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USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Islam Makhachev's coach: Arman Tsarukyan is Ilia Topuria's biggest threat at 155 pounds
Javier Mendez touts Arman Tsarukyan as the fighter who could pose Ilia Topuria the most problems at lightweight. Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) became the first undefeated fighter to claim titles in two divisions after knocking out Charles Oliveira to become lightweight champion in Saturday's UFC 317 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Immediately after the fight, Topuria faced off with Paddy Pimblett, but Islam Makhachev's head coach thinks Tsarukyan could push the newly crowned champion in a way no one has before. "I see Justin Gaethje potentially giving him some problems," Mendez told Submission Radio. "Arman Tsarukyan would be the one that, in my opinion, might give him the most problems because Arman's not going to stand with him. Arman's going to make it a grappling war, so it's going to be a war of attrition. "Can Ilia survive the continuous ground attack that Arman's going to put on him? That would be the test. Can he do that? I don't know. Maybe he can. Look what he did to Charles. Charles came in for the takedown, he freaking switched it on him in midair. That was very impressive." Despite Mendez's high praise of Topuria, during which he called him the best boxer in the UFC, he views welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena as a tougher fight for Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC). "JDM is the tougher one because of, No. 1, the size," Mendez said. "No. 2, he's good everywhere. If it was just boxing, then we don't have to worry as much because JDM's boxing is not as good as Topuria's. But overall, his kicking, his knees, his overall game is very good."
USA Today
18-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Coach shares surprising insight into Islam Makhachev's retirement timeline
Javier Mendez doesn't see Islam Makhachev sticking around for too much longer. Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) relinquished his UFC lightweight title to chase a second belt. He is expected to challenge welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena later in the year. His head coach, Mendez, revealed that with a UFC-record four title defenses at lightweight and the potential to add another belt, he expects Makhachev to follow a similar path as his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov in terms of not overextending his career. "Islam is going to be 34, so it isn't like he's really going to be around much longer, I don't think," Mendez told Submission Radio. "Based on how the Dagestani guys get their mentality on team Khabib, and Islam having enough money to do what he wants to do the rest of his life, so let's see. The challenge for me is being able to get a legacy going for him and getting the welterweight title is a hell of a legacy to have." Mendez predicted how much longer he expects Makhachev to fight. "I'm anticipating we'll see him for hopefully, maybe another three fights total," Mendez said. "Let's see who's in the works on that. If we get by JDM – which, I don't want to really say we're going to get by him because this guy is a tough customer. I'm going to be positive in the fact that we're going to win, but it's kind of hard to overlook JDM." Makhachev was asked about retirement in an interview with Demetrious Johnson in January. He explained his outlook on when he'll know it's time to walk away. "It's not like records, it's not like age," Makhachev said. "My opinion, I go to the gym, and I told you, kids want to show something to me, and when I can understand that I cannot stop the people, I can't compete with the young guys, I'll be thinking about retirement. But right now, it's not time to talk about this because I know I can do more, and I improve in all my fights."
USA Today
11-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ali Abdelaziz: Justin Gaethje considering retirement if he doesn't get next UFC title shot
Ali Abdelaziz: Justin Gaethje considering retirement if he doesn't get next UFC title shot Ali Abdelaziz says it's a UFC lightweight title shot or bust for Justin Gaethje. When Islam Makhachev relinquished his 155-pound belt, Gaethje expected to be one half of the vacant title fight. Instead, the promotion opted to book Ilia Topuria against Charles Oliveira in the UFC 317 headliner on June 28 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Abdelaziz says Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) stepped up big for the UFC on numerous occasions, and feels snubbed out of the title picture. So, if he's not next in line, he may consider taking drastic measures. "Justin Gaethje fights the winner," Abdelaziz told Submission Radio. "He won three of his last four, he saved the UFC two times. They needed him and he's there. The guy did so much for the sport, and if anyone says he doesn't deserve it, and he said, '(If) I'm not going to fight for the title, I'm just going to hang up my gloves.' Justin is a very principled guy, and he really told me this yesterday. "I was with him at the fights. He said, 'I'm not going to get a title shot. I feel disrespected. I love being a UFC fighter, I love the UFC, but I feel that UFC has to love me back,' and he doesn't feel the love right now. At the end of the day, I think they love him, I think they will give him what he wanted. But at the end of the day, we have to see what happens first between Charles and Ilia." Gaethje positioned himself for a title shot after knocking out Dustin Poirier to claim the BMF title at UFC 291. Instead, he ended up defending his BMF title against Max Holloway in the UFC 300 main event, but lost the fight by knockout. He then stepped in on short notice to replace Dan Hooker against Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 in March, and won the bout by unanimous decision.
USA Today
10-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ali Abdelaziz casts doubt on Amanda Nunes returning to fight Kayla Harrison for UFC title
Ali Abdelaziz casts doubt on Amanda Nunes returning to fight Kayla Harrison for UFC title Show Caption Hide Caption UFC 316 matchmaker: Who's next for champs Merab Dvalishvili, Kayla Harrison? Merab Dvalishvili and Kayla Harrison had title-fight wins at UFC 316. What's next for the champs? MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn plays matchmaker. Dominance MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz isn't so certain that Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes will happen. Immediately after submitting Julianna Peña to claim the bantamweight title Saturday at UFC 316, Harrison (19-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) faced off with Nunes (23-5 MMA, 16-2 UFC) in the octagon. Nunes said she's committed to make a full return to competition after retiring in June 2023. Abdelaziz, who manages Harrison, believes Nunes is afraid to fight her former American Top Team training partner. "When Amanda was in the UFC, nobody really cared to be honest with you. When she left, nobody cared," Abdelaziz told Submission Radio. "Now, Kayla brought her back, and Kayla created a moment, like this is a big fight, the environment and how she brought her in. I have my doubts about Amanda. "First, she was sat next to me (at UFC 316), and her energy, she wanted Kayla to lose. She was not cheering for Kayla, definitely she wanted Julianna to win. This is 100 percent, and if you want to fight someone, you want them to win to challenge them, right? She wanted Kayla to lose, and I'm just being real." Abdelaziz thinks Nunes will have some stipulations that could jeopardize the superfight. "This is why I said this fight should happen at 145 because that's what I'm predicting – she will take the fight at 135, and after that, three or two weeks out, she will say, 'I can't make the weight, let's make it at 145,'" Abdelaziz said of Nunes. "Or she's going to pull out." Harrison has opened up as a slight favorite over Nunes, and Abdelaziz is fully confident that she will make easy work of the former UFC double champion. "All respect to Amanda: Nobody gives a sh*t about Amanda," Abdelaziz said. "Let's just be real. When she left, nobody cared. Kayla has made her relevant again because guess what? She has a legacy and accomplishments. Nobody will accomplish what Kayla accomplished in combat sports. It will be impossible to do. "If Kayla never fought Amanda, it won't do anything to her legacy. Kayla can retire tomorrow, and she'll have one of the best legacies in the sport. But Kayla is such a compeititor, that she wants to bring Amanda (back), and she's going to smash her face. She's going to make her quit like she made Julianna quit."
USA Today
10-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Merab Dvalishvili's coach on Cory Sandhagen: 'Stylistically, it works out great for us'
Merab Dvalishvili's coach on Cory Sandhagen: 'Stylistically, it works out great for us' John Wood is confident that UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili will have no issues against Cory Sandhagen. Dvalishvili (20-4 MMA, 13-2 UFC) defeated Sean O'Malley (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) again, this time by submission in Saturday's UFC 316 main event at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Expected to be next in line for Dvalishvili is Sandhagen (18-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC), who was in attendance for the fight. Wood knows that Sandhagen is a crafty striker, but says it's a style Dvalishvili is accustomed to. "Cory is a great fighter, and I enjoy watching him," Wood told Submission Radio. "I think he's a very entertaining fighter, and I think he's got a lot of tools, and a lot of things that are going to be tough to deal with. But I do not believe it's going to be anything different than Merab has seen before. I think it's stuff we are going to have just a fine time with, and it'll be a fun fight. But I can tell you this: Merab's going to come out ahead on that one. "I feel like we've kind of fought that style before. He is a tough guy. He's tricky. But like I said, I know Merab, and I know what he can do, and I know what we're going to do. It's always fun as a coach to game plan against a guy like that. He's got a great team, great coaches, all that stuff, and it's interesting. I think stylistically, it works out great for us." Dvalishvili is hoping for two more title defenses before the end of the year. His head coach shared his ideal timeline for "The Machine's" next fight. "I wouldn't mind getting a Vegas card, maybe October," Wood said. "September might be pushing it. Late October would be real good, just to give Merab a chance if he really does want to sneak in two more, the earlier the better. But I'd like to have a card in Vegas where he can stay home and not have to travel."
