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Beneil Dariush insists he beats ex-Champion Charles Oliveira in future rematch: ‘I win that fight’

Iranian grappling talent, Beneil Dariush may have seen his impressive seven-fight winning run halted by former champion, Charles Oliveira earlier this summer in the co-main event of UFC 288, however, insists he would defeat the Brazilian in the future if they share the Octagon again. Dariush, the current number four ranked lightweight contender, most recently […]

Dariush, the current number four ranked lightweight contender, most recently co-headlined UFC 288 back in June in Canada, suffering a dominant opening round loss to Sao Paulo finisher, Oliveira – with the former undisputed lightweight champion landing a first round ground strikes TKO win.

Off the back of the victory, Oliveira, the current number one ranked contender has booked his return to a title setting, taking on soon-to-be two-time opponent and undisputed gold holder, Islam Makhachev atop UFC 294 in October in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Beneil Dariush confident he beats Charles Oliveira in potential UFC rematch

Yet to return to the Octagon since his defeat, Kings MMA staple, Dariush, who has targeted a return to active competition before the close of this year, claimed he would defeat Oliveira if they fight again.

“Yeah, it’s not my first time losing and it’s not my first time rebuilding back up,” Beneil Dariush told UFC Unfiltered during a recent interview. “I’ve done it before. To be honest with you, I’m not sure why the fight [with Charles Oliveira] went the way it did. But like, I don’t feel something was missing that night. I’m going to get that fixed. I’m going to figure it out, and I’m going to show a better version for sure.”

“I really believe, (if) we fight again, I win that fight,” Beneil Dariush continued. “So, I have to work hard. He was about as strong as I thought he was going to be.”

22-5-1 as a professional, Urmia-born contender, Dariush had landed notable consecutive wins over Thiago Moises, Drew Dober, Drakkar Klose, Mateusz Gamrot, and former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson before his defeat to Oliveira.

Who would you like to see Beneil Dariush fight in his UFC return?

Julianna Peña laments failed trilogy fight with UFC rival Amanda Nunes: ‘She chose the easy way out’

Initially sharing her distaste with former two-weight champion, Amanda Nunes’ decision to retire from mixed martial arts following UFC 288 last month, former undisputed bantamweight champion, Julianna Peña claims the Brazilian chose the “easy way out” of a potential trilogy rubber match against her. Peña, the current number one ranked contender at the bantamweight limit […]

Peña, the current number one ranked contender at the bantamweight limit and a former undisputed champion under the banner of the UFC, has been sidelined since headlining UFC 277 back in July of last year, dropping a hugely lopsided unanimous decision loss to Bahia veteran, Nunes in the pair’s title rematch.

Initially springing a shocking upset win over the former featherweight champion in December 2021, Peña, a victor of The Ultimate Fighter to boot – managed to land a stunning second round rear-naked choke win over Nunes in the pair’s undisputed bantamweight title affair.

And since booked to headline the aforenoted UFC 288 event in Vancouver, Canada against Nunes last month, Peña was forced to withdraw from the title headliner after suffering fractured ribs in the run-up to the bout.

Eventually, Nunes headlined in another one-sided judging win over replacement, Irene Aldana – and immediately confirmed her decision to retire from mixed martial arts competition off the back of the title retention.

Julianna Peña claims Amanda Nunes took the “easy way out” following UFC 288

Irate following her rival’s decision to call time on her illustrious career, Peña has since claimed that Nunes has taken the easy way of a potential future rubber match.

“It’s just a little frustrating and I think I was definitely showing my frustration there cageside, which of course that’s what I’m gonna do when they’re sticking the camera in my face and asking me what’re my thoughts after every single round,” Julianna Peña told ESPN. “I got a little ahead of myself.”

“As a mom, as a human, I wish her the best,” Julianna Peña continued. “Enjoy your retirement, you know what I mean? Have a good time. But on a professional level, I’m like, you can’t go when we’re 1-1. You gotta finish it out. You gotta see it through. So, I think she knew what was in store for her and that’s why she chose the easy way out and I guess we’ll never know.”

Henry Cejudo shuts down retirement talk amid UFC 288 loss: ‘I can’t let this go like this’

Former undisputed UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion, Henry Cejudo insists he will not hang up his gloves despite much speculation earlier this month, having failed in his pursuit to recapture 135lbs gold in a championship outing against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288. Headlining the promotion’s return to Newark, New Jersey for the flagship event, Los […]

Headlining the promotion’s return to Newark, New Jersey for the flagship event, Los Angeles-born challenger, Cejudo snapped a three-year plus hiatus from the sport, having retired from active mixed martial arts competition back in May 2020 following a successful title defense against Dominick Cruz.

And despite turning in a valiant effort against Sterling in their back-and-forth title affair at UFC 288 earlier this month in ‘The Garden State’, Cejudo, an Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling to boot, suffered a split decision (48-47, 47-48, 47-48) defeat to Uniondale native, Sterling.

Henry Cejudo sets sights on UFC 292 return against Merab Dvalishvili

Initially weighing up his future in the sport, Cejudo, who then quickly suggested a UFC 292 return in August against the number one ranked, Merab Dvalishvili in the promotion’s return to the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts – has now set the story straight on his fighting future, slamming the door on a retirement.

“It’s not over,” Henry Cejudo said on his YouTube channel. “I can’t let this go like this. I just can’t. There’s like a fire burning through my veins, a little bit of anger as you want to say. Want, will, desire, determination. And it has nothing to do with Aljamain (Sterling) or anybody else, but it’s myself. How far and how fast can I push this body? So, the challenge changes. You’re gouging from trying to accomplish something that nobody’s ever done to going back and really analyzing the timeline of when you really retired and what I have to do now to get what I want. This isn’t about Aljamain. This is about me. This is about my dream.”

“I want Merab’s (Dvalishvili) head on a plate,” Henry Cejudo explained. “He’s the number one contender. I love the style. Stylistically, he’s gonna fight me the same way that Aljo tried to fight. I love the matchup. I love the fact that he’s the number one contender. I love the storyline, the fact him and Aljo are best friends. It’s personal now. It puts me in position to fight for the belt again. And I think that’s what I’m after now.”

Merab Dvalishvili details the moment he stole Sean O’Malley’s jacket at UFC 288: ‘Yeah, he was p*ssed off’

Though he didn’t actually compete at the event, Merab Dvalishvili provided one of the more memorable moments at UFC 288 earlier this month. In the main event of the evening, Dvalishvili’s close friend and reigning bantamweight world champion, Aljamain Sterling, successfully defended his title against returning Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo. After the split decision […]

Though he didn’t actually compete at the event, Merab Dvalishvili provided one of the more memorable moments at UFC 288 earlier this month.

In the main event of the evening, Dvalishvili’s close friend and reigning bantamweight world champion, Aljamain Sterling, successfully defended his title against returning Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo. After the split decision in his favor was announced, ‘Funk Master’ was joined in the Octagon by the man he is expected to face next, Sean O’Malley. As things began to get heated between Sterling and O’Malley, ‘Sugar’ took off his jack which ended up in the hands of top-ranked bantamweight standout, Merab Dvalishvili. Moments later, hilarity ensued.

Speaking about the now-viral moment, Merab Dvalishvili told Ariel Helwani that he was initially in the Octagon to prevent anything from escalating between Sterling and O’Malley.

“I tried to get there [for the faceoff] quick, make sure I stay there, because [then I could] make sure [O’Malley] doesn’t do something stupid or his coach or somebody,” Merab Dvalishvili said on The MMA Hour. “I was there just in case, and when he started talking sh*t, I said, ‘Yo, yo, chill, chill.’ I was smiling, because ‘Aljo’ and him are going to fight, but I don’t want to be disrespectful to O’Malley, but I also I want to tell him, ‘This is Aljo’s moment. Yo, a little bit chill. Just be respectful for a champion.’ And he started taking [off his] jacket and I was there — and I can’t wait to grab his jacket.

“As soon as he takes it off — I help him actually to take off the hand and then I grab it — Al [Iaquinta] was next to me and then he told me, ‘Don’t give him it back.’ And then I’m like looking [around for] one second, I said, ‘I have an even better idea,’ and then I put it on. What’s he going to do?

“And soon as security break them a little bit,” Dvalishvili continued, “I just ran to the cage and I just celebrate the new jacket.”

Merab Dvalishvili was surprised to find that the jacket fit as well as it did considering his 5’6″ frame versus that of O’Malley who stands at 5’11” with a much lankier physique.

“Actually, I liked the jacket. Like I said, man, I don’t like Henry Cejudo’s team jacket. I like O’Malley’s jacket,” Merab Dvalishvili said. “I was scared if it was going to fit, because I have a lot of muscle. This guy is skinny. But because I guess he’s tall and he looks like a Christmas tree, it fit good on me.”

Merab Dvalishvili Wants a Piece of Sean O’Malley After Aljamain Sterling is Through With Him

What ensued would become a viral moment that had fans and fighters laughing inside the Prudential Center and all over social media. Even Sean O’Malley admitted to being amused by Dvalishvili’s antics, though it was clear that in the moment, he was not entertained.

“This Christmas tree, I don’t care [if he was upset],” Dvalishvili said. “Sometimes he’s funny, sometimes he’s a little boy. Sometimes I like him, sometimes I’m not sure, because come on, he should never disrespect the champion and he shouldn’t act like this, act like a little kid. So yeah, and then when I jumped back [in the cage] and I saw, yeah, he was pissed off.

“I was feeling bad for him because he was standing naked [so I gave it back]. He’s a skinny guy. I don’t want to get him sick and make an excuse Aljo’s fight or something like that.”

Merab Dvalishvili also suggested that a bout between himself and Sean O’Malley could be on the docket once his highly anticipated clash with ‘Funk Master’ is in the books.

“Let me tell you what, so let’s do this. O’Malley vs. Aljo. And Aljo will beat him, and then [O’Malley] can fight me,” Dvalishvili said. “Actually he DM’d me after I fought Petr Yan, he DM’d me, he texted me, ‘Hey, great fight. When the right time comes, I can’t wait to fight you.’

“That was nice of him, because I was chasing him all five years [of my UFC career] … and he never responded. And after Petr Yan’s fight, he did text me that I will fight him when the right time comes. And after Aljo beats him, that will be the right time” (h/t MMA Fighting)

Kron Gracie addresses criticizm of UFC 288 performance: ‘I was trying to please the Jiu-Jitsu community’

UFC featherweight grappler, Kron Gracie has addressed criticizm and flak thrown his way following his recent one-sided unanimous decision loss to Charles Jourdain at UFC 288 earlier this month – claiming “bad advice” led to his lacklustre outing. Snapping a lenghty three year hiatus from professional mixed martial arts competition earlier this month at UFC […]

Snapping a lenghty three year hiatus from professional mixed martial arts competition earlier this month at UFC 288 in Newark, New Jersey – Gracie suffered his second consecutive Octagon defeat at the hands of Canadian striker, Charles Jourdain, in a one-sided unanimous decision loss.

In a much analysed and critiqued performance, Gracie was blasted by UFC president Dana White, who claimed his viewing his performance as like going back in time to mixed martial arts viewing in 1995.

Kron Gracie had entered the UFC boasting an undefeated 4-0 professional record

Embarking on a five-fight undefeated run prior to his two back-to-back losses, including an Octagon debut win over Alex Caceres where he turned in a first round rear-naked choke submission win, Gracie had landed successive submission wins over Asen Yamamoto, Hideo Tokoro, and Tatsuya Kawajiri under the banner of Rizin FF prior to his UFC move.

"When you come out like that and you look like you’re watching Royce Gracie at UFC 2."

Alan Jouban on Kron Gracie's UFC 288 performance. pic.twitter.com/USXDftgH16

— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) May 10, 2023

However, claiming “bad advice” led to his disappointing performance against Jourdain in his pay-per-view event return, Gracie also claimed that he was just trying to “please the Jiu-Jitsu community” with his grappling-heavy approach at UFC 288.

“In a lifetime of fighting, it’s always been a fight to the death,” Kron Gracie posted on his Instagram Stories. “Understand the situation and willing to limit myself, even that being said I threw no punches because of bad advice and tried to please the Jiu-Jitsu community two days before my fight.”

“First fight in my life I didn’t throw a punch, going back to my old ways,” Kron Gracie explained.

A decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grappler, Gracie landed gold at the 2013 ADCC World Championship in Beijing, China.

Sean O’Malley says Henry Cejudo ‘Lucked out’ by not having to fight him: ‘I would have loved to sleep him’

Sean O’Malley was disappointed to see Aljamain Sterling secure a split decision victory over Henry Cejudo earlier this month. The former two-division champion made his long-awaited return to the Octagon at UFC 288, challenging reigning bantamweight titleholder Aljamain Sterling in the evening’s main event. Despite a valiant effort, Cejudo came up short on two of […]

Sean O’Malley was disappointed to see Aljamain Sterling secure a split decision victory over Henry Cejudo earlier this month.

The former two-division champion made his long-awaited return to the Octagon at UFC 288, challenging reigning bantamweight titleholder Aljamain Sterling in the evening’s main event. Despite a valiant effort, Cejudo came up short on two of the judges’ scorecards, setting the stage for a matchup between ‘Funk Master’ and the No. 2 ranked contender, Sean O’Malley.

Speaking with Ariel Helwani, O’Malley admitted that he would prefer to have faced Henry Cejudo for the bantamweight title, but in the end, ‘Triple C’ lucked out by not having to step inside the Octagon with him.

“I think Henry lucked out,” O’Malley said on The MMA Hour. “He got lucky he lost that fight because I do believe I would have put Henry’s lights out. He stands there with his chin up. I’m sure you saw Conor [McGregor’s] tweet and stuff, that was absolutely hilarious because Henry, he thinks he’s just this—He has a good résumé, he’s really good, don’t get me wrong, but he thinks he invented play sparring. He thinks he’s just this guy that is the incredible guy, it’s just annoying. So I would have loved to sleep that dude.

“He walks out there with his chin up, he fights like he’s 6-foot-3, he’s not. He fights like he’s a tall guy and you think being as smart as he is he would have a little bit better style, but I was just fired up in there.”

The Conor McGregor tweet mentioned by Sean O’Malley featured the Irish superstar mocking Cejudo while celebrating Aljamain Sterling’s victory. In true McGregor style, the post was deleted shortly after, but not before ‘Triple C’ had an opportunity to issue a response saying McGregor “don’t got sh*t on my résumé.”

Sean O’Malley Believes Henry Cejudo Beat Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288

Though he believes Henry Cejudo did enough to win the fight, Sean O’Malley was critical of the Olympic gold medalist’s performance, specifically noting his awkward stance just as McGregor did.

“He did well, I honestly thought he had won the fight, but it’s just like, maybe ‘Captain’ [Eric Albarracin] told him to stand like that?’ O’Malley said. “I don’t know if he thought of it himself, but for someone that speaks so highly of themselves, you think he would have a little bit better style being his kind of build.”

Sean O’Malley sees a fight with Henry Cejudo as a more lucrative opportunity, but with Sterling’s win at UFC 288, he believes that could have raised the bantamweight champion’s stock enough to generate some series pay-per-view buys when the two eventually meet inside the Octagon.

“I think [Cejudo is the bigger money fight], but now that Aljo beat Henry, me vs. Aljo is still a really big fight,” O’Malley said. “I think me vs. Henry is a little bit bigger fight, but not much difference. Those guys are similar draws. I’m very curious what the pay-per-views did for this fight. I think me vs. Aljo could double it—Or I could double it, sorry.”

According to Cejudo’s coach Eric Albarracin, UFC 288 scored an estimated 700,000 pay-per-view buys.

While his next matchup will undoubtedly be against Aljamain Sterling for the 135-pound crown later this year, Sean O’Malley hopes that the door remains open for a potential showdown with Henry Cejudo.

“You can’t tell me you wouldn’t like to punch him in the face,” O’Malley said. “He’s just got that face. That big head, short arms, short legs, he’s 5-foot-4, he fights with his chin higher than—I don’t know, there’s just something about Henry I would have loved to smack him.

“Who knows, maybe somewhere down the line somewhere if he doesn’t quit again, then we can make that happen.”