Tag: UFC middleweight

Former ONE C’ship Double Champion Names His UFC Hitlist After Joining Promotion

Former ONE Championship two-division titleholder Reinier De Ridder is the UFC’s latest notable signee, and he believes he’s primed to take on the challenges within the promotion’s highly competitive middleweight division. “The Dutch Knight” dominated the ONE Championship middleweight and light heavyweight divisions from November 2020 until this past March. During his tenure, De Ridder […]

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Former ONE Championship two-division titleholder Reinier De Ridder is the UFC’s latest notable signee, and he believes he’s primed to take on the challenges within the promotion’s highly competitive middleweight division.

“The Dutch Knight” dominated the ONE Championship middleweight and light heavyweight divisions from November 2020 until this past March. During his tenure, De Ridder initially rode high on the momentum of a seven-fight win streak.

However, his reign came to an abrupt end as he suffered consecutive defeats to Anatoly Malykhin, resulting in the loss of both titles. De Ridder boasts a professional MMA record of 17-2, with an impressive 11 of those victories coming by way of submission.

De Ridder is fresh off a first-round knockout victory against Magomedmurad Khasaev at UAE Warriors this past July, and the 34-year-old Dutchman is confident he can harness that momentum as he makes his entrance into the UFC.

De Ridder Sets Sights on Top-5 Rivals Following UFC Debut

During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, De Ridder revealed his aspirations for dream matchups within the UFC. “The Dutch Knight” expressed a strong desire to challenge himself against the reigning middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis, as well as former titleholders such as Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya, and Sean Strickland.

The grappling prodigy emphasized that he has no time to squander now that he’s joined the UFC, and he’s eager to take on high-profile opponents.

“Right now. Let’s go,” De Ridder said. “I’m ready. That’s what I’m here for. It would be so cool to finally get a shot at those guys. They’ve been around for so long. I’ve been around for a little while now, as well, so it would be very cool to finally get a chance to fight those guys… Adesanya, Dricus, Strickland, all of them. Why not?”

However, before “The Dutch Knight” can focus on his desired matchups, he must first conquer veteran Gerald Meerschaert in his promotional debut at a Fight Night event on November 9 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Continue Reading Former ONE C’ship Double Champion Names His UFC Hitlist After Joining Promotion at MMA News.

‘Did You Jab Him To A Split Decision?’ – MMA Fans React After Sean Strickland Recounts Being A High School Bully

Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland’s recent admission of having bullied a fellow student during his high school years sparked a wave of backlash from fans online. Strickland has drawn as much attention for his abrasive and controve…

Sean Strickland confesses about being a bully in high school

Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland’s recent admission of having bullied a fellow student during his high school years sparked a wave of backlash from fans online. Strickland has drawn as much attention for his abrasive and controversial antics outside the Octagon as for his impressive prowess within it. With his unapologetically bold and raw […]

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Robert Whittaker: You Have To Match Dricus Du Plessis’ ‘Superpower’ To Beat Him

Robert Whittaker recently showered Dricus Du Plessis with praise, commending his fierce mentality and determination to secure victories in the Octagon. At UFC 305 last month, Du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight crown for the first time, …

Robert Whittaker reflects on Dricus Du Plessis' power

Robert Whittaker recently showered Dricus Du Plessis with praise, commending his fierce mentality and determination to secure victories in the Octagon. At UFC 305 last month, Du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight crown for the first time, securing a stunning fourth-round submission victory over former champion Israel Adesanya—a win that Whittaker had confidently predicted beforehand. […]

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Sean Strickland On Being Arrested In South Africa & Taking A Fight To Avoid Jail

Sean Strickland recently recounted the tale of getting arrested during his time in South Africa and how that pivotal incident reignited his MMA career. The former UFC middleweight champion has earned as much attention for his fighting skill inside the Octagon as for his ability to spark controversy beyond it. With his audacious and unfiltered […]

Continue Reading Sean Strickland On Being Arrested In South Africa & Taking A Fight To Avoid Jail at MMA News.

Sean Strickland recently recounted the tale of getting arrested during his time in South Africa and how that pivotal incident reignited his MMA career.

The former UFC middleweight champion has earned as much attention for his fighting skill inside the Octagon as for his ability to spark controversy beyond it. With his audacious and unfiltered personality, he’s become a well-known figure in the MMA world, regularly voicing provocative opinions on a variety of commonplace issues.

Strickland has consistently found himself at the heart of controversy, entangled in several scandals over the years. From almost being yanked from his short-notice title fight against Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in Australia, allegedly for assaulting a civilian at Bondi Beach, to receiving a stern warning from UFC CEO Dana White that he could be deported from Canada before his UFC 297 bout with Dricus Du Plessis due to his polarizing views on the LGBTQ community—the 33-year-old Californian’s antics have often put him on thin ice.

Strickland Reveals He Ended Retirement To Fight In South Africa To Pay Off Bail Bond

During a recent interview with ESPN MMA, Strickland was asked why he isn’t keen on the idea of having his rematch against UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis in the titleholder’s homeland of South Africa. “Tarzan” revealed that he visited the country long ago and wasn’t fond of it, which is why he prefers the fight to happen in the United States instead.

The American went on to share that during his time in Durban, he was arrested by the local police for reasons unmentioned and found himself in urgent need of cash to post bail. With limited options, he realized that the quickest way to earn the money was by taking a fight, despite the fact that he had already retired at that point.

Strickland disclosed that he accepted a last-minute bout against Donavin Hawkey at the King of the Cage: Platinum event in November 2010 to quickly secure some cash.

“Funny enough, I actually got arrested and had just retired from fighting. I had to pay a bail bondsman, so it was either pay the bail or go to jail. If you need quick cash, what do you do? So, I went and fought this guy named Donavin Hawkey on two weeks’ notice in South Africa just to pay the bondsman not go to jail.“

“Tarzan” went on to mention that the fight reignited his passion for MMA.

“That’s literally how I got back into MMA. I was bored, broke, living in gyms, and I’m 19 years old, riding a bicycle like a loser, thinking, ‘I’m done with this sh*t.’ Then I got arrested. I was like, ‘Oh sh*t, well, I guess you have to pay the bail bondsman or go back to jail.’”

Strickland seized the 185-pound title from Adesanya last September, but his reign was short-lived, as Du Plessis dethroned him this past January. Following his decision win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June, Strickland is eager for a rematch with “Stillknocks”.

However, his position as the top contender is precarious, as the winner of the upcoming UFC 308 clash between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev could easily leapfrog him in the race for the title shot.

Continue Reading Sean Strickland On Being Arrested In South Africa & Taking A Fight To Avoid Jail at MMA News.

Teddy Atlas Breaks Down UFC 305 Main Event: ‘What He Has Is The Same Thing That Usyk Has!”

Teddy Atlas recently offered his analysis of the UFC middleweight title showdown between reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya, which headlined UFC 305. Du Plessis defended his title last weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia, securing a dramatic fourth-round victory over Adesanya with a rear-naked choke. The fight was a […]

Continue Reading Teddy Atlas Breaks Down UFC 305 Main Event: ‘What He Has Is The Same Thing That Usyk Has!” at MMA News.

Teddy Atlas recently offered his analysis of the UFC middleweight title showdown between reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya, which headlined UFC 305.

Du Plessis defended his title last weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia, securing a dramatic fourth-round victory over Adesanya with a rear-naked choke.

The fight was a fiercely competitive affair, with both fighters pushing the pace from the moment the bell rang. The first round featured a measured exchange of strikes from both parties, but it was in the second round that ‘Stillknocks’ began to assert his dominance through grappling, securing multiple takedowns despite Adesanya’s stubborn defense.

As the third round began, the challenger seemed on the ropes, but he quickly found his groove, unleashing a barrage of powerful head and body shots that momentarily swung the momentum in his favor.

“The Last Stylebender” came out strong in the fourth, seemingly on the verge of securing a knockout, but the South African was quick to counter. With a sudden surge, he unleashed a relentless series of strikes that paved the way for a flawlessly timed takedown. In a flash, he secured Adesanya’s back, locking in the decisive submission.

Atlas Say Du Plessis Exemplifies ‘Never Judge A Book By Its Cover’

During a recent episode of THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas, the legendary boxing trainer broke down the Du Plessis vs. Adesanya clash. Atlas showered the middleweight champion with praise, noting how Du Plessis has perfected the art of executing the basics in his own unconventional way. He emphasized that Du Plessis consistently outperforms his opponents’ expectations, proving to be far more formidable than they anticipate.

“Even though Du Plessis had shown what looked like fatigue earlier, he always keeps going,” Atlas said. “It always seems like he’s out of gas, and then he’s not out of gas. He learned from the earlier attempts to get that choke hold, which Adesanya survived and escaped at least two times, I believe, earlier. But Du Plessis got the third shot at it, and this time, I think a combination of Adesanya being a little worn out and Du Plessis making sure to capitalize on the opportunity made the difference. But at the end of the day, the first thing I have to say about Du Plessis is that he’s one of those enigmas, one of those guys, one of those rarities where the simple and only accurate way to put it is that he’s better than he looks.”

Atlas further added that “Stillknocks” possesses a relentless drive to win that reminds him of the hunger seen in former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk.

“There’s nothing dynamic-looking about what he does until he does it—until he gets the end result. Up until then, it’s very deceiving and misleading. He is the perfect example of that old saying, ‘Never judge a book by its cover,’ and he’s physically strong. He’s better in technical areas and subtle areas than meets the eye—he really is. And there’s one other quality that I think describes him: it’s a simple quality, but it’s not something you see every day. No matter how much talent someone has, what he has is the same thing that Usyk has in boxing—an ability to win, a drive, determination. A lot of people have that, but he’s got that plus an uncanny way to know how to win.”

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Israel Adesanya Opens Up On Octagon Exchange With Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 305: ‘If I See Him, It’s Love’

Israel Adesanya recently shed light on his post-fight interaction following his defeat to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305. Adesanya’s bid to reclaim the middleweight title for a third time ended in heartbreak as he fell to a fourth-round submission against “Stillknocks” last weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia. Adesanya started the […]

Continue Reading Israel Adesanya Opens Up On Octagon Exchange With Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 305: ‘If I See Him, It’s Love’ at MMA News.

Israel Adesanya recently shed light on his post-fight interaction following his defeat to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305.

Adesanya’s bid to reclaim the middleweight title for a third time ended in heartbreak as he fell to a fourth-round submission against “Stillknocks” last weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

Adesanya started the bout with impressive precision, appearing to have the fight under control. However, Du Plessis dramatically altered the course of the contest in the championship round, landing a torrent of potent blows that left the former champion reeling. The South African expertly seized the opening to lock in a decisive rear-naked choke to conclude the bout.

Though the build-up to this fight was marked by a fierce exchange of verbal jabs, particularly revolving around the cultural clash narrative, Adesanya and Du Plessis left the animosity behind once they settled their differences in the Octagon.

After the fight concluded, the middleweight rivals were seen exchanging cordial words in the Octagon before the result was announced. “Stillknocks” promptly paid tribute to his opponent, hailing the Nigerian-born Kiwi as a “legend” and a future “Hall of Famer.” In turn, “The Last Stylebender” hinted at a potential future camaraderie with Du Plessis, even suggesting they might hang out as he spoke with UFC color commentator Daniel Cormier.

Adesanya On Du Plessis: ‘I Don’t Think He’s A Bad Person’

During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Adesanya opened up about the exchange he had with Du Plessis after their bout. “The Last Stylebender” revealed that their words were filled with mutual respect and that his perception of the South African fighter has since evolved.

“Oh, he just gave me a lot of props, a lot of love, a lot of respect,” Adesanya said. “I accepted it and I shook his hand. Then, after his interview, when we were leaving the cage, we just talked. He said ‘sorry,’ maybe—I can’t remember—but he just gave me a lot of props. He said, ‘Hey, you know, I’m a big fan,’ and of course, I was like, ‘I know.’ And I said, ‘Look, look how far we’ve come from way back then—who would have thought? Now we’re here.’ I was like, ‘f**k yeah,’ and then we hugged. I said, ‘Look, I respect you, I appreciate you.’ I don’t think DDP is a bad person. I don’t know him. Again, we’re not friends, we don’t know each other, but we can be cool—we’re cool, and I respect him.”

Adesanya further stressed that any lingering grudges against Du Plessis are now a thing of the past.

“It was never beef. Again, when I say beef, it’s just like you have to fight someone—you don’t have to like them. You don’t have to like them. Again, he didn’t like me, I didn’t like him, but I think now we have a healthy respect for each other. I won’t say we’re BFFs or we’re friends, but if I see him, it’s love. I’ll give him a hug, I’ll dap him up.”

The rivalry between Adesanya and Du Plessis had seen its ups and downs over the past year, starting when Adesanya held the title, and Du Plessis vowed to become the UFC’s first “true African champion.”

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