Latest news with #ChampionshipRounds
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Max Holloway Sends a Clear Message to Ilia Topuria After His UFC 318 Victory
Max Holloway Sends a Clear Message to Ilia Topuria After His UFC 318 Victory originally appeared on Athlon Sports. A dominant win at UFC 318 sets the stage for a potential high-stakes rematch. It was an emotional night at UFC 318, as fans witnessed the farewell fight of a true legend. Dustin Poirier closed out his storied career in front of a roaring hometown crowd in New Orleans, but the night belonged to Max Holloway. In their trilogy bout, Holloway avenged his loss from UFC 236 in emphatic fashion, silencing the crowd and reminding everyone that his story is far from over. But even in a night filled with history, Holloway's post-fight comments hinted that the chapter ahead could be just as compelling. In a post-fight interview with Carlos Contreras Legaspi, captured by Championship Rounds, Holloway was asked point-blank about running it back with Ilia Topuria. His response was raw: 'For doing what he did to me. The first man to [knock me out]. Of course I want revenge.' Those words quickly ignited speculation about what's next for the former champion. Interestingly, Holloway wasn't shy about Topuria during fight week either. While acknowledging the Spaniard's recent success, he also downplayed the streak: 'He has names and he beat the names — you can't deny that,' Holloway said. 'It just sucks with everything that was going on with that Volk fight… people are just looking at the name and not the record. Charles was on a 1-fight win streak. At the end of the day, they're just names. UFC is lining them up and he's just knocking them down.' With a decisive win over Poirier and a move toward the lightweight mix, a Holloway-Topuria rematch is definitely an option. It's personal, it's marketable, and it could settle one of the most shocking results in recent UFC history. If the UFC wants a fight fans will rally behind, this is the one. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jon Jones Sends a Bold Message That Could Shake Up the Heavyweight Division
Jon Jones Sends a Bold Message That Could Shake Up the Heavyweight Division originally appeared on Athlon Sports. UFC's former champion hints at a return, teasing a historic stage for a potential showdown. Jon Jones' retirement seemed final when the UFC moved forward, officially elevating Tom Aspinall to undisputed heavyweight champion. But a recent interview suggests the former king isn't done just yet. While the division adjusted to life without him, Jones dropped hints that he still has some big plans—plans that could involve one of the most historic backdrops in combat sports history. In a recent string of interviews, Jones has sounded more energized than he has in years. His comments came on the heels of former President Donald Trump's announcement, later confirmed by Dana White, that the White House will host a UFC fight card in 2026. At the ESPYS, in a clip captured by Championship Rounds, Jones said:'I was retired. I felt like I've done it all in the MMA space. I just wanted to do more than championships and money. Donald Trump mentioned that he wanted to host a fight at the White House garden. That just seems like a huge opportunity. I'm a very proud American. To be able to entertain the country and the world at this level at the White House means the world to me.' In another clip shared by Championship Rounds, Jones doubled down, saying he's willing to face whoever holds the heavyweight belt by year's end. 'As of right now the champion is Tom Aspinall, but we'll see who's the champion at the end of the year.' With the White House event targeted for July 4, 2026, speculation swirls—will Jones fight sooner or hold out for history? Add in the possibility of Conor McGregor sharing that stage, and this could be the most explosive UFC card ever. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paddy Pimblett Sets the Record Straight on UFC 319
Paddy Pimblett Sets the Record Straight on UFC 319 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The buzz coming out of UFC 317 hasn't slowed down. After Ilia Topuria's dominant performance in the main event, speculation over who might challenge him next has only intensified. Among the most talked-about names is Paddy Pimblett—who fans and fighters alike have mentioned as a potential next opponent. But in the midst of swirling rumors, Pimblett has now stepped forward to address whether he'll be part of the UFC 319 card. Advertisement Paddy Pimblett, 30, the outspoken British lightweight, has kept his name in headlines lately—whether it's by calling for a shot at Topuria or reacting to the latest rumor linking him to Justin Gaethje. Paddy PimblettGetty Images That buzz came directly from UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, who in a video captured by Ahmed Amwell and shared by Championship Rounds, claimed: 'It's gonna be a big card. The co-main event is Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje.' That hypothetical matchup instantly caught fire online. But Pimblett caught wind of the clip and quickly shut things down, posting to X: 'Yous are mad if you think I'm fighting in August.' With UFC 319 set for August, that rumor appears to be off the table—at least for now. While fight announcements can change quickly, it looks like Pimblett vs. Gaethje won't be happening at UFC 319. Until Ilia Topuria's next opponent is officially named, both Pimblett and Gaethje may remain in limbo, with fans left guessing what's truly next for each fighter. With both men linked to the champ, all eyes are on the UFC's next move. Advertisement Related: UFC Faces Pressure as Ilia Topuria's Next Opponent Narrowed to 3 Possibilities Related: Jake Paul Calls Out Dana White Over Fighter's Health Emergency: 'Where's the Help?' This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
04-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC champ Ilia Topuria: Arman Tsarukyan 'much easier' fight than Paddy Pimblett
UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria completely downplayed Arman Tsarukyan as a challenge. Out of the top lightweight contenders, many pundits believe Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is the sternest test to new champion Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC), who insists that's not the case, and sees Paddy Pimblett (22-4 MMA, 7-0 UFC) as a bigger challenge. Topuria took aim at Tsarukyan for withdrawing from his lightweight title fight against Islam Makhachev just one day before UFC 311 due to a back injury. "Tsarukyan is the easiest (fight) of them all, he's much easier than Paddy," Topuria said in a recent press conference (h/t Championship Rounds). "Much easier. I don't even know what to call him. Imagine having the opportunity to fight for the world title, and when the day comes, you pull out because your back hurts. I can't conceive it, I can't even understand it. I would have fought without an arm, I don't care. ... Clearly, mentally you aren't where you need to be." Tsarukyan put asterisks on Topuria's recent dominant run, which includes three-straight knockouts over Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and most recently Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. Although Tsarukyan, Justin Gaethje, and Pimblett were all in attendance for Topuria's title-winning performance, it was Pimblett who got to face off with "El Matador." "He's just had easy fights in his career," Tsarukyan told ESPN MMA of Topuria. "He beat legit fighters, but not in their prime. If he met Volkanovski five years ago, Volkanovski would just eat him, but now Volkanovski is old. His chin is not there anymore."
NDTV
04-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
White House To Host UFC Fight: Inside Trump's 250th Independence Day Plans
As a part of celebrations to mark 250 years of American independence, next year, the White House will host a UFC bout, US President Donald Trump announced at a rally in Iowa on Thursday. "Every one of our national park battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honor of 'America250' and I even think we're going to have a UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fight," Trump said on the eve of the Fourth July holiday. He said the event will boast an audience of 20,000-25,000. "It's going to be a championship fight, full fight, like 20,000 to 25,000 people and we're going to do that as part of '250' also," he said. 🇺🇸 President Donald Trump says he will host a UFC fight at the White House as part of the America 250 celebration 👀 "We're gonna have a UFC fight on the grounds of the White House... championship fight." — Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 4, 2025 Trump, being a friend of Dana White, the UFC president, said, "We are going to have some incredible events, some professional events, some amateur events." His links to the UFC dates back to 2001, when the Trump Taj Mahal, which is now closed, used to host UFC. Addressing the crowd at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Trump said, "Does anybody watch UFC? The great Dana White? We're going to have a UFC fight. 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." During Trump's presidential bid in 2016, White had endorsed him, calling him a "fighter" and after the assassination attempt on him, described him as a "tough guy" and "the legitimate, ultimate, American badass of all time". There will also be "the great American State Fair" among other celebrations, that will "bring America250 programming for fairgrounds across the country, culminating in a giant patriotic festival next summer on the National Mall, featuring exhibits from all 50 states," per Trump. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary said Trump is "dead serious" about the UFC fight plans, according to a White House pool report. Leavitt had also confirmed the plans on X, writing: "It's going to be EPIC!" It's going to be EPIC! — Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) July 4, 2025 According to a Truth Social post, Trump also plans to hold a "Signing Celebration" at the White House on Friday, the day he signs his One Big Beautiful Bill into law.
