UFC lightweightBeneil Dariush believes he can beat any fighter in the world, including the promotion's featherweight champion Islam Makhachev.
"I truly believe I can beat anyone in the world. Including Makhachev, or anyone else in a title fight. There is no doubt in my mind that I can do it. Things have not been going the way I had hoped lately. But I've been in this position before and turned things around. True, I'm older now, and everyone says, "Nah, he can't do it." But they said the same thing last time. If God wants to perform a miracle, he performs a miracle. That's how I live my life," Dariush said in an interview with MMA Junkie.
Tom Aspinall. The interim UFC heavyweight champion, has spoken out about a possible fight with the organization's current featherweight champion Jon Jones.
"If one day we can get Jon to sign a contract to fight me, I'll talk about him for hours. But as of right now, this guy is playing games again. Trying to convince the public what he wants and what he doesn't want. And he's very good at it. Like I said, we'll be able to talk about John when and if he signs a contract to fight me. Right now, let's be honest, it's unlikely," Aspinall said on the TNT Sports YouTube channel.
UFC lightweight champion Sean O'Malley has no doubt that he will knock out the next title challenger Merab Dvalishvili.
According to the latest information, the fight between the American and the Georgian could take place on September 14 at UFC 306.
"I'm going to knock Merab out. It can be even easier to do that with wrestlers. Vera was not going to wrestle, so I beat him in the standup for 25 minutes. Sterling went for the wrestling and went for the knockdown. I know I can knock Merab out with one punch or I can torture him for five rounds. I personally prefer to win by knockout, but a master class in beating Merab is fine," Bloody Elbow quoted O'Malley as saying.
Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington isn't giving up trying to get a bout with Hamzat Chimaev.
UFC lightweight champion Sean O'Malley said he's willing to move up two divisions just for a fight with the promotion's top star Conor McGregor.
"I know what my body is capable of. I'm competing at flyweight, that's where I belong. I could theoretically move up to welterweight to fight Topuria, Volkanovski or Holloway. But going further up, I'm going to have trouble.
I'm willing to move up to lightweight just to fight Conor. That asshole is huge right now. The lightweight is a great fight. It's good money, the fight would be legendary. I'm not likely to agree to fight anyone else that far out of my category," O'Malley told Bradley Martin.
O'Malley's next fight is expected to be against Merab Dvalishvili.
Michael Chandler, the UFC's ranked lightweight, revealed when he could fight the promotion's current featherweight champion Islam Makhachev.
"Islam isn't just fighting for himself, he's fighting for a whole country. He's fighting for Khabib's legacy, he's fighting for Khabib's father's legacy - his motivation is much deeper than that. I think he will defend the title against Porier, he will defend the title against Tsarukyan, and we will fight him in the first quarter of next year," the fighter said in an interview with Ariel Helwani.
Islam Makhachev will have his next fight on June 1 against Dustin Porier. As for Chandler, he will face former two-weight UFC champion Conor McGregor on June 29.
Patrick Meeks. The Bellator flyweight champion, stated that he would have no problem taking out Peter Yan and Sean O'Malley
"Everybody draws conclusions because of what promotion is written in front of my name. Sean O'Malley's credentials are no greater. I've fought just as dangerous opponents, I've finished fights early more often than not. He's lost more rounds than I have. I'm just a little short of 31 straight wins - I had a record of 11-0 in the amateurs and now 19-1 in the pros. Look what Peter Yan did to O'Malley! I mean, that was a very close fight. I'm in the stratosphere compared to them. I'd put Petr Yan to bed, too. And Sean O'Malley. There's no guys in the UFC that can compete with me. Unless Merab," MMA Junkie quoted Meeks as saying.
Daniel Cormier, former UFC champion in two weight classes, reacted to the news that Jon Jones might fight Alex Pereira after his fight with Stipe Miocic.
"Not everybody punches like Francis Ngannou or Alex Pereira, but it's a lot less risky than fighting a guy with a full skill set. That's exactly the kind of guy Tom Aspinall looks like. I like the way John is smartly looking for the right fight for himself, but I don't know if it will work. Alex says, 'Jiri Prochazka is next - Ancalaev will have to wait'. That's clever! Alex, why would you want to fight Ancalaev? He'll try to beat you. Go fight the dude you already knocked out again! Athletes today are a lot smarter than they used to be, and I think that makes the sport even more interesting. I like that. I like what John is doing, and I like what Alex is doing. John's choice is obvious - I'm not fighting Tom Aspinall!".
Grant Dawson, an American UFC fighter, shared his opinion about the organization's current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. In particular, Dawson reminded that Makhachev lost by knockout to not the top opponent.
"A lot of fighters have lost to guys that on paper they should have destroyed. Islam Makhachev is considered the second coming of Jesus Christ to the MMA world, but he was knocked out by a guy who then lost seven fights in a row. So things happen here," MMA Junkie quoted Dawson as saying.
Islam Makhachev will take on Dustin Porier in his next fight. This fight will take place on June 1 as part of UFC 302. At the same tournament, Dawson will meet in the octagon with Joe Solecki.
Jorge Masvidal. The former UFC fighter, once again spoke unflatteringly about the promotion's former welterweight title challenger Colby Covington.
"This guy will say anything. This guy wears skirts but doesn't tell anybody about it and falls asleep in a thong. Maybe he should be more open about himself. There aren't really PED tests anymore because USADA is dissolved, so here's another damn theory for you. Colby will just say anything to get people to say his stupid name, but ever since I "allegedly" took his soul outside of Papi's Steakhouse, he hasn't been posting or talking about me. He doesn't talk shit about me," Masvidal told Vlad TV.
