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2024 PFL Europe 3 video: Stevie Ray pulls off ‘Scottish Twister,’ sits on fence over retirement

Stevie Ray couldn’t stick with the idea of retiring from MMA after an insane submission win in the 2024 PFL Europe 3 main event.

A retirement moment doesn’t get much sweeter than what [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] pulled off at 2024 PFL Europe 3 – if that’s indeed what happens.

In front of a hometown crowd in Glasgow, beloved Scottish fighter Ray (26-13) won in spectacular fashion when he pulled off a modified version of the twister, dubbed by the commentary team as the “Scottish Twister,” against a befuddled [autotag]Lewis Long[/autotag] (20-8) at the 4:24 mark of Round 1 in the 150-pound catchweight bout at OVO Hydro.

Ray, who has pulled off a somewhat similar submission before against former UFC champ Anthony Pettis under the PF banner in 2022, went to work from bottom position and unexpectedly forced Long to tap out.

Check out the replay of the spectacular finish below (via X):

https://x.com/PFLEurope/status/1840142890732798298

After the fight, Ray relished the moment but flip-flopped on the idea of this being his final fight. He said it could be, but it’s hard to walk away knowing he can still make money in the sport.

“It was supposed to be my last fight (but) to be honest, I’m not 100 percent sure,” Ray said in his post-fight interview with Dan Hardy. “There’s so many ups and downs in this sport, so it’s tough. But I love this. When it gets to that point you’re like, ‘I’m not f*cking leaving.’ Maybe one more. I’ve not got a contract or anything now. I’m technically a free agent. Obviously, I want to stay with PFL, but this is why I fight. For my family. I used to fight because I love it. I still do love it, but the main reason I fight now is to provide for these five (family members) in the cage. They cost a lot of money, so Donn Davis, Pete Murray, if you want to see this again, get the wallet out.”

UFC Fight Night 243 video: Morgan Charriere crumples Gabriel Miranda with big left hook

Morgan Charriere knocked out Gabriel Miranda at UFC Paris and then led the crowd in a singing of the national anthem of France.

Few men are more popular in Accor Arena than “The Last Pirate.”

At UFC Fight Night 243 on Saturday in Paris, [autotag]Morgan Charriere[/autotag] didn’t disappoint the French crowd when he knocked out [autotag]Gabriel Miranda[/autotag] at 0:27 mark of Round 2 in their featherweight matchup.

Charriere (20-10-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) found Miranda (17-7 MMA, 1-2 UFC) out of position with his guard down after a spinning attempt and perfectly placed a big left hook right on the Brazilian’s jaw. After Miranda fell, Charriere pounced and the fight was stopped nearly immediately, which sent the arena into pandemonium (via X):

After the win, Charriere led the raucous Paris crowd in a signing of “La Marseillaise,” the national anthem of France.

The victory returned Charriere into the win column after a split decision loss to Chepe Mariscal in April. For Miranda, the loss comes after his first UFC win, a submission over Shane Young in September 2023.

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Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 243 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 243.

UFC 308 poster released: Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway spotlight of super stacked card

The UFC is closing the year strong with its numbered events, and currently no lineup appears deeper than UFC 308

The UFC is closing the year strong with its numbered events, and currently no lineup appears deeper than UFC 308.

With five current or former champions set to compete, the Oct. 26 card, which takes place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN+), is one that seemingly cannot be missed, and now the promotion has dropped the official poster.

UFC 308 is headlined by a featherweight title showdown between [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) and [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC), and in the five-round co-main event, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (26-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) takes on the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC).

Both matchups made their way to the poster, which can be seen in full below (via X):

The complete latest UFC 308 lineup includes:

  • Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway – for featherweight title
  • Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker
  • Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov
  • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic
  • Shara Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan
  • Dan Ige vs. Lerone Murphy
  • Rafael dos Anjos vs. Geoff Neal
  • Myktybek Orolbai vs. Mateusz Rebecki
  • Said Nurmagomedov vs. Daniel Santos
  • Brunno Ferreira vs. Abus Magomedov
  • Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Justin Tafa
  • Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
  • Farid Basharat vs. Victor Hugo
  • Ismail Naurdiev vs. Bruno Silva
  • Ibo Aslan vs. Raffael Cerqueira

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Video: Damir Ismagulov moves to 2-0 since UFC split with a violent spinning kick KO

Damir Ismagulov raised questions about why he’s not longer in UFC with a spectacular spinning kick knockout Saturday in Kazakhstan.

[autotag]Damir Ismagulov[/autotag] showed why he’s one of the best lightweights in the world not signed to the UFC with a vicious highlight-reel knockout on Saturday at Alash Pride FC 100.

Ismagulov (26-3), who won five of seven fights under the UFC banner before departing the organization with back-to-back losses in July 2023, delivered a spectacular spinning wheel kick knockout on Oberdan Tenorio (36-16-1), who leaned directly into the fight-ending shot in the opening round of the headlining bout in Aktobe, Kazakhstan.

Check out the replay of the nasty knockout below (via X):

https://www.twitter.com/grabaka_hitman/status/1837564602357366931

With the victory, Ismagulov, 33, is now 2-0 since his exit from the UFC. His only losses in the past nine years have come against Grant Dawson and expected next UFC title challenger Arman Tsarukyan.

Jon Jones: UFC 309 title defense vs. Stipe Miocic ‘more than likely’ my retirement fight

Jon Jones is leaning hard toward retirement going into his UFC 309 heavyweight title defense against Stipe Miocic.

[autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] is leaning hard toward retirement going into his UFC 309 heavyweight title defense against Stipe Miocic, which is now official.

Jones (27-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) will get in the octagon for the first time since he captured the vacant heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane in March 2023 when he takes on former champ Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) in the headliner of the Nov. 16 card, which takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+).

“Bones” has fought just once since February 2020 and has been teasing the idea of hanging up his gloves for some time. However, it appears he has a strong sense of his career objective if he manages to beat Miocic now that the fight is confirmed.

“This is going to be the last time,” Jones told “Clocked N’ Loaded” backstage at UFC 306 this past Saturday. “More than likely.”

UFC CEO Dana White recently stated he thinks Miocic will be retiring at UFC 309 regardless of the result against Jones. He felt Jones would continue competing, though, and give interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall his much-desired chance to unify belts.

It appears Aspinall may be left high and dry, though, because Jones doesn’t seem keen to stick around the sport beyond the fight with Miocic.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

Alexa Grasso issues statement on UFC 306 title loss, promises to ‘be much better’

Alexa Grasso is sorting through the fallout of losing her title to Valentina Shevchenko in their UFC 306 trilogy bout.

[autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag] is sorting through the fallout of losing her title to Valentina Shevchenko in their UFC 306 trilogy bout.

Grasso’s (16-4-1 MMA, 8-4-1 UFC) reign as women’s flyweight champion came to an end after 18 months Saturday when she was outworked by Shevchenko (24-4-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC) en route to a unanimous decision loss at Noche UFC at Sphere in Las Vegas.

The Mexican didn’t have many answers for Shevchenko’s wrestling in the first women’s trilogy fight in UFC history, and as a result the series between the rivals now is even at 1-1-1. This outcome was clear-cut, though, leaving questions about where Grasso now stands.

She doesn’t seem to have gotten that far in her thought process, but she made it clear that a return to training with focus on growth and improvement is the priority to ensure she doesn’t put on another repeat performance in the future (via Instagram):

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_9JYxvsF7A

I want to thank you for all your support 🤍
It wasn’t the night I wanted.
I’ll get back to training and I promise the next fight will be much better 🦾
I love them 🙏🏼❤️

Despite her loss, there is always the lingering possibility of a fourth fight between Grasso and Shevchenko in the future. Shevchenko said after UFC 306 that she would prefer to move on to new business, though, and ideally take on one of the “fresh faces” in the 125-pound division.

Manon Fiorot weighed in as the backup fighter at UFC 306 and could potentially be next in line, meaning Grasso will have to face another contender.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.

Justin Gaethje reveals ‘list’ of desired next UFC opponents; Dustin Poirier responds

Justin Gaethje isn’t ruling out one more run at the UFC lightweight title, and he sees four realistic opponents to make the first step.

[autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] isn’t ruling out one more run at the UFC lightweight title, and he sees four realistic opponents to make the first step.

Despite suffering the worst loss of his career with a highlight-reel knockout against Max Holloway in their BMF title fight at UFC 300 in April, Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) is looking at the landscape of the 155-pound division and still sees some openings.

Champ Islam Makhachev is expected to defend against Arman Tsarukyan in early 2025 once he recovers from injury, but after that, there is no clear No. 1 contender. Gaethje thinks he could start rebuilding his resume if he gets one of four possible matchups.

“I think Dustin Poirier, I beat him, he fought for a belt (and) there’s always those certain set of circumstances that can happen which will lead to (a title shot),” Gaethje told MMA Junkie and other reporters during a recent media scrum. “I think this fight with (Makhachev) and Tsarukyan is the next fight, then there’s kind of another opportunity for somebody like how Dustin Poirier stepped in. There’s not a clear contender.

“I have to fight and win then I’m right back in there. I have a list. I think (Dan) Hooker, (Charles) Oliveira, Poirier and (Alexander) Volkanovski is a list of four people that I think any of those would do for me what I need to do to get back in the picture.”

The idea of another fight with Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) to settle their trilogy has been compelling to many MMA fans since Gaethje evened the series with a head kick knockout finish at UFC 291 in July 2023. “The Diamond” won the first meeting by fourth-round TKO at UFC on FOX 29 in April 2018.

Gaethje said the prospect of a rubber match with Poirier isn’t that compelling and would likely be at the bottom of his four-name list.

“No (I wouldn’t be bummed if we can’t settle the trilogy),” Gaethje said. “I walked out of there after we were 1-1, I said, ‘Let’s not do it again.’ I’m not saying I don’t want to or whatever, but that was the conversation we had that night because we’re 1-1 and we’re taking years from each other’s lives. So we can fight some of these young kids, but we’ll see what happens.”

Poirier caught wind of Gaethje’s comments and appeared to have a different opinion, welcoming the matchup on social media for his seemingly planned retirement fight.

https://www.twitter.com/DustinPoirier/status/1834614502798549323

With Gaethje, 35, having some opponent possibilities in mind, it’s now about determining the timeline. The former interim UFC champ vowed to take a legitimate break from sparring after the devastating knockout vs. Holloway at UFC 300, and although he’s stuck to his guns so far, he admits it’s getting more difficult to stay out of the gym.

“I said I was going to take six months before I sparred – it’s been four,” Gaethje said. “I’m going to have a difficult time making it six months because I’m itching, but I think I’m going to give it another month before I spar and then get back into camp. We’ll see. My coach, manager – they’ll decide (when the next fight is).”

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Former Bellator champ Yaroslav Amosov announces end of contract, hints at UFC move

Yaroslav Amosov, who is a former Bellator champ and ranked top 15 in the world, is a free agent and could be headed to the UFC.

One of the top welterweights in the world is making an exit from Bellator and looking to start a new chapter in his career.

[autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag], who saw his remarkable undefeated run come to an end in November 2023 when he lost the Bellator welterweight title to Jason Jackson, revealed Friday his contract with the promotion has concluded.

As a result, Amosov, No. 13 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie welterweight rankings, is seeking “a new beginning” elsewhere.

Check out Amosov’s full statement below (translated by Instagram):

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_2LCXZoRra

Friends, my contract with @bellatormma has ended.

It was an unforgettable 6 years. A time that will be etched in my heart forever. Thank you all 🙏 soon I will announce my next actions! Unforgettable emotions during winning the title, even greater while defending it, the first defeat in 11 years, the war in the homeland… but I’m sure it’s only made me stronger 👊🏼 it’s all a small part of a big story. This is not the finish line, this is a new beginning.

I’m ready for a new phase. New horizons and peaks are ahead. My journey continues, I appreciate everyone who’s been there, those who supported and those who doubted.

The story doesn’t end, it just changes direction.

See you in the octagon 😎

The closing words of Amosov’s statement alludes that a move to the UFC could be on the horizon for the Ukrainian, who has fought just twice since June 2021 due to a hiatus to help fight for his country against Russian invasion.

With focus seemingly back on his fighting career, perhaps Amosov is on the verge of taking his talents to the biggest stage.

In the comments of his Instagram post, American Top Team head coach Mike Brown, Bellator champ Johnny Eblen, as well as the likes of Mateusz Gamrot, Grant Dawson and more posted excitement about Amosov potentially joining the UFC roster.

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UFC Fight Night 242 video: Cody Durden sends Matt Schnell into retirement with slick finish on four days’ notice

Cody Durden sent Matt Schnell into retirement after scoring an impressive submission on four days’ notice at UFC Fight Night 242.

[autotag]Cody Durden[/autotag] picked up one of the biggest wins of his octagon tenure Saturday when he tapped out Matt Schnell in highlight-reel fashion at UFC Fight Night 242.

After taking the fight as a replacement on just four days’ notice, Durden (17-6-1 MMA, 6-4-1 UFC) went toe-to-toe with Schnell (16-9 MMA, 6-7 UFC) from the very first bell. The pair traded hard shots for several minutes with some grappling exchanges mixed in, and then it went to a second round.

That’s where Durden turned the tables on a Schnell takedown attempt and impressively rolled into a slick anaconda choke. After a brief struggle, Schnell tapped at the 0:29 mark of Round 2 in the bantamweight bout at the UFC Apex.

Check out the replay of the final sequence below (via X):

 

After the fight, the UFC broadcast team announced Schnell has retired from MMA competition and left his gloves in the center of the octagon.

Matt Schnell, UFC Fight Night 242

Durden reveled in his big moment.

“Without risk there’s no reward,” Durden said in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. “Four days’ notice. Me and my wife went out Sunday night and I had a little bit too much to drink. But I backed it up. I came out here and I backed it up.”

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 242 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 242.

UFC Fight Night 242 video: Isaac Dulgarian wins as biggest favorite in company history

Isaac Dulgarian entered the cage as a record-setting -2400 betting favorite at UFC Fight Night 242, and his performance lived up to it.

[autotag]Isaac Dulgarian[/autotag] had an extra layer of pressure entering his UFC Fight Night 242 matchup with [autotag]Brendon Marotte[/autotag], because he built up to being the biggest betting favorite in UFC history.

When cage announcer Joe Martinez read Dulgarian’s (7-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) name for his introduction, the pre-fight graphic listed him as a record-setting -2400 betting favorite over Marotte (8-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) for the featherweight bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Dulgarian came out instantly and scored an easy takedown in the first 10 seconds, then delivered a mauling on the mat. Marotte displayed his toughness in eating numerous heavy shots, as well as surviving repeat bad positions and submission attempts.

The fight entered a second round to the surprise of many, but it didn’t make it out of it. Dulgarian got the fight back to the ground in short order and punished Marotte until he secured an arm-triangle choke for the tap at the 4:19 mark of Round 2.

Check out the replay of the finish below (via X):

https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1832546575593181218

https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1832547025709097163

 

It was a strong rebound performance from Dulgarian after suffering his first career defeat in his previous bout, and he preached a more methodical win to getting the job done.

“We were focused on being patient this fight,” Dulgarian said in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. “Last fight I was pushing a little too hard. We were just patient.”

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 242 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 242.