Latest news with #Octagon
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lerone Murphy on Aaron Pico bout: 'A fighter like me, who's quiet and whatnot, I've got to take these chances'
Lerone Murphy has the biggest opportunity of his career lined up for Aug. 16 against promotional newcomer Aaron Pico at UFC 319. Competing in the promotion's big return to Chicago wasn't initially part of Murphy's summer plans. Top-ranked featherweight contender Movsar Evloev was instead tasked with welcoming Pico to the Octagon, however Evloev was ultimately forced to withdraw from the bout with an undisclosed injury. Speaking to Uncrowned on Monday's edition of "The Ariel Helwani Show," Murphy revealed that he was offered the matchup on short notice only a matter of days ago, yet he was fully on board with it immediately. "It's going to bring good eyes to me and it's a big opportunity for me now, in the position I'm in, to make some noise and try to get that No. 1 spot," Murphy explained. "A fighter like me, who's quiet and whatnot, I've got to take these chances. They're not going to give me nothing for free. "A fight's a fight. For me, I'm going in there with no pressure. Don't get it twisted, he's coming from another organization, but this kid's good. This kid's high level. I believe this is like a championship-level fight. He's good enough to compete with anyone in that division, especially in the top 10. So yeah, I think it's a big fight, it's a big stop to tick." Murphy, 34, joins the fast-growing list of UFC stalwarts to receive the honor of tackling one of the promotion's big-name acquisitions from the PFL-Bellator merger. Before Pico made the jump, his fellow former Bellator standouts Patchy Mix and Patricio Pitbull notably floundered in their UFC debuts. Despite Pico's lack of comparative experience to those two, Murphy doesn't want to discredit his next obstacle. The Brit also saw no reason to refuse the fight just because Pico has yet to debut. "He's fought some good guys, to be fair, but definitely not the level of guys I've fought," Murphy said. "I've fought better fighters than he has, so I think I've got the edge in experience. But yeah, he's wrestled from [early childhood] as well, so a fight's a fight. I've been in there with the best of the guys, and I'll be ready for Aaron Pico. Simple. "The game's the game. Listen, from a business perspective, people would probably have said, 'You shouldn't take the fight, sit out and wait for a big opportunity.' But it's like, for me, I think this is a big opportunity. I just want to fight as well, bro. I'm not getting no younger. I just want to stay active, I want to fight. Everybody else seems to get surgery and whatnot. Do I want to be sat out waiting until December, November? No, I don't. I'm ready to go now. So, whoever, whenever. "If I believe I can be champion, I've got to be able to fight anybody in any given moment, and that's it for me," Murphy continued. "We took the fight. I know it's a tough fight. I know it's a dangerous fight. Big risk, big reward, isn't it? Simple. I'm happy and I'm excited." As a UFC newcomer, Pico still finds himself in a massive spot with the late opponent switch, switching from one undefeated top featherweight contender to another. Like Evloev, Murphy has long been on a tear, winning 16 of his 17 career bouts, with the lone non-victory coming in the form of a draw six years ago in his UFC debut. Yet Murphy's winning streak hasn't yet put him at the forefront of title talks. For "The Miracle," he believes that's more a sign of the times than a knock on his talent. "I feel like MMA nowadays is like the WWE. You've got to have it all," Murphy said. "You've got to have the acting skills, there's a lot that comes with the game. "It's not just about who's the best fighter. If it was, there's a lot of guys that would have fought for the title a long time ago. It's about who's the fan favorite, and you see other guys in the division getting big, fast pushes. I fought two main events, beat two guys in main events. Two five-rounders. Three guys in the top 15, and I've still got to fight these people [like Pico]. So that just goes to show, if you're a fan favorite, you get fast-tracked. It's business, I get it." Murphy believes the same logic can be applied to Evloev and how he was lined up with Pico despite being the No. 1-ranked contender. As successful as Evloev has been, his lack of a finishes in his nine UFC fights has led to speculation that the UFC wants to see him be more exciting before he gets a title shot. But Murphy sees the potential to leapfrog the heap and get a title shot of his own if he takes out Pico. Reigning UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is among the current crop of titleholders still waiting to get their next title defense, which only gives Murphy more confidence he can make waves with an impactful performance. If nothing else, UFC 319 provides a good spotlight that the Brit intends to capitalize on. "I just explained the game," Murphy said. "When you look at it from the UFC's perspective, it's like, who's going to sell the pay-per-views? It's a business, and who's going to pay to see Volkanovski vs. Evloev? I personally would like to see it, but most people probably won't. They'll probably want to see the Diego Lopeses, the Jean Silvas. These guys that have got a bit of hype. The game's the game, isn't it? And if it goes off [merit], maybe Evloev should have gotten the title, but he's just pulled out of this fight here, another opportunity, so it's going to be a long road for him. "I think this fight's going to be a fire fight. I think we're both going to show our weight in gold and I believe this is the No. 1 contender fight. That was the No. 1 contender fight, Evloev and Pico, 100%. And obviously UFC want more U.S. champions, I believe. They've got one U.S. champion now at the moment. "I know if I go out there and do what I need to do, do what I know I can do, everybody's going to be screaming for my shot."
USA Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Daniel Cormier fires back at Jon Jones over UFC weigh-in show assumption
Daniel Cormier is over Jon Jones assuming he's always the topic of conversation. The latest chapter of the never-ending saga between Cormier in Jones stems from the UFC 318: Morning Weigh-in Show, where Cormier responded to the rapid-fire question: If you were to fight your enemy anywhere or a random place, where would it be? "I kind of want the ability to kill him, so I'd like to do it at my house," Cormier said on the show. Dan Hellie followed up by asking who Cormier would be fighting. Paul Felder quipped, "I think we know." Cormier laughed, and Hellie added, "Does it rhyme with Mon Mones?" The panel's laughter continued, and Cormier clarified by stating, "I don't dislike Jon Jones, I think he's fine." Jones caught wind of the moment, and fired off a couple of messages on X (formerly Twitter) in reaction to the moment. "DC said he wants to kill me at this house," Jones wrote. "I already buried him twice in the Octagon. Third time I'm bringing a shovel." Jones continued in response to someone who attempted to clarify that Cormier did not state that directly. "A blind man can see the mansion I own in Daniel's head," Jones wrote. "I just didn't realize how deep his hate still runs. Those ass whoopings must've left more than bruises, I feel like I'm the most painful thing that ever happened to that man's life. Emotional damage." Cormier took time out to respond to Jones' messages in a video posted to his YouTube channel. "I never once said Jon Jones was the person I was speaking about," Cormier said on his YouTube channel. "I never said it! Go back and watch the clip. I never once mentioned his name. ... Not true! I never said I wanted to kill him at my house." Cormier acknowledges that his peers on the panel were referencing Jones and the laughter that came along with it, which may have really been the reason Jones was set off. "Maybe Jon doesn't like people laughing when talking about him," Cormier said. "But a lot of the behaviors lately have a lot of people laughing about him and not with him." As Cormier continued to defend his position as an analyst who is required to discuss the fight world, including talking about all things Jones, he explained that he probably wouldn't bring Jones' name up if it wasn't his job. The UFC Hall of Famer admits the losses to Jones "sucked," but he's moved on and made peace with the results. "We can't fight, so why would I let you occupy space in my head?" Cormier said. "I'm doing great. My life is awesome. I do a job where I talk about the news. You have been the news. ... I never said him. People assume I was talking about Jon Jones, but what about maybe that I was talking about a guy that made my childhood ridiculous. Maybe it was someone else. Maybe it was somebody that I just don't like outside of fighting. You don't know. Only an insecure person would go immediately, 'He's talking about me.' No. Maybe I wasn't – but maybe I was. You don't know – but again, I didn't say a name on purpose." Cormier also found it a step too far for Jones to state that he was the most painful thing that had happened in his life, as he has experienced significantly larger losses in his personal life. "You can't say that you're the most painful thing that's happened in a person's life when they've lost a child," Cormier said. "That's the craziest thing in the world. You say I'm the most painful thing that's happened in a person's life, and they've lost a child – or their father got murdered – but again, he knows that. That's why you know you're dealing with a different type of human being."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dana White and Jon Jones Feud Over UFC White House Event Explained
Dana White and Jon Jones Feud Over UFC White House Event Explained originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Recently retired UFC all-time great Jon Jones has been creating buzz due to his plans to come out of his very brief retirement, as he announced he would be returning to the Octagon when he attended the ESPYs. The former champ has also re-entered the UFC's drug-testing pool, and has expressed his desire to fight on the proposed White House UFC pay-per-view card. During the UFC 318 post-fight press conference, CEO and president Dana White clarified that he does not want Jon Jones to be part of the historic UFC event planned for the White House in July 2026, despite the former champion's eagerness to return. Given Jones' history of controversies and fight cancellations, White said, 'You know how I felt about him. I just can't risk putting him in big positions in a big spot and have something go wrong, especially the White House card.' Despite Jones' mythical status in MMA, White remains wary of trusting him with such a high-stakes event. "It's not even about him winning the belt," White clarified. "I just can't risk putting him in big positions and have something go wrong." This statement contrasts greatly with his recent Full Send podcast appearance, in which he expressed that a Jon Jones fight at the White House would be a 'dream event.' Jones, who saw White's comments, responded with disappointment. Jones wrote on social media, "I heard the comments made at last night's press conference. While I was a little disappointed, I'm still in the UFC's drug testing pool, staying sharp, and continuing to train like a professional. I'll be ready for whatever comes next." White's hesitation may stem from Jones' turbulent past, including multiple failed drug tests, recent legal issues, and high-profile fight cancellations. Most notably, Jones' constant refusal to face Tom Aspinall before his retirement led to widespread unpopularity across the MMA world, with even Dana White giving up on the heavyweight unification bout. Jones, meanwhile, insists he is ready to compete and is focused on legacy rather than titles or paychecks. "For me, it's never been just about the opponent. I'm chasing legacy, something timeless, something bigger than the moment," his social media post reads. 'So for now, I'll keep grinding, stay patient, and stay faithful. I'm ready to fight on July 4th.' If history is any indication of the possible future, however, Jones might just be bluffing and may further delay a fight against Aspinall. It will be a tiresome affair for everyone involved if he decides to once again leave the current heavyweight champion waiting for an opportunity that may never come. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
News18
5 days ago
- Sport
- News18
UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. de Ridder—Abu Dhabi Showdown
Last Updated: Robert Whittaker faces Reinier de Ridder in a crucial UFC fight at Etihad Arena. Whittaker seeks redemption, while de Ridder aims to stay unbeaten. Saturday, July 26, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (27-8-0) squares off against Dutch grappling phenom Reinier de Ridder (20-2-0) in a pivotal five-round clash. Whittaker, known as 'The Reaper," returns to the Octagon seeking redemption after a submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev last October. De Ridder, unbeaten in the UFC, arrives on an impressive streak of three finishes in eight months. Tale of Two Styles: The main event Whittaker, the No. 5-ranked contender, boasts a crisp striking attack honed over 18 UFC fights and 4 hours of Octagon time, with a 45.99% significant striking accuracy and 4.54 strikes landed per minute. A veteran of championship wars, he blends karate-based movement with powerful combinations. 'He's a well-accomplished fighter…but he hasn't fought anyone like me," Whittaker warned at media day, confident his speed and striking will create openings to exploit. De Ridder, the No. 13 contender, stands 6'4" with a 78.66% striking accuracy and an average of 1.36 submission attempts per fight. A two-division ONE Championship titleholder, he excels in positional control and relentless pressure. Rising bantamweight contender Marcus McGhee (10-1-0) makes the biggest leap of his career when he meets former champion Petr Yan (18-5-0). Yan, rebounding from a three-fight slump with wins over Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo, looks to reestablish himself as a title threat. McGhee enters 4-0 in the UFC, featuring six straight stoppages. This clash of precision striking versus explosive power promises fireworks. – Middleweight: Shara Magomedov (15-1-0) vs. Marc-André Barriault (17-9-0) Magomedov, coming off his first career loss to Michael Page, seeks a bounce-back against Canada's Barriault, who snapped a three-fight skid with a May knockout. A contrast of high-volume kickboxing and gritty boxing, this bout could steal the show if they let their hands fly. – Flyweight: Asu Almabayev (21-3-0) vs. José Ochoa (8-1-0) Almabayev's swarming pace and striking output will be tested by Ochoa's shrewd grappling. With flyweight depth at an all-time high, a dominant win here positions the victor for a divisional rise. – Light Heavyweight: Nikita Krylov (30-10-0) vs. Bogdan Guskov (17-3-0) Krylov's veteran savvy meets Guskov's undefeated promise. Look for early testing of timing and counters as each fighter hunts a finish; expect a back-and-forth war. The Storyline Since his 2017 title reign, Whittaker has remained in elite contention but stumbled against Chimaev. Now, 'After losing, I've always gotten better…and come back with a win. It's important…to move toward the title," he reflected, emphasizing the mental reset and hunger driving his training camp. A former physical therapist turned two-division champion, de Ridder's UFC run has been nothing short of spectacular: three finishes in less than a year. 'They don't think I can do it…They got it wrong this time," he quipped on being labeled an underdog, illustrating his unwavering self-belief. Division in flux With champion Dricus du Plessis preparing to face Khamzat Chimaev next, the middleweight picture is up for grabs. A victory for Whittaker vaults him back into title conversation; for de Ridder, it would cement dark-horse status as the next title challenger. Why This Card Matters UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. de Ridder isn't just another card—it's a crossroads for multiple divisions. From Whittaker's quest to regain his throne to de Ridder's bid at stardom, from Yan's title hopes to Muñoz's showcase of Europe's rising talents, the night promises drama, technique, and heart-stopping finishes. MMA fans should prepare for a high-octane main card where every fight carries stakes that ripple through 185 lb, 135 lb, and beyond. News18 Sports brings you the latest updates, live commentary, and highlights from cricket, football, tennis, badmintion, wwe and more. Catch breaking news, live scores, and in-depth coverage. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
What's On
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- What's On
Top things to do in Abu Dhabi this weekend: July 25 to 27
Clear your schedule because there's a brawl brewing on Yas Island, a bit of magic over at Saadiyat, and a moonlit beach that's giving hot girl summer the night shift. Whether you're chasing thrills, chilling with the kids or just hungry for something different, here are four solid ways to make the most of your weekend in Abu Dhabi. Step into the Octagon at UFC Fight Night Reinier de Ridder. Image: Getty Images Robert Whittaker faces off against the undefeated Reinier de Ridder in a night of explosive action at Etihad Arena. Expect big hits, louder cheers and a crowd that lives for the drama. It's going to be loud. It's going to be live. Don't miss it. Location: Etihad Arena, Yas Island Times: Doors open at 5.30pm on Saturday, July 26 Cost: From Dhs195 Contact: Wander through the Liwa Date Festival Tucked away in Al Dhafra, the Liwa Date Festival is where tradition and taste come together. Think palm tree pride, local craftsmanship, and enough fresh dates to keep your sweet tooth satisfied. It's a celebration of culture, community and the desert's most prized fruit. Location: Liwa City, Al Dhafra Times: Daily from 10am to 8.30pm Cost: Free entry Contact: 050 443 0003 Enter the wizarding world at Harry Potter: The Exhibition Harry Potter book party Hogwarts is calling and it's right here on Saadiyat Island. Step into the spellbinding world of Harry Potter where you can explore interactive displays, iconic props and rooms straight from the films. It's immersive, magical and made for fans of all ages. Location: Manarat Al Saadiyat, Al Saadiyat Island Times:Friday: 12pm to 8.30pm last entry (venue open until 10.30pm), Saturday: 10am to 8.30pm last entry (venue open until 10.30pm), Sunday: 10am to 7.30pm last entry (venue open until 9.30pm) Cost: From Dhs115 Contact: 02 657 5800 Take a moonlit swim at Marsana Night Beach Skip the heat and head for the water once the sun sets. Marsana Night Beach is the city's first after-dark beach experience, complete with chill vibes and a shoreline that glows after hours. Bring your towel and your friends. The weekend swim starts after sunset. Location: Marsana East Beach, Hudayriyat Island Times: Friday to Sunday, sunset to midnight Cost: Dhs100 for adults, Dhs25 for kids aged 6 to 11, free for children under 6 Contact: @marsanahudayriyat > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
