Tag: UFC 304

Paddy Pimblett Outlines Four-Fight Path To The Title After UFC 304 Return: ‘Moicano, Dariush…’

Paddy Pimblett recently revealed that he has already envisioned several potential opponents as he charts his course to the UFC lightweight title. Pimblett is set to square off against King Green on the main card of UFC 304, scheduled to take place at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, on July 27. “The Baddy’s” […]

Continue Reading Paddy Pimblett Outlines Four-Fight Path To The Title After UFC 304 Return: ‘Moicano, Dariush…’ at MMA News.

Paddy Pimblett recently revealed that he has already envisioned several potential opponents as he charts his course to the UFC lightweight title.

Pimblett is set to square off against King Green on the main card of UFC 304, scheduled to take place at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, on July 27.

“The Baddy’s” upcoming fight will mark his first return to the Octagon since his unanimous decision victory over lightweight veteran Tony Ferguson at UFC 296 last December. The 29-year-old Scouser has enjoyed an impressive five-fight win streak since joining the UFC in September 2021 and is eager to dazzle his home fans with another triumph.

Pimblett is preparing for his sixth Octagon assignment, which also marks the final fight on his current contract. While a triumph in this bout would propel him into the lightweight rankings, Pimblett is already plotting his ascent to UFC gold…

Who Are The Fighters Pimblett Is Targeting Next?

During a recent interview with New York Post Sports, Pimblett chalked out his strategy leading up to a potential UFC lightweight title shot after his comeback bout at UFC 304.

The Liverpudlian shared his ambition to fight Renato Moicano after his bout with Green, with whom he has been sparring verbally on social media for several months. Following this, he plans to take on Beneil Dariush.

After these matchups, Pimblett has his sights set on challenging a top-five contender in the lightweight rankings.

“Well, obviously Bobby Green, then I fight Moicano,” Pimblett said. “Moicano’s ranked #10 at the minute, but then he’s fighting [Benoît] Saint Denis, isn’t he? So, then, we could end up, win or lose, he could end up going down, but I’d love that.

“Moicano, then Dariush would be perfect. He’s ranked, like, #7 or #8, and then someone in the top five, know what I mean? And then, obviously, go for the belt, if possible.”

Pimblett has long been a prominent figure in the European mixed martial arts scene thanks to his impressive stint with Cage Warriors, where he clinched the featherweight championship.

His popularity has only flourished throughout his time in the Octagon, marked by victories over notable opponents such as Ferguson, Jared Gordon, and Jordan Leavitt.

Continue Reading Paddy Pimblett Outlines Four-Fight Path To The Title After UFC 304 Return: ‘Moicano, Dariush…’ at MMA News.

Coach Eric Nicksick Lays Heavy Praise On Tom Aspinall Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘He Hits Pads Like Some Of My 145ers’ 

Renowned mixed martial arts coach Eric Nicksick was left impressed by the ability of Tom Aspinall when the interim UFC heavyweight champion stopped by the Xtreme Couture gym. Aspinall is currently gearing up for his first assignment of 2024. It’s set to be a big one, as he’ll defend the interim belt in a rematch […]

Continue Reading Coach Eric Nicksick Lays Heavy Praise On Tom Aspinall Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘He Hits Pads Like Some Of My 145ers’  at MMA News.

Renowned mixed martial arts coach Eric Nicksick was left impressed by the ability of Tom Aspinall when the interim UFC heavyweight champion stopped by the Xtreme Couture gym.

Aspinall is currently gearing up for his first assignment of 2024. It’s set to be a big one, as he’ll defend the interim belt in a rematch with veteran contender Curtis Blaydes in the co-main event of the UFC 304 pay-per-view.

While not the unification showdown with Jon Jones that he had hoped for, Aspinall will be making the walk in front of his home crowd, with Manchester’s Co-op Live hosting UFC action for the very first time.

Should Aspinall emerge with the interim title still in his possession, those pushing for Jones to abandon his plans to face Stipe Miocic will no doubt grow louder. Many of them are so high on Aspinall that they believe he could get the better of the consensus greatest of all time.

And when it comes to those with a keen eye for talent, Aspinall couldn’t do much better than one recent endorsement…

Nicksick High On Aspinall After Xtreme Couture Training

During a recent interview with talkSPORT MMA, Xtreme Couture coach Eric Nicksick looked ahead to the UFC’s next numbered event, paying particular attention to one of two champs set to headline it on July 27.

During a trip to the US earlier this year, Aspinall got some work in with Nicksick at his Las Vegas facility. In addition to the pair bonding and forming a friendship, the renowned coach got to see first hand the kind of skills that have left the interim champ widely branded the leader in the next generation of heavyweights.

“Man, he was just as advertised as an athlete, but I think moreover just the human being that he is,” Nicksick said. “You see these guys on TV and you see their athleticism and how well they fight. That’s one thing, but then when you get to meet the individual and actually have a conversation with him and see how great of a human being they are, that even raises your level of enthusiasm.

“Him and his brother came in and they were just a joy to work with,” Nicksick continued. “I’m a Tom Aspinall fan and I’m super excited to see him fight. … He’s in that top three (heavyweights in the world), a hundred percent. And I think he’s just scratching the surface with his potential. The athleticism that he has, from the feet to the floor, what he’s able to do, all of it is very high level. The thing I noticed the most about him was his feet, how well he moved side to side; his lateral moment, his speed. … Honest to god, he hits pads like some of my 145ers. He understands the angles and how to hit and not be hit.”

Aspinall will look to show the talents Nicksick mentioned when he makes the walk on home soil for the third consecutive year.

And having had his headliner with Blaydes end in disaster in the summer of 2022, the Manchester native has the chance to right that wrong and avenge the sole setback on his UFC slate thus far.

Nicksick himself will likely be watching on, be it from the arena or fighter hotel in the English city. The top coach is scheduled to be at UFC 304 to corner Manel Kape for his flyweight showdown with Muhammad Mokaev on the main card.

Continue Reading Coach Eric Nicksick Lays Heavy Praise On Tom Aspinall Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘He Hits Pads Like Some Of My 145ers’  at MMA News.

Paddy Pimblett Explains Willingness To Box Jake Paul As Current UFC Contract Nears Its End: ‘It’s All About Money…’

Paddy Pimblett will look to go undefeated in six Octagon appearances when he returns at UFC 304 on July 27. His fight with King Green is sure to draw lots of attention, like all of Pimblett’s fights have since the former Cage Warriors champion signed to the promotion and debuted back in 2021. “The Baddy” […]

Continue Reading Paddy Pimblett Explains Willingness To Box Jake Paul As Current UFC Contract Nears Its End: ‘It’s All About Money…’ at MMA News.

Paddy Pimblett will look to go undefeated in six Octagon appearances when he returns at UFC 304 on July 27.

His fight with King Green is sure to draw lots of attention, like all of Pimblett’s fights have since the former Cage Warriors champion signed to the promotion and debuted back in 2021.

“The Baddy” quickly became a big name on the UFC roster, but he has recently hinted at the idea of taking his huge profile elsewhere in order to cash in on a big payday.

Pimblett revealed that his clash with Green in Manchester will be the last on his UFC contract, suggesting that he could be tempted to step inside a boxing ring if someone was to offer him a lot of money to do so.

Paddy Pimblett Open To Boxing Jake Paul Once His UFC Contract Expires

During a recent interview with BestOnlinePokerSites, Pimblett once again referenced how he could be tempted to step through the ropes if he gets the right offer.

The Scouse fighter was giving his opinion on Jake Paul’s return to the ring this Saturday night against Mike Perry. He gave props to “The Problem Child” before stating that he also wouldn’t mind stepping in there with him, referencing his mindset when it comes to the fight game.

“Give Jake Paul his dues for that one. I didn’t think he’d fight someone like Mike Perry. He’s fought a load of f****** clowns. Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley when they were both over 40, Anderson’s a Thai boxer and Woodley’s a wrestler – but Mike Perry is a boxer, he’s a striker, he’s got hands. So I’ll be honest, Jake Paul has gained a little bit of respect from me.

“If Jake Paul sends a contract over for a couple of million dollars and wants to fight me, let’s do it. We’re prize fighters at the end of the day. That’s what people forget. We do this to get paid. It’s all about money.”

In the same interview, Pimblett also gave his reaction to Conor McGregor downplaying the card for UFC 304, which will see the Octagon return to the North of England.

The lightweight contender responded and again referenced wanting to compete in a boxing match if he receives an offer after this next contest.

“That’s a mad one, and I really like Conor – but if anyone ever put his name on a contract and sent it to me, I’d be like, cha-ching! You never know. We’ll see what happens. I’ll be negotiating after this fight. One of these f*****g stupid influencers might get on and want to have me a boxing match for a couple of million. And I’ll be in!”

Continue Reading Paddy Pimblett Explains Willingness To Box Jake Paul As Current UFC Contract Nears Its End: ‘It’s All About Money…’ at MMA News.

Molly McCann Vows She & Paddy Pimblett Will ‘Steal The Show Again’ At UFC 304

UFC strawweight Molly McCann expects to light up Manchester’s Co-op Live alongside friend and teammate Paddy Pimblett next weekend. The two Liverpudlian fan favorites will both be in action at the upcoming UFC 304 pay-per-view event, which sees mixed martial arts’ premier promotion cross the pond to stage an event in an English city other […]

Continue Reading Molly McCann Vows She & Paddy Pimblett Will ‘Steal The Show Again’ At UFC 304 at MMA News.

UFC strawweight Molly McCann expects to light up Manchester’s Co-op Live alongside friend and teammate Paddy Pimblett next weekend.

The two Liverpudlian fan favorites will both be in action at the upcoming UFC 304 pay-per-view event, which sees mixed martial arts’ premier promotion cross the pond to stage an event in an English city other than London for the first time post-pandemic.

In the capital, the pair have had their fair share of success, with both going 2-0 at The O2 with standout UFC Fight Night performances in 2022. Pimblett’s two submissions and McCann’s two knockouts were all rewarded with post-fight bonuses.

They’ll hope to repeat those feats up north on July 27 when Pimblett shoots for the lightweight rankings against King Green and McCann looks to make it back-to-back wins down at strawweight opposite Bruna Brasil.

McCann Predicts Repeat Of 2022 Home Fights For Her, Pimblett

During the latest episode of Paddy Pimblett’s fight camp flog, his fellow Next Generation MMA standout Molly McCann looked ahead to their respective outings at UFC 304 next Saturday night.

Like they did in both March and July of 2022, “Meatball” promised that both she and “The Baddy” will “steal the show” with explosive finishes in front of their home fans.

“We’re getting to the point now where the hunger is on us, but we’re getting closer and closer so it’s more exciting,” McCann said. “We’re just gonna f*cking steal the show again. Two big finishes, ride off into the sunset, and f*ck off to Tenerife after.”

Having come up short in her most recent appearance on home soil in 2023, McCann will be looking to return to the kind of performance that saw her rise in prominence two years ago at the expense of Brasil.

And should she accomplish that feat on the July 27 prelims, the stage will be set for her teammate, as Pimblett has his first opportunity at securing a lightweight ranking on the UFC 304 main card.

Continue Reading Molly McCann Vows She & Paddy Pimblett Will ‘Steal The Show Again’ At UFC 304 at MMA News.

Belal Muhammad urges Colby Covington to retire ahead of UFC 304: ‘There’s nothing left for him’

Belal Muhammad urges Colby Covington to retire ahead of UFC 304 there's nothing left for himFormer interim welterweight champion, Colby Covington has been urged to call time on his mixed martial arts career by…

Belal Muhammad urges Colby Covington to retire ahead of UFC 304 there's nothing left for him

Former interim welterweight champion, Colby Covington has been urged to call time on his mixed martial arts career by rival, Belal Muhammad ahead of his own title charge at UFC 304, claiming there is nothing left for the outspoken veteran in the sport.

Muhammad, who currently boasts the number two rank in the official welterweight pile, returns next weekend at UFC 304, taking on incumbent division champion, and common-foe, Leon Edwards in a title rematch in Manchester.

Belal Muhammad doesn't care about fan support ahead of UFC 304 90% of them are drunks

Himself sidelined through injury since December of last year, Covington most recently took on Birmingham star, Edwards in his third undisputed title fight under the banner of the UFC, suffering a one-sided unanimous decision loss.

And linked with a slew of potential opponents in his return to action, Clovis native, Covington has remained non-receptive to a showdown with unbeaten Dublin striker, Ian Garry, even off the back of his decision win over Michael ‘Venom’ Page at UFC 303 last month.

Belal Muhammad set to serve as backup fighter to Leon Edwards and Colby Covington at UFC 296
Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

Belal Muhammad urges Colby Covington to retire

Sharing his thoughts on the immediate fighting future of Covington – who has campaigned for a future rematch with Edwards, was urged to just retire from mixed martial arts instead by Muhammad.

Colby Covington claims he's still the best welterweight on earth despite loss at UFC 296
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

“Honestly, Colby Covington just needs to retire, there’s literally nothing left for him,” Belal Muhammad told The Schmo. “He’s still trying to attach his glory days to three or four years ago when they thought he was good, but I think everyone figured out now that he sucks and I think that right now he’s just trying to figure out who’s gonna be the next person he can beat up and then he can on the mic and talk trash.”

“He’s kind of like Sean Strickland where he doesn’t have the belt anymore no one cares what he has to say,” Belal Muhammad continued. 

Do you agree with Belal Muhammad’s take on Colby Covington’s future?

UFC Lightweight Gives Paddy Pimblett Props For Contract Situation: ‘If He Wins All His Fights & Leaves, That’s Pretty Amazing’

Paddy Pimblett recently revealed that his return at UFC 304 will be the last fight on his current UFC contract. Though it seems unlikely that “The Baddy”, who has become a huge star in the promotion, will look to leave rather than re-signing, he did speak about the ability to make money in the boxing […]

Continue Reading UFC Lightweight Gives Paddy Pimblett Props For Contract Situation: ‘If He Wins All His Fights & Leaves, That’s Pretty Amazing’ at MMA News.

Paddy Pimblett recently revealed that his return at UFC 304 will be the last fight on his current UFC contract.

Though it seems unlikely that “The Baddy”, who has become a huge star in the promotion, will look to leave rather than re-signing, he did speak about the ability to make money in the boxing world.

Pimblett getting his hand raised on July 27 against King Green (formerly Bobby Green) in Manchester would make him undefeated in six Octagon appearances and will likely see him be ranked in the top 15.

From a negotiation standpoint, this gives him a lot of bargaining power to increase his purses when renewing his contract.

A fellow lightweight contender gave Pimblett some props for the way that he has handled business on the global stage.

Beneil Dariush Praises Paddy Pimblett For Holding Leverage In Future Plans

In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Beneil Dariush spoke about Pimblett’s current contractual situation.

Rather than attacking the Scouse fighter for potentially looking to make the most money possible, Dariush spoke about this wave of fighters who use combat sports as a way to boost their own profiles rather than attempting to be the best in the world.

He says that whilst he isn’t sure whether “The Baddy” came into the promotion with this plan in mind, Pimblett has made himself a big name which will follow him whether he’s in the UFC or not.

Dariush gave credit to his fellow lightweight for potentially having the option on the table to go undefeated inside the Octagon, before walking away to explore a different path.

“There’s like this new idea going on in MMA. Get your name out there, become what I guess you would call an influencer, become an influencer, then you have the ability to make money anywhere, not just the UFC, sometimes you don’t even have to fight. Paddy’s definitely done that well. I don’t know if that was his goal but obviously clearly he’s gotten a lot of attention and he’s got a lot of followers. That being said, that gives him a lot of leverage. A lot of leverage regarding negotiations.

“If he ends up winning this fight, I’m sure the UFC will work with him and they’re going to match him but if not, he can also go anywhere else. That being said, if he ends up leaving, you gotta give him credit. If he wins all his fights and leaves, that’s pretty amazing.”

Read also: Fanmio CEO Releases Statement After Being Sued By Nate Diaz, Accuses Ex-UFC Star Of ‘Salacious & Defamatory’ Claims

Continue Reading UFC Lightweight Gives Paddy Pimblett Props For Contract Situation: ‘If He Wins All His Fights & Leaves, That’s Pretty Amazing’ at MMA News.