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LAS VEGAS – With over 50 professional MMA fights, Jim Miller has been through it all, which has brought a level of comfort few have in this sport. That’s why when the UFC called with Jared Gordon as a replacement opponent for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 45, Miller (35-17 MMA, 24-16 UFC) had no problem saying yes. At this point, there’s little the UFC lightweight veteran hasn’t seen, and he expects to be ready Saturday. “(It’s) business as usual,” Miller told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 45 news conference. “That’s three in a row that opponents drop out like two weeks or less for the event. And I think it’s a total of nine times in my career with the UFC, so more like 25 percent. But yeah, business as usual. “I train to be the best fighter that I can be every out. At this point I’ve fought everybody from the top lanky 6’4” lefties, to guys my height, and righties and grapplers. So I just appreciated when guys are willing to step up because there are a lot of fighters that say

LAS VEGAS – Daniel Pineda wants to temper any Fight of the Night expectations for his UFC on ESPN 45 showdown with Alex Caceres right now. For anyone who is looking at Saturday’s featherweight co-headliner at the UFC Apex, which airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN, and thinks it’s going to be competitive, Pineda (28-14 MMA, 5-5 UFC) said that’s not part of the plan for Caceres (20-13 MMA, 15-11 UFC). “I don’t plan on making it back and forth,” Pineda told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 45 media day. “I plan on finishing him in one or two rounds. It’s going to suck for a lot of people, but I will finish him. “I think this opponent, we make a perfect matchup. He’s a veteran. I’m a veteran. I’ve been in the game a long time. I think he pushed forward at the right times. I push forward all the time. I think we’re going to give a hell of a fight.” More UFC! 'Really depressed' by Bobby Green no contest, Jared Gordon relieved to get UFC on ESP

LAS VEGAS – Jared Gordon can breathe a little easier knowing he won’t have to dwell too long on his latest misfortune. Things haven’t been easy for the UFC lightweight veteran, who’s coming off a controversial decision loss to UFC star Paddy Pimblett and most recently a no contest ruling after he was accidentally headbutted and knocked out by Bobby Green in April (the fight was ruled a no contest). Gordon (19-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) admits things haven’t been going well, and that’s been hurting him. “I was lost for a little bit after Bobby,” Gordon said at UFC on ESPN 45 media day on Wednesday. “I was really depressed. I was down on myself. I was like, ‘None of this is worth it.’ I was having a pity party for like two weeks, but then I got this call. Everything happens for a reason. Everything aligns the way it’s supposed to align.” Related UFC on ESPN 45 pre-event facts: Jim Miller can add to octagon wins record, be first to 25 UFC on ESPN 45: How to watch Kai Kara-France vs. A

They say gloves are meant to protect the hands not the head – but these photos say otherwise. Check out the nastiest and bloodiest battles in BKFC history in the gallery below – if you dare. (Photos courtesy of BKFC) from MMA Junkie https://ift.tt/8yhlsXF via IFTTT

American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez says Khabib Nurmagomedov is still heavily involved in his teammates’ training camps. In January, it was hinted that Nurmagomedov would be stepping away from coaching to spend more time with his family. Alongside Mendez, “The Eagle” was named MMA Junkie’s 2022 Coach of the Year after his team went 19-2 – including Islam Makhachev’s UFC title win and Usman Nurmagomedov’s Bellator title win. Nurmagomedov was recently spotted training at AKA, and Mendez clarified that he’s still coaching but won’t be making trips to corner any fighters. “Well, it’s gonna be me for sure. I’m pretty sure Khabib won’t be in the corner. He stated that,” Mendez told The Schmo of cornering Abubakar Nurmagomedov this Saturday at UFC on ESPN 45. “One thing people don’t understand, he never said he wouldn’t coach people. He said he’s not going to be in the corner and travel to fight camps because he’s spending time with his family, never said he wouldn’t c

Rob Wilkinson ’s attempt to repeat as PFL light heavyweight champion has come to an end. According to multiple reports, Wilkinson has tested positive for a banned substance following a drug test administered by the Nevada Athletic Commission, which oversaw his most recent fight in April at 2023 PFL 1. As a result, Wilkinson is out for the rest of the season. It’s unclear what substance was found in Wilkinson’s system. MMA Mania first reported the news Wednesday. Wilkinson (18-2) is now the 10th PFL fighter facing sanctions in Nevada for  a failed drug test following the promotion’s three-event stint in Las Vegas to open the regular season. The list of fighters who tested positive includes former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Thiago Santos, whom Wilkinson defeated by unanimous decision April 1 at PFL 1. Wilkinson had been slated to fight Will Fleury in his second bout of the season. Wilkinson, a two-fight UFC veteran who was TKO’d by Israel Adesanya, broke out in a big

Amir Albazi showed off his finishing prowress at one of the biggest pay-per-view cards of 2022. At UFC 278 last August, Albazi made quick work of Francisco Figueiredo, winning the fight in the first round with a rear-naked choke submission. The victory was his third of three fights in the UFC, and his second first-round finish. You can watch Albazi’s fantastic performance against Figueiredo in the video above. Related UFC on ESPN 45 pre-event facts: Jim Miller can add to octagon wins record, be first to 25 Albazi returns to action Saturday for his first main event under the UFC banner at UFC on ESPN 45 . He takes on Kai Kara-France in a flyweight matchup. The event takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and airs live on ESPN and ESPN+. Albazi (16-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will look to extend his current win streak to six straight. He enters Saturday’s main even on the heels of a third-round finish of Alessandro Costa in December. Kara-France (24-10 MMA, 7-3 UFC) will look to retur

Beneil Dariush sees Justin Gaethje avenging his loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 291. The “BMF” belt is back, and two of the most violent lightweights will battle for it. Gaethje rematches Poirier in the July 29 headliner, which takes place at Delta Center in Salt Lake City and airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+. Poirier (29-7 MMA, 21-6 UFC) finished Gaethje (24-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) in their first matchup in a 2018 Fight of the Year contender . Since then, both men captured the interim lightweight title but fell short in claiming undisputed gold when they were finished by Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. Dariush admits he has some bias toward Gaethje but sees “The Highlight” with more fuel this time around. “I love the fight. I think it’s an amazing fight,” Dariush told MMA Junkie. “I think it does have title implications. I just think they would be behind me. I don’t think they’re gonna be able to step in front of me. I’m leaning towards Justin, and I know

Sean Strickland thinks a fight with Israel Adesanya is imminent if he can get past Abus Magomedov . Strickland (26-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) meets Magomedov (25-4-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) July 1 at a UFC Fight Night main event at the UFC Apex. Strickland is one of the few top-ranked contenders to never face middleweight champion Adesanya (23-2 MMA, 12-2 UFC), so he sees title implications with a win. “If this fight goes my way, it 100 percent should be in the cards,” Strickland told My MMA News . “I f*cking had a close decision with f*cking – what the f*ck was that guy’s name? Jared Cannonier, you knocked some brain cells out of me. Solid guy. Thought I won on the scorecards, but it is what it is. I truly believe I should be the one fighting Izzy, but I lost fair and square. I’ll pay my tenants. I’ll get some Ws, but yeah, that one needs to happen.” Strickland being matched up with Magomedov came as a surprise, considering Magomedov has only one octagon win. Strickland admits it’s not the fight he

The UFC opens a jam-packed June schedule on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 45 , which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a main card that airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+. A rare non-title flyweight bout gets the main event spotlight. Former interim title challenger Kai Kara-France (24-10 MMA, 7-3 UFC) is set to takes on surging contender Amir Albazi (16-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in a high stakes matchup scheduled for five rounds. For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card – which features two of the longest-tenured veterans on the roster – check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN 45. from MMA Junkie https://ift.tt/nkK2Jvg via IFTTT

The UFC’s return to Salt Lake City continues to fill up with fights. The most recent addition to UFC 291 is a flyweight bout between Joanne Wood and Priscila Cachoeira . The event takes place July 29 at Delta Center with the main card on pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+. Two people with knowledge of the booking confirmed the matchup to MMA Junkie on Tuesday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. The Mirror was first to report the news. Wood (16-8 MMA, 8-8 UFC) looks to build off a split decision win over Luana Carolina in March. The victory snapped a three-fight losing skid. During the stretch, Wood lost to top contenders Taila Santos and Lauren Murphy, as well as future champion Alexa Grasso. It’ll be almost a year in between fights for Cachoeira (12-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC), who is coming off back-to-back cancellations. After Sijara Eubanks’ weight issues canceled a January bout on weigh-in day, Cachoeira had weight management

Ray Longo takes exception with the way he thinks the UFC has treated Aljamain Sterling . Bantamweight champion Sterling (23-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) will be making a three-month turnaround to face Sean O’Malley (16-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) in the UFC 292 main event Aug. 19 at TD Garden in Boston. Sterling is fresh off a five-round headlining  win against Henry Cejudo at UFC 288. He initially wanted more time to recover before booking his next fight, and Longo doesn’t think it’s fair for the UFC to offer Sterling a fight so quickly. “To me, in business and even down here, you know what people like: consistency,” Longo said in a recent episode of the Anik & Florian Podcast . “If I come in here, everybody pays $200 a month, and then they’re walking around the gym, and someone says, ‘No, he only charges me $75,’ that’s not good, you know what I mean? It’s got to be consistent. That’s why I said we’re giving examples where it seems like it’s favoritism almost.” Longo pointed to lightweight champion

Beneil Dariush knows what’s in store when fighting Charles Olivera, and yes, he’s looking forward to it. Longtime lightweight contender Dariush (22-4-1 MMA, 16-4-1 UFC) takes on former champ Oliveira (33-9 MMA, 21-9 UFC) on June 10 in the co-main event of UFC 289 , which takes place at Rogers Arena in Vancouver with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+. It’s a fan-favorite matchup, and also one that could determine the next title challenger for reigning 155-pound titleholder Islam Makhachev. Given the stakes, Dariush knows a measured approach is the best route to secure himself a title shot. However, the idea of going toe-to-toe with the Brazilian appeals very much to Dariush. “Game plan wise it’s to be perfect and to not do that,” Dariush told MMA Junkie. “Fifteen minutes of staying consistent, of staying on the game plan and just being focused and keeping a steady pace, somewhat like the Gamrot fight. But, at the same time, I’ve watched his

Matt Brown ’s opinion of the biggest star the MMA world has ever seen has dwindled in recent years. Speaking on Michael Bisping’s YouTube channel , the UFC veteran Brown (24-19 MMA, 17-13 UFC) had some harsh words for Conor McGregor. Brown recognizes the heights McGregor has reached, but is confident in stating his best is now in the past – and perhaps by McGregor’s own doing. “He’s a nobody, in my opinion,” Brown said. “He was amazing, I give him props for all that he did, but at this point he’s a bum.” Related Aljamain Sterling dubs Sean O'Malley as 'wannabe knock-off' Conor McGregor 'TUF 31' contestant recalls being told he was replaced by Conor McGregor fighter before show began During the interview, Bisping and Anthony Smith stayed clear from criticizing the Irish superstar, but Brown doubled down. “You can headline that, and it won’t be bullsh*t,” Brown said. “Conor, I think he’s lost like four or his last five. He hasn’t f*cking done nothing. “Eve

David Martinez ’s highlight reel continues to grow. The Combate Global bantamweight champion defended his title with an acrobatic, spinning wheel-kick knockout in the main event of “Combate Global: Martinez vs Zarauz.” Martinez (10-1) put away Jose Zarauz (23-10-1) in the fourth round of their championship contest. The event took place Sunday at the Mediapro Studios in Miami, and streamed on Paramount+. You can watch Martinez’s knockout in the video below (via Twitter ): David Martinez (10-1) defiende su título de peso gallo de Combate Global con una extraordinaria patada giratoria en el cuarto asalto sobre José Zarauz (23-10-1) #CombateGlobal pic.twitter.com/bzSZsniEHa — Pelunaton (@pelunaton) May 29, 2023 Related Admiring Alexa Grasso and Irene Aldana, Loopy Godinez excited to join Lobo Gym: 'We can do incredible things' Meet UFC newcomer Melissa Martinez, former Combate Global champion, decorated kickboxer The Mujeres of Lobo Gym: Inside a Mexican MMA hotb

The 95th Oscars are in the rearview mirror, and “Everything Everywhere All at Once” was the big winner. The film won Best Picture, Director, Actress, Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor, Original Screenplay and Film Editing. It became the first movie in history to win Best Picture, as well as three separate acting prizes. Why do you care, dear MMA reader? Well, it’s not an MMA movie, but it does have some martial arts. Jamie Lee Curtis landed a flying knee on screen – and went on to win Best Supporting Actress. So there you have it: That’s plenty justification to resurface our list of the best (and, let’s be honest: worst!) MMA movies of all time. (And if we left some off the list, don’t be offended. For the record, if a movie was purely karate or kickboxing or boxing, etc., we left it off – we’re looking for reasonably modern-era mixed martial arts cagefighting kind of stuff to make the cut for this list. Sorry, old Bruce Lee and Jean Claude Van Damme flicks. We’ll save you fo

Justin Gaethje isn’t particularly moved by fighting for the vacant “BMF” title in his rematch with Dustin Poirier at UFC 291 , but he’s wise enough to know what the belt represents, and what it could do for his career. With inaugural “BMF” champ Jorge Masvidal retired from MMA competition, the UFC brass opted to bring the belt for the first time in more than three years for the July 29 headliner, which takes place at The Delta Center in Salt Lake City and airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+. With Gaethje (24-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) and Poirier (29-7 MMA, 21-6 UFC) owning a combined 24 fight-night bonuses under the UFC banner, there are few more fitting matchups that would be worthy of the “BMF” name. For Gaethje, though, it’s more about the perk that come along with the designation. It could lead to a more lucrative future for himself, and thinks the UFC should be commended rather than criticized for the stakes around the fight. “My true assessment: When Masvidal an

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize. But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back. Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator. Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by a promotion from May 22-28. from MMA Junkie https://ift.tt/y8losSX via IFTTT

Aljamain Sterling thinks Sean O'Malley is being promoted as a big star, but says he’s no Conor McGregor . Bantamweight champion Sterling (23-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) will defend his title against O’Malley (16-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) in the UFC 292 headliner Aug. 19 at TD Garden in Boston. Sterling, who’s fresh off a title defense against Henry Cejudo at UFC 288, wanted some time to see how his body feels before committing to his next fight. That prompted Dana White to criticize Sterling for accepting the fight, and led O’Malley’s head coach, Tim Welch, to think the promotion would rather have O’Malley as champ. But Sterling thinks O’Malley has yet to back up his performances like McGregor did when he was on the rise. “I do think that the UFC does want (O’Malley as the champion),” Sterling said on his YouTube channel . “But then (Welch) started going into his reasonings of why and started calling (O’Malley) like this knockout artist – and not saying he never knocked anybody out, but it’s j

After a week off, the UFC is back on its home turf Saturday with UFC on ESPN 45 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Flyweight contenders are at the top of the lineup. Here’s how to watch UFC on ESPN 45 with a pair of flyweight contenders in action. from MMA Junkie https://ift.tt/5rEC1Qa via IFTTT

Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 7 is in the works. DWCS debuted in 2017 with an eight-episode inaugural season. Season 2 was held in 2018 with eight episodes, followed by a three-episode DWCS: Brasil. In 2019, DWCS was extended to 10 episodes for its third season. The length was repeated in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Each season, the number of fighters signed has increased. Thus far, the show has produced UFC notables including Sean O’Malley, Maycee Barber, Geoff Neal, Ryan Spann, Sodiq Yusuff, Jamahal Hill, Taila Santos, Johnny Walker, Alex Perez, Bo Nickal, Jailton Almeida, Jack Della Maddalena, and Marina Rodriguez among others. In recent weeks, the UFC matchmakers have been gearing up for a summer DWCS return, expected to launch Aug. 8. Athletes and matchups have slowly but surely been booked. The number of episodes for Season 7 is not yet known. Scroll below to see the latest athletes and fights booked, which have been confirmed by MMA Junkie or posted about by the fighters i

For the second straight time, Bellator is taking one of its biggest stars to Japan. At Bellator X Rizin 2, which was announced Saturday for late July near Tokyo, Bellator president Scott Coker will take former featherweight champion A.J. McKee (20-1 MMA, 20-1 BMMA) overseas to fight former lightweight champion Patricky Freire (24-11 MMA, 15-9 BMMA) in the opening round of the promotion’s ongoing 155-pound grand prix. Coker said doing that high-profile fight in Japan is a testament to what Bellator wants to do with events there. “We could have brought this anywhere in the world,” Coker said at a Saturday news conference announcing the event in Tokyo. “We thought about doing this in Los Angeles or doing it in New York, but as (Rizin head Nobuyuki Sakakibara) and I continued our dialogue, we thought this was the perfect fight for Japan.” McKee won the featherweight title against Freire’s brother Patricio in July 2021, but Freire beat him in April 2022 in their rematch. Related S

“The Ultimate Fighter” returns this week for its 31st season, and it might be the most talked-about edition yet for the show. Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor will coach one team opposite former Bellator lightweight champ Michael Chandler. The two are supposed to fight after the season concludes, though a date is not yet on the books. Take a look at the history of “TUF” winners, not just from the U.S. version of the show, but from all the international versions, as well. They’re presented alphabetically below. from MMA Junkie https://ift.tt/0zcUFbS via IFTTT

Amanda Nunes thought she had a trilogy on her hands until a few weeks ago. Nunes was set to defend her women’s bantamweight title in a rematch with Julianna Peña at UFC 289 next month until Peña pulled out with an injury. Instead, Irene Aldana (14-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC) will step in to challenge Nunes (22-5 MMA, 15-2 UFC) for the 135-pound belt in the June 10 main event at Rogers Center in Vancouver. Nunes was stunned by Peña with a second-round submission in their first fight at UFC 269 in December 2021. It is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in MMA history. But Nunes, also the UFC’s women’s featherweight champion, avenged that loss in a big way when she dominated Peña to recapture the title at UFC 277. Related Analyst: 'Massive force' Irene Aldana will upset champ Amanda Nunes at UFC 289 Amanda Nunes plans to keep defending UFC featherweight title: 'I'm a double champion for a reason' Irene Aldana: Sharing octagon with Amanda Nunes at UFC 289 'alr

Check out the best photos from Amanda Nunes ’ unanimous decision win over Julianna Pena at UFC 277 at American Airlines Center in Dallas. (Photos by Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports and Getty Images) List Twitter reacts to Amanda Nunes' bloody title win over Julianna Peña at UFC 277 from MMA Junkie https://ift.tt/4FcGZlL via IFTTT

Sports collectibles like trading cards, autographs and other memorabilia have been big business for decades. With MMA, it’s no different. From signed Bellator gloves and UFC posters to fight-worn gear and an abundance of pricey trading cards, just about any MMA collectible fans are looking for has popped up for sale at some point. Here’s a look at not only some of the priciest MMA collectibles sold on eBay in the past week, but some of the most fun and interesting, as well. from MMA Junkie https://ift.tt/CXyVG6c via IFTTT

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best fights from May 2023. Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Fight of the Month award for May. At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting on your choice. from MMA Junkie https://ift.tt/8xFtl53 via IFTTT

Check out these photos from Saturday’s press conference in Japan announcing Bellator X Rizin 2 , which takes place July 30 at Saitama Super Arena near Tokyo. (Photos courtesy of Rizin FF) from MMA Junkie https://ift.tt/oH81BUs via IFTTT

Bellator is returning to Japan this summer for a second co-promoted event with Rizin to continue its world lightweight grand prix and crown and inaugural men’s flyweight champion. Bellator X Rizin 2 takes place July 30 at Saitama Super Arena, and the main event will see a lightweight grand prix quarterfinal bout between former featherweight champion AJ McKee (20-1 MMA, 20-1 BMMA) and former lightweight champion Patricky Freire (24-11 MMA, 15-9 BMMA). In the co-feature, Bellator opens the doors to a new men’s flyweight division as former Bellator and Rizin champion Kyoji Horiguichi (31-5 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) takes on Makoto Takahashi (16-1-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA). The winner will become the inaugural Bellator men’s flyweight champion. Bellator announced the event and the featured bouts in a press release Saturday morning. While the first cross-promoted event which took place on New Year’s Eve featured head-to-head bouts between Bellator and Rizin fighters, the second iteration departs from t

Muhammad Mokaev ’s struggle to draw ranked opposition continues. Undefeated Mokaev is off to a 4-0 start to his UFC tenure and has aspirations of becoming the youngest champion in UFC history. The 22-year-old, who suffered a partial MCL tear in his win over Jafel Filho this past March, is hoping to either land on the London card in July or UFC 292 on Aug. 19 in Boston. Mokaev (10-0-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) has been active, but his inability to get a ranked flyweight has slowed down his pursuit of gold, which has frustrated him greatly. “It’s very, very hard at the moment,” Mokaev said on the “Believe You Me” podcast. “When I wasn’t ranked, I beat Cody Durden in under 50 seconds and after that, I beat LFA champion Charles Johnson, Malcolm Gordon, Jafel Filho, who came out of Contender Series. These guys are older than me by 10 years. Now I’m ranked No. 12, and people don’t want to fight me, ranked guys. Now ranked guys are saying, ‘Go have one more fight,’ and then if I beat somebody else,

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best submissions from May 2023: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Submission of the Month award for May. At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting for your choice. * * * * Nominees from MMA Junkie https://ift.tt/6wnc5Rd via IFTTT

Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here. On Episode 3,364, the boys bring on guest Olivier Aubin Mercier to discuss his run toward another PFL championship. The fellas also discuss the back and forth between UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and president Dana White, and much more. Tune in! from MMA Junkie https://ift.tt/OaB3KjW via IFTTT

Aleksei Oleinik returned to action for the first time since his UFC exit, but things did not go in his favor. In the main event of REN TV Fight Club at Dynamo Volleyball Arena in Moscow, Russia, Oleinik (60-17-1 MMA) faced fellow UFC veteran Oli Thompson in a heavyweight bout. The result was a violent finish that left Oleinik staring up at the lights. Thompson (21-16 MMA) unleashed a crushing right hand that sent Oleinik crashing to the canvas with 35 seconds remaining in the opening round. Check out video of the finish below (via Twitter ): Oli Thompson destroys Alexey Oleynik with a massive right hand in the first round pic.twitter.com/AdWy25dQxR — caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) May 26, 2023 Thompson, 43, returned to the win column for the first time since 2020, snapping a four-fight losing skid. His last victory was also a first-round stoppage; a 23-second knockout of Szymon Bajor at Fight Exclusive Night 28 on June 13, 2020. Oleinik, 45, competed in his final UFC bout in Octo

Mitch Ramirez was on Cloud 9 when he was told, after a 10-day waiting period, that he’d made the final cut for “The Ultimate Fighter 31.” But then Conor McGregor touched down in Las Vegas, and that changed everything. When McGregor arrived in February to coach opposite Michael Chandler, the former UFC two-division champion wasn’t alone. He brought his own fighters with him and, as a result, Ken Cross, Brandon Jenkins and Ramirez were pulled from the show before filming started in order to make room for McGregor’s handpicked guys, according to MMA manager Daniel Rubenstein. It’s something McGregor later denied , but in an interview with Fight Fluency , Ramirez recalled being told by one of the producers that he was off the show for that reason. “What he told me is that, ‘Conor landed today and brought two of his guys with them. He’s demanding they’re on the show. He has the prospects. Unfortunately you have the least amount of fights on your record, so you’re being replaced,'”

Robert Whittaker respects Dricus Du Plessis ’ willingness to fight him at UFC 290. Whittaker (24-6 MMA, 15-4 UFC) takes on Du Plessis (19-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) at UFC 290 on July 8 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Du Plessis is unbeaten in the UFC, a fresh face for middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, and has already created a storyline with “The Last Stylebender” to get his opportunity at gold. Du Plessis has admitted that taking the Whittaker fight wasn’t the smart choice , but he wants to cement himself as No. 1 contender. “I think I read somewhere that he actually commented on that and saying, ‘I’m not here to do the smart thing, I’m here to fight,'” Whittaker said on his MMArcade Podcast . “That’s why I am so happy with this fight because, like, I will respect that and give you a fight with everything that I have. That is the game for me. That is the craft. That is fulfilling to me in my warrior spirit.” Many, including Adesanya , don’t rate Du Plessis’ chances too high aga