Tag: UFC 303

MMA News Today: Dricus Du Plessis Lands Verbal TKO To Israel Adesanya During Heated Staredown At UFC 305 Press Conference, Jon Jones Responds To Rumors Of ‘Spirit Channeling & Magic’ In MMA Following Alex Pereira Fight, & More

Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 3, 2024, we’re taking a look at: Dricus Du Plessis Makes Joking Remark To Israel Adesanya During Heated Faceoff Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya came face to face once again during the press conference […]

Continue Reading MMA News Today: Dricus Du Plessis Lands Verbal TKO To Israel Adesanya During Heated Staredown At UFC 305 Press Conference, Jon Jones Responds To Rumors Of ‘Spirit Channeling & Magic’ In MMA Following Alex Pereira Fight, & More at MMA News.

Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 3, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

  • Du Plessis has the best reply to Adesanya jab
  • Jones gives his side of the story on the use of magic and spirits
  • Diaz knew his own value before taking McGregor opportunity

Dricus Du Plessis Makes Joking Remark To Israel Adesanya During Heated Faceoff

Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya came face to face once again during the press conference that went down yesterday, for their upcoming middleweight title fight.

Before the two rivals meet at UFC 305 on August 17 in Perth, they shared an incredibly tense staredown that is sure to build excitement for their eventual meeting.

Adesanya appeared to be the one to say something to Du Plessis first during the staredown which the middleweight champion was asked about after the press conference.

He jokingly made remarks about something that Adesanya’s last opponent, Sean Strickland, also chose to make fun of throughout the build-up to their fight.

Du Plessis referenced a video of Adesanya and his dog which appears to be a bit of a sore subject for “The Last Stylebender”, as was proven after the Strickland fight.

“I think he said, ‘Don’t kiss me’, as far as I know. I said I’m no dog so I won’t and you know, I don’t really know what he was saying. I wasn’t really focused on what he was saying.”

Jon Jones Says He Has Experienced ‘Spirit Channelling’ & Magic’ For Himself Following UFC 303 Controversy

Alex Pereira and Ji?í Procházka are two of the most intense individuals in the sport when it comes to fight night.

Before UFC 303 got underway, Procházka spoke about how he believed “Poatan” was using the help of magic and spirits in his fight, asking him to abstain in their rematch.

Whilst Pereira offered a classy response to this in his post-fight interview after beating the former champion, UFC heavyweight champ Jon Jones is the latest to weigh in on this.

He posted on social media about how there is some truth to this based on his experiences of stepping into certain arenas and coming up against specific opponents.

“There has been a lot of talk about spirit channeling and magic in MMA lately. This stuff is all very real. I felt all types of weird energies walking into those arenas. Looking certain opponents in the eyes. I want to let you all know that Jesus Christ is king, he is and always will be undefeated. Every knee shall bow.”

Nate Diaz Reveals How He Negotiated A Much Higher Purse For His First Fight With Conor McGregor

Nate Diaz has always been a cult icon in combat sports but UFC 196 was a moment that changed his life forever.

The Stockton fighter became a huge name overnight when he stepped into the main event on late notice to fight Conor McGregor in one of the most iconic moments in the history of the sport.

Diaz was well compensated for stepping up to save the day in place of Rafael Dos Anjos but he did have to put his foot down in order to get a much higher purse than was initially offered.

He told MMA great Demetrious Johnson during an interview on The MightyCast how he knew what his own value was at the time and made sure he was suitably compensated.

“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.”

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’10-7 Diego Lopes’ – Fans React After Lopes & Movsar Evloev Trade Barbs Over UFC 303 Fight On X

UFC featherweight contenders Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev recently exchanged heated words on X, much to the MMA community’s amusement, adding fuel to the already unclear matchmaking situation in the division. Lopes navigated a tumultuous lead-up to his short-notice fight at UFC 303 last Saturday. Despite the chaos, the highly regarded featherweight contender extended his […]

Continue Reading ’10-7 Diego Lopes’ – Fans React After Lopes & Movsar Evloev Trade Barbs Over UFC 303 Fight On X at MMA News.

UFC featherweight contenders Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev recently exchanged heated words on X, much to the MMA community’s amusement, adding fuel to the already unclear matchmaking situation in the division.

Lopes navigated a tumultuous lead-up to his short-notice fight at UFC 303 last Saturday. Despite the chaos, the highly regarded featherweight contender extended his winning streak, triumphing over Dan Ige, who accepted the bout just a few hours before the showdown.

With Brian Ortega unable to compete, Lopes chose to remain on the card and face Ige, who resides near the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and heroically stepped up when the UFC needed him most.

Lopes had his fair share of success with both striking and grappling throughout the first two rounds of their fight. However, Ige mounted a fierce comeback in the final round, pushing the Brazilian to his limits. Despite this, Lopes secured the victory, with all three judges unanimously scoring the bout 29-28 in his favor.

Following Lopes’ triumph, Evloev took to X to propose a rematch against his former opponent at Noche UFC (UFC 306), slated for September 14 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. The undefeated Russian’s challenge came out of apparent frustration with Aljamain Sterling’s reluctance to schedule a fight.

“Hey, @Diegolopesmma, I wanna give you a rematch at the Sphere because @funkmasterMMA is running for his life, and this time, I’m gonna finish you.”

Lopes swiftly fired back at Evloev, accusing him of ignoring his previous callout for a rematch.

“Have you finally realized that the way the UFC pays attention to you is by mentioning my name? Or are you afraid that tomorrow morning I’ll be in your place in the rankings? It took you 3 months to get back to me. Sit back and watch the big guys do the work.”

Lopes’ Apparent Rejection of Evloev’s Offer Sparks Fan Reactions

The two fighters first clashed at UFC 288 in May 2023, where Lopes made his promotional debut on less than a week’s notice. Although he was a fresh face up against a top-ranked opponent, Lopes delivered an impressive performance, narrowly losing a decision in a bout that earned Fight of the Night honors.

Following their initial bout, Lopes has been nearly unstoppable in the UFC, amassing a four-fight win streak. In contrast, Evloev has only competed once, securing a unanimous decision victory over Arnold Allen in January.

Only time will tell if this duo gets the chance to settle their score. However, Lopes has already laid down the gauntlet, expressing his desire to either fight with Ortega or challenge former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at the UFC’s highly anticipated event in September.

Continue Reading ’10-7 Diego Lopes’ – Fans React After Lopes & Movsar Evloev Trade Barbs Over UFC 303 Fight On X at MMA News.

Video – Jiri Prochazka returns to his unusual training methods days after brutal KO loss at UFC 303

Video - Jiri Prochazka returns to his unusual training methods days after brutal KO loss at UFC 303Days after suffering a brutal knockout loss against Alex Pereira, former 205-pound titleholder Jiri Prochazka is already back to…

Video - Jiri Prochazka returns to his unusual training methods days after brutal KO loss at UFC 303

Days after suffering a brutal knockout loss against Alex Pereira, former 205-pound titleholder Jiri Prochazka is already back to training.

‘BJP’ walked into his short-notice UFC 303 headliner looking to take back the gold and score himself a bit of redemption after going down against ‘Poatan’ seven months prior in MSG. Unfortunately, history repeated itself. Like in their first meeting, Pereira finished Prochazka in the second round of their light heavyweight title scrap in T-Mobile Arena, tagging the Czech with a perfectly timed head kick in the opening seconds and finishing things with some rather unnecessary ground-and-pound.

Pereira KO's Jiri Prochazka

Just a few days removed from the disappointing result, Prochazka took to social media, revealing that he is already back to his usually unusual training methods, including punching a wooden plank with his bare hands.

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Jir?i? “BJP” Procha?zka (@jirkaprochazka)

“I will take rest, but now Its time to elevate,” Prochazka wrote on Instagram. “Start again. Smarter, Faster, more precisely. With a SPIRIT of Void.”

Jiri Prochazka promises to ‘evolve to the next level’ after uFC 303 loss

Shortly after going 0-2 against the ‘Brazilian Boogeyman,’ Jiri Prochazka offered congratulations to his opponent and vowed to evolve “to the next level” in her pursuit of reclaiming the light heavyweight title.

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“Hello everyone – thank you for all your support,” Prochazka said in a statement. “Thanks to you Alex for the fight. You was better. And only one thing goes on my mind, that I need to evolve to the next level or don’t fight again. So simple, to be the strongest, this is the way. Thank you. See you in the gym.”

Pereira is now 8-1 inside the Octagon with notable victories over a slew of former UFC champions, including Sean Strickland, Israel Adesanya, Jan Blachowicz, Jamahal Hill, and Jiri Prochazka on two separate occasions.

alex pereira ufc 303

What’s next remains to be seen, but all signs seemingly point toward a clash with No. 2 ranked contender Magomed Anakalaev this October when the promotion heads back to Abu Dhabi for UFC 308.

dec 10 2022 las vegas nevada usa magomed ankalaev

Alex Pereira leapfrogs Jon Jones, lands at #2 in pound-For-Pound rankings after huge title win at UFC 303

Alex Pereira leapfrogs Jon Jones in pound-for-pound rankings after UFC 303 winAmid continued links to a massive heavyweight move and subsequent fight against current champion, Jon Jones in the future,…

Alex Pereira leapfrogs Jon Jones in pound-for-pound rankings after UFC 303 win

Amid continued links to a massive heavyweight move and subsequent fight against current champion, Jon Jones in the future, off the back of UFC 303, Alex Pereira has skipped past the Rochester native in the pound-for-pound rankings, into second position.

Pereira, a former undisputed middleweight champion and the current light heavyweight gold holder, headlined UFC 303 over the course of last weekend against former titleholder, Jiri Prochazka – stopping the Czech Republic native with a thunderous second round high-kick knockout win.

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And staking his claim immediately for a heavyweight divisional leap following his win over Prochazka, former two-weight champion, Pereira has direct sights on a historic third championship win in the process.

“I think that’s in my future,” Alex Pereira told Joe Rogan of a heavyweight move following his devastating win at UFC 303. “You know, I said that the last time I was here [inside the Octagon]. There didn’t seem to be a lot of interest in the organization, but I’m here, and I’m available and I do think that’s in my future.”

pereira ufc 303 prefight

Alex Pereira skips past Jon Jones in UFC pound-for-pound rankings to number two

Drawing immediate links to a super fight with former two-weight champion, Jones – who is steadfast on his own return at UFC 309 in November against veteran ex-heavyweight champion, Stipe Miocic, Pereira has already chalked up a score against the former, surpassing him in the pound-for-pound rankings.

Jon Jones questions weak training of Stipe MIocic ahead of UFC 309 prepare even harder
Mandatory Credit: Patrick T. Fallon – AFP

“Dana White may lose his mind on vacation,” John Morgan posted on X. “Islam Makhachev remains number one in the latest pound-for-pound rankings, while Alex Pereira ascends to number two following his #UFC 303 win. That means Jon Jones falls to number three.”

Admitting fans and pundits alike are clamoring for Pereira to make a heavyweight climb, the above-mentioned, White defended Jones’ status at the best fighter pound-for-pound in the promotion currently – all this despite his actual representation in the pile.

Would you like to see Alex Pereira challenge Jon Jones at heavyweight in the future?

‘Check The Bank Accounts, Check The Bookies’ – UFC Star Accuses Opponent Of Cheating In The Aftermath Of UFC 303

Ian Machado Garry doubles down on his allegations against “MVP”. The lead up to UFC 303 was chaotic to say the least. The postponement of the main event between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler dominated the headlines in the weeks before International Fight Week, and the carousel of replacement fighters that were drafted into (and subsequently fell […]

Continue Reading ‘Check The Bank Accounts, Check The Bookies’ – UFC Star Accuses Opponent Of Cheating In The Aftermath Of UFC 303 at MMA News.

Ian Machado Garry doubles down on his allegations against “MVP”.

The lead up to UFC 303 was chaotic to say the least. The postponement of the main event between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler dominated the headlines in the weeks before International Fight Week, and the carousel of replacement fighters that were drafted into (and subsequently fell back out of) the co-main event slot beggared belief.

The bizarre fight card shake-up continued well into fight day, as Dan Ige was drafted in at the last second to replace Brian Ortega opposite Diego Lopes in scenes never witnessed before in UFC history.

Amidst all the matchmaking chaos, one of the more interesting stories to emerge from the pre-fight press conference was Ian Machado Garry’s accusation that his opponent Michael ‘Venom’ Page had attempted to bribe his team (Chute Boxe) for information regarding his training camp and game plan.

Garry maintains that he has proof of the attempted bribe but that his team rebuffed the advances.

Speaking at the press conference after his unanimous decision victory over ‘MVP’ ‘The Future’ doubled down on the accusations.

“We do all these drug tests, we do all this stuff to go, ‘you’re clean, you’re not doing drugs’…but someone came out here and offered money for my information from my team? Thank God Chute Boxe is f**kin rock solid” said the Irishman. “Thank God Chute Boxe go ‘No’…we shut it down and we locked everything down, nothing went out. We had a blackout on Instagram and stuff and socials”.

‘That’s Filthy And That’s Cheating’ – Garry Doesn’t Let Page Off The Hook

Garry said in the post-fight press conference that he has already reported the allegations to the powers-that-be and also queried whether his opponent may have a history of this kind of behavior – and whether there may be evidence of links to gambling.

“For me, I said to the (Nevada State Athletic) Commission, they were like, ‘Look, there’s no rules against it’. I was like, ‘Well let’s make sure there is, because it’s cheating and it’s dirty and we can’t be doing all this stuff when it comes to testing and making sure the sport’s clean, and then people are being dirty in other regards. So let’s make a rule.

“And also, has anyone ever made money on it? Has there ever been any side bets on it? If you know what I know and I’m putting money on it because we have inside information it’s f**kin dirty…so that’s what I think when I said there should be suspension for life. I believe that if you go check the bank accounts and if you go check the bookies I guarantee there’s been some money won somewhere along the line, and that’s filthy and that’s cheating to me”.

Read More: Ian Garry Frustrated At Getting Another Decision

Continue Reading ‘Check The Bank Accounts, Check The Bookies’ – UFC Star Accuses Opponent Of Cheating In The Aftermath Of UFC 303 at MMA News.

Conor McGregor takes inspiration from Alex Pereira’s win at UFC 303: ‘Excited to secure my new date’

Conor McGregor takes inspiration from Alex Pereira's win at UFC 303 excited to secure my new dateHaving missed out on his scheduled return at UFC 303 in place of a stunning performance from Alex Pereira,…

Conor McGregor takes inspiration from Alex Pereira's win at UFC 303 excited to secure my new date

Having missed out on his scheduled return at UFC 303 in place of a stunning performance from Alex Pereira, ex-champion, Conor McGregor has taken inspiration from the Brazilian as he plots a new timeframe for his own comeback to the Octagon.

Himself slated to headline the International FIght Week card over the course of last weekend, former two-weight champion, McGregor fractured a toe on his left foot in weeks ahead of the pairing, forcing him to scrap a slated welterweight fight against Michael Chandler.

conor jose penuela

The Dubliner’s latest injury setback now extends his hiatus from the Octagon to over three years, most recently featuring at UFC 264 against Dustin Poirier, on that occasion fracturing his left tibia and fibula in an opening round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss. 

Conor McGregor talks up chances of landing new return date

Vowing to return as soon as September, despite claims from UFC CEO, Dana White how the promotion’s scheduled is already mapped out for the remainder of the year, McGegor remains steadfast on landing his new date – tipping his hat to Pereira after the Brazilian defended his injury withdrawal.

Conor Chris Unger UFC 264

“Real recognise real,” Conor McGregor tweeted. “Excited to secure my new date.”

While the former duel-weight champion has sights on a new date with Chandler, the Missouri veteran stunningly claimed overnight how he was offered an October title fight with Islam Makhachev at UFC 308, issuing an ultimatum to McGregor subsequently. 

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Eyeing a massive showdown at the promotion’s Las Vegas Sphere in September atop UFC 307, Chandler claimed if the former’s injury was in his rearview mirror by then, he would entertain a rescheduled fight with the Crumlin striker. 

Do you still think Conor McGregor will fight Michael Chandler later this year?