CombatSports.org

submitted by /u/otxmyn [link] [comments]

MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Stipe Miocic only wants to fight Jon Jones, but ultimately it’s still up to UFC whether or not that matchup actually happens.

As he continues to await his return to action, the now 41-year-old former UFC heavyweight champion insists that he’s not standing in anybody’s way when it comes to the sudden logjam at the top of the division. Essentially, the standstill comes from Tom Aspinall winning an interim heavyweight title after Jones suffered a torn pectoral muscle that cancelled his previously scheduled matchup against Miocic back in 2023.

UFC has continued holding firm for a Jones vs. Miocic showdown while Aspinall is set to defend his interim belt against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in June.

While Miococ understands Aspinall’s frustration that he’s not going to get to unify the titles in his next fight, that’s a decision being made above his pay grade.

“I get it,” Miocic told CBS Sports. “I’d feel the same way, but I’m not taking anything away from him. The UFC can do what they want. It is what it is. There’s only one guy I want to fight, it’s Jon Jones. But at the same time, the UFC can pick who they want. People don’t know this but there were a couple of other times where I was ready to fight and they gave them another guy. What am I supposed to do?

“I’m not holding up any division like everyone says. I don’t care. Do what you want and stop crying. I’m not saying he’s crying, I’m just saying like fans and stuff like that.”

Miocic hasn’t fought since March 2021, when he suffered a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou in their rematch for the UFC heavyweight title. In the three years since, Miocic initially wanted to settle his trilogy with Ngannou, but “The Predator” ended up leaving UFC to sign with PFL in free agency.

With that option no longer available, Miocic turned his attention to Jones, who is widely considered the greatest mixed martial artist of all-time. Meanwhile, Miocic still holds the record for the most UFC title defenses at heavyweight, which cements him among the best in history.

That’s why Jones targeted Miocic after winning the UFC heavyweight title in 2023, and obviously that’s a matchup that interested Miocic as well.

“Everyone thinks he’s going to beat my ass,” Miocic said of Jones. “I don’t like being told that. I like shutting people up. He’s beatable. I know he is. Anyone is beatable and I will be the first to do this.”

Miocic often spoke about potentially facing Jones when “Bones” reigned over the light heavyweight division while constantly teasing a move up to the heavier ranks.

It’s a fight that Miocic not only wanted, but one he’s confident he can win.

“I think styles make matchups,” Miocic said. “I think I have a style that doesn’t match well with his style. If the shoe’s on the other foot, it could be me as well. He does a lot of good things. He’s good with his distance, his leg kicks, and on the ground. I’m good at making it a fight. I’m technical, but I can also make it into the brawl and make him feel really uncomfortable as does he.

“I think it depends on who does what they like. Unfortunately, I don’t like being told what to do, so I’m going to do what I want to.”

While no official offers have been made or bout agreements issued, multiple people with knowledge of the promotion’s plans have told MMA Fighting that Jones vs. Miocic is currently being targeted for November when UFC returns to Madison Square Garden in New York. Jones has also hinted at that date multiple times publicly on social media.

If that’s the timeline for the fight, Miocic would return just shy of four years away from the cage, but he’s not concerned about the time off or his ability to deal with somebody like Jones in his octagon return.

“I am very competitive and will never lose it,” Miocic said. “It’s in my DNA. I love what I do and have the best coaches in the world that will have me ready whenever the fight comes up.”

MMA Fighting – All Posts

Stockton!
| BJPenn.com

Diaz vs. Edwards 2?

Nate Diaz scored a win last night (Sat., July 6, 2024) over former foe Jorge Masvidal, defeating him via majority decision, picking up his first boxing victory from inside Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. (watch highlights).

Immediately after his big win in the boxing ring, Diaz called for rematches with Jake Paul and UFC Welterweight champion Leon Edwards.

During the Diaz vs. Masvidal post-fight press conference, the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter doubled down on rematching Edwards at some point.

“It was just off the top of my head,” Diaz told the media. “I would like to whoop [Paul’s] ass. I would like to get a win against Leon Edwards, who is the best fighter in the world right now at 170 and I think that’s something that I can take and put in a credential box. That’s what I’m going for. I’m not trying to go for any fun fights because that s—t ain’t fun.”

Diaz has praised Edwards since their fight at UFC 263 in 2021 in Glendale, AZ, often saying he is the best fighter in the UFC. The Stockton fighter lost a dominant unanimous decision but had the entire fight talking when he rocked Edwards in the final moments of the fight.

Obviously, Diaz isn’t going to get that fight anytime soon, but hey, if Edwards wants a money fight – I’m sure UFC CEO Dana White would take a phone call.

For now, “Rocky” has to get through Belal Muhammad later this month (July 27) at UFC 304 in Manchester, England.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

submitted by /u/otxmyn [link] [comments]

MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Nate Diaz checked one rematch off his wish list on Saturday.

In his second fight with Jorge Masvidal, Diaz defeated his one-time UFC rival via majority decision in a 10-round boxing match at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. It wasn’t a textbook runback — their first fight happened under MMA rules at UFC 244, where Masvidal defeated Diaz via doctor stoppage — but it’s one in the win column for Diaz all the same.

Now that he’s avenged that loss, Dia has other past foes in mind. In the ring post-fight, Diaz called out Jake Paul and UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards as opponents he’d like to beat after previously suffering losses to them, and he discussed those names further speaking to the media.

“Just off the top of my head, I would like to whip [Paul’s] ass,” Diaz said at the evening’s post-fight press conference. “I would like to get a win against Leon Edwards, who’s the best fighter in the world right now at 170 [pounds]. I think that’s something major who actually brings something that I can take and put in a credential box, that’s what I’m going for. I’m not playing for no f*cking fun fights, because that shit ain’t fun.”

Paul defeated Diaz via majority decision this past August in what was Diaz’s boxing debut following a 15-year run with the UFC. After Diaz mentioned Paul live on Saturday’s broadcast, “The Problem Child” answered on social media.

“F*ck you, Nate Diaz, you’re a ho who ducked my PFL $ 15 million offer,” Paul wrote on Twitter, referring to a previous challenge he’d made for Diaz to fight him in PFL under MMA rules.

Despite that response, Diaz seems confident that the rematch is a possibility.

“It’s f*cking pretty realistic as far as I’m concerned,” Diaz said. “That’s the only thing I got in in my head is whoever thinks they’re f*cking tight can get their ass whooped.”

As for Edwards, he clashed with Diaz at UFC 263 in June 2021. Though Edwards went on to win a comfortable decision, he was rocked badly by Diaz in the fifth round, a moment that Diaz has worn as a badge of pride ever since. Edwards later went on to defeat Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight title and is scheduled to defend it against Belal Muhammad in the main event of UFC 304 on July 27.

On Saturday, Diaz was a winner on the scorecards for the first time in almost five years. When Diaz was asked for his thoughts on Masvidal criticizing the judging, he suggested that Masvidal’s power punches weren’t as effective as they looked.

“I think he threw the harder shots and was trying KO, but couldn’t get no job done,” Diaz said. “I never really got hurt. He hit me with a couple of things, I was like, ‘Alright, motherf*cker, I’m not going to let you do that again.’ If it was [less] rounds, I think we could have done a lot more damage, but it was 10 rounds, so I treated it like that.”

Another former Diaz opponent made headlines on fight night when Conor McGregor tweeted that he put $ 500,000 on Diaz, a near 3-to-1 underdog, to defeat Masvidal. When Diaz won, that six-figure wager turned into a $ 1,625,000 payout, according to McGregor.

Diaz and McGregor were involved in a blockbuster pair of headlining UFC bouts in 2016, with each man holding a win in their series. Told of McGregor’s gambling success, Diaz was nonplussed.

“That’s cool,” Diaz said with a smirk. “Good job for us.”

MMA Fighting – All Posts

Despite receiving encouragement overnight from former two-time heavyweight world champion, Anthony Joshua to make a move to boxing, former two-weight UFC champion, Alex Pereira claims he is likely too old to make a transition to the sport, revealing it was his “dream” to compete in the sport.

Pereira, a former undisputed middleweight champion and the current light heavyweight champion, returned to action just last weekend in the main event of UFC 303 – headlining the International Fight Week card on short-notice.

And retaining his 205lbs title for the second time consecutively, Sao Paulo knockout artist, Pereira laid definitive waste to Jiri Prochazka, finishing the Czech Republic striker with a massive second round high-kick knockout win in Las Vegas.

Receiving massive props and acclaim from his fellow fighters and pundits like for his victory against Prochazka – that vein continued overnight for the Brazilian, who was encouraged to try his hand at professional boxing, by none other than British heavyweight star, Joshua.

“Alex Pereira should make a boxing debut one day,” Anthony Joshua posted on his official X account overnight. 

And replying to the Watford native’s comments, Pereira pointed to his age, but admitted a potential move to professional boxing would be a “dream” come true for him.

Alex Pereira unsure of professional boxing debut

“I’m honored you think so,” Alex Pereira replied. “It’s always been my dream, I’m 37 I cannot make a career in it so who do you recommend I fight?”

Linked with a slew of fights in his return to the Octagon following his stunning knockout win over Prochazka, Pereira has entertained a heavyweight move, while his manager also stressed his desire to see his client rematch former light heavyweight champion, Jan Blachowicz in his next outing in the promotion. 

Would you like to see Alex Pereira make a move to boxing in the future?

LowKickMMA.com

submitted by /u/otxmyn [link] [comments]

MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Nate Diaz hasn’t always had the best luck with decisions, but the judges were on his side in his second fight with Jorge Masvidal.

In a rematch of their UFC 244 “BMF” championship encounter, this time in a boxing ring at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., Diaz earned a measure of revenge over his rival as he won a majority decision after 10 rounds of exciting back-and-forth action. Masvidal defeated Diaz via doctor stoppage in their first fight after opening up a large cut above Diaz’s right eye.

Though plenty of punches were exchanged in their second meeting, it was a bloodless affair, defined by Diaz’s relentless volume striking and Masvidal’s well-timed power punches. In the end, Diaz was the better fighter according to the official scorecards, which you can see below.

Judge Fernando Villareal scored the fight a draw at 95-95, reflective of a highly competitive contest. However, judges Zachary Young and Rudy Barragan saw the gap as being wider, with Young scoring it 98-92 and Barragan scoring it 97-93 in favor of Diaz. The two cards were enough to give Diaz the nod.

In his immediate post-fight interview, Masvidal stated that he felt he did enough to win and that the bout being in Diaz’s home state of California may have influenced the judges.

Regardless, it’s officially a win for Diaz, who is now 1-1 as a pro boxer after rebounding from his loss to influencer Jake Paul in August 2023.

MMA Fighting – All Posts

Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal finally got the chance to settle their differences in the ring on Saturday, and they did not disappoint.

The two former UFC stars saw their rivalry grow in the weeks leading into fight night, which later led to a fiery encounter between the ropes. Entering the bout as the slight underdog, Diaz managed to overcome the odds and get his hand raised when all was said and done.

The pair combined for a thrilling showcase, leaving the viewers pleasantly surprised by their pace and output over 10 rounds. In the end, it was seemingly Nate Diaz’s constant forward pressure and volume that earned him the nod on the judges’ scorecards.

While he is known for his endless cardio, the Stockton native arguably looked in the best shape he has been in for quite some time. Diaz never faltered and, as we’ve come accustomed to with the MMA star, he used his cardio as a weapon to overwhelm his opponent.

Nate Diaz Wins By Majority Decision! #DiazMasvidal pic.twitter.com/DhXRscOujH

— MMA WiZZ (@themmawizz) July 7, 2024

As he often does, Nate Diaz had much to say following his victory over Jorge Masvidal. The fan-favorite took his chance on the mic to call for a high-ranked boxer after his standout performance. 

He then turned his attention to some bigger names in the world of combat sports — with a UFC return firmly on his mind.

Related: Nate Diaz eyeing UFC 306 return at Las Vegas Sphere

“I’m down to fight the highest ranked boxer I can find,” Diaz said following his win over Jorge Masvidal. “Get him on a high level so people know who the f*** he is.”

“My main objective has always been to be the best fighter in the world, so I want to go back and get a UFC title.”

“Leon Edwards, Jake Paul, and anybody the f*** else. You’re dead.”

Check out what Nate Diaz had to say during his post-fight in-ring interview below.

Nate Diaz calls out Jake Paul and Leon Edwards #masvidaldiaz pic.twitter.com/OibFzxYp2O

— Delinquent MMA (@DelinquentMMA) July 7, 2024

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