Tag: UFC

Muhammad Mokaev’s Rumored Opponent For First Fight Post-UFC Exit Revealed

Muhammad Mokaev is still yet to make his return to MMA following his controversial UFC departure earlier this year. The promotion chose not to re-sign him following his seventh consecutive win inside the Octagon over Manel Kape. Mokaev has since signed with Brave CF, the promotion where he had most of his early pro fights […]

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Muhammad Mokaev is still yet to make his return to MMA following his controversial UFC departure earlier this year. The promotion chose not to re-sign him following his seventh consecutive win inside the Octagon over Manel Kape.

Mokaev has since signed with Brave CF, the promotion where he had most of his early pro fights before joining the UFC back in 2022. Mokaev did recently make his competition return in a grappling match loss to Rogério Bontorin but now, there are rumours of a potential MMA opponent being lined up for him.

Rather than Brave looking to attract a former UFC fighter or name that fans may be familiar with, recent reports from ??????? ??? on X suggest that Mokaev could be taking on a fighter that is seemingly on the same path that he was once on.

The undefeated Asaf Chopurov has been very impressive during his six-fight pro career having fought on promotions like RCC in Russia and UAE Warriors. In six wins, he’s got five finishes with four of them coming in the first round.

What makes the 22-year old so exciting is that like Mokaev in the early days of his pro career, Chopurov amassed so much experience during his amateur career that he’s already fighting at a high level despite being so young in his journey.

As a former three-time Russian MMA and IMAAF world champion, Chopurov ended his amateur career with an overall record of 30-1. Mokaev, for reference, left behind arguably the most impressive amateur career to date at 22-0.

Chopurov may not be a household name just yet but he’s an undefeated star on the rise who could become that in the near future. Facing Mokaev at this stage in his career could be a huge moment for the rising prospect.

Continue Reading Muhammad Mokaev’s Rumored Opponent For First Fight Post-UFC Exit Revealed at MMA News.

Magomed Ankalaev Continues To Berate Alex Pereira: ‘Willing To Fight Everyone Short Notice But Me’

When Belal Muhammad was announced to have withdrawn from his upcoming welterweight title defense at UFC 310, everyone had the same thought. If the UFC needed someone to step in and save the main event, there was only one name they could call. The biggest argument for Alex Pereira being the 2024 fighter of the […]

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When Belal Muhammad was announced to have withdrawn from his upcoming welterweight title defense at UFC 310, everyone had the same thought. If the UFC needed someone to step in and save the main event, there was only one name they could call.

The biggest argument for Alex Pereira being the 2024 fighter of the year is that he has stepped up and delivered for the UFC when they needed him most on several occasions. “Poatan” has already saved two big cards in UFC 300 and UFC 303 but doing it again would have been unthinkable.

It also appeared from his social media that his likely challenger, Magomed Ankalaev, was down to make a quick turnaround from UFC 308 to fight on December 7 in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, it now looks like Pereira’s last fight against Khalil Rountree in October will stop him from doing that.

During a recent appearance on the Podpah podcast, Pereira revealed that he’s dealing with a hand injury after Rountree was able to withstand a lot of damage before being stopped in the fourth round.

“In that 4th round, I was throwing jabs and it was hurting my hand man, I swear. I was thinking ‘my hand must be broken’. It still hurts today. It’s not that bad, but if I touch right here it hurts.”

Though Pereira has fought through injuries in the past, “Poatan” faces a tough test in Ankalaev who he’ll surely want to be at his best for. This was echoed in Ankalaev’s response to the video on social media.

The top light heavyweight contender replied to Pereira’s comments and claimed that the champion knows that he can’t risk it this time around unlike some of his previous fights.

“Willing to fight everyone short notice but with me, he knows he have to be ready he’s not stupid”

Continue Reading Magomed Ankalaev Continues To Berate Alex Pereira: ‘Willing To Fight Everyone Short Notice But Me’ at MMA News.

Volkanovski’s Coach: Ilia Topuria Doesn’t Have ‘The Right’ To Go For Second Title Yet

The coach of Alexander Volkanovski believes UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria hasn’t yet earned a chance to add the lightweight belt to his collection. Topuria has risen to the 145-pound mountaintop in brutal fashion this year, first knocking out Volkanovski to capture the crown at UFC 298 in Anaheim this past February. Eight months later, […]

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The coach of Alexander Volkanovski believes UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria hasn’t yet earned a chance to add the lightweight belt to his collection.

Topuria has risen to the 145-pound mountaintop in brutal fashion this year, first knocking out Volkanovski to capture the crown at UFC 298 in Anaheim this past February.

Eight months later, “El Matador” cemented his grip on the title by becoming the first man to stop the great Max Holloway with strikes. Topuria achieved that feat in the main event of last month’s UFC 308 pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi, closing the show with a vicious left hook in round three.

The Spaniard is quickly building a strong legacy at featherweight, and at the age of just 27, he has plenty of time to achieve his goal of surpassing the champs that came before him in the division.

Topuria, however, appears to already have one eye on conquering another weight class. Even before he added Holloway’s name and a first defense to his résumé, the fast-rising star outlined his plans to dethrone lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev.

In addition to going back and forth with the Dagestani on social media, Topuria has even vowed to beat Makhachev at his own game by becoming the first to submit him.

One man who is certainly familiar with the lightweight champ, however, has told Topuria to hold his horses…

During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, coach Joe Lopez reacted to Topuria’s talk of a move up in weight. Volkanovski’s trainer insisted that “El Matador” remains far from having earned the right to challenge the titleholder above him.

“That’s great (Topuria wanting Makhachev), but you’ve gotta have — like with anybody, you’ve gotta have at least five or six title defenses before you start looking at doubling up,” Lopez said. “You’re just holding up divisions. When you’ve cleaned out a division, then you’ve got the right to jump up a division. Until then, you’ve just gotta fight the cause in your division, you know?

“I guess it’s like jumping the queue and you want to have the title shot before somebody else that’s above you, you know? But it’s just human nature, I guess,” Lopez continued. “Everybody wants that double champ status ’cause it’s very rare to get.”

Volkanovski himself recorded four successful defenses before his first opportunity to add a second title to his trophy cabinet in 2023. A fifth then came ahead of a sophomore chance at unseating Makhachev on short notice that same year.

With that in mind, it would appear Topuria has some work to do before looking to prove his confidence correct when it comes to outgrappling Makhachev inside the cage.

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Alexandre Pantoja Reacts To Former Opponent Brandon Moreno’s UFC Edmonton Win

UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja was watching on as Brandon Moreno returned to winning ways in memorable fashion this past weekend. Pantoja unseated Moreno from the 125-pound throne in July 2023, falling on the right side of a split decision in a memorable contest widely seen as last year’s best fight. Since then, “The Cannibal” […]

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UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja was watching on as Brandon Moreno returned to winning ways in memorable fashion this past weekend.

Pantoja unseated Moreno from the 125-pound throne in July 2023, falling on the right side of a split decision in a memorable contest widely seen as last year’s best fight. Since then, “The Cannibal” has cemented his grip on the crown with successful defenses opposite Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg.

“The Assassin Baby,” meanwhile, has been looking to work his way back to the Brazilian. That endeavor got underway on the wrong foot this past February in Mexico City, where Moreno once again found his opponent — Royval, this time — getting the nod on two out of the three scorecards.

That left the Mexican outlining plans for an extended break from competition and seemingly out of the flyweight title equation for the foreseeable future. But he returned to it in Edmonton on Saturday night, and in some style.

In the main event, Moreno handed Albazi his first defeat in the UFC, beating “The Prince” up across five rounds en route to a lopsided decision victory.

The former two-time champ received heavy praise across the community in the aftermath, including from a multi-time opponent of his. But Pantoja didn’t miss an opportunity to slide in a small jibe at the victorious Moreno in his X post…

“Very good fight my son,” Pantoja wrote in Portuguese.

Pantoja’s victory over Moreno last year marked his third over the Mexican in MMA. While the Brazilian’s gotten the better of him twice in professional UFC bouts, he also forced a tap from “The Assassin Baby” way back in 2016 during season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter.

With Moreno’s triumph in Canada on Nov. 2, it appears that a rare tetralogy could be on the table despite the Mexican’s 3-0 deficit to Pantoja. Before that comes to fruition, though, both men would appear to have some work to do.

In addition to Moreno acknowledging that he likely requires another strong performance to secure a shot, Pantoja is currently gearing up for his third defense. He’ll welcome former Rizin titleholder Kai Asakura to the Octagon at UFC 310 next month.

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Jon Jones’ Coach Approaching UFC 309 Camp Like It’s His ‘Last’

The coach of Jon Jones has further fueled retirement speculation ahead of the UFC heavyweight champion’s title defense this month. Jones is less than two weeks out from putting his gold on the line for the very first time 20 months on from winning it at the expense of Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. The […]

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The coach of Jon Jones has further fueled retirement speculation ahead of the UFC heavyweight champion’s title defense this month.

Jones is less than two weeks out from putting his gold on the line for the very first time 20 months on from winning it at the expense of Ciryl Gane at UFC 285.

The delay in his clash with Stipe Miocic has been down to the injury “Bones” sustained weeks out from their scheduled battle at Madison Square Garden last November. A year later, the pair of UFC greats will give their matchup another go.

The decision to do so has received heavy scrutiny given the presence of an interim titleholder in Tom Aspinall. Jones has been heavily berated for avoiding a unification fight, and even if he emerges from UFC 309 next weekend with the title still in his possession, many are expecting him to continue to do so.

Jones has hinted at retiring following the Miocic fight numerous times this year. And while UFC CEO Dana White has suggested the Rochester native would continue as an active competitor to face the deserving next in line, the latest remarks out of his coach aren’t encouraging.

During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Brandon Gibson looked ahead to his man’s next assignment inside the Octagon, which headlines UFC 309 in New York City on Nov. 16.

On the topic of retirement, Gibson noted that he would fully back Jones should he decide to hang up his gloves, even going as far as to say he’s “ready” to see the former light heavyweight kingpin do so.

And with that in mind, the trainer has been approaching their latest camp as if it’s the final one.

“Whenever Jon’s ready (to retire), I’m right there with him. I’m approaching this one like it’s our last go, it’s our last rodeo,” Gibson said. “I think physically, mentally, he could go in there and have five or six more great performances. There’s nothing left for Jon to prove. I think he really wants this fight with Stipe. I think this fight will help solidify Jon’s status as that great heavyweight champion but it’s not something we talk about every night at the gym.

“We’re definitely all eyes on Nov. 16. But each time I go to a practice, I’m approaching it as this is my last camp. I’m giving it my all,” Gibson continued. “If we get one more after this, if we get two more, that would be a great blessing. I’m also ready to see Jon hang it up. Put the belt up. I’d prefer them to walk away obviously earlier than later. Out of all the fighters, Jon deserves to walk away any time he wants. I’m always going to support those guys.”

It remains to be seen whether Jones would following a triumph in MSG with a retirement, closing out his heavyweight stint with wins over Gane and Miocic.

But before even contemplating that, “Bones” must first get the better of a former champion widely branded the division’s greatest of all time. While he’s been widely counted out owing to his age and inactivity, Miocic plans on shocking the world come fight night in “The Big Apple.”

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