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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Alex Pereira wants that Dricus du Plessis fight, he’s just not sure if the UFC middleweight champion feels the same way.

“Poatan,” who is set to defend his light heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree in the main event of UFC 307 in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5, has recently teased the possibility that he would drop back down to middleweight, the division in which he won his first UFC title in 2022. Specifically, he put out the possibility of a fight with du Plessis following du Plessis’ win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.

Any substantial matchup negotiations between the two are unlikely to come to fruition for months, but Pereira insists that they can start talking about it now if du Plessis is open to it.

“Dricus definitely is an easier fight than fighting Jon Jones,” Pereira told FULL SEND MMA via a Portuguese translator. “I think making weight will be harder than the fight, but I did stop making that weight class because I said my body needed a break two or three fights without having to make that cut.

“Now I think I’ve rested long enough, I think I can definitely do that and make the fight happen, but it depends on him. I showed interest many times, but he never replies.”

It’s not just du Plessis’ alleged reluctance to fight that has Pereira miffed. The Brazilian knockout artist questions whether du Plessis is serious about booking a fight against a top contender next, whether it’s himself or a rematch with Sean Strickland.

“The way that he presents himself is always jokes when he responds,” Pereira said. “Like, he said the stuff to Strickland, for example. He’s never serious. He’s always trolling somehow when the subject is presented to him.

“He never takes it serious, so it shows that he’s scared, you know what I mean? Instead of him just saying, ‘Look, UFC. Let’s make me and Pereira fight.’ Clown.”

Once du Plessis caught wind of Pereira’s comments, he was quick to respond on social media.

“A scared clown, how dare you,” du Plessis wrote. “Now that’s taking it too far. I’ve already said I’m in to fight either you or [Strickland]. What more do you want or should I tag your translator?”

Pereira won the UFC middleweight title in just his eighth MMA fight following a decorated pro kickboxing career that included two wins over Adesanya. He knocked out Adesanya at UFC 281 to claim the title before dropping it to his longtime rival in a rematch five months later. He later became light heavyweight champion with a knockout of Jiri Prochazka and his reputation as a multi-division threat has him set up to potentially fight du Plessis or heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

MMA Fighting has DWCS results for all the action from season eight, week six of UFC’s Contender Series on Tuesday night at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nev.

In the main event, undefeated prospect Aaron Tau takes on the 6-1 Elijah Smith in a bantamweight contest.

Contender Series starts at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday on ESPN+. You can find the results for season eight, week six below.

Fight Card

Aaron Tau vs. Elijah Smith

Tallison Teixeira vs. Arthur Lopes

Benjamin Bennett vs. Joey Hart

Yura Naito vs. Ateba Gautier

Dylan Mantello vs. Ahmad Hassanzada

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is nearing a return date after suffering a torn ligament in his hand that delayed his next fight after dispatching Dustin Poirier in June.

Most believed Makhachev would fight top ranked contender Arman Tsarukyan in October at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi but the hand injury prevented that from happening. Now the 33-year-old champion has a better idea in mind when he should be able to fight again.

“Most likely Tsarukyan [is next],” Makhachev told Russian reporter Igor Lazorin. “[He’s] the No. 1 contender now. I have a small injury now but I’m finishing up my treatment and I’ll be ready around the end of the year, beginning of [next] year, January.”

Right now, the UFC has scheduled out major fights and pay-per-views through November with UFC 309 set for Madison Square Garden in New York on Nov. 16. That card is headlined by Jon Jones making his long-awaited return to face Stipe Miocic in a heavyweight title fight.

The only major event without a headliner for the rest of 2024 is UFC 310 on Dec. 7, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It’s possible Makhachev could end up on that card, although that’s relatively early in the month so perhaps a return in early 2025 is more likely.

The UFC has plans to eventually go back to Saudi Arabia next year after striking a deal with Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of the Saudi Arabia General Entertainment Authority, following a successful partnership launching with a Fight Night event in June and another card set for 2025.

Makhachev remains a massive star in the Middle East so it’s possible the UFC waits until a show in Saudi Arabia or Abu Dhabi to book his next fight.

Either way it appears Tsarukyan is stuck waiting until at least the end of 2024 before he gets his shot at becoming UFC lightweight champion.

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Taking a break
| BJPenn.com

Alexander Volkanovski is seeking two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) status.

The last two fights for Australia’s “Great” did not have positive results. First suffering a first round head kick knockout loss in his rematch against Lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev (watch highlights), Volkanovski then lost his Featherweight title in defense to the undefeated Ilia Topuria (watch highlights).

As one of the greatest champions in UFC history, especially at Featherweight, Volkanovski believes he deserves an instant shot back at the title he held since December 2019. However, Topuria is currently tied up with Volkanovski’s old rival, Max Holloway, who he’ll defend against at UFC 308 next month (Sat., Oct. 26, 2024). Diego Lopes has since emerged as the clear possible next contender, winning his fifth straight with a unanimous decision over two-time title challenger, Brian Ortega, at UFC 306 this past weekend (Sept. 14, 2024).

“Lopes — massive win. Both two top dudes. I like both of them, so whoever was going to win, I was going to be happy for,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel (h/t MMA Junkie). “Lopes is right up there now. I’m guessing he’ll be ranked [No.] 3.

“Obviously, my next fight is for the title, depending on what happens,” he continued. “Are there injuries in the Max and Ilia fight? Who knows what’s going to happen. Could there be an interim with someone like Lopes? You never know, so we’ll see what happens.”

Regardless of how things shake out at Featherweight, Volkanovski is adamant he’ll be fighting for a title when he returns to the Octagon.

“My next fight is for the title,” Volkanovski said. “But if they can’t do that soon enough, say if Max wins, is he going to go to lightweight and do BMF? Is there going to be an interim fight? I haven’t had them proper discussions, so I’ll get back to the UFC and have a proper chat with them. All I know is that my next fight is for the title.”

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul just got a little bit bigger.

On Monday, Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions announced the upcoming fight card between Paul and Tyson will also feature a WBC welterweight title fight between Mario Barrios and Abel Ramos.

Barrios won the WBC interim welterweight title a year ago with a unanimous decision victory over Yordenis Ugas. He then defended the interim belt back in May with a decision win over Fabian Maidana. Barrios was elevated to undisputed WBC welterweight champion in June, after demoting Terence Crawford following his move up to super welterweight.

Sporting a 28-6-2 professional record, Ramos is most notable for losing a split decision to Ugas for the WBA welterweight title back in 2020.

Most Valuable Promotions also announced a bout between Indian boxer and influencer Neeraj Goyat and Brazilian YouTuber and boxer Whindersson Nunes.

Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul takes place on Nov. 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX and will be streamed globally via Netflix.

Below is the full Tyson vs. Paul fight card as it currently stands.

Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul — 8 two-minute rounds, heavyweight

Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano — 10 rounds, undisputed lightweight title

Mario Barrios vs. Abel Ramos — 12 rounds, WBC welterweight title

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Darren Till — 6 rounds, cruiserweight

Ashton Sylve vs. Floyd Schofield — 10 rounds, lightweight

Neeraj Goyat vs. Whindersson Nunes — 4 rounds, middleweight

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