Latest news with #UFC274
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Manager: Justin Gaethje deserves Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira winner after UFC 317
Manager: Justin Gaethje deserves Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira winner after UFC 317 With the UFC lightweight division getting a makeover in the aftermath of Islam Makhachev vacating the title, Justin Gaethje's position for a title shot has seemingly improved. A new champion will be crowned in just over one month when Ilia Topuria takes on Charles Oliveira for the vacant belt in the UFC 317 headliner on June 28 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). What happens after that remains to be seen. Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) was already making the pitch for him to fight for the belt next before Makhachev vacated, as he represented a fresh matchup for the now-former champ. With Makhachev out of the picture now, though, Gaethje's manager, Ali Abdelaziz of Dominance MMA, still thinks he's next in line. "I think Justin Gaethje's the No. 1 contender," Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie. "He was supposed to fight Dan Hooker, and Hooker didn't show up. He stepped up for the company, fought Rafael Fiziev (at UFC 313), and I think he should wait and fight the winner. That's what I think he should do, but in reality, this game leaves people behind, and I don't want this game to leave him behind. If it makes sense, Justin will fight. Justin is afraid of no one. He will fight anyone. It has to make sense for him." With the way the 155-pound division is being booked, Gaethje is likely looking at a matchup with Paddy Pimblett (who recently called him out) or Arman Tsarukyan if he doesn't get the title shot. Abdelaziz said he's not opposed to either pairing, but simply wants the fight that would put his client in an undeniable spot. "Who cares? It doesn't matter," Abdelaziz said. "If you're a fighter and you think you're the best in the world, you have to beat the best guys. You don't pick and choose. Justin Gaethje never picked an opponent, never chose an opponent. He will fight you anywhere, any time. It doesn't really matter, but it has to be fair. A guy who gave his title shot to save International Fight Week and fight Max Holloway. He knocked out Dustin Poirier and Dustin Poirier got a title shot. How are you going to tell him he can't get the next title shot?" Abdelaziz and Gaethje will likely be waiting and watching to see what happens at UFC 317, and whether it's Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) or Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) who goes home with the belt. Gaethje would love the chance to avenge his first-round submission loss to Oliveira from UFC 274 if he emerges with gold, but if it's Topuria, then Abdelaziz thinks that's a massive fight for the sport. "If Ilia wins, Justin Gaethje vs. Ilia Topuria is a blockbuster fight," Abdelaziz said.
USA Today
18-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Renato Moicano: 'It's very tough' for Michael Chandler to beat anyone in top 15
Renato Moicano: 'It's very tough' for Michael Chandler to beat anyone in top 15 Renato Moicano thinks it's unlikely that his UFC lightweight peer Michael Chandler would beat a top 15 opponent. Show Caption Hide Caption Renato Moicano Responds to Paddy Pimblett's Post-UFC 314 Comments UFC lightweight Renato Moicano talks to MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn about Paddy Pimblett's win at UFC 314, his post-fight comments, what's next and more. MMA Junkie Renato Moicano thinks it will be tough for fellow UFC lightweight Michael Chandler to get a win over a top 15 opponent. Moicano (20-6-1 MMA, 12-6 UFC) wants to make it clear that he has no ill will toward Chandler (23-10 MMA, 2-5 UFC), but as a fighter who typically breaks down fights for his "Show Me the Money" podcast, he simply doesn't see "Iron" as an upper-echelon fighter. "Money" Moicano acknowledges some positive aspects to Chandler's game, but at this point in his career, it will be tough to compete against the best in the lightweight division. "No, to be honest," Moicano told MMA Junkie if Chandler could beat a top 15 opponent now. "It's very tough, you know? So people think I dislike Chandler, I don't dislike Chandler. I respect him. I just don't think he's that good, you know? "He's powerful, he can knock anybody out in the lightweight division, but right now for him, it's going to be very hard to get a dub. He's 2-4 in UFC, three straight losses, and his best win was over Dan Hooker and Tony Ferguson. I don't know. I don't see him getting back." Chandler suffered his third consecutive loss at UFC 314. His opponent, Paddy Pimblett, dominated the fight, leaving the former Bellator champion on the canvas in a bloody mess after a third-round TKO stoppage. After recording a Knockout of the Year contender against Tony Ferguson at UFC 274, Chandler hasn't won a fight. He has since lost by submission to Dustin Poirier, dropped a unanimous decision to Charles Oliveira, and now most recently, a TKO loss to Pimblett. To Chandler's credit, he does bring excitement to the table, which is why he has won bonuses in five of his seven UFC bouts. However, to stay relevant among the best names at 155, wins must be recorded. Moicano believed Chandler only had one path to victory in the fight against Pimblett, and it did not come together for him. Combine his recent performances along with being 38, and Moicano doesn't see much upside for Chandler's career at this point. "I said I think Paddy Pimblett was going to win because Michael Chandler's only chance is the right hand," Moicano said. "If he did not connect it, it's going to be very hard for him. ... Because if you remember, Charles Oliveira did out-wrestle Chandler, and Charles is not a wrestler. He took down Chandler like every single round. I was surprised Chandler tried to wrestle in the first round, was trying takedowns, was trying to control Paddy Pimblett, but he's getting a little bit older, so it's going to be hard for him to keep the same pace, you know?"
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC free fight: Michael Chandler scores brutal front kick KO vs. Tony Ferguson
The last time Michael Chandler had his hand raised, he scored one of the best KOs in recent years. In May 2022, Chandler faced former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson at UFC 274 in Phoenix. After a shaky round in which he got wobbled by Ferguson, Chandler came back with a vengeance to put the lights out on Ferguson with a nasty front kick to the chin in the very first seconds of Round 2. It was a brutal scene that got Chandler a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. You can watch Chandler's highlight-reel finish in the video above. Chandler (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) returns to the cage this Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 314 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at Kaseya Center in Miami. He takes on former Cage Warriors champion Paddy Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in a lightweight bout. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC 314.
USA Today
21-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett: Odds and what to know ahead of UFC 314 co-main event
Fan favorite lightweights Michael Chandler and Paddy Pimblett will throw down in a five-round co-headliner at UFC 314. Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett preview Chandler (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) will look to rebound after back-to-back losses to Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira. The former UFC title challenger has lost four of his past five, and hasn't gotten his hand raised since a front kick knockout of Tony Ferguson at UFC 274. Unbeaten in the octagon, Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 6-0 UFC) picked up his biggest win to date when he submitted King Green in Round 1 at UFC 304 in July. 'The Baddy' is on an eight-fight winning streak. Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett odds According to DraftKings, the odds for former title challenger Chandler and rising contender Pimblett have opened up at -110 even. How to watch Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314 When: Saturday, April 12, 2025 Where: Kaseya Center, Miami Kaseya Center, Miami Broadcast/streaming: ESPN+ pay-per-view
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Justin Gaethje likes chances to beat Islam Makhachev better than he did Khabib Nurmagomedov
Justin Gaethje hopes he gets the opportunity to challenge UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) will look to re-enter the title picture when he takes on Dan Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC) in a five-round lightweight co-main event (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) March 8 at UFC 313 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Gaethje, a former interim lightweight champion, fell short twice in his pursuit for undisputed gold – suffering submission losses to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 and Charles Oliveira at UFC 274. Makhachev has defended his lightweight title a division-record four times and already holds wins over top-ranked contenders Arman Tsarukyan, Oliveira and Dustin Poirier. However, he's yet to fight Gaethje. "I want to fight Makhachev, he is the champ, and I do believe that he is a better matchup for me than Khabib," Gaethje said during a Q&A on his YouTube channel. "But he's good." Although Gaethje was one of few fighters to ever win a round against Nurmagomedov, he's not confident that he could have beaten that version of "The Eagle." "I think Khabib was probably the one that I felt even if I performed better, I'm not sure that if I could've beaten him that night specifically," Gaethje said. "That night that I fought Khabib, I would say he is my toughest opponent to date." Islam Makhachev's coach: 'Biggest threat' Justin Gaethje no longer in UFC title picture Justin Gaethje: UFC lightweight champ Islam Makhachev is not Khabib, and I want to prove it Daniel Cormier reveals the incredible way that Khabib showed mercy on Justin Gaethje Twitter reacts to Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement, finish of Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC 313. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Justin Gaethje likes chances to beat Islam Makhachev better than he did Khabib Nurmagomedov
