Latest news with #AliAbdelaziz
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Islam Makhachev vs Jack Della Maddalena fight date ‘leaked' by Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov might have given away the event at which Islam Makhachev will challenge for the UFC welterweight title, as a fight with Jack Della Maddalena looms. Makhachev relinquished the lightweight title in May with an eye on challenging for the welterweight belt, which Della Maddalena took from Belal Muhammad – one of Makhachev's teammates – that same month. And according to Khabib – one of Makhachev's coaches and a close childhood friend of the Russian – Makhachev will take on 'JDM' at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The UFC typically holds a pay-per-view at the legendary venue every November, and while it has not yet announced this year's edition of the MSG fight card, it is expected to take place as usual. It could well prove to be UFC 322, with UFC 321 scheduled for 25 October in Abu Dhabi. 'They promise us,' Nurmagomedov, himself a former UFC lightweight champion, said at an event last weekend. He then seemed to turn to Makhachev's manager Ali Abdelaziz, sat in the crowd, to say: 'Be quiet, please. 'He's now gonna be upset because I give information. But this is his deal with UFC; I don't deal with UFC, this is his problem. 'But we have a deal with them. He's gonna fight in Madison Square Garden, and they say yes.' Nurmagomedov, also managed by Abdelaziz, held the joint-record for most successful lightweight title defences in UFC history, at three, until Makhachev submitted Renato Moicano in January. With that first-round finish, after Moicano replaced the injured Arman Tsarukyan on one day's notice, Makhachev set a new record and established himself as the No 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC. But the 33-year-old faces a stern test against Della Maddalena. The Australian, 28, has won 18 fights in a row since losing his first two MMA bouts, both in 2016. He took the welterweight title from Muhammad with a unanimous-decision win, producing a clinic in striking to overcome the wrestling specialist. He also demonstrated tremendous takedown defence against Muhammad and will likely need to do the same against Makhachev. That said, the Russian does not rely on wrestling as heavily as Muhammad does and Nurmagomedov did; his own striking skills have been pivotal to his success in recent years. 'I think Maddalena is the toughest opponent in Islam's career,' the retired Khabib told Adam Zubayraev in July. 'That's my opinion. 'Not Charles, no one else,' he added, referencing Makhachev's submission of Oliveira to win the lightweight title in 2022. 'None of those other fighters. That's just my personal opinion. 'First of all, Maddalena is twice the size of Ilia [Topuria, the new lightweight champion, with whom Makhachev has been linked]. Taller, bigger, stronger legs, bigger frame. His boxing is just as good, and in grappling, he scrambles really well – if you've watched him. 'For me, if I were preparing Islam for either Ilia or Maddalena, I'd be more concerned – and am more concerned – about Maddalena.'
The Independent
05-08-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Islam Makhachev vs Jack Della Maddalena fight date ‘leaked' by Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov might have given away the event at which Islam Makhachev will challenge for the UFC welterweight title, as a fight with Jack Della Maddalena looms. Makhachev relinquished the lightweight title in May with an eye on challenging for the welterweight belt, which Della Maddalena took from Belal Muhammad – one of Makhachev's teammates – that same month. And according to Khabib – one of Makhachev's coaches and a close childhood friend of the Russian – Makhachev will take on 'JDM' at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The UFC typically holds a pay-per-view at the legendary venue every November, and while it has not yet announced this year's edition of the MSG fight card, it is expected to take place as usual. It could well prove to be UFC 322, with UFC 321 scheduled for 25 October in Abu Dhabi. 'They promise us,' Nurmagomedov, himself a former UFC lightweight champion, said at an event last weekend. He then seemed to turn to Makhachev's manager Ali Abdelaziz, sat in the crowd, to say: 'Be quiet, please. 'He's now gonna be upset because I give information. But this is his deal with UFC; I don't deal with UFC, this is his problem. 'But we have a deal with them. He's gonna fight in Madison Square Garden, and they say yes.' Nurmagomedov, also managed by Abdelaziz, held the joint-record for most successful lightweight title defences in UFC history, at three, until Makhachev submitted Renato Moicano in January. With that first-round finish, after Moicano replaced the injured Arman Tsarukyan on one day's notice, Makhachev set a new record and established himself as the No 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC. But the 33-year-old faces a stern test against Della Maddalena. The Australian, 28, has won 18 fights in a row since losing his first two MMA bouts, both in 2016. He took the welterweight title from Muhammad with a unanimous-decision win, producing a clinic in striking to overcome the wrestling specialist. He also demonstrated tremendous takedown defence against Muhammad and will likely need to do the same against Makhachev. That said, the Russian does not rely on wrestling as heavily as Muhammad does and Nurmagomedov did; his own striking skills have been pivotal to his success in recent years. 'I think Maddalena is the toughest opponent in Islam's career,' the retired Khabib told Adam Zubayraev in July. 'That's my opinion. 'Not Charles, no one else,' he added, referencing Makhachev's submission of Oliveira to win the lightweight title in 2022. 'None of those other fighters. That's just my personal opinion. 'First of all, Maddalena is twice the size of Ilia [Topuria, the new lightweight champion, with whom Makhachev has been linked]. Taller, bigger, stronger legs, bigger frame. His boxing is just as good, and in grappling, he scrambles really well – if you've watched him. 'For me, if I were preparing Islam for either Ilia or Maddalena, I'd be more concerned – and am more concerned – about Maddalena.'
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Islam Makhachev clarifies UFC retirement speculation: 'We're just beginning'
People around Islam Makhachev might have certain ideas about the timeline for his retirement from MMA, but he will be the one to make the final call. One of his longtime coaches, Javier Mendez of American Kickboxing Academy, stated this past month that he believes Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) only has three fights remaining in his career, including his expected next bout against UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena. Advertisement Shortly thereafter, one of Makhachev's managers, Ali Abdelaziz of Dominance MMA, said that was incorrect, and he instead believed the former longtime UFC lightweight champion still has at least three good years of competition left. Makhachev said everyone is welcome to share their takes, but right now retirement couldn't be further from his mind. He is focused on conquering a new challenge at 170-pounds and achieving his "dream" of a second belt in a second UFC weight class after vacating lightweight gold. "Javier has his opinion, Ali has his opinion – I have my opinion," Makhachev told MMA Junkie. "We're just beginning. This is a new book. We're just beginning." After some gruelling cuts down to 155 pounds, Makhachev will get some physical relief competing at welterweight and could potentially add more fights to his career. It also comes down to how often he can compete, too. Advertisement Makhachev had initially hoped for three fights in 2025. Given the change in weight class it's going to be two, and he would prefer UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 25, or ideally November's UFC 322 event in New York City. "We will see when I'm going to fight," Makhachev said. "Madison Square Garden or Las Vegas or Abu Dhabi, because still we don't have the day. If not Madison Square Garden, I want to fight in Abu Dhabi. I don't want to wait." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Islam Makhachev on UFC retirement timeline: 'We're just beginning'
Forbes
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Dana White Tells ‘Wacky' Former BMF Champ To Consider Retirement
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 08: UFC CEO Dana White holds a press conference after the UFC 313 event at ... More T-Mobile Arena on March 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) UFC CEO Dana White does not respond well to threats, even when they come from a fighter who has stepped up to help the promotion. Earlier this month, former interim UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, who also held the ceremonial BMF belt, presented the UFC with an ultimatum (via his manager, Ali Abdelaziz): give him a title shot or watch him walk away. Justin Gaethje's Manager Offers The UFC An Ultimatum LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 08: Justin Gaethje warms up prior to his fight during the UFC 313 event at ... More T-Mobile Arena on March 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC) "Justin Gaethje fights the winner (of the UFC 317 main event)," Abdelaziz told Submission Radio in mid-June. '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 (Oliveira) and Ilia (Topuria)." Justin Gaethje Opines On The UFC LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 08: Justin Gaethje holds a press conference after his fight during the UFC ... More 313 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Not long after Abdelaziz spoke to Submission Radio, Gaethje appeared on the Makeshift Podcast and spoke about his feelings on the UFC. "They owe me a championship fight," Gaethje said. "I'm 3-1 in my last four. They came to my house begging me to fight Max Holloway at UFC 300. I consider that an exhibition fight. I don't mean that the loss is not on my record. I mean it had nothing to do with rankings. In the time that I did that, Dustin Poirier, who I just beat, got a good win over (Benoit) Saint Denis and then fought for the belt. "Since I've won (vs. Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 in March), the champion (Islam Makhachev, who is also managed by Abdelaziz) has been saying he wants to fight me. So they could have easily set that up, but they didn't. Then he vacates, and then Oliveira is 2-2 in his last fights, already has a loss to Makhachev, and they bring a brand-new guy in (Topuria), and I get (expletive) again. So I'm not going to fight any of these (expletive) for fun unless they pay me so much more money." "I'm the most consistent guy," Gaethje continued. "I think anybody that's ever performed for their company and been as consistent as an employee for their company gets a Christmas bonus, gets a thank you, get a 'Good (expletive) job.' Nah – I'm done doing (expletive) here. I love fighting for the UFC and I'd never want to fight somewhere else, but I'm not just going to throw my legacy away for anybody." "I'm waiting for them to announce it," Gaethje said of his requested title fight. "(Oliveira is) 2-2, I'm 3-1. What do you want me to do? Not my fault (Dan) Hooker dropped out. (Arman) Tsarukyan should have got it, but he (expletive) himself. That's his fault." Dana White Doesn't Take The Bait LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 28: Ilia Topuria of Georgia meets UFC chief executive officer Dana White ... More after defeating Charles Oliveira of Brazil to win the lightweight main event title during UFC 317 at T-Mobile Arena on June 28, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by) On Saturday night after Topuria won the vacant UFC lightweight title with a first-round knockout of Oliveira, White was asked to address Gaethje's comments. "Listen, if you're thinking about retiring, you know how I feel about that, you should probably retire,' White said at the UFC 317 post-fight press conference. 'We love Justin Gaethje and Justin Gaethje did step up and he's been an exciting and fun fighter to have here in the UFC but to say unless you give me a title shot otherwise I'm retiring, that's pretty wacky.' Gaethje is the No. 3 ranked fighter in the current UFC lightweight rankings.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Manager: Julianna Peña's PED accusations ahead of UFC 316 fuel Kayla Harrison
Ali Abdelaziz believes UFC bantamweight champion Julianna Peña is making things worse for herself by accusing Kayla Harrison of using steroids. At UFC 316, Peña (11-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) faces Abdelaziz's client Harrison (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) in the co-feature bout for the 135-pound title. The event takes place June 7 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Recently, Peña stated that she believes Harrison has used PEDs at some point in her career. Harrison, who has a muscular build, has never failed a drug test. According to the UFC's anti-doping testing website, Harrison has been tested three times so far in 2025. In her debut year, 2024, Harrison was tested 13 times. Abdelaziz isn't angry with Peña for the accusations, because he believes it's just more bulletin board material for Harrison to use as motivation when the cage door closes at UFC 316. "Let me clear something up: Kayla's the most tested athlete in UFC history," Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie. "She's been in WADA, Olympics for like 15 years, USADA, UFC program – there's nobody got tested more. Anyone who claims – I'm sorry you don't have this kind of physique, or muscle, or strong – this is God. You should talk to God about this, but to accuse someone of something who got more testing than you – I'm cool with Julianna. She's cool, but more she talk, more punishment she will get. I promise you. "Kayla's a very petty human being. She's very petty. The more she talk, more it's gonna fuel Kayla and more she's gonna smash her face. And I believe she will smash her face – not in a bad way. I believe its gonna be a very bad night for Julianna. I truly believe it. Kayla's just built different. She's getting comfortable with the weight. She's figured it out. It's getting easier for her. She's getting in that right moment. When you line things up, in the right moment at the right time, it's very hard to beat certain people, and Kayla's definitely one of the hardest people to beat." After just two fights in the UFC, Harrison has earned a title shot. Should she be successful against Peña, Abdelaziz hopes winning the title will bring former two-division champion Amanda Nunes out of retirement for a potentially massive fight. "She's going to smash Julianna, and after that, Amanda Nunes hopefully can come out (of retirement), and she can beat her too." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Manager: Kayla Harrison fueled by Julianna Peña's PED accusations
