Daniel Cormier, former UFC champion in two weight classes, reacted to the news that Jon Jones might fight Alex Pereira after his fight with Stipe Miocic.
"Not everybody punches like Francis Ngannou or Alex Pereira, but it's a lot less risky than fighting a guy with a full skill set. That's exactly the kind of guy Tom Aspinall looks like. I like the way John is smartly looking for the right fight for himself, but I don't know if it will work. Alex says, 'Jiri Prochazka is next - Ancalaev will have to wait'. That's clever! Alex, why would you want to fight Ancalaev? He'll try to beat you. Go fight the dude you already knocked out again! Athletes today are a lot smarter than they used to be, and I think that makes the sport even more interesting. I like that. I like what John is doing, and I like what Alex is doing. John's choice is obvious - I'm not fighting Tom Aspinall!".
Grant Dawson, an American UFC fighter, shared his opinion about the organization's current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. In particular, Dawson reminded that Makhachev lost by knockout to not the top opponent.
"A lot of fighters have lost to guys that on paper they should have destroyed. Islam Makhachev is considered the second coming of Jesus Christ to the MMA world, but he was knocked out by a guy who then lost seven fights in a row. So things happen here," MMA Junkie quoted Dawson as saying.
Islam Makhachev will take on Dustin Porier in his next fight. This fight will take place on June 1 as part of UFC 302. At the same tournament, Dawson will meet in the octagon with Joe Solecki.
Jorge Masvidal. The former UFC fighter, once again spoke unflatteringly about the promotion's former welterweight title challenger Colby Covington.
"This guy will say anything. This guy wears skirts but doesn't tell anybody about it and falls asleep in a thong. Maybe he should be more open about himself. There aren't really PED tests anymore because USADA is dissolved, so here's another damn theory for you. Colby will just say anything to get people to say his stupid name, but ever since I "allegedly" took his soul outside of Papi's Steakhouse, he hasn't been posting or talking about me. He doesn't talk shit about me," Masvidal told Vlad TV.
Journalist Alvaro Colmenero revealed when Alexander Topuria, brother of UFC featherweight champion Elijah Topuria, could make his debut for the promotion. According to the journalist, it could happen this summer.
Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Porier shared his prediction for the upcoming bout between former two-division titleholder Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler.
"If Conor is going to be who he was before the injury and stuff, two rounds will be enough for him. I think this fight will be over before the end of the second round," Puryear said on the air of the show The MMA Hour.
Recall that the fight between McGregor and Chandler will be the main event of the UFC 303 tournament, which will take place on June 29 in Las Vegas.
As for Puryear, he will try to take the belt from current lightweight division leader Islam Makhachev on June 1 at UFC 302 in Newark.
Sean O'Malley, the UFC lightweight champion, said he paid more in taxes than he earned from the promotion last year.
The rematch between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal has a new date and a new venue.
The second fight between the two former UFC stars was originally scheduled to take place on June 1 at the Kia Forum Arena in Inglewood, California, but has now been rescheduled due to other events taking place on that date. The boxing bout will now take place on July 6 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, multiple sources said.
It is reported that the main reason for the postponement of the fight was the reluctance of the organizers to hold the event on the same day as the UFC 302 tournament, in the main event of which Islam Makhachev will defend the belt in the lightweight division against Dustin Puryear.
Recall that in the first fight Masvidal defeated Diaz by technical knockout. The meeting took place in November 2019 at UFC 244.
Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington denies that the promotion's management offered him a fight against undefeated prospect Ian Harry.
Top American UFC lightweight fighter Cory Sandhagen expressed the opinion that his nearest rival Umar Nurmagomedov has serious endurance problems.
It was previously announced that these fighters will meet on August 3 at a tournament in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
"From a strategic point of view, I really want to fight Umar in a five-round fight because I don't know if you watched his last fight, but he's exhausted. He worked hard though, so I give him credit for that. Being that tired was pretty normal because he worked really hard and didn't relax too much.
But this fool was really huffing and puffing and whistling during the interview, so I think there's a vulnerability here that I can capitalize on," Sandhagen said on the MightyCast podcast.
UFC lightweight titleholder Alesandre Pantoja admitted that he dreams of one day sharing the octagon with the division's former dominant champion Demetrious Johnson.
"That's my dream. I don't like to say I have dreams as I want to experience everything in this life. According to me, it's better to live than to dream. But if I dream of anything, it's to fight Demetrious Johnson. I have the utmost respect for him. If he does not want to fight me at the professional level, then maybe I will go to the gym and train with him, have a tough sparring," - quotes Pantoja MMA Fighting.
Recall that last weekend at UFC 301 Pantoja defended the belt for the second time, defeating Steve Ercega by unanimous decision of the judges.
