Then again, Chimaev appears to have brought in an all-star roster of training partners for his fight with Sean Strickland atop UFC 328. Names include Allen, Khalil Rountree Jr., Pat Downey, and Baisangur Susurkaev, among others, plus Chimaev’s own crew. “It’s been a great opportunity, it’s been a great experience,” Allen (26-7) told media outlets including Cageside Press on Thursday. “I’ve learned a lot, had a lot of good goes, and what a way for me to jump into camp than finishing up with the champ at the end of his camp.”

“The team was great, creating a bond with Khamzat was great, he’s a good friend to me now, and I look forward to the future.”

Of course, Allen was once campaigning for a fight with Chimaev, and even spoke up to get it. That’s something he addressed wit hthe UFC middleweight champion in advance of working with him.

“I know it’s going to come out eventually that I used to talk sh*t or talk about Khamzat. But I had that conversation with him and his team before I came here. It was just trying to get the fight. I wanted to fight him, I knew he had the biggest name at the time, I’m always trying to fight the best guy I can fight,” Allen explained. “But after being here with him, sharing rounds with him, talking with him, communicating with him, creating that bond, I think he’s an awesome guy. I think he’s a standup guy. I think that old adage of him as a wild guy, I don’t know that Chimaev. All I know is the Chimaev that I got to meet this time, and I consider him a good friend at this point.”

Chimaev and Strickland face off at UFC 328 in New Jersey in just over a week’s time. Brendan Allen meets Edmen Shahbazyan on June 6, 2026 at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas.

The post Brendan Allen Reveals He Spoke to UFC Champ Chimaev About Past Trash Talk Ahead of Training appeared first on Cageside Press.

With Chimaev bringing an entire team with him to train stateside, Rountree told Cageside Press and other media outlets on Thursday that “I’ve never seen such a well-put together group. Very organized, very structured, very hard-working.”

“I got to see Khamzat as a leader. He’s not just responsible for himself, but he makes sure the team is taken care of and everybody gets the same type of training and recovery as he does. So that’s very cool.”

Rountree, a dangerous striker in the 205lb weight class, had high praise for the middleweight champ. “There’s no doubt about it in my mind, he’s one of the best on the planet.”

Of course, Chimaev has been teasing an eventual move to light heavyweight himself. That has Routree feeling “many different ways,” he admitted. “When I first heard the news, I was a bit bummed out really. Just to know that a guy like Khamzat would come to the division, and that could be a potential match-up if that happened, it doesn’t make me happy to be think about that.”

Part of that is Rountree’s belief that Chimaev is one of the best in the world. Beyond that, “no one gets an easy round with Khamzat. It doesn’t matter what weight class, what size,” he added. “So that was my initial thoughts of like, if he made the move up, we’re all kind of screwed.”

It’s not a matter of cleaning out the division, Rountree later clarified. The top of the division is simply full of winnable fights for the middleweight star.

“Being able to clean something out, yeah it takes a lot of work. But I think if he were to be placed in the top five right now, there’s not an easy fight for any of us up there if it were Khamzat Chimaev. Like when it comes to all of us being heavy in striking primarily in the top five, then he’s going to find a way around it. And then if we just try to up our wrestling to match with him, we’ll get outmatched.”

“It’s not a clear sweep for him, but it’s not an easy challenge for the guys of the top five if he chose to go up there,” Rountree finished.

Watch Thursday’s full media scrum with Khalil Rountree Jr. above.

The post Khalil Rountree Jr. Says “We’re All Kind of Screwed” If Chimaev Moves to 205 appeared first on Cageside Press.

The comments, the latest escalation in the feud between the former training partners, might be seen as promotion, but they’ve strayed into dangerous territory in an American where shootings are as common as hot dogs at a ballpark.

Chimaev, however, doubts the authenticity of Strickland’s comments. At least, that’s the point he seemed to illustrate speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press on Thursday.

“Bro he didn’t shoot any chickens in the world, how’s he going to shoot a human?” questioned Chimaev (15-0). He’d go on to add that “I don’t think the guy wants a real war outside the cage. If he wanted [that], he would be dead already.”

Asked again if he thought Strickland might actually go through with a shooting, Chimaev said that in New Jersey, it might be a bad idea. “Bro, in New Jersey, this is Muslim community. It’s my home. I don’t think he’s going to come out with the guns there. Otherwise there will be a lot of people in jail, because he’s dead.”

Strickland is no stranger to making death threats and previously threatened to murder Dricus Du Plessis during their feud a few years back. Instead, he simply lost a pair of fights to the South African.

Chimaev, who noted that “clowns are always going to talk” on Thursday, also addressed the pair’s training history.

“He never had success with me. It’s not going to be different this time as well. I was fighting 170 that time, so imagine I beat him on that weight. I was cutting the weight, at that time I beat him. Right now, people know how big I am, how hungry I am.”

“I like white American chicken,” he added.

As for Strickland’s deluge of trash talk, Khamzat sees an upside to it on the promotional front. “I like his talking, it’s good for me. I don’t need to worry about, like I need to talk. he’s talking for everyone.”

Watch Thursday’s full media scrum with UFC 328 headliner Khamzat Chimaev above.

The post Khamzat Chimaev: If Strickland Wanted War Outside the Cage, “He’d Be Dead Already” appeared first on Cageside Press.

He’ll look to change that up this Saturday when he faces off against Louie Sutherland, a short-notice replacement stepping in for the injured Sean Sharaf.

Tuivasa (14-9) has dropped six straight, the sort of skid that normally spells an exit from the UFC. Yet the Australian is a popular figure in the promotion, over with fans, which has earned him more breathing room than most are afforded.

Still, asked during the UFC Perth media day what goes through his mind at times like these, Tuivasa explained that “it gets sh*ttier when you lose, that’s for sure. That’s for real. But it is what it is. I’m ready, I’ve put in a lot of work this camp. And last camp. I just had a sh*t fight last one, we took a lot of positives away from it so it is what it is. And I’m ready to scrap, I’m ready to go.”

Asked if he had taken on a burden from the losses, Tuivasa was blunt. “When you get a hiding six times, it’s f*cking… come on. I’m competing at a top level, but it’s still a sh*t feeling.”

That doesn’t stop fans from asking Tuivasa to do a “shoey,” the rather unique tradition that sees him spit into a shoe full of beer and drink it. The heavyweight doesn’t seem to mind that fan enthusiasm either, despite the dire spot he finds himself in.

“I love the shoey. I’m going to do one very soon. I’m keen. I’m ready. I’ve put the work in, so it is what it is. I’d better go out there and do my thing.”

Overall, however, Tai Tuivasa knows exactly what his fight at UFC Perth this Saturday represents.

“My ass is on the line. Look, it’s probably been on the line a lot of the time, but I f*cking put asses in the seats, so it is what it is. I feel good, and I’m going to go out there and do what ‘Bam-Bam’ does in ‘Bam-Bam’ style. And not f*cking lose. D*ckheads.”

Watch the full UFC Perth media day appearance by Tai Tuivasa above.

The post UFC Perth: Tai Tuivasa Admits “My Ass is On the Line” appeared first on Cageside Press.

It’s a steady uphill trajectory for a fighter who has suggested he could fight for the heavyweight title this year.

“December. December. Give me three more fights, and I’ll be ready,” he stated.

For a heavyweight, Pericic has been fighting at a breakneck pace. Should he land one more fight prior to September, that will be four in twelve months. He already has his sights set on an August card in Belgrade, Serbia.

“I’m ready to go. I want to get this one done like I got the last one done. I heard the UFC is going to Serbia, and I would love to fight in Serbia,” he exclaimed. “You can’t have a card in Serbia and not have the Balkan Bear on there brother. It should be a sin.”

“The Balkan Bear” Pericic is another product of City Kickboxing, and he bristled at the suggestion that the likes of Dan Hooker and Israel Adesanya are reaching retirement age.

“Bullsh*t. Bullsh*t. That’s what you think. That’s not the case. Dan Hooker’s going to fight til he’s 50, what are you talking about? You think you’re going to get me out before f*cking 40? You’re dreaming, cuz. I’m going to fight til I’m 50.”

Watch the full UFC Perth media day appearance by Brando Pericic above.

The post UFC Perth: Brando Pericic Calls BS on Suggestion City Kickboxing Stars Are Nearing Retirement Age appeared first on Cageside Press.

Malkoun (9-3) picked up the victory over Torrez Finney last time out, and spoke of that performance and some of his difficulties making it to fights during Wednesday’s UFC Perth media day.

“I come to perform. I work hard in the gym so when it’s under the lights, I work hard every time,” he stated.

The injuries and cancelled fights that Malkoun, who fights Gerald Meerschaert this Saturday, has endured haven’t changed how he feels either in training, or fight week. “Myself and my team have always known how good I am and how good I can be,” he suggested. “I’ve just got to perform under those lights. For me, it doesn’t make a difference. Feels like I’m fighting any other fight. So I just feel like I’ve got to go in there and do me, and if I do me I think the result will come.”

Nor has he changed his approach to training. The difference in his recent success, he added, is “I think just the experience and my mental game has obviously gone to a different level. I think I’m better than everyone, and that’s what I’ve got to do, is show it to everyone else.”

With a couple of his teammates on skids, Malkoun is a bit of a bright spot in camp right now. Though he doesn’t revel in his victories much.

“I kind of hate losing more than I like winning. I win, I’m good for a little bit but people think I’m a bit of a funny guy. I just want to go back to the gym, coach, train. I don’t really get too high on the win. Because at the end of the day it’s a fight, it’s a job, you get the job done. Happy about yourself, but it is what it is, you’ve got to get to the next guy and beat the next guy.”

Watch the UFC Perth media day appearance by Jacob Malkoun above.

The post UFC Perth’s Jacob Malkoun Hates Losing More Than He Likes Winning appeared first on Cageside Press.

Which has him rather surprised at the reception he’s had since arriving in Perth, both in the gym and on the street.

“I’m surprised, because they say ‘I hope you win,'” the Brazilian said during Wednesday’s media day. Prates (23-7) isn’t sure if people are just trying to be nice, but noted that “when the octagon doors close, it’s just me and Jack. But let’s see.”

Prates is known for his knockout power, and he had a prediction to that end on Wednesday. “I will knock him out.” As to what round, it’s a “surprise,” he added.

It’s a 25-minute fight for Prates this weekend, not his first, and The Fighting Nerds star did go the distance in a five-round fight against Ian Machado Garry a year ago. As to how he prepares for the extra time, “like always, I train a lot. Sometimes I train two, three times per day. Train a lot, make the right strategy. And that’s it,” stated Prates. “I have no secrets. Just train, train, train and let’s go.”

If all goes well on Saturday, Prates will build on wins over Geoff Neal and Leon Edwards. Both have been knockouts, and JDM would represent a second former welterweight champ beaten. That, believes Prates, should land him a title shot.

“Yeah. I think after I beat two former champs in a row, I think nobody did it, so I’m gonna be the next [title challenger].”

Watch the full UFC Perth media day appearance by Carlos Prates above.

The post UFC Perth: Carlos Prates Feels Beating Second Straight Champ Would Secure Title Shot appeared first on Cageside Press.

Tafa (6-5) returns at UFC Perth this Saturday, where he’ll face Kevin Christian while looking to snap a two-fight skid.

Junior is now fighting at 205lbs, after moving down from heavyweight. Justin “The Bad Man” Tafa also stalked the heavyweight division, but after a couple of fight cancellations last year, he parted ways with the promotion.

Junior touched on his brother’s situation during the UFC Perth media day on Wednesday.

“Yeah it sucks. But I watched that movie Iron Claw with Zac Efron, and it kinda explained to me why it sucks,” he stated.

While there’s no tragedy in this case, certainly not the kind endured by the pro wrestling’s ill-fated Von Erich family, who are featured in the film, it still hasn’t been easy for Junior. Tafa explained that “I mean like, every day, going to training with your brothers, car rides, all these little things, just being with your brothers all the time. Now it’s just like me by myself. They’re still around, but it just sucks not having my brother with me.”

Still, he clarified that Justin may not be done with fighting. “He’s just having a little breath at the moment. But he’s just been riddled with injuries, and it’s just, he definitely misses fighting and misses the UFC and stuff like that.”

“I think it might be harder for him to come out here and watch me fight. I know how much he misses it and wants to get back in.”

Watch the full UFC Perth media day appearance with Junior Tafa above.

The post UFC Perth’s Junior Tafa on Absence of Brother Justin: “It Sucks” appeared first on Cageside Press.

That was a rather one-sided fight, with Maddalena (18-3) spending a whole lot of time on his back, and on the canvas in general, though he did go the distance.

Australia’s JDM admits that he wasn’t able to “implement those techniques to get back to the feet” against the grappling-heavy Makhachev. “The mindset wasn’t perfect in the fight, and I guess that’s what it’s about. I’ve always said anyone can win on any given night. Came up against one of the best and couldn’t get my game plan going.”

While Maddalena admitted that it “wasn’t the best performance” against Makhachev, he’s gone back, looked at what went wrong, and tried to fix what he could. That said, Carlos Prates represents “a different stylistic matchup this time. So looking forward to the performance.”

Prates has predicted a knockout victory for himself in the fight. Maddalena recognized his past success in that area. “I’m going to try my best not to let that happen.”

During Thursday’s UFC Perth pre-fight press conference, Maddalena expanded on what can be seen as his comeback fight.

 “I can’t wait. It’s business as usual, but obviously extra pressure [fighting at home in Australia],” exclaimed Maddalena. “But pressure makes good performances – and that’s what’s coming.”

At media day, meanwhile, Maddalena touched on another welterweight contender, Ian Machado Garry, who was critical of his last performance. That’s a pairing the ex-champ would like.

“Yeah it would be a good match. I definitely think we’ll cross paths at some point. Yeah, we’ll see how he does against Makhachev when he gets the shot.”

Watch the full UFC Perth media day appearance by Jack Della Maddalena above.

The post Jack Della Maddalena on Makhachev Fight: Came Up Against One of the Best appeared first on Cageside Press.

Ahead of his fight with Robert Bryczek, which has Rowston looking to go 3-0 in the UFC, the 31-year old spoke with Cageside Press via The Top Turtle MMA podcast and discussed the state of the UFC’s 185lb division at the moment.

In recent times, the weight class has seen Paulo Costa exit for a middleweight run, while ex-champ Robert Whittaker has been talking about doing the same. Alex Pereira is long gone, first to light heavyweight and now heavyweight, while even champ Khamzat Chimaev has teased a move to 205lbs.

In response, Rowston (14-3) noted that “it’s kind of like this intermediary period where no one fighter has really stood out as the next guy. I think the last time you really had a dominant champion was Israel [Adesanya], really. That guy coming up, and everyone’s like ‘oh he’s going to be the champion, he’s going to be the champion for a while.'”

“Before Israel the belt kind of bounced around a bit. They had Chris Weidman, Luke Rockhold, it was kind of like up in the air and it was still waiting for that new guy to come through and establish himself. And I think you will see that with a lot of the prospects at middleweight coming up, especially the Contender Series the last year or two.”

Rowston singled out Yousri Belgaroui and Baisangur Susurkaev as two of those names, as well as “a few other guys that have come off Contender Series that the UFC is trying to push through.” Belgaroui is a former kickboxer who once competed against Alex Pereira and now trains with him; Susurkaev remains undefeated. Rowston expects to be right there with them.

“I think these guys are going to be taking over the spot of the old guard. And the old guard, whether that’s them just sailing off into the sunset, calling it a career or moving up a weight class, those spots are eventually going to be filled. And that’s me, I’m hoping to be one of those guys who fills one of those spots and just kind of blasts his way to the top and announces himself as ‘hey, I’m here in the middleweight division. Cam Rowston is here.'”

Rowston has reason to be flying high. For one, teammate Carlos Ulberg captured the light heavyweight crown in April, doing so on a torn ACL. “You see him do that on one leg— he could probably have done it on no legs. That’s how special of a guy Carlos is,” Rowston exclaimed.

Another reason for Rowston to feel good, it’s his third fight in the UFC, with all of those coming close to New Zealand’s City Kickboxing. Three fights, meanwhile, have Rowston in a comfortable routine.

“It’s starting to feel a little more routine. I like routine, I feel very comfortable in routine. I do my best work when there’s predictability in my life and there’s a lot of structure,” he told us. “Once I signed with the UFC I was able to transition into basically full-time training. I didn’t have to work anymore, and it made my whole week, my whole weekly schedule extremely predictable and structured. Train in the morning, come home, eat, groceries- eat sleep train sh*t basically. That’s all it was every day, and I love that, I love doing that.”

With three fights in less than 12 months, Rowston says that he and his team have gotten into the “nuts and bolts” of training camp, “refining it every fight.”

“I’ve really refined it with the coaches, we’ve leaned it out, cut all the fat off it, all the process and it’s something I really enjoy now.”

From Robert Bryczek, Rowston later explained, “I’m expecting the Polish power. Polish power is a real thing, you look at a lot of the Polish fighters in the UFC and fighting around the world, they’re all, they’re big hitters.”

“From the footage I’ve seen of Bryczek that me and my coaches have broken down, he’s a goer. He’s gonna come forward, he likes to have momentum coming forward, that’s when he does his best work. He’s got really good hands, he throws his punches very mechanically sound, he’s not sloppy with his punches. I’m excited to make this a bit of a dogfight, to just really get stuck in and feel him out and just put on an absolute barnburner of a fight.”

Watch our full interview with UFC Perth middleweight Cam Rowston above.

The post UFC Perth: Cam Rowston Sees Middleweight In “Intermediary Period” appeared first on Cageside Press.