Latest news with #HomeofFight
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Jon Jones breaks silence on Francis Ngannou as he eyes dramatic UFC return
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has given his take after Eric Nicksick revealed that Francis Ngannou would be open to fighting in the UFC once again Jon Jones has expressed his interest in a super-fight with Francis Ngannou, following rumours that the 'Predator' might make a sensational return to UFC. Ngannou's coach, Eric Nicksick, sparked these rumours when he suggested that his star fighter could be open to competing under the UFC banner once again. In an interview with Home of Fight, the American coach stated that enough time has passed since the 38-year-old left the UFC on bad terms for the two parties to reconcile. He believes that the Cameroonian would be open to this idea, as it has always been about business rather than ego. Nicksick also added that Tom Aspinall is fully deserving of the opportunity to be UFC champion. However, fans have shown their excitement over the possibility of Ngannou's return following these comments. Just hours after the interview went viral online, Jones was quick to share his thoughts and claimed he is still interested in going head-to-head with the 38 year old. In a post uploaded to X -formerly known as Twitter - the UFC heavyweight champion posted: "I'm hearing Francis Ngannou is still interested... now we're talking. That's a real super fight. "That's a real super fight. A clash of champions, not just hype. He held the UFC belt, I've defended mine for over a decade. Two kings from different roads. Not just one legend facing a mouth that's hot right now, but two real legacies colliding. That's the kind of fight that actually adds something special to my story. At least from my point of view." In another post, 'Bones' took a dig at Aspinall after fans suggested Ngannou would be an easier opponent for him in the cage. "You clowns thinking, Francis would be that much easier because of the ground game. Tom has no ground game either. In English black belt is like getting a participation ribbon," he wrote. Jones and Ngannou have been exchanging heated words online about a potential fight for several years. The first whispers of a possible showdown between the two emerged back in 2020. After 'Bones' successfully defended his light-heavyweight title against Dominick Reyes, he was keen to step up and challenge for another title. However, the highly anticipated fight never materialised after Jones made a staggering financial demand. In an interview with ESPN, UFC CEO Dana White quashed the speculation, stating: "For the amount of money he's asking for, it's not going to happen. He couldn't be asking for a more absurd amount of money at a worse time," White added. "We have text messages from Jon Jones. It's not like I can't prove that what I'm saying is true because we have text messages. I'll quote him on what he said. He said, 'I want what Deontay Wilder made against Tyson Fury."
USA Today
24-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Erin Blanchfield: UFC champ Zhang Weili's success wouldn't translate to flyweight
Erin Blanchfield: UFC champ Zhang Weili's success wouldn't translate to flyweight Erin Blanchfield doesn't see UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili replicating her success at flyweight. Weili (26-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) is interested in a potential superfight with flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (24-4-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC), who makes her next title defense against Manon Fiorot in the UFC 315 co-main event (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) May 10 in Montreal. However, top flyweight contender Blanchfield (13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) doesn't think Weili has the size to reign supreme in the weight class above. "She's really tough, so I could see her winning some kind of like how Rose (Namajunas) was able to win some moving up, but I think she's really tiny," Blanchfield said in an interview with Home of Fight. "I've seen her in person. She's very short, especially for 125. I don't think she would be a champ at 125." Blanchfield will look to emerge into title contention when she takes on Maycee Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) in the UFC on ESPN 68 headliner May 31 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. She likes how she matches up with Weili should she move up to flyweight. "I would see myself finishing her," Blanchfield said of Weili. "I feel like it'd be similar to (Jessica) Andrade. I feel like they'd have that same build, and they're both aggressive. So I could see myself finishing her."
USA Today
23-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Caio Borralho predicts late finish or 'domination' of Khamzat Chimaev in possible UFC bout
Caio Borralho predicts late finish or 'domination' of Khamzat Chimaev in possible UFC bout Khamzat said yes! The only thing that makes sense is the Interim belt! This fight is gonna be bigger than him vs Dricus! Marks my words — Caio Borralho (@BorralhoCaio) April 20, 2025 Caio Borralho is confident he could outlast Khamzat Chimaev in a potential UFC fight. With UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis rumored to be sidelined due to injury, Borralho called out No. 1 contender Chimaev, who has entertained the idea by going back-and-forth with the Brazilian on social media. If the fight was to materialize, Borralho (17-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) thinks he can weather an early storm, drag Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) to the later rounds, and possibly finish him. "I think the critical point is the first round," Borralho told Submission Radio. "I think that's the round that I need to not make a mistake at all. The first round is the dangerous one, and it's the critical point. After this round, I'm not saying that he is going to go down in his performance or anything like that, but that's when I'm going up in my performance. "I think I can still, in the second round, defend some takedowns – even get taken down and get back up and all that – don't give my back or anything like that that he likes, and then after that start hitting him with some body shots, with some jabs that I'm doing very good with, some calf kicks and all that. And then after that, the fight is getting better and better for me. Maybe a knockout in the fourth round or fifth, or maybe a good decision and domination in the last three rounds." Chimaev posted a picture of him carrying Borralho in training, as well as one in which he's choking him out. Borralho admits he got "beat up" in their sessions, but explains that he was there to help him and serve as a good training partner by going through the motions. 😳Khamzat Chimaev shares a photo of him submitting Caio Borralho 📸 @KChimaev ▫️ — Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) April 21, 2025 "That was far from a sparring session," Borralho said. "That was a video of him drilling positions that Allan Finfou was coming to him. Actually, that video is from 'Embedded' so we were filming for the UFC. We were doing drilling – he was taking the back, doing a rear-naked choke. Look at that: I didn't even defend the takedown. It was a drilling session."
USA Today
04-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Carlos Prates: Jack Della Maddalena won't be a 'hard fight' for Belal Muhammad at UFC 315
Carlos Prates doesn't see Jack Della Maddalena as a stern test for UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad. Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) defends his welterweight title against Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) May 10 in the UFC 315 main event (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Surging contender Prates confidently predicts a Muhammad win. 'I think Belal's going to win,' Prates told Home of Fight. 'Jack Della Maddalena looks like a good fighter, but he fought one time Kevin Holland and he won by split decision. Then he fought another guy, I don't remember the name, he's not even anymore in the UFC, and then he fought Gilbert Burns and he was losing the fight, and in the last minute he won the fight. 'OK, it's good but only his good win is against Gilbert Burns, and Belal Muhammad has been beating a lot of guys really good. I would like to see Jack Della Maddalena as a champ because he's striker and things like that, but I think Belal Muhammad's going to win. It's not going to be a hard fight.' After four knockouts and four Performance of the Night bonuses to kick off his octagon tenure, Fighting Nerds' Prates (21-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will look to emerge as a top contender when he takes on Ian Machado Garry (15-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) April 26 in the UFC on ESPN 66 main event at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC 315.
USA Today
29-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bo Nickal: Me vs. Khamzat Chimaev top three biggest fights UFC can make
Bo Nickal is confident that a fight between him and Khamzat Chimaev would do massive numbers. Both undefeated and boasting strong grappling bases, Nickal (7-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) has been angling to fight Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) since he's entered the UFC. The pair have exchanged words in the past, but Chimaev is far ahead of Nickal in the title race. Nickal takes on former ONE Championship title holder Reiner De Ridder (19-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) in a three-round middleweight bout May 3 at UFC on ESPN 67 from Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. Meanwhile, Chimaev is expected to be next in line for UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis. While Nickal acknowledges that he's not there just yet, he thinks a future fight with Chimaev would be a blockbuster. '100 percent, that's the most exciting fight there is in the division in my opinion,' Nickal said in an interview with Home of Fight. 'I think as far as the fights in the UFC, you've got at the top: (Jon) Jones and (Tom) Aspinall, you've got Ilia (Topuria) potentially with Islam (Makhachev) or another 55'er, and then I think right after that, the most exciting fight next is me and Khamzat. That's something that the fans need to see, that I want to see. I'm sure he wants it, as well, so I've just got to keep winning fights and we'll make it happen.' If Chimaev vs. Du Plessis is indeed next, Nickal thinks Chimaev's grappling prowess will prove to be too much. 'Tough fight: I think that Dricus has the size. He probably has a little better cardio,' Nickal said. 'I think striking is pretty even. Khamzat obviously has a massive advantage in the grappling. All that considered, I think I'd give the edge to Khamzat because of that wrestling advantage. We really haven't seen – you just don't get strong grapplers like that competing. You're not used to that. 'No matter what Dricus is going to do, he's not going to be able to game plan for that, and he's not going to have felt that from anyone. Really the only two guys I believe in the sport that can give that feel are me and Khamzat. I think that gives him an edge, that gives him an advantage. The longer the fight goes, the bigger the advantage is for Dricus, but seeing Khamzat in his last fight against Whittaker, he was very impressive. All in all, it's going to be a great fight, but I would give the edge to Khamzat.' For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 67.
