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Jimmy Flick Hopes to Receive New Contract After UFC 297 Victory

Jimmy Flick believes — or at least hopes — that his UFC 297 win over Malcolm Gordon was enough to save his job.

Flick took on an overweight Gordon to start off the UFC 297 action in Toronto on Saturday. “The Brick” endured frenetic pressure and pace from Gordon in the first round and came from behind to score a second-round submission victory via arm triangle. The win allowed the grappling ace to snap a two-fight skid.

Flick subsequently revealed that it was the last fight on his UFC contract which he now hopes will be extended.

“Coming out like that with the fans against me, the guy didn’t make the weight, everything was against me,” Flick said during a post-fight media scrum. “If I lost tonight, I feel like I was going to lose my job, and I was going back to find a new job. That’s not what I wanted, so this means the world to me.”

“I am 2-2 in the UFC — four fights and never hit the scorecards and don’t plan on hitting the scorecards.…

Ian Garry Mocks Sean Strickland After Loss in UFC 297 Headliner

Reaction: Strickland vs Du Plessis pic.twitter.com/eFQVSIy58O

— “The Future” Ian Machado Garry (@iangarryMMA) January 21, 2024

Ian Garry didn’t miss an opportunity to mock Sean Strickland following his loss at UFC 297.

Strickland went to battle against Dricus Du Plessis in Saturday’s main event, losing via split decision in a bout that earned “Fight of the Night” honors. The fight was competitive enough that many observers thought it could have gone in Strickland’s favor.

However, Garry was unimpressed with the UFC 297 headliner.

“The f—ing state of this,” Garry said in a video posted on social media. “Zero technique. Slugging it out. Oh my God. I feel like I’m watching two amateurs fight. Oh my God. If I ever have a fight like that, please tell me to retire.”

Garry’s jab at Strickland isn’t entirely unprovoked, as the former middleweight champ initiated the rivalry by repeatedly calling the Irishman a “c—k”…

Amanda Nunes Won’t Rule Out UFC Return: ‘I Still Feel Like a Champion’

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While Amanda Nunes is definitely enjoying her retirement, a return to the Octagon isn’t totally out of the realm of possibility.

The former women’s two-division champion announced her retirement this past June following a victory over Irene Aldana at UFC 289, vacating both of her belts in the process.

Nunes was in attendance at UFC 297 on Saturday as Raquel Pennington earned a decision victory against Mayra Bueno Silva to win the vacant bantamweight strap. While “The Lioness” didn’t feel bad watching a new champ getting crowned, it was certainly a mixture of emotions.

“I was nervous [watching the title fight],” she said on the UFC 297 post-fight show on ESPN+. “I don’t know why, but I was very nervous. It was mixed feelings. I was happy and sad. When I saw ‘Rocky’ with the belt, I was OK. I wasn’t upset or anything like that.

“I think I did the right decision retiring, resting a little bit. Taking care of the babies. C…

Dana White Defends Sean Strickland’s Anti-LGBTQ Rant at UFC 297 Media Day

UFC CEO Dana White is taking the stance that he refuses to curtail freedom of speech even for Sean Strickland, who is known for voicing his unfiltered opinions on controversial topics.

Strickland has both received criticism and gained popularity over the years for his unabashed comments about women, gun control and the LGBTQ community, among other topics. Ahead of his recent UFC 297 title clash against Dricus Du Plessis, Strickland went on a profanity-filled rant directed at the LGBTQ community during media day in Toronto.

While such comments would have undoubtedly warranted a fine or suspension in most major sports leagues, White refuses to take away the freedom of expression. The UFC CEO claims to have had “zero” conversation with broadcast partners of sponsors regarding Strickland’s recent tirade. White also put the blame on the reporter, who he claims “baited” Strickland by asking if he stood by his previous comments on the LGBTQ community.

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Dana White Denies That Conor McGregor Will Return in June

While Conor McGregor may claim otherwise, UFC CEO Dana White says the Irish star won’t be returning to action in June.

McGregor hasn’t fought since July 2021, when he suffered a broken leg in a trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. The Irishman served as rival coach against Michael Chandler on “The Ultimate Fighter 31,” and the two were initially supposed to clash by end of 2023. However, the bout never came to fruition.

The former UFC two-division champion most recently announced that he will be returning to action during the International Fight Week on June 29 against Chandler at 185 pounds.

However, White shut down the possibility of McGregor returning in June during the UFC 297 post-fight press conference on Saturday night.

“Uuuuh, no. When Conor is ready to fight, you know we’ll announce it,” White said. “That’s what we’ll do.”

Raquel Pennington Wants a Couple Title Defenses, ‘Then That’s a Wrap for Me’

The finish line could be in sight for 18-time UFC veteran Raquel Pennington.

But first, she has a couple more goals to accomplish.

Pennington captured the vacant women’s bantamweight title with a clear-cut unanimous decision victory over Mayra Bueno Silva in the UFC 297 co-main at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Saturday night. Shortly after that victory, she set her sights on a matchup with Julianna Pena, who was unable to compete for the vacant belt on Saturday due to injury.

For Pennington, a showdown with Pena carries a little extra meaning.

“That’s the fight that makes sense. I honestly thought that, for the world title, it would be me and Julianna, but she’s still injured,” Pennington said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference.

“That relationship goes back to 2013 when we were both on ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’ Let’s just say I learned Julianna’s personality then. It’s kind of one of those ones where you’re your own per…

Du Plessis Targets Adesanya for First Title Defense: ‘That’s the Fight Fans Want to See’

Dricus Du Plessis knew the scorecards were going to be close, but he was confident he did enough get the nod against Sean Strickland in the UFC 297 headliner.

“It was a close fight, make no mistake – but I thought I had it. When that split decision came, I thought, ‘This is, 100 percent, 50-50.’ When they said ‘And new …,’ it felt like 15 years of work and sacrifice together in one single sentence. It feels surreal. It’s amazing,” Du Plessis said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference.

“I thought I did enough to win the fight. It definitely was a close fight. He won the first round and I made the necessary adjustments. … At the end of the day, I went toe-to-toe with the self-proclaimed best boxer in the UFC.”

Strickland got off to a strong start behind his jab, but Du Plessis got better as the fight progressed, mixing in takedowns with his striking to keep his opponent off balance. Ultimately, that was enough for the South African to win a c…

Former Lightweight Champ Frankie Edgar to Be Inducted in UFC Hall of Fame

Frankie Edgar was announced as the first UFC Hall of Fame inductee for the class of 2024 on Saturday night.

Edgar was in attendance at UFC 297 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, where he was greeted with the surprise announcement. The former UFC lightweight champ was seen wiping away tears as the whole arena gave him a standing ovation.

“Frankie Edgar is one of the greatest athletes in UFC history,” UFC CEO Dana White said in a press release. “Frankie had an amazing career and consistently fought the best athletes in the world across multiple weight classes for more than 15 years. He is a legend, and it will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame as part of International Fight Week this summer.”

Edgar’s induction ceremony will take place during the International Fight Week this summer in Las Vegas and will be streamed live on UFC Fight Pass. Edgar will be inducted as part of the UFC Hall of Fame “Modern Era” which includes athl…

Jasmine Jasudavicius Wanted to ‘Torture’ Priscila Cachoeira for Weight Fiasco

Jasmine Jasudavicius really wanted to punish Priscila Cachoeira during their UFC 297 clash.

Jasudavicius was originally scheduled to face Cachoeira at flyweight but was told a day before the weigh-ins that the Brazilian couldn’t make weight. Jasudavicius let her coaches make the call, and they agreed to a bantamweight clash.

However, the Canadian was upset at her opponent’s lack of professionalism and wanted to “torture” her going into the clash. Jasudavicius put on a record-breaking beating on Cachoeira en route to a third-round submission victory in front of her home fans in Toronto. Jasudavicius outlanded her opponent 326-26 in total strikes, which is the biggest strike differential in UFC women’s bantamweight history.

“The entire time that I was in there I was just trying to beat her up, man,” Jasudavicious told reporters after the win. “It pissed me off, that weight discrepancy man. The thing that she did with the weight, it pissed me of…

Carlos Vera to Replace Brady Hiestand Against Rinya Nakamura at UFC 298

Undefeated Japanese prospect Rinya Nakamura has a new opponent for his next Octagon assignment.

Nakamura was originally scheduled to take on Brady Hiestand at UFC 298 on Feb. 17 in Anaheim, California. However, Carlos Vera will now replace an injured Hiestand and face Nakamura on less than a month’s notice. MMAjunkie.com was first to report the new matchup.

“Hybrid” made his professional MMA debut in 2021. Nakamura went on to win the “Road to UFC” tournament in 2022, scoring three finishes in as many outings. The 28-year-old is fresh off a decision win over Fernie Garcia at UFC Fight Night 225 in August.

Meanwhile, the 36-year-old Vera was supposed to make his UFC debut against Daniel Marcos back in December 2022, but was the bout fell through due to Marcos’ visa issues. Vera then competed on “The Ultimate Fighter 31” as a part of team Conor McGregor last year, where he lost a decision in the opening round against Brad Katona. As “TUF” outin…

UFC 297 Bonuses: Sean Strickland, Dricus du Plessis Deliver Fight of the Night

Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis delivered a banger of a title fight in the UFC 297 headliner at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

The two will walk home with an extra $50,000 each for going to war in their middleweight title clash, which earned “Fight of the Night” honors. Strickland’s jab looked on point from the very beginning, while du Plessis struggled to find his footing in the opening round. However, the South African challenger started making adjustments as the fight progressed, putting the champ on his backfoot with his signature pace and volume. While Strickland was leaking near the left eye by the end of the fight, du Plessis’ left eye was almost closed. “Stillknocks” eventually edged out a closely-contested split decision to be crowned the new UFC middleweight champ.

UFC 297 only saw two performance bonuses being handed out, with Canadian women winning both.

Jasmine Jasudavicius earned a $50,000 bonus for a record-breaking beatdown of P…

Dricus Du Plessis Dethrones Sean Strickland in UFC Fight Night 297 Main Event

Dricus Du Plessis planted his flag at the top of the mountain.

The 30-year-old South African captured the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight crown with a hard-fought split decision over Sean Strickland in the UFC 297 headliner on Saturday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. All three cageside judges scored it 48-47: Sal D’Amato for Strickland, Derek Cleary and Eric Colon for Du Plessis.

It was close for the duration. Strickland (28-6, 15-6 UFC) operated behind his potent jab and took away the challenger’s low kicks with exquisite defense. Du Plessis (21-2, 7-0 UFC) struck for takedowns in the first second and fourth rounds, opened multiple cuts with clubbing blows upstairs and made it a point to advance on his upright adversary whenever possible. He did his best work in Round 4, where he executed multiple takedowns and drew blood with a lunging straight right hand. Strickland kept his foot on the accelerator across the last five minutes, paired his jab …

UFC 297 ‘Strickland vs. Du Plessis’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Strap in fight fans, as we guide you through the exhilarating action in store with UFC 297, unfolding live from the electrifying Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. This is your front-row seat to a night of epic fights and potential jaw-dropping moments.

We're back in Canada with UFC 297, featuring a main event clash between middleweight champion Sean Strickland and the explosive Dricus Du Plessis.

The co-main event is a showdown for the vacant bantamweight title, as the relentless Raquel Pennington squares off against the dynamic Mayra Bueno Silva. Pennington's five-fight win streak faces a formidable challenge in Silva, whose recent performances have propelled her as a rising force in the division.

Don't miss a moment of the excitement: Join us for the prelims at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by the main card at 10 p.m. ET. Stick with Sherdog for live play-by-play updates, ensuring you won't miss a beat as UFC 297 unfolds in all its glory.

BETTING PREVIEW…

UFC 297 Prelims: Garrett Armfield Upends Favored Brad Katona in Toronto

Garrett Armfield proved he belongs, and he did so in hostile territory.

The Marathon MMA representative took a significant step forward in the Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight division, as he outstruck two-time “The Ultimate Fighter” winner Brad Katona to a unanimous decision in their featured UFC 297 prelim on Saturday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Armfield (10-3, 2-1 UFC) swept the scorecards with matching 29-28 marks.

Katona (13-3, 3-3 UFC) had issues getting in gear initially. Armfield called upon an effective jab and multi-punch volleys, all while keeping the Canadian honest with well-disguised kicks, and appeared to have built a narrow lead through two rounds. Katona turned up the heat in Round 3, where he executed multiple takedowns and overwhelmed his opponent with pace and output. By the time it was over, Armfield was gasping for air but had done enough to curry favor with the judges.

The setback closed the book on Katona’s r…

Arek Wrzosek Lamps Ivan Vitasovic in Short-Lived KSW 90 Headliner

WOW!!! 🇵🇱 Arek Wrzosek KO's Ivan Vitasovic!!

He passes the test!! XTB #KSW90 pic.twitter.com/5sPMPbDJlF

— KSW (@KSW_MMA) January 20, 2024

The first Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki card of the year didn’t disappoint as eight out of 10 fights ended within the distance in Warsaw, Poland.

Glory Kickboxing 2021 knockout of the year winner Arkadiusz Wrzosek closed KSW 90 with a 54-second knockout over Ivan Vitasovic in the main event. Wrzosek (4-0) exploded onto the KSW scene since signing with the organization in 2022. Vitasovic, a Croatian heavyweight champion, was expected to be his toughest test but that hypothesis proved shaky after he was dropped seconds into the fight. Vitasovic reached his feet but was followed around the cage as Wrzosek beat him. Despite his inexperience in mixed martial arts, Wrzosek is quickly rising up the ranks as a big man to watch.

One of the fastest KO's in KSW histo…

Cris ‘Cyborg’ Wants to Fight Kayla Harrison Before Facing Larissa Pacheco

Bellator women's featherweight champion Cris Cyborg is willing to fight the reigning Professional Fighters League women’s featherweight and lightweight champion Larissa Pacheco — but only after a showdown with Kayla Harrison.

Following PFL’s acquisition of Bellator MMA, founder Don Davis implied that the promotion would look to match Cyborg with Pacheco in a champ vs. champ meeting. However, the PFL vs Bellator Champs card slated for Feb. 24 has all champions competing except Pacheco and Cyborg.

According to the former UFC champion, a meeting with Harrison is a top priority, especially considering the verbal back-and-forth the two have engaged in over the last few years.

“I don’t have any problem fighting Larissa Pacheco, she’s the champion, but we’ve been promoting this fight against Kayla Harrison for three years,” Cyborg told MMAjunkie.com. “You can use the opportunity after this fight to promote for Larissa... I think everyone is waiti…

Anton Turkalj to Face Ibo Aslan at UFC Atlantic City on March 30

A light heavyweight clash between former regional foes Anton Turkalj and Ibo Aslan has been booked for the UFC Atlantic City event on March 30.

The news was first announced by Turkalj's coach on the Kaftsmallspodden podcast, and the date was confirmed by Aslan on social media.

Prior to making their way to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Turkalj and Aslan faced each other under the Brave Combat Federation banner in Aug 2020 at Brave CF 40. The catchweight meeting ended with a Round 2 submission victory for Turkalj and marked the end of Aslan's undefeated run as a professional.

Since then, Aslan (12-1) has racked up a four-fight winning streak, most recently securing a contract with the UFC following a Round 1 technical knockout victory against Paulo Renato Jr. in an appearance on Dana White's Contender Series in August.

On the other hand, Turkalj (8-3), who also made his way to the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series, is c…

Ariane Lipski vs. Karine Silva Booked for UFC Fight Night Event on April 27

A flyweight meeting between Ariane Lipski and Dana White's Contender Series alum Karine Silva is set for a UFC Fight Night event on April 27.

The pairing was subsequently confirmed by Silva on social media following an initial report from MMA Hoje. Other bouts for the card are yet to be revealed.

Lipski (17-8) will enter the bout on the back of a successful 2023 that saw the Brazilian rack up consecutive victories against the likes of J.J Aldrich, Melissa Gato, and most recently, Casey O'Neil at UFC 296 in December.

Meanwhile, Silva (17-4) is currently undefeated in the Las Vegas-based promotion and is on a three-fight winning streak, with all victories coming by way of finish in the first round. All of Silva’s 17 professional wins have been secured within distance. “Killer” most recently walked away with a guillotine choke victory at the 4:59 mark of the first frame against Maryna Moroz at UFC 292.

Yusuke Yachi vs. Kyung Pyo Kim Among Seven Bouts Added to Rizin Landmark Vol. 8

Rizin Fighting Federation has announced the addition of multiple bouts to the upcoming Landmark Vol. 8 card a little more than a month away from the highly-anticipated event.

Per a press release provided by the organization on Friday, seven mixed martial arts bouts along with one kickboxing match have been added to the card scheduled to take place at the Saga Arena in Japan on Feb. 24.

Matchups added to the card include a lightweight clash between Yusuke Yachi (25-13) and Kyung Pyo Kim (13-4). Yachi, a veteran of the promotion, is currently on a two-fight winning streak having secured a decision win against Boyd Allen at Rizin 39 in October 2022 followed by a Round 1 submission victory against Zach Zane at Rizin 43 in June 2023.

Meanwhile, Pyo Kim is also currently on a two-fight winning streak in the promotion with both wins coming in the first frame of the respective bouts. The South Korean first secured a Round 1 submission in his promoti…

UFC 297 Weigh-in Results: 2 Fighters Heavy

[embedded content] The Ultimate Fighting Championship hosts its first pay-per-view event of 2024 this weekend.

Atop the UFC 297 card is a middleweight title clash between champion Sean Strickland and No. 1 contender Dricus Du Plessis. Both fighters successfully made weight, as did Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva, who will vie for the vacant bantamweight title. There were two weight misses as Malcolm Gordon came in 1.5 pounds over the flyweight limit for his fight against Jimmy Flick, and would-be bantamweight Ramon Taveras weighed 139.75 pounds for his scheduled scrap versus Serhiy Sidey. Both men will be fined a percentage of their purses as a result.

Strickland (28-5) is coming off a shocking upset of Israel Adesanya. Over five rounds, Strickland outpointed "The Last Stylebender" with his jab and solid fundamentals. "Tarzan" is now on a three-fight win streak, having also outclassed Abusupiyan Magomedov and Nassourdine Imavov. The American…

Source: Luke Lessei, Eddie Abasolo Muay Thai Bout Added to One Fight Night 19

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ONE Fight Night 19 is shaping up to be a scintillating card with the addition of a 155-pound muay thai clash between promotional newcomer Luke Lessei and muay thai veteran Eddie Abasolo, Sherdog.com has learned.

The two will face each other in a three-round affair on the Feb. 16 card, which goes down at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok and will be headlined by a 145-pound muay thai clash between reigning champion Jonathan Haggerty and top contender Felipe Lobo.

Lessei will enter the bout on the heels of a tightly-contested loss against Jo Natawutt in his promotional debut at ONE Fight Night 17 in December 2023.

Meanwhile, Abasolo will also look to rebound after dropping a competitive loss against muay thai legend Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong at ONE Friday Fights 22 in June 2023.

Before the loss to Sitsongpeenong, the 37-year-old recorded a Round 2 knockout of Niclas Larsen at One on Prime Video 8 in March 2023.

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Andre Fili Steps In Against Dan Ige at UFC Fight Night 236 in February

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has found a replacement for its lost co-headliner on Feb. 10.

MMA Junkie first broke the news on Friday that Andre Fili (23-10, 1 NC) would be stepping in for Lerone Murphy at UFC Fight Night 236 on Feb. 10. The veteran featherweight will be facing Dan Ige (17-7) at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on that date, likely still in the co-main event slot. This pairing has since been confirmed by other outlets.

“Touchy” Fili returned to the win column in December by knocking out Lucas Almeida in the first round at UFC 296. The Team Alpha Male product has not put a win or losing streak together since 2019 when he won two straight against Myles Jury and Sheymon Moraes. As he has pinballed around the featherweight ladder, Fili has beaten the likes of Bill Algeo and Charles Jourdain but come up short against names like Nathaniel Wood and Bryce Mitchell.

Hawaii’s Ige saw his own win streak come to a close in September 2023 when Mitchell picke…

Anderson Silva Brokenhearted Over Diego Braga’s Death: ‘See You One Day, Brother’

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship great Anderson Silva is crestfallen about the death of his friend, Diego Braga.

The Brazilian mixed martial arts community was shocked by the killing of former MMA fighter Diego Braga on Monday. The news spread all across televised news broadcasts, opening another chapter of the criminal territory dispute between militias and narco criminals in Rio de Janeiro. A litany of famed names in the sport attended the fighter’s funeral on Wednesday at the Jardim da Saudade Cemetery.

In addition to son Gabriel Braga, a Professional Fighters League finalist in 2023, others in attendance included Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Davi Ramos, Gustavo Machado and Anderson Silva. The UFC legend, who had trained muay thai with Braga in his last MMA fights, was devastated and declined to speak to the press. Instead, “The Spider” published a lengthy message on his Instagram in honor of his fallen friend and condemned authorities for the i…

‘Conan’ Silveira Invites Gabriel Braga to Train at American Top Team

Professional Fighters League competitor Gabriel Braga is receiving support from much of the MMA community after the death of his father.

Less than a day after his father, Diego Braga, was killed in Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Braga was officially confirmed on the inaugural PFL vs. Bellator MMA event in Saudi Arabia. Braga is scheduled to take on Bellator standout Aaron Pico at 145 pounds in Riyadh on Feb. 24. Many teammates and competitors have wondered if Braga can compete with a clear mind, given that his father primarily trained Braga. To help him prepare for the matchup—providing it stays together—Marcus Silveira, the head of American Top Team, told Sherdog that he has offered to train the 25-year-old for his upcoming engagement.

“Gabriel and Joshua [Silveira] fought on the same card for the whole 2023 season,” the coach noted. “And thanks to that and, obviously the fact that me and Diego were former vale tudo fighters helping our sons to keep our road and go beyond […

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