MMA Junkie Radio #3561: PFL guest Phil Davis, UFC Kansas City fallout, more
Thursday's episode of MMA Junkie Radio with "Gorgeous" George and "Goze" is here.
On Episode #3,561, the fellas welcome in guest Phil Davis ahead of the PFL light heavyweight 2025 tournament. They also recap UFC Kansas City, take a look at the latest MMA news and much more. Tune in!
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: PFL guest Phil Davis, UFC Kansas City fallout | MMA Junkie Radio

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USA Today
40 minutes ago
- USA Today
Joaquin Buckley doesn't expect to ever face Islam Makhachev despite looming UFC superfight
Joaquin Buckley doesn't expect to ever face Islam Makhachev despite looming UFC superfight Show Caption Hide Caption UFC Atlanta: Joaquin Buckley media day interview Joaquin Buckley speaks to reporters at the UFC Atlanta media day. ATLANTA – Eager as ever to prove he's the best in the world, Joaquin Buckley also respects the UFC's business ventures – even if it means he has to wait. Ahead of UFC on ESPN 69, which he headlines Saturday vs. Kamaru Usman, Buckley (21-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC) acknowledged that while his resume might be title shot-worthy, that he might need an additional win due to an impending superfight between champion Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev. "In my personal opinion, this win is going to catapult me to be in a position of that No. 1 contender spot," Buckley told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. "Obviously, this is a business. Islam has done a lot in the lightweight division. He has a massive name. It only makes sense for the UFC to give him that opportunity to fight for the belt. With all that being said, I'm going to let my performance speak for itself because a lot of things happen within this fight business that yet again we cannot predict. With that being said, if (an additional fight offer) does happen, Buck going to be ready for this opportunity when it comes calling." If it does align that Buckley is next for the winner of Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) and Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC), he thinks only one of those options would actually come to fruition. "I truly believe if Islam was able to win that 170 title, he done everything he needed to do," Buckley said. "What? We going to stick around and potentially lose that winning streak? I don't think so. I think he's really trying to cement his name. It's really just kind of a legacy pass. Then once he wins that welterweight belt, my man is going to retire at the end of the day. That's my opinion." "I would love it, but I don't think Islam would. I truly believe if Islam was able to win that 170 title, he done everything he needed to do. What? We going to stick around and potentially lose that winning streak? I don't think so. I think he's really trying to cement his name. It's really just kind of a legacy pass. Then once he wins that welterweight belt, my man is going to retire at the end of the day. That's my opinion." Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) is Buckley's most high-profile test to date. It comes following a red-hot 2024 for Buckley, during which he defeated Vicente Luque, Nursulton Ruziboev, Stephen Thompson and Colby Covington. Following the Covington win, Buckley called for Usman – and he's pleased the UFC liked his idea. "Yessir. I'm talking about 2024 was a massive year for me, especially with getting all the fights I've been asking for, right?" Buckley said. "Getting opportunities, especially with Vicente Luque, with 'Wonderboy' (Stephen Thompson), even with Kamaru Usman – me, shouting his name out. Now they blessing us now with this fight. With this opportunity, man, that I'm getting. I just think this is a perfect moment for myself to show up and show out. Really, the reason why these callouts have been successful is the fans. Every time I call out these fighters, the fans want to see it. The UFC has actually been listening to the fans and making sure these fights happen." Usman, 38, has not competed in nearly two years. He's on a three-fight skid that began when he was knocked out by Leon Edwards. While it's uncertain where Usman is in his career, Buckley said he thinks the former champion hasn't regressed much. "To be honest with you, I don't think there's no difference from the Kamaru of old and the Kamaru of now," Buckley said. "I think it's the same fighter, which I believe is still dangerous and a person who can still give a lot of guys a lot of problems at the welterweight division. You realize losing to a person like Leon, who obviously took his belt and who obviously was a champion at the moment. Then also, Usman being able to go out on 10 days' notice and fight Khamzat, you've got to respect that. Even with him taking those Ls, I really feel like it wasn't much of a loss for him, as it was a setback. With that being said, he's been able to fine-tune his technique, as he says, and be able to work on whatever injuries he's got. So I'm just expecting the best version of himself when he steps out there."


USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Malcolm Wellmaker: UFC went to ends of earth for opponent – and found zombie in Kris Moutinho
Malcolm Wellmaker: UFC went to ends of earth for opponent – and found zombie in Kris Moutinho UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby had to travel to the ends of the Earth to find Malcolm Wellmaker an opponent, and seemingly the only man willing to step up might be part zombie. Given that he might have otherwise been robbed of a home state fight at UFC on ESPN 69, Wellmaker (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) already has a tremendous amount of respect for Kris Moutinho (14-6 MMA, 0-2 UFC) not even having stepped inside the cage with him yet. "I already knew what kind of guy he was based off the knowledge I had about him," Wellmaker recently told MMA Junkie. "But for him to take a fight with me on 11 days' notice, obviously seeing what I did in my last fight, I can only respect him and be glad that he was willing to fight me." The road back to the UFC for Moutinho has been one years in the making. Typecasted in MMA as a walking chin for his memorable bout vs. Sean O'Malley in July 2021, during which he absorbed 320 significant strikes, Moutinho is eager to shake the label. Wellmaker gained respect for Moutinho for taking the fight, but there was already a high baseline given the heart he saw years ago during O'Malley's beatdown. "I watched him fight Sean O'Malley live," Wellmaker said. "I remember thinking, 'Oh my goodness, he's got a chin on him.' It was an exciting fight, and I actually somewhat became a fan of him. I remember watching him afterward eating the ice cream sandwich seeming like a humble guy. Yeah, it was a name I was 100 percent familiar with when I got the call." The fight turned Moutinho into a viral sensation, and he still carries a large social media following with him. But for those in attendance at State Farm Arena on Saturday, their energy and attention will solely be focused on Wellmaker. Born, raised, and living in Augusta, Ga., the fight Saturday is a dream-come-true homecoming. "To be honest, I'm surprised they went to the lengths they did," Wellmaker said. "As difficult as the matchmaking process was, especially with how late in the game we got down to, for them to cash in on the Kris Moutinho call, I think it says a lot. I think the thing that I've believed in myself the whole time is that I can put on a show, and I can make us all a lot of money, have some fun, and be exciting. I think that they're willing to invest in me. It's good. I like to think that I'm in good standing with those guys right now." "That's kind of what I heard. Obviously, it was a short turnaround from Kansas City. What I assume and from what I was told, not too many people were excited to try to take that matchup with the amount of time to prepare that was available. So as time went on, I started getting more and more skeptical about the likelihood of a matchup happening. But my manager told me, 'Look, Sean (Shelby) said he's going to make it happen and I believe in him.' He did." "To be honest, it's a super bonus for me," Wellmaker added. "Back when they came to Atlanta last time, I wasn't even involved in the sport enough to know who was even going to be fighting on the card. I didn't go. I was so new to the sport. So when I found out they were coming to Atlanta, that wasn't something that was really even on my mind. So for me to be able to get such a quick turnaround in a place so close to home that I've been many times on the regional scene with so many family members and supporters being able to come out, it's perfect – and the matchup is as exciting as it gets. Everything is just a dream come true with this card." While it was a quick camp having just won his UFC debut by knockout April 26, Wellmaker enters the bout having prepared as a full-time fighter for the first time in his career. Following his bonus-earning win over Cameron Saaiman, Wellmaker quit his job as a pipe-fitter. He's excited for the world to see what he's capable of – even if Moutinho presents as zombie-like as possible. "Just to be completely honest with you, I'm fairly comfortable that I'm going to knock him out," Wellmaker said. "If he goes zombie mode on me, I'm fine with that. Obviously, the pressure makes a lot of people uncomfortable. I've had tough fights in my past. I've fought zombie-style guys before. Even if I've got to strangle them out, I'll do that. Whatever it takes to win that fight and get it done within the distance, it's always my goal. I don't want to coast. I don't want to ride it to a decision. Like I said, I'm going to hit him with my best shot and we'll see how many times he can take it."
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
UFC on ESPN 69: Kamaru Usman sees 'pretty simple' path to win two UFC titles
ATLANTA – Does Kamaru Usman still have UFC title aspirations? If you answered yes, take that and double it. UFC on ESPN 69 takes place Saturday at State Farm Arena and marks the first competition for Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) in nearly two years as he battles Joaquin Buckley (21-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC) in the main event. Although he's on a three-fight skid at 38 years old, Usman hasn't been deterred from the goal he's had his entire career: to be the best. Advertisement "My path there is pretty simple," Usman told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. "I'll just lay out the map here. It's finish Buckley this weekend and then wait for the winner of, I believe, Islam (Makhachev) and JDM (Jack Della Maddalena), which is going to be an incredible fight. It's such a great thing now having Islam come up into the division. Who wouldn't buy a ticket to that? Former pound-for-pound and current pound-for-pound (fighting). I love Islam. Islam is a great fighter. I think that's something that we'd both remember forever." But the aspirations don't stop there. Usman not only wants to return to the place he once was, holding gold atop the UFC welterweight division, no. He wants to take it further. Middleweight gold is also on his mind. "(I'd) win that and go ahead and probably vacate, go up," Usman said. "Myself (vs.) Dricus Du Plessis, if he is the champion, or Khamzat Chimaev, too, if Dricus is no longer the champion, we do that. If Dricus is the champion, we do that in the first card in Africa. That's another blockbuster. These are back-to-back blockbuster fights you tell your grandkids about. Who wouldn't watch those? After that, now you're sitting with two belts. It's like, 'What do we do next?' That's, I'd say, the long-term goal in the back of my mind." Usman is widely considered one of the best welterweights in MMA history. He defended the title five times during his reign that stretched from March 2019 to August 2022 when Leon Edwards' head kick brought it to an abrupt end. Usman then lost a trilogy bout vs. Edwards by unanimous decision. His most recent competition came in October 2023 when he lost a close middleweight fight to Chimaev. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Atlanta: Kamaru Usman sees 'pretty simple' path to win two titles