“I’m just super happy. It’s also my 10th fight in the UFC so I’m just super happy to be here,” Brito told reporters including Cageside Press through a translator at his post-fight scrum.

“As the fight was going on I got a feeling of it. I was defending pretty good, and some of my strikes were hitting. So I was like yeah, let’s see how this goes.”

While fans may still be interested in seeing him settle unfinished business with Dan Ige, Brito isn’t spending much time worrying about past callouts. Instead, the Brazilian featherweight is focused on staying active and taking whatever opportunity the UFC puts in front of him next.

“Honestly, not really. Dan Ige’s not really on my mind anymore. When I threw the cards at him I didn’t really get a reply back. I’m just super happy that I’m in the biggest organization in the planet, and I’m just ready to fight again,” he said.

“The fight on June 20th that’s going to happen, Lokdog (Vinicius Oliveira) his opponent seemed like they dropped off and (Andre) Fili took it. If the UFC wants me there, I’m ready.”

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Joanderson Brito above.

The post Joanderson Brito Celebrates 10th UFC Fight With Victory Over Leavitt appeared first on Cageside Press.

The Brazilian flyweight submitted veteran Matt Schnell in impressive fashion, earning one of the biggest victories of his UFC career before immediately turning his attention toward the next goal: breaking into the flyweight rankings.

“It is a fight that I’ve been waiting for quite some time. Thank God everything actually went just according to plan,” Costa told reporters including Cageside Press through a translator on Saturday night.

“When that fight got canceled originally it was an injury. He talked about retirement at that point. I started thinking about other things, you start focusing and shift your focus to other things.”

Costa (16-5) said he felt the finish was inevitable once he secured the dominant position and began working for the submission. While he was proud of the victory, he also showed respect for Schnell afterward, praising the veteran’s career and what he has accomplished inside the Octagon.

“When the hand got in I knew it was just a matter of time. All I needed to do was just finish the job. Whenever he was on the ground I knew it was just a matter of just finishing the fight,” he said.

“I went to him and I just wanted to thank him and say you’ve done a lot in the UFC. This is the sport. Sometimes you lose and I wanted to keep your head high and I just really wanted to thank him because he’s a really cool guy.”

With another impressive victory now on his record, Costa made it clear that he’s no longer interested in fighting outside the rankings. The Brazilian flyweight believes he’s earned the opportunity to test himself against the division’s elite and wants his next fight to come against a ranked opponent.

“I aiming for the top 15. That’s what I’m looking for right now,” he said.

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Alessandro Costa above.

The post Alessandro Costa Finishes Matt Schnell, Sets Sights On Ranked Opponent appeared first on Cageside Press.

While the win added another notch to his growing resume, McGhee walked away from the fight convinced he still has much more to show and made it clear that his sights remain firmly set on the ranked contenders he believes he belongs alongside.

“John is a tough guy and I didn’t doubt him. I believe in my own skillset, but I knew how tough he was and how hard he is to finish. He’s never been finished,” McGhee told Cageside Press among other reporters at his post-fight scrum.

“That was one thing we took into it.”

McGhee (11-2) said one of the more interesting aspects of the matchup is that, despite his rapid rise through the UFC ranks, he still considers himself a fighter who is learning and developing in real time. While many fans view him as an established contender, McGhee believes he’s still gaining valuable experience every time he steps into the Octagon.

“Experience-wise really he has more experience than me. It’s so hard for me because I’m new too. I just have been able to accomplish what I’ve been able to accomplish while also being new,” he said.

“I’m learning on the job as well. I’m glad to be able to learn on the job with the wins and all the accolades, but I’m still new. I don’t consider myself to be like a vet of any such.”

Despite picking up another win, McGhee made it clear he isn’t interested in slowly working his way back into the rankings. The bantamweight contender believes his skill set still stacks up with the division’s best and feels he belongs fighting the names currently occupying spots inside the Top 15.

“I’d rather be fighting up in the rankings, I think I still should be there. That’s not the performance I wanted to put on and I believe I have a better skillset than I even showed tonight for sure,” said McGhee.

“Nevertheless I don’t think that I should have been out of the top 15. I should be up there competing against those guys. I’m not here for a long time, here for a good time, right?”

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Marcus McGhee above.

The post Marcus McGhee Says He Still Belongs In UFC Top 15 appeared first on Cageside Press.

The Mexican flyweight stopped Bruno Silva in impressive fashion, proving he belongs among the division’s rising contenders before immediately setting his sights on a Top 10 opponent.

“We knew he hit hard, but I know I also hit hard. Once he hit me I felt the power didn’t hurt, but I knew I hurt him,” Chairez told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.

“After I knocked him down I just waited for my moment, and that’s how we found the finish.”

Chairez (14-6) believes his performance on Saturday night was the kind of statement victory that should launch him into the next tier of the flyweight division. After delivering one of the most impressive showings of his UFC career, the Mexican contender made it clear he’s no longer interested in taking small steps up the rankings.

“I want a top 10 fight next. Noche UFC. My performance tonight was incredible and I know I can knock anybody out,” he said.

One of the biggest motivations throughout training camp was a promise he made to his daughter. Now that the fight is over and his hand was raised, he’s finally ready to make good on it.

“She’s waiting for my this very moment because last fight I promised her we’d go to Disneyland, and we didn’t go because I had a fight a couple days later,” Chairez said with a smile.

Beyond the win itself, he lit up when talking about his family and the role martial arts has played in their lives. What started as his journey has now become something that’s inspiring the next generation of his family to follow a similar path.

“So the first thing she’s going to ask me is, “‘Are we going to Disney?’,” he said.

“She loves this sport, in fact, she has a tournament coming up in a couple weeks. I very happy that she, and my little brother, and my family are getting into the sport and becoming athletes. I was the first one in my family and I want to instill this discipline in them because this is my life now.”

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Edgar Chairez above.

The post Edgar Chairez Stuns Bruno Silva, Sets Sights On Top 10 Fight appeared first on Cageside Press.

Round 1 – Bonfim came out like he had somewhere to be, sprinting to the center of the cage and immediately establishing his jab. Muhammad stayed on the outside early, working his feints and trying to get a read on the Brazilian, but Bonfim wasn’t biting on much of anything. He stayed disciplined and made sure the former champion didn’t get comfortable.

Muhammad eventually found some success behind those feints, snapping Bonfim’s head back with a sharp 1-2. The problem was Bonfim wasn’t giving him any room to build off it. Every time Muhammad looked ready to settle in, Bonfim was right in front of him applying pressure and chopping away at the legs.

Recognizing those calf kicks were adding up, Muhammad started looking upstairs with counters. The one-twos landed clean at times, but Bonfim kept marching forward and forcing Muhammad toward the fence. Instead of controlling the center, Muhammad found himself having to punch his way out of bad positions.

And man, those calf kicks from Bonfim were nasty. Every time one landed, the crack echoed through the APEX. Muhammad would land a shot and Bonfim would answer with a combination, refusing to let the former champion have the last word in any exchange.

In the final minute, Muhammad decided he’d had enough of fighting off the back foot and started pressing forward himself. Bonfim handled it well, countering effectively and matching the aggression. The round closed with Bonfim firing a kick straight up the middle that missed, but it capped off a strong opening five minutes for the Brazilian, who looked comfortable dictating the pace and geography of the fight.

Round 2 – Muhammad came out with a little more urgency in the second round, looking to push the pace and put Bonfim on the defensive. The problem was every time he tried to close the distance, Bonfim had a counter waiting for him. It forced Muhammad right back into the rhythm of the first round, fighting off the back foot while looking for opportunities to explode into range.

Bonfim’s pressure never really let up. The calf kicks kept landing, and every one of them made it harder for Muhammad to establish the kind of forward movement he wanted. The former champion started circling more, trying to create angles and break up Bonfim’s momentum. He even began firing leg kicks of his own in an effort to slow the Brazilian down.

Knowing he was falling behind in the damage battle, Muhammad started taking bigger risks. He opened up more with his combinations and looked for moments to force exchanges, but those aggressive entries left him vulnerable. Bonfim stayed composed and repeatedly made him pay with sharp counters.

As the round wore on, the damage began to show. Muhammad’s face told the story of the fight, with Bonfim consistently finding the cleaner and heavier shots. Still, Muhammad kept pushing forward and trying to change the momentum, refusing to concede the round.

The final seconds saw Muhammad throwing high kicks in an attempt to steal some attention from the judges, but Bonfim once again looked like the fighter controlling the action as the round came to a close.

Round 3 – Muhammad knew he likely needed something big entering the final round and immediately shot in for a takedown. Bonfim saw it coming from a mile away, stuffed it with ease, and after a brief moment along the fence, the fight was right back where the Brazilian wanted it: on the feet.

Bonfim never abandoned the game plan that got him there. The calf kicks kept piling up, and by this point Muhammad’s lead leg was showing the effects. Every step looked a little heavier as Bonfim continued attacking it.

Then came one of the biggest moments of the fight.

Bonfim uncorked a nasty 1-2 that snapped Muhammad’s head back and sent him stumbling toward the fence. To Muhammad’s credit, he responded by taking more chances and finally finding some success with his own offense, landing a few clean shots as he desperately tried to swing the momentum.

Just under halfway through the round, Bonfim blasted Muhammad with another heavy punch that sent his mouthpiece flying across the cage. Referee Herb Dean had to step in and call time so Muhammad could get it back in, but it was another reminder of who was landing the more damaging shots.

Moments later, Bonfim cracked Muhammad with a huge right hand that visibly stunned the former champion. The Brazilian couldn’t help but smile as he saw the reaction. Muhammad immediately tried to close the distance and tie things up, but Bonfim looked completely dialed in, firing off a combination almost on instinct to shut down the clinch attempt before it could develop.

As the clock ticked down, Bonfim continued piling up damage and landing the cleaner strikes. Muhammad kept fighting and searching for an opening, but the Brazilian remained composed, sticking to his game plan and finishing the fight strong in what looked like a statement performance against a former UFC champion.

Round 4 – Muhammad entered the championship rounds knowing he was likely behind on the scorecards and would need something dramatic to turn the fight around. That meant taking risks, but Bonfim wasn’t interested in giving him any opportunities. Instead, the Brazilian doubled down on the pressure and continued forcing Muhammad to fight while moving backward.

Muhammad kept searching for angles, and whenever he found one, he let his hands go with bad intentions. The problem was that spending the entire fight on the back foot had taken some of the sting and precision out of his offense. As the minutes wore on, Muhammad visibly slowed and began picking his spots more carefully, while Bonfim still looked fresh, bouncing around the cage like the fight had just started.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Muhammad found another gear.

The former champion surged forward and finally began putting Bonfim on the defensive. He landed some of his best shots of the fight and briefly shifted the momentum, giving fans a glimpse of the pressure-heavy style that made him a world champion in the first place.

Unfortunately for Muhammad, the momentum didn’t last long. Bonfim quickly settled back into the fight, regained control of the range, and resumed dictating the pace. When Muhammad was able to march forward and force exchanges, he found success. By that point, however, he simply didn’t have enough left in the tank to sustain it.

Bonfim weathered the late push, returned to controlling the action, and closed out the fight looking every bit like a contender ready to make a serious statement in the welterweight division.

Round 5 – The final round started exactly how you’d expect after 20 plus minutes of fighting. Both men marched to the center of the cage and got right back to work. Bonfim still looked remarkably fresh, bouncing on his feet and staying sharp, while Muhammad looked like a man who knew he needed something special but wasn’t about to quit trying to find it.

Muhammad continued darting in and out, searching for openings and hoping to land the kind of shot that could change the fight. The problem was Bonfim seemed to have an answer for everything. Every entry from Muhammad was met with a counter, a jab, or a defensive adjustment that kept the Brazilian one step ahead.

With a minute remaining, Muhammad essentially emptied the gas tank. The former champion started throwing with everything he had left, looking for one final rally. Bonfim never panicked. He stayed composed, pumping his jab and landing clean shots that repeatedly found their mark as Muhammad pressed forward.

Then came the final 10 seconds.

Both men planted their feet and let their hands fly, trading shots all the way to the horn in a fitting ending to a high-level main event. Neither fighter gave an inch as the crowd roared through the final exchange.

When it was over, Bonfim had secured the biggest victory of his career. Beating a former UFC welterweight champion in convincing fashion could be the win that officially launches him from rising contender to legitimate title threat at 170 pounds.

After showing respect for one former champion he called out another one in Jack Della Maddalena in his post-fight interview saying, “JDM, stay ready.”

Official Result: Gabriel Bonfim def. Belal Muhammad via Unanimous Decision (50-45×3) 

The post Gabriel Bonfim Puts On Masterclass Against Muhammad, Calls Out JDM appeared first on Cageside Press.

After fending off the dangerous striker in a back-and-forth middleweight battle, Allen used his post-fight interview to call for a showdown with middleweight champion Sean Strickland, setting the stage for a potential grudge match between two of the division’s most outspoken contenders.

Round 1 – Allen and Shahbazyan wasted no time planting themselves in the center of the Octagon and letting their hands go. Allen’s jab was snapping out like a piston, landing clean and often, while Shahbazyan answered with jabs of his own that simply didn’t carry the same sting.

Every time Shahbazyan threw a shot or two, Allen came right back with a combination. It became a game of “your go, I go,” except Allen’s defense was a step ahead, slipping and avoiding many of the attacks coming his way while still finding openings to fire back.

Allen shot in for a takedown midway through the round, but Shahbazyan stuffed it and briefly forced Allen against the fence. Shahbazyan quickly circled back to the center, where both men were clearly most comfortable exchanging.

As the round entered the final minute, Allen appeared to slow ever so slightly and Shahbazyan immediately took notice. The former title hopeful started opening up with heavier combinations and found more success as he pushed forward. Allen tried to change levels for another takedown, but once again Shahbazyan shut the door.

Sensing momentum swinging his way, Shahbazyan began unloading powerful combinations and forcing Allen to react. Allen mixed in leg kicks to slow him down, but Shahbazyan continued circling and looking for openings. In the final seconds, Allen launched forward with a flying knee attempt, only to get clipped by a sharp Shahbazyan combination before the horn sounded to end an entertaining opening round.

Round 2 – Round 2 opened with Allen immediately pushing the pace, landing a quick flurry while Shahbazyan stayed patient and looked for opportunities to counter. The slower tempo seemed to frustrate Allen, who wasn’t interested in giving Shahbazyan time to settle into a rhythm and repeatedly forced exchanges whenever the action stalled.

The post Brendan Allen Defeats Edmen Shahbazyan, Calls Out Sean Strickland at UFC Vegas 118 appeared first on Cageside Press.

Riding an 8-0 record and confident in the preparation he’s maintained year-round, Luna immediately accepted the short-notice assignment and now gets the chance to make a statement against one of the featherweight division’s most recognizable names.

“When I got the text I was finishing sparring actually. So it was great. I was just leaving, I saw the text,” Luna told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.

“First text was like, ‘hey you want to fight Bryce Mitchell June 6th?’. I think at that time it was around 9-10 days from June 6. So yeah super excited, got the message and I accepted.”

Luna (8-0) had no hesitation accepting the fight with Mitchell on just over a week’s notice, saying he stays in fighting shape year-round and is always prepared for opportunities like this. Training alongside UFC talent such as Chito Vera and Arman Tsarukyan has only strengthened his readiness for moments like Saturday’s scrap.

“I’m a fighter that’s always ready. Even when I finish fights I go back at it maybe a week after the fight. Thank God I was getting prepared, maybe not my own camp, but other people around me were doing camps or just training hard like I do,” he said.

“I’m always around a guy like Chito he’s always training whole year-round, now with Arman Tsarukyan for the past months, so you can kind of tell where I’m going from.”

Despite carrying an undefeated record into the biggest fight of his career, Luna believes he’s still far from reaching his full potential as a mixed martial artist. The rising prospect sees every opportunity as a chance to gain valuable experience while continuing to sharpen his skills against increasingly difficult competition.

“I said in an interview before I was planning on basically trying to clean up the whole division from the top to bottom. I wanted to fight everyone just so I can at the same time get that experience I don’t have,” he said.

“I’m 8-0 right now, but I am evolving and I can feel it.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Santiago Luna above. He faces Bryce Mitchell at UFC Vegas 118 on Saturday night.

The post Santiago Luna Jumps at Bryce Mitchell Fight on 10 Days Notice at UFC Vegas 118 appeared first on Cageside Press.

“To go from unranked to top five is a huge jump, and I’m sure he’s super motivated. It’s kind of like dangling right in front of his face, and my job is to go steal it back,” Allen told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.

“I asked for it. He was the next guy in line that didn’t have a fight. Everyone else had a fight or didn’t want to fight me I guess so he was just the next guy. On a win streak so give him the opportunity. Let’s see.”

Allen (26-7) accepted the matchup with Shahbazyan despite his opponent being unranked and Allen currently holding the #4 spot in the middleweight division. The booking has left many fans questioning why Allen would take such a significant risk against a dangerous opponent with little upside in the rankings.

“I like money. I don’t like sitting out. Sitting out doesn’t do me no good it’s only going to make me worse. I’m only getting older by the day. If I’m not really fighting I’m not training as much or as hard. I need to stay growing, I need to stay improving, stay relevant,” he said.

Allen said he was originally targeted to face former UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC Vegas 118, but according to Allen, the matchup never materialized after du Plessis declined the fight. That offered some context as to why Allen ultimately accepted a bout against the unranked Shahbazyan despite the risk to his position in the division.

“I was supposed to have Dricus (du Plessis) for this one but he’s a b*tch. Didn’t want to fight,” he said.

When asked why he thinks du Plessis said no to a bout with him Allen cracked a smile.

“Because he’s a b*tch.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Brendan Allen above. He faces Edmen Shahbazyan at UFC Vegas 118 on Saturday night.

The post Brendan Allen Claims Dricus du Plessis Refused Fight Before UFC Vegas 118 appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I know he’s a Mexican bro, and that’s all you need to know,” Mitchell told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.

“Mexicans they fight hard, they’re fearless, he’s a warrior of God. I expect nothing but a hard fight out of him. He’s undefeated for a reason, and it’s going to be a great fight because he brings forward pressure, and I bring relentlessness. You mix those two together you’re going to get a great fight. The fans are going to be in for a treat.”

Mitchell (18-3) was visibly excited when discussing the matchup with Luna, knowing both fighters bring aggressive styles and a willingness to push a high pace inside the Octagon.

The Arkansas native expects the fight to deliver plenty of action and believes it’s exactly the kind of matchup fans love to watch. With both men known for hunting finishes, Mitchell anticipates an entertaining battle from the opening bell.

“I really do think that there’s going to be a finish in the fight because of the pace that this man brings. This guy Luna he is just a forward fighter. He loves to go forward, he does not mind wrestling, he does not mind boxing, and he even throws kicks. I’m just telling you guys there’s no way that this could be a boring fight,” he said.

“When you add two fighters like me and him together it’s very entertaining and with a win I look to progress to the next fight.”

Mitchell didn’t hold back when asked about reports that Sean Strickland had been banned from the upcoming UFC event at the White House. Known for being outspoken on political and social issues himself, Mitchell framed his response around what he believes should be protected speech, regardless of whether people agree with the opinions being expressed.

“I’m not surprised at all. Freedom of speech is what really makes this country great, and when you can’t criticize a foreign nation, a FOREIGN nation, come on man. We ought to be able to criticize our own nation, let alone a foreign nation, in fact…that’s the only nation you’re not allowed to criticize,” he said.

Mitchell praised the UFC’s planned Freedom 250 event and expressed support for the fighters competing on the card, he also questioned whether the federal government should be involved in hosting sporting events. Mitchell said he sees the event as a major opportunity for the promotion but believes government resources should be focused elsewhere.

“I ain’t jealous of any of those fighters. I am so happy for those fighters. I don’t think you could have got a better main event. If they need me to fill in, if I’m healthy, hey i’ll do it. For the UFC, I think it’s great. It’s beyond great. It’s literally the perfect scenario,” said Mitchell.

“What I think personally is our government is desecrating it’s role in society by entertaining sports. Our government is to protect and serve the people and really should be as minimal as possible. When you’re doing all of this stuff, hosting sporting events, it’s really outside of what the goal of the government was intended to be. Our tax dollars and resources are funding this operation, and like I said, I’m not criticizing the UFC, but the government should never be hosting sporting events because there’s more room for corruption and we already have a corrupted government. The government is supposed to protect us, not entertain us.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Bryce Mitchell above. He faces Santiago Luna at UFC Vegas 118 on Saturday night.

The post Bryce Mitchell Questions Government Hosting UFC Freedom 250 Event appeared first on Cageside Press.

“Good fighter, got a good streak going right now. Young, hungry guy that’s looking to take my spot,” Muhammad told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.

“He just picked the wrong guy to do it with.”

Muhammad (24-5) says his competitive fire hasn’t faded one bit despite time away from the cage and major changes in his personal life. The former champion remains motivated to work his way back into title contention and prove he still belongs among the elite at 170 pounds.

“Just showing the world that I’m still the best guy. To remind people who I am, remind myself, who I am. I think I’m the best person, best fighter in the world, but I just got to go out there get my hand raised and prove it,” he said.

After being sidelined since November, Muhammad has spent his time away from competition focused on more than just fighting. Between welcoming his first child into the world and continuing to help his teammates prepare for their own fights, Muhammad says the break has given him a new perspective both inside and outside the cage.

“It’s been great. I had my first kid, my daughter, so that’s been amazing. Teammates, helping them, being in the gym, working out. Just doing what I love,” he said.

“(Having a kid) Gives your life purpose. For me fighting was everything. It was eat, sleep, breathe fighting. That was like my happy place to be at the gym. Now my happy place is to be at home with her, seeing her, even when I go home tired, broken. I just know what I’m fighting for now.”

While becoming a father has given Muhammad a new perspective outside the cage, his goals inside it remain exactly the same. The former champion says he’s never been interested in simply collecting paychecks or putting on fights, his focus has always been on proving he’s the best welterweight in the world and reclaiming UFC gold.

“Gold is always the goal for me. If you’re not here to be the best fighter in the world, what are we doing this for? I don’t fight just to fight,” said Muhammad.

“I don’t fight as a hobby. I fight for my family, I fight to prove myself, and to prove you’re the best in the world, you need the belt.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Belal Muhammad above. He faces Gabriel Bonfim in the main event of UFC Vegas 118 on Saturday night.

The post Belal Muhammad Says Gabriel Bonfim Picked the Wrong Opponent at UFC Vegas 118 appeared first on Cageside Press.