Category Archives: Lowkickmma.com

Off the back of his second title fight loss to the incumbent, Alex Pereira over the course of last weekend at UFC 303, former light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka and his team are once more mulling over a potential drop to the middleweight limit for his return to action.

Headlining the promotion’s International Fight Week card on short-notice at UFC 303 at the end of last month, Prochazka was felled for the second time in less than a year by the above-mentioned, Pereira – who dispatched him with a thunderous second round high-kick knockout win in Las Vegas.

And now boasting a 1-2 record in the promotion following an impressive four-fight unbeaten rise of finishes to begin his Octagon tenure, Prochazka claimed he would need to seriously “evolve” in his time away from competition, or consider retiring from combat sports.

“Hello everyone, thank you for all your support,” Jiri Prochazka said. “Thanks to you Alex (Pereira) for the fight, it was better. Only one thing goes on my mind: that I need to evolve, to the next level, or don’t fight again.”

“So it’s very simple,” Jiri Prochazka continued. “To be the strongest, this is the way. Thank you, see you in the gym. 

Jiri Prochazka backed to consider middleweight drop

And discussing his student’s future following UFC 303, Prochazka’s coach, Martin Karaivanov considered a middleweight limit drop for the Czech star in his immediate return to action.

“Personally speaking, I see [middleweight] as a potential restart and a positive step,” Karaivanov told TN CZ Sport. “He (Jiri Prochazka) is also still at an age where he can cut weight to [185 pounds] relatively well. We will definitely talk about it, It won’t be my decision, but a team decision. A middleweight [move] would make sense because it would be a new start, something new to focus one. A return to light heavyweight would make sense if and when it starts becoming difficult for him to cut weight to middleweight.”

How do you think Jiri Prochazka can perform at the middleweight limit?

LowKickMMA.com

When it rains, it pours — particularly in the world of Ryan Garcia.

‘King Ryan’ has found himself at the forefront of controversy after controversy over the last several months, all of it his own doing. After getting slapped with a one-year suspension for an anti-doping violation that also overturned the biggest win of his boxing career, Ryan has seemingly slipped back into insanity following a very brief cooldown period.

Taking to social media for another cringey confession, the former interim WBC lightweight titleholder made some rather disgusting remarks about Muslims on his Twitter spaces.

“F*ck you and f*ck Muslims that r**e little kids. Bro, f*ck all you motherf*ckers. You guys are weird as f*ck. F*ck all you Muslim ass weird ass f*ckers.”

When another voice suggests that Ryan will live to regret his comments, the Victorville, Calif native responds with: “Guess what? I will never be touched because I’m a god.”

Garcia’s comments came shortly after Sneako, a popular Rumble streamer, joined the chat. Sneako openly converted to Islam last year and explained his decision to do so while making some disparaging remarks about Catholicism.

It’s not the first time or the last time we’ll hear Ryan garcia’s unhinged commentaries

This is just the latest in a string of self-inflicted wounds for the once-respected and beloved boxer. After wading through all the insanity in the build-up to his clash with Devin Haney, the drama just kept coming. Last month, he was arrested for damaging a room and property in a hallway of the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills.

Reports of the incident revealed that hotel staff had to cut off Garcia from drinking multiple times after he had become increasingly intoxicated and subsequently belligerent.

With Garcia unable to return to the ring until April 2025, expect to see a lot of him in the news and on social media as he continues his downward spiral.

LowKickMMA.com

Former UFC bantamweight champion Julianna Pena knows people and other fighters dislike her, but she is fine with that.

Pena has been full of trash talk which helps sell fights, but because of that, she also has taken shots from fans and other fighters. But, Pena says people calling her the most hated fighter in the women’s division is a compliment to her.

“The only big name I know is mine. That’s the only big name I know. That being said, I think it’s a compliment that I’m the most hated in the women’s division, that they all want to fight me. It’s not just her, it’s every single one of those gals. They always underestimate me, they think that I’m just some layup fight or they’re just going to walk all over me. And they’re always in for a rude awakening when that isn’t the case,” Pena said at the UFC Hall of Fame media scrum (via CageSidePress).

Pena hasn’t fought since July of 2022 when she dropped a decision to Amanda Nunes to lose her bantamweight title after she submitted Nunes to win the championship in one of the biggest upsets ever.

Julianna Pena Unsure Why Title Fight Hasn’t Been Announced

Julianna Pena is expected to fight Raquel Pennington for the women’s bantamweight title next time out.

However, the fight hasn’t been announced yet, and Pena isn’t sure why that is but confirms that the fight will be happening next.

“I said I was waiting to sign for it. They’re probably just making sure that both of us don’t show up like a bag of bones, doing all this promotion, and then one of us is going to fall out or something. I’m assuming that is one of the reasons,” Pena added.

Julianna Pena is currently 11-5 as a pro and is coming off a decision loss to Amanda Nunes. Pena is 7-3 in the UFC and also has notable wins over Cat Zingano, Germaine de Randamie, and Nunes.

LowKickMMA.com

Instead of fighting, Khamzat Chimaev is promoting a new crypto coin — and UFC fans are not amused.

After bowing out of his previously scheduled headliner with Robert Whittaker at UFC Saudi Arabia due to an undisclosed illness, ‘Borz’ took to social media to promote a new crypto endeavor called Smash.

“Hello guys, there is one crypto coin about me,” Chimaev said. “They call it Smash. Let’s smash together.”

According to the official website, the goal of Smash is to “bring the fighting spirit and the drive of the man himself into the world of DeFi,” or decentralized finance.

The last time stepped inside the cage was in October for a scrap with former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 284. Usman stepped into the bout on less than two weeks’ notice and moved up to 185 for the fight. Still, the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ delivered a solid showing, pushing Chimaev to the limit and barely coming up short on the scorecards, surrendering a majority decision to the undefeated Chechen monster.

Overall, Chimaev is a perfect 13-0 in his mixed martial arts career, but he has only fought twice in the last two years, seeing no less than five main events canceled.

UFC Fans Slam Khamzat Chimaev’s Crypto promo

Needless to say, fight fans online were not very kind in the comments, calling out Chimaev for his stalled-out career inside the Octagon and promoting a sus cryptocurrency.

LowKickMMA.com

Slated to return at the end of this month in the co-main event of UFC 304 in Manchester, current interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall has once again welcomed the chance to take on light heavyweight kingpin, Alex Pereira in the future – claiming he “absolutely” wants to tackle the Brazilian.

Aspinall, the current interim heavyweight champion, will return to the Octagon later this month in the co-headliner of UFC 304, taking on former-foe, Curtis Blaydes – in a defense of his interim crown.

Sharing the card with the above-mentioned Sao Paulo knockout artist, Pereira back in November of last year at UFC 295, Aspinall snatched the interim heavyweight crown with a stunning knockout win against the streaking, Sergei Pavlovich at Madison Square Garden.

Tom Aspinall offers to take on Alex Pereira at heavyweight

And linked continually with a heavyweight fight against former two-weight champion, Pereira – who called for his own divisional leap off the back of his high-kick knockout against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303 last weekend, Aspinall is all ears to a clash in the near future.

“As we’ve seen with me, I’m not shying away from anybody,” Tom Aspinall told talkSPORT reporter, Jordan Ellis. “So, if the UFC wanna do that [a fight versus Alex Pereira], I’m happy to do that. I think as an elite level fighter myself, you can’t help but be impressed with what Alex Pereira has done over the last couple of years. I mean, this time two years ago, nobody had a clue who he was, now he’s one of the biggest stars in MMA – one of the best fighters in UFC history.”

“I really, really respect what he’s done,” Tom Aspinall explained. “Does that mean that I don’t wanna fight him? I absolutely wanna fight him, but I’m sure there’ll be a time and a place for it. I’m not jumping ahead of things right now, I’m fighting Curtis Blaydes now. If that’s what the UFC wanna do one day, then we’ll absolutely do it.”

Who wins in a future heavyweight clash: Tom Aspinall or Alex Pereira?

LowKickMMA.com

Dricus du Plessis has ramped up his rivalry with incoming UFC 305 headliner, Israel Adesanya following last night’s tense pre-fight press conference in Perth, poking funat the ex-champion’s warning against “kissing” him during their heated staredown.

du Plessis, the current undisputed middleweight champion, is slated to make his return in August, taking on former two-weight titleholder, Adesanya in his first defense of the divisional throne.

Winning his crown back in January in the main event of UFC 297, du Plessis took home a close, split decision win over common-foe, Sean Strickland, minting himself as the undisputed middleweight champion to boot.

And sharing the stage with City Kickboxing striker, Adesanya overnight at their pre-fight press conference ahead of UFC 305 – du Plessis was once more accused of disrespecting former champions hailing from Africa – namely Kamaru Usman, Francis Ngannou, and the above-mentioned, Adesanya.

Setting the tone from then on out for a heated staredown at center stage, du Plessis and Adesanya held a stare for minutes with promtoional officials attempting to separate the duo – ultimately to no avail.

Dricus du Plessis pokes fun at Israel Adesanya once more

Engaging in a brief spat of back-and-forth verbals, Pretoria native, du Plessis – who has yet to suffer defeat inside the Octagon, claimed Adesanya urged him not to lock lips during their face-off, before he then hit out at prior accusations of the ex-champion kissing his dog.

“I think he (Israel Adesanya) said, ‘Don’t kiss me,’” Dricus du Plessis told Submission Radio. “As far as I know, he said, ‘Don’t go kissing me now,’ I said, ‘I’m no dog, so i won’t.’ I don’t know what he was saying. I wasn’t really focused on what he was saying. I didn’t say anything. You know, I’m not here to say anything to him. The date is set. There’s no need to be saying anything.”

Who wins at UFC 305 next month: Dricus du Plessis or Israel Adesanya?

LowKickMMA.com

Francis Ngannou has returned to training following the death of his 15-month-old son Kobe in April.

Ngannou has since returned to Las Vegas after being back home in Cameroon for the funeral and to be with family. His head coach, Eric Nicsick says he’s happy that Ngannou is back in the gym at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.

“He’s healing,” Nicksick said of Francis Ngannou on The MMA Hour. “That’s the best I can say. He’s healing. You’re seeing the smile back on his face. You’re seeing the banter. He’s back in the gym talking trash to [Sean] Strickland and everybody around the room. That’s the most important thing. But all the while, you know there’s a lot of healing going on inside. Every once in a while he’ll have that moment where a vulnerability [shows itself].”

Although Francis Ngannou does not have his next fight booked, Eric Nicksick is just happy that the former UFC heavyweight champion is back training. But, as the two were chatting, Ngannou said his next fight is for his son, Kobe which was an emotional message.

“He looked at me at dinner last week and was like, ‘This next one’s for Kobe.’ That shit hit me,” Nicksick said referencing Ngannou’s son. “I was like, f*ck, whoever you’re fighting next, God bless them. If this is what we’re fighting for, this man is going to be dialed in.

“It was just nice to have him home. It was nice to give him a hug, and not even really have to say much, and just be there next to him and let him talk and let him vent. We cried, we hugged, we laughed, and those are the moments you have when you have a brother like him. Happy to have him home,” Nicksick added.

Coach Isn’t Sure What’s Next For Francis Ngannou

Francis Ngannou is coming off a KO loss to Anthony Joshua in his second boxing fight.

Following the fight, the expectation is Ngannou will return to MMA and make his PFL debut. But, Nicksick isn’t sure when that will happen, but is hopeful it will be this year.

“I really don’t know, to be honest with you,” Nicksick said about the timeline for Ngannou’s next fight. “I hope so [in 2024]. I hope so, because I think keeping him busy has been the best thing for him. It’s helped him a lot.

“But again, no parent should ever have to go through what he went through. Only time will tell, and time will heal. I hope that just because I want to see him compete again with this on him, I want him to be able to find a purpose in competing again. But whatever he decides to do, I’m going to have his back 110 percent,” Nicksick added.

Ngannou is 17-3 as a pro in MMA and last competed in January of 2022 when he beat Ciryl Gane by decision.

LowKickMMA.com

Perennial heavyweight contender, Travis Browne is officially no longer apart of the UFC roster, with promotional officials confirming the Hawaiian has been released from his contract, seven years following his most recent fight in mixed martial arts.

Browne, a perennial contender under the banner of the UFC, competed at the heavyweight limit during his tenure in the promotion – most recently taking on fellow Octagon alum, Aleksei Oleinik dropping a second round rear-naked choke submission loss to the Russian at UFC 213.

Travis Browne officially released from UFC contract

Ending his tenure in the midst of a four-fight losing run, Travis Browne – the long-time partner of inaugural UFC bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey, competed at the monumental UFC 200 event in 2016, suffering a first round TKO defeat to former undisputed champion, Cain Velasquez.

And amid uncertainty over his fighting future following years of inactivity, promotional officials confirmed to MMA Fighting how Honolulu native, Browne had been released from his contract, seven years on from his most recent fight. 

Boasting an 18-7-1 professional record, Browne, known for his knockout ability and striking prowess, has stopped a total of 14 opponents via strikes, as well as racking up a further two submission finishes.

Making his organizational debut at the finale of The Ultimate Fighter 11 back in 2010, Browne has racked up notable Octagon wins over the likes of Stefan Struve, Gabriel Gonzaga, Alistair Overeem, Josh Barnett, Brendan Schaub, and his most recent win, finished Matt MItrione in a 2016 knockout victory. 

Earning a pair of Fight of the Night post-fight bonuses, Browne took on former heavyweight champion, Andrei Arlovski in a memorable clash – who himself also departed the UFC following his decision loss to Martin Buday last weekend, as well as knockout kingpin, Derrick Lewis. 

What’s your favorite memory from the career of UFC contender, Travis Browne?

LowKickMMA.com

Amid continued links to a massive heavyweight move and subsequent fight against current champion, Jon Jones in the future, off the back of UFC 303, Alex Pereira has skipped past the Rochester native in the pound-for-pound rankings, into second position.

Pereira, a former undisputed middleweight champion and the current light heavyweight gold holder, headlined UFC 303 over the course of last weekend against former titleholder, Jiri Prochazka – stopping the Czech Republic native with a thunderous second round high-kick knockout win.

And staking his claim immediately for a heavyweight divisional leap following his win over Prochazka, former two-weight champion, Pereira has direct sights on a historic third championship win in the process.

“I think that’s in my future,” Alex Pereira told Joe Rogan of a heavyweight move following his devastating win at UFC 303. “You know, I said that the last time I was here [inside the Octagon]. There didn’t seem to be a lot of interest in the organization, but I’m here, and I’m available and I do think that’s in my future.”

Alex Pereira skips past Jon Jones in UFC pound-for-pound rankings to number two

Drawing immediate links to a super fight with former two-weight champion, Jones – who is steadfast on his own return at UFC 309 in November against veteran ex-heavyweight champion, Stipe Miocic, Pereira has already chalked up a score against the former, surpassing him in the pound-for-pound rankings.

“Dana White may lose his mind on vacation,” John Morgan posted on X. “Islam Makhachev remains number one in the latest pound-for-pound rankings, while Alex Pereira ascends to number two following his #UFC 303 win. That means Jon Jones falls to number three.”

Admitting fans and pundits alike are clamoring for Pereira to make a heavyweight climb, the above-mentioned, White defended Jones’ status at the best fighter pound-for-pound in the promotion currently – all this despite his actual representation in the pile.

Would you like to see Alex Pereira challenge Jon Jones at heavyweight in the future?

LowKickMMA.com

Maybe Jon Jones isn’t retiring after all.

Over the last several months, the reigning undisputed UFC heavyweight world champion has dropped hints that he could retire once his anticipated clash with two-time titleholder Stipe Miocic is in the books. However, ‘Bones’ seemingly left the door open after responding to a fan who asked the consensus GOAT if his next fight would be his last.

“Honestly, it’s hard to say right now, I’m gonna base a lot of that on my next performance,” Jones wrote on X. “The options are looking crazy right now.”

In all likelihood, the truly “crazy” option for Jon Jones is a fight with reigning light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. Returning to the Octagon at UFC 303, ‘Poatan’ delivered another highlight-reel finish in the evening’s main event, knocking out Jiri Prochazka in the opening moments of the second round with a perfectly timed head kick.

Speaking on the epic finish during the UFC 303 post-fight press conference, CEO Dana White seemed much more open to the idea of letting Pereira move up to heavyweight in pursuit of something no fighter has ever done before — winning a UFC championship in three different divisions.

“I know that’s what people want to see,” White said when asked about letting Pereira move up a weight class for the second time in his career.

Jones previously suggested on social media that a fight between himself and Pereira would be “the biggest fight in MMA history.” After Saturday’s happening in Las Vegas, he might be right.

If Jon Jones sticks around to fight alex pereira, where does that leave tom Aspinall?

Jones has been out of action since tearing his pectoral muscle in October. Weeks later, the promotion crowned an interim heavyweight champion when Tom Aspinall KO’d Sergei Pavlovich 69 seconds into their UFC 295 co-main event at MSG.

Traditionally, the undisputed champ would unify his belt with that of the interim titleholder upon return. However, this is not one of those situations.

Instead, Jones will put his undisputed title on the line against Miocic, as originally intended, prompting Aspinall to become the first fighter in more than a decade to defend an interim belt. He’ll do so at UFC 304 on July 27 when he meets the only man to hold a victory over him inside the Octagon, Curtis Blaydes.

If Jones and Aspinall succeed in settling their business with Miocic and Blaydes, it should lead to a unification clash between the two top stars. Unfortunately, it feels like that’s the last thing on Jones’ mind, especially after Pereira’s insane performance against Prochazka.

If Jon Jones ultimately pursues a superfight with ‘Poatan’ after Miocic, the question we’re left with is, where does that leave Tom Aspinall?

LowKickMMA.com