Latest news with #UFC318
USA Today
3 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Arman Tsarukyan open to UFC 317, 318 backup roles: 'I need to take chances now'
Arman Tsarukyan open to UFC 317, 318 backup roles: 'I need to take chances now' Arman Tsarukyan is ready to step in for the upcoming UFC lightweight pay-per-view headliners if needed. Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) withdrew from his title fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 in January, which left him out of the next title picture. A new lightweight champion will be crowned when Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira battle for the vacant belt at UFC 317 on June 28. With only Justin Gaethje available from the top five, Tsarukyan is willing to serve as a backup for the title fight if he gets the call. "I am not sure if that's needed, but if they offer me that, I will definitely back it up," Tsarukyan said in a recent press conference (h/t Red Corner MMA). "Yes, I will be ready. I am flying back to the U.S. now and will be staying there so in case anyone is injured, and (if) the UFC asks me if I am ready, I will say yes." A month later, Max Holloway defends his BMF title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 318 on July 19. Tsarukyan will also be ready to be a replacement for that fight if necessary. "Absolutely, positive," Tsarukyan said on being the reserve for Holloway vs. Poirier. "I need to take chances now. I got injured, and this injury was misinterpreted. The doctor didn't let everybody know what really happened, so some people still think I ducked that fight. Now I just need to get back on track, so I'm going to do whatever the UFC tells (me)."
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Dustin Poirier's coach makes surprise admission ahead of star's retirement fight
The 'Diamond' has vowed that his UFC 318 clash with Max Holloway will be his last, but the American's coach has made a shock admission ahead of this summer's pay-per-view card Dustin Poirier 's long-time coach, Mike Brown, has hinted that his star fighter's upcoming fight might not signal the end of his days in the world of combat sports. 'The Diamond' is set to step back into the cage at UFC 318 this July, going head-to-head with ex-featherweight champion and BMF belt owner Max Holloway in New Orleans. Fans are eagerly anticipating the mouthwatering clash clash, which is already being tipped as Poirier's retirement fight. Poirier, 36, has assured the UFC faithful that his next fight will be his last appearance inside the cage. The American has not fought since he suffered an agonising defeat to Islam Makhachev last June. But amid talks of retirement, Brown is not 100 per cent sure UFC 318 will be the final fight of Poirier's legendary career. In an interview with MMA Fighting, when speaking of Poirier, Brown said: 'I mean, I think so. You can never say never, but he's done really well for himself. He's made a boatload of money. He's set. He doesn't need to fight. So it would have to be something pretty enticing. I mean, that could always happen, but I think he's content with his accomplishments and content with the money he has made and what he's done.' Over the years, Poirier has produced many iconic moments inside the octagon. Brown himself has plenty of favourite Poirier moments from the American's career, from his comeback win against Dan Hooker to his knockout finish over long-time rival Conor McGregor. That said, scoring a guillotine-choke submission over Holloway would undoubtedly be the icing on the cake for Poirier - who boasts eight career wins by submission yet never with his favoured move. "Everyone would be pretty happy with that, I think," Brown said. "That would be pretty cool, you never know. I mean, people didn't think he was going to rear-naked (Michael) Chandler, right? Who ain't got jiu-jitsu, right? No, he's got jiu-jitsu. People sleep on it." While Poirier eagerly anticipates a third showdown with Holloway, he never expected him to be the last opponent before hanging up his gloves. The upcoming clash with 'Blessed' will mark one of the most enduring trilogies in UFC history, given their first clash was back in 2012, followed by a second bout for the interim lightweight title seven years subsequently. In an exclusive chat with MMA Junkie, 'The Diamond' revealed his initial preference: "Well, I wanted [Justin] Gaethje. I was asking the UFC for Gaethje because we're one and one." Notably, Poirier had previously stopped Gaethje in their 2018 encounter, but suffered a knockout defeat at the hands of the American during UFC 291 in July 2023. "I wanted to close out that trilogy," Poirier said. "For some reason, they really wanted this fight with Max. So I said, 'Okay, that's cool because I respect the guy.'" He also shut down any rumours about fighting former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, confirming that wasn't even a consideration as the Spaniard-Georgian dropped his 145lb title to step up a weight class. "Not once. Not once," Poirier said. "Actually, when he said he was going to 155 [lbs], I texted UFC and said, 'Hey, what's up? Let me know what's going on with this guy now he's at 55.' But they never entertained it. They told me it's not happening, and they wanted I said, this was blindsided. I thought Max was like the last person I thought they were going to try to match me up with."
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Mike Brown: 'Enticing' offer could sway Dustin Poirier from retiring after UFC 318
Mike Brown: 'Enticing' offer could sway Dustin Poirier from retiring after UFC 318 American Top Team coach Mike Brown sees UFC 318 likely being Dustin Poirier's final fight – but he won't guarantee it. Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) plans on making his final walk to the octagon July 19 when he challenges Max Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) for the BMF title in the UFC 318 headliner at Smoothie King Center from New Orleans. Poirier will get to hang up his gloves in front of his home state, but will it really be the final time he competes? "I mean, I think so," Brown told MMA Fighting. "You can never say never, but he's done really well for himself. He's made a boatload of money. He's set. He doesn't need to fight. So it would have to be something pretty enticing. I mean, that could always happen, but I think he's content with his accomplishments and content with the money he has made and what he's done. So, you know, I think it is." Brown has plenty of favorite moments from Poirier's career, from his comeback win against Dan Hooker to his knockout finish over Conor McGregor. But would a guillotine-choke submission of Holloway top all of that? "The Diamond" has eight-career wins by submission, but none by his favorite move. "Everyone would be pretty happy with that, I think," Brown said. "That would be pretty cool, you never know. I mean, people didn't think he was going to rear-naked (Michael) Chandler, right? Who ain't got jiu-jitsu, right? No, he's got jiu-jitsu. People sleep on it."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nate Diaz Shares Hitlist For UFC Return
Nate Diaz is still interested in fighting for the UFC again, but they're gonna have to generate some interesting options for him if they want him to sign on the dotted line. Diaz fought out his contract back in 2022, ending a 15 year relationship with the promotion. He then went on to lose to Jake Paul and beat Jorge Masvidal in boxing bouts ... the latter of which he didn't get paid for. Advertisement When you sell out an arena and still get screwed over, it probably makes you miss the more reliable ways the UFC operates. So we're not surprised that Nate is still interested in fighting for them again (despite repeated attempts to bury him). In a recent interview with the The HJR Podcast (recorded before UFC 315 and the Thailand brawl incident), the Stockton fighter discussed his thoughts on returning to UFC and what's stopping him at the moment. 'I plan on going back to UFC,' Diaz said. 'If they'll have me, I would like to go back and whoop someone's ass there. I'm not fighting at 155, though. Right now I'm not fighting in there because there's nobody to fight, really. It's kind of slow rolling. I don't really have a name in mind right now in UFC, that's why I'm not there right now.' Advertisement 'Everybody's rushing. I would be there if there was somebody that I wanted to go fight.' The obvious opponent is Conor McGregor, but Nate noted he's not active at the moment. 'With time, for sure, whenever he's back, I'm sure we're going to fight,' he said. 'Me and him for sure have unfinished business. Got to happen.' Discussion turned to the BMF belt, which Nate took credit for and called the most entertaining thing happening in the UFC. He also expressed interest in fighting some of the BMF belt holders, be they legit or through lineal conquest. 'Those are the guys right there that I would want to fight,' Diaz said. 'Like Max Holloway. I'd like to fight that other guy [Topuria]. He's really good but he's smaller than me. I'm done with 155, I'm cool off that. It always was [a hard weight cut], since I was 18, it was hard. I'm staying at 170. I'll fight 185 too.' Advertisement We're sure Max Holloway would love to skip a weight cut and fight Nate Diaz after he fights Dustin Poirier at UFC 318 on July 18th. Could it happen? If they could pull together a McGregor or Holloway fight (or uno mas with Poirier), it would be a nice addition to a year sorely lacking in fan service fights. More from
USA Today
26-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Charles Oliveira: Dustin Poirier sharpest boxer I've faced, beats Max Holloway at UFC 318
Charles Oliveira: Dustin Poirier sharpest boxer I've faced, beats Max Holloway at UFC 318 Charles Oliveira rates UFC 318 headliner Dustin Poirier's striking very highly. Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) has fought the lightweight division's elite, from the likes of Islam Makhachev, to Arman Tsarukyan, to Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje. "Do Bronx" was dropped by Poirier in their lightweight title fight at UFC 269, but rallied to submit him in Round 3. Poirier will step into the octagon for a final time when he challenges BMF champion Max Holloway in the UFC 318 main event on July 19 from his home state of Louisiana. Having fought both Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) and Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC), Oliveira shared his prediction for the fight. "When I fought Holloway, I didn't have the chance to fight because it was too fast because I had an injury," Oliveira told Full Violence in a translated interview. "I think Holloway is a guy who moves a lot, a guy who catches. But man, Dustin Poirier is a guy that I have huge respect for. For me, of all of the guys I've fought, he's the one with the sharpest boxing. He fights more consciously, he has a very heavy hand. He knows how to play the game. He will fight at home practically, so I think Poirier wins." Oliveira will look to reclaim the lightweight title when he takes on Ilia Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) 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+).
