Day: 3. Juni 2025

Sean O'Malley has made some changes in his approach ahead of his bantamweight championship rematch with Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316 this Saturday.

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O’Malley lost the title in a lopsided unanimous decision defeat to “The Machine” in their first meeting at UFC 306 this past September.

"Sean already had a surgery on his hip scheduled before the fight. He couldn't [use his] guard the last camp. This camp was totally different. He was able to train everything, and of course, work on new stuff for Merab,” Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach Augusto "Tanquinho" Mendes told Sherdog.com.

According to the multi-time BJJ world champion, O’Malley is so focused on the fight that he won’t dye his hair prior to Saturday’s fight in Newark, New Jersey.

"He will come with his hair in natural colors this time,” Mendes said. “He is really focused on that rematch. Also, he decided to come heavier and suffer a little more to reach the weight. Last time he arrived almo…

Maycee Barber was willing to do whatever it took to make it to the Octagon this past Saturday night — even if it was detrimental to her health.

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However, her team ultimately made an executive decision to protect their fighter. Cody Donovan, who is one of Barber’s coaches at High Altitude Martial Arts, explained how things went down in the locker room prior to the UFC Vegas 107 main event.

"For the record, Maycee did not pull out of her fight," Donovan wrote on Instagram. "She refused to surrender in spite of what has happening to her medically. As a coaching staff, we decided to call the doctor in. Even as she begged us not to. What we saw was just too dangerous. I am proud of the bravery she showed in the face of a medical emergency. Most fighters would have ran for the door. When they tell the story of Maycee Barber, this will be the Goliath that she got to overcome on her road to greatness. God is good.”

Ultimately, Barber’s fight with Erin…

Kevin Lee was just one of a number of prominent names the Global Fight League used to promote its launch.

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However, the fledgling promotion never got off the ground, canceling its first two announced events that were scheduled for last month. Lee, who recently signed with the Professional Fighters League, hasn’t forgotten about the GFL’s inability to follow through on promises that were made.

“These last maybe 12 months or so we were in pretty heavy talks with GFL,” Lee said during an interview on “MMA Today” on Sirus XM. “They were supposed to be the new startup promotion. They were supposed to be the next big thing, and I got behind them pretty good. The talks were great, but there wasn’t no action behind it.

“I can’t speak too too much because on the situation, because now we’re going through legal and I’ll be suing them for some defamation, plus some extortion. I think that they used guys like me and used our name in order to get out the…

We’re heading back to France 🇫🇷

See you in September for #UFCParis!

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Register your interest: https://t.co/WvN9Cd5DRT pic.twitter.com/0WZUWAqFda — UFC (@ufc) June 3, 2025

The Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to the French capital later this year.

The Las Vegas-based promotion announced on Tuesday that it will hold a Fight Night card at the Accor Arena in Paris on Sept. 6. No bouts were revealed for the event.

This will mark the fourth time the UFC has visited Paris since 2022. Most recently, UFC Fight Night 243 saw Renato Carneiro earn a second-round doctor stoppage victory against Benoit St. Denis in the evening’s headliner this past September. Prominent French athletes who compete in the UFC include the likes of Ciryl Gane, Manon Fiorot, Nassourdine Imavov, Fares Ziam, Oumar Sy and St. Denis.

France became a viable destination for the UFC when the country officially ended its ban on MMA in…

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Wrestling stalwart Gable Steveson is impressed with Merab Dvalishvili’s gas tank. 

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Dvalishvili will look to defend his bantamweight title in a rematch with Sean O'Malley in the main event at UFC 316 on Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Stevenson recently made a guest appearance to train with Dvalishvili’s team ahead of the championship bout. The 2020 Olympic gold medalist had high praise for the UFC bantamweight champ. Stevenson considers Dvalishvili a standout athlete and wishes him luck for Saturday night.

“Merab’s just different,” Steveson said on UFC 316 Embedded. “You can tell when guys are different and they can prevail in their sport. Merab’s got that touch, and I hope he can do it again next Saturday. Look at him, he’s not even tired. He’s doing all this punching and kicking. He’s fine.” 

Dvalishvili’s coach, John Wood, added that the Georgian is the only one in the gym who tires him …

🗣️Patchy Mix on Mario Bautista:

"I'm a three-time world champion. This guy's a journeyman fighter. I'll submit him — and whoever's teaching him jiu-jitsu, I'll submit the whole crew."@ufc pic.twitter.com/vlnR3pTfgD

— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) June 2, 2025

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Patrick "Patchy" Mix thinks he’s at an entirely different level than upcoming opponent Mario Bautista. 

Mix will make his promotional debut against Bautista at UFC 316 on Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.  Judging by Bautista’s performance in a fight against Guido Cannetti, Mix said he will dominate his opponent. “Patchy” also believes he can submit Bautista and his entire jiu-jitsu team. 

“Like right here where he rests, he won’t be able to rest against me. Like, if that kid [Cannetti] can push him up against the fence, I think I can. I’m a three-time world champion, this guy’s a journeyman fighter,” Mix said on UFC Em…

Though it’s not necessarily his primary claim to fame, Conor McGregor is capable of the occasional thoughtful gesture. 

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UFC commentator Laura Sanko recently had a surprise from McGregor waiting in her mailbox when she returned home. Sanko revealed a box of “Notorious” cigars that McGregor gifted her.

“Regrouped, headed home while dressed up,” Sanko said on Instagram. “I’m headed to a charity gala tonight. But let me tell you something, I had a special treat waiting in the mail when I got home… Conor McGregor sent me some of his incredible new cigars.” 

Sharing Sanko’s post on Instagram, McGregor called her “The voice of the UFC.”

Launched in 2022, Notorious Cigars is one of McGregor's multiple businesses, which also includes the likes Proper 12 Whiskey and Forged Irish Stout. The former two-division UFC champ capitalized well on his stardom to set up a financial empire and secure his future. McGregor hasn’t fought since brea…

Aljamain Sterling reveals Merab fakes a body shot so well, people actually think he's hurt. 😅

🎥 @funkmasterMMA pic.twitter.com/RFMOAMstkN

— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) June 2, 2025

Watch out for some new tricks from Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316.

Dvalishvili looks to defend his bantamweight title in a rematch against Sean O’Malley at UFC 316 on Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Longtime friend and teammate Aljamain Sterling recently revealed that “The Machine” is extremely good at acting hurt from body shots. Dvalishvili’s acting was so convincing that his sparring partner and Sterling both became concerned during one training session. However, as the partner approached Dvalishvili, probably with his guard down, the bantamweight champ unleashed his hands and started laughing.

“We’ll hit Merab to the body, and he’ll fake that he’s hurt,” Sterling said on “The Weekly Scraps” podcast. “And he’ll sell it —…