Category Archives: Mmamania.com

UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards and No. 2-ranked title contender Belal Muhammad came face-to-face at the conclusion of the UFC 304 press conference earlier today in Manchester, just two days ahead of their five-round championship main event at Co-op Live. Similarly, interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall stared down Curtis Blaydes ahead of their co-main event rematch, not long after Paddy Pimblett and King Green locked eyes in front of their lightweight main card pay-per-view (PPV) fight.

Have a look below.

Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 2:

Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes 2:

Paddy Pimblett vs. King Green:

To rewatch the UFC 304 press conference video click here.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 304 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN2/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 304: “Edwards vs. Muhammad 2” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 304 fight card and PPV lineup click here.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is holding a special pre-fight press conference for those combatants competing on the UFC 304 pay-per-view (PPV) main card this Sat. night (July 27, 2024) at Co-op Live in Manchester, England, LIVE at 1 p.m. ET in the embedded video above. Expect face offs and staredowns to commence at the conclusion of today’s media activities, like around the 2 p.m. ET mark or shortly thereafter.

UFC 304 will be headlined by the welterweight title fight pitting reigning 170-pound titleholder Leon Edwards opposite No. 2-ranked title contender Belal Muhammad. Before that championship rematch gets underway, interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall will run it back against wrestling powerhouse Curtis Blaydes in the UFC 304 co-main event. Elsewhere on the card Paddy Pimblett goes to war against Bobby King Green.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 304 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN2/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 304: “Edwards vs. Belal 2” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

UFC 304 Lightweight rivals Bobby Green and Paddy Pimblett don’t particularly like one another.

There’s been no hotel fisticuffs, but Green and Pimblett have exchanged words consistently in recent years. According to Pimblett, “King” is a “proper s—t human being” showing signs of CTE. Green hasn’t talked quite as much trash, but he’s consistently angled for a fight opposite “The Baddy,” who will look to steal Green’s No. 15 spot in the Lightweight rankings with a win Saturday night (July 27, 2024). During Wednesday’s media event, Green explained his issue with Pimblett, namely that he’s done a lot more talking than proving himself.

Green is of the opinion that Pimblett is the cocky one between the two.

“The thing is the kid was getting a little too brash,” Green explained (via MMA Junkie). “I’m a humble guy. For some reason, he keeps calling me the cocky guy. He’s the cocky f—ker, but to me, it’s like I’ve earned my spot. I’ve been here for so long. I think I’m here 12 years now fighting.

“And not just 12 years where I fight once a year and I hang out, and I hang out and come back the next year. No. Consistently doing four, five fights a year. So, for me it’s a little different where I’ve earned my spot. That guy was running his mouth and doing all this barking. I’m like, ‘Who is this guy?’”

Pimblett has certainly received a lot of promotional hype since joining the UFC roster. He’s had to do his part by winning fights, but Pimlbett quickly found his way to main cards and scored a serious BarStool Sports sponsorship early on in his UFC career.

Green continued, “I call him the spoiled kid. Certain kids that don’t know you got the whole house. Everything’s been built around you, and I think it goes back for me, because I didn’t have a mum and dad, I seen those kids act like that in school, like they don’t know how they treat their mum and dad.

“They’re spoiled, and he acts the same way. He doesn’t realize the UFC is working with him every opportunity. They’re building you. I had to earn it. They had to put me through the fire, forged by fire. You, they built you, and there’s a difference between us two.”

Insomnia

A much less awkward elevator ride than the one shared by Belal Muhammad and Leon Edwards.

Gervonta Davis vs. Shakur Stevenson could go down as soon as November.

Imagine being this slick!

A forgotten wrinkle of the legalization of 12-6 elbows! Which UFC fighter is most likely to pull this one off? I feel like Deiveson Figueiredo could do it.

Hard — but necessary — to watch one outcome of a 38-fight professional career.

There are a lot of Khabib haters in the world, but Conor McGregor will permanently hold the No. 1 spot.

Slips, rips, and KO clips

Paiva’s left hook snuck inside the overhand, and Kazieczko was never able to get his legs back.

Countering with a three punch combination:

The two traded spinning backfists, but one man kept swinging.

Random Land

Can’t afford a backup camera? Here’s another option.

Midnight Music: Instrumental, 1975

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

MMAmania.com – All Posts

Paddy Pimblett is not a fan of UFC 304’s early start time in the United Kingdom.

A sizable deal has been made about UFC’s upcoming pay-per-view (PPV) event and its timing. In America, nothing changes, as the event will kick off at its traditional 6:00 P.M. EST start time. However, the event will be held in Manchester, England, which means the very first fight of the night won’t be until 11:00 P.M. local time.

With the main card not starting until 3:00 A.M., that means Pimblett’s fight with King Green won’t start until roughly 4:00 A.M., and he doesn’t find that too fair.

“I’ll be fighting at about 4:00 A.M. It’s f*cking ridiculous,” Pimblett told Best Online Poker Sites. “In America, the main card starts at like 8:00 P.M., so I’d normally fight at about 9:00 or 10:00. It’s an advantage for the American fighters. It’s an advantage for Bobby Green, Belal Muhammad, and Curtis Blaydes because obviously, they’re coming over on their time. It’s not like they’re going to be jet-lagged. They’re going to just do the same but we’ve got to f*ck about with time frames and sh*t. It’s ridiculous.

“It really annoys me because the U.K. fans stay up every week to watch cards,” he continued. “It’s not even like they (American UFC fans) have to put a shift in because they’re eight hours behind. They can just take the day off work and base up like that while the sun’s out, have a f*cking barbecue. Instead, we’ve gotta sit up till f*cking 4:00, 5:00, 6:00 in the morning is, it’s a f*cking joke.”

A win over Green would land Pimblett in the top 15 of UFC’s Lightweight rankings with Green currently slotted in at No. 15. “The Baddy” is currently 5-0 in UFC (21-3 overall).

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 304 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET (simulcast on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. ET), before the pay-per-view (PPV) main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 304: “Edwards vs. Belal 2” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

It’s not just RIZIN … it’s SUPER RIZIN!

Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao will make his return to the “sweet science” to battle Rukiya Anpo (not Chihiro Suzuki) in a three-round exhibition bout scheduled for Sunday, July 28, 2024 inside Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. “Pac Man’s” showcase fight will be part of the Super RIZIN 3 mixed-discipline spectacle topped by the featherweight main event pitting Mikuru Asakura against Ren Hiramoto under MMA rules.

Here’s how (and when) to stream it live:

Super RIZIN 3 will begin streaming LIVE on RIZIN pay-per-view (PPV) at 12 a.m. ET (5 a.m. UK time) with the ring walks for Pacquiao vs. Anpo scheduled for 5 a.m. ET (10 a.m. UK time). As with all live events, the ring walk times are approximate and subject to change, depending on how the preceding fights play out. International fans looking to watch Super RIZIN 3 can stream directly from the promotion’s website HERE.

Here’s the finalized Super RIZIN 3 fight card and PPV lineup:

145 lbs.: Mikuru Asakura vs. Ren Hiramoto (MMA)
125 lbs.: Hiromasa Ougikubo vs. Makoto Shinryu (MMA)
145 lbs.: Yutaka Saito vs. Yuta Kubo (MMA)
135 lbs.: Ryusei Ashizawa vs. Koji Tanaka (MMA)
145 lbs.: Hiroaki Suzuki vs. Ren Sugiyama (MMA)
125 lbs.: John Dodson vs. Takaki Soya (Bareknuckle)
125 lbs.: Tai Emery vs. Charisa Sigala (Bareknuckle)
130 lbs.: Hideo Tokoro vs. Hiroya Kondo (MMA)
108 lbs.: Rena Kubota vs. Kate Oyama (MMA)
145 lbs.: Suguru Nii vs. Kazumasa Majima (MMA)
152 lbs: Manny Pacquiao vs. Rukiya Anpo (Boxing)

For much more on this weekend’s Super RIZIN 3 card in Japan click here.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is holding a special pre-fight media day for select combatants competing on the UFC 304 pay-per-view (PPV) fight card this Sat. night (July 27, 2024) at Co-op Live in Manchester, England.

UFC 304 will be headlined by the welterweight title fight pitting reigning 170-pound titleholder Leon Edwards opposite No. 2-ranked title contender Belal Muhammad. Before that championship rematch gets underway, interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall will run it back against wrestling powerhouse Curtis Blaydes in the UFC 304 co-main event.

Here’s the full list of UFC 304 media day participants:

Leon Edwards – UFC welterweight champion
Belal Muhammad – No.2 UFC welterweight
Tom Aspinall – UFC interim heavyweight champion
Curtis Blaydes – No.4 UFC heavyweight
Bobby Green – No.15 UFC lightweight
Paddy Pimblett – UFC lightweight
Muhammad Mokaev – No.6 UFC flyweight
Manel Kape – No.8 UFC flyweight
Arnold Allen – No.6 UFC featherweight
Giga Chikadze – No.10 UFC featherweight
Nathaniel Wood – UFC featherweight
Molly McCann – UFC women’s strawweight
Caolan Loughran – UFC bantamweight
Mick Parkin – UFC heavyweight

Note: Times and fighter availability subject to change.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 304 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN2/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 304: “Edwards vs. Muhammad 2” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Manel Kape vs. Muhammad Mokaev is one of the most important fights on the UFC 304 card. Outside of the two title fights that top the event, it might be the most relevant bout to its division’s title picture. Ranked at No. 8 and No. 6 in the world respectively, the winner may receive the next shot at divisional kingpin Alexandre Pantoja.

So what’s it doing on the earliest portion of the preliminary card?

Kape vs. Mokaev wasn’t always located on the “Prelims.” Just a week ago, it was expected to be part of the main pay-per-view (PPV) showcase. Then, it was announced during the UFC Vegas 94 broadcast that the bout was moved to the “Prelim” headliner spot, a position that still draws a lot of eyes. Now, it’s fallen down all the way to the early “Prelims” per UFC and ESPN websites.

Why?

Fans online are trying to figure that out, and there’s a lot of theories and reactions going about. Most of them revolve around Kape, who has missed weight and been forced to withdraw due to injury in the last year. If something is wrong with “Starboy” and he’s iffy for Saturday night, maybe that explains the bout relocation. The alternative theory is maybe the bout’s location was affected by the wonky time slot, which will punish local fans and athletes alike by forcing them to endure an extremely late Saturday night until early Sunday morning event

Either way, check out some of the online reaction below:

This is the most important non-title fight on the entire card. Something is going on here

People still think Kape is gonna make weight? He’s way too big for flyweight

They know that Kape is gonna pull out, and Mokaev is gonna end up facing some unknown guy on like 2 days’ notice

Exactly this is insane. There has to be something going on

Makes sense to move it to a watchable time for UK people I guess. No need for it to be at like 5am.

Has to have something to do with ratings. They probably wanna bring more eyes to the early prelim card.

They’re trying to pump up the early card. Remember this is going to be after midnight in Manchester.

[Manel Kape] on the early prelims? Wtf how is that possible that’s the best fight on the card I’m sick

At the moment, Christian Leeroy Duncan vs. Gregory Rodrigues — certainly a fun fight in its own right — is listed as the replacement bout on the main PPV card. Stay tuned for any further updates!

Insomnia

Nursulton Ruziboev just got outwrestled by Joaquin Buckley so they’re putting him against Rinat Fakhretdinov? Tough one.

I don’t really believe it happens this weekend, but I would love to see what happens if Aspinall is forced into the third round.

UFC 304 gets a bit of the magical treatment.

Canelo better watch out, because quick hands Belal is on the rise.

Paddy Pimblett and Leon Edwards aren’t the only fighters getting special shorts this weekend.

This is a good way to avoid getting kicked.

Heartbreaking words from Francis Ngannou.

Slips, rips, and KO clips

Taking the 2 to the body from an open stance engagement:

This is a textbook cross counter (overhand over the jab). It reminds me of Korean Zombie vs. Renato Moicano!

Kano got caught ducking into the lead hand uppercut.

Random Land

I’ve seen a bunch of cool Olympics clips in the last few days, and this is as impressive as any of ‘em.

Midnight Music: Alt. rock, 1994

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

MMAmania.com – All Posts

It’s been over two years since we last saw Francis Ngannou in mixed martial arts (MMA) action.

2024 is expected to be the year Ngannou returns to the sport he made his name in and debut for his new fighting home, Professional Fighters League (PFL). The former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight champion signed with the promotion in early 2023 and has since boxed twice before getting back in a cage.

In Ngannou’s absence, PFL standout, Renan Ferreira, won the division’s seasonal tournament and iced Bellator Heavyweight titleholder, Ryan Bader, in 21 seconds (watch highlights). Ngannou now has an idea of when he’ll make his long-awaited debut.

“I think Renan Ferreira is the guy,” Ngannou said on The Joe Rogan Experience (h/t MMA Fighting). “I’ve been telling people about this guy for almost two years. Very athletic. Fast hands, knees, very athletic. I think it’s going to be him.

“That’s what the PFL is working on. October, sometime,” he concluded. “They’re working on October. It’s not finalized but they were talking about October 19.”

A lot of the speculation around Ngannou has been about what sport he’ll compete in going forward after debuting in boxing. While his first two matches against Tyson Fury (watch highlights) and Anthony Joshua (watch highlights) didn’t go his way, he plans to get back in the squared circle after his MMA return.

“I will say MMA [is definitely] next,” Ngannou said. “Because I was supposed to fight, it’s been a little over a year now since the PFL agreement, and I was supposed to have a fight within a year so now we’re getting a little out of the timeline.”

Ngannou, 37, last saw his hand raised in his only UFC title defense when he earned a unanimous decision against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. Despite having missed a small chunk of time in MMA due to injuries, contract negotiations, and his boxing endeavors, Ngannou believes he has a handful of good years left in him before he can put a bow on his storybook run to the top of the combat sports mountain.

“I want to leave the sport before the sport leaves me,” Ngannou said. “I’m thinking like 41. By [then]. Maybe in my 40s, I still feel like I have it. If I feel like at 41, I feel like I have it … take one at a time. What I really don’t want to do is wake up and go to the gym like I’m forced [to go]. If I feel like I have it or I’m excited, oh today’s a sparring day, I’m going to get there whether I beat somebody up or they’re going to beat me up. Either way, I’m excited.

“If I still have that, I’ll keep going,” he concluded. “As soon as I don’t have that, even if I’m not 40 yet, I think that’s a sign.”

MMAmania.com – All Posts

Boxing megastar Canelo Alvarez is finalizing a super middleweight title defense on Mexican Independence Day, expected to pair him against current NABO titleholder Edgar Berlanga on Sat., Sept. 14, 2024 inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

That’s according to ESPN.

Battling “The Chosen One” puts Alvarez head-to-head with the UFC 306 pay-per-view (PPV) card inside The Sphere, also in Las Vegas, forcing combat sports fans, or at least those who know who Edgar Berlanga is, to choose between two major fight cards.

UFC 306 is likely to feature Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title.

“I’m the best fighter in the history of boxing coming out the east coast,” Berlanga wrote on Twitter. “I’m tired of showing people love and they be lowkey jealous and envy of me! This why I stay on my bully forever.”

Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) is coming off a decision win over Jaime Munguia back in May. As for Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs), he’s looking to build on his sixth-round knockout victory over Padraig McCrory earlier this year in Orlando.

For more boxing news and notes click here.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

ESPN just named its Top 10 men’s MMA fighters of the 21st century.

Not surprisingly, reigning UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones was No. 1, followed by former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre (No. 2) and ex-middleweight titleholder Anderson Silva (No. 3). It’s worth noting that both Jones and Silva were popped for performance-enhancing drugs during their respective careers while St-Pierre remained squeaky clean.

Must have been one of those Canadian loopholes.

One glaring omission is former UFC two-division titleholder Conor McGregor. While “Notorious” certainly has the star power — and box office draw — to make him one of the most celebrated fighters of his generation, his record inside the Octagon over the last several years is nothing to brag about. McGregor, who recently turned 36, is just 1-3 at lightweight and coming off back-to-back losses to longtime rival Dustin Poirier.

Here’s the Top 10 MMA fighters of the 21st century, according to ESPN:

1. Jon Jones
2. Georges St-Pierre
3. Anderson Silva
4. Demetrious Johnson
5. Khabib Nurmagomedov
6. Fedor Emelianenko
7. Randy Couture
8. Chuck Liddell
9. BJ Penn
10. Kamaru Usman

Expect that list to ruffle a few feathers.

Former PRIDE FC heavyweight champion, Fedor Emelianenko, is the only fighter among the Top 10 to never compete for UFC. Probably because Va-Dummy dropped the ball when it came time to put pen to paper. As for the rest of the lineup, only Jones (No. 1) and Usman (No. 10) are still competing inside the Octagon and as of this writing, are currently awaiting their next assignment.

MMAmania.com – All Posts