Tag: Top Stories

Dan Hooker Gets His UFC 305 Perth Date Against Mateusz Gamrot

Dan Hooker has finally locked in a fight with Mateusz Gamrot for UFC 305 after a determined search for an opponent. The update of the bout first broke out when Hooker recently announced it on his Instagram story. The lightweight banger is set to take place at the upcoming UFC pay-per-view event scheduled for August […]

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Dan Hooker has finally locked in a fight with Mateusz Gamrot for UFC 305 after a determined search for an opponent. The update of the bout first broke out when Hooker recently announced it on his Instagram story.

The lightweight banger is set to take place at the upcoming UFC pay-per-view event scheduled for August 17 at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

“The Hangman” has been particularly enthusiastic about competing on the Australasia card due to the opportunity to fight alongside his City Kickboxing teammates, Israel Adesanya and Kai Kara-France. He has also previously hinted at the prospect of facing a high-profile opponent.

Hooker last fought against Jalin Turner at UFC 290 in July 2023, where he endured a broken arm yet persevered through the entire match to secure a split-decision victory. The 34-year-old New Zealander was previously set to fight Bobby Green at UFC Fight Night Austin in December, but a reinjury to his arm forced him to withdraw from the bout.

“The Hangman” is currently riding a two-fight win streak after an unsuccessful attempt in the featherweight division, where he suffered a first-round knockout against Arnold Allen in March 2022.

Meanwhile, Gamrot is on a three-fight win streak. “Gamer” is set to make his return to the Octagon following a dominant unanimous decision victory over Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC 299 this past March.

The 33-year-old Pole had been aiming for a bout with former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. However, his aspirations were temporarily halted as “Do Bronx” seemingly declined the proposal.

Continue Reading Dan Hooker Gets His UFC 305 Perth Date Against Mateusz Gamrot at MMA News.

PFL Announces 2024 Playoff Main Cards, Former Bellator Champ Replaced In Semifinal

Following the conclusion of the promotion’s latest global regular season, the lineups are set for this year’s PFL Playoffs. 2024 was always going to be a big one for the PFL, as it marks the first season since it acquired a rival promotion in Bellator. After kicking off the year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a […]

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Following the conclusion of the promotion’s latest global regular season, the lineups are set for this year’s PFL Playoffs.

2024 was always going to be a big one for the PFL, as it marks the first season since it acquired a rival promotion in Bellator. After kicking off the year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a cross-brand event and commencing its sophomore PFL Europe campaign in Paris, eyes turned to the global season.

And having hosted six events across April and June, the brackets for the 2024 PFL Playoffs were decided, and the main cards are now set.

A recent press release announced which semifinals will feature in main event slots, as well as the order below them.

PFL Playoffs 1: Goltsov vs. Johnson (August 2)

This year’s PFL playoffs will kick off with heavyweight and women’s flyweight action at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, on August 2.

In the main event, PFL veteran Denis Goltsov makes his bid for a second championship final in what will be his fourth semifinal appearance. The Russian has worked his way back to the postseason courtesy of knockout wins over Linton Vassell and Thiago Santos. He’ll next face Tim Johnson, whose six-point finish of Danilo Marques saw him secure a playoff place in his SmartCage debut.

The other heavyweight semifinal has undergone a change. In the second fight of the night, Linton Vassell will battle Oleg Popov for a place in the final. The former didn’t qualify in the top four spots but has been handed a chance at redemption following an injury to former interim Bellator champion Valentin Moldavsky.

Co-headlining for the women’s flyweights will be Dakota Ditcheva, who breezed to top-seed status in the regular season by extending her perfect professional record with crushing TKOs against Lisa Mauldin and Chelsea Hackett. She’s next set for her toughest test to date opposite Jena Bishop.

Opening the main card, meanwhile, will be an intriguing semifinal matchup between two flyweight elites in ex-UFC title challenger Taila Santos and Bellator champ Liz Carmouche, both of whom recorded consecutive wins to secure their playoff spots.

Main Card (9 PM ET, ESPN/ESPN+):

  • Heavyweight Playoffs Main Event: Denis Goltsov (34-8) vs. Tim Johnson (18-9) 
  • Women’s Flyweight Playoffs Co-Main Event: Dakota Ditcheva (12-0) vs. Jena Bishop (7-1)
  • Heavyweight Playoffs Main Card Bout: Oleg Popov (18-1) vs. Linton Vassell (25-9) 
  • Women’s Flyweight Playoffs Main Card Bout: Liz Carmouche (22-7) vs. Taila Santos (21-3) 

PFL Playoffs 2: Kasanganay vs. Silveira (August 16)

The second stop in the PFL’s postseason sees the SmartCage head to Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, for light heavyweight and lightweight fights on August 16.

In the main event, Impa Kasanganay continues his pursuit of a second straight PFL championship against the man at the expense of whom he captured the 205-pound crown in 2023, Josh Silveira. The other light heavyweight contest comes in the co-headliner, with 2022 title winner Rob Wilkinson battling Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov.

Opening the main card on August 16 will be the always entertaining Clay Collard, whose quest for a first PFL title must next go through former Bellator standout Brent Primus. Elsewhere in that division, Gadzhi Rabadanov and Michael Dufort will share the cage.

Main Card (9 PM ET, ESPN/ESPN+):

  • Light Heavyweight Playoffs Main Event: Impa Kasanganay (17-4) vs. Josh Silveira (13-3)
  • Light Heavyweight Playoffs Co-Main Event: Rob Wilkinson (19-2) vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (23-7-1)
  • Lightweight Playoffs Main Card Bout: Gadzhi Rabadanov (22-4-1) vs. Michael Dufort (13-5) 
  • Lightweight Playoffs Main Card Bout: Brent Primus (14-3) vs. Clay Collard (25-13) 

PFL Playoffs 3: Loughnane vs. Kamaka III (August 23)

The featherweights and welterweights will round out the semifinal action at The Anthem in Washington D.C. on August 23.

In the main event, 2022 featherweight kingpin Brendan Loughnane looks to continue his momentum from a strong regular season en route to another dose of PFL success. To do so, he must stall the charge of Kai Kamaka III, who is looking to capture the $1 million check in his first taste of season action. The other featherweight semifinal sees 2023 finalist Gabriel Braga tasked with blemishing the perfect record of Timur Khizriev.

Co-headlining the August 23 card will be Magomed Umalatov, whose submission of Brennan Ward last time out has left him as a potential favorite in the eyes of many. He’ll look to further prove those predictions right by eliminating South Africa’s Don Madge from the equation. Opening the main card at 170 pounds, meanwhile, is a rematch between the undefeated Shamil Musaev and Murad Ramazanov. While the latter was knocked out by his fellow countryman in June, his first regular season bout was enough to keep him inside the divisional top four.

Main Card (9 PM ET, ESPN/ESPN+):

  • Featherweight Playoffs Main Event: Brendan Loughnane (29-5) vs. Kai Kamaka (14-5-1) 
  • Welterweight Playoffs Co-Main Event: Magomed Umalatov (16-0) vs. Don Madge (11-5-1) 
  • Featherweight Playoffs Main Card Bout: Gabriel Braga (14-1) vs. Timur Khizriev (16-0) 
  • Welterweight Playoffs Main Card Bout: Shamil Musaev (18-0-1) vs. Murad Ramazanov (12-1)

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Paddy Pimblett Lays Down A Challenge For Bobby Green At UFC 304: ‘Let’s See If You’ve Got The Balls…’

UFC lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett will welcome Bobby Green to enemy territory later this month, and he’s also hoping to welcome him to the ground come fight night. After returning from a lengthy injury layoff last December to add the prominent name of former interim champion Tony Ferguson to his growing résumé, Pimblett is set […]

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UFC lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett will welcome Bobby Green to enemy territory later this month, and he’s also hoping to welcome him to the ground come fight night.

After returning from a lengthy injury layoff last December to add the prominent name of former interim champion Tony Ferguson to his growing résumé, Pimblett is set to be back on home soil for his first assignment of 2024 on July 27.

Prior to two championship headliners at UFC 304, Pimblett will make the walk inside Manchester’s Co-op Live for his first shot at cracking the rankings at 155 pounds.

The opportunity comes against “King” Green, a veteran contender who is coming off a hard-fought decision victory over Jim Miller on the milestone UFC 300 card this past April.

In the lead-up, “The Baddy” has insisted that Green’s chin has “gone,” leaving him open to knockouts. Despite that, though, the Liverpool native has challenged the 37-year-old Californian in a different realm of the game…

Pimblett Invites Green To Put His Money Where His Mouth Is At UFC 304

During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Pimblett documented the late stages of his UFC 304 fight camp.

And speaking to the camera while at his gym, Next Generation MMA in Liverpool, “The Baddy” made note of some of Green’s past comments regarding a possible submission and laid down a challenge for “King.”

“Bobby makes me laugh. … You was talking about me in 2021, 2022,” Pimblett said. “I also seen a story the other week, him saying, ‘Anyone can knock anyone out with a lucky punch. But Paddy, you’re saying you’re gonna submit me. You can’t submit me!’

“Grapple with me then, lad? Back your word up,” Pimblett continued. “We both know that you can strike, even though you’ve got no power. We both know that I’ll strike with you and that you can get knocked out. Grapple with me! Let’s see if you’ve got the balls to grapple with me after saying I won’t submit you. Come on, let’s see.”

It remains to be seen if Green will respond to Pimblett’s challenge.

But whether on the ground or the feet, “The Baddy” will be looking to thrill his home fans once again, having not competed in the UK since a pair of London triumphs in 2022, both of which came via submission.

Continue Reading Paddy Pimblett Lays Down A Challenge For Bobby Green At UFC 304: ‘Let’s See If You’ve Got The Balls…’ at MMA News.

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 […]

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.

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.

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