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Video: Justin Gaethje Walks Through Massive Head Kick In Sparring Session Ahead Of UFC 254

Current interim UFC lightweight champion, Justin ‘The Highlight’ Gaethje has been revealed for years for his ability to take quite a stiff shot, and continue walking forward – and more often than not score a finish win of his own. Already in the UFC, we’ve seen Gaethje survive some worrying damage, to rally and find […]

Already in the UFC, we’ve seen Gaethje survive some worrying damage, to rally and find himself on the winning side of the equation. Even in his Octagon debut, the Arizonian survived a quick counter from perennial lightweight contender, Michael ‘The Menace’ Johnson to score his own knockout win in the second frame.

Even when he’s found himself on the wrong side of knockouts opposite former world champions, Eddie ‘The Underground King’ Alvarez and Dustin ‘The Diamond’ Poirier – Gaethje managed to withstand massive punishment before he was eventually finished on the feet.

Currently preparing for a lightweight title unification meeting with Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 on October 25th. – Gaethje displayed that incredible chin once more in a recent video clip of a sparring session, in which he’s caught with a close switch head kick – walking through it relatively unfazed.

Earning his crack at the undefeated Khabib as well as the interim 155-pound crown, Gaethje took out division mainstay, and the similarly durable force, Tony ‘El Cucuy’ Ferguson at UFC 249 in May. Bringing his newly minted composed approach to the forefront yet again, Gaethje survived an early uppercut counter from Ferguson which wobbled him – to score an eventual stoppage on the feet in the fifth-round via strikes.

The October outing will also mark an Octagon return for Khabib, who’s yet to feature since the recent passing of his father and head trainer, Aldulmanap earlier this year. The Dagestani sambo specialist last featured at UFC 242 in September of last year – unifying the titles on that occasion again with a third-round rear-naked choke win over the above noted, Poirier.

Scheduled to take headlining honours at UFC 254 – Khabib and Gaethje will battle for lightweight supremacy, ahead of a tentatively targeted potential lightweight title eliminator between the previously mentioned former interim titleholders, Ferguson and Poirier.

Michel Pereira Explains Decision To Slap Zelim Imadaev During UFC Vegas 9 Clash

Always the entertainer, Michel ‘Demolidor’ Pereira managed a comfortable victory over Russian striker, Zelim Imadaev last night at UFC Fight Night Vegas 9 – scoring a late, albeit controversial rear-naked choke win. On his way to his eventual third-round submission stoppage, Pereira mixed in a wide array strikes – even scoring a volley of open hand […]

Displaying his very own variation of the ‘Stockton Slap’ – or the ‘Pará Slap’, Pereira, who was involved in a heated exchange with Imadaev at Friday’s staredowns, in which Imadaev slapped him, explained to reporters last night at the post-fight press conference why he decided to throw some open-handed strikes of his own.

“I don’t know why exactly he did this (stare down slap),” Pereira said. “But, I told him I would pay him back, and I did during the fight. I’m a man. You cannot slap my face. I did show my hand, I kissed my hand. I slapped to him so he can learn he’s not going to do it again. He cannot do that.“

Pereira, scored a late rear-naked choke win, with replays actually detailing how Imadaev hadn’t actually tapped, before referee Chris Tognoni separated the two. The Brazilian set up the submission with a massive suplex, before taking Imadaev’s back, and sinking in the choke, but admitted he didn’t feel Imadaev submit.

“I didn’t feel when he tapped, but the position was very, very tight,” Pereira explained. “In that case, he would tap or he would sleep.“

Calling for a BMF championship challenge opposite current holder, Jorge ‘Gamebred’ Masvidal in his next outing, Pereira improved to 24-11 with his stoppage of Imadaev. Although that matchup is highly unlikely for the time being, with the promotion currently targeting a BMF title rematch between Masvidal, and the would-be returning Nate Diaz for a UFC 257 event in January instead – Pereira spoke of how big a fight between himself and Masvidal would be an exciting matchup for onlooking fans.

“I’m always doing my best when I fight the best guys, and I’m pretty sure (Jorge) Masvidal is one of them,” Pereira told. “And, if we fight, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be (a) huge, huge show for everybody. The fans would love it if we fight. If he doesn’t respect me, yes, I would slap him. But I just want to fight the best, and I’m sure we’d give a huge show for the fans.” (H/T MMA Mania)

Cody Garbrandt Tells Deiveson Figueiredo’s Manager To Bring A Body Bag With Him To UFC 255

This one’s starting to heat up quite drastically. Former UFC bantamweight titleholder, Cody ‘No Love’ Garbrandt has called for Deiveson Figueiredo’s manager, Wallid Ismail to bring a body bag with him for his client ahead of their UFC 255 headliner in November, with flyweight gold up for grabs. Figueiredo, who took the vacant 125-pound crown […]

Figueiredo, who took the vacant 125-pound crown at the second time of asking at a UFC ‘Fight Island’ event in July, will attempt his first title defence in November – following an opening-round battering of Joseph Benavidez. Recent Mark Henry mover, Garbrandt will test flyweight waters for the first time following his Knockout of the Year contender against Raphael Assunção at UFC 250 – and fights for undisputed gold from the get-go.

Following Figueiredo’s recent comments in which he detailed how he plans to target Garbrandt’s “fragile” chin and head, Garbrandt responded this afternoon on his official Twitter, urging the aforenoted, Ismail to bring a body bag with him to UFC 255.

“You two lemons head mfers need go (sic) realize, I’m not trying to see this fight! I’m going to fu*k him up, Wallid (Ismail) bring a fu*kin’ body bag so you can carry this golem back to Brazil uh vai morrer deez nuts .”

For Garbrandt, a victory over Pará all-rounder, Figueiredo would mark his second title reign under the UFC’s banner, following initial bantamweight success opposite former two-time titleholder, Dominick Cruz at UFC 207 back in late 2016.

Experiencing a career downturn somewhat, the Ohio native dropped his title, and a subsequent rematch to former Team Alpha MMA teammate, T.J. Dillashaw via knockout – before another stoppage defeat via strikes against, Pedro Munhoz.

32-year-old finisher, Figueiredo extended his undefeated run to four-fights via his stoppage win over Benavidez in July. Before the win, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt had knocked out Benavidez at UFC Fight Night Norfolk in March – before a submission win over Tim Elliott, and a unanimous judging victory over compatriot, Alexandre Pantoja in July last year.

Rounding off the pay-per-view event which features two title fights, Figueiredo and Garbrandt take headlining status – despite a recent positive COVID-19 test result from Garbrandt, ahead of another flyweight title tilt between Valentina Shevchenko, and former Invicta FC champion, Jennifer Maia.

Alistair Overeem Believes Former Teammate Jon Jones Can Do Well At Heavyweight

Streaking UFC heavyweight contender, Alistair ‘The Demolition Man’ Overeem boosted his title aspirations last night in the main event of UFC Fight Night Vegas 9 – scoring a brutal fifth-round stoppage win over Augusto Sakai after some early adversity. The seasoned striker is approaching a second title opportunity under the UFC’s banner, with the division […]

The seasoned striker is approaching a second title opportunity under the UFC’s banner, with the division hotting each time the promotion rolls into town. Former opponent, Francis Ngannou is seemingly next in line for Stipe Miocic, rather than division newcomer, Jon Jones – but Overeem admitted he thinks his former Jackson-Wink MMA teammate could do well a weight class higher.

Speaking at last night’s post-fight press conference, Dutch kickboxing ace, Overeem gave his thoughts on Jones’ incoming leap to heavyweight following continued light heavyweight success, and believe’s the Rochester native can continue his dominant reign in his new home.

“I’ve trained with him (Jon Jones), I know him as a person he’s a cool dude,” Overeem said. “I think he’s going to do good, right? He’s a big guy – he’s exactly my frame, he’s probably putting on some weight now, so I think he’s going to do good.“

Overeem, who now plys his trade at elevation in Colorado with Elevation Fight Team among the likes of former opponent, Curtis Blaydes, and current interim lightweight best, Justin Gaethje has been somewhat floated as potential litmus test for Jones ahead of his divisional bow.

Prior to Saturday night’s victory, Overeem was also asked if he’d be interested in clashing with his former stablemate in the future – in what on paper comes as quite an exciting matchup given Overeem’s recent run of form.

“Yes, I would do it,” Overeem explained. “I think it’s a great fight. I would feel honoured. I think it’s a great addition to the heavyweight division. I’m actually excited. Fresh blood. I’ve trained with him, he’s very capable. He’s tough, he’s good. So I’m excited about that development.” (H/T MMA Fighting)

While the possibility of a high-stakes probable title eliminator between Overeem and Jones is floated at the moment – the former also spoke of his willingness to rematch former-foe, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, or “destroy” Derrick Lewis next, after his teammate Blaydes clashes with Lewis on November 28th.

Now riding a two-fight win streak, Overeem rebounded from a late, controversial knockout defeat to the above mentioned, Rozenstruik – despite dominating all five-rounds of their UFC Fight Night D.C. curtain closer last December. Last night’s win over Sakai followed a May rally and knockout win over the returning, Walt Harris which earned him the #6 rank in the official heavyweight pile.

Stipe Miocic Wants First Crack At Brock Lesnar If He Returns

UFC heavyweight king Stipe Miocic says he should get the first refusal on a fight with former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar who is rumoured to be contemplating a return to MMA after opting against re-signing with the WWE. Since it was reported Lesnar was a free agent a whole host of elite-level MMA fighters have […]

Since it was reported Lesnar was a free agent a whole host of elite-level MMA fighters have been calling him out, including the new addition to the UFC heavyweight division, Jon Jones. Dana White is open to matching Jones against Lesnar if both men want that fight.

“If they both want to fight each other then I’m sure it’s a fight that the fans would want to see. It would be a good introduction to Jones into the heavyweight division. Yeah, if they wanted to do it, I would do it,” White said.

Speaking on the latest episode of Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast Miocic expressed his belief that he, not Jones should get the first crack at Lesnar if he returns.

“A hundred percent I think so,” Miocic said. “Listen, I just think about it more and more I do think 100 percent if anything I would get the Brock Lesnar fight first or be asked first. I didn’t know [Jones] called the shots. I didn’t know that.”

However, it seems very unlikely that Miocic will face Lesnar next. The UFC president has repeatedly assured that Francis Ngannou will get the next title shot after picking up four consecutive first-round finishes against top competition.

Miocic beat Ngannou by unanimous decision in their first meeting at UFC 2020. The 38-year-old explained how he would approach a rematch with the Cameroonian knockout artist, he said.

“I would say you go back to what works but you also understand that he’s gotten a lot better since the last fight, so you’ve also got to incorporate new things,” Miocic said. “That’s the way the game is. Honestly, if you take time off from this sport, people evolve so fast and they get so much better that they’ll leave you behind.

“You take a little bit from the last fight I think. You don’t want to dwell on it because that person’s gotten way better and they’re working on things that you did well against them. I think you do a lot more different things, maybe change it up, the things you were doing. The takedowns, maybe a different setup to get it there, or maybe this time I finish him with a rear-naked instead of laying on top of him like everyone thinks I did.” (Transcribed by MMA Fighting)

Do you want to see Stipe Miocic fight Brock Lesnar?

Dan Hardy On Potential MMA Return: ‘Someone’s Gonna Get It’

Dan Hardy is still thinking about returning to MMA and insists that it won’t be as difficult as most people think. (H/T MMA Junkie) Hardy, 38, has never officially retired. However, the last time he fought was September 2012 when he defeated Amir Sadollah in Nottingham, England. The former UFC Welterweight title challenger was scheduled […]

Dan Hardy is still thinking about returning to MMA and insists that it won’t be as difficult as most people think. (H/T MMA Junkie)

Hardy, 38, has never officially retired. However, the last time he fought was September 2012 when he defeated Amir Sadollah in Nottingham, England.

The former UFC Welterweight title challenger was scheduled to face Matt Brown in in April 2013 but he was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome and forced to withdraw, Dan Hardy opted against surgery for the condition.

Hardy has been teasing a comeback for a while, but it seems the Brit is edging closer to making a decision. He recently said he wanted to fight Donald Cerrone or Anthony Pettis for his comeback fight.

Speaking on the Joe Rogan Experience MMA Show in August 2019, Hardy said he had intentions of re-entering the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency testing pool however Hardy is yet to do so.

Hardy also told MMA Junkie Radio that watching older fighters like Frankie Edgar and and Ricardo Lamas pick up wins in the octagon he is motivated to return.

Hardy, Said: “Frankie Edgar is still going at it. I mean, I felt like I was still in school when Frankie Edgar was making his UFC debut, and I’m pretty sure I’m older than him still. What we realise about MMA is that it’s a lot more down to IQ and experience.”

The Brit might also find motivation in Alistair Overeem, who picked up a KO win last night over Augusto Sakai at the age of 40.

Hardy also believes he has taken a lot less damage than some current UFC fighters, and therefore thinks his health will benefit him.

“As much as I look at these guys and go ‘Wow they’re still performing well at 38, 40, 42,’ I’m also looking at how much wear and tear they’ve got compared to me,” Hardy said. “So if and when I do decide to come back, someone’s gonna get it – and I don’t think people realize that.”

Do you think Dan Hardy could still compete at the highest level in the UFC?