Tag: ufc 310

Aljamain Sterling’s Teammate On Trading Punches With Fan Who Antagonized Dvalishvili At UFC 310: ‘Hopefully No Charges Pressed…’

On his The Weekly Scraps Podcast, Aljamain Sterling looked to recap his recent fight at UFC 310 this past weekend. In his second fight at featherweight, the former bantamweight champion lost a close decision to Movsar Evloev who now occupies the #4-ranking at 145-pounds. Though his prelim bout with the undefeated Russian certainly delivered, there […]

On his The Weekly Scraps Podcast, Aljamain Sterling looked to recap his recent fight at UFC 310 this past weekend. In his second fight at featherweight, the former bantamweight champion lost a close decision to Movsar Evloev who now occupies the #4-ranking at 145-pounds.

Though his prelim bout with the undefeated Russian certainly delivered, there was another major talking point regarding Sterling’s team. His long-time training partner and coach, the bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, got into a heated exchange with a member of the audience inside the T-Mobile Arena.

A video posted on social media shows that as they were walking to the back after the fight, Dvalishvili had to be separated from this fan only for their other teammate and cornerman, Dennis Buzukja, to trade punches with him before security could break it up. Dvalishvili has since shared a video that claims that the fan is actually a close friend of the likes of Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov, who the champion faces at UFC 311 in January.

Buzukja, who last fought in the UFC this past August, detailed his side of the story during the podcast.

“I don’t know if he had touched Merab as we were walking in, but somehow he got Merab’s attention and then Merab went and tapped his shoulder and just gave him the finger and then the guy gave him the finger back or whatever, he got all jumpy.

“Then as the fight finished and we’re walking back on the other side, this f****** guy comes across the whole crowd and then goes and, you’ve seen the video, he grabs Merab’s arm and then says something to him in, I guess Russian or whatever he said, and Merab started going crazy. Then we got into a little physical altercation, but that was really it. So hopefully no charges pressed and we move on.”

Buzukja went on to say that he had first got involved in the confrontation to dry and diffuse the situation but that quickly changed once he was assaulted.

“I went and approached him and I just put his hand down, I was trying to deescalate and tell him, ‘Yo, calm down, bro. Relax.’ Merab was going away, I just wanted to tell him to relax, have some respect. Then he cracked me first, actually, he cracked me with a nice little left hook and then it was just instinct to hit him back. Then security came in, but part of me is like, ‘Should I just drop the bucket and just jump over and start swinging?’ Just go full, f****** degenerate, but I’m glad it didn’t happen that way.”

Kai Asakura Doesn’t Lose Confidence After UFC 310 Debut Loss: I’ll ‘Definitely’ Become Champion

Kai Asakura didn’t get the fairy tale UFC debut that he was hoping for this past weekend in Las Vegas. The former two-time RIZIN bantamweight champion was expecting to face top opposition right away after signing to the UFC but due to the current state of the flyweight division, he went straight into a title […]

Kai Asakura didn’t get the fairy tale UFC debut that he was hoping for this past weekend in Las Vegas. The former two-time RIZIN bantamweight champion was expecting to face top opposition right away after signing to the UFC but due to the current state of the flyweight division, he went straight into a title shot at the last PPV card of 2024.

Though Asakura was calm and composed throughout fight week and showed why he is such an exciting addition in the main event of UFC 310, facing the champion, Alexandre Pantoja, proved to be a step too far for him right now. The Brazilian secured his third consecutive title defense after taking his challenger’s back and choking him out in the second round.

The Japanese star may have come up short but losing to the champion on his debut is only the start of his career in the UFC. With a top 15 ranking now next to his name, the 31-year old can look to build himself back towards the 125-pound gold.

He’s done this before in RIZIN where despite suffering some substantial defeats, Asakura was able to reclaim the bantamweight title in his final fight before signing to the UFC. The title challenger posted a message on Instagram where he thanked his fans and apologized to them.

Despite this latest setback, he states that he isn’t discouraged from his dreams of becoming the champion one day.

“Thank you for all your support. I’m sorry I couldn’t get back with results. Great champions and I was still weak. I didn’t get it this time though I’ll definitely rise up and become a champion. Always have and will keep doing it until I can. I will come back stronger.”

Vicente Luque Reveals Only Non-Top 10 Opponent He’ll Accept After UFC 310: ‘I Have An Exception…’ 

Following a crucial victory at this past weekend’s pay-per-view, UFC welterweight Vicente Luque’s eyes are on those above him at 170 pounds — unless… Luque made the walk at UFC 310 off the back of a 2-3 run across his previous five fights and a difficult knockout loss at the hands of Joaquin Buckley earlier […]

Following a crucial victory at this past weekend’s pay-per-view, UFC welterweight Vicente Luque’s eyes are on those above him at 170 pounds — unless…

Luque made the walk at UFC 310 off the back of a 2-3 run across his previous five fights and a difficult knockout loss at the hands of Joaquin Buckley earlier this year. With that, his place in the divisional top 15 was at stake.

But while Themba Gorimbo entered his short-notice opportunity to rise the ranks with momentum from four straight wins, “The Silent Assassin” showed that he has plenty left in the tank by putting on an emphatic and dominant performance.

It took the Brazilian-American just 52 seconds to stall the Zimbabwean’s push toward contention, first dropping him on the feet before choking him unconscious with a tight anaconda choke.

During his post-fight press conference, Luque reflected on his return to the win column inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena and looked ahead to what could await him in the new year.

After reiterating his title aspirations, the 33-year-old unsurprisingly outlined his intention to face a name high up the welterweight ladder in 2025. But Luque would entertain one name who is far from being in the championship conversation.

“2025 is that run for the title, and I want that Miami card. I want top 10, but I have an exception,” Luque said. “If Masvidal really wants to step back in there, and he wants to get it done, I would love to have a battle against him.

“I want him as an opponent because I know it’s going to be a war,” Luque continued. “I know that the fans are going to enjoy that, and I know that we both can deliver a battle.”

Masvidal hasn’t competed since a decision defeat to Gilbert Burns at the Miami-held UFC 287 PPV in April 2023. The result, which marked a fourth straight loss for “Gamebred,” was quickly followed by a retirement announcement that many in the community supported.

But after competing against former Octagon rival Nate Diaz in the boxing ring, the ex-BMF champ has insisted that a UFC return is in store next year.

It remains to be seen who that MMA comeback will come against, but Luque evidently fancies his chances in what would no doubt be one of the more high-profile bouts in his career.

Vicente Luque Reveals Only Non-Top 10 Opponent He’ll Accept After UFC 310: ‘I Have An Exception…’ 

Following a crucial victory at this past weekend’s pay-per-view, UFC welterweight Vicente Luque’s eyes are on those above him at 170 pounds — unless… Luque made the walk at UFC 310 off the back of a 2-3 run across his previous five fights and a difficult knockout loss at the hands of Joaquin Buckley earlier […]

Following a crucial victory at this past weekend’s pay-per-view, UFC welterweight Vicente Luque’s eyes are on those above him at 170 pounds — unless…

Luque made the walk at UFC 310 off the back of a 2-3 run across his previous five fights and a difficult knockout loss at the hands of Joaquin Buckley earlier this year. With that, his place in the divisional top 15 was at stake.

But while Themba Gorimbo entered his short-notice opportunity to rise the ranks with momentum from four straight wins, “The Silent Assassin” showed that he has plenty left in the tank by putting on an emphatic and dominant performance.

It took the Brazilian-American just 52 seconds to stall the Zimbabwean’s push toward contention, first dropping him on the feet before choking him unconscious with a tight anaconda choke.

During his post-fight press conference, Luque reflected on his return to the win column inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena and looked ahead to what could await him in the new year.

After reiterating his title aspirations, the 33-year-old unsurprisingly outlined his intention to face a name high up the welterweight ladder in 2025. But Luque would entertain one name who is far from being in the championship conversation.

“2025 is that run for the title, and I want that Miami card. I want top 10, but I have an exception,” Luque said. “If Masvidal really wants to step back in there, and he wants to get it done, I would love to have a battle against him.

“I want him as an opponent because I know it’s going to be a war,” Luque continued. “I know that the fans are going to enjoy that, and I know that we both can deliver a battle.”

Masvidal hasn’t competed since a decision defeat to Gilbert Burns at the Miami-held UFC 287 PPV in April 2023. The result, which marked a fourth straight loss for “Gamebred,” was quickly followed by a retirement announcement that many in the community supported.

But after competing against former Octagon rival Nate Diaz in the boxing ring, the ex-BMF champ has insisted that a UFC return is in store next year.

It remains to be seen who that MMA comeback will come against, but Luque evidently fancies his chances in what would no doubt be one of the more high-profile bouts in his career.

Vicente Luque Reveals Only Non-Top 10 Opponent He’ll Accept After UFC 310: ‘I Have An Exception…’ 

Following a crucial victory at this past weekend’s pay-per-view, UFC welterweight Vicente Luque’s eyes are on those above him at 170 pounds — unless… Luque made the walk at UFC 310 off the back of a 2-3 run across his previous five fights and a difficult knockout loss at the hands of Joaquin Buckley earlier […]

Following a crucial victory at this past weekend’s pay-per-view, UFC welterweight Vicente Luque’s eyes are on those above him at 170 pounds — unless…

Luque made the walk at UFC 310 off the back of a 2-3 run across his previous five fights and a difficult knockout loss at the hands of Joaquin Buckley earlier this year. With that, his place in the divisional top 15 was at stake.

But while Themba Gorimbo entered his short-notice opportunity to rise the ranks with momentum from four straight wins, “The Silent Assassin” showed that he has plenty left in the tank by putting on an emphatic and dominant performance.

It took the Brazilian-American just 52 seconds to stall the Zimbabwean’s push toward contention, first dropping him on the feet before choking him unconscious with a tight anaconda choke.

During his post-fight press conference, Luque reflected on his return to the win column inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena and looked ahead to what could await him in the new year.

After reiterating his title aspirations, the 33-year-old unsurprisingly outlined his intention to face a name high up the welterweight ladder in 2025. But Luque would entertain one name who is far from being in the championship conversation.

“2025 is that run for the title, and I want that Miami card. I want top 10, but I have an exception,” Luque said. “If Masvidal really wants to step back in there, and he wants to get it done, I would love to have a battle against him.

“I want him as an opponent because I know it’s going to be a war,” Luque continued. “I know that the fans are going to enjoy that, and I know that we both can deliver a battle.”

Masvidal hasn’t competed since a decision defeat to Gilbert Burns at the Miami-held UFC 287 PPV in April 2023. The result, which marked a fourth straight loss for “Gamebred,” was quickly followed by a retirement announcement that many in the community supported.

But after competing against former Octagon rival Nate Diaz in the boxing ring, the ex-BMF champ has insisted that a UFC return is in store next year.

It remains to be seen who that MMA comeback will come against, but Luque evidently fancies his chances in what would no doubt be one of the more high-profile bouts in his career.

UFC Rankings Report: Kai Asakura Debuts In Flyweight Top 15 After UFC 310 Loss

As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away. And in the aftermath of UFC 310, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings. Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Alexandre Pantoja emerged victorious from Saturday’s main event, choking out newcomer Kai Asakura […]

As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

And in the aftermath of UFC 310, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Alexandre Pantoja emerged victorious from Saturday’s main event, choking out newcomer Kai Asakura to stay flyweight kingpin. As a result, the Brazilian has received a boost up the P4P ladder, now sharing the #9 spot with Leon Edwards. Pantoja’s two-place rise has seen Alexander Volkanovski slip the same distance back to #11.

Women’s Pound-for-Pound: TBC

Women’s Strawweight: TBC

Women’s Flyweight: TBC

Women’s Bantamweight: TBC

Flyweight: While unsuccessful in capturing gold on his debut, Asakura has still joined the ranks of contenders with numbers next to their names at 125 pounds. The Japanese star has arrived at #14, with UFC 310 victor Joshua Van also entering at #15. Those debuts have led to Cody Durden, Van’s defeated opponent, and Matt Schnell exiting the UFC rankings.

Bantamweight: TBC

Featherweight: Movsar Evloev kept his undefeated record intact on the UF 310 preliminary card, getting past former bantamweight kingpin Aljamain Sterling in a competitive grappling affair. The Russian has now climbed one spot to #4 in the division, demoting Yair Rodríguez to #5.

Lightweight: TBC

Welterweight: Shavkat Rakhmonov was among the biggest winners in Las Vegas on Saturday night, as he fought through a torn MCL to outpoint former training partner Ian Garry in the co-main event. The triumph has elevated him above Kamaru Usman to #2 in the UFC rankings ahead of an expected title shot in 2025. The Irishman, meanwhile, has stayed put at #7.

Middleweight: TBC

Light Heavyweight: The resurgence of Dominick Reyes continued at UFC 310, where he dominantly put away fellow former title challenger Anthony Smith by way of TKO. “The Devastator” is now up one position to #11, leaving Azamat Murzakanov a place worse off at #11. “Lionheart,” meanwhile, has continued to slip down the pecking order. He;’s now been passed by Bogdan Guskov (#13) and occupies the #14 spot.

Heavyweight: TBC

You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.