Category Archives: Mmaweekly.com

Ryan Garcia has been accused of taking PEDs and banned from boxing for a year, but Dana White believes he’s innocent.

Garcia picked himself up after losing his undefeated record against Gervonta Davis. The rising star knocked out Oscar Duarte before stunning the world by beating Devin Haney, but that win has since been overuled following a failed drug test.

Despite insisting that it’s none of his business, Dana White came to the support of the down on his luck Ryan Garcia. Discussing the matter during the UFC 303 post-fight press conference, White was adamant that the boxer hadn’t intentionally taken an illegal substance.

“First of all, none of that is any of my business,” White told media on Saturday. “It’s not my card. It’s not my, whatever.”

“You know I hate talking about drug testing. But with all of our knowledge that we have in the years that we’ve been drug testing, we believe the people who handle the drug testing that he had [taken] a tainted supplement.”

“He did not cheat. If he had the right people around him and had the right, you know, that wouldn’t happen.”

Related: Ryan Garcia makes huge Sean O’Malley fight proposal

“We’re pretty confident it was a tainted supplement. I’ve got no skin in this game, I don’t give a sh*t. It’s not my fight, it’s none of my business and not my place to even talk about it.”

“From what my team tells me — and these guys are the f***ing best — [it was a] tainted supplement.”

Ryan Garcia will now be forced away from boxing for a year, though he has vowed to not just sit around. According to Garcia himself, he may be looking at an opportunity to fight in either mixed martial arts or bare knuckle boxing in the future.

Check out what Dana White had to say about the Ryan Garcia situation below.

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

News for Khabib Nurmagomedov has gone from bad to worse of late. On top of the controversy that surrounds him at present, he has now lost all control of his bank account.

‘The Eagle’ is considered one of the greatest of all time, with many labeling him the best lightweight the sport has ever seen. Through his dominance inside the octagon, he became a superstar worldwide and national treasure in Russia, but things have taken a turn for the worse. 

According to MASH — an online Russian newspaper — Khabib Nurmagomedov is in serious trouble. The reports suggest that the UFC icon has had his bank accounts seized by the Russian tax authorities after he was rumored to be in over $ 3 million of debt.

Russian tax authorities have SEIZED all bank accounts of Khabib Nurmagomedov due to his debt of over 3 million dollars.

per Russian Media MASH pic.twitter.com/JzaJZMgTnd

— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) July 1, 2024

Although it was unclear why, rumors of Khabib’s UFC return began ramping up earlier this year.

Footage surfaced of 35-year-old returning to the gym and he was even spotted with his former coach, Javier Mendez.

With the debt now reaching an incredibly unfortunate amount, could we see Khabib Nurmagomedov compete inside the octagon in the future?

Related: Khabib Nurmagomedov makes desperate plea to Donald Trump

Not only was Khabib Nurmagomedov a superstar during his time competing in the cage, but he has also been a pioneer for Russian MMA.

His successor — Islam Makhachev — has been dominant since Khabib’s retirement. After earning the submission victory against Dustin Poirier last time out, Makhachev now has the same number of title defenses as his friend and mentor achieved in the UFC.

Khabib later found real success as a coach, helping his teammates to wins more times than not. Since then, he vowed to never return to mixed martial arts as a fighter or coach.

With an enormous amount of debt now clouding over him, it remains to be seen whether the unbeaten legend will make his return to the cage.

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

UFC 303 is now behind us but it’s a night that will undoubtedly live in Jiri Prochazka’s memory. Just one day following the defeat, Prochazka has shared a shock message to his fans.

Despite being a short-notice affair, the European entered the octagon in phenomenal shape on Saturday. Many were expecting a closely-contested matchup between two of the best fighters in the world. Instead, Alex Pereira retained his light heavyweight title in dominant fashion.

The loss was understandably a tough one to take for Jiri Prochazka. The former champion later aired his thoughts in a video to fans.

“Hello, everyone. Thank you for all your support,” Prochazka said during an emotional reaction video. “Thanks to you, Alex, for the fight. You was better.”

Prochazka then revealed that if he is unable to elevate his skills, he may be forced to retire.

“Only one thing goes on my mind: I need to evolve to the next level or don’t fight again.”

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

Watch below.

Jiri Prochazka has only ever lost twice under the UFC banner — with both of those defeats coming at the hands of Alex Pereira.

‘BJP’ will now have to pick himself up and fight his way back into title contention.

Related: Alex Pereira knocks Jiri Prochazka out in UFC 303 main event

After defending his throne twice, Alex Pereira is eyeing a move up to heavyweight. While that could be a possibility in the future, Pereira isn’t short of options at 205.

The man who stands out above the rest for a potential next shot at the Brazilian’s title is Magomed Ankalaev.

Ankalaev is currently riding a 12-fight unbeaten streak and is considered the biggest threat to Pereira’s gold. Another rumored option is Israel Adesanya, though he must first come away victorious in his meeting with Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305.

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

The UFC 303 main card kicked off on Saturday with a welterweight bout between seventh-ranked Ian Machado Garry and 14th-ranked Michael “Venom” Page.

Page entered the fight coming off a promotional debut win over Kevin Holland in his last outing in March.  The former Bellator MMA standout was on a two-fight winning streak.  Garry made the walk to the octagon inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas undefeated and predicted that he’d outclass the Englishman.    

Page pressured Garry early in the opening round.  He bounced on the outside in his sideways karate-style stance.  Garry remained patient looking to counter.  Page threw a front kick and Garry caught it and put Page on his back 90 seconds into the frame.  

Page worked to stand as Garry looked to takes his back.  Garry took his back and applied a body triangle.  Garry locked on a rear-naked choke.  Page desperately tried to defend the submission attempt and did.  Garry remained on his back with the body triangle locked in place.  Garry delivered short left hands in the closing seconds.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Garry.  

Page inched forward and landed a hard right hand to start the second round.  Page switched stances and moved into the pocket with a right hand.  Page connected with another right hand.  Page appeared to be the faster of the two.  Garry connected with a counter right hand.  Page closed the distance and Garry clinched.  Garry delivered knees to the legs of Page and foot stomps.  Garry dropped down for a leg.  

He isolated a leg and Page landed a punch to the body.  Page fell to his back and Garry let the leg go and scrambled to his feet.  Page connected with a combination and then a side kick to the body.  Page leaped in with a flying knee.  Garry moved away and Page landed his jab.  Page’s right hand found a home again.  On the fight, Page was having his way.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Page.

Garry landed his jab to start the final round.  He delivered a leg kick.  After taking a kick to the body, Page closed the distance.  Garry changed levels and pulled guard.  Garry applied a body triangle from the bottom.  Garry delivered elbows from the bottom.  Page stood out of Garry’s guard.  Page missed with a huge right hand.  Garry changed levels and took Page’s back.  

Page remained standing with Garry on his back.  Garry worked to secure a choke.  He delivered a few punches and went back to searching for the choke.  Garry delivered short left hands in the closing moments.  The final frame was a tough round to score.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Garry.  

The judges scored the fight for Garry via unanimous decision.  The scorecards read 29-28, 29-28, and 29-28.  

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

With hours before he was scheduled to step inside the octagon against third-ranked Brian Ortega in the UFC 303 co-main event on Saturday, Diego Lopes got a new opponent.  

Following Friday’s UFC 303 Weigh-In, Ortega fell ill and started running a high fever.  The Nevada Athletic Commission deemed Ortega ‘medically unable to fight.’  Dan Ige, who lives in the Las Vegas area, stepped in to face Lopes.  The bout was moved to a 165-pound catchweight match and Lopes weighed in again to make it official.  

The fight between Ortega and Lopes was originally slated to be a featherweight fight.  During fight week, the bout was moved to 155 pounds and both men weighed in at exactly that weight.  What started as a featherweight bout ended up being moved up 20 pounds for Lopes.   

Ige entered the fight coming off a knockout win over Andre Fili in his last outing in February.  He had won three of his last four fights.  Lopes was riding a three-fight winning streak with first-round finishes over his last three opponents.    

The fight began with a bit of a slow start.  Ige closed the distance and was met with a knee and a flurry of punches.  Ige missed with a left hand and Lopes landed a counter right hand. Every time Ige stepped into the pocket, Lopes unloaded multiple-punch combinations.  Ige went to the body with a left hand and Lopes landed a counter right hand.  Ige landed a right hand and the two exchanged in close quarters.  Ige changed levels and took Lopes down but Lopes locked on a guillotine choke.  Ige defended the submission attempt and rose to his feet at the sound of the bell.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Lopes.

Lopes landed first in the second round with a leg kick.  Ige switched stances before connecting with a right hand.  Ige delivered a leg kick and Lopes responded with a combination to the body.  Ige landed a head kick but Lopes caught it and took the fight to the ground.  He took Ige’s back, who had stood.  They fell back to the canvas and Lopes applied a body triangle.  Ige defended his neck and delivered a couple of hard right hands behind to Lopes.  The round ended with Lopes still on Ige’s back.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Lopes.

Ige’s corner told him that he had nothing to lose between rounds.  Ige pressured Lopes and landed a right hand.  Lopes responded with a left hand.  Ige delivered a hard right hand.  Lopes reacted with his jab.  Ige continued to pressure Lopes.  Lopes connected with a leg kick and looked to get the fight to the ground.  Ige stayed upright and separated.  He went back to pressuring Lopes.  Ige connected with another right hand.  

Ige landed a straight left hand that had Lopes shooting for legs from far away.  Ige got out of the position and gained top position on the ground with 90 seconds left in the fight.  Ige landed a right hand.  Lopes held on from the bottom trying to control Ige’s posture.  Ige delivered right hands to the body before posturing up and landing left hands.  Ige stood and dropped in with a right hand.  Lopes connected with an up kick in the closing seconds.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Lopes.  

The judges scored the fight for Lopes via unanimous decision.  The scorecards read 29-28, 29-28, and 29-28.

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

UFC 303 took place on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.  Following the fights, the big winners and marquee names answered questions from the media during the event’s post-fight press conference.  

The event is headlined by a middleweight championship rematch between champion Alex Pereira and former titleholder Jiri Prochazka.

UFC 303 Post-Fight Press Conference

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

Third-ranked featherweight contender Brian Ortega was supposed to fight 14th-ranked Diego Lopes in the UFC 303 co-main event on Saturday.  After running a fever after weigh-ins, Ortega was declared medically unable to fight hours before he was scheduled to bout.  

Dan Ige stepped up on hours notice to step in for Ortega.  Lopes had to weigh-in again and the two will fight at a catchweight of 165 pounds.      

Ortega returned in February after 18 months outside of the cage healing from injuries in February.  He earned a ‘Performance of the Night’ bonus for his submission win over Yair Rodriguez.

Lopes will enter the octagon at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas riding a three-fight winning streak.  He had finished his three previous opponents in the first round.  Ige last fought in February, defeating Andre Fili by knockout.  

The UFC 303 has been an ever changing fight card.  The event was expected to be headlined by Conor McGregor’s octagon return against Michael Chandler but McGregor was forced out due to a toe injury. Once McGregor fell out of the event, the fight card went through a major transformation and continued to even on fight night.  

T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas hosted UFC 303 and a middleweight championship rematch between champion Alex Pereira and former titleholder Jiri Prochazka headlines the fight card.  

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

The UFC 303 early preliminary fight card from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas begins at 6 p.m. ET.  The event is headlined by a middleweight championship rematch between champion Alex Pereira and former titleholder Jiri Prochazka. The two first fought at UFC 295 last November with Pereira finishing Prochazka in the second round via technical knockout.  They run it back at the top of the ticket tonight.

UFC 303 Start Times:

• Early Preliminary Card begins at 6 p.m. ET

• Preliminary Card begins at 8 p.m. ET

• Main Card begins at 10 p.m. ET

UFC 303 Live Results and Analytics

UFC 303 Official Results

Main Card, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN PPV

• Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka
• Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes
• Anthony Smith vs. Roman Dolidze
• Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Macy Chiasson
• Ian Machado Garry vs. Michael Page

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

• Joe Pyfer vs. Marc-Andre Barriault 
• Cub Swanson vs. Andre Fili
• Charles Jourdain vs. Jean Silva
• Payton Talbott vs. Yanis Ghemmouri

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

• Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs. Gillian Robertson
• Andrei Arlovski vs. Martin Buday
• Rei Tsuruya vs. Carlos Hernandez
• Ricky Simon vs. Vinicius Oliveira

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

The athletes competing on Saturday’s UFC 303 fight card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas officially weighed in on Friday in “Sin City.”  

The event is headlined by a middleweight championship rematch between champion Alex Pereira and former titleholder Jiri Prochazka. The two first fought at UFC 295 last November with Pereira finishing Prochazka in the second round via technical knockout.

The event was expected to be headlined by Conor McGregor’s octagon return against Michael Chandler but McGregor was forced out due to a toe injury. Once McGregor fell out of the event, the fight card went through a major transformation.  The first fighter is expected to step on the scale at Noon ET.  

UFC 303 Official Weigh-In Video 

UFC 303 Official Weigh-In Results

Main Card, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN PPV

• Alex Pereira (204.5) vs. Jiri Prochazka (204.5)
• Brian Ortega (155) vs. Diego Lopes (155)
• Anthony Smith (206) vs. Roman Dolidze (205)
• Mayra Bueno Silva (136) vs. Macy Chiasson (135.5)
• Ian Machado Garry (170) vs. Michael Page (171)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

• Joe Pyfer (185.5) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (185)
• Cub Swanson (146) vs. Andre Fili (145.5)
• Charles Jourdain (146) vs. Jean Silva (147.5)*
• Payton Talbott (135.5) vs. Yanis Ghemmouri (136)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

• Michelle Waterson-Gomez (115) vs. Gillian Robertson (116)
• Andrei Arlovski (245) vs. Martin Buday (264.5)
• Rei Tsuruya (125.5) vs. Carlos Hernandez (125)
• Ricky Simon (136) vs. Vinicius Oliveira (136)

*Jean Silva missed weight by 1.5 pounds for his featherweight bout 

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

Ian Garry believes Michael Page is gaining an unfair advantage against him by using spies.

The Irishman has extended his record to a perfect 14-0 since signing for the UFC in 2021. ‘The Future’ is now approaching the biggest and most challenging fight of his career, but the undefeated star has made some bold accusations toward his opponent.

During the fiery UFC 303 press conference, Ian Garry didn’t hold back as he promised to finish Michael ‘Venom’ Page on Saturday.

“Look, I am so talented,” Garry said. “This guy couldn’t win a world title in Bellator and he’s trying to come over here and he’s trying to do something different.”

“What he’s doing in the UFC is, he’s trying to legitimize is career. I’m going to put an end to his career on Saturday night. I’m going to finish him and I’m going to send him back to London.”

Garry then made a huge accusations about MVP’s actions ahead of their matchup.

“I’ve already broke this man’s confidence down so much. He knows I don’t need to say what I’m talking about. You know exactly what I’m on about.”

“Your self-confidence is f***ed. You know what I’m talking about and it will come out. It’ll come out, kid. But your brain is f***ing scurrying for excuses.”

“Did you and your team offer thousands of dollars to get information in Chute Boxe from my boys?”

“Did you send someone a message and offer thousands for information? And you couldn’t infiltrate the camp.”

Related: Michael Page explains why he considers Ian Machado Garry a ‘fake Conor McGregor’

Garry continued, slating Page and his team.

“Your little f***ing rat jiu-jitsu coach offered money to one of my Brazilian friends and you got nothing. Saturday night, you’re f***ed.”

“All I know is you’re getting suspended after this f***ing fight. You’re never fighting again after this fight. You and your jiu-jitsu coach are getting suspended for life.”

Watch the chaos unfold below.

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