Beneil Dariush: Belal Muhammad Capable of Striking with Jack Della Maddalena

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Beneil Dariush doesn’t think Belal Muhammad will be at a striking disadvantage against Jack Della Maddalena.

Muhammad puts his welterweight title on the line against Maddalena in the main event at UFC 315 on May 10 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. While Muhammad was initially expected to face the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov, “Nomad” reportedly couldn’t accept the matchup due to an injury.

While Muhammad’s grappling skill is well known, some believe Maddalena can outstrike the champ on the feet. However, Dariush, an ace grappler himself, disagrees. The Assyrian-American believes Muhammad’s skill set is still generally underestimated. According to Dairush, “Remember the Name” not only has a huge wrestling advantage over Maddalena but can also stand up with the Australian for as long as he wants.

“Belal is so good. I think people need to start recognizing his skillset,” Dariush told Submission Radio. “I think he has a big adv…

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Dominick Reyes Believes He’s ‚One Away‘ from Second UFC Title Shot

When Dominick Reyes began his current winning streak a little less than a year ago, it was a feel-good moment in the Octagon.

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Now that he’s been able to string three consecutive finishes together, Reyes is more than just a heartwarming redemption story — he’s a genuine light heavyweight contender once again.

“Every opportunity in the Octagon is its own little universe. It really is,” Reyes said in a backstage interview with the UFC. “The losses are completely devastating. The wins are everything. In this organization, every single win means everything — whether you’re barely working your way up the ladder or not — because once you get knocked down a couple rungs it’s really hard to build back up.

“I’m literally on my second UFC run, and the first one felt really good but this one feels just a little bit better because I did fall all the way down. And now I’m on the rise. One away from the title.”

Reyes secured arguably his most impressive vic…

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Patricio Freire Says He’s ‚Injury Free,‘ Targets Return at International Fight Week

Patricio Freire’s highly-anticipated Ultimate Fighting Championship debut didn’t go as planned, but the Brazilian is already looking forward to his next Octagon appearance.

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The former Bellator MMA two-division champion struggled to pull the trigger against Yair Rodriguez, as he lost a clear-cut unanimous decision in a featured featherweight bout at UFC 314 on Saturday night. “Pitbull” has lost three of his last four professional outings overall.

“Congratulations to [Yair Rodriguez] we’ll see each other again. I’m injury free and ready to go at any time. Thank you to all the fans, I’ll make you all proud, you can count on that,” Freire wrote.

Congratulations to @panteraufc, we’ll see each other again. I’m injury free and ready to go at any time @ufc. Thank you to all the fans, I’ll make you all proud, you can count on that. #UFC314

— Patricio Pitbull (@PatricioPitbull) April 13, 2025

Since he is healthy, Freire h…

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Alexander Volkanovski Would ‚Love to Take That Zero‘ from Movsar Evloev

While Movsar Evloev might not be a favorite of UFC brass, Alexander Volkanovski seems more than willing to give the Russian his championship opportunity.

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Volkanovski began his second reign as featherweight king when he defeated Diego Lopes via unanimous decision in the UFC 314 headliner to capture the vacant belt at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Saturday night. The 36-year-old Aussie defied age and survived a couple perilous moments to outduel a game Lopes, who had won five straight Octagon appearances entering the bout.

“I feel like he was there to be hit. I feel like I could’ve done a lot more. I just didn’t pull the trigger as much as I’d like – even though there were shots, I just stick out the jab, and it was right there. I could’ve done a lot more, but I’m my hardest critic,” Volkanovski said at the post-fght press conference.

“I’ll watch it back, and then we’ll see, but obviously everyone kind of counting me out, ‘Oh, is he done?’ Obvio…
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Finalized PFL Europe Belfast Card Includes McGrillen-Philpott Co-Main Event

The lineup for PFL Europe Belfast is now complete.

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The promotion on Monday announced the full card for the event, which takes place at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Ireland on May 10. In addition to a previously-confirmed headliner between Paul Hughes and Bruno Miranda, PFL Europe 1 will also see Lewis McGrillen-Evans square off against Alan Philpott in a bantamweight co-main event.

PFL Europe 1 will also feature the first four bouts of the eight-man lightweight tournament. The card will be broadcast via DAZN in Ireland and the U.K.

Additionally, several other showcase fights were announced on Monday: John Mitchell vs. Lorenzo Parente at lightweight; Haider Khan vs. Sean McCormac at middleweight; Gemma Auld vs. Sammy Jo Luxton at women's flyweight; Eoin Sheridan vs. Malichi Edwards at welterweight and Corey McLaughlin vs. Nahom Wedi at featherweight.

Hailing from Manchester, England, McGrillen has lost just once in 11 professional outings.…

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Arman Tsarukyan Issues Statement Amid Uncertainty Regarding Next Fight

Arman Tsarukyan is trying to maintain composure as his immediate future hangs in the balance.

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Tsarukyan was originally scheduled to challenge Islam Makhachev for the undisputed lightweight title at UFC 311 earlier this year. However, Tsarukyan was forced out due to a back injury a day before the fight and replaced by Renato Carneiro, who went on to suffer a first-round submission loss against Makhachev.

Dana White expressed his frustration with Tsarukyan and confirmed that “Ahalkalakets” wouldn’t getting the next lightweight title shot. There are also rumors that Tsarukyan pulled out on his own accord, and the UFC doctors didn’t suggest that he do so.

Currently at an unsure juncture about his immediate future, Tsarukyan is trying to stay patient and focus on training. The Russian also hinted that he was dealt an unfair hand, which he has accepted as a part of life. Having not fought in over a year now, Tsarukyan just wants to be ready when t…

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Paddy Pimblett Considers Fight IQ to Be Comparable to Jon Jones

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Paddy Pimblett has put himself on quite the pedestal in terms of fight IQ.

Pimblett scored the biggest win of his career so far by mauling Michael Chandler en route to a third-round TKO win at UFC 314 on Saturday. “The Baddy” believes he and his team’s game plan had a big role to play in the way he decimated Chandler. Pimblett considers his fight IQ to be comparable to Jon Jones, one of the greatest to have ever graced the Octagon.

While many believed Chandler could knock Pimblett out, the Liverpudlian also outstruck “Iron” on the feet. Pimblett said that he is so confident about his grappling that he has been solely focusing on his stand-up game for a while now.

“Me and my team, we got the best game planners that you can get. We’ve got the best fight IQ,” Pimblett said in a post-fight interview with the UFC. “And the only other person that I can compare to us with game plans as good as we do is Jon Jones. We do the best game plans, that’…

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Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales Moved to UFC Vegas 106 Headliner on May 17

Upgraded to five rounds! 🫡@GilbertDurinho vs Michael Morales is now your #UFCVegas106 main event! 👏 pic.twitter.com/4plVqAfxwh

— UFC (@ufc) April 13, 2025

Gilbert Burns and Michael Morales will now have five rounds with which to work.

The welterweight bout, which was originally scheduled for UFC 315 on May 10, has been moved to the main event of UFC Vegas 106 on May 17. The promotion announced the change during the UFC 314 broadcast on Saturday night. UFC Vegas 106 — also known as UFC Fight Night 256 — takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and also includes a light heavyweight tilt pitting Paul Craig against Rodolfo Bellato.

Burns is coming off successive losses to Belal Muhammad, Jack Della Maddalena and Sean Brady in his last three Octagon appearances. The Brazilian grappling ace is a former welterweight title challenger who owns notable wins over the likes of Demian Maia, Tyron Woodley, Stephen Thompson, Neil Magny and Jorge M…

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Yair Rodriguez: Grudge Match vs. Diego Lopes ‚Has to Happen at Some Point‘

While Yair Rodriguez was focused on a featherweight title shot after beating Patricio Freire at UFC 314, he’s well aware that another potential opponent has plenty of intrigue within the MMA community after events of this past week.

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During the UFC 314 pre-fight press conference, Rodriguez and Lopes were involved in a shouting match in Spanish. While the bad blood is believed to have involved Rodriguez training partner Marco Beltran and potentially, the Lobo Gym MMA team — where Lopes trains — the exact nature of the feud is unknown. Rodriguez acknowledged that a bout with Lopes, who lost a unanimous decision to Alexander Volkanovski in the UFC 314 main event, might have more interest within the MMA fanbase at the moment.

“In the eyes of the fans, of course, but if you ask me, if you’re in my position right now, the beef can stay aside for now,” Rodriguez said at the post-fight press conference. “The only thing that I’m looking for right now is figh…

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Paddy Pimblett Reacts to Backstage Confrontation with Colby Covington at UFC 314

It got heated backstage between Colby Covington and Paddy Pimblett at #UFC314 👀 pic.twitter.com/4ag6DQ1uEK

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 13, 2025

After earning the biggest win of his career to date, Paddy Pimblett found himself in a confrontation with an outspoken critic from another weight class.

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As Pimblett was conducting an interview backstage at the Kaseya Center in Miami, he was approached by UFC welterweight Colby Covington, who blasted the Englishman’s level of competition in the Octagon.

“You’re fighting scrubs,” Covington said in a video captured by ESPN. “Guys who are 2-6. You’re a bum. You beat guys who are 2-6, remember that. Remember that, you’re a scrub. ... You’re a fraud.”

Pimblett secured his seventh straight triumph on Saturday night, defeating Michael Chandler via third-round technical knockout in the UFC 314 co-main event. After the victory, “The Baddy” targeted matchups against the likes of Char…
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Alexander Volkanovski Reveals Vision Was Compromised by Diego Lopes Punch

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Alexander Volkanovski was admittedly in danger in his title fight against Diego Lopes.

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Volkanovski and Lopes clashed for the vacant featherweight title in the main event at UFC 314 on Saturday at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. While Lopes had his moments, Volkanovski appeared to be in his prime at 36 years of age while cruising to a unanimous decision win.

However, Volkanovski admitted that it wasn’t exactly an easy night at the office for him. “The Great” lost vision in his left eye due to a from a punch by Lopes. While Volkanovski isn’t sure when it happened, it was most likely an uppercut from Lopes in the fourth round that had the Australian clutching his eye.

“I completely lost vision in my left eye,” Volkanovski told Main Event TV. “It was a good shot and I just could not see. I was trying to get it back and it was completely gone. Slowly come back a little bit… I could at least see a little blur, which helped. S…

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Dana White ‚Probably In‘ to Be Best Man at Jean Silva’s Wedding

👰‍♀️ 🇧🇷 Dana White is down to be the best man at Jean Silva's wedding and to pay for the Brazilian singer that is out of Jean's pocket.

🎥 @ufc pic.twitter.com/Zya0eULoSk

— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) April 13, 2025

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Dana White seems to be on board for the Jean Silva hype train.

Silva is one of the most electrifying fighters on the UFC roster today. “Lord” submitted Bryce Mitchell at UFC 314 on Saturday, marking the Brazilian’s fifth finish in as many UFC outings.

Known to always put on a display, Mitchell celebrated his win with his signature barking while hanging on to the Octagon. However, Silva’s antics didn’t stop with his Octagon celebration. Silva passed on a message to White through a reporter. Silva offered White to be the best man at his wedding, provided the UFC CEO pays for the wedding singer. And White will likely oblige. While he is still waiting for a few more details, White admitted that he is up…

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