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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Alexander Volkanovski is adamant that his next fight will be an immediate title fight rematch with Ilia Topuria.

By all accounts, it’s hard to argue against “The Great” deserving a shot at redemption against his successor after a lengthy title reign that saw him defend the belt five times. However, Volkanovski, 35, is planning to rest and recover after two consecutive knockout losses. As a result, he’s got no problem with Topuria defending against someone else in the interim. He just strongly believes his next fight will be in a redemptive effort.

Even Topuria’s coach Jorge Climent is in the camp that Volkanovski should get a rematch thanks to all he’s accomplished as an all-time great. At the same time, a tune-up of sorts might be a better approach first, says Climent.

“I do believe that Volkanovski deserves a rematch for everything he’s done in this sport, plus the short-notice fight he took,” Climent told MMA Junkie. “However, if I were his team or his friend, I’d tell him, ‘Look, relax. Go get another fight to get back on your feet, go feel good again, win, and then we go after him.’ That would be the smartest thing he could do. And again, if I were his friend, that’s what I’d recommend him.”

The current two-fight skid Volkanovski rides is the first losing streak of his illustrious 30-fight career (26-4). Topuria, 27, became the first to defeat the Australian at featherweight as Volkanovski’s previous loss was in his lightweight title rematch against Islam Makhachev. Unfortunately for Volkanovski, a head kick early in round one ended his night in that matchup at UFC 294 this past October.

If Volkanovski isn’t Topuria’s first title defense, another former champion in Max Holloway sounds like a good possibility. “Blessed” will first try to become the new BMF champion when he battles Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 next month in a lightweight affair. After that, and especially with a win, Holloway could have a world of options at his disposal, including another crack at 145-pound gold.

“Of course Volkanovski deserves it, but I would find it unfair,” Climent said. “He’s coming off two defeats, and I don’t see him recovered enough to go for the immediate rematch. That’s why, if I were his friend, I’d tell him, ‘Take it easy, go do another fight, get your confidence back up, and we’ll do it again.’

“I think Volkanovski and Holloway deserve it most. After that, it’s pretty even among everyone else. I think those two are the ones that most deserve to fight for the title — Holloway and Volkanovski.”

TOP STORIES

Possibilities. Dustin Poirier reacts to delays in Conor McGregor’s return, addresses his future after UFC 299

Growth. TKO president declares UFC now one of the 4 major sports: ‘Against the NHL, even including the playoffs, we dwarf them’

Rivals. Francis Ngannou has heated press conference exchange with Tyson Fury: ‘I’m going to wipe the ring with your ass again’

Gifts. Petr Yan: Chito Vera got UFC 299 title shot because Sean O’Malley ‘doesn’t believe he can beat any other top contenders’

Change. UFC 299 fighters face slightly different weigh-in rules under Florida commission

Out. Judge disqualifies 13 witnesses from testifying in upcoming UFC antitrust trial

Contenders. Gilbert Burns: Belal Muhammad ‘not that entertaining but he’s very, very good,’ he can beat Leon Edwards

Location. UFC returns to Abu Dhabi with Fight Night card in August

Whoops. Michael Page reveals UFC’s ‘mistake’ in negotiations, eyes title fight against Leon Edwards

Rematch. Chito Vera reveals Sean O’Malley DMs ahead of UFC 299: ‘He’s a weird guy, he likes weird s***’

VIDEO STEW

The MMA Hour.

UFC 299 Media Day.

Embedded 3.

Holland vs. MVP preview.

RIZIN Confessions 144.

Fancy DT UFC 299 breakdown.

LISTEN UP

No Bets Barred. MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew and Conner Burks discuss if Sean O’Malley can get revenge against Chito Vera at UFC 299. Plus Ngannou vs. Joshua.

MORNING MUSIC

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Vegas Paulo?

Fight week.

Accepted?

Old man Thomson.

Long live frat boy Dana.

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Usman Nurmagomedov (17-0, 1 NC) vs. Alexander Shabliy (23-3); Bellator 303, May 12

Patchy Mix (19-1) vs. Magomed Magomedov (16-1); Bellator 303, May 12

Gregory Babene (23-11) vs. Costello van Steenis (14-3); Bellator 303, May 12

Slim Trabelsi (6-0) vs. Louie Sutherland (6-2); Bellator 303, May 12

Mansour Barnaoui (20-6) vs. Yusuke Yachi (26-13); Bellator 303, May 12

Tom Nolan (6-1) vs. Victor Martinez (13-5); UFC Vegas 92, May 18

Mickey Gall (7-5) vs. Bassil Hafez (8-4-1); UFC 302, June 1

FINAL THOUGHTS

Is it funny to anyone else that there appears to be more investment from PFL in Bellator than their usual product? I like what I’m seeing in that aspect, but the seasons are supposed to start next month and the full tournament competitors are still a mystery.

Thanks for reading!

EXIT POLL

If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @DrakeRiggs_ on Twitter and let him know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.

MMA Fighting – All Posts

Despite having his proverbial hands full with incoming bantamweight championship challenger, Marlon Vera this weekend at UFC 299 – Sean O’Malley has already plotted a dominant, quickfire knockout win over recently-minted featherweight kingpin, Ilia Topuria in the near future.

O’Malley, the current undisputed bantamweight champion, is slated to headline UFC 299 this weekend in the promotion’s return to Miami, Florida. 

Attempting to avenge his first professional loss, O’Malley takes on Ecuadorian favorite, Vera – after the latter stopped him with a first round ground strikes TKO win four years ago during the pair’s bantamweight rise.

Minting himself as the best at bantamweight last August, however, O’Malley turned in a stunning second round knockout win over record-setting champion, Aljamain Sterling – coronating himself as the 135 pound champion.

And staking his claim for a rematch with Chone rival, Vera off the back of his victory over Sterling, O’Malley will attempt to lodge his first championship defense in ‘The Sunshine State’ this weekend.

Sean O’Malley previews Ilia Topuria showdown

Furthermore, despite Georgian force, Merab Dvalishvili distinctly waiting in the wings to challenge for gold come the culmination of UFC 299, Montana native, O’Malley has claimed he would stop the aforenoted, Topuria in quickfire fashion to become a two-weight champion, before returning to his bantamweight stomping grounds.

“[A] beautiful performance,” Sean O’Malley told assembled media of Ilia Topuria’s title win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 last month. “I was there live, it was a cool moment. It was, you know – Ilia is a scary little dude. That fight [with him] excites me. [I] would definitely like to get that fight, eventually.”

“Yeah, I would move up to 145 [pounds] for that,’ Sean O’Malley explained. “But, I’m a bantamweight, you know, for the next couple years. If I did do that, you know, it would be up there, just go up there, and knock him out real quick, then head back down [to bantamweight].”

Who wins in a future super fight: Ilia Topuria or Sean O’Malley?

LowKickMMA.com

UFC

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

At the Joshua vs. Ngannou weigh-ins, Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou will step on the scales Thursday morning in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Joshua and Ngannou will compete in the heavyweight division for the pay-per-view event.

The Joshua vs. Ngannou fight card will feature three title fights.

Check out Joshua vs. Ngannou weigh-in results below.

Main card (DAZN, PPV.com at 1 p.m. ET)

Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou

Zhilei Zhang vs Joseph Parker

Rey Vargas vs Nick Ball

Israil Madrimov vs. Magomed Kurbanov

Gavin Gwynne vs. Mark Chamberlain

Justis Huni vs. Kevin Lerena

Prelims (DAZN at 11 a.m. ET)

Jack McGann vs. Louis Green

Roman Fury vs. Martin Svarc

Ziyad Almaayouf vs. Christian Lopez Flores

Andrii Novytski vs. Juan Torres

MMA Fighting – All Posts

UFC

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Marlon Vera doesn’t have a lot of kind words to say about Sean O’Malley.

On Saturday, “Chito” challenges O’Malley for the bantamweight title in the main event of UFC 299 in Miami. The two previously fought at UFC 252, with Vera scoring a first-round knockout after O’Malley injured his leg, and as the bout approaches, the heat between the two continues to grow. Speaking to reporters at the UFC 299 Media Day, O’Malley said he and Vera had been exchanging DMs ahead of the fight, and when it was his turn to field questions, Chito gave his side of things.

“He’s a weird guy,” Vera told reporters at UFC 299 Media Day. “He likes weird s***. I tried to stay away from it. The only thing I did was send him a picture of me back, and I haven’t even read what he said after.

“I get it. One of his main tools is getting in people’s heads. Good luck with that. I’m going to f*** you up. I’m prepared for Saturday night. So he’s trying to start things. Yesterday, he asked me if I was ready to lose the fight. He didn’t catch my answer. I would have loved the camera catch what I said back to him, but they only got one side. But that’s just one tool to the game. I’m ready for a fight. My mind is in the right place and I’m going to kick his ass.”

Cameras actually did get Vera’s response, and the entire scene can be viewed in the latest episode of UFC 299 Embedded, but Vera was also kind enough to expound for the reporters.

“I asked him to suck my d***,” Vera explained. “I mean, simple as that. I’m not here to be friendly, I’m not here to be respectful. I’m not a karate guy, I’m a fighter. So you f*** with me, I’m going to f****** f*** with you. I’m not f****** around, man.”

Vera continued, saying that all of this is just O’Malley’s attempt to get in his head, but that it won’t work. And Chito added that he has a much more direct plan of getting into O’Malley’s head: his fist.

“I’m going to get in there and I’m going to drill a hole through his face,” Vera said. “Then what? There’s no talking in there. I know his corner likes to do talking when we’re in there, but I would love my corner to give me advice to win the fight. If my corner is more concerned about talking s*** about my opponent and they don’t tell me what to do, I wouldn’t be with those people.”

And once that’s done and he’s the new bantamweight champion, don’t expect much to change for Chito. He plans on doing exactly the same thing he’s done for years: fighting whoever the UFC puts in front of him.

“I will keep it real,” Vera said when asked about his title reign. “I’ll do the same thing I’ve been doing through the years. I will defend the belt against whoever is No. 1. I’m not going to start getting picky or go to a different weight class. Whoever is next in line, send them to me. Just do like that, like a real champion.”

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Explanation
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