Jon Jones, the undefeated heavyweight champion, is making waves in the UFC world after his latest TKO victory over Stipe Miocic. However, Jones is causing controversy by refusing to fight interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and is instead demanding to challenge light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, stating his desire to face "dangerous established champions." The UFC president Dana White has expressed interest in making the fight happen, but Jones is prepared to retire if his demands are not met, adding to the drama surrounding the potential matchup. As fans and experts debate over what should be next for Jones, one thing is certain: he holds all the power in this negotiation.
Brazilian UFC fighter Charles Oliveira is determined to become a champion and will not be picky about who he faces in order to achieve that goal. After his impressive win over Michael Chandler at UFC 309, Oliveira has his sights set on the lightweight championship belt. He has previously fought both Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan, making him a potential contender for the winner of their upcoming match. Despite a split decision loss to Tsarukyan in the past, Oliveira is focused on reaching his ultimate goal and is eager to prove himself as the best in the lightweight division.
At the age of 41, Jim Miller submits Damon Jackson in the first round at UFC 309, securing his 27th win with the promotion and extending his record for most wins. Jackson retires after the fight, leaving his gloves in the cage, while Miller proves that age is just a number in the world of UFC. Despite his long tenure with the promotion, Miller shows no signs of slowing down with three wins in his last four fights.
At UFC 309, President-Elect Donald Trump was seen in attendance alongside other high-profile celebrities such as Elon Musk, Robert Kennedy Jr., and more. Along the way to his seat, Trump even shared a handshake with WWE's Triple H, cementing his longstanding connection with the wrestling organization. Trump's continued support for UFC and his focus on promoting hypermasculine tones align with his political strategies and appeal to male voters. This was not the first time Trump has been involved with UFC and it seems that his ties to the sport will continue even during his presidency.
Despite his victory at UFC 309, Bo Nickal did not impress in his bout against Paul Craig, according to Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier. The former NCAA wrestling star showed caution and did not utilize his takedown skills, leading the crowd to chant "overrated." While Nickal has the potential to reach the top in MMA, he needs more time to develop before facing a fighter like Khamzat Chimaev.
UFC fighter Marlon "Chito" Vera criticizes the upcoming bout between Mike Tyson and YouTuber Jake Paul, declaring it a "shit show" and questioning Tyson's decision to return to the ring at his age. Vera compares the mismatched fight to his own bout with a much older opponent, emphasizing the potential for unnecessary damage to be done to the aging Tyson. Despite its popularity and promotion, the fight continues to draw criticism from within the sports community, including from UFC boss Dana White.
UFC legend Conor McGregor was seen in the crowd at St James' Park as Arsenal suffered a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday. The Gunners' winless run in the Premier League continued, leaving them seven points behind league leaders Liverpool and below Nottingham Forest in fourth place. McGregor, who has been a regular at Arsenal games this season, was in town ahead of his Bareknuckle event and was playfully mocked by the Magpies on Instagram following their win.
UFC 310 was dealt a blow as Belal Muhammad, the welterweight champion, announced he would no longer be able to compete against Shavkat Rakhmonov on December 7 due to a bone infection in his foot. Muhammad shared the news on his Instagram, along with photos of his injury. It is uncertain if Rakhmonov will remain on the card, but the top contender has expressed his willingness to fight anyone for an interim title. Wishing Muhammad a speedy recovery, Rakhmonov is ready to take on any contender for the interim title at UFC 310.
At UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, fan favorites Max Holloway and Robert Whittaker both lost their fights. Ilia Topuria retained the featherweight title by knocking out Holloway in the second round of their match. The crowd in Abu Dhabi was in a frenzy as Topuria celebrated his victory with soccer star Sergio Ramos. Topuria's next match could potentially be against Alexander Volkanovski for a rematch or Diego Lopes, while Holloway's future in fighting remains uncertain.
A closely contested fight between Magomedov and Petrosyan took an unexpected turn when Magomedov pulled off a jaw-dropping double spinning back fist. The move stunned Petrosyan and led to a KO victory for the one-eyed Russian fighter. Fans couldn't stop raving about the mind-blowing move and some even called it the equivalent of Kamaru Usman's KO over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261. However, some fans also pointed out that Magomedov needs to work on his defense if he wants to take on top 10 fighters in the future.