Sean O'Malley STRUGGLES ahead of UFC 306, LEAKED INSIGHTS, Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 2 set

[Music] UFC veteran Steven Wonderboy Thompson has carved out a memorable career in Combat Sports known for his Dynamic striking and respectful demeanor as he gears up for his 21st fight in the UFC against Wen Buckley at UFC 307 Thompson is taking a moment to reflect on his legacy and express his desire for a future spot in the UFC Hall of Fame Thompson who has long been celebrated for his entertaining fighting style and sportsmanship recently opened up about his career Ambitions in an interview while he remains focused on competing at the highest level Wonderboy admitted that being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame would be a meaningful achievement for him I'm fully content in what I'm doing because I'm doing it for myself not because I want something Thompson told rj. I'm fully content with who I'm fighting and when I'm fighting I don't need anything from the UFC despite this sense of fulfillment Thompson acknowledged that it would be cool to go down in UFC history as a Hall of Famer it would be cool to be able to do that to be in the Hall of Fame I think that would be sick Thompson takes pride in his long-standing presence in the sport and the respect he's earned from both fans and fellow Fighters it's cool to be able to walk into a room and UFC fighters want my autograph because they watched me before they even got into the UFC he shared highlighting the impact he's had on a new generation of athletes at 41 Thompson continues to be a dangerous contender in the welterweight division known for his karate based striking and knockout power no matter who's stepping in the cage with me they know that I'm a dangerous guy Thompson said confidently looking ahead to his fight against Wen Buckley at UFC 307 Thompson remains focused on proving that he's still a top competitor in the division despite his age he's not looking for an easy path but rather one that continues to test his skills against the best Thompson's desire to fight Rising contenders like Ian Machado Gary further showcases his competitive Spirit He has expressed interest in fighting Gary but he doubts the young Irishman would take the challenge I don't think he would Thompson said suggesting that Gary might be reluctant to face someone as experienced as him Steven Thompson's career has been defined by his exciting style professionalism and ability to entertain fans from his days as a karate and kickboxing champion to becoming a staple of the UFC's welterweight division he's fought some of the division's toughest names including Tyron Woodley gamebred and Vicente luk earning respect from peers and fans alike as he continues to compete at a high level Thompson remains hopeful that his contributions to the sport will one day be recognized with a Hall of Fame induction cementing his legacy as one of the Sport's most respected and beloved figures for now Wonderboy is focused on what he does best delivering thrilling performances in the Octagon regardless of his [Music] opponent Armen zaruk Kian is set to face UFC lightweight champion Islam makev in a highly anticipated rematch reportedly scheduled for early 2025 this fight will be for the UFC World title marking zaruk kian's opportunity to avenge his previous loss to makev and potentially capture the coveted Championship Islam makev is widely regarded as one of the best fighters in the UFC pound for pound rankings as the reigning lightweight champion makev has dominated his opponents with a blend of grappling striking and strategy that many believe makes him the top fighter in the organization he has defended his title multiple times solidifying his place at the top of the lightweight division the next challenge for makev appears to be a rematch against Arman zaruk Kian who has climbed the ranks since their first meeting in April 2019 zaruk Kian who lost a closely contested bout against makev in his UFC debut has since gone on an impressive impressive run defeating several top contenders and proving he belongs in the title conversation speaking to Red Corner MMA zaruk Kon confirmed that the UFC has planned the rematch for early next year I knew that the fight would happen next year I was informed that this fight would not happen this year and that it will take place early next year he stated zaruk Kian emphasized his commitment to staying prepared explaining everything can change in a moment and that's why I am keeping myself in shape I am in Camp now I don't care when this fight happens even if it does in a year I will keep working and moving towards this fight for zaruk Kian the rematch with makev is not just about avenging his loss it's about achieving his ultimate goal of becoming a UFC champion it's not about fighting Islam for me it's about becoming the champion he said the lightweight division has been one of the UFC's most competitive weight classes with Fighters like Justin gatei Charles Olivera Dustin parier Michael Chandler and Dan hooker consistently battling for the top spots zaruk Kean weighed in on the possibility of an interim title fight involving some of these top contenders noting that many of them are coming off losses any of the top five could fight for the interim title zaruk Kean remarked Chandler Olivera gaii or parier all of them can fight for an interim title although they don't deserve it zaruk Kian pointed out that four of the five Fighters mentioned are coming off losses with hooker being the only one to secure a recent win only hooker had a win and Chandler the first think although chanders had his last victory over Tony Ferguson he added the first fight between makev and zaran was a competitive grappling heavy battle that showcased both fighter skills and endurance since then both have improved significantly makev with his Title reign and zarokian with his rise through the lightweight ranks the rematch promises to be a compelling Clash of styles and strategies with zaran aiming to Dethrone makev and claim his place as the UFC lightweight champion as the UFC gears up for this pivotal matchup fans can expect a fight filled with high stakes technical Brilliance and the possibility of a new Champion emerging in one of the sports most stacked divisions [Music] Henry cejudo has hinted that UFC bantamweight champion sha om Ali may be dealing with potential injuries ahead of his highly anticipated UFC 306 fight against morab this Revelation came during a recent episode of a podcast where cejudo opened up about om Al's rumored issues in training camp Henry cejudo and sha Ali have been been embroiled in a long-standing rivalry marked by frequent exchanges of insults and Jabs both online and in person the latest chapter in their ongoing feud unfolded when om Ali briefly appeared on the podcast only to troll the hosts and exit after just 30 seconds during his short stint om Ali complimented kamaru Usman and mocked cejudo by asking how he allowed aljamain Sterling to take him down so easily before abruptly signing off with a Parting Shot you're welcome after OM Al's departure cejudo wasted no time in firing back he pointed out that om Ali's training camp for his fight against morab has been far from ideal particularly when it comes to his grappling defense given that cejudo and om Ali both hail from the same city and share some training Partners cejudo claimed to have insid or knowledge about om Al's preparation struggles he noted that three of his own training Partners have trained at om Al's camp and they've reported significant issues regarding the Champion's ability to get up from bottom positions this is a glaring weakness against a Relentless Grappler like morab he doesn't know how to get off of bottom he's having trouble cejudo revealed I've had training Partners I have three training partners that gone out there that's all told me the same Saint just like when I'm injured he always knows he's tweeted out like hey when I lost to morab he knew that I was injured you know that's what happens when you live in the same city people know other people that will say Street this Insight from cejudo aligns with om Al's own history of exposing his opponent's injuries or vulnerabilities especially when he tweeted about cejudo's injuries ahead of his fight with morab with this inside knowledge cejudo expressed confidence that morab morab could exploit om Al's alleged deficiencies on the ground and walk away as the new UFC bantamweight champion it's a match made in heaven for a guy like morab he just needs to be here he just needs to be careful in those two rounds and as the fight goes on I can see morab morab F taking him out cejudo said he even playfully questioned whether sharing this information made him a snitch asking Usman for his take as for cejudo's own plans the former double champ hinted that he could be tempted to halt his move down to the flyweight division depending on the outcome of the UFC 306 Main Event if om Ali were to lose to Mara cejudo suggested that om Ali might finally be compelled to fight him reigniting a rivalry that has kept fans entertained both inside and outside the Octagon in the buildup to UFC 36 this back and forth between cejudo and omali only adds more Intrigue to an already exciting card where morab looks to capitalize on any weaknesses and om Ali aims to prove he's the rightful Champion despite the doubters the upcoming UFC event at the sphere is shaping up to be a pivotal night for Brian Ortega with many viewing it as a Crossroads for his career Daniel Cormier a former UFC champion and commentator has highlighted the importance of Ortega's upcoming fight against the surging Diego Lopez at noce UFC Brian Ortega known as T city is one of the most well-recognized names in the featherweight division however he faces a significant challenge in Diego Lopez who has been on a hot streak and is looking to make a name for himself by taking down one of the divisions Elites for Ortega who is fighting someone ranked 10 spots below him this bout represents more than just a regular matchup it's about maintaining his place among the top fighters in the UFC Daniel Cormier speaking on his good guy and bad guys show alongside sonen on ESPN mma's YouTube channel emphasized how crucial this fight is for Ortega's future in the UFC I think this fight is going to be very telling as to where Brian Ortega is in his career Cormier said he further explained that losing to a lower ranked yet highly touted Contender like Lopez could signify a Changing of the Guard in the featherweight Division if he loses to a guy like Lopez a guy who's on a run a guy who's making his way to the top of the division it becomes difficult to stay where you've lived your entire career Cormier stated Ortega solidified his position in the upper ranks of the featherweight division by submitting y Rodriguez earlier this year in his comeback fight however a loss to Lopez could push him out of the title picture and force him to reconsider his path forward Ortega has lived at the top of the card for as long as we can remember Cormier noted pointing out how pivotal this fight could be for his future prospects should Ortega manage to stop Lopez momentum on September 14th at the sphere he will likely position himself back in line for another title shot a win would also validate his status as one of the division's top fighters keeping his name in the conversation alongside upcoming title Challengers Ortega wins this fight he's going to be right on the short list of guys that can compete for the belt Cormier added if Ortega secures a victory over Lopez his next move will be of keen interest especially with the featherweight title bout between between ilot topura and Max Holloway scheduled in Abu Dhabi the outcome of that fight could determine Ortega's potential path back to title contention if he does find his way back to a title shot it would complete a dramatic Resurgence for the fighter who has faced multiple setbacks throughout his career for Diego Lopez a win over a seasoned veteran like Ortega could Propel him into the top tier of the featherweight division making him a new Contender to watch for both Fighters this bout is not just another fight it's a stepping stone that could shape the next chapter of their respective careers as Cormier aply put it this weekend's noce UFC Showdown is a massive opportunity for both Fighters particularly for Ortega who is fighting to keep his place at the top of the UFC food chain [Music]