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USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber prediction, pick, start time for UFC 318
Michael Johnson and Daniel Zellhuber meet Saturday in the main card opener of UFC 318 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. Last event: 4-2 UFC main cards, 2025: 68-50-1 Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber UFC 318 preview Johnson (23-19 MMA, 15-15 UFC) has been around the UFC since Season 12 of "The Ultimate Fighter" in 2010. In this fight, he'll look to stay above .500 for his UFC run, while extending his winning streak to three. "The Menace" enters on the heels of a unanimous decision win over Darrius Flowers and a knockout of Ottman Azaitar. ... Zellhuber (15-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) will aim to rebound from a tough split decision loss against Esteban Ribovics at UFC 306. The result snapped a three-fight streak that included wins over Lando Vannata, Christos Giagos and Francisco Prado. Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber UFC 318 expert pick, prediction Kicking off the paid portion of the card is a crossroads fight at lightweight between the UFC veteran Michael Johnson and the up-and-coming Daniel Zellhuber. Although I can appreciate the matchmakers sticking to Joe Silva's tried and true method of booking lightweight main-card openers, this fight could end up being more tepid than some suspect with Johnson being the first notable southpaw of Zellhuber's career. Despite both fighters often finding themselves in exciting fights, I'm curious how the open-stance nature of the matchup will affect Zellhuber's reliance on his jab. Luckily for Zellhuber, he appears to be a fairly dynamic striker and works under Xtreme Couture MMA's Eric Nicksick – who I suspect will have the Mexican fighter well-prepared for this weekend. Johnson used to be one of my favorite underdogs to wager on back in the day, but it's become harder and harder to back the original "Blackzilian" in recent years due to his propensity to fall apart down the stretch. The pick is Zellhuber by unanimous decision. Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber UFC 318 odds The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the Mexican fighter, listing Zellhuber -650 and Johnson +475 via FanDuel. Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber UFC 318 start time, how to watch As the main card opener, Johnson and Zellhuber are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 10:10 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts live on ESPN and ESPN+.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC featherweight rankings: Alexander Volkanovski returns to No. 1 spot after UFC 314
The UFC featherweight rankings showcase some of the best fighters in the entire sport. Where lightweight was once considered the deepest weight class in MMA, 145 pounds has caught up and become one of the premier divisions in the UFC. With that in mind, here is the official Sportsnaut top 10 for the organization's featherweight class. Related: 1. Alexander Volkanovski (27-4) Alexander Volkanovski has solidified his place as the best featherweight of all time. However, trips up in weight for a second title and the rise of Ilia Topuria led to three straight losses for 'The Great' and speculation that his best days were behind him. With Topuria choosing to leave the division and move up to lightweight, the Australian was gifted another chance at the 145-pound belt at UFC 314 when he faced Diego Lopes for the vacant title. In April, the legend turned back the clock one more time and proved he is still an elite fighter to become a two-time featherweight champ. 2. Movsar Evloev (19-0) Movsar Evloev has been outstanding to begin his UFC career. He has won his first nine inside the Octagon and scored wins over proven featherweight veterans like Hakeem Dawodu and Dan Ige. He took another step closer to title contention when he scored a hard-fought victory over former bantamweight king Aljamain Sterling at UFC 310. While it wasn't easy, he was under pressure in a big moment and came through looking like a future title challenger. 3. Diego Lopes (26-7) After making his UFC debut in a very difficult short-notice clash with Movsar Evloev, Diego Lopes has caught fire inside the Octagon. He has won five straight and scored wins over top 15 stalwarts Sodiq Yusuff, Dan Ige, and, most recently, a UFC 306 win over former title challenger Brian Ortega. That is why he fought for gold at UFC 314. While he gave a solid effort, his loss to Alexander Volkanovski showed he still has some work to do if he wants to be a UFC champion one day. 4. Lerone Murphy (16-0-1) England's Lerone Murphy has quietly become one of the best 145-pound fighters in the world. 'The Miracle' has won eight straight inside the Octagon, and none was bigger than his latest victory at UFC Vegas 105 over Josh Emmett. The American has been a stalwart of the top 10 for years, so scoring a win over one of the weight class's elite went a long way toward proving the undefeated has serious title contender potential 5. Yair Rodriguez (19-5) After a period where he battled injuries and some tough losses, there was doubt as to whether Yair Rodriguez would ever reach his potential. He quieted all the uncertainty with massive wins over Brian Ortega and Josh Emmett. The latter made him the new interim champion. However, his reign was short-lived as Alexander Volkanovski took back the undisputed spot at UFC 290. He then followed that up with another decisive loss in his home country to Brian Ortega in February. He entered UFC 314 in a must-win situation if he ever wanted to fight for UFC gold again. In a big fight welcoming Patricio Pitbull to the UFC, 'El Pantera' posted a dominant win to get his name back in the championship conversation. 6. Josh Emmett (19-5) Over the last five years, few fighters at 145 pounds have been better and more consistent than Josh Emmett. Over his 15-fight UFC career, he has scored huge wins over fights like Shane Burgos, Calvin Kattar, Dan Ige and Bryce Mitchell. However, at 40, Father Time is tapping on his shoulder. While he is still a very good fighter, he has lost three of his last four fights, and his dream of one day fighting for UFC gold is done. 7. Arnold Allen (20-3) There are few fighters who have been better than Arnold Allen over the last decade. His recent 11-fight win streak was one of the best in division history, and it turned him into one of the United Kingdom's top fighters. However, his title-contender hopes were derailed in a decisive loss to Max Holloway. That was followed up by another setback to Movsar Evloev. However, he bounced back at UFC 304 with an important victory over talented striker Giga Chikadze. 8. Jean Silva (16-2) If there were any doubts about how good Jean Silva is, he sent a massive message to the division at UFC 314. He passed a huge test by completely shutting down Bryce Mitchell's grappling and pummeled him on the feet. But even better, instead of getting another knockout win, he actually submitted the American. He has won 13 straight overall and all five in the Octagon. 'Lord' is a problem. 9. Aljamain Sterling (24-5) After an outstanding run at bantamweight that should land him a run in the UFC Hall of Fame one day, Aljamain Sterling made the jump to featherweight in 2024. While he has split his first two in the division, he has faced elite-level competition in Calvin Kattar (win) and Movsar Evloev (loss). While he may never fight for gold at 145 pounds, he will be a big problem for any fighter in the top 10 for as long as he stays in it. 10. Youssef Zalal (17-5-1) After losing three straight and being on the brink of being cut, Youssef Zalal has caught fire over the last three years. In that time, he has won seven straight, with the biggest yet coming in February when he scored a definitive win over top 15 stalwart Calvin Kattar. Related Headlines Six Philadelphia Eagles Who Must Step Up for Another Super Bowl Run Steelers Make T.J. Watt Highest-Paid Defender in NFL History Derrick Lewis Next Fight: 3 Options for 'Black Beast's' UFC Return, Including Sergei Pavlovich UFC Lightweight Rankings: Where Do Poirier and Holloway Land Ahead of UFC 318 Showdown?
Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Conor McGregor ‘whispered' UFC comeback details and his future fighting plans
Conor McGregor is gearing up for his long-awaited UFC comeback after revealing to his BKFC business partner David Feldman that he's rejoined the sport's drug testing programme. The Irish fighter - who's been making waves in the headlines this week - has been away from the MMA organisation for four years, with his most recent clash ending in July 2021 when he suffered a TKO defeat (doctor stoppage) during his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier. Although the 37-year-old was scheduled to stage his return last year in a showdown with Michael Chandler, he pulled out of the bout after breaking his toe. Talk of McGregor's potential comeback became increasingly rare, leaving supporters concerned they might have witnessed the final appearance of the 'Notorious' fighter inside the UFC octagon. Nevertheless, US president Donald Trump's announcement regarding plans for a landmark UFC event to be held at the White House during America's Semiquincentennial celebration next July has apparently sparked McGregor's eagerness to secure his place on the card. Feldman has subsequently disclosed that his BKFC co-owner had shared his UFC aspirations with him privately. During an appearance on the Ariel X Ade show, he revealed: "He's got two fights left on his contract, and he's got to get right," reports Dublin Live. Conor McGregor is aiming to return to MMA next year to compete at the White House (Image: AP) "The whole world's waiting, is he going to get in shape and fight? And he told me in person, he whispered in my ear. 'I'm in the testing pool, I'm getting ready to make my comeback. "'I'm going to fight on that [White House] card, then I'm going to have another fight, and then we can talk.' That's what he said [to Feldman]." McGregor has since officially announced his return to the drug testing pool in a chat with MMA journalist, The Schmo, confirming: "They're testing me. "I'm in the pool. That's what pools are for - jumping in and out. But I'm back in the pool. So get ready and stay ready, because damage will be done." With McGregor hinting at a comeback to MMA, the list of potential rivals is an exciting prospect for any combat sports fan, with names like Paddy Pimblett, Ilia Topuria, and Islam Makhachev on the table. The 37-year-old has not featured in a UFC fight for over four years (Image: Photo by) The buzz around the event has even tempted Jon Jones to consider coming out of his recent retirement, despite having left the sport only weeks prior and after much speculation about a heavyweight mega-fight with Tom Aspinall. Jones has teased fans by saying: "I can't promise anyone anything, but I have a very strong feeling that I'll be on that card." Dana White, UFC CEO, has promised a card so special that it'll triumph what he achieved at UFC 306, which was held at the Las Vegas Sphere. He claimed: "Like when we did the Sphere. It's the Sphere on steroids. It's gonna be a one-of-one event. There'll be nothing like it ever again. I'm going to make this one of the greatest events of all time. It will be a full card, and it will be the best card we've ever done to date."
USA Today
15-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Daniel Zellhuber has 'mixed feelings' about 2024 Fight of the Year vs. Esteban Ribovics
There are thousands of MMA fights a year, but only one can win the Fight of the Year award. Yet, despite the praise and honor, Daniel Zellhuber is not fully content with that achievement. Zellhuber won MMA Junkie's 2024 Fight of the Year – and won it across many other publications, too – for his war against Argentina's Esteban Ribovics in the main card of last year's Noche UFC (UFC 306) at the Sphere in Las Vegas. It was 15 minutes of non-stop striking, with both fighters badly rocking each other multiple times throughout the fight. In the end, Ribovics ended up winning a split decision. The two lightweight prospects took a $50,000 bonus each for Fight of the Night. "It's a bag of mixed feelings," Zellhuber told Hablemos MMA in Spanish, reflecting on his award ahead of his return. "In a way, of course, I'm happy and proud – up to a certain point – to be able to say at just 25 years old, I already have a Fight of the Year and under the best promotion in MMA. It's crazy to think that Esteban and I, out of all 700 and something fights that were in 2024, we were the best. Zellhuber (15-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) makes his first appearance since the war against Ribovics this Saturday at UFC 318 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) from Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. He takes on veteran Michael Johnson (23-19 MMA, 15-15 UFC) in the main card opener. The other side of that "bag of mixed feelings" for his 2024 Fight of the Year is obviously the fact that he fell short and saw a three-fight winning streak come to an end. The 25-year-old doesn't think he fought to his full capabilities, and that eats at him to this day. "However, then comes the competitive part," Zellhuber said. "I know I had a mediocre performance. I know I didn't do what I'm capable of doing due to a million excuses I could explain to you here, which I won't do because that's not who I am or the values that I have. I know I could've done it better. My intention now is to go out there this Saturday and knock out Michael Johnson like I know I can, and then look for that rematch at some point. Or, if not, I'd like to fight Nasrat Haqparast, who recently beat Esteban in another great fight. And yeah, just keep growing. "I've turned the page. I've learned from my mistakes. It's weird. I feel like any other fighter would be OK with what you just said. Yes, I have a Fight of the Year in UFC, and many people in the UFC have even told me that that fight could one day enter the UFC Hall of Fame because of what it represented, being in Noche UFC, the Sphere, and even with all that, I'm not happy. And that's because I lost. It's like a consolation prize. That's not how I work. All I can do now is get back in the win column with this fight and continue to grow."
India Today
04-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
President Donald Trump eyes UFC event at the White House for USA's 250th anniversary
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, revealed on Thursday, 3 July, that he is planning to host a UFC event on the grounds of the White House in 2026. The announcement was made during a speech at Iowa's state fairgrounds, ahead of the country's Independence Day celebrations on 4 July. The proposed event is intended to be part of the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of who has been a regular attendee at UFC events even before his return to office, has maintained close ties with UFC President Dana White. During his speech, Trump said, 'We're going to have a UFC fight—think of this—on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there. We are going to build a little—well, we're not—Dana is going to do it. We're going to have a UFC championship fight, a full event, with around 20 to 25,000 people. We're going to do that as part of the 250th celebrations.'Both UFC and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) are owned by TKO Group Holdings, though the organisation has not commented on the proposal yet. Trump has a long history with combat sports entertainment, including a notable storyline during his involvement with WWE in 2007. His relationship with Dana White dates back over two decades, from the early days of the UFC before it became a mainstream global brand. Trump's most recent appearance at a UFC event was at UFC 316 in New Jersey, held at the Prudential Centre. The main event saw Merab Dvalishvili successfully defend his bantamweight title against Sean O'Malley via a third-round submission. Dvalishvili had previously claimed the belt at UFC 306, in a landmark event held at The Sphere in Las Vegas, where he defeated O'Malley by unanimous no official confirmation has been made regarding the 2026 event at the White House, the idea remains a possibility, especially given Trump and Dana White's long-standing friendship and the UFC's history of hosting major events across the United States and internationally.- EndsTune InMust Watch
