Author: mmafighting
When Tony Ferguson vs. Paddy Pimblett was announced for UFC 296, Alan Jouban felt like the promotion was feeding an old lion to a young, hungry up and comer seeking to build his name off a legend. On paper that assessment made perfect sense. Ferguson has lost his last six fights in a row — four by knockout or submission — while Pimblett holds a perfect 4-0 record in the UFC and he’s one of the fastest rising stars on the roster. It wasn’t until he really started breaking down the fight that Jouban understood the method behind the madness…
Leon Edwards already knows what to expect from Colby Covington in the days leading up to their main event fight at UFC 296. Known as one of the loudest trash talkers in the sport, Covington rarely misses a chance to take shots at his opponents, and his verbal onslaught will likely only ramp up as Saturday’s card draws nearer. But as much as Covington may want to get under Edwards’ skin, the reigning UFC welterweight champion promises that nothing said to him ahead of the fight will ultimately affect its outcome. “I just ignore it,” Edwards told MMA Fighting. “It’s…
Ian Machado Garry has been the talk of the MMA world this past month but not for his fighting abilities. UFC 296 fight week is officially underway and the event will close out the promotion’s 2023 calendar in Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night. The featured bout atop the billing sees the return of the defending welterweight champion Leon Edwards, who looks to fend off two-time title challenger Colby Covington. Before the battle for gold goes down in the octagon, several other notable 170-pound contenders will look to advance their positions within the weight class, including Ireland’s Garry. The…
The full lineup for the UFC 296 fight card featuring Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington is official for Saturday in Las Vegas. Edwards defends his welterweight title against former interim welterweight champ Covington, who fights for the first time since a March 2022 win over Jorge Masvidal. Covington weighed in as a backup fighter for Edwards’ trilogy win over ex-champ Kamaru Usman at UFC 286. UFC 296 takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The venue has hosted three previous UFC fight cards this year. The event’s pay-per-view card airs on ESPN+ pay-per-view while prelims air on ESPN2, ESPN+…
Anthony Joshua’s longtime promoter claims to have had plenty of interest in booking Joshua against Francis Ngannou after the former UFC heavyweight champion nearly defeated Tyson Fury in his professional boxing debut. Unfortunately, according to Matchroom Sport headman Eddie Hearn, that interest went unrequited. “I reached out to Francis Ngannou’s team and I said, ‘Just to let you know, we’re up for discussing the Francis Ngannou [vs.] AJ fight. I never heard back from them,” Hearn said Monday on The MMA Hour. “So I think probably, knowing the business, I would say that probably Fury-Ngannou is almost probably agreed to…
Shavkat Rakhmonov doesn’t need a win over Stephen Thompson to feel like he’s worthy of a UFC title shot. In his mind, he’s already there. The undefeated Rakhmonov fights “Wonderboy” this Saturday at UFC 296 with a championship opportunity potentially on the line. Since making his UFC debut in 2020, Rakhmonov has run roughshod over the welterweight division, finishing all five of his opponents. A win over two-time title challenger Thompson could make him next in line to face the winner of Saturday’s main event between champion Leon Edwards and Colby Covington. That being said, Rakhmonov and his manager made…
The usual trio of Jon Anik, Joe Rogan, and Daniel Cormier will call the action on the UFC’s final pay-per-view event of the year. Multiple people with knowledge of the promotion’s plans confirmed with MMA Fighting that Rogan and Cormier will join Anik on the broadcast team for UFC 296, which takes place this Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. UFC veteran Din Thomas will also tag in for analysis throughout the event. Megan Olivi will also serve as the roving reporter, and will conduct pre and post-fight interviews. Michael Eaves will host the desk, and will be…
Colby Covington isn’t impressed with Sean Strickland’s shtick. “Chaos” has become as well-known for his headline-grabbing quotes as he has his impressive in-cage accomplishments over the past few years, the combination of which has positioned him for another crack at a welterweight title when he challenges Leon Edwards at UFC 296 this Saturday in Las Vegas. Ahead of that grudge match, Covington spoke to CODE Sports, who asked the fighter for his thoughts on another fighter with a devil-may-care attitude on the mic, UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland. “He’s pretending to be everything he wishes I was,” Covington said. “I’d…
Song Yadong and Khalil Rountree closed the final UFC Fight Night event of 2023 off with important wins, and callouts for even bigger fights, including the surging light heavyweight shooting his shot at Alex Pereira and the chance to become UFC light heavyweight champion. Will either Song — with his callout of former bantamweight champ Petr Yan — or Rountree get what they want? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss what could be next for Song following his main event decision win over Chris Gutierrez. Additionally, future…
The Mixed Martial Arts Hour is back in your life! Below is a rundown of Monday’s show, which begins at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. UK time. 1 p.m. ET: Recapping the weekend with UFC APEX 83, Prograis vs. Haney and PFL Europe. 1:40 p.m.: PFL Europe champ Dakota Ditcheva reflects on her big win this past weekend. 2 p.m.: UFC welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov previews his UFC 296 fight with Stephen Thompson. 2:25 p.m.: ONE Championship kickboxing titleholder Jonathan Di Bella joins us in studio. 3:05 p.m.: Matchroom Boxing Chairman Eddie Hearn reflects on Prograis…