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Welcome to Midnight Mania!

This weekend (Sat. Oct. 5, 2024), UFC 307 will take place roughly 4300 feet above sea level from inside the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. That’s an important factor to consider for both athletes and sports bettors alike, because that level of altitude can severely affect an athlete’s conditioning.

In a famous example, cardio machine Cain Velasquez lost his UFC Heavyweight title to Fabricio Werdum after gassing out early in the fight. That bout took place in Mexico City at an elevation over 7300 feet, and Werdum spent over a month on location to finish his training camp.

Velasquez didn’t, and he paid the price.

There are numerous non-title fight examples. Just watch any UFC event hosted in Salt Lake City, Denver, or Mexico City, and you’ll be treated to a lot fighters fatigued midway through the second round.

Former UFC Bantamweight champion and current title challenger, Julianna Pena, is not worried, however. According to “The Venezuelan Vixen,” she’s fought at high elevation previously without any issue, because she puts in the work and shows up in shape. As such, she planned to arrive in Salt Lake City on fight week.

“I have fought in Utah before,” Peña told MMA Junkie. “I have fought in Denver before. I know that when I went out to Denver three weeks early thinking that the elevation was this gigantic thing that I had to get prepared for, I remember going out there and after I got my first cardio session done, I was like, ‘I’m not breathing hard. Nothing’s changed. What do you mean?’

“My strength coach was like, ‘I told you we didn’t need to come out here early. If you’re in shape, you’re in shape.’ I’ll be there Monday, and I’ll acclimate. I’ll have the whole week to acclimate, and if you’re in shape, you’re in shape, and you have done your work and done your job, then that’s the confidence you need. I know that I have that mat time and all of the confidence in the world as far as making sure that I’m working hard, so that’s all that matters.”

Her opponent, UFC Bantamweight strap-hanger Raquel Pennington, lives and trains in Colorado Springs, Colorado at 6000 feet. In a fight that feels likely to go all 25 minutes, could championship round cardio be the difference?

We’ll find out in just a few days.

Insomnia

Merab Dvalishvili absolutely has the support of a nation behind him. It’s cool to see!

Nothing like a fist fight on a slip-n-slide.

A quick check in on one of the most exciting prospects at 135-pounds.

Ilia Topuria working calf kicks into his game was very smart. An easy addition that makes a big difference to his range offense!

I love dunking on Heavyweights as much as anyone, but this theoretical match up ignores the simple fact that Kamaru Usman’s knee would explode on impact from the first Gane low kick.

Moises only gets wrestled by Top 10 calibre competition, so this should be an interesting test for Ogden.

I wrote several times about Renato Moicano’s excellent game plan after his BSD win — here’s proof!

Slips, rips, and KO clips

It’s real tough to win an MMA fight if you can’t see the overhand right coming.

Missing a left hook is a terrible feeling of being exposed to counter punches.

Serbia’s Marina Spasic is 6-0 over decent competition at 115-pounds with five stoppage wins. UFC soon?

Random Land

Can you hear the ocean?

Midnight Music: RIP Kris Kristofferson.

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.

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“God of War” has opened up about his violent loss.

Benoit Saint-Denis suffered his first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) main event loss at UFC Paris this past weekend (Sat., Sept. 28, 2024) when Renato Moicano battered the French fighter to force a doctor stoppage in between rounds two and three from inside Accor Arena in Paris, France (watch highlights).

A day after the fight, Saint-Denis took to his social media to issue a statement.

“It wasn’t my day, this sport is hard but incredible,” Saint-Denis wrote on Instagram (translated through Instagram. “Thank you to everyone for your unwavering support. Proud to have been able to represent France in the octagon and at home. Respect to my opponent for facing me at home, and congratulations to Renato Moicano. God tests us, and that’s nothing to compare with what I could experience.”

UFC Paris was Saint-Denis’ second stoppage loss in a row after amassing a five-fight finish streak. Dustin Poirier knocked him out at UFC 299 in March.

“God of War” has already suffered an absurd amount of damage in his eight-fight UFC career and will hopefully take several months off to rest and recover.

Moicano offered Saint-Denis the opportunity to train at his gym at American Top Team in Florida, which would be incredibly wise. They can both heal together.

For complete UFC Paris results, coverage, and highlights, click HERE.

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Sean Strickland has daddy issues.

That may explain his disdain for “weird father roles” and paternal “cowards” … though it’s also possible that “Tarzan” just has a few screws loose. Either way, his personal “demons” and “violent thoughts” are no match for the jungle hardness of Alex Pereira.

“The problem with Alex is that he hits really f*cking hard, you guys — really f*cking hard. But let me tell you why,” Strickland told The Schmo (transcribed by MMA Junkie). “When you get raised in the jungles of Brazil where you don’t have running water and surviving off tapir and wildebeest as an infant, and then you get worked in a tire shop, that’s a hard man to fight. It’s hard, bro, and my daddy issues don’t make up for that level of hardness. So it was good work.”

One of the lasting side effects of that particular upbringing is “Jungle Brain.”

Strickland was brought in to help Pereira train for his light heavyweight title defense opposite No. 8-ranked contender Khalil Rountree Jr., who will try to replicate this stunning performance at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City and take home the 205-pound crown. “Poatan” stopped “Tarzan” when they went to war at UFC 276 back in summer 2022.

“I just can’t see Khalil pulling it off,” Strickland told Helen Yee. “I think I may have watched him fight Anthony Smith. I just can’t see it happening. I don’t think he has the tools in the toolbox to beat Alex. He’s not knocking him out. He’s not outstriking him. He’s not outwrestling him. I think Alex is going to make easy work of this fight.”

We’ll find out this weekend in “The Beehive State.”

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 307 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPNN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 307: “Pereira vs. Rountree Jr.” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 307 fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.

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The “Countdown” has begun.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is counting down the days until its UFC 307: “Pereira vs. Rountree Jr.” pay-per-view (PPV) event, locked and loaded for this Sat. night (Oct. 7, 2024) at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. As the name implies, UFC 307 is headlined by the light heavyweight title fight pitting reigning 205-pound champion Alex Pereira opposite No. 8-ranked contender Khalil Rountree Jr., a five-round showdown that is unlikely to go the distance.

In the championship co-main event, women’s bantamweight titleholder Raquel Pennington locks horns with former division champion Julianna Pena. In addition, Jose Aldo returns to bantamweight to face off against the red-hot Mario Bautista, while Kayla Harrison looks to cement her status as No. 1 contender by turning away the rough-and-tumble Ketlen Vieira. Kicking off the UFC 307 PPV main card will be the middleweight contest pitting Roman Dolidze against Kevin Holland.

Expect fireworks.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 307 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPNN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 307: “Pereira vs. Rountree Jr.” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 307 fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.

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UFC cameras followed the light heavyweight champion back to Sao Paulo, Brazil where he used the money from his fights to help his hometown community.

Alex Pereira continues to be one of the most awesome fighters in MMA, both inside and outside of the cage.

In a clip from the just-released UFC 307 Countdown show promoting his fight against Khalil Rountree Jr. on October 5th in Salt Lake City, Pereira returned to his hometown in Sao Bernardo do Campo to oversee a food delivery for families in need. It’s by no means a one-time thing. Pereira has been giving back to his community regularly since making millions in the UFC.

“I’ve been blessed and I want to share those blessings with you,” Pereira said over a microphone to an assembled crowd as the food is being handed out. “The cameras are here not for me to show off but to encourage people to donate to those in need. I think we can make a difference not only in your lives but in the lives of many others.”

“This is where I was born and raised,” he said to the UFC 307 Countdown crew. “We’re going to give away over a thousand [food] boxes, helping over a thousand families. It’s been something I’ve been doing for a while. My reality used to be theirs. I went through a lot of hardship, and my biggest fear was always being hungry. So if I can do something to help, I’ll do it.”

Pereira’s rags to riches story is something to behold. “Poatan” worked long hours for years at a local tire shop, to the point that you can see him in the background of Google Maps images of the business. He battled alcoholism and escaped the favelas, rising up to become a two-division GLORY kickboxing champion and now two-division UFC champion.

“I think my story has a huge global impact,” he said. “Today, I can see that. Obviously, people from the favelas know how hard their lives are, and they’re like, ‘This guy came from nothing and has won it all. He got where he is and is conquering the world.’”

“What I usually say is that it isn’t impossible. It’s very tough. I know how hard it is. I’ve been through a lot. But I’ve overcome everything with dedication and heart. I think that made a big difference.”

Pereira is looking to defend his light heavyweight title for the third time since winning the vacant title in November 2023. He’s made a lot of money by being the UFC’s go-to guy to save events, stepping in at UFC 295 when Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic fell through due to a Jones injury. They tapped him to headline UFC 300 and he delivered in his fight against Jamahal Hill. After Conor McGregor withdrew from UFC 303, the promotion once again called on Pereira.

Now Pereira is using the money he’s made to give back to his community, proving he’s a champion in more than just fighting.

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After calling Hooker ‘easy money,’ Moicano declared the Kiwi fighter didn’t deserve his lightweight ranking in the most Moicano way possible.

Renato Moicano has come a long way over the past two years since his infamous expletive filled “Moicano wants money!” speech at UFC 281. The fighter had been a favorite of hardcore fans for years, but since then he’s made himself impossible to ignore lately with his wild performances and outspoken ways.

Moicano is now on a four fight winning streak after smashing Benoit Saint-Denis’ face to a bloody pulp. The ringside physician stopped their fight after the second round because the damage was so bad. It was another wild performance, and then Renato got on the mic and called the president of France a corrupt globalist.

‘Outspoken’ really doesn’t begin to cover that latest post-fight interview. And he’s continuing to say whatever’s on his mind as he hunts down his next big exposure opportunity.

During the UFC Paris post-fight show on ESPN, “Money” threw some more shade at fellow lightweight Dan Hooker, who shot up the 155 pound rankings to No. 5 after defeating Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305.

“I don’t know how he’s in the top five, that’s unbelievable,” he exclaimed. “It’s like seeing a turtle in a tree. Have you seen a turtle in a tree? Somebody put him there. That’s the whole thing, you know? He didn’t climb the tree, but he’s on the tree.”

“So if they want to give me an easy pass for the title shot, then Dan Hooker is easy money. Imagine if I take him down, what I’m gonna do to him! He has no ground game.”

“Patrick Pimblett is another easy money, but I respect him a little bit more,” Moicano added. “You know why? Because he has a lot of followers. If you have followers, you have my respect. People want to see Patrick Pimblett, and I respect him.”

Paddy Pimblett would certainly be a lucrative opponent and both men have been angling to fight for a while, potentially as the culmination of a coaching gig on The Ultimate Fighter. That matchmaking certainly beats fighting tough relative unknowns like Rafael Fiziev again, Moicano said.

“I cannot afford to lose,” he joked. “I’m telling everybody I have a house to pay. I just bought a new house. Dumb decision, but we don’t do decisions by head. We do by heart. I want to see my kid grow in a great backyard with a pool, and then I did that mistake. So until the house is paid, until all my debt is paid, I cannot afford to lose. Doesn’t matter if even Khabib come back, I will beat Khabib.”

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‘Money’ Moicano is still chasing a head coach gig on The Ultimate Fighter opposite Paddy Pimblett, who he vows to hurt if ‘The Baddy’ is unwise enough to face him.

First there was Renato Carneiro, then there was Renato Moicano. Now there is only Money Moicano, and Money Moicano is looking to make some big moves and make some big money after routing Benoit Saint-Denis in the main event of UFC Paris (watch the highlights here).

Moicano came into Paris an underdog against the imposing Saint-Denis, but he dispatched the former special forces soldier with relative ease, taking him down and battering his face to the point where doctors stopped the fight after the second round. Following that fight he asked for an even easier fight against Paddy Pimblett or Dan Hooker.

At the UFC Paris post-fight press conference, he suggested it would be a mistake for Pimblett to take him on.

“Don’t accept the fight or I will elbow your skull,” Moicano warned. “Please don’t accept the fight. I’m gonna hurt you. I’m gonna elbow your skull.”

As if Renato’s win over “BSD” wasn’t impressive enough, he did it with a badly broken shoulder that will take a while to heal. That seems to make him a perfect candidate to coach the next season of The Ultimate Fighter when it starts filming in spring 2025. There’d be no better foil than Paddy Pimblett, and the project interests him greatly even if coaching TUF isn’t known to be the most financially lucrative gig in MMA.

“I think it’s going to be a huge exposure, right?” he said about the opportunity. “And right now, I am looking for exposure. I’m looking for cameras because I have been in UFC for 10 years this year. It will be 10 years. And 3 years ago, nobody knew me.”

“I always worked hard, I have always put in the work. But it doesn’t matter if you are the best fighter in the world and nobody knows. So I want more cameras. I want more people talking about my name in MMA because that way I can bring more attention, and I can make my case to fight for the belt eventually.”

We hope the win over Saint-Denis helps Moicano rise up the rankings. A performance like that should, but these days the rankings seem to operate on a swap system where you take the spot of the guy you beat. “Money” was ranked No. 11 at lightweight coming into UFC Paris, while “God of War” was No. 12.

An ass kicking like we witnessed on Saturday night would hopefully get him on the doorstep of top five, but we’ll have to wait and see what the rankings look like when they’re released early this coming week.

As for Paddy Pimblett, he responded quickly to Moicano’s post-fight trash talk. “The Baddy” recently teased that a December fight might be in the cards for him next, but that he might have other obligations to deal with instead — like preparing for The Ultimate Fighter? Why not a December fight AND a coaching gig on The Ultimate Fighter? That’s our vote. Let us know what yours is for Moicano and Pimblett moving forward in the comments below.

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UFC Paris went down yesterday (Sat., Sept. 28, 2024) inside Accor Arena in Paris, France, which saw Renato Moicano defeat Benoit Saint Denis, forcing a doctor’s stoppage after slicing him up badly (see it again here). In the co-main event, Nassourdine Imavov secured a huge unanimous decision win over Brendan Allen (recap here).

Biggest Winner: Renato Moicano

For all of the talk of the usual monsters in the Lightweight division, Moicano has been lurking in the shadows for awhile now. But, the Brazilian bomber is ready to step out of the darkness and into the light the Top 10 provides thanks to his impressive four-fight win streak, which includes his demolition of Saint Denis in France. Indeed, Moicano was precise with his ground-and-pound, landing razor-sharp elbows and punches that ultimately busted his foe’s face up pretty good. After 10 minutes, it was so bad that the cage-side doctor had no choice but to put an end to the damage, much to the chagrin of the crowd. Now that Moicano is 6-1 in his last seven fights, he can expect to crash the Top 10, and take part in the bigger fights that comes with it.

Runners Up: Morgan Charriere, Fares Ziam

Imavov notched a huge win over Allen to move up in the rankings, but the win wasn’t very dominant nor entertaining. That’s why we’re giving Charriere and Ziam love this week after their massive knockout wins over Gabriel Miranda and Matt Frevola, respectively. In round two of his Featherweight fight against Miranda, Charriere landed a massive left hook that put “The Fly” on his butt and sent the crowd into a frenzy (see it here). Prior to that, however, Ziam set the bar high as far as knockouts go for the night thanks to his massive and devastating standing knee knockout win over “Steamrolla” that earned him a cool $ 50,000 in post-fight bonus cash (relive it here). With wins like that, they can expect their stock to go up.

Biggest Loser: Brendan Allen

In mixed martial arts (MMA), the air can be taken out of your balloon quicker than it took for it to get filled. That’s just what happened to Allen, who saw the momentum it took him two years to build — which included seven straight wins — go up in smoke after a subpar performance. Indeed, Allen went toe-to-toe with Imavov for 15 minutes. But, the output was lacking from Allen, who could have leaped into the the Top 5 and one step closer to a title shot with a win. It was pretty disappointing to see his performance because he was firing on all cylinders during his win streak, but was running on “E” in one of the biggest fights of his career. Now. Allen will have to go back to the drawing board and start from scratch, which is not an easy thing to do in the stacked 185-pound division.

For complete UFC Paris results, coverage and highlights, click HERE.

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Last night (Sat., Sept. 28, 2024), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ventured forth to Accor Arena in Paris, France for UFC Paris. It’s amazing the difference an enthusiastic crowd can make. Despite the card overall being fairly Apex-level and featuring a slow start, the Paris crowd went absolutely nuts the entire time! It felt like a major night of action, raising the stakes for the viewers and fighters alike.

Let’s take a look back over at UFC Paris’ best performances and techniques:

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Money Moicano Game Plans His Way To Victory

Benoit Saint Denis is a very dangerous man, but his approach to combat is straightforward. Renato Moicano, a veteran contender with plenty of cage time against the absolute best, came into the Octagon well-prepared to exploit Saint Denis’ inexperience.

Right off the bat, Saint Denis aimed for his favorite left liver kick. Moicano — almost like he spent an entire training camp practicing for this weapon! — swiped the kick by, created an angle, and used it to score an easy takedown. Remember when Alexander Gustafsson did the exact same thing to become the first man to take down Jon Jones? It’s hard to stop a shot that starts so deep and at such a good angle.

Moicano’s smart strategy gained his top position early, when both men were dry. Showing off his preparation again, as well as his generally excellent jiu-jitsu, the Brazilian countered Saint Denis’ butterfly guard and kept him pinned. When the French athlete tried instead to explode to his feet, Moicano jumped his back and beat the absolute piss out of him from the body triangle.

Saint Denis returned to his stool a different man. Both of his eyes were swollen nearly shut, and his right eye also sported two nasty cuts. Round two saw a relaxed Moicano flicking jabs as Saint Denis tried to get his legs back under him. He looked a bit more in the fight by the end of the second, but it was already a done deal.

Saint Denis’ face was a mess. He couldn’t open one eye at all. The cage side doctor didn’t earn the love of the French crowd, but he made the correct call in stopping the fight after the second.

All in all, Moicano and his camp deserve a ton of credit for this win. Benoit Saint Denis gave Moicano’s team mate Dustin Poirier absolute hell earlier this year, but Moicano walked away without a scratch on his face — that’s the power of a good game plan!

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

The Dark Horses Underwhelm

Nassourdine Imavov and Brendan Allen entered UFC Paris trying to make their case for a title shot in a crowded 185-pound division. They were trying to impress and wrest the opportunity away from the likes of Sean Strickland, Robert Whittaker, Khamzat Chimaev, or Alex Pereira — each of whom COULD be next for Dricus Du Plessis.

Nope.

The fight was fine, but I didn’t walk away impressed with either man. Allen’s wrestling looked terrible. In rounds two and three, he kept taking bad shots and giving up top position by repeatedly wrestling from his knees — awful form! When he actually tried to strike, he would land decently well, but he continually shot himself in the foot by committing so heavily to the poor takedown assault.

Imavov was only a bit better. His hands looked sharp as usual, and his wrestling defense has improved over the years. That was enough to pick up the W here, but his conditioning is still miserable. Nothing really happened in round one (Allen controlled him from top position but didn’t do anything), he won round two easily, and he’s still horribly gassed in round three?

Cardio machine champion “Stillknocks” isn’t losing any sleep at the thought of an Imavov title shot.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Battle Continues His Welterweight Climb

Is trying to cage wrestle a Judo specialist the best idea? That’s up for debate. On one hand, Bryan Battle wasn’t able to take down Kevin Jousset. At the same time, Battle’s wrestling push fit with the general idea of his strategy, which was to wear down and fatigue Jousset with constant pressure and offense.

The first round was close enough, as Battle couldn’t finish the takedowns but scored with volume while eating counters. His weaponized pace paid off in the second, however, as he started firing more and more volume in the face of a slowing Jousset. It really felt like a classic Diaz brother-style mauling, complete with cage-side body rips. When a right hand rocked Jousset, Battle emptied the tank with an unending flurry, forcing the referee’s hand to save the wobbly Frenchman.

“The Butcher” improves his UFC record to 6-1-1.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Charriere Treats The Paris Crowd

Despite entering his third UFC bout with a 1-1 record, it’s been clear to anyone watching that Morgan Charreire is really skilled. He’s a cut above the average unranked Featherweight populace. His win over Gabriel Miranda — also 1-1 in the UFC but hasn’t looked particularly special — was no surprise. He largely dominated the grappler on the feet, shucking off takedowns easily and eventually flooring with a big left hook.

It was a nice win, confirmation that Charreire is legit. The big moment, however, was Charreire leading the entire crowd in a rendition of the French national anthem! Breaking into song is generally cause for Mike Bisping to yank the mic away, but in this case, it was actually a great moment.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

The Most Brutal Knockout Of 2024?

Fares Ziam leveled up in a great performance against Matt Frevola, but I have to assume his development will be overshadowed by the sheer viciousness of the knee that finished the fight. Maybe I’m alone in this, but I was fairly stunned by just how nastily Frevola crumbled after taking the knee to the jaw line, collapsing in complete unconsciousness as his mouthpiece fell to the wayside.

I hope “Steamrolla” is alright.

As for Ziam, he deserves all his flowers. At age 27, Ziam has grown into a genuine Lightweight contender. He’s always been technically gifted, but in the past, Ziam was hampered a bit by his lack of physicality and killer instinct. Understandable flaws for a young fighter who made it into the UFC at 22!

In this bout, Ziam’s strength held up well in the face of Frevola’s bowling ball offense. His straight punches weaved inside the arc of Frevola’s swings and did real damage, calming him down. When Frevola did stand still for a moment, Ziam showed off smart combination building and mixed up his strikes really well. He then moved to his own grappling, nearly scoring his own submission win in round two.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Additional Thoughts

• Chris Duncan defeats Bolaji Oki via first-round guillotine choke (highlights): When’s the last time jumping the gilly worked? Better yet, when’s the last time an arm-in closed guard guillotine worked? Duncan beat the historical precedent and odds alike near the end of the first. Oki was the faster man with heavier strikes early, but a takedown attempt from Duncan created an opportunity to jump on the neck as Oki moved to stand. Just as Duncan gave up on the choke, Oki was revealed to be unconscious!
• Ailin Perez defeats Darya Zheleznyakova via first-round arm triangle choke (highlights): Perez missed weight on Friday, which definitely costs her some points here. That said, she picked up a fairly effortless submission win in just over a minute to score her fourth straight UFC win in a very weak division. She’s already ranked, so maybe the victory (and subsequent twerking) scores her a Top 10 opponent next? They’re aren’t many women’s Bantamweights actively racking up wins like this.

For complete UFC Paris: “Saint-Denis vs. Moicano” results and play-by-play, click HERE!

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Stevie Ray entered the Professional Fighters League (PFL) “Smart Cage” earlier today (Sat., Sept. 28, 2024) inside the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland knowing it would be the last fight of his career. And he walked out in impressive fashion.

Coming into his main event scrap against Lewis Long, Ray had lost three straight against Olivier Aubin-Mercier, Natan Schulte and Clay Collard, the longest losing streak of his 14-year mixed martial arts (MMA) career. But the pressure was not evident for Ray, who took the center of the cage like a man on a mission against a man looking to make a statement in his promotional debut.

After a back-and-forth first four minutes, Ray managed to take Long’s back once the fight hit the ground. With a minute left in the first round, Long attempted to turn around while he had his foe draped all over him with a body lock. That gave Ray the opening he needed to maneuver his way into latching on the “Scottish Twister,” which prompted “The Foot” to tap almost right away.

It was a storybook ending for Ray, who not only ends his losing streak, but ends his career on a high note in front of his family, friends and multitude of fans who were out to support the home country favorite.

This wasn’t the first time that “Braveheart” managed to execute the rare submission move, as he had previously pulled it off against former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight champion, Anthony Pettis, back in 2022 at PFL 5 (see it here), his first of two wins over “Showtime.” See that finish below:

Now, the 34-year old combat veteran can ride off into the sunset in victory with one of the best finishes of 2024. He leaves the fight game with a 26-16 record, with seven of those wins coming inside the UFC Octagon.

For complete PFL Glasgow results and highlights click here.

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