MMA Junkie Radio #3541: Jason Jackson, Kade Ruotolo interviews, UFC Fight Night 251 recap
Monday's episode of MMA Junkie Radio with "Gorgeous" George and "Goze" is here.
On Episode 3,541, the guys welcomed in a pair of fantastic guests: PFL's Jason Jackson and ONE Championship's Kade Ruotolo. The fellas also recapped the UFC Fight Night 251 event and more. Tune in!
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: MMA Junkie Radio #3541: Jason Jackson, Kade Ruotolo interviews, UFC Fight Night 251 recap
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USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Belal Muhammad breaks down keys to victory in Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley UFC fight
Belal Muhammad breaks down keys to victory in Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley UFC fight Belal Muhammad has a vested interest in the UFC on ESPN 69 headliner between Kamaru Usman and Joaquin Buckley. Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) takes on Buckley (21-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC) in Saturday's main event (ESPN, ESPN+) at State Farm Arena. Former UFC welterweight champion Muhammad detailed the keys to victory for each fighter starting with the surging Buckley, who's on a six-fight winning streak. "Keys to victory for Buckley are put your foot on the gas right away," Muhammad said on his YouTube channel. "You've got to set the pressure. You've got to set the pace. Usman's been out for two years. He already comes at a slow pace. When he's in those brawls and those bigger, more chaotic fights, he gets hit a lot. Colby Covington landed punches on him. So if I'm Buckley, you've got a lot of power, you've got a lot of speed, you've got a lot of momentum right now. So right when the bell rings, put your foot on the gas and go – making it difficult for Usman to set his pace, catch his rhythm. "No. 2, do not get pushed on the fence. Usman is very good at pushing you on the fence, slowing the fight down, going at his pace, wearing on you, taking you down, making you get back up – wearing on you. He has a lot of five-round experience. So for Buckley, do not keep your back on the fence. If your butt hits the ground, you need to get up quick. Keep it on your feet. That's where your world is. You have a lot of power. You have the speed advantage, and right now you got the momentum." During Wednesday's media day, Usman said he's no longer interested in fighting Muhammad (24-4 MMA, 15-4 UFC) now that he lost his title. However, Muhammad thinks the pair could be on a collision course if Usman gets past Buckley. "Usman, I think his keys to victory: Obviously, set the pace," Muhammad said. "Don't get out of character. 'Keep it simple, stupid.' Keep your jab. You have a good jab. You have a good pace of pushing guys to the fence and holding them there and making it your speed. Buckley is going to be a lot faster. Slow him down. He's going to be chaotic. You have to have disciplined defense. Don't switch stances left and right – you're not good from southpaw. You get hit a lot. Watch his big head kicks. Usman, I'm cheering for you. I know you said there's nothing there for you with me next, but I want to see you win. Then I want to see you in the cage."
Forbes
6 hours ago
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Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones Is ‘Quitting' Without Tom Aspinall Fight
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Daniel Cormier looks on ahead of the UFC 309 event at Madison ... More Square Garden on November 16, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) The way former two-division UFC champ Daniel Cormier sees it, UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones will walk away from MMA as a quitter if he does not face interim UFC heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall in a title unification bout. ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 22: Daniel Cormier is seen in the broadcast booth during ... More the UFC 280 event at Etihad Arena on October 22, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) "All this other stuff that's going on around the fight – I mean, you're talking about me, you're talking about Francis (Ngannou), you're talking about Chael (Sonnen), you're talking about all these things and almost ignoring the right thing," Cormier said on his YouTube channel. "The right thing is to go fight this kid. 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If he's talking that crazy shit, I didn't realize that." "It's definitely the process with Jon Jones," White said of the ongoing negotiations between the UFC and Jones. "I've been going through this since the day he started this. It's definitely the process. Him and Anderson Silva, every time throughout the history of being in business with those guys when it comes time to get them fights, it's like dealing with artists. It's interesting. "It's Aspinall's fight. We've been talking to this kid forever about it and it's his fight. Listen, you can't make people fight. If Jon doesn't want to fight, you can't make him fight. We can try to make him fight. We can throw things at him that inspire him to want to fight but we'll figure it out." "But yes, Jon agreed to fight Tom, fact," White added in closing. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 17: Daniel Cormier reacts after seeing a cut on Gregory Rodrigues of ... More Brazil after a middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on September 17, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Cormier, who held the UFC heavyweight title between July 2018 and August 2019, said that if he were in the same spot Jones finds himself in today, that he would have already faced Aspinall in a title unification bout. '... I can tell you guys on good authority, if I was still fighting today, and I was still the heavyweight champion, and Tom Aspinall was the No. 1 contender, I would have already fought him, 1,000 percent,' said Cormier. "The mindset that I carried throughout my fight career, knowing how dangerous, it would have done nothing but excite me to see someone standing across the octagon that could potentially beat me, or knock my ass out. That would make me train harder, smarter, and be more prepared than I ever could have been. That's what that would have done to me. What it's doing to Jon Jones is very disturbing and very hard for me to understand. Because, in my mind, this guy is a fighter. I've seen him do it time and time again. It's a very weird situation." Cormier also held the UFC light heavyweight title. He faced Jones twice over his UFC career, losing to him via decision when Jones held the UFC 205-pound belt in 2015. In their rematch, which was during Cormier's title reign, Jones knocked out Cormier. However, the result was later changed to a no contest when Jones failed a drug test. As a result of that drug test failure, the title reverted to Cormier. MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 27: Tom Aspinall of England reacts after his knockout victory against ... More Curtis Blaydes in the interim UFC heavyweight championship bout during the UFC 304 event at Co-op Live on July 27, 2024 in Manchester, England. 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In late April, Miocic became the longest-serving UFC interim champion, topping the 535-day reign of Renan Barao, who defended his interim title twice before being named undisputed champion. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall looks on during the ... More UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Earlier this month, Aspinall seemed frustrated by how long it is taking to get a title unification bout booked, going so far as to declare that Jones has retired. "Jon Jones is retired," Aspinall said. "I want to say God bless him moving forward in what he does with his life and career. We move on. I'm the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. I'm ready to take on all comers and get this division moving again. "Those guys have been waiting around too long. The contenders are getting sick of it. Everybody's getting sick of it. Even the fans are getting sick of this stuff. So, Jon's retired and it's time that we move on. "I'm the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. I'm ready to take on all comers, get this division moving again. Us guys have been waiting around too long. The guys, contenders are getting sick of it, everybody's getting sick of it, even the fans are getting sick of it. Jon's retired and it's time that we move on.'
Yahoo
11 hours ago
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2025 PFL World Tournament 5 video: Magomed Umalatov faceplants Anthony Ivy
Magomed Umalatov reminded everyone why he's considered by many to be one of PFL's pound-for-pound best. Although 2024 was a disappointing campaign for Umalatov (18-5), who was knocked out by Smail Musaev in the tournament final, 2025 is off to a hot start. Thursday at 2025 PFL World Tournament 5 in Nashville, Tenn., Umalatov flattened former UFC fighter Anthony Ivy (15-8) at 2:28 of Round 1. Advertisement The finishing sequence began when Ivy hopped toward Umalatov, who clipped him with a counter left. Somewhat stunned and out of position, Ivy faceplanted when a second Umalatov left hand cracked him. Umalatov is not in the 2025 welterweight tournament. However, the promotion could always insert him as an alternate replacement should they need him. Ivy, who had compiled seven straight wins in an improbable career turnaround, loses for the first time since August 2022. Up-to-the-minute 2025 PFL 5 results include: Magomed Umalatov def. Anthony Ivy via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:28 Sarek Shields def. Joseph Luciano via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Kendly St. Louis def. Mukhamed Berkhamov via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 3:21 Alexei Pergande def. Mike Bardsley via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Jason Danner def. Nathan Gilmore via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: 2025 PFL 5 video: Magomed Umalatov faceplants Anthony Ivy
