Donn Davis’ highly anticipated appearance on Ariel Helwani’s show came on the heels of the Professional Fighters League purchase of rival Bellator MMA being officially announced. Starting in 2024, the PFL will run both brands, Bellator in eight standalone events mainly focusing on international markets.

Davis revealed that they reached out to Viacom/Paramount, under which Bellator fell, in January of 2023, with no idea that the company would beginning divesting assets in the Spring. It was a slow process, in terms of talks. “Mergers take time,” as Davis pointed out.

Viacom becomes a minority owner in the company. Davis, who built his reputation as an entrepreneur and businessman with America Online, the Chicago Cubs, and his own venture capital firm, revealed the deal was done entirely in stock. “I think what they saw with PFL was an opportunity become part of a big company moving forward. So this was a stock deal, not a cash deal.”

With Paramount a “small” owner and no cash changing hands, it was a “great deal for us,” said Davis, adding he was “very happy” with how things played out.

Asked how close he thought the PFL was to the UFC, Donn Davis took note of UFC President and CEO Dana White being more vocal about the rival promotion recently. The company made waves in 2023 by signing the likes of Francis Ngannou, Jake Paul, Cedric Doumbe, and others.

“Everybody knows Dana well enough that he only dismisses things that worry him, or else he just doesn’t comment. He didn’t comment on the PFL for four years, because he wasn’t worried,” suggested Davis. “He’s commented on the PFL a lot the last six months. He’s worried.”

“What specifically worried him about Bellator is the metrics we put out in the press release. 30% of that roster ranked in the top 25 per Fight Matrix rankings. So this isn’t, Dana gets to rank his own guys, Donn’s ranking his own guys. As you know there’s only one group that ranks all fighters, Fight Matrix, independently. 30% of the UFC roster is top 25-ranked, and now our combined company of PFL and Bellator, 30%.”

“The same. Now, to UFC’s credit, if you look at top five in the world, they still own the top five, one through five. So call it PPV cards, we couldn’t compete with them right now, which is why we’re only going to have two, and they have twelve.”

Davis, however, thinks the TV product from the PFL this year will be better. “Our cards are going to be better. Better. Because what they put on this year was ranked 70 and what we’re going to put on next year is ranked 40.” Davis believes that has White talking, questioning why the PFL would buy Bellator, “because he’s smart.”

“UFC ain’t the NFL. We’re not the XFL. But he wants you to think that. And it’s just a matter of time before that starts to get more well-known, and we’re not the number two, we’re a co-leader. He doesn’t want that. That’s what’s going on.”

Later, Davis would make it clear that there’s no axe to grind with the UFC, nor an attempt to take over the MMA market and displace the leading promotion in the sport.

“UFC is a great company and they invented this industry. This is not about taking share or shifting share. MMA is growing. MMA is growing 10% a year, every other sport 2-3%. They’re going to do well. We’re just going to do really, really well,” said Davis. “And I’m excited to have my new teammates at Bellator, I’m excited to have all our new fighters propelling us forward, and we’re going to win. The next time we’re on here, when people laughed that we’re going to be a co-leader, we’re going to be a co-leader. Just like they laughed when we said we’re going to be #2, and we’re #2. And so to me, if you’re on the new Bellator team, if you’re on the new combined team, declare victory.”

In five years, Donn Davis expects to be able to reach that co-leader goal. “We’re the co-leader in MMA, flat out. But we do things different, we think different, we innovate different. We don’t have dogma. We co-promote. We give fighters opportunity, we let them box, we give 50% PPV share, we think different. And we’re the co-leader. They do what they do, fantastic. We do what we do, market’s big enough for two very, very big companies.”

The 2023 PFL Championship takes place this Friday in Washington, D.C. A Bellator vs. PFL champion versus champion card is expected for Q1 2024, said Davis, with TV deals in the U.S. and Canada ready to be announced for the PFL, while Bellator TV deals are in the works. As for Bellator’s Lightweight Grand Prix, Davis couldn’t answer whether it will complete as scheduled or not.

The post Donn Davis Reveals PFL Plans for Bellator MMA, Believes Dana White “Worried” appeared first on Cageside Press.

Speaking to media outlets including Cageside Press at Saturday’s UFC 295 post-fight press conference, White pointed out that the pair were now in different weight classes. And it’s a certain former champion that appears to be next.

“Jamahal Hill, when he’s ready, is the fight to make,” White stated.

Hill vacated the UFC light heavyweight championship, like Prochazka before him, after rupturing his Achilles tendon earlier this year. In terms of his recovery progress, White said only that “apparently it’s good.”

Asked later in the post-fight presser what he would say to fans who want a third UFC fight between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya, Dana White replied saying that “listen, anything is possible. Alex moved up a weight class. I don’t see Izzy moving up a weight class. But I don’t know. I’m sure people do want to see it again. I don’t know the answer to that question yet. We’ll see when Izzy comes back what he wants to do, where his head is.”

“Whatever he wanted to do, if he wanted to move up and fight Pereira again, we’d probably do it. Probably give him a fight at that weight first, if he wins, then give him a shot. I wouldn’t say that we would never do it.”

Watch the full UFC 295 post-fight press conference with Dana White above.

The post Jamahal Hill “The Fight to Make” for Pereira, Dana White Says Following UFC 295 appeared first on Cageside Press.

White was on “Triggered” with Donald Trump Jr. speaking on last weekend’s boxing match between boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

“I didn’t see the fight, but the fact that he went 10 rounds with Tyson Fury is crazy. He just went 10 rounds with Tyson Fury. Conor (McGregor) made it 9 out of 10 with Floyd (Mayweather),” White told Trump Jr.

“Anthony Pettis just beat Roy Jones Jr., I know Roy is friggin’ 60-years-old or whatever, but I don’t know what the hell is going on. It’s crazy.”

Ngannou and White had a very public feud at the very end of negotiations to keep the star heavyweight in the UFC. When the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement Ngannou left for the Professional Fighters League.

With a pit stop in boxing. Ngannou went the distance, knocked Fury down, and arguably won the fight in the eyes of many. That kind of success could be seen by other fighters as an opportunity, and at the same time may be at the detriment of the UFC.

White didn’t think so.

“I don’t care. Listen, these guys, at some point everybody is going to move on. Everybody has to do what’s right for them and make money for their families, so whatever they’ve got to do, they’ve got to do,” he said.

The post Dana White On Francis Ngannou Going Distance With Tyson Fury, “It’s Crazy” appeared first on Cageside Press.

With last year seeing 43 UFC contracts dished out, and six fights on the final week of the show (including Lucas Rocha vs. Davi Bittencourt, now at bantamweight), there was a good chance last year’s haul would be surpassed. Making DWCS 2023 the most successful season ever, at least for fighters earning a shot in the big show.

We’ve got one last preview of the Contender Series this season, so let’s get to it!

Bantamweight: Ramon Taveras Vs. Cortavious Romious

Tale of the Tape

Pros and Cons

Who has the advantage?

Striking: Taveras
Speed: Romious
Output/Volume: Romious
Kickboxing: Romious
Striking defense: Even
Footwork/movement: Taveras
Wrestling: Romious
Grappling: Magomedaliev
Gas tank: Taveras

Prediction: Taveras is getting another rightful opportunity and Romious is also deserving of this opportunity.

After Romious lost his lone time as a pro he took an extensive layoff. Since he’s come back he’s run through his opponents. His only loss was to Bellator’s Jornel Lugo. The thing is, Lugo and Taveras are in a way similar fighters. Romious is a smaller bantamweight and he does struggle on the outside. He struggled with Lugo and I can see the same thing happening here. Taveras is four inches taller and has a three inch reach advantage.

Tavares being a good technical striker with a clean boxing attack; I can see him frustrating Romious from his preferred range. My prediction is Tavares because of the size and the big striking advantage.

The post DWCS 2023: Episode 10 Breakdown and Predictions appeared first on Cageside Press.

Speaking at the UFC Vegas 80 post-fight press conference, White revealed that the promotion’s recent Noche UFC card celebrating Mexican Independence Day had changed his mind. The decision, in fact, appears to be one White simply went along with originally.

“Flags are back,” White said following Saturday’s Fight Night card, which saw Bobby Green knock out Grant Dawson in a lightweight main event. “I was on vacation during the Mexican Independence Day, and the no flag thing drove me crazy. I was like ‘f*ck that, we’re bringing flags back.’ It drove me crazy.”

Noche UFC on September 16 was staged with the Mexican audience in mind, and it’s a tradition White is hoping will continue year after year. White expanded on his choice to lift the flag ban, explaining that “there’s a lot of things that go on in a company this big. You can’t micromanage everything. And sometimes things are done for the intentions of the right reasons and whatever.”

“Everybody in this room knows how I feel about a lot of things. Basically ‘I don’t give a f*ck’ is the answer to most things. Everybody’s too soft, everybody’s too sensitive about everything.”

“When the decision was made to do this, I was just kind of like ‘eh. What’s the big deal if they don’t have flags?'” The event honoring Mexico changed his opinion on that. “Mexican Independence Day flipped the switch for me. I was like ‘that’s enough, I’m done with the no flags.'”

“Flags are back, if any flags hurt your feelings, too f*cking bad,” White finished. That should be music to the ears of many fighters, as the promotion has cards in Brazil and Canada coming up over the next few months.

The post Following UFC Vegas 80, Dana White Confirms Flags Are Back in UFC appeared first on Cageside Press.

Announcing on social media on Tuesday that she had undergone surgery for a broken hand, Grasso wrote that “in the fight I broke my hand; We are used to not letting pain stop us in anything and although it hurt I didn’t think it was serious until I wanted to return to training and I realized that my hand was still very bad.”

The surgery “was a success,” she added (translation via Google Translate).

Valentina Shevchenko also fractured her hand early in the pair’s rematch, announcing shortly after the fight that the injury would require surgery. If nothing else, the pair likely now have a similar timetable for return, barring complications. The UFC is widely expected to book a third bout between Grasso and Shevchenko, after their Noche UFC battle ended in a draw.

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A post shared by Alexa Grasso (@alexa_grasso)

Following Tuesday night’s episode of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 7, UFC President and CEO White addressed Grasso’s injury.

“They both have hand injuries, so it’s a ‘let’s see what happens.’ Traditionally, those types of surgeries, six to eight weeks, they start figuring out where they’re at,” noted White. “We’ve got time.”

The post Alexa Grasso Reveals Hand Injury Sustained at Noche UFC, Dana White Reacts appeared first on Cageside Press.

Would more zaniness ensue on Week 9? Read on for how we see the second-to-last episode of the season playing out!

Light heavyweight: Murtaza Talha Vs Rodolfo Bellato

Tale of the Tape

Pros and Cons

Who has the advantage?

Striking: Bellato
Speed: Bellato
Output/Volume: Talha
Kickboxing: Bellato
Striking defense: Talha
Footwork/movement: Even
Wrestling: Talha
Grappling: Talha
Gas tank: Even

Prediction: Talha came into his pro career as one of the best amateur prospects at the time. He went 12-0 never losing in three years in IMMAF winning gold which is an incredible feat. Talha has been a terror in his pro career over in Brave CF dominating everyone.

Bellato is getting his second chance on the Contender Series after losing last season to the only person that beat him, Vitor Petrino. Since that loss, he’s won his next two. Last May he won the LFA light-heavyweight title.

I like Bellato and I think he’s UFC level but he’s getting a rough match-up. Talha is one of the best light heavyweight prospects worldwide. Bellato is a BJJ guy but the wrestling of Talha should be able to cancel that out. Bellato is dangerous off his back but I would bet Talha isn’t getting caught while on top. There is a chance Bellato can win on the feet. Talha has a smothering pace and I believe will just relentlessly put Bellato on his but. My prediction is Talkha by ground and pound later in the fight.

The post DWCS 2023: Episode 9 Breakdown and Predictions appeared first on Cageside Press.

During his post-fight press conference following week 8 of this season of Dana White’s Contender Series the UFC CEO was asked about a rumor that Showtime Boxing would not continue past 2023.

“That’s incredibly unfortunate. Production of that show is fantastic, the guy who runs Showtime boxing is a great human being. It’s unfortunate to hear this,” White said with an obvious bit of sarcasm.

“F*ck Espinoza, and it’s about time that sh*tty product is off the air.”

That led to Espinoza responding during fight week for Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo.

“No disrespect to anyone but there are levels to this. What we’re doing here is the highest level of the sport. This is special. This is different. The event on Saturday night will generate a gate of over $20 million,” Espinoza said.

“That’s a rare feat in combat sports. It’s rare in concerts or events of any kind but this will be the third time in the last six months that we’ve done a gate of $20 million. Again, our this $20 million gate in the last six months.”

This is when Espinoza took aim at the UFC, and without naming White specifically, took aim at the longtime UFC leader.

“To put that in perspective, the UFC has never done a gate of $20 million in it’s entire history. We’ve done it three times since April. Like I said, this is special,” he said.

White is known for not sitting back and letting others have their way in how they speak about him or the UFC, but specially when it’s Espinoza. He took to Instagram to post a response.

 

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A post shared by Cageside Press (@cagesidepress)

“That’s exactly the type of response I would expect from that weasel Espinoza. That scumbag has absolutely nothing to do with the success of Canelo (Alvarez), Ryan Garcia, and Terrence Crawford. Those guys are mega stars and they are the ones responsible for driving the gates in their fights. For him to even try and take credit at all shows you what an arrogant, delusional POS (piece of sh*t) that guy is.

For this clown to talk about “levels” is hilarious. The production of the fights on Showtime is an embarrassment and I have been saying that FOREVER. He is a little guy with a BIG yap, and is a complete phony. I’m not at all surprised this is the end for them. It should have come way sooner. 

Sorry to see you go Weasel, enjoy your retirement. – Dana White”

Whether or not Showtime Boxing actually comes to an end we’ll find out soon enough, but it’s clear to see that the beef between White and Espinoza is unlikely to ever end.

The post Dana White And Stephen Espinoza Spar On Social Media appeared first on Cageside Press.

Billy Goff in nasty car crash, still expects to fight again this year

Billy Goff, who was victorious at UFC Singapore recently, is lucky to be alive after getting into a nasty car crash recently. Thankfully, Goff is alive, in good spirits, and plans on fighting again, according to a post he made to social media this past week.

Speedy recovery, Billy!

According to Billy Goff’s instagram:

Billy bought his Mom a car after his recent #UFCSingapore victory. Less than 2 hours after buying the car he was in a bad accident. GOOD NEWS, Billy is in good health and still plans to fight again in 2023. Very scary stuff… pic.twitter.com/OaPVXp5oXw

— Jake Noecker (@JakeNoeckerMMA) September 23, 2023

OAM’s reaction to PFL Championship poster is hilarious

“Lady and the Tramp” — we’re dying.

The PFL Championship goes down November 24, 2023 in Washington, D.C., and Olivier Aubin-Mercier is questioning the promotion’s choice of poster for the main event title fight between himself and Clay Collard. In particular, it reminds him of a certain animated classic. But who’s the tramp?

“The Canadian Gangster” won gold last year, and is looking to become a two-time PFL champ in November. After which, he told Cageside Press recently, he intends to take at least a year off.

BROOO
Who did that design ???
It look like that scene from "Lady and the Tramp" https://t.co/g9aTP5t8DW

— NOT Olivier Aubin-Mercier (@oliaubin) September 23, 2023

Jason Miller pens heartfelt message, announces he’s in rehab

Whether you know Jason “Mayhem” Miller from his coaching stint opposite Michael Bisping on The Ultimate Fighter or from Bully Beatdown, there’s no question he’s been a big part of the MMA world for years. Unfortunately, newer fans might only know Mayhem for causing, well, a whole lot of Mayhem, with multiple incidents, arrests, and a stint in jail.

This past week, Miller opened up about it all in a heartfelt message posted to social media.

I went away for a couple of years to pay my debt to society, and when I got out, I realized that I have much more paying to do.

Maybe it’s hard for the average person to understand living with a stigma firmly etched into your life, so I can’t fault anyone for recoiling in horror upon meeting me, given the press that I get. I wish I were made of stone and didn’t allow it to affect me, but I have, and failed those that love me.

I thought I could smoothly transition from prison to the regular world, but things have been more difficult than I imagined, especially interpersonal relationships and the burden of being free.

Maybe some of you can understand and empathize, but I don’t expect you to, or even care what happens to an old prizefighter. I choose this path far before I realized what could happen after the glory faded away, and I ask myself sometimes if I knew the reality, would I have picked any differently, and consistently I come to the conclusion, that, no, the younger me at the wheel, I could’ve never picked a different path.

By all accounts I am a great coach, but all my personal problems have piled up, and I’ve fallen short of my own standards, therefore I am taking some time to work on myself. Until recently I viewed asking for help as something for the weak, but a very special person has shown me that the actual opposite is true; asking for help shows strength. Strength of character and strength of mind.

My family has bore the brunt of my frustration and self destructive behavior, so to them I offer a sincere apology and if I have directly affected you in a negative manner, I am sorry.

More than likely, you’ve seen the sunny side of Instagram and figured, “Mayhem is a bit whacky, but doing great.”

I haven’t.

I’ve been doing horrible and I realize that now and I’m doing everything I can to change it. Thank you for your support, but I’m not reading comments. I’m going to work on me now for the good of my family.

Sorry I won’t be into Fight Science for sparring tomorrow or New Ground Jujitsu for a while, but I have a bigger bout to win.

Much love,

Jason “Mayhem” Miller

Miller would later reveal on Twitter/X that he had entered rehab.

In rehab. No memes. Send.

— Jason Mayhem Miller (@mayhemmiller) September 24, 2023

Miller’s foibles and fumbles have been numerous and covered ad nauseam so we’re not going to recap them all here. Here’s to hoping he finds the help he needs, as it sounds like he’s trying to turn over a new leaf.

Matt Riddle released by WWE, fans blame Dana White in new conspiracy theory

With the WWE and UFC coming together under the TKO Group banner, one athlete with experience on both sides of the fence is Matt Riddle.

Riddle had a nice little UFC career going including an epic battle against Canadian Sean Pierson in 2010, but was run out of the promotion by Dana White after repeatedly failing drug tests for cannabis — the rules around which, it should be noted, have been lessened by many athletic commissions in recent years.

White also took offense to Riddle saying he smoked weed so he wouldn’t go home and beat his wife and kids — a bit of dark humor the UFC exec clearly did no appreciate. White would go on to actually assault his wife in a well-publicized incident earlier this year, but regardless, Riddle has not fought in MMA since a 2014 bout in Titan FC.

What Riddle did do was transition to pro wrestling, where he became a bigger star than he ever was in the UFC. Making it all the way to WWE, Riddle portrayed a “bro” loosely based on Spicolli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and wound up in a hugely popular tag team with Randy Orton, RK-Bro.

However, this past week, WWE slashed talent in a widely expected cost-cutting effort following the merger of WWE and UFC under the TKO Group banner (the promotions are still run separately). Riddle, who recently accused a TSA employee at Kennedy International Airport of sexual assault during an incident during travel, was among the casualties.

Cue the conspiracy theories that White had something to do with Riddle’s release. Several users on Twitter/X were quick to suggest as much, and an old video of White ripping Riddle resurfaced online.

Matt Riddle was on borrowed time as soon as that merger went through tbh

pic.twitter.com/E9wjUnuMsY

— Patrick The Heel (@patricktheheel) September 22, 2023

The post Sunday MMA Quick Hits: Jason “Mayhem” Miller Pens Heartfelt Letter, Heads to Rehab appeared first on Cageside Press.

A baffling 10-8 awarded to Alexa Grasso in the fifth round of her rematch with Valentina Shevchenko left the fight scored a draw, and left MMA fans around the world scratching their heads. With that in mind, White says the trilogy fight will happen.

“You have to do the rematch,” White said following Week 7 of Dana White’s Contender Series on Tuesday (h/t MMA Junkie). “We will rematch them. It’s the right thing to do. It’s the fight that needs to happen, and yeah.”

White did not provide a timeframe for when the UFC would make the fight. Shevchenko is scheduled for surgery to repair a broken hand suffered early in Saturday’s rematch with Grasso, which came after Grasso dethroned the champ by submission back in March.

As for the 10-8 score awarded by judge Mike Bell to Grasso, White had a similar reaction to many of those watching.

“I was on vacation when this thing happened. When I found out one of the judges scored it 10-8, this guy should be f*cking investigated for this,” exclaimed White. “This is the craziest sh*t I’ve ever seen in my life.”

The post Dana White Says Grasso-Shevchenko Trilogy Will Happen: “It’s the Right Thing to Do” appeared first on Cageside Press.