Newark’s own, Joe Rogan will make his return to the commentary booth this weekend following his recent absence amid the Octagon’s travel to South America, calling the action as part of a three-man team in New Jersey for UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier.
Rogan, a long-time color commentator stalwart under the banner of the promotion, has been sidelined from duties since he called the monumental UFC 300 event back in April in Las Vegas, watching on as light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira rounded out the card with a blistering knockout win over Jamahal Hil.
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – USA TODAY Sports
Joe Rogan calls the action from UFC 302 this weekend
And this weekend, the veteran broadcaster returns home to his native Newark, forming a three-man booth alongside fellow color commentator, Daniel Cormier, and staple play-by-play lead, Jon Anik. News of Joe Rogan’s inclusion on the pay-per-view return to the East Coast was first reported by MMA Fighting.
Set to call the action in a championship setting once more – Rogan and co will watch on as undisputed lightweight champion and current pound-for-pound pacesetter, Islam Makhachev attempts to rack up his third successful defense of the title in a showdown against former interim gold holder, Dustin Poirier.
Mandatory Credit: Carmen Mandato
In the night’s co-main event at the Prudential Center, former undisputed middleweight champion, Sean Strickland returns as he takes on former middleweight title challenger, Paulo Costa – with the pair vying for a potential title-eliminator in their immediate future.
Rogan, who typically centers his commentary duties to North American events – particularly flagship cards, was drafted out of UFC 301 last month in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – with former lightweight contender, Paul Felder replacing the veteran caller on the microphone.
UFC 302 takes place this weekend from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey – with Islam Makhachev’s title clash with Dustin Poirier slated to take main event honors in ‘The Garden State’.
Are you happy to see Joe Rogan return to the booth for UFC 302?
Dustin Poirier has to push the pace if he hopes to leave The Garden State with UFC gold wrapped around his waist.
After coming up short in two previous title bids against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira, Poirier will step into the main event spotlight for one final shot at the 155-pound crown when he meets the former’s protege, Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 on June 1.
Though ‘The Diamond’ has already faced a who’s who of Hall of Fame talent inside the Octagon, his fight against the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ may be his toughest yet. Speaking with TMZ days away from fight night, Poirier revealed the one mistake he has to avoid against a fighter like Makhachev.
“People who try to slow the fight down and make it a grappling chess match,” Poirier said. “Those have been the hardest fights for me to get going because I do best when it stays a fight. When it doesn’t slow down when it’s a scramble with punches flying and both of us bleeding, that’s where I do the best work, and I’m not trying to hold him down and win rounds.
“I’m trying to knock him out and hurt him and finish him and get out of there. That’s the way I fight” (h/t Bloody Elbow).
Dustin Poirier details his keys to victory at uFC 302
As Poirier broke down the one thing he knows he can’t do, he offered up a laundry list of equally important things he must do if he wants to “finish his story” inside the Prudential Center.
“Be in the moment, be reactive to all of his shots,” Poirier continued. “Don’t get overzealous throwing power shots where I take myself out of position and become an easy target for a trip or a takedown. Don’t play the clinch. There’s a list of things. Don’t play in the clinch with him. He has really good foot sweeps, really strong upper body. Keep it a fight. Use my wheels. Stay moving. Keep him guessing and then tighten him up.”
With a plethora of noteworthy opponents, an interim title to his credit, and a career guaranteed to make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer, Dustin Poirier has little left to prove, but that doesn’t mean he’s content walking away without checking off one last box on his to-do list in mixed martial arts.
On Tuesday, May 21, parties in the UFC antitrust lawsuits filed a Motion for Preliminary Approval of the Settlement. The documents revealed the amount of money the plaintiffs’ attorneys and the fighters in the suit are likely to receive after the promotion settled with a total payout of $ 335 million.
According to a report from MMA Payout, attorneys representing the fighters are requesting no more than 1/3 of the UFC Settlement Fund plus interest, equating to roughly $ 10.05 million, and reimbursement of litigation expenses “of no more than $ 11 million” for an amount totaling just a hair over $ 21 million.
The remaining $ 314 million will be distributed between 1,950 fighters across the two classes — the [Cung] Le Class and the [Kajon] Johnson Class. However, it should be noted that some fighters in the suit are represented in both classes. The Le Class, which consists of 1,290 members will receive 75% of the Settlement Fund while the remaining 25% will go to the Johnson Class, comprised of another 1,140 members.
The plan of allocation would provide Le Class members an award from the Settlement equaling 25% [or more] of their total earnings from bouts from the Le Class period. The Le Class will be divided based on the number of fights in the UFC and their compensation at the time. The minimum amount of recovery is $ 8,000.
Certain Fighters under the Johnson Clash to receive 10% of their lifetime UFC earnings in settlement
Per the report, “Certain claimants from the Johnson Settlement Class will receive as much as 10% of their lifetime bout earnings.”
Payouts will also depend on whether or not the fighter had an arbitration agreement in its contract for the Johnson Class as the UFC changed its contract to include an arbitration provision during the Johnson time period. Those with arbitration provisions will receive $ 5,000.
Though he was not party to the lawsuit, former UFC fighter Nate Quarry will receive a $ 250,000 settlement for his claims which were outside the timeframe set by the parties in the lawsuit and was therefore left out.
Settlements will be sent out in separate payouts starting November 1, 2024, and again on April 1, 2025.
Information and screenshots courtesy of Jason Cruz
Darren Till will be making his boxing debut on July 20 against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson undercard on July 20.
Till asked for his release from the UFC to heal up his injuries and will now be turning to boxing. Although Till has said he will fight in the UFC again, he is booked to face Chavez Jr. in an intriguing matchup.
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC
Although Till doesn’t have any prior boxing experience, he does believe he will be able to upset Chavez Jr., and he expects to do so by KO.
“Man, they’ve just got to make a statement,” Paul told The Schmo. “A KO, win the crowd over and do so good that I see their skill and I am impressed by them and want to make a big fight with them happen.”
If Darren Till does KO Chavez Jr. it would be an upset as the oddsmakers have the Mexican as a -400 favorite while Till is a +275 underdog.
Darren Till plans to call out Jake Paul
If Darren Till does KO Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. it would set him up to get massive boxing fights in the future.
Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC
One fight that Till has his eye on is Jake Paul as he knows it would be a fight that the fans would want to see, especially if he KO’s Chavez Jr. just moments before Paul faces Tyson.
“When I do win, when I knock Chavez Jr. out, I’m going to get on the mic or whatever, watch Jake’s fight, and I’ll be right there in the mix,” Till said. “I’m going to hold him to that fight now. F*ck him fighting Tommy (Fury), f*ck him fighting anyone else, all this McGregor – I’m the same size as him, so let’s see. Most probably (jumping into the ring) after the winner with a pint, just jumping in. I probably will do that.”
Darren Till has not fought since December of 2022 when he suffered a submission loss to Dricus Du Plessis.
Demetrious Johnson once said that he believes Anthony Joshua could beat Francis Ngannou in an MMA fight and is standing by his statement.
Just a few months ago, Joshua and Ngannou went toe to toe in a boxing match at an event called “Knockout Chaos”. Things went pretty badly for the former UFC heavyweight champion, as Joshua would make easy work of him and put him away in the second round with a vicious overhand right.
Ngannou’s performance inspired some controversial takes, and Demetrious Johnson made waves when he claimed that he could see ‘AJ’ defeating the former UFC star inside the octagon. Now, in a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, Johnson is sticking by his opinion and breaking it down for the media and fans alike.
Demetrious Johnson defends his Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou take
“It’s not like Francis is some world-class kickboxer,” Johnson told Ariel Helwani. “You look at all Francis fights; he does have some submission wins, he does have somewhere he takes somebody down.”
“But if I can take a guy like Anthony Joshua, who is an athletic specimen, who understands range and distance, and I train him for six months — six months — to defend a takedown, check the leg kick, and just box. You’re not going to have 16-ounce gloves. The distance doesn’t change at all. … So if I can take somebody who is athletic, which Anthony Joshua is athletic, it’s an easy fight.”
According to Demetrious Johnson, Joshua’s advantage is due to the stylistic matchup between the two men. Johnson feels that Ngannou doesn’t have the style to pose an impossible challenge to ‘AJ’, and other heavyweights definitely do have a style that would present major issues to the boxing phenom.
Mandatory Credit: ONE Championship
“Now, here’s the flip side: How would it go against Anthony Joshua vs. Jon Jones? Different animal,” Johnson said. “Jon Jones would go out there and force the clinch. He would go out there and force the wrestling exchange. Maybe Francis Ngannou would do that, but I don’t think Francis would do that. From the years I’ve seen him fight, that’s how I view that fight. I’m not saying Francis is going to get destroyed, but I do believe [Joshua] has a chance of beating him because he just knocked him the f*ck out in a boxing match!”
“Francis has been very successful in the boxing world in MMA,” Demetrious Johnson continued. “He boxes people. When he beat Stipe Miocic, yes, he threw some leg kicks. That’s very easy to manage. It’s not like an Edson Barboza legkick. But he and Stipe were going back and forth. Stipe actually rocked him.”
“I would go on to say Anthony Joshua is a better boxer than Stipe Miocic. Not a better MMA guy, but in mixed martial arts, I say it all the time: MMA is the easiest sport to become a world champion in. It truly is. you have people who are very good at one thing and have so many holes and deficiencies in their game.”
Francis Ngannou’s coach weighs in on the Demetrious Johnson take
Francis Ngannou’s own coach, Eric Nicksick, wasn’t even very optimistic about the thought of an MMA bout between his star pupil and Anthony Joshua. Nicksick actually agreed with much of Johnson’s sentiments about the situation and even lent his own analysis.
“There were things I think we needed to do better,” Nicksick said. “So if this was an MMA fight, what did we see anecdotally that would have changed that same outcome if it was in MMA? We would have gotten slept, whether it was four-ounce gloves or not.”
“So it tells me we have to show the element of level change, we have to kick the lead leg out, we have to do other things to keep the distance, cut the cage off, and then blast-double that motherf*cker and put him on his back. Then it’s in our realm. So what [Johnson is] saying is absolutely true.”
What do you think of Demetrious Johnson’s opinion about how an MMA fight would play out between Ngannou and Joshua?
While reflecting on his UFC career, Jorge Masvidal has one major regret.
After a mostly middling career in combat sports, ‘Gamebred’ seemingly turned a corner in 2019, starting with a knockout of Darren Till at UFC on ESPN+ 5. He followed that up with perhaps the most-watched highlight in MMA history.
Returning to the Octagon four months later, Masvidal dispatched former Bellator and ONE world champion Ben Askren in five seconds with the flying knee heard around the world.
Adding a win over Nate Diaz to claim the inaugural BMF belt that same year, Jorge Masvidal went from midcarder to superstar overnight.
Unfortunately, Masvidal’s star fizzled out almost as fast as it grew, kickstarting with a short-notice welterweight title fight at UFC 251 against then-champion Kamaru Usman.
“It’s a regret, but also not a regret,” Masvidal said during an appearance on The TimboSugarShow with Sean O’Malley and Tim Welch. “When I got the call to fight [Kamaru] Usman on six days’ notice, me and the UFC had been going back because I wanted more pay-per-view money. I wanted a bigger distribution on the pay-per-views than I was bringing in. They weren’t budging on that. If I bring in money, I want to get paid money. If I sell 100 thousand pay-per-views, then don’t give me sh*t, but I wanted to get f*cking paid.
“That was going on for a while and then we came to a halt and I was like, ‘F*ck, whatever bro. I guess it’s not meant to be.’ In Strikeforce, I fought for the lightweight world title, and the UFC had already purchased the company, but I got a sh*t deal. The fight kept getting pushed back and I made $ 16,000 to challenge for the world title, against the guy who was top-rated in the world. Then I had all of the chips on my side, because who was going to cut all this weight in six days, make weight, and at the time I was number one.
“So they didn’t have any choice. I fought for everything I could, I made more money than I ever had in my career, but I didn’t get the decision I wanted in that fight. It would’ve been completely different [if it was seven weeks’ notice]” (h/t BJPenn.com)
Jorge Masvidal turns to boxing to snap four-fight losing skid
After five rounds, Jorge Masvidal lost on all three judges’ scorecards, handing Usman a unanimous decision victory. The two would run it back the following year with the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ scoring a vicious second-round KO against ‘Gamebred’ at UFC 261, bringing their rivalry to an end emphatically.
Masvidal would go on to lose his next two fights against Colby Covington and Gilbert Burns before walking away from the promotion on a four-fight losing skid.
Despite not seeing his hand raised in nearly five years, Masvidal continues to be a notable name, parlaying his ‘Gamebred’ brand into a successful fight promotion that features both bare-knuckle MMA and professional boxing bouts. On July 6, Masvidal will lace up the eight-ounce gloves for a rematch with Nate Diaz inside the squared circle.
Emanating from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, the fight will be a co-promotion between Masvidal’s Gamebred Boxing and Diaz’s Real Fight Inc. You can purchase the event for $ 79.99 through the Fanmio app.
‘Iron’ Mike Tyson suffered a “medical emergency” while aboard a cross-country flight traveling from Miami to Los Angeles.
First reported by In Touch Weekly, the legendary pugilist “became nauseous and dizzy due to an ulcer flare-up 30 minutes before landing.” Initial reports claimed that a two-hour delay in the flight taking off from Miami was related to Tyson’s medical issue.
However, a representative for the former unified heavyweight world champion revealed that the delay was due to an air conditioning issue and unrelated to Tyson.
Thankfully Mr. Tyson is doing great,” Tyson’s representatives told The New York Post in an email. “He became nauseous and dizzy due to an ulcer flare-up 30 minutes before landing. He is appreciative to the medical staff that were there to help him. However, it’s false reporting that his medical attention caused the flight delay. This two hour delay was due to air conditioning issue on the aircraft.
As the plane was minutes away from landing in Los Angeles, passengers were asked to remain in their seats so that paramedics could board the vessel and tend to Tyson.
“He was in first class, but we were in an exit row and the stewardess was very chatty. They asked us to stay on the plane and landed so paramedics could enter,” a source told In Touch Weekly. “She said something like, ‘He’s a really important passenger so we wanna make sure he’s OK.’ I knew it was him, but I just mouthed the words ‘Mike Tyson’ and she nodded her head yes.”
Jake Paul Responds to claims that his fight with Mike Tyson is off
Luckily, it sounds like Tyson will be fine, but the news is sure to amplify the already-existing concerns surrounding his impending clash with Jake Paul on July 20. Tyson is scheduled to compete in his first professional boxing match since 2005 when he steps inside the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas just a few weeks removed from his 58th birthday.
As news of Tyson’s medical issue spread across social media, reports immediately began claiming that his bout with ‘The Problem Child’ was canceled. Paul was quick to quell those claims, writing: “You love to make sh*t up before knowing the facts for clicks/likes. Nothing changed.”
Tyson vs. Paul will air live on Netflix, a first for the streaming giant and its 260 million subscribers around the world.
With ‘Bones’ sitting as the undisputed UFC heavyweight world champion and Aspinall carrying around the interim strap, you’d think it would be a foregone conclusion that the two would step inside the Octagon to unify their titles. Unfortunately, that’s not the case — no matter how much Aspinall begs for it.
“Even though it’s flattering to be begged, I’m done with the distractions,” Jones wrote in X. “Got the biggest fight of my life coming up.”
In reality, nobody is begging Jon Jones to do anything — except maybe retire. All Aspinall and MMA fans are asking is that he do the right thing and unify his title with the interim champion and top-ranked contender. Instead, ‘Bones’ insists on moving forward with a meaningless fight against 41-year-old Stipe Miocic who hasn’t seen his hand raised in four years.
Tom Aspinall moves on from Jon Jones
Tired of waiting around for Jones to do what has been done by practically every other undisputed champion, Tom Aspinall will instead defend his interim belt, becoming the first fighter to do so since Renan Barao more than a decade ago.
The UK-based star will head to Manchester on July 27 for a showdown with Curtis Blaydes, the winner taking the interim title home and setting the stage for… something.
The fight between Aspinall and Blaydes at UFC 304 will be a rematch of their brief encounter in July 2022. Aspinall went down 15 seconds into the scrap due to a freak knee injury, handing him his first and only loss inside the Octagon. Aspinall has been chomping at the bit to run it back ever since.
Aspinall will get that chance later this summer while Jon Jones focuses on his fight with Miocic, slated to go down on November 9 when the UFC makes its annual stop in Madison Square Garden.
Jon Jones treated a few of his fans to some new swag at the mall.
Whether you love him or hate him — and there are plenty of reasons to land on either side of the fence — the reigning undisputed UFC heavyweight world champion has a reputation for being cordial with fans, whether it be out in public or at an event.
Recently, ‘Bones’ shared a video of him doing some shopping at a local mall when a group of Gen Z’ers came up looking for a handout. According to Jones, they asked the MMA icon to buy them each a $ 100 shirt.
Jones agreed to foot the bill but on one condition.
“Local Albuquerque boys were brave enough to walk up to me and asked me to buy them $ 100 T-shirts at the mall,” Jones wrote on X. “In the Bible, it teaches us to ask and it shell be given to you. I respected the gangster and the bravery to ask so I gave them a proposition.”
Local Albuquerque boys were brave enough to walk up to me and asked me to buy them $ 100 T-shirts at the mall. In the Bible, it teaches us to ask and it shell be given to you. I respected the gangster and the bravery to ask so I gave them a proposition. pic.twitter.com/sRsU2melq9
— BONY (@JonnyBones) May 26, 2024
We’re not sure which passage in the bible references receiving overpriced apparel for 50 pushups, but good on Jones for making those kids’ day.
Now maybe he’ll give Tom Aspinall his title fight in exchange for 100 squat thrusts.
Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall prepare for separate UFC heavyweight title fights
Despite being the undisputed heavyweight titleholder, Jon Jones seemingly has no intention of fighting current interim champion Tom Aspinall, forcing the UK-based star to become the first fighter in more than a decade to defend an interim belt at UFC 304 in Manchester.
Meanwhile, Jones continues to gear up for his return to the Octagon, slated for November 9 in Madison Square Garden, where he will presumably face consensus heavyweight GOAT Stipe Miocic, though Dana White and Co. have not yet made an official announcement.
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Very few athletes in mixed martial arts can boast a journey as remarkable as Alex “Poatan” Pereira’s. From a multiple-division kickboxing champion to becoming a two-division champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, despite only eight fights under the promotion’s banner.
Pereira’s story is one of resilience, adaptability, and unwavering determination. This article will go over the inspiring combat sports career of UFC Light Heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, exploring the pivotal moments that have shaped him into the MMA phenom he is today.
The Early Days: A Kickboxing Prodigy
Alex Pereira was born on July 7, 1987, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He grew up in one of Brazil’s infamous favelas and dropped out of middle school to work as a bricklayer’s assistant. Pereira’s journey into the world of kickboxing started as a way for him to kick a drinking problem he had picked up from his work associates. He started honing his striking skills in a gym not far from his home in 2009, but little did he know superstardom was on the horizon.
Four years later, Pereira started taking amateur kickboxing matches, going 2-1 before deciding to turn pro. He won the Brazilian 187 lbs Championship in his first professional fight against Clei Silva and went on to win a couple more belts before transitioning to Glory. He won the promotion’s middleweight title during his second outing and went on to defend the belt five times. One of his most notable wins during his Glory run was his victories against fellow kickboxing star Israel Adesanya. Little did either man know they would end up being rivals in a different sport.
Kickboxing Success: Rise To Prominence
Pereira’s breakout moment came when he joined Glory Kickboxing, one of the premier kickboxing organizations in the world. His power-packed punches and devastating kicks quickly made him a fan favorite. He won the Glory Middleweight Championship twice, showcasing his dominance in the kickboxing realm.
A Unique Style: Striking Excellence
What set Pereira apart from many other kickboxers was his ability to mix traditional kickboxing techniques with a unique flair. His striking excellence was marked by precise timing, knockout power, and an unrelenting pursuit of victory. Pereira’s memorable knockouts were the stuff of highlight reels, and he established himself as one of the most feared middleweights in the sport.
Pereira went on to win Glory’s light-heavyweight title as well, becoming the first fighter in the promotions to hold the middleweight and heavyweight titles simultaneously.
The Transition: Embracing MMA
Pereira made the bold decision to transition from kickboxing to MMA in 2015, losing his first fight via rear-naked choke. The allure of new challenges and the opportunity to test his skills in the cage were irresistible, especially given the success his rival Israel Adesanya was enjoying inside the cage. Despite his immense success in kickboxing, the switch to MMA was no easy task.
Training And Adaptation
Pereira understood that succeeding in MMA required a different skill set. He committed himself to rigorous training circled around Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling. The transition from the striking-focused world of kickboxing to the multifaceted realm of MMA was a daunting one, but Pereira was determined to make it work.
Pereira made his MMA debut under the banner of Jungle Fights, a prominent MMA organization based in Brazil. His debut fight was met with great anticipation, but he didn’t get the results he had hoped for. Defeated but not broken, Pereira went on to knock out his next four opponents. His striking prowess was evident, and his string of victories earned him a spot on the UFC’s roster.
Instant Impact
The MMA world took notice of Pereira’s instant impact in the UFC. His striking pedigree allowed him to stand out in the cage, and it was clear that he was more than just a kickboxer testing the waters. He was a legitimate threat to the established contenders in the division.
Pereira won three consecutive fights in the UFC, defeating former middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who was a top contender then, on his way to a title shot against Adesanya.
The hype was at an all-time high when the two kickboxing standouts met inside the cage, with both fighters showcasing their well-rounded MMA skills, landing takedowns on each other. Alex was down on the scorecards heading into the fifth round, but he pulled off the comeback victory by finishing Adesanya in the fifth.
The Highly Anticipated Rematch
Pereira’s win against Adesanya earned him the middleweight title and set the stage for a rematch between the two rivals. They met for the second time inside the cage at UFC 287 and it was Adesanya who got the better of the exchanges this time around, knocking Pereira out cold during the second round, bringing their rivalry to 1-1 in mixed martial arts.
Alex shook the loss off without missing a beat and made his 205 lbs debut against former light-heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz, winning via split decision. He went on to defeat Jiří Procházka for the belt at UFC 295, at the same Arena he defeated Adesanya to win the middleweight title.
Moments after the fight, Pereira called out Adesanya, challenging him to fight for the light-heavyweight title. Interestingly enough, the callout wasn’t because of any bad blood between the two. Adesanya had recently expressed his intent to walk away from MMA for a few years, but Alex believes he simply needs an opponent who motivates him to compete.
More recently, Pereira headlined UFC 300 and defeated top contender Jamahal Hill in the first round by KO, retaining the belt and further cementing his status as one of the promotion’s top stars.
A Remarkable Journey
Alex Pereira’s journey from kickboxing champion to emerging MMA phenom is a testament to his dedication, adaptability, and raw talent. His ability to transition seamlessly from one combat sport to another has captivated the imagination of fight fans worldwide.
Pereira stands as a symbol of what can be achieved through unwavering determination and a relentless pursuit of greatness as he earned his rank as one of the most inspiring fighters in MMA history.
Pereira’s journey is a perfect showcase of what martial arts are meant to represent. He’s had to deal with lots of adversity, like getting choked out during his first MMA fight and losing his first UFC title defense against Adesanya, but he always perseveres and accomplishes his goals.
There’s no flash or gimmicks with Alex Pereira, just a stoic man who has tons of quiet confidence in himself and a solid understanding of the fundamentals of fighting.
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