MSG, as well as the pair’s own desire for this fight to happen, resulted in “Bones” not being stripped or vacating the title with his injury — and the UFC’s patience in delaying this fight.

Fight fans on social media, however, have voiced frustration with the situation. Many have expressed a lack of desire to see Jones vs. Miocic, with many preferring a unification bout between Jones and Aspinall — or a champion vs. champion superfight between Jones and Alex Pereira.

Miocic Admits He Would ‘Feel The Same Way’ If He Was Aspinall

In an interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Miocic was asked about the outcry from fans and their impatience or lack of desire for the fight. Miocic’s response was simple — fans need to stop “crying” because this is what he, Jones, and the UFC all want.

“I get it. I’d feel the same way but I’m not taking anything away from him (Aspinall),” Miocic said. “The UFC can do what they want. It is what it is. There’s only one guy I want to fight, it’s Jon Jones. But at the same time, the UFC can pick who they want.

“People don’t know this but there were a couple of other times where I was ready to fight and they gave them another guy. What am I supposed to do? I’m not holding up any division like everyone says. I don’t care. Do what you want and stop crying. I’m not saying he’s crying. I’m just saying like fans and stuff like that.”

Though there has not been an official announcement from the UFC, Miocic confirmed that the plan right now is for him and Jones to face off inside MSG this November.

Jones has repeatedly mentioned the date November 9 on social media, even though a David Gilmour concert (one in a series) is scheduled for that night at the arena.

After dominating the light heavyweight division for most of the 2010s, Jones moved up to heavyweight. After a three-year hiatus from the cage, Jones defeated Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 to capture the then-vacant UFC heavyweight championship.

Miocic, meanwhile, has not fought in the UFC since dropping the heavyweight title to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 in March 2021. With Andrei Arlovski’s recent departure from the promotion, Miocic has not fought anyone on the current UFC roster.

Continue Reading Stipe Miocic Rejects Claim From ‘Crying’ Fans That He’s Holding Up The Heavyweight Division: ‘The UFC Can Pick Who They Want!’ at MMA News.

Magomed Ankalaev Highlights Where He ‘Can Catch’ Alex Pereira On The Feet In Potential UFC Title Fight: ‘His Standup Is Overrated’

UFC light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev doesn’t see what’s so special about the striking of his division’s champion. Alex Pereira finds himself atop most lists when it comes to the current top standup fighters competing on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. His fearsome reputation on the feet was built as a two-weight Glory Kickboxing champion. […]

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UFC light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev doesn’t see what’s so special about the striking of his division’s champion.

Alex Pereira finds himself atop most lists when it comes to the current top standup fighters competing on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. His fearsome reputation on the feet was built as a two-weight Glory Kickboxing champion.

He’s since enhanced it inside the Octagon, where he’s delivered brutal knockout after brutal knockout to secure the crowns at both middleweight and light heavyweight.

“Poatan” currently reigns with the latter in his possession, and he cemented that status last weekend in the main event of UFC 303, where he got the better of Ji?í Procházka for the second time in emphatic fashion.

It didn’t take long for talk to turn to the Brazilian’s future, and one high-ranked contender was waiting in the wings to stake his claim with a number of posts on social media.

And as his campaign for another title shot continues, Ankalaev has made a bold assertion regarding the champ…

Ankalaev Downplays Pereira’s Striking Superiority

During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Ankalaev reiterated his belief that a clash with Pereira makes sense later this year and assessed how they match up against one another.

Many have long touted the Russian as a future threat to “Poatan” owing to his wrestling abilities. Ankalaev, however, has dismissed the notion that he’ll be outgunned on the feet by what he described as an “overrated” striking game.

“With Alex, you just have to watch a couple of his past fights,” Ankalaev said, via his translator. “With (Jan) B?achowicz, you know, his wrestling was on a level and Alex didn’t have much to offer. Same with (Israel) Adesanya, they’re both strikers but Adesanya was able to show him some wrestling.

“I think he is a great striker. But he is the kind of guy who always moves forward, and that is where sometimes he might make a mistake. That’s where I might catch him,” Ankalaev continued. “Definitely he has a strong punch, but I think just overall, his standup fight is overrated. Watch his fight with Jamahal Hill; he had something to offer to counter him. Same with the fight with Procházka. … He was probably lucky or didn’t face serious opposition. Wrestling is there, but I’m ready to fight with him standing up.”

In pleading his case for a showdown with Pereira, Ankalaev has vowed to knock the champ out. Whether that will be the path he pursues in a potential fight down the line or if he looks to overcome “Poatan” in the grappling realm remains to be seen.

Continue Reading Magomed Ankalaev Highlights Where He ‘Can Catch’ Alex Pereira On The Feet In Potential UFC Title Fight: ‘His Standup Is Overrated’ at MMA News.