Tag: UFC Austin

Beneil Dariush weighs up retirement amid UFC Austin knockout loss: ‘Do I go forward or am I done?’

Beneil Dariush weighs up retirement after UFC Austin loss am I donePerennial lightweight contender, Beneil Dariush has revealed he is currently weighing-up his fighting future in mixed martial arts, off…

Beneil Dariush weighs up retirement after UFC Austin loss am I done

Perennial lightweight contender, Beneil Dariush has revealed he is currently weighing-up his fighting future in mixed martial arts, off the back of his second consecutive opening round knockout loss, dropping a devastating defeat to Arman Tsarukyan inside the opening minute of their UFC Austin main event at the beginning of the month.

Dariush, the current number seven ranked lightweight contender, headlined the promotion’s return to Texas earlier this month against Armenian contender, Tsarukyan, suffering his second consecutive defeat in the form of a blistering knockout loss inside the opening minute of their clash.

The defeat came as Dariush’s second on the trot, having dropped a first round ground strikes TKO loss to former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira in the pair’s championship-eliminator at UFC 289 back in June of this year.

Beneil Dariush weighs up fighting future

And off the back of his crushing loss to Tsarukyan, Kings MMA staple, Dariush admitted he is weighing-up his immediate future in the sport.

“I’m just trying to figure out, like, do I go forward? Or am I done kind of deal?” Beneil Dariush told Submission Radio. “‘Cause I’m not trying to be like a 50-50 fighter or even a top-10 fighter. I’m trying to be the number one in the world. I want to be the best, and I’m not going to settle for anything less than that. So, yeah, I guess just that’s how I deal with it.”

“I got back to prayer and see what the Lord kind of shows me,” Beneil Dariush explained. “Last time, I had a lot of issues physically with my neck and just, I said I would solve those issues and then go back into the Octagon and see how that goes. And I did that. I had a big change in my performance. I went from being 0-3 to like 8-0. And so, the neck made a big difference. But this time I don’t have any health issues. My neck is pretty good, overall. I don’t have any issues with it. So, it’s a different spot I’m in than I was back then.”

What do you think Beneil Dariush does next post-UFC Austin? 

A Dozen UFC Austin Fighters, including Bobby Green and Beneil Dariush, hit with six-Month medical suspension

UFC AustinUFC Austin delivered some of the biggest knockouts of 2023. Unfortunately, that also means that a lot of medical…

UFC Austin

UFC Austin delivered some of the biggest knockouts of 2023. Unfortunately, that also means that a lot of medical suspensions were handed out.

Following last weekend’s return to The Lone Star State, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) slapped a dozen fighters on the night with a six-month month medical suspension. Most notably, Bobby Green, Beneil Dariush, and Arman Tsarukyan were all given 180 days unless medically cleared.

Tsarukyan walked away the winner in the UFC Austin headliner, scoring a 64-second knockout against Dariush to establish himself as the next legitimate contender in the light heavyweight division.

Bobby Green found himself on the wrong side of a first-round finish at UFC Austin, suffering a brutal beating at the hands of rising 155’er Jalin Turner.

The referee overseeing the contest, Kerry Hatley, was heavily criticized for allowing the fight to go on entirely too long. UFC CEO Dana White called it one of the worst stoppages he had ever seen. Michael Bisping, who was on call for the event, agreed.

You can see a full list of the UFC Austin medical suspensions below:

  • Arman Tsarukyan: Suspended a minimum of 30 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Beneil Dariush: Suspended a minimum of 60 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Jalin Turner: Suspended until Dec. 10.
  • Bobby Green: Suspended a minimum of 60 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Deiveson Figueiredo: Suspended until Dec. 17.
  • Rob Font: Suspended until Jan. 2, 2024.
  • Sean Brady: Suspended at minimum until Dec. 12, and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Kelvin Gastelum: Suspended until Dec. 12.
  • Joaquim Silva: Suspended a minimum of 60 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Clay Guida: Suspended a minimum of 30 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Dustin Stoltzfus: Suspended until Dec. 10.
  • Punahele Soriano: Suspended until Dec. 10.
  • Miesha Tate: Suspended a minimum of 30 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Julia Avila: Suspended a minimum of 45 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Cody Brundage: Suspended until Dec. 10.
  • Zachary Reese: Suspended a minimum of 30 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Drakkar Klose: Suspended until Dec. 10.
  • Joe Solecki: Suspended until Feb. 1, 2024.
  • Rodolfo Bellato: Suspended a minimum of 30 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Ihor Potieria: Suspended until Feb. 1, 2024.
  • Jared Gooden: Suspended a minimum of 45 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Wellington Turman: Suspended a minimum of 45 days and also suspended 180 days unless medically cleared.
  • Veronica Hardy: Suspended until Dec. 12.
  • Jamey-Lyn Horth: Suspended until Jan. 2, 2024.

It should be noted that fighters often return long before serving out the full length of their medical suspensions, so long as they are cleared by a licensed physician.

Which UFC Austin finish was your favorite?

List courtesy of MMA Fighting

Arman Tsarukyan calls for title eliminator fight with UFC star Charles Oliveira: ‘Let’s figure out who’s number one’

Arman Tsarukyan calls out Charles Oliveira for title eliminator after UFC Austin let's see who's number oneOff the back of his stunning opening round knockout win over Beneil Dariush at UFC Austin over the course…

Arman Tsarukyan calls out Charles Oliveira for title eliminator after UFC Austin let's see who's number one

Off the back of his stunning opening round knockout win over Beneil Dariush at UFC Austin over the course of last weekend, surging Armenian contender, Arman Tsarukyan has called for a title-eliminator fight with former undisputed champion, Charles Oliveira – urging the Brazilian to determine the next challenger to Islam Makhachev’s throne.

Tsarukyan, who headlined UFC Fight Night Austin over the course of last weekend in Texas, landed a stunning opening round knockout win over the above-mentioned common-foe, Dariush – stopping the Iranian grappler with a thunderous right hook inside just a minute of the first frame. 

As for Oliveira, the former undisputed lightweight champion currently holds the number one rank in the official divisional rankings, most recently turning in a stunning first round ground strikes TKO win of his own against Dariush back in June of this year, returning to the winner’s enclosure.

Forced from a slated October rematch with Makhachev through a nasty laceration ahead of a UFC 294 title rematch, Oliveira has been pegged to fight the Russian as soon as March of next year by color-commentator, Daniel Cormier, however, a pairing has yet to be booked officially.

Arman Tsarukyan calls out Charles Oliveira

And as far as the newly-minted number four rated, Tsarukyan, a title-eliminator against the Sao Paulo favorite should be made next by the promotion.

“If (Charles) Oliveira thinks he is number one contender, and he’s got the fight, let’s fight and let’s figure out who is number one,” Arman Tsarukyan told MMA Fighting. “If he wins, he can go to the title, if I win, I’ll go.”

“He pulled out from the last fight and he just beat Beneil Dariush and lost to Islam (Makhachev) so it’s like 99% he’s going to lose to Islam [again],” Arman Tsarukyan continued. “So, if they want to see that fight, yeah go ahead, but if they want to see a new generation, new fighter, they gotta put me on that fight and I’m going to show the world like who is the best in our division.” 

Who wins in a future fight: Arman Tsarukyan or Charles Oliviera?

‘Rampage’ Jackson Reminds Daniel Cormier of his iconic Bodyslam KO in PRIDE: ‘Is He New to MMA?’

RampageMMA legend Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson has a history lesson for Daniel Cormier. ‘DC’ was on the call when fans…

Rampage

MMA legend Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson has a history lesson for Daniel Cormier.

‘DC’ was on the call when fans bore witness to not one, but two epic bodyslam KOs during Saturday’s action-packed UFC Austin card. The viral finishes came in back-to-back bouts starting with Drakkar Klose who slammed his way out of an armbar attempt, rendering his opponent, Joe Solecki, instantly out cold. It was an insane moment that sent Cormier and the rest of the crew into a frenzy. But that was only the appetizer.

In the very next fight, Cody Brundage scored his own highlight-reel-worthy knockout when he picked up Zach Reese and sent him crashing back to the canvas while fighting out of an arm triangle.

Cormier sold the moment claiming that he had never seen anything like that before, a comment which earned the attention of ‘Rampage’ Jackson.

“How is Daniel Cormier (did I spell his name right) gonna say he’s never seen this? Is he new to MMA? Did he start with only the UFC? Did he not watch PRIDE FC? I need him to come on the jaxxon podcast,” Jackson wrote on X.

‘Rampage’ still has the greatest slam KO in MMA history

When it comes to bodyslam knockouts, there’s no greater example than the one ‘Rampage’ gave us at Pride Critical Countdown 2004. Squaring off with Ricardo Arona, Jackson famously powered Arona up on his shoulders and slammed him back down in a most violent fashion.

Arona was clearly out, but that didn’t stop Jackson from firing a couple of ground-and-pound strikes for good measure. It truly was the Wild West of mixed martial arts.

Fans call for Ronda Rousey – Miesha Tate trilogy fight at UFC 300 next year: ‘The stars are aligning’

Fans call for Ronda Rousey vs Miesha Tate trilogy fight at UFC 300 the stars are aligningOff the back of her dominant UFC Austin victory last night, former undisputed bantamweight champion, Miesha Tate has been…

Fans call for Ronda Rousey vs Miesha Tate trilogy fight at UFC 300 the stars are aligning

Off the back of her dominant UFC Austin victory last night, former undisputed bantamweight champion, Miesha Tate has been pegged to rekindle her rivalry with two-time foe, inaugural divisional titleholder, Ronda Rousey at a return at UFC 300 next year – with fans claiming a third bout between the two would be ideal for the April card.

Tate, the current number twelve ranked bantamweight contender, returned to the Octagon in the featured preliminary slot of UFC Austin overnight in Texas, turning in a spectacular third round rear-naked choke win over Julia Avila to snap her two-fight losing skid.

With the stoppage win, Tate recorded her first victory via finish since winning the undisputed bantamweight crown from common-foe, Holly Holm in the co-main event of UFC 196 back in 2016, rallying to snatch the championship with a fifth round rear-naked choke.

Miesha Tate has been urged to pursue a fight with Ronda Rousey at UFC 300

And in the immediate aftermath, the Washington veteran was linked with a rematch against the Albuquerque native at UFC 300 in April of next year, however, fans and pundits have suggested a trilogy fight between Tate and Rousey would be ideal for the monumental card.

“Surely the stars are aligning for Tate vs. Rousey at UFC 300,” Ryan Edwards posted on X.

“Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey at UFC 300,” The Octagon Observer posted. “Book it.”

“This version of Miesha Tate would destroy Ronda Rousey,” Rick Dooby posted. “Book the rematch for #UFC300.” 

“Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey at UFC 300,” Super Fan posted.

“People are talking about Miesha Tate vs. Holly Holm II Next,” EK posted. “Nah, I’m good. Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate for a third time at UFC 300 is the one. Who cares if she’s 2-0 over her. That rivalry was one of the most memorable ones in the sport. Winnable fight for both. #UFC Austin.”

Twice fighting during their professional career, Riverside native, Rousey landed a technical submission win over Tate to win the Strikeforce bantamweight title back in 2012, before turning in a third round armbar win over the former in the pair’s bantamweight championship re-run at UFC 168 the following year. 

Would you like to see Miesha Tate take on Ronda Rousey at UFC 300 next year?

Arman Tsarukyan Enjoyed Watching Bobby Green’s Head ‘Bouncing on the Canvas’ in Controversial Finish

Arman TsarukyanIt’s safe to say that there is no love lost between UFC Austin headliners Arman Tsarukyan and Bobby Green….

Arman Tsarukyan

It’s safe to say that there is no love lost between UFC Austin headliners Arman Tsarukyan and Bobby Green.

The two lightweight standouts had vastly different experiences in The Lone Star State on Saturday night. Tsarukyan established himself as a legitimate title contender in the lightweight division with a stunning 64-second knockout of Beneil Dariush in the main event, while Green suffered yet another setback via a brutal first-round knockout against rising star Jalin Turner in the evening’s co-main.

Green’s loss came with a bit of controversy as veteran referee Kerry Hatley allowed ‘King’ to take a plethora of unprotected shots on the ground before finally stepping in. UFC CEO Dana White called it one of the worst stoppages he had ever seen, but Arman Tsarukyan certainly seemed to enjoy it.

Ahead of fight night, things got physical between Tsarukyan and Green in a hotel lobby after ‘Ahalkalakets’ took exception to some disparaging comments Green made about his particular style of fighting.

“He was talking sh*t about me,” Tsarukyan said at the post-fight press conference. “I just came and asked him, ‘Bro, don’t talk sh*t about me.’ Because where I’m from you can’t just talk, you’ve got to answer for your words. So that’s why I just wanted to tell him don’t talk sh*t about me because if you’re going to talk sh*t, we’ve got to meet and talk. So he pushed me, I pushed him, and that’s it. Done. Hopefully, I’m not going to see him again in my life.

“I was super, super happy when his head was bouncing on the canvas.”

Tsarukyan’s victory over Dariush should put him firmly within the top five of the lightweight division come Monday. He has now won three in a row and eight of his last nine inside the Octagon.

“Maybe I was born confident,” Tsarukyan said. “To be honest, I train a lot. I train in the best gym with the best fighters in the world and I feel like I’m the best, that’s why I’m confident. I saw a lot of Armenian flags and I thought, oh my God, that gives me different emotions. I was very calm and when I saw my guys around me I said, ‘No way someone can beat me tonight so I’m going to die or win.’”

Arman Tsarukyan Ready to Run it back with Islam Makhachev

Following his quick finish, Tsarukyan called out reigning lightweight world champion Islam Makhachev. It’s unlikely that ‘Ahalkalakets’ gets the next shot at the 155-pound crown with both Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje waiting their turn at the champ, but the callout makes a lot of sense considering Tsarukyan’s history with the ‘Dagestani Destroyer.

In April 2019, Tsarukyan made his promotional debut against Makhachev and was decisively decisioned. He expects their inevitable rematch to produce a very different result.

“I always think of the best-case scenario and I feel like I can knock [Makhachev] out in the first round,” Tsarukyan said. “We’ve got to think about the best, we shouldn’t think about the worst situation” (h/t MMA Fighting).