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Shara Magomedov isn’t likely scoring the Israel Adesanya match up he wanted, but the unranked Middleweight striker is definitely generating waves. That’s what happens when you live up to the hype on a high-profile event like UFC 308 and win via something ridiculous like a double spinning backfist! People take notice, and Magomedov will likely have his pick of potential opponents for what should be a quick return to action.

Michael “Venom” Page probably isn’t anyone’s first guess as to his next opponent, but why not? In a recent interview with MMAFighting, Page revealed he’s already on weight and would love a chance to fight “The Pirate.”

“Magomedov — he just fought, did the double spinning back [fist] knockout and then he called out my boy Izzy,” Page said. “Mate, I’m at that weight right now. You don’t even have to wait too long. That one there, I’ll just take straight away just for the fun of it.”

He continued, “I’m in shape now, ready to go. So that’s a good fight for me, I think. Just a nice stand up fight for everybody, just to come back to the game. and like I said, leave my boy Izzy alone. He’s trying to get back to the belt, to the throne, so I’ll take his place.”

There’s no arguing this would be an exceptional match up. Magomedov has quickly built up a reputation for himself as an exciting and dangerous kickboxer, but that’s been the “MVP” game for a decade now. He’s just as nasty as Magomedov at distance, and he’s one of the rare athletes who can match Magomedov’s arsenal of flashy strikes.

Spinning backfist vs. flying knee is an easy sell. Unless UFC is intent on booking Magomedov vs. a ranked Middleweight next, it makes great sense. Page didn’t win his last fight versus Ian Garry, but the English veteran did still prove himself a top talent and show he’s a great test for up-and-coming prospects.

Why not Shara?

Insomnia

Khamzat’s double leg goes against serious wrestling fundamentals. He outright rejects the core ideas of eyes up, proud chest, and “where the head goes the body will follow.” Yet, it works, because the guy is an animal!

A beautiful duck under:

There are many viable mindsets in elite MMA, but being relaxed in the cage is such a massive advantage.

This whole thread is worth a read — Ilia Topuria used to be unrecognizably different on the feet.

Here’s hoping a speedy recovery for Michael Bisping.

They don’t call him “Groovy” for nothing …

Therapeutic or unhealthy?

Slips, rips, and KO clips

Athletes usually retire for a reason.

Yeah, it doesn’t surprise me that the guy wearing trail runners in a cage fight got instantly erased.

The first overhand here is some real-deal hand speed.

Random Land

Grouse dance!

Midnight Music: Doo Woo, 1961

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

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Caio Machado found himself on the wrong end of two close decisions in the UFC, and now feels he desperately needs a victory to stay on the company roster.

The Brazilian talent built his MMA career competing in Canadian soil until he beat Kevin Szaflarski at Dana White’s Contender Series to enter the UFC, and disagrees with the judges that had him losing decisions to Mick Parkin and Don’Tale Mayes inside the octagon.

Machado decided to cut down to 205 pounds for the first time following the setbacks, and expects to perform better — and have more punching power — to ultimately save his career when he faces Brendson Ribeiro at Saturday’s UFC Edmonton.

“I”m in a super complicated situation because of those two losses, and it’s a bit more frustrating because I disagree with both of them,” Machado said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “Decisions are complicated in MMA. But the focus now is to win, win or win. This is the fight of my life, my career is on the line. I cut weight, I’m feeling better, and I’m ready for this challenge.”

Machado moved to Canada almost a decade ago to pursue a career unrelated to fighting, and loved it so much he kept postponing his return home. Canada eventually became home for the 6’4” man, who got married and became a father. Now a Canadian citizen, Machado decided to move back to Brazil to find new training and be by his father, who was fighting cancer — and beat it.

“I’m thrilled to be fighting in Canada,” Machado said. “Even though it’s a fight between two Brazilians, I’ll be representing both Brazil and Canada. My last fights were at the APEX, so I’m anxious to fight in front of a crowd again, especially being the home guy. It’s going to be awesome. I’m super excited to go there and perform in front of my crowd. I had my entire MMA career in Canada until I got to the UFC, so it’s like home to me.”

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Justin Gaethje has now been knocked down twice this year.

Back in April, Gaethje put his “BMF” title on the line against Max Holloway at UFC 300. After a back-and-forth war for five rounds, Gaethje answered Holloway’s call to slug it out in the final 10 seconds, only to then get brutally faceplanted just before the fight ended.

And now he’s been dropped again.

On Wednesday, Gaethje shared training footage to his Instagram account, showing him getting into a body shot challenger with his coach. After a few rounds of back and forth shots from each man, it was the former UFC interim lightweight champion who got crumpled with a nasty body shot.

After doubling over and falling to the ground, Gaethje grunts in obvious discomfort, while his head coach Trevor Whittman laughs and celebrates the unexpected outcome.

Gaethje has not fought since UFC 300, saying he wanted to take six months to allow his body to recover from the knockout and noting that another one like that would spell the end of his career.

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Dropped
| BJPenn.com

Well, that came out of nowhere.

Derrick Lewis returns for the second time in 2024 this weekend (Sat., Nov. 2) at UFC Edmonton against Brazilian kickboxer Jhonata Diniz, which will go down inside Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

During UFC Edmonton media day (watch here), “The Black Beast” was asked if there was a fight out there that he wanted to cross off his list. The holder of most knockouts in UFC history chose a rematch with retired former Heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.

“Probably DC,” Lewis told the media. “Because that one still doesn’t sit right with me, man. Do people really like DC like that? C’mon, man. I told DC to his face that he’s a piece of s—t. He’s a piece of s—t scumbag, man. F—k DC.”

When asked to elaborate, Lewis kept it pretty vague.

“He knows why. DC knows why,” Lewis said. Everyone knows why- he disrespected Popeyes chicken, but other than that, he’s a piece of s—t.”

Lewis and Cormier have sent shots towards each other in the past. While Cormier’s comments were more from a broadcaster’s point of view, like when he said he was done as a top Heavyweight and Lewis should retire after his loss to Sergey Spivak. Lewis, on the other hand, has always just talked trash when replying to Cormier.

Ariel Helwani asked Cormier about Lewis’ recent comments today (Wed., Oct. 30, 2024), and he believes Lewis is still mad that he recommended “The Black Beast” retire.

Indeed, the two Heavyweights clashed back in 2018 at UFC 230, in which Cormier submitted Lewis in the second round (watch highlights).

They won’t be rematching.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Edmonton fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the ESPN+ preliminary card matchups which are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining main card balance on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC Edmonton news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive here. For the updated and finalized “Moreno vs. Albazi” fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Kamaru Usman believes when the story of the BMF title is being told, his name should be part of the narrative.

Usman discussed the BMF title on his podcast with Henry Cejudo, and asked fans why they hold the championship — currently held by Max Holloway — in such high regard.

“Guys, why are we talking about it like this is a real title? It’s not,” Usman said on Pound 4 Pound. “This was a hypothetical that was made up because of me. It was made up because of me.”

The former welterweight champion says that when the BMF belt was introduced to the world at UFC 244, the original fight that the UFC brought to the table was Usman vs. Colby Covington. But the fight didn’t come together — which led to UFC CEO Dana White creating the BMF title that Nate Diaz called for in a callout for Jorge Masvidal, who had recently knocked out Ben Askren in record time at UFC 239 in July 2019.

When asked to elaborate by Cejudo, Usman says history would be different if he had defended his welterweight title against Covington that night in November 2019.

“Covington [and I] were supposed to fight at MSG, New York,” Usman explained. “The fight didn’t happen. They needed a fight to headline that card, they needed something with some steam. This is MSG, you can’t just put any fight card at MSG. You’ve got to come correct when you go to MSG. …

“What’s the hottest ticket out there? Jorge ‘Gamebred’ Masvidal — the hottest thing smoking. Then, of course, you have Nate Diaz with his mystique that he always carries. … Nate Diaz had already called out Masvidal after his previous fight. … Dana jumps on, how do we promote this fight? Let’s create this, all right. It’s called the baddest mother f’er belt. C’mon, are you serious?”

Masvidal would win the fight via doctor’s stoppage TKO, and was awarded the BMF title by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

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