1 hr. ago
PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov had some choice words for the UFC's top-ranked lightweights.
Nurmagomedov (22-0) is a free agent after retaining his belt with a first-round knockout out Archie Colgan at PFL New York last month. The 28-year-old is looking to either re-sign with the PFL or ink a deal with the UFC.
Nurmagomedov has beaten all of PFL's top lightweights, including Paul Hughes twice. He disagrees with the notion that the best fighters are only in the UFC, and picked apart the current rankings and matchups that have taken place in the octagon.
"There's a narrative that if you don't compete in the UFC, you're not on that high level, and I don't agree with that," Nurmagomedov told Sport24 (h/t Red Corner MMA). "Just look at the guys who are in the UFC top 10. They just keep fighting each other and maintain their top-10 spots. Benoit Saint Denis, he was 4-0 then lost to Dustin Poirier, then he lost to (Renato) Moicano, and won three times after that, and then lost in the first round within 30 seconds (vs. Pimblett), but he's still in the top five, oddly enough.
"Pimblett lost to a 37-year-old veteran, but he's the No. 1 contender now, right? Or No. 2. 17-0 Topuria, who had been praising himself as the greatest, he lost, quit on the stool, saying he wasn't going to continue. Arman (Tsarukyan), he lost to (Mateusz) Gamrot, he lost to Islam (Makhachef). He is just waiting it out, fighting once a year and saying he's the best fighter in the world. While he fought twice, I defended my **** le four times. The UFC PR machine is very powerful. The brand is very solid, but I wouldn't say they all put on such great fights."
#pimblett #twice
Nurmagomedov (22-0) is a free agent after retaining his belt with a first-round knockout out Archie Colgan at PFL New York last month. The 28-year-old is looking to either re-sign with the PFL or ink a deal with the UFC.
Nurmagomedov has beaten all of PFL's top lightweights, including Paul Hughes twice. He disagrees with the notion that the best fighters are only in the UFC, and picked apart the current rankings and matchups that have taken place in the octagon.
"There's a narrative that if you don't compete in the UFC, you're not on that high level, and I don't agree with that," Nurmagomedov told Sport24 (h/t Red Corner MMA). "Just look at the guys who are in the UFC top 10. They just keep fighting each other and maintain their top-10 spots. Benoit Saint Denis, he was 4-0 then lost to Dustin Poirier, then he lost to (Renato) Moicano, and won three times after that, and then lost in the first round within 30 seconds (vs. Pimblett), but he's still in the top five, oddly enough.
"Pimblett lost to a 37-year-old veteran, but he's the No. 1 contender now, right? Or No. 2. 17-0 Topuria, who had been praising himself as the greatest, he lost, quit on the stool, saying he wasn't going to continue. Arman (Tsarukyan), he lost to (Mateusz) Gamrot, he lost to Islam (Makhachef). He is just waiting it out, fighting once a year and saying he's the best fighter in the world. While he fought twice, I defended my **** le four times. The UFC PR machine is very powerful. The brand is very solid, but I wouldn't say they all put on such great fights."
#pimblett #twice
4 hours ago
PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov hasn't entered the UFC yet, but he's already talking trash about the quality of opposition he may face when he gets there.
Nurmagomedov fought the last fight on his PFL contract last month, and recently revealed he turned down a $2 million per fight offer from the organization in order to wait out the 90 day exclusive negotiation period and see what other promotions might offer him. Promotions like the UFC, where he could finally get his due as one of the best lightweights in the world.
In an interview with Sport24, Usman pushed back on the idea that the top fighters are all in the UFC.
"They say if you don't fight in the UFC, it's not the same level. I disagree with this," he said. "Just look at the guys in the UFC who sit in the top 10 and they just fight amongst themselves and keep the top ten closed. For example, Benoit Saint Denis. Won 4, lost to Dustin Poirier, lost to 'Money' Moicano, lost 3 more. Lost in 30 seconds. [Michael] Chandler. Top 15. He's there. Lost to [Paddy] Pimblett."
"[Ilia] Topuria, who praised himself endlessly, lost. Quit on the stool. Said 'I don't wanna continue.' Arman [Tsarukyan] lost to [Mateusz] Gamrot, and he lost to Islam [Makhachev]. He sits, waits a year, fights once, and says that he is the best wrestler in the world. While he had two fights, I made four ****** le defenses."
#fight #promotions #best #World
Nurmagomedov fought the last fight on his PFL contract last month, and recently revealed he turned down a $2 million per fight offer from the organization in order to wait out the 90 day exclusive negotiation period and see what other promotions might offer him. Promotions like the UFC, where he could finally get his due as one of the best lightweights in the world.
In an interview with Sport24, Usman pushed back on the idea that the top fighters are all in the UFC.
"They say if you don't fight in the UFC, it's not the same level. I disagree with this," he said. "Just look at the guys in the UFC who sit in the top 10 and they just fight amongst themselves and keep the top ten closed. For example, Benoit Saint Denis. Won 4, lost to Dustin Poirier, lost to 'Money' Moicano, lost 3 more. Lost in 30 seconds. [Michael] Chandler. Top 15. He's there. Lost to [Paddy] Pimblett."
"[Ilia] Topuria, who praised himself endlessly, lost. Quit on the stool. Said 'I don't wanna continue.' Arman [Tsarukyan] lost to [Mateusz] Gamrot, and he lost to Islam [Makhachev]. He sits, waits a year, fights once, and says that he is the best wrestler in the world. While he had two fights, I made four ****** le defenses."
#fight #promotions #best #World
1 day ago
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let's start the night off by taking a look back over the three biggest stories of Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026.
Charles Oliveira shoots down UFC ****** le eliminators against Arman, Paddy Pimblett — 'I'm next in line … I can wait': Oliveira is extremely popular and accomplished, so a ****** le shot next is possible. But, Arman or Paddy could jump him with an impressive win, so this is a gamble.
Contender Series fighter who upset Bella Mir forced to cut celebration short — 'I have work in the morning': Given that this was only Alex Apodaca's fifth pro fight at 32 years of age, having another job makes a whole lot of sense!
UFC super prospect (and historic betting favorite) Bella Mir bloodied, beaten in biggest upset in Contender Series history: I do expect Bella Mir to bounce back from this in the long run (should she choose to focus on MMA moving forward).
#paddy
Let's start the night off by taking a look back over the three biggest stories of Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026.
Charles Oliveira shoots down UFC ****** le eliminators against Arman, Paddy Pimblett — 'I'm next in line … I can wait': Oliveira is extremely popular and accomplished, so a ****** le shot next is possible. But, Arman or Paddy could jump him with an impressive win, so this is a gamble.
Contender Series fighter who upset Bella Mir forced to cut celebration short — 'I have work in the morning': Given that this was only Alex Apodaca's fifth pro fight at 32 years of age, having another job makes a whole lot of sense!
UFC super prospect (and historic betting favorite) Bella Mir bloodied, beaten in biggest upset in Contender Series history: I do expect Bella Mir to bounce back from this in the long run (should she choose to focus on MMA moving forward).
#paddy
7 days ago
Max Holloway may lose a portion of his fight purse following his UFC 329 victory over Conor McGregor — and he's not alone. Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) will decide on Wednesday if the former featherweight and BMF champ, along with lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett and heavyweight newcomer Gable Steveson, will incur disciplinary fines for cage hopping during the July 11 fight card in Las Vegas.
Pimblett defeated Benoit Saint Denis, not long after Steveson steamrolled Elisha Ellison.
"For the record, this rule needs to be changed," Pimblett's manager, Graham Boylan told MMA Junkie. "Yes, it's the fight game, and systems need to be in play to make it all work, but this rule does nothing to support that. It's 2026. Apply a little common sense."
Diego Lopes was dinged $5,000 for a similar infraction at UFC 300.
NSAC has been cracking down on airborne fighters ever since Khabib Nurmagomedov's ****** bombed Dillon Danis at UFC 229 back in late 2018, a fight that also involved McGregor. Speaking of the "Notorious" ex-champion, he's currently sidelined after knee surgery to repair damage suffered in his loss to Holloway — just don't expect much sympathy from the "Blessed" Hawaiian.
#holloway #mcgregor #nsac #nevada
Pimblett defeated Benoit Saint Denis, not long after Steveson steamrolled Elisha Ellison.
"For the record, this rule needs to be changed," Pimblett's manager, Graham Boylan told MMA Junkie. "Yes, it's the fight game, and systems need to be in play to make it all work, but this rule does nothing to support that. It's 2026. Apply a little common sense."
Diego Lopes was dinged $5,000 for a similar infraction at UFC 300.
NSAC has been cracking down on airborne fighters ever since Khabib Nurmagomedov's ****** bombed Dillon Danis at UFC 229 back in late 2018, a fight that also involved McGregor. Speaking of the "Notorious" ex-champion, he's currently sidelined after knee surgery to repair damage suffered in his loss to Holloway — just don't expect much sympathy from the "Blessed" Hawaiian.
#holloway #mcgregor #nsac #nevada
17 days ago
Daniel Cormier wants Ali Abdelaziz to pump the brakes on PFL champion Usman Nurmagomedov's chances against top UFC lightweights.
Nurmagomedov (22-0) is a free agent after knocking out Archie Colgan in the first-round of the PFL New York main event earlier this month. If Nurmagomedov does end up signing with the UFC, his manager, Abdelaziz, claimed on the "Pound 4 Pound" podcast that he would have his way with Ilia Topuria, Paddy Pimblett, Charles Oliveira, and Max Holloway – which Cormier thinks is an absurd statement to make.
"I get it, that's your guy, you're a promoter, but you're speaking about the absolute best guys in the world," Cormier said on his YouTube channel. "Now, to have faith and think Usman Nurmagomedov can fight these guys, absolutely. ... I think Usman Nurmagomedov is special. I think Usman Nurmagomedov, if he comes to the UFC, immediately becomes one of the top contenders in the organization. I have seen this young man train. I have seen him work. I know that he has championship-level experience."
While Nurmagomedov got some of that championship-level experience through two tough outings against Paul Hughes, Cormier said the UFC would be a step up in competition.
"As good as the Irish kid is, the UFC guys are better," Cormier said. "So you would imagine that these fights would be ultra competitive, but that's the beauty in having a guy separate himself from the world in a different organization. That's the beauty because while what Ali says is very out there, when he looks at that group of fighters, he would expect that because that's all they've really done. Umar has done very well. Khabib dominated; Islam has dominated.
#cormier #think #pound
Nurmagomedov (22-0) is a free agent after knocking out Archie Colgan in the first-round of the PFL New York main event earlier this month. If Nurmagomedov does end up signing with the UFC, his manager, Abdelaziz, claimed on the "Pound 4 Pound" podcast that he would have his way with Ilia Topuria, Paddy Pimblett, Charles Oliveira, and Max Holloway – which Cormier thinks is an absurd statement to make.
"I get it, that's your guy, you're a promoter, but you're speaking about the absolute best guys in the world," Cormier said on his YouTube channel. "Now, to have faith and think Usman Nurmagomedov can fight these guys, absolutely. ... I think Usman Nurmagomedov is special. I think Usman Nurmagomedov, if he comes to the UFC, immediately becomes one of the top contenders in the organization. I have seen this young man train. I have seen him work. I know that he has championship-level experience."
While Nurmagomedov got some of that championship-level experience through two tough outings against Paul Hughes, Cormier said the UFC would be a step up in competition.
"As good as the Irish kid is, the UFC guys are better," Cormier said. "So you would imagine that these fights would be ultra competitive, but that's the beauty in having a guy separate himself from the world in a different organization. That's the beauty because while what Ali says is very out there, when he looks at that group of fighters, he would expect that because that's all they've really done. Umar has done very well. Khabib dominated; Islam has dominated.
#cormier #think #pound
28 days ago
We at Sherdog provide regular, in-depth preview coverage for allmajor events, including our oft-praised preview column along withour "Sheehan Show" handling all sorts of related matters includingbetting. With those official sources for picks handled, we wouldlike to take the edge off here and get a bit lighter with one finalbreakdown.
The industry of sports betting is exploding before our very eyes,with billions of dollars pumping in since legalization stateside.Oftentimes, those driving the lines are right on the money withtheir openings, valuations and ***** yses. Occasionally, they are wayoff, or otherwise merit some additional conversation. That is wherewe come in with this reinvigorated series of Prime Picks, where,swiping a line from game show host Sam Reich, we hold hands andjump into the abyss together for the Ultimate Fighting Championship's maiden voyageto Serbia on Saturday. Try it out.
JanBlachowicz (+260)
OR
MarcinTybura (+280)
Why Not Both Total: (+1268)
First off, we are not suggesting that one should go out on a limbfor both Blachowicz and Tybura, but rather that one should choosetheir poison. The most daring, optimistic bettors might be temptedto throw a few bucks on the flier, but we see that as just a way topad the betting company's bank account. One or the other, however,could pull off the upset as elder statesmen in their respectivedivisions of light heavyweight and heavyweight. The "fightinguncle" movement is still very much in play.
Having turned 43 in February, former champ Blachowicz isunquestionably on the tail end of his UFC career. The last time hewon a fight, GloverTeixeira held the belt in their weight class and future starPaddyPimblett just picked up his second win under the UFC banner.There is an age cliff that every athlete encounters, and thatincludes Yoel Romeroeven as he draws Darren Tillsoon without gloves on. With that gloom-and-doom surrounding thePolish vet's tenure out in the open, there are still ample ways hecan pick up the win. After all, if a top-10 BogdanGuskov—whom he drew with in December—is the worst loss he hassuffered in that stretch, who is to say how "washed" he is againstburgeoning talent?
Blachowicz is an equal opportunity finisher despite his reputationof "Polish Power," with that expectation looming so large that mostforget he posts an equal number of subs to knockouts. It has notbeen since 2018 that he landed one, and it is not the implicationthat he will put NavajoStirling in danger with offensive submission grappling, butrather that he has demonstrated a wherewithal in the field to addanother wrinkle to his game. Additionally, Blachowicz serves ***** neakily effective takedown artist, practically shutting downIsraelAdesanya in a performance that at the time seemed shockingwhile in hindsight might have been predictable. Blachowicz canspoil the record of the unbeaten upstart in a variety of ways, aslong as he does not keep his chin on the proverbial gunnery rangehoping to s
The industry of sports betting is exploding before our very eyes,with billions of dollars pumping in since legalization stateside.Oftentimes, those driving the lines are right on the money withtheir openings, valuations and ***** yses. Occasionally, they are wayoff, or otherwise merit some additional conversation. That is wherewe come in with this reinvigorated series of Prime Picks, where,swiping a line from game show host Sam Reich, we hold hands andjump into the abyss together for the Ultimate Fighting Championship's maiden voyageto Serbia on Saturday. Try it out.
JanBlachowicz (+260)
OR
MarcinTybura (+280)
Why Not Both Total: (+1268)
First off, we are not suggesting that one should go out on a limbfor both Blachowicz and Tybura, but rather that one should choosetheir poison. The most daring, optimistic bettors might be temptedto throw a few bucks on the flier, but we see that as just a way topad the betting company's bank account. One or the other, however,could pull off the upset as elder statesmen in their respectivedivisions of light heavyweight and heavyweight. The "fightinguncle" movement is still very much in play.
Having turned 43 in February, former champ Blachowicz isunquestionably on the tail end of his UFC career. The last time hewon a fight, GloverTeixeira held the belt in their weight class and future starPaddyPimblett just picked up his second win under the UFC banner.There is an age cliff that every athlete encounters, and thatincludes Yoel Romeroeven as he draws Darren Tillsoon without gloves on. With that gloom-and-doom surrounding thePolish vet's tenure out in the open, there are still ample ways hecan pick up the win. After all, if a top-10 BogdanGuskov—whom he drew with in December—is the worst loss he hassuffered in that stretch, who is to say how "washed" he is againstburgeoning talent?
Blachowicz is an equal opportunity finisher despite his reputationof "Polish Power," with that expectation looming so large that mostforget he posts an equal number of subs to knockouts. It has notbeen since 2018 that he landed one, and it is not the implicationthat he will put NavajoStirling in danger with offensive submission grappling, butrather that he has demonstrated a wherewithal in the field to addanother wrinkle to his game. Additionally, Blachowicz serves ***** neakily effective takedown artist, practically shutting downIsraelAdesanya in a performance that at the time seemed shockingwhile in hindsight might have been predictable. Blachowicz canspoil the record of the unbeaten upstart in a variety of ways, aslong as he does not keep his chin on the proverbial gunnery rangehoping to s
1 month ago
UFC 329 took place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, featuring the return of Conor McGregor – which didn't amount to much.
In the main event, McGregor was set to face Max Holloway in a rematch 13 years in the making, and everyone was robbed of an opportunity to see the fight develop due to an injury on the first action from the Irishman. The fight would have had little-to-no impact on the rankings, but there was action on the undercard that caused movement.
In the co-main event, Paddy Pimblett made a huge statement by submitting Benoit Saint Denis in the opening minute with a unique submission he dubbed "The Pad-Tie." Pimblett climbs from No. 9 to No. 7, while BSD falls one spot to No. 8.
Also on the main card, Mario Bautista got one back on Cory Sandhagen, causing a shift in the bantamweight rankings. As a result of a swap, Bautista is the new No. 5, while Sandhagen falls to No. 6.
Check out all of the moves in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.
In the main event, McGregor was set to face Max Holloway in a rematch 13 years in the making, and everyone was robbed of an opportunity to see the fight develop due to an injury on the first action from the Irishman. The fight would have had little-to-no impact on the rankings, but there was action on the undercard that caused movement.
In the co-main event, Paddy Pimblett made a huge statement by submitting Benoit Saint Denis in the opening minute with a unique submission he dubbed "The Pad-Tie." Pimblett climbs from No. 9 to No. 7, while BSD falls one spot to No. 8.
Also on the main card, Mario Bautista got one back on Cory Sandhagen, causing a shift in the bantamweight rankings. As a result of a swap, Bautista is the new No. 5, while Sandhagen falls to No. 6.
Check out all of the moves in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.
2 months ago
LAS VEGAS - Dana White says Sophie Cunningham serving as a UFC 329 ring girl was not planned.
The WNBA star, who plays for the Indiana Fever, was in attendance for Saturday's event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. She ended up being the ring girl for the co-main event between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Denis.
But how did that end up happening? UFC CEO White explained.
"(We hired her) about eight minutes before she did it," White said during the UFC 329 post-fight news conference. "I love Sophie Cunningham. We've created a relationship and she was here tonight. When she walked in, she goes, 'I want to walk around that (octagon).' I said, 'Then you're going to walk around it.' She's fun."
Cunningham dropped 20 points on 6-7 threes in the Fever's win over Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, with White in attendance. She reacted to her surprise experience.
The WNBA star, who plays for the Indiana Fever, was in attendance for Saturday's event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. She ended up being the ring girl for the co-main event between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Denis.
But how did that end up happening? UFC CEO White explained.
"(We hired her) about eight minutes before she did it," White said during the UFC 329 post-fight news conference. "I love Sophie Cunningham. We've created a relationship and she was here tonight. When she walked in, she goes, 'I want to walk around that (octagon).' I said, 'Then you're going to walk around it.' She's fun."
Cunningham dropped 20 points on 6-7 threes in the Fever's win over Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, with White in attendance. She reacted to her surprise experience.
2 months ago
Paddy Pimblett says he would have considered retiring had he lost to Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 329 last weekend.
Pimblett, 31, submitted the Frenchman inside 52 seconds of the pair's lightweight contest at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The victory reignited Pimblett's pursuit of the ******* le following the Liverpudlian's defeat by Justin Gaethje for the interim belt in January.
Speaking after the win, which was his 24th in 28 fights, Pimblett revealed he had told his coach Paul Rimmer he would consider leaving the sport if he couldn't beat Saint-Denis.
"This fight camp wasn't easy. About four, five weeks ago I turned to Paul and said: 'If I don't win this fight, what's the point in fighting anymore? I might as well retire'," said Pimblett.
Pimblett, 31, submitted the Frenchman inside 52 seconds of the pair's lightweight contest at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The victory reignited Pimblett's pursuit of the ******* le following the Liverpudlian's defeat by Justin Gaethje for the interim belt in January.
Speaking after the win, which was his 24th in 28 fights, Pimblett revealed he had told his coach Paul Rimmer he would consider leaving the sport if he couldn't beat Saint-Denis.
"This fight camp wasn't easy. About four, five weeks ago I turned to Paul and said: 'If I don't win this fight, what's the point in fighting anymore? I might as well retire'," said Pimblett.
2 months ago
Conor McGregor is back. And there goes Conor McGregor.
Saturday’s UFC 329 main event failed to live up to the hype – an understatement, we know – with McGregor lasting just 69 seconds before an injury stopped his rematch with Max Holloway. This was McGregor’s first fight since 2021 and it’s difficult to imagine a worse scenario than what a packed house at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas witnessed.
Prior to that disappointment, several fighters put on star performances including Paddy Pimblett, Brandon Royval, Robert Whittaker, and Gable Steveson, but the fallout of the headliner is sure to cast a long shadow. The MMA Fighting crew hits the roundtable to discuss the biggest storylines coming out of UFC 329
Heck: All-time card – until that ***** bell rang in the main event.
Meshew: You got the full MMA experience: a great fight, a sick sub, some good finishes, one squash match, and hilarious disappointment.
Saturday’s UFC 329 main event failed to live up to the hype – an understatement, we know – with McGregor lasting just 69 seconds before an injury stopped his rematch with Max Holloway. This was McGregor’s first fight since 2021 and it’s difficult to imagine a worse scenario than what a packed house at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas witnessed.
Prior to that disappointment, several fighters put on star performances including Paddy Pimblett, Brandon Royval, Robert Whittaker, and Gable Steveson, but the fallout of the headliner is sure to cast a long shadow. The MMA Fighting crew hits the roundtable to discuss the biggest storylines coming out of UFC 329
Heck: All-time card – until that ***** bell rang in the main event.
Meshew: You got the full MMA experience: a great fight, a sick sub, some good finishes, one squash match, and hilarious disappointment.
2 months ago
LAS VEGAS – Paddy Pimblett is certain the UFC lightweight **** le is in his future.
Pimblett (24-4 MMA, 8-1 UFC) bounced back from his interim **** le loss to Justin Gaethje by making quick work of Benoit Saint Denis (18-3 MMA, 9-4 UFC) in the co-main event of UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena. When asked what he'd like next, he didn't have a specific name in mind, but he made sure to voice his UFC championship ambitions.
"I want to be a world champion," Pimblett said at the UFC 329 post-fight press conference. "I want to be the undisputed champion of the world. I want to be the first-ever world champion from Liverpool, and I'm going to do that. I know that's in my destiny. I know it's in my fate. Whether it's the next fight or the next 10 fights, I'm going to be a world champion. It's that simple. If you want me to fight Justin (Gaethje) next, if you want me to fight posh boy (Arman Tsarukyan) next, if you want me to fight 'chorizo' (Ilia Topuria) next, if you want me to fight Charles (Oliveira) next, anyone can get it."
Pimblett entered UFC 329 as an underdog, and highly-doubted by many. For him, it's another day at the office, as he feels history repeats itself with him.
"Yeah, the goalposts will get moved," Pimblett said. "Everyone will say, 'Huh, BSD was sh*t anyway.' You know what I mean? When two days ago it was, 'BSD, he's going to smash Paddy. His grappling is way better. He's got too much power for him,' this and that. People just love moving the goalposts with me, and I don't give a f*ck. Move them all you want. As long as I keep winning, I keep getting paid and keep making steps toward being a world champion. You can say what you want. Anyone can say what they want about me. Simple."
Pimblett (24-4 MMA, 8-1 UFC) bounced back from his interim **** le loss to Justin Gaethje by making quick work of Benoit Saint Denis (18-3 MMA, 9-4 UFC) in the co-main event of UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena. When asked what he'd like next, he didn't have a specific name in mind, but he made sure to voice his UFC championship ambitions.
"I want to be a world champion," Pimblett said at the UFC 329 post-fight press conference. "I want to be the undisputed champion of the world. I want to be the first-ever world champion from Liverpool, and I'm going to do that. I know that's in my destiny. I know it's in my fate. Whether it's the next fight or the next 10 fights, I'm going to be a world champion. It's that simple. If you want me to fight Justin (Gaethje) next, if you want me to fight posh boy (Arman Tsarukyan) next, if you want me to fight 'chorizo' (Ilia Topuria) next, if you want me to fight Charles (Oliveira) next, anyone can get it."
Pimblett entered UFC 329 as an underdog, and highly-doubted by many. For him, it's another day at the office, as he feels history repeats itself with him.
"Yeah, the goalposts will get moved," Pimblett said. "Everyone will say, 'Huh, BSD was sh*t anyway.' You know what I mean? When two days ago it was, 'BSD, he's going to smash Paddy. His grappling is way better. He's got too much power for him,' this and that. People just love moving the goalposts with me, and I don't give a f*ck. Move them all you want. As long as I keep winning, I keep getting paid and keep making steps toward being a world champion. You can say what you want. Anyone can say what they want about me. Simple."
2 months ago
UFC 329 was full of surprises on Saturday night, from the disastrous Conor McGregor comeback to Paddy Pimblett blowing through Benoit Saint Denis in less than one minute.
But before Pimblett stole the show in the co-main event, it was WNBA fan favorite Sophie Cunningham who generating buzz and trending on social media.
Cunningham, who became a star thanks to her role as Caitlin Clark's enforcer on the Indiana Fever, made an unexpected cameo as a UFC ring girl before the start of the co-main event. Cunningham walked around the Octagon to signal Round 1, and then dropped her viral finger point taunt.
MORE: Max Holloway, Sophie Cunningham recreate viral pointing memes after UFC 329
At the post-fight press conference, UFC boss Dana White explained how the Cunningham cameo came to fruition, saying it was a last-minute decision that was made on a whim "about eight minutes before she did it."
But before Pimblett stole the show in the co-main event, it was WNBA fan favorite Sophie Cunningham who generating buzz and trending on social media.
Cunningham, who became a star thanks to her role as Caitlin Clark's enforcer on the Indiana Fever, made an unexpected cameo as a UFC ring girl before the start of the co-main event. Cunningham walked around the Octagon to signal Round 1, and then dropped her viral finger point taunt.
MORE: Max Holloway, Sophie Cunningham recreate viral pointing memes after UFC 329
At the post-fight press conference, UFC boss Dana White explained how the Cunningham cameo came to fruition, saying it was a last-minute decision that was made on a whim "about eight minutes before she did it."
2 months ago
With her Sports Illustrated appearance and viral pointing meme, Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham has been everywhere lately.
She was seen Saturday night again, at the UFC 329 event.
Cunningham was the ring girl for the bout between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis, where the Englishman walked away with a win by submission. Pimblett only took 52 seconds to prove his worth on the night.
Cunningham also posed for a picture with Max Holloway, where the pair hit their famous celebrations. Holloway was also declared the winner after Conor McGregor walked away with an injury.
McGregor immediately injured his knee going for a kick and was defeated by Holloway just over a minute into the fight.
She was seen Saturday night again, at the UFC 329 event.
Cunningham was the ring girl for the bout between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis, where the Englishman walked away with a win by submission. Pimblett only took 52 seconds to prove his worth on the night.
Cunningham also posed for a picture with Max Holloway, where the pair hit their famous celebrations. Holloway was also declared the winner after Conor McGregor walked away with an injury.
McGregor immediately injured his knee going for a kick and was defeated by Holloway just over a minute into the fight.
2 months ago
Indiana Fever wing Sophie Cunningham gave a surprise performance as a ring girl at a UFC fight in Las Vegas on July 11. The fight was between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Denis was part of UFC 329 during UFC's International Fight Week.
Cunningham was ringside when she kicked off her shoes and made a quick lap around the ring for "octagon card duties." It was a short-lived stint as Saint Denis was choked unconscious in less than a minute, ending the fight in one round.
Cunningham is a Fever fan-favorite and soared to popularity as Caitlin Clark's enforcer, a role that landed her a famous flagrant foul and nearly a million social media followers last season.
She recently went viral again for a 22-second-long "point" at DeWanna Bonner during the June 22 game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The point also became a viral meme.
Cunningham is in Las Vegas this week, along with the rest of the Fever, for an upcoming match against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena at 9 p.m. July 12.
Cunningham was ringside when she kicked off her shoes and made a quick lap around the ring for "octagon card duties." It was a short-lived stint as Saint Denis was choked unconscious in less than a minute, ending the fight in one round.
Cunningham is a Fever fan-favorite and soared to popularity as Caitlin Clark's enforcer, a role that landed her a famous flagrant foul and nearly a million social media followers last season.
She recently went viral again for a 22-second-long "point" at DeWanna Bonner during the June 22 game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The point also became a viral meme.
Cunningham is in Las Vegas this week, along with the rest of the Fever, for an upcoming match against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena at 9 p.m. July 12.
2 months ago
Indiana Fever wing Sophie Cunningham gave a surprise performance as a ring girl at a UFC fight in Las Vegas on July 11. The fight was between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Denis was part of UFC 329 during UFC's International Fight Week.
Cunningham was ringside when she kicked off her shoes and made a quick lap around the ring for "octagon card duties." It was a short-lived stint as Saint Denis was choked unconscious in less than a minute, ending the fight in one round.
Cunningham is a Fever fan-favorite and soared to popularity as Caitlin Clark's enforcer, a role that landed her a famous flagrant foul and nearly a million social media followers last season.
She recently went viral again for a 22-second-long "point" at DeWanna Bonner during the June 22 game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The point also became a viral meme.
Cunningham is in Las Vegas this week, along with the rest of the Fever, for an upcoming match against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena at 9 p.m. July 12.
Cunningham was ringside when she kicked off her shoes and made a quick lap around the ring for "octagon card duties." It was a short-lived stint as Saint Denis was choked unconscious in less than a minute, ending the fight in one round.
Cunningham is a Fever fan-favorite and soared to popularity as Caitlin Clark's enforcer, a role that landed her a famous flagrant foul and nearly a million social media followers last season.
She recently went viral again for a 22-second-long "point" at DeWanna Bonner during the June 22 game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The point also became a viral meme.
Cunningham is in Las Vegas this week, along with the rest of the Fever, for an upcoming match against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena at 9 p.m. July 12.
2 months ago
UFC 329’s co-main event in Las Vegas featured one of the top WNBA stars, Sophie Cunningham.
On most nights, Sophie Cunningham is seen playing basketball alongside Caitlin Clark on the Indiana Fever in the WNBA.
However, the 29-year-old basketball star recently made her debut at the UFC, but not as a fighter by any means.
UFC 329 featured a co-main event with Paddy Pimblett taking on Benoit Saint Denis at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
While the fight ended quickly as Pimblett forced Saint Denis into submission in the first-round itself, Cunningham’s special role as a ring girl caught the eyes of many WNBA fans.
On most nights, Sophie Cunningham is seen playing basketball alongside Caitlin Clark on the Indiana Fever in the WNBA.
However, the 29-year-old basketball star recently made her debut at the UFC, but not as a fighter by any means.
UFC 329 featured a co-main event with Paddy Pimblett taking on Benoit Saint Denis at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
While the fight ended quickly as Pimblett forced Saint Denis into submission in the first-round itself, Cunningham’s special role as a ring girl caught the eyes of many WNBA fans.
2 months ago
The return of Conor McGregor came and went in the blink of an eye. After only 69 seconds at UFC 329, the former two-division champion succumbed to his second straight loss via brutal leg injury.
To begin his rematch with Max Holloway on Saturday night in Las Vegas, McGregor rushed to the center of the Octagon and threw a jumping switch kick. He missed the mark, then threw another head kick and awkwardly fell to the floor. At that point, something seemed off about the Irishman as Holloway pursued the finish and secured it shortly thereafter, with McGregor noticeably hobbling in pain.
It was McGregor's first appearance in five years, following a gnarly leg break in his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. UFC CEO Dana White spoke to the media at UFC 329’s post-fight press conference and reacted to the disappointing conclusion to a card that broke the promotion’s record for highest-grossing gate.
"Everybody who knows anything about the fight business, it's been a big topic of discussion leading up to this fight: Five years off in this sport is rough," White said. "Great card. Unbelievable. The Paddy Pimblett thing right before. You just feel it all in the air. Here we go. I was expecting at least a one-round war. Who knew what Conor was capable of as far as cardio or whatever else after a five-year layoff? Well, there you go.
"We're ****** uming blown ACL. I'm not a doctor, but that's what I figured when I saw it, and doctors think the same thing too."
To begin his rematch with Max Holloway on Saturday night in Las Vegas, McGregor rushed to the center of the Octagon and threw a jumping switch kick. He missed the mark, then threw another head kick and awkwardly fell to the floor. At that point, something seemed off about the Irishman as Holloway pursued the finish and secured it shortly thereafter, with McGregor noticeably hobbling in pain.
It was McGregor's first appearance in five years, following a gnarly leg break in his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. UFC CEO Dana White spoke to the media at UFC 329’s post-fight press conference and reacted to the disappointing conclusion to a card that broke the promotion’s record for highest-grossing gate.
"Everybody who knows anything about the fight business, it's been a big topic of discussion leading up to this fight: Five years off in this sport is rough," White said. "Great card. Unbelievable. The Paddy Pimblett thing right before. You just feel it all in the air. Here we go. I was expecting at least a one-round war. Who knew what Conor was capable of as far as cardio or whatever else after a five-year layoff? Well, there you go.
"We're ****** uming blown ACL. I'm not a doctor, but that's what I figured when I saw it, and doctors think the same thing too."
2 months ago
An apparent knee injury snuffed out whatever magic Conor McGregor planned to rekindle in his first Ultimate Fighting Championship ****** ignment in five years.
Max Holloway was awarded an anticlimactic technical knockout over the SBG Ireland cornerstone in the first round of their UFC 329 headliner on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. A disappointed and dejected McGregor (22-7, 10-5 UFC)—who had beaten the Hawaiian by unanimous decision in their first meeting in 2013—bowed out 1:09 into Round 1.
It was essentially over before it began. McGregor appeared to suffer the injury while throwing a jumping round kick inside the first 10 seconds. He collapsed on multiple occasions afterward, unable to put any weight on his right leg while he attempted to engage Holloway (28-9, 24-9 UFC). It soon became clear to all involved that McGregor was compromised to such an extent that he could not move forward with the match.
Meanwhile, former Cage Warriors champion Paddy Pimblett put Benoit St. Denis to sleep with a Peruvian necktie in the first round of their lightweight co-main event. St. Denis (17-4, 9-4 UFC) lost consciousness 52 seconds into Round 1.
Pimblett (24-4, 8-1 UFC) survived the initial burst of offense from the Frenchman and made him pay for an ill-conceived takedown attempt. The Next Generation MMA star zeroed in on St. Denis’ exposed neck, bullied him to the canvas and proceeded to tighten the strings on the necktie. Pimblett then moved to a seated position—with one leg over the back, the other over the head—and maximized torque until the onetime French Special Forces operator lost his grip on reality.
It was the second sub-minute finish for Pimblett in 28 professional appearances.
Further down the main draw, Mario Bautista avenged a January 2019 submission defeat to Cory Sandhagen and laid claim to a unanimous decision over the Elevation Fight Team rep in their three-round bantamweight rematch. All three cageside judges scored it the same: 29-28 for Bautista (18-3, 12-3 UFC).
Sandhagen (18-7, 11-6 UFC) was undone by two key moments. Bautista appeared to damage his left leg with an attempted Suloev stretch kneebar late in the first round and dropped him with a sweeping left hook in the third. The rest of their 15-minute battle was marked by give-and-take action—Sandhagen opened a cut near the MMA Lab export’s right eye in the second round—in which neither man gained a discernible advantage.
Bautista, 33, has won 10 of his past 11 bouts.
Elsewhere, Factory X mainstay Brandon Royval rebounded from back-to-back losses to Joshua Van and Manel Kape, as he dismissed Lone’er Kavanagh with a rear-naked choke in the third round of their flyweight barnburner. Kavanagh (10-2, 3-2 UFC) waved the white flag of surrender 3:40 into Round 3.
Royval (18-9, 8-5 UFC) leaned into his jab and struck for a takedown in the first round, then averted disaster in the second. There, Kavanagh set him on rubber legs with a clean right hand ov
Max Holloway was awarded an anticlimactic technical knockout over the SBG Ireland cornerstone in the first round of their UFC 329 headliner on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. A disappointed and dejected McGregor (22-7, 10-5 UFC)—who had beaten the Hawaiian by unanimous decision in their first meeting in 2013—bowed out 1:09 into Round 1.
It was essentially over before it began. McGregor appeared to suffer the injury while throwing a jumping round kick inside the first 10 seconds. He collapsed on multiple occasions afterward, unable to put any weight on his right leg while he attempted to engage Holloway (28-9, 24-9 UFC). It soon became clear to all involved that McGregor was compromised to such an extent that he could not move forward with the match.
Meanwhile, former Cage Warriors champion Paddy Pimblett put Benoit St. Denis to sleep with a Peruvian necktie in the first round of their lightweight co-main event. St. Denis (17-4, 9-4 UFC) lost consciousness 52 seconds into Round 1.
Pimblett (24-4, 8-1 UFC) survived the initial burst of offense from the Frenchman and made him pay for an ill-conceived takedown attempt. The Next Generation MMA star zeroed in on St. Denis’ exposed neck, bullied him to the canvas and proceeded to tighten the strings on the necktie. Pimblett then moved to a seated position—with one leg over the back, the other over the head—and maximized torque until the onetime French Special Forces operator lost his grip on reality.
It was the second sub-minute finish for Pimblett in 28 professional appearances.
Further down the main draw, Mario Bautista avenged a January 2019 submission defeat to Cory Sandhagen and laid claim to a unanimous decision over the Elevation Fight Team rep in their three-round bantamweight rematch. All three cageside judges scored it the same: 29-28 for Bautista (18-3, 12-3 UFC).
Sandhagen (18-7, 11-6 UFC) was undone by two key moments. Bautista appeared to damage his left leg with an attempted Suloev stretch kneebar late in the first round and dropped him with a sweeping left hook in the third. The rest of their 15-minute battle was marked by give-and-take action—Sandhagen opened a cut near the MMA Lab export’s right eye in the second round—in which neither man gained a discernible advantage.
Bautista, 33, has won 10 of his past 11 bouts.
Elsewhere, Factory X mainstay Brandon Royval rebounded from back-to-back losses to Joshua Van and Manel Kape, as he dismissed Lone’er Kavanagh with a rear-naked choke in the third round of their flyweight barnburner. Kavanagh (10-2, 3-2 UFC) waved the white flag of surrender 3:40 into Round 3.
Royval (18-9, 8-5 UFC) leaned into his jab and struck for a takedown in the first round, then averted disaster in the second. There, Kavanagh set him on rubber legs with a clean right hand ov
2 months ago
A fast finish and an action-packed flyweight bout were among the UFC 329 bonus winners.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship handed out a pair of Performance of the Night awards and a Fight of the Night bonus, with each recipient pocketing an extra $100,000 over their contracted fight purse. The fight card featured 11 finishes in total, but a couple of bouts concluded in anticlimactic fashion, with the main event ending via an unfortunate injury.
Paddy Pimblett secured a $100,000 POTN bonus for his submission of Benoit St. Denis in the co-main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It took Pimblett under a minute to put away his French counterpart, sealing one of the quickest and most emphatic victories of his UFC tenure.
King Green also earned a $100,000 POTN bonus following a dramatic first-round comeback against Terrance McKinney. Despite initially facing an early barrage from McKinney and a submission scare, Green survived and earned a first-round victory with one second to spare.
Brandon Royval and Lone’er Kavanagh bagged FOTN honors and $100,000 each for their back-and-forth flyweight clash. Kavanagh looked sharp in the early frames, but Royval showed his experience to rally back and find a third-round rear-naked choke.
As mentioned earlier, the headliner ended in disappointment as Conor McGregor suffered a knee injury just seconds into his rematch with Max Holloway, resulting in a victory for the Hawaiian.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship handed out a pair of Performance of the Night awards and a Fight of the Night bonus, with each recipient pocketing an extra $100,000 over their contracted fight purse. The fight card featured 11 finishes in total, but a couple of bouts concluded in anticlimactic fashion, with the main event ending via an unfortunate injury.
Paddy Pimblett secured a $100,000 POTN bonus for his submission of Benoit St. Denis in the co-main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It took Pimblett under a minute to put away his French counterpart, sealing one of the quickest and most emphatic victories of his UFC tenure.
King Green also earned a $100,000 POTN bonus following a dramatic first-round comeback against Terrance McKinney. Despite initially facing an early barrage from McKinney and a submission scare, Green survived and earned a first-round victory with one second to spare.
Brandon Royval and Lone’er Kavanagh bagged FOTN honors and $100,000 each for their back-and-forth flyweight clash. Kavanagh looked sharp in the early frames, but Royval showed his experience to rally back and find a third-round rear-naked choke.
As mentioned earlier, the headliner ended in disappointment as Conor McGregor suffered a knee injury just seconds into his rematch with Max Holloway, resulting in a victory for the Hawaiian.
2 months ago
Conor McGregor made his Ultimate Fighting Championship return atop an action-packed UFC 329 card that ended with a whimper. The welterweight main event saw “Notorious” take on Max Holloway in a rematch of their 2013 fight that never really got started. The finish-filled card also had important fights in the lightweight, bantamweight and flyweight divisions.
Here are the matches to make for the UFC 329 main card winners.
Holloway (28-9) finally got revenge on McGregor (22-7), but it wasn’t how he wanted to after McGregor suffered a knee injury. Regardless, “Blessed” is now 2-1 in his last three fights, with a deflating loss to Charles Oliveira sandwiched between wins over Dustin Poirier and McGregor. I’d like to see Holloway take on Pimblett next, as “The Baddie” submitted Benoit St. Denis with a Peruvian necktie. It was an impressive showing for the British fighter, who proved he deserves to be among the elite at 155 pounds. Both men are among the most entertaining at lightweight and it’d be a stellar action fight after Holloway’s disappointing showings against Oliveira and McGregor.
Bautista battled back from early adversity to take a decision win and get revenge against Cody Sandhagen, who beat him in 2019. The American is now 10-1 in his last 11 bouts inside the Octagon, with the lone defeat coming to Umar Nurmagomedov. While he called for a ******* le shot, that doesn’t seem likely with champion Petr Yan having major rematches against Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O'Malley as possible ******* le defenses. Instead, a fight against the underrated Barcelos would make sense. The Brazilian is on a five-fight win streak that includes victories over Ricky Simon, Payton Talbott and Cody Garbrandt. It’s a great stay-busy fight against a tough foe that will allow the log jam at the top of the division to figure itself out.
Royval capped off an impressive back-and-forth war with flyweight prospect Lone'er Kavanagh with a rare-naked choke. That snaps a two-fight winning streak for"Raw Dawg," who fell short to Manel Kape and Joshua Van in recent fights. Royval (18-9) called out Almabayev for his next Octagon appearance in a rare post-fight callout that makes total sense. It's a fresh fight and one that will give Almabayev (24-3) the chance to get the biggest win of his career. The Kazakhstani fighter is currently on a three-fight win streak, with wins over Charles Johnson and Alex Perez being particularly impressive. Whoever emerges victorious will be a solid contender in one of mixed martial arts' best divisions.
Here are the matches to make for the UFC 329 main card winners.
Holloway (28-9) finally got revenge on McGregor (22-7), but it wasn’t how he wanted to after McGregor suffered a knee injury. Regardless, “Blessed” is now 2-1 in his last three fights, with a deflating loss to Charles Oliveira sandwiched between wins over Dustin Poirier and McGregor. I’d like to see Holloway take on Pimblett next, as “The Baddie” submitted Benoit St. Denis with a Peruvian necktie. It was an impressive showing for the British fighter, who proved he deserves to be among the elite at 155 pounds. Both men are among the most entertaining at lightweight and it’d be a stellar action fight after Holloway’s disappointing showings against Oliveira and McGregor.
Bautista battled back from early adversity to take a decision win and get revenge against Cody Sandhagen, who beat him in 2019. The American is now 10-1 in his last 11 bouts inside the Octagon, with the lone defeat coming to Umar Nurmagomedov. While he called for a ******* le shot, that doesn’t seem likely with champion Petr Yan having major rematches against Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O'Malley as possible ******* le defenses. Instead, a fight against the underrated Barcelos would make sense. The Brazilian is on a five-fight win streak that includes victories over Ricky Simon, Payton Talbott and Cody Garbrandt. It’s a great stay-busy fight against a tough foe that will allow the log jam at the top of the division to figure itself out.
Royval capped off an impressive back-and-forth war with flyweight prospect Lone'er Kavanagh with a rare-naked choke. That snaps a two-fight winning streak for"Raw Dawg," who fell short to Manel Kape and Joshua Van in recent fights. Royval (18-9) called out Almabayev for his next Octagon appearance in a rare post-fight callout that makes total sense. It's a fresh fight and one that will give Almabayev (24-3) the chance to get the biggest win of his career. The Kazakhstani fighter is currently on a three-fight win streak, with wins over Charles Johnson and Alex Perez being particularly impressive. Whoever emerges victorious will be a solid contender in one of mixed martial arts' best divisions.
2 months ago
The UFC handed out four bonuses after Saturday's card in Las Vegas, including one to the co-main event winner.
After UFC 329, four fighters picked up an extra $100,000 for their performances at T-Mobile Arena. Additionally, eight fighters got $25,000 extra checks for finishes that weren’t bonus-winners.
Check out the list of winners below.
Brandon Royval (18-9 MMA, 8-5 UFC) and Lone'er Kavanagh (10-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) put on one of the best flyweight fights in company history on the main card. Royval, a former ******* le challenger, was plenty bloodied up by Kavanagh — and vice versa — by the time they entered the third round. But after back-and-forth scrambles both on the canvas and on the feet the first 10 minutes, Royval took over on the mat late and locked up a body triangle and rear-naked choke that forced Kavanagh to tap.
Paddy Pimblett (24-4 MMA, 8-1 UFC) could not have asked for a better performance than he gave in the co-main event when he put Benoit Saint Denis (17-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) to sleep with a D’Arce choke less than a minute into their lightweight contenders bout. He predicted before the fight that BSD would shoot and he’d put him to sleep – and he did just that.
After UFC 329, four fighters picked up an extra $100,000 for their performances at T-Mobile Arena. Additionally, eight fighters got $25,000 extra checks for finishes that weren’t bonus-winners.
Check out the list of winners below.
Brandon Royval (18-9 MMA, 8-5 UFC) and Lone'er Kavanagh (10-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) put on one of the best flyweight fights in company history on the main card. Royval, a former ******* le challenger, was plenty bloodied up by Kavanagh — and vice versa — by the time they entered the third round. But after back-and-forth scrambles both on the canvas and on the feet the first 10 minutes, Royval took over on the mat late and locked up a body triangle and rear-naked choke that forced Kavanagh to tap.
Paddy Pimblett (24-4 MMA, 8-1 UFC) could not have asked for a better performance than he gave in the co-main event when he put Benoit Saint Denis (17-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) to sleep with a D’Arce choke less than a minute into their lightweight contenders bout. He predicted before the fight that BSD would shoot and he’d put him to sleep – and he did just that.
2 months ago
LAS VEGAS – UFC 329 was at the peak of its build with an electric atmosphere until a miscalculated bound sucked the energy right out of the room.
Conor McGregor suffered an injury just seconds into his main event Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, leading to the fight being waved off 1:09 into Round 1.
UFC CEO Dana White, like many others, was wildly disappointed with the bout's ending. He said he hadn't spoken to McGregor yet about the injury, but revealed what doctors suspect he is dealing with.
"Listen, everybody who knows anything about the fight business, and it's been a big topic of discussion up to this fight: five years off in this sport is rough," White told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference Saturday. "Like you said, great card. Unbelievable, the Paddy Pimblett thing right before, you just feel it all in the air. 'Here we go.' I was expecting at least a one-round war or who knew what Conor was capable of as far as cardio or whatever else after a five-year layoff. Well, there you go. We're ***** uming blown ACL. I'm no doctor, but that's what I figured when I saw it. Doctors think the same thing, too."
The unusualness of the situation and McGregor's unexpected fall to the canvas led many viewers on first watch to try to pinpoint when the injury occurred. The most reasonable explanation was that he suffered it when leaping up for a flying kick right out of the gate, but the broadcast also speculated it may have come in the on-deck circle as McGregor prepped for greasing.
Conor McGregor suffered an injury just seconds into his main event Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, leading to the fight being waved off 1:09 into Round 1.
UFC CEO Dana White, like many others, was wildly disappointed with the bout's ending. He said he hadn't spoken to McGregor yet about the injury, but revealed what doctors suspect he is dealing with.
"Listen, everybody who knows anything about the fight business, and it's been a big topic of discussion up to this fight: five years off in this sport is rough," White told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference Saturday. "Like you said, great card. Unbelievable, the Paddy Pimblett thing right before, you just feel it all in the air. 'Here we go.' I was expecting at least a one-round war or who knew what Conor was capable of as far as cardio or whatever else after a five-year layoff. Well, there you go. We're ***** uming blown ACL. I'm no doctor, but that's what I figured when I saw it. Doctors think the same thing, too."
The unusualness of the situation and McGregor's unexpected fall to the canvas led many viewers on first watch to try to pinpoint when the injury occurred. The most reasonable explanation was that he suffered it when leaping up for a flying kick right out of the gate, but the broadcast also speculated it may have come in the on-deck circle as McGregor prepped for greasing.
2 months ago
Liverpool's Paddy Pimblett submitted Benoit Saint-Denis in just 52 seconds at UFC 329 to strengthen his claim for a lightweight ***** le shot.
Pimblett stuffed a takedown and attacked the neck, sinking in a guillotine choke and closing out the co-main event in swift fashion.
Saint-Denis refused to tap and referee Marc Goddard had to step in as the Frenchman went unconscious on the canvas.
Pimblett leapt out of the octagon to celebrate before paying tribute to Liverpool and Portugal winger Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident 12 months ago.
It was Pimblett's first fight since losing against Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight ***** le in January and the 31-year-old called for a rematch.
Pimblett stuffed a takedown and attacked the neck, sinking in a guillotine choke and closing out the co-main event in swift fashion.
Saint-Denis refused to tap and referee Marc Goddard had to step in as the Frenchman went unconscious on the canvas.
Pimblett leapt out of the octagon to celebrate before paying tribute to Liverpool and Portugal winger Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident 12 months ago.
It was Pimblett's first fight since losing against Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight ***** le in January and the 31-year-old called for a rematch.
2 months ago
After five years, Conor McGregor finally returned to action opposite old rival Max Holloway earlier tonight (Sat., July 11, 2026) at UFC 329 LIVE on Paramount+ from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sadly, McGregor injured himself almost immediately with a flying high kick, resulting in an immediate injury loss.
Seriously.
In addition to the Welterweight headliner, UFC 329 fortunately featured a very deep card full of familiar faces, a whole bunch of vicious finishes, and a couple back-and-forth wars. Check out some of the key moments below and let us know which performances stand out the most!
Paddy Pimblett wasted no time and choked out Benoit Saint-Denis in the opening minute of their highly-anticipated Lightweight clash.
Brandon Royval and Lone’er Kavanagh went to war in a ******* brawl filled with momentum shifts right up until Royval strangled his opponent in the third round.
Seriously.
In addition to the Welterweight headliner, UFC 329 fortunately featured a very deep card full of familiar faces, a whole bunch of vicious finishes, and a couple back-and-forth wars. Check out some of the key moments below and let us know which performances stand out the most!
Paddy Pimblett wasted no time and choked out Benoit Saint-Denis in the opening minute of their highly-anticipated Lightweight clash.
Brandon Royval and Lone’er Kavanagh went to war in a ******* brawl filled with momentum shifts right up until Royval strangled his opponent in the third round.
2 months ago
Sophie Cunningham's primary job is playing guard for the Indiana Fever. Her secondary job is podcasting. She added a tertiary job on Saturday.
One of the most-followed players in the WNBA made a cameo as a ring girl at UFC 329, carrying the round card before the co-main event between Paddy Pimblett and Benoît Saint Denis.
The promotion didn't need her much after that, as Pimblett put Saint Denis to sleep via D'Arce choke 52 seconds into the fight. The main event was even more anti-climactic, as Conor McGregor appeared to blow out his knee on an opening kick and had to bow out after one minute and nine seconds.
In total, the main and co-main lasted two minutes and one second, a disastrous ending for a much-hyped night.
Cunningham was in Las Vegas in advance of the Fever's road game against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, as part of another eventful season in Indiana. The Fever are currently 13-9, the best record in the Eastern Conference and the fifth-best record overall.
One of the most-followed players in the WNBA made a cameo as a ring girl at UFC 329, carrying the round card before the co-main event between Paddy Pimblett and Benoît Saint Denis.
The promotion didn't need her much after that, as Pimblett put Saint Denis to sleep via D'Arce choke 52 seconds into the fight. The main event was even more anti-climactic, as Conor McGregor appeared to blow out his knee on an opening kick and had to bow out after one minute and nine seconds.
In total, the main and co-main lasted two minutes and one second, a disastrous ending for a much-hyped night.
Cunningham was in Las Vegas in advance of the Fever's road game against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, as part of another eventful season in Indiana. The Fever are currently 13-9, the best record in the Eastern Conference and the fifth-best record overall.
2 months ago
LAS VEGAS – UFC 329 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, and you can watch a live video stream of the post-event news conference here on MMA Junkie.
Expected to take part in the press conference are the winners of the headlining fights of Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway and Benoit Saint Denis vs. Paddy Pimblett.
UFC CEO Dana White is also expected to answer questions from reporters and recap the event.
You can watch the press conference in the video above, which will go live upon the conclusion of the headlining bout.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Video: UFC 329 post-fight press conference live stream
Expected to take part in the press conference are the winners of the headlining fights of Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway and Benoit Saint Denis vs. Paddy Pimblett.
UFC CEO Dana White is also expected to answer questions from reporters and recap the event.
You can watch the press conference in the video above, which will go live upon the conclusion of the headlining bout.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Video: UFC 329 post-fight press conference live stream
2 months ago
Paddy Pimblett called out Conor McGregor on Saturday night after sealing a stunning submission of Benoit Saint-Denis.
Liverpudlian star “Paddy The Baddy” submitted “BSD” in 52 seconds with a D’arce choke, bouncing back from his interim-title fight loss to Justin Gaethje in January.
The fight played out just minutes before McGregor’s first fight in five years, a rematch with Max Holloway – 13 years after their first bout – in the main event of UFC 329.
“Sub of the year, b***hes,” Pimblett told Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview in the cage. “I knew he was out [unconscious], you know what I mean? They had to check him.
“I told everyone all week: he’s gonna shoot in, I’m gonna grab him, and I’m gonna choke him out. He was facedown on the canvas.
Liverpudlian star “Paddy The Baddy” submitted “BSD” in 52 seconds with a D’arce choke, bouncing back from his interim-title fight loss to Justin Gaethje in January.
The fight played out just minutes before McGregor’s first fight in five years, a rematch with Max Holloway – 13 years after their first bout – in the main event of UFC 329.
“Sub of the year, b***hes,” Pimblett told Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview in the cage. “I knew he was out [unconscious], you know what I mean? They had to check him.
“I told everyone all week: he’s gonna shoot in, I’m gonna grab him, and I’m gonna choke him out. He was facedown on the canvas.
2 months ago
On Saturday, two elite lightweights faced off in the UFC 329 co-main event when Paddy Pimblett took on Benoit Saint-Denis. The Frenchman entered the bout as a solid favorite following a four-fight win streak, with all of them finishes. However, “The Baddy” again quieted the doubters and scored an impressive submission victory a minute into the bout. Putting the heavy hitter to sleep.
Following his big win, find out where Pimblett lands in our updated UFC lightweight rankings.
Since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in the fall of 2024, Australian Quillan Salkilld has been very impressive. He won his first four in the Octagon, including three first-round finishes. However, he got his biggest test yet in May against top-15 stalwart Beneil Dariush.
But just like most of his previous UFC foes, the young fighter got the well-respected MMA veteran out of there in less than a round. His 12th straight win earns him a spot in our UFC lightweight top 10.
At the end of 2024, Renato Moicano was one of the hottest fighters in the division after winning four straight, including stoppage wins over Jalin Turner and Benoit Saint-Denis. However, back-to-back losses — including a short-notice defeat to former lightweight king Islam Makhachev — ended his momentum as he started the new year.
Following his big win, find out where Pimblett lands in our updated UFC lightweight rankings.
Since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in the fall of 2024, Australian Quillan Salkilld has been very impressive. He won his first four in the Octagon, including three first-round finishes. However, he got his biggest test yet in May against top-15 stalwart Beneil Dariush.
But just like most of his previous UFC foes, the young fighter got the well-respected MMA veteran out of there in less than a round. His 12th straight win earns him a spot in our UFC lightweight top 10.
At the end of 2024, Renato Moicano was one of the hottest fighters in the division after winning four straight, including stoppage wins over Jalin Turner and Benoit Saint-Denis. However, back-to-back losses — including a short-notice defeat to former lightweight king Islam Makhachev — ended his momentum as he started the new year.
2 months ago
Paddy Pimblett might have stolen the show at UFC 329.
On a card headlined by the return of Conor McGregor facing longtime rival Max Holloway, Pimblett set the bar high for highlight of the night with a stunning submission win over Benoit Saint Denis in under 60 seconds. This was Pimblett’s first fight since seeing his unblemished UFC record spoiled by Justin Gaethje this past January and he wasted no time reminding fans and pundits that he is a legitimate lightweight ******* le contender.
Pimblett put Saint Denis to sleep to win his 10th fight in his last 11 appearances and he wowed his peers, with featherweight veteran Billy Quarantillo writing on Twitter, “Quick submission Paddy is the real deal.” Kenny Florian and Glover Teixeira, a couple of retired stars who know a thing or two about grappling, were also effusive in their praise for “The Baddy.”
The performance was so impressive, UFC veteran Matt Brown suggested that it’s time for Pimblett to have his long-awaited showdown with former two-division champion Ilia Topuria.
“Ilia vs. Paddy next?” Brown wrote on Twitter. “Easiest matchmaking ever right?”
On a card headlined by the return of Conor McGregor facing longtime rival Max Holloway, Pimblett set the bar high for highlight of the night with a stunning submission win over Benoit Saint Denis in under 60 seconds. This was Pimblett’s first fight since seeing his unblemished UFC record spoiled by Justin Gaethje this past January and he wasted no time reminding fans and pundits that he is a legitimate lightweight ******* le contender.
Pimblett put Saint Denis to sleep to win his 10th fight in his last 11 appearances and he wowed his peers, with featherweight veteran Billy Quarantillo writing on Twitter, “Quick submission Paddy is the real deal.” Kenny Florian and Glover Teixeira, a couple of retired stars who know a thing or two about grappling, were also effusive in their praise for “The Baddy.”
The performance was so impressive, UFC veteran Matt Brown suggested that it’s time for Pimblett to have his long-awaited showdown with former two-division champion Ilia Topuria.
“Ilia vs. Paddy next?” Brown wrote on Twitter. “Easiest matchmaking ever right?”
2 months ago
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is live TONIGHT (Sat., July 11, 2026) with UFC 329, streaming exclusively live on Paramount+. The record-setting event takes place inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event is Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2 in the Welterweight division.
It’s a rematch 13 years in the making with Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2 tonight. The literally notorious McGregor has returned without much fanfare to take on one of the sport’s most popular fighters. McGregor last competed five years ago, losing to Dustin Poirier and shattering his shin (relive that here). Since then, he’s been embroiled in major controversies, including being found liable for rape in an Irish civil court.
McGregor has two fights left on his deal, reportedly. It seems like he might be trying to fight out his contract quickly so he can move on to new pastures.
The co-main tonight is Benoit Saint Denis vs. Paddy Pimblett in a high stakes Lightweight bout. Saint-Denis can clear a path to a ***** le shot with an impressive win here over the Englishman. Pimblett will try and show he deserves a second shot at current undisputed champion, Justin Gaethje. Rounding out the main card is Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista, Brandon Royval vs. Lone’er Kavanagh and King Green vs. Terrance McKinney.
The “Prelims” are headlined by Robert Whittaker vs. Nikita Krylov, in Whittaker’s Light Heavyweight debut (more on that here). UFC 329’s “Prelims” also have Gable Steveson’s UFC debut against massive betting underdog, Elisha Ellison.
It’s a rematch 13 years in the making with Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2 tonight. The literally notorious McGregor has returned without much fanfare to take on one of the sport’s most popular fighters. McGregor last competed five years ago, losing to Dustin Poirier and shattering his shin (relive that here). Since then, he’s been embroiled in major controversies, including being found liable for rape in an Irish civil court.
McGregor has two fights left on his deal, reportedly. It seems like he might be trying to fight out his contract quickly so he can move on to new pastures.
The co-main tonight is Benoit Saint Denis vs. Paddy Pimblett in a high stakes Lightweight bout. Saint-Denis can clear a path to a ***** le shot with an impressive win here over the Englishman. Pimblett will try and show he deserves a second shot at current undisputed champion, Justin Gaethje. Rounding out the main card is Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista, Brandon Royval vs. Lone’er Kavanagh and King Green vs. Terrance McKinney.
The “Prelims” are headlined by Robert Whittaker vs. Nikita Krylov, in Whittaker’s Light Heavyweight debut (more on that here). UFC 329’s “Prelims” also have Gable Steveson’s UFC debut against massive betting underdog, Elisha Ellison.
