issue 220
August 2025
Paul Browne jumps into the Fighters Only wayback-when machine to recap the best of mixed martial arts in Aug 2025.
DWCS Grad Malcolm Wellmaker Quickly Making His Mark
Surging bantamweight finisher talks to Fighters Only’s E. Spencer Kyte about his path to MMA, his blistering start in the UFC, and what the future may hold.
The Beginning of the Journey
Prior to this year, the last time the UFC brought an event to Atlanta, Malcolm Wellmaker was just beginning his immersion into the sport of mixed martial arts. He stood at 2–0 as an amateur, having first walked into Faglier’s Mixed Martial Arts simply to get back into shape.
“To be honest, when I grew up, I was kinda a problem child,” laughs the surging UFC bantamweight prospect, as he traces his journey from apprentice pipe-fitter with zero MMA experience to one of the sport’s hottest rising stars in just over seven years. “I wasn’t fighting all the time, but I fought a little bit.”
“When it came to actually going to the gym, it was only to get in shape; that’s all it was. I was maybe a year into the apprenticeship. I wasn’t as skinny as I used to be, I was drinking more, eating more, and I wasn’t happy with how I looked anymore. A couple guys on the job site had jiu-jitsu or MMA experience, and they were like, ‘Hey man, you should get into MMA. You’ll get in shape and learn to defend yourself.’ That was the springboard.”
“I showed up the first day, got my ass kicked, and showed back up.”
Found Family
In today’s MMA landscape, it’s common for fighters to start locally, then transition to major gyms as they climb the ranks. But Wellmaker has remained loyal to the same team that’s been with him from day one.
“Pops became like a father figure to me. Jason and Joel became real brothers to me,” he says of Jason Faglier Sr. and his sons, Jason Jr. and Joel—his longtime coaches and corner team. “It feels good to be able to do this with them. I’ve seen the gym grow, the programs develop, and it’s all amazing—but honestly, it’s small compared to what they’ve done for me.”
“There were so many nights where I needed help—not as a fighter, but as a son or a brother—and I was able to call them at two or three in the morning. They were there for me. This is just part of me doing what I’m supposed to as a brother and as a son.”
Handling Business
From the beginning of his professional career, Wellmaker has shown one clear trend: he finishes fights.
After a 9–1 amateur run with seven finishes, he turned pro in 2022 and racked up six straight wins, including four finishes. That streak earned him a spot on Season 8 of Dana White’s Contender Series. There, he knocked out Adam Bramhald with a vicious overhand right, face-planting him into the canvas and earning a UFC contract in the process.
“Man, it’s crazy,” he says, smiling when asked about his UFC start—two walk-off KOs, both in the first round. “I tell people all the time that I stumbled into this.”
“This wasn’t even in the deck of cards I thought I had. So to be in the UFC—and not just in it, but succeeding after balancing fighting with the apprenticeship—it still feels unreal.”
“I remember watching Conor McGregor’s debut against Marcus Brimage over and over again before I fought Cameron Saaiman. I was like, ‘If I can have a debut like that, I’ll be set up.’ Then I go and do what I did?”
He flattened Saaiman in under two minutes in April, and followed it up with another stunning KO against Kris Moutinho—who was known for being notoriously durable.
A Perfect Homecoming
Growing up just two hours east of Atlanta, Wellmaker lobbied hard to compete at the UFC event in June at State Farm Arena—and got his wish. Paired with Moutinho, who’d earned a second UFC shot after five regional finishes, Wellmaker made his walk to the Octagon feel like a celebration.
“It was massive and still feels like a dream,” he told the UFC's Maddyn Johnstone-Thomas.
After a barrage of body shots and low kicks, he landed a pinpoint right hook that dropped Moutinho cold.
“I’m gonna be honest: it’s incredible to me that he kept walking forward,” Wellmaker says. “A lot of those shots—to the head and the body—were hard. After most of those, guys back up. But he didn’t.”
“It was him pulling his elbows down to defend the body shots when I thought, ‘I got him.’ Then there was a small moment where we clinched, and I heard his breathing—it was heavy. That’s when I knew it was working.”
“As I saw him start to worry about the body shots more, I knew it was only a matter of time until I found the chin.”
Two fights. Two first-round finishes. Two post-fight bonuses.
Too good.
Going Forward
The sophomore slump never came. Wellmaker’s already proven his debut was no fluke—and he’s gaining momentum.
“Objectively, looking at how my career started, I do feel like I’ve found something special,” he says. “People see the right hand, but those that know fighting, they also see the technique, the setups. It’s not luck—the respect is justified.”
“It’s incredible. It’s mind-blowing. And man, it’s right.”
As for what’s next?
“A lot of people talk about these knockouts and the pressure that comes with them. Honestly, if someone can take me to the second or third round, you’re still gonna be entertained,” he laughs. “You guys love violence. If someone gives me a chance to show more of what I can do, I’ll take it. But I never feel pressure for the walk-off KOs because I know the fans are getting a show.”
“As far as the rest of the year, I don’t care who it is—I just want to fight again, at least once, maybe twice. I see names floating around on the internet, and honestly, they find out before I do.”
“Alexandre Topuria would be amazing. Adrian Yanez would be so fun. But I don’t know more than you guys. I’m just hoping it’s something fun.”
Given what we’ve seen so far, if Malcolm Wellmaker is involved—it will be.
Muhammad Mokaev Reflects on UFC Exit and Road to Redemption
Muhammad Mokaev has been reflecting on his past mistakes.
His world was turned upside down last year when he was unexpectedly released by the UFC following an underwhelming win over Manel Kape at UFC 304 in Manchester, England.
At the time, Mokaev (14-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) was just 23 years old and appeared to be on the verge of a title shot against Alexandre Pantoja before the rug was pulled out from under him.
Now that the dust has settled, “The Punisher” has been contemplating what went wrong.
"I was fighting on my last fight deal of my contract against Manel, so it all depended on my performance," Mokaev said while speaking to former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson in a video posted to his YouTube channel. "Basically, Mick Maynard is the matchmaker of (the) UFC flyweight division, and basically the story is, he asked Dana to keep the division, and he wanted more exciting fighters, and for the UFC, it's strikers, strikers with finishes.
"For myself, I did the seven fight within two years, and you know to make flyweight, it's hard, and within two years I had seven fight against four of them were top 15 opponents Basically, the more I fought, the less performance I show because the longer you're in training camp you just get tired of it.
“I started with great performances and I started slowing down and just didn't have the hunger. I just thought, 'I just need to reach to the title, reach to the title.' Everything in my head was about Pantoja, I didn't care if I won by decision. I didn't care about that. The only guy in my head was Pantoja and that's it. Basically, I was fighting Manel in my last (fight of my) deal and if I knocked him out they would definitely (have) signed me and given me the best deal, but I didn't finish him, and basically they didn't resign me."
Mokaev Sets Record Straight on UFC Departure
In the immediate aftermath of UFC 304, rumors began circulating about Mokaev’s behavior behind the scenes during fight week. A high-profile altercation with Manel Kape prior to the bout drew significant attention, but Mokaev insists his release was due more to his pragmatic fighting style than to any antisocial behavior.
"I've been told, 'Listen, you need to put performance and go out there and take risks if you want a new contract,'" Mokaev said. "It wasn't about the (altercation with Kape) I did outside the hotel. It didn't help, but it wasn't the main reason. It was all about the performance. I don't think it’s fair because we're martial arts, and I was 23 years old and 7-0 in the UFC. I can't be the best Mokaev with flying knees every fight. Sometimes the fight can be ugly, depending on the opponent. I basically felt I was going to get cut."
Mokaev has bounced between promotions during his year in the wilderness. MMA wins with Brave Combat Federation and 971 FC—bookending a knockout victory in Karate Combat—have kept the Manchester-based Dagestani busy. Still, he hasn’t given up hope of one day returning to the Octagon.
"I think I'm going to win a couple more fights, and I want to sit down with UFC and talk to them because I want to see what's next for my career, and I believe there's a chance for me to come back and take the belt," Mokaev said. "I'm not saying I'm going to run past Pantoja, Pantoja is one of the toughest opponents, but I have trained with him and I don't see anything special."
Pimblett Aims to Leapfrog Tsarukyan for Topuria Showdown
Paddy Pimblett is hoping to leapfrog Arman Tsarukyan into title contention.
Former Cage Warriors champion Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) has emerged as one of the UFC’s biggest lightweight stars in recent years. After a strong start to his UFC career, the Liverpool native scored an impressive win over former Bellator champion Michael Chandler at UFC 314 earlier this year, propelling him into the top ten at 155 pounds.
Pimblett has shared a heated rivalry with Ilia Topuria since an altercation before UFC London in 2022. After Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) was crowned the new UFC lightweight champion at UFC 317 in June, Pimblett stepped into the Octagon to face off with “El Matador.”
"Hopefully, it is going to be me vs. the chorizo next," Pimblett said this week on his YouTube channel. "And I think that's what all the Americans want, because every American I bumped into keeps saying, 'When are you going to smash that sausage's head in?' I'm hoping that gets sorted, but I understand that I am like ranked nine or something. So, other people probably are more deserving, but 'posh boy' definitely isn't – little rich boy Arman."
Arman Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) — currently ranked seven spots above Pimblett in the UFC’s official lightweight standings — was scheduled to face then-champion Islam Makhachev in the main event at UFC 311 in January but was forced to withdraw at the last minute due to a back injury.
Rumors have since circulated that difficulties making the 155-pound limit may have played a major role in Tsarukyan’s decision to pull out. That speculation has fueled Pimblett’s dismissal of Tsarukyan’s calls for another title shot.
"Spoiled rich baby trying to pay their way out of things," Pimblett said. "That's why he quit when he was making weight in a bath like a little b*tch. Arman's irrelevant. No one cares about him."
Another fighter eyeing a shot at Topuria is Justin Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC). Rumors had been swirling that Pimblett could be matched against “The Highlight” in a No. 1 contender bout later this year, but Gaethje quickly shot down the idea, declaring he would retire if he wasn’t granted an immediate title opportunity.
"As I always say, I've got nothing but respect for Justin, but I keep seeing in interviews him saying he doesn't want to fight me," Pimblett said. "I think the only fight to make is me and Ilia."
Shaking the Ladder: What’s Next for Anthony Hernandez?
Last Saturday’s dominant win over Roman Dolidze could be the catalyst that pushes Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez into the middleweight title conversation.
After extending his winning streak to eight in the main event of UFC Vegas 109, Hernandez (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) jumped three spots in the official UFC middleweight rankings, moving ahead of both Robert Whittaker and Jared Cannonier, while Dolidze dropped one place to No. 11.
Hernandez had already been turning heads in the division thanks to an impressive run that includes victories over Roman Kopylov, Michel Pereira, and Brendan Allen. But it was the way he dismantled Dolidze last weekend that drew the most attention.
With current UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili in Dolidze’s corner at the UFC Apex, Hernandez delivered a performance reminiscent of “The Machine” himself during his own rise to greatness. Already the record holder for the most takedowns in UFC middleweight history, Hernandez pushed that number to 54 against Dolidze. At 185 pounds, only Dricus Du Plessis (nine) owns a longer active winning streak.
With six finishes across his eight straight victories, Hernandez’s case for inclusion among the division’s elite is impossible to ignore. The question now is where the 32-year-old fits into the broader title picture at middleweight.
The UFC’s Crowded Road to the Middleweight Title
On the eve of the title showdown between Dricus Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) and Khamzat Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) at UFC 319 this Saturday, it appears likely that the winner of the UFC Paris headliner on September 6 — featuring Nassourdine Imavov (16-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC) vs. Caio Borralho (17-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) — will be next in line for the belt, regardless of who leaves Chicago with the championship this weekend.
If that turns out to be the case, the UFC will need to decide what to do with the two other fighters who have recently crashed the middleweight title picture — Anthony Hernandez and Reinier de Ridder.
Former ONE Championship titleholder De Ridder (21-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) has looked sensational during his own winning run since joining the UFC twelve months ago. This week, there have been calls for the promotion to match Hernandez against the big Dutchman while the Du Plessis/Chimaev and Imavov/Borralho situations play out over the rest of the year.
While a Hernandez vs. De Ridder clash would no doubt deliver fireworks, there may be a more strategic option for UFC matchmakers.
Former champions Israel Adesanya (24-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) and Sean Strickland (29-7 MMA, 16-7 UFC) are both ranked inside the top four at 185 pounds — ahead of both Hernandez and De Ridder — and neither currently has a fight booked. Rather than eliminate a rising contender by pairing Hernandez and De Ridder, it might make more sense to match each man against one of the former champions and see which one shines brightest.
Nominees Revealed for the 17th Annual Fighters Only World MMA Awards
LAS VEGAS – Rob Hewitt, Fighters Only Founder and CEO, is pleased to announce the nominees for the 17th Annual Fighters Only World MMA Awards.
The event’s voting website is now live at WorldMMAAwards.com, where fans around the world can cast their votes for who they believe deserves to win.
“The evolution and growth of mixed martial arts continues, and once again it proved incredibly challenging to narrow each category down to just five choices given the spectacular performances delivered around the globe,” Hewitt said. “We congratulate each one of our nominees, and it is truly our honor at Fighters Only to highlight the absolute best of this amazing sport.
Of course, we must also thank every fan who will take the time to vote in the 17th edition of these awards and ultimately determine our winner, who we look forward to recognizing later this year. Each year we continue to set records in the number of votes cast and viewership of our broadcasted event. We hope and expect to continue to smash records in line with the growth and popularity of the sport around the world.”
With a nomination period between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, the independent Fighters Only panel of MMA experts searched through all promotions and regions to select the award nominees.
In true MMA tradition, Fighters Only gives the world’s fight fans the power to vote for their favorite fighters, the knockouts and submissions that amazed them, and the nominees who impressed them most over the past year.
Fans can vote through desktops, mobile devices, and smartphones at WorldMMAAwards.com.
Voting is open now and will close on October 6, 2025.
The Fighters Only World MMA Awards is the leading industry event for the sport of mixed martial arts. Winners will be presented with their trophy at a live Las Vegas event, complete with a full red carpet attended by the biggest names in combat sports and celebrity fans.
The date and venue for the 17th Annual Fighters Only World MMA Awards ceremony will be announced in the coming weeks.
Nominees for the 17th Annual Fighters Only World MMA Awards
Charles "Mask" Lewis Fighter of the Year
- Magomed Ankalaev
- Merab Dvalishvili
- Alexandre Pantoja
- Gadzhi Rabadanov
- Ilia Topuria
Female Fighter of the Year
- Dakota Ditcheva
- Kayla Harrison
- Jasmine Jasudavicius
- Valentina Shevchenko
- Natalia Silva
Breakthrough Fighter of the Year
- Sean Brady
- Reinier de Ridder
- Dakota Ditcheva
- Jean Silva
- Joshua Van
International Fighter of the.Year
- Phil De Fries
- Reinier de Ridder
- Jack Della Maddalena
- Dricus Du Plessis
- Paddy Pimblett
Fight of the Year
- Jack Della Maddalena vs. Belal Muhammad – UFC 315
- Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes – PFL Champions Series 1
- Esteban Ribovics vs. Daniel Zellhuber – UFC 306
- Nazim Sadykhov vs. Nikolas Motta – UFC on ABC 8
- Joshua Van vs. Brandon Royval – UFC 317
Knockout of the Year
- Shara Magomedov vs. Arman Petrosyan – UFC 308
- Gustavo Oliveira vs. Anas Azizoun – PFL Europe 2
- Mauricio Ruffy vs. King Green – UFC 313
- Roberto Soldic vs. Saygid "Dagi" Arslanaliev – ONE 171
- Fares Ziam vs. Matt Frevola – UFC Fight Night 243
Submission of the Year
- Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker – UFC 308
- Virna Jandiroba vs. Amanda Lemos – UFC on ESPN 60
- Paddy Pimblett vs. King Green – UFC 304
- Stevie Ray vs. Lewis Long – PFL Europe 3
- Jean Silva vs. Bryce Mitchell – UFC 314
Comeback of the Year
- Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues – UFC Fight Night 251
- Gabe Green vs. Matheus Camilo – UFC Fight Night 256
- Toshiomi Kazama vs. Charalampos Grigoriou – UFC on ESPN 61
- Gerald Meerschaert vs. Edmen Shahbazyan – UFC on ESPN 62
- Phil Rowe vs. Ange Loosa – UFC on ESPN 69
Upset of the Year
- Raoni Barcelos vs. Payton Talbott – UFC 311
- Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal – UFC on ESPN 67
- Yuneisy Duben vs. Shannon Clark – DWCS 8-4
- Gabriella Fernandes vs. Wang Cong – UFC Fight Night 248
- Oumar "Reug Reug" Kane vs. Anatoly Malykhin – ONE 169
Commentator of the Year
- Jon Anik
- Brendan Fitzgerald
- John Gooden
- Sean O'Connell
- Michael Schiavello
Analyst of the Year
- Michael Bisping
- Paul Felder
- Dan Hardy
- Din Thomas
Shawn Tompkins Coach of the Year
- Mike Brown – American Top Team
- Khabib Nurmagomedov – Abdulmanap School
- Pablo Sucupira – The Fighting Nerds
- Mike Valle – Valle Flow Striking
- John Wood – Syndicate MMA
Trainer of the Year
- Heather Linden
- Everton Oliveira
- Charles Hu Stull
- Andrew Wood
Gym of the Year
- Abdulmanap School
- American Top Team
- The Fighting Nerds
- Syndicate MMA
- Valle Flow.Striking
Referee of the Year
- Mike Beltran
- Herb Dean
- Marc Goddard
- Jason Herzog
- Mark Smith
Ringcard Girl of the Year
- Red Dela Cruz – UFC
- Kasia Kejsi – KSW
- Nikola Uhlirova – OKTAGON MMA
- All Eight Octagon Girls of Noche UFC
Leading Man
- Graham Boylan
- Peter Murray
- Nobuyuki Sakakibara
- Ed Soares
- Dana White
Best Promotion
- Cage Warriors
- Legacy.Fighting Alliance
- Professional Fighters League
- Rizin FF
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
Personality of the Year
- Bruce Buffer
- Daniel Cormier
- Nina Drama
- Joe Rogan
- Chael Sonnen
Best MMA Programming
- The Ariel Helwani Show
- Dana White's Contender Series
- JAXXON Podcast
- The Ultimate Fighter
MMA Media Source of the Year
- ESPN
- MMA Fighting
- MMA Junkie
- Sherdog
-.Uncrowned
MMA Journalist of the Year
- Mike Bohn – MMA Junkie
- Aaron Bronsteter – Sportsnet
- Ben Fowlkes – Uncrowned
- Ariel Helwani – Uncrowned
- Damon Martin – MMA Fighting
Fighting Spirit Award
- Ben Askren – Inspiration: Documenting his fight against life-threatening illness
- Ryan Curtis – Resolve: Battling against paralysis after horrific spinal injury
- Adam Hicks – Resilience: Continuing his role as coach despite battling brain cancer
- Francis Ngannou – Resilience: Overcoming the traumatic loss of a child to continue career
ABOUT FIGHTERS ONLY
Fighters Only Magazine was the world’s first mixed martial arts and lifestyle.magazine, launched in the U.K. in 2005. By 2008, it was on sale in 57 countries. The company launched the Fighters Only World MMA Awards in 2008 to celebrate achievements across the sport. Each year, nominees are chosen by an expert panel, and fans vote to decide the winners via WorldMMAAwards.com. The awards are presented at a live gala event attended by top athletes, celebrities, and personalities from sports and entertainment.
Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes II Headlines PFL Championship Return to UAE
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is stacking the deck for its return to the United Arab Emirates, announcing a championship doubleheader for its next Dubai event. On Friday, October 3, PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch will light up the Coca-Cola Arena with two world titles on the line in what promises to be one of the promotion’s biggest events of 2025.
Headlining the card is what the PFL calls the biggest rematch in its history. Undefeated Dagestani powerhouse Usman Nurmagomedov (19-0, 1 NC) will once again collide with Ireland’s surging contender Paul Hughes (14-2) for the PFL Lightweight World Championship. Their first encounter — also held at the Coca-Cola Arena in January — has been widely praised as the greatest fight in the promotion’s history and is nominated for Fight of the Year at the 17th annual World MMA Awards.
Sharing the spotlight in the co-main event, former Bellator light heavyweight champion Corey Anderson (19-6) will take on reigning 2024 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament champion Dovlet Yagshimuradov (25-7-1). With the PFL Light Heavyweight World Title at stake, both men will aim to solidify their legacy in front of a global audience.
“PFL Champions Series on October 3 in Dubai will be one of the biggest nights in PFL history,” said PFL CEO John Martin. “To have two PFL World Titles on the line, featuring four world-class athletes at the top of their game, shows exactly what makes the PFL different. This is more than just a fight card, it’s a global showcase of elite talent, compelling narratives, and the power of our international platform. Dubai is quickly becoming one of the sport’s true capitals, and there’s no better setting for a night of championship-level drama and the biggest rematch in PFL history.”
PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai - The Rematch Main Card
PFL Lightweight World Title Main Event: Usman Nurmagomedov (19-0, 1 NC) vs. Paul Hughes (14-2)
PFL Light Heavyweight World Title Co-Main Event: Corey Anderson (19-6) vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov (25-7-1)
Early Card
Heavyweight Showcase Bout: Pouya Rahmani (4-0) vs. Slim Trabelsi (8-0)
165-Pound Catchweight Bout: Zubaira Tukhugov (20-6-1) vs. Artem Lobov (14-15-1)
Welterweight Showcase Bout: Omar El Dafrawy (14-5) vs. Florim Zendeli (10-1-1)
Matches to Make For The UFC 319 Winners
The sold-out crowd at Chicago’s United Center was treated to a trio of spectacular main card finishes at UFC 319 on Saturday night, along with a new champion being crowned in the middleweight division. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what could be next for the main card winners at UFC 319.
Khamzat Chimaev
Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) completely dominated Dricus Du Plessis over five rounds in Saturday’s main event, silencing doubts about his endurance in the process. While “Borz” perhaps could have pressed harder for a finish, the ease with which he controlled and dismantled Du Plessis should send shivers down the spines of the rest of the middleweight contenders.
In recent weeks, fighters like Reinier de Ridder and Anthony Hernandez have inserted themselves into the title conversation with impressive wins. Still, the consensus is that the UFC Paris headliner between Nassourdine Imavov (16-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC) and Caio Borralho (17-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) has already been tabbed as the official No. 1 contender fight. Whoever has their hand raised at the Accor Arena on September 6 will be next in line for Chimaev.
Lerone Murphy
UK standout Lerone Murphy (17-0-1 MMA, 9-0-1 UFC) scored the biggest win of his career in Saturday’s co-main event — and did it in spectacular fashion. His spinning elbow knockout of Aaron Pico not only earned him an extra $50,000, but also vaulted him ahead of Movsar Evloev in the race to challenge featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (27-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC).
After five straight decision victories, “The Miracle” desperately needed a signature finish to separate himself from the pack at 145 pounds — and this highlight-reel KO may be exactly what secures him the title shot.
Carlos Prates and Michael “Venom” Page
Carlos Prates (22-7 MMA, 5-1 UFC) returned to the win column in style with a spectacular first-round spinning elbow knockout of Geoff Neal in their welterweight clash on Saturday’s main card. Immediately afterward, the Fighting Nerds representative used his mic time to call for a spot on the UFC Brazil card scheduled for the fall — a request Dana White agreed to on the spot.
Meanwhile, Michael “Venom” Page (24-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC) — who also earned a victory Saturday by outpointing Jared Cannonier over three rounds — told reporters at the post-fight press conference that he’d be more than happy to drop back down to 170 pounds and serve as a suitable dance partner for “The Nightmare” on October 11.
Tim Elliott
Tim Elliott (21-13-1 MMA, 10-11 UFC) earned his fourth win in five fights with a slick submission over Kai Asakura in Saturday’s main card opener — a victory that also came with a $50,000 bonus. At 38, Elliott remains one of the most entertaining fighters in the division and appears to have plenty left in the tank. A matchup with former flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg (13-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) could be an exciting next step.
Dominick Cruz Pinpoints the Flaw Behind Du Plessis’s Title Loss
Dominick Cruz has pointed out what he sees as the biggest hole in Dricus Du Plessis’s game.
Du Plessis (23-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) was thoroughly beaten by Khamzat Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) in the main event of UFC 319 last Saturday, losing his middleweight title in the process.
“Stillknocks” struggled to mount any offense against the Chechen, spending long stretches trapped in a mounted crucifix position.
While the South African failed to land anything significant on the feet, his lack of offense off his back proved equally costly. According to former UFC bantamweight champion Cruz, Du Plessis’s inability to create separation and work back to his feet was the key factor behind Chimaev’s dominant victory.
“We watched Khamzat completely destroy DDP with pure grappling,” Cruz said in a video posted to his Instagram account. “Like, he couldn't even escape one time. And that's what was shocking to me…(it) was not that DDP got taken down, it's that he could not escape. He had no tools to create any separation, not even one time (per) round.”
Chimaev has faced criticism from some UFC fans for not pressing for a finish and instead cruising to a dominant decision win. But Cruz doesn’t fault “Borz” for taking that approach—instead, he believes Du Plessis deserves part of the blame.
“If you're Khamzat, that's the way you want to do it,” Cruz said. “If you give him an option to just hold you down and put you out like a cigarette butt, he's going to do it because he doesn't have to get punched. So everybody's going to take that option. It's just usually somebody can create separation. That's how good Khamzat is.
“If you cannot stop the takedown, it's okay, but you have to be able to get up and create space. That is the next level of mixed martial arts. It's not if you get taken down, it's when. But the big question is, do you have enough jujitsu to use your guard to get back to your feet, to use your side mount, to use a half guard? Do you have options to get off your back and create space? Because if you don't, the guy who can keep it there will, and he's going to make it an easy fight because he doesn't want to get punched in the face. And that's how they're all going to go. So it's fun to watch the progression of the sport come in: strikers, grapplers, strikers, grapplers. But right now, it's the era of the grappler, especially with Khamzat in there.”
Machado Garry: “No Chance” Edwards Fights Prates in Brazil
Ian Machado Garry doesn’t think Leon Edwards will be enticed by Carlos Prates calling him out.
In the immediate aftermath of his spectacular knockout win over Geoff Neal at UFC 319 on Saturday, Prates (22-7 MMA, 5-1 UFC) said he would love to take on former welterweight champion Edwards (22-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) when the UFC returns to Rio de Janeiro on October 11.
“I think the co-main event in Rio should be Carlos Prates against Leon Edwards,” Prates said in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. “All respect for that guy, but the time is now.”
However, Machado Garry (16-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) — who outpointed Prates over five rounds when they fought in April — doesn’t believe Edwards will agree to face “The Nightmare” on Brazilian soil.
“There's no chance Leon Edwards is saying yes to fight Carlos Prates in Rio,” Machado Garry said in a video posted to his Instagram account. “Let me tell you this: I told Carlos this when I seen him in Las Vegas. (Edwards) will run from that fight. Leon, his entire career has been saying how he's sick of fighting wrestlers, and (how) he's always fighting people who want to take him down. He wants to fight people on the feet. Carlos Prates will stay on the feet with you, and guess what? He's going to turn it down.”
Prates collected a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for his spectacular spinning elbow knockout of Neal last Saturday. Another main card winner at UFC 319, Michael “Venom” Page (24-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC), also voiced interest in facing Prates in Rio.
"You're not hitting me with that spinning elbow, I'm telling you that right now,” Page told reporters at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “But yeah, 100 percent, that's a great fight. It's those kinds of fights that I want, those kinds of fights I'm calling on. If he's happy, I'll happily put my hand up, and I would love to go to Brazil.”
‘Levels to This Game’: Hernandez Confident He Can Compete With Chimaev
Anthony Hernandez is willing to do whatever it takes to earn a shot at the UFC middleweight title.
Hernandez (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) forced his way into the title conversation at 185 pounds with a career-best performance in his recent win over Roman Dolidze in the main event of UFC Vegas 109.
Following Khamzat Chimaev’s dethroning of Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 last Saturday, Hernandez’s name was mentioned alongside Reinier de Ridder, Nassourdine Imavov, and Caio Borralho as potential contenders to challenge the Chechen for the middleweight belt.
In a surprising twist, however, it was revealed this week that “Fluffy” is set to face de Ridder (21-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in the main event when the UFC returns to Vancouver, Canada, on October 18.
"I was getting a massage and I got the offer and they said, 'I think this is an offer you don't want to pass.' And I said, 'OK, run it. Sign the contract.' Now we're here," Hernandez said this week while speaking to MMA Junkie. "If this is what I've got to do, let's keep going. Like I said, if I've got to knock every mother f*cker down until I get to the top, then so be it."
Hernandez’s recent win over Dolidze extended his streak to eight, the longest active winning run in the division. Having already beaten ranked opponents such as Roman Kopylov, Michel Pereira, and Brendan Allen before overcoming Dolidze, the 31-year-old believed he had done enough to secure a title shot — especially with six of those eight victories coming by stoppage.
"At the end of the day I'm not matchmaker," Hernandez said. "I'm not Dana White. I don't make the calls. He says, 'Be here.' And I say, 'I'm in.' If I'm f*cking healthy, I'm there. I'll f*cking never say no to anybody in this f*cking division.”
Chimaev’s win over Dricus Du Plessis in last weekend’s main event in Chicago turned out to be a one-sided affair. After seeing where the South African fell short against “The Wolf,” Hernandez is confident he has the tools to pose a serious threat to the new champion if they meet inside the Octagon.
"I thought DDP would actually have answers and stuff but turns out he just got away with being a f*cking big strong guy for a long time," Hernandez said. "Against a high-level wrestler, if you try to be strong, it just sets up traps. He found that out that night. There's levels to this shit, and I think I'm on that level. Eventually when the fight comes I'll be ready for it, but it's one fight at a time for me. Next fight is de Ridder so I'll just strategize against him and just f*cking keep climbing the rankings."
