Tag: ufc 307

Mario Bautista Blames José Aldo For Grappling-Heavy UFC 307 Ending: ‘He Chose To Stay There’

Bantamweight contender Mario Bautista believes the criticism of how his fight with José Aldo unfolded at UFC 307 should be directed at the Brazilian. The pair collided on the main card of this past weekend’s pay-per-view event in Salt Lake City, with Bautista looking to replace Aldo inside the top 10 at 135 pounds. Across […]

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Bantamweight contender Mario Bautista believes the criticism of how his fight with José Aldo unfolded at UFC 307 should be directed at the Brazilian.

The pair collided on the main card of this past weekend’s pay-per-view event in Salt Lake City, with Bautista looking to replace Aldo inside the top 10 at 135 pounds.

Across three rounds, the 31-year-old achieved that feat, extending his winning run to seven and securing a rise to #9 in the rankings by falling on the right side of a split decision verdict in Utah.

The manner with which he had his hand raised, however, caused considerable debate online, with many suggesting that his low-action grappling was over-rewarded by two judges.

Bautista Claims Aldo Could Have Escaped Positions At UFC 307, Opted Not To

During a recent interview on MMA Junkie Radio, Bautista reflected on his successful display in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5, which saw his record’s win column receive its biggest addition to date.

The 31-year-old questioned the reaction to his approach in round three, insisting that any and all backlash to the way the fight concluded should be directed at Aldo.

“I just wanted him to keep on working. I just wanted him to break out of the clinch, use that energy to get out. And then just kind of stay stuck to him. Keep him working, working,” Bautista said. “I just didn’t really think he was going to — I don’t know, I guess just stay on the wall.

“I thought he was going to get out. … There were points where like, yeah he was defending the takedown and maybe he could have circled off, but he just chose to stay there,” Bautista continued. “Yeah, I was holding him against the cage. But at the same, I think he did have opportunities to circle off, it’s just he chose not to. … Maybe that’s his resting area. … ‘Maybe the ref will separate us and I’ll be able to get my strikes off,’ and this and that.”

Bautista went on to say that, as a fan of the sport himself, frustration in that situation should always be toward the fighter who is unable to break the clinch and circle away.

In addition to the portions of the fanbase giving him stick, Bautista also hit back at one specific individual on social media post-fight, taking aim at Henry Cejudo for the former champ’s negative assessment of his UFC 307 performance.

Continue Reading Mario Bautista Blames José Aldo For Grappling-Heavy UFC 307 Ending: ‘He Chose To Stay There’ at MMA News.

Khalil Rountree Reveals Post-Fight Advice From Conor McGregor

Anyone who was watching along during UFC 307 this past weekend will have noticed one thing on social media. Conor McGregor is well known, or “Notorious” you could say, for being very vocal about his opinions on fights and people’s performances. This was the case during the PPV card in Salt Lake City where he […]

Continue Reading Khalil Rountree Reveals Post-Fight Advice From Conor McGregor at MMA News.

Anyone who was watching along during UFC 307 this past weekend will have noticed one thing on social media.

Conor McGregor is well known, or “Notorious” you could say, for being very vocal about his opinions on fights and people’s performances. This was the case during the PPV card in Salt Lake City where he weighed in on several fights that place on the main card, from Kevin Holland’s injury to Mario Bautista’s controversial win.

Like every fight fan, McGregor came away from the event with two strong feelings following an entertaining main event. He was both impressed by the performance that Alex Pereira delivered and the toughness and will displayed by Khalil Rountree.

McGregor’s Advice

Having posted on social media via his own X account and in comment sections underneath Instagram posts, McGregor has already made his feelings on the main event clear.

However, he did also personally reach out to Rountree as the title challenger recently revealed during an appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast.

The #8-ranked contender was able to surprise a lot of people by starting the first few rounds with a decent amount of success but ultimately, wasn’t able to maintain this.

He recapped his performance with Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, stating what he could have done better to push Pereira even further.

Rountree said that one key point regarding him not pressuring “Poatan” enough was made to him by McGregor in a serious of messages that he received once UFC 307 was behind him.

“A couple days after the fight I got some messages from Conor and it was really cool to get some messages from him, but one thing he pointed out was that I could’ve put more pressure.

Just like you were saying, when he was going up against the cage, yeah, he has that left hook, but if I would have just been a little bit more relentless with my pressure and not backed off so much and retook the centre of the cage, I think I would’ve been able to apply a little more damage to him”

– Khalil Roundtree

Continue Reading Khalil Rountree Reveals Post-Fight Advice From Conor McGregor at MMA News.

TJ Dillashaw ‘Not Mad’ With José Aldo Losing UFC 307 Decision: ‘Lost The Fight Himself’

Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw doesn’t have much sympathy for José Aldo after he came up short in Salt Lake City this past weekend. Aldo returned on the main card of the UFC 307 pay-per-view on Oct. 5, making his second appearance inside the Octagon since bringing his short-lived retirement to an end in […]

Continue Reading TJ Dillashaw ‘Not Mad’ With José Aldo Losing UFC 307 Decision: ‘Lost The Fight Himself’ at MMA News.

Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw doesn’t have much sympathy for José Aldo after he came up short in Salt Lake City this past weekend.

Aldo returned on the main card of the UFC 307 pay-per-view on Oct. 5, making his second appearance inside the Octagon since bringing his short-lived retirement to an end in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year.

While the Brazilian immediately forged a path back into the rankings at 135 pounds by getting the better of Jonathan Martinez, Mario Bautista was able to spoil his plans for a late-career title shot in Utah.

The 33-year-old fell on the right side of a split decision verdict, a result that proved controversial. Many gave the nod to Aldo after determining that Bautista didn’t do enough with his control against the cage.

UFC CEO Dana White was among those questioning the two judges who leant the way of Bautista. One of the division’s former titleholders, however, saw no issue with the result…

Dillashaw: Aldo ‘Kept Himself’ Against The Cage

During a recent episode of the JAXXON PODCAST, Dillashaw reflected on the events that unfolded at UFC 307, including the main card clash in the weight class he formerly ruled over.

Dillashaw differed from many with his take on Aldo vs. Bautista. He insisted that the ex-featherweight kingpin could have done much more to avoid granting Bautista such a long period of control in round three, which ultimately proved to be the difference.

“It surprises me…there’s techniques like this that (Aldo) doesn’t like — get off the cage,” Dillashaw said. “The loss for him, like with the fight cards, they thought Aldo should’ve won. I don’t know. He kept himself there (against the cage). Like, I’m not too mad. He lost the fight himself.”

It remains to be seen what comes next for Aldo, who was hoping to defend his spot inside the bantamweight top 10 in Salt Lake City before focusing on those above him.

With his UFC 307 loss marking the first bout on a new multi-fight deal with MMA’s leading promotion, Aldo will likely look to rebound and revive his ongoing ambitions inside the Octagon soon enough.

Continue Reading TJ Dillashaw ‘Not Mad’ With José Aldo Losing UFC 307 Decision: ‘Lost The Fight Himself’ at MMA News.

UFC Revolution: Conor McGregor and Dana White Propose Radical Changes to End Boring Fights in the UFC

UFC Revolution: Conor McGregor and Dana White Propose Radical Changes to End Boring Fights in the UFCConor McGregor and Dana White think it’s time for a change. Aside from a few questionable split decisions, UFC…

UFC Revolution: Conor McGregor and Dana White Propose Radical Changes to End Boring Fights in the UFC

Conor McGregor and Dana White think it’s time for a change.

Aside from a few questionable split decisions, UFC 307 was a successful night of fights punctuated by Alex Pereira’s destructive fourth-round knockout of Khalil Rountree in the evening’s main event. However, there was one scrap that left a lot of pundits frustrated. That being the lackluster scrap between former featherweight king Jose Aldo and rising contender Mario Bautista.

Throughout the three-round affair, Bautista regularly clinched with Aldo, pressing him against the fence and refusing to do much more than that. The lack of offense prompted the referee to separate them, but each time he did so, Bautista would go right back to clinching against the cage.

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That ultimately won’t Bautista the fight which prompted a lot of heated reactions from fighters and fans alike. McGregor offered his take on the situation by suggesting a simple guideline for when referees should separate fighters.

Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor

“As referee, if the fighters go go the same place of stawl over and over, I would be putting the position on a clock,” McGregor wrote in a since-deleted post. “Each time they end up back there, the clock goes shorter… 30 second clock, 20 second clock, 10 second, 8 second, 6 second, etc, etc, etc.”

“Separate, separate, separate. No point prolonging these positions as if they haven’t taken place exactly the same way prior and nothing has taken place but stawling. My opinion. Ya’s want blood, call us.”

Dana White Agrees with Conor McGregor … Mostly

UFC CEO Dana White echoed a similar sentiment while addressing members of the press following the fight card in Salt Lake City.

“I always think that the referees should be more active on [fighters stalling],” White said during the post-fight press conference. “100%. Especially when somebody keeps doing it to stall… If you’re not trying to fight, how do you win the fight? If you’re looking at attempted takedowns, well what about stuffing the takedowns?”

“When you can tell that the guy definitely doesn’t want to stand and strike and just wants to stall against the fence, yes. The refs, that’s their job, they’re supposed to see it. When they see it continuingly happening and that the guy is not trying to win the fight, then you [should] keep breaking them up.”

Responding directly to McGregor’s suggestion of a sort of countdown clock, White doesn’t believe you’d necessarily need a timer for each instance of stalling.

“Yeah, I don’t think you even need a clock. I mean, it’s common sense. When the guy keeps doing it and is doing everything he can to not fight and to not win the fight, as a ref, you should break it up immediately.”

Larissa Pacheco Sticks Up For Kayla Harrison After PFL’s ‘Uncalled For’ Fight-Day Dig

It wasn’t just those outside of the PFL that took issue with the promotion’s decision to fire shots at Kayla Harrison on the day of her second UFC fight. Harrison, who achieved lightweight title glory twice under the PFL banner, made the switch to MMA’s leading promotion this year, making a successful bantamweight and promotional […]

Continue Reading Larissa Pacheco Sticks Up For Kayla Harrison After PFL’s ‘Uncalled For’ Fight-Day Dig at MMA News.

It wasn’t just those outside of the PFL that took issue with the promotion’s decision to fire shots at Kayla Harrison on the day of her second UFC fight.

Harrison, who achieved lightweight title glory twice under the PFL banner, made the switch to MMA’s leading promotion this year, making a successful bantamweight and promotional debut at UFC 300 this past April.

And after dispatching Holly Holm, Harrison had the chance to add more top-five opposition to her record against Ketlen Vieira at this past weekend’s UFC 307 pay-per-view.

Harrison’s return to the Octagon was a hot topic in the lead-up to the Salt Lake City-held event. And her ex-employer looked to capitalize with a reminder of who handed the two-time Olympic gold medalist her sole defeat in MMA.

Just hours before her fight, PFL socials posted a video detailing Harrison’s 2022 loss to Larissa Pacheco, a move many saw as an attempt to mock the now-UFC star.

The post also came just days after PFL founder Donn Davis reiterated his disparaging remarks about Harrison’s PFL departure, accusing her of ‘running’ from a fight with Cris Cyborg and another showdown with Pacheco — whom Harrison has already defeated twice.

As it turns out, Pacheco herself wasn’t pleased to be used as a tool with which to take away from Harrison shortly before she made the walk in Utah.

Pacheco Tells PFL ‘You Don’t Need’ To Take Shots At Harrison

During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Pacheco reacted to the controversial PFL post, which was widely criticized and branded “nasty” by some in the community.

The Brazilian appeared to share the same sentiment as most, describing the move as “uncalled for.” She also encouraged her organization to focus on promoting her as its current top women’s fighter rather than putting energy into its former athletes.

“I thought that was uncalled for, honestly,” Pacheco said. “I think (PFL) have the champion they deserve, they have a respectful champion who has defeated Kayla, so why do that? Promote me right. Let’s promote the champion. ‘Oh, but Larissa beat Kayla.’ You don’t need that. I’ve shown (my work) with other results, I’ve proven myself, so you don’t need that.

“But anyway, that’s not on me. I have nothing to do with that. I respect Kayla. Our rivalry is over right now because she’s in another organization. Had she stayed here it would be the two of us and Cris clashing heads here, but there’s no reason to talk (about her now),” Pacheco continued. “I wish her good luck. The more she wins, the bigger my win over her gets, so I’ll always cheer for her.”

Pacheco, the only fighter to win gold in two PFL divisions, is set to make her return in Saudi Arabia next weekend. The Brazilian will do battle with an all-time great in Cyborg, with the pair co-headlining a pay-per-view event topped by Francis Ngannou’s MMA return.

Harrison, meanwhile, kept her ball rolling with a comfortable decision victory over Vieira at UFC 307. She’s now expected to receive her first shot at reaching the bantamweight mountaintop against newly crowned queen Julianna Peña.

Continue Reading Larissa Pacheco Sticks Up For Kayla Harrison After PFL’s ‘Uncalled For’ Fight-Day Dig at MMA News.

Did Conor McGregor Violate UFC Rules with Million Dollar Gamble?

Did Conor McGregor Violate UFC Rules with Million Dollar Gamble?Conor McGregor may be in trouble with his employer. As the UFC 307 main event between Alex Pereira and…

Did Conor McGregor Violate UFC Rules with Million Dollar Gamble?

Conor McGregor may be in trouble with his employer.

As the UFC 307 main event between Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree got underway, the Irish megastar placed a huge $1 million bet on either fighter to win by knockout or TKO.

Conor McGregor

“If you don’t take risks you won’t drink champagne,” McGregor wrote on X.

Of course, ‘Poatan’ went on to win the bout via TKO in the fourth round to retain the UFC light heavyweight title.

“I couldn’t pick a winner until the fight started, but I just knew there was going to be a KO,” McGregor posted after the fight. “A million on a KO by either fighter at 1/5. Good bet! $200,000 profit! NICE!!!”

Interestingly, McGregor shared the bet on X before almost immediately taking it down. He later shared it on Instagram before reposting it to the site formerly known as Twitter.

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Is Conor McGregor in violation of the UFC’s athlete conduct policy?

It was a nice 200k pickup for the Irish megastar. However, per a memo sent to athletes in October 2022, UFC fighters are prohibited from gambling on any UFC fight, regardless of whether they are involved or not.

The decision was made following a gambling scandal involving former fighter and coach James Krause.

Conor McGregor

McGregor’s sponsorship deal with online gambling site Duelbits is still permitted under the new rule, but neither he nor any other athlete under UFC contract is permitted to bet on the outcome of a UFC fight.

The fact that McGregor quickly deleted the post suggests he may have become aware of his error, but it’s unlikely that he’ll face any real consequences from the UFC.

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