'I'm not a bad person': Dione Barbosa adamant illegal kick didn't change Melissa Gatto fight at UFC Vegas 115 Barbosa narrowly avoided a loss after an illegal soccer kick landed in her controversial UFC Vegas 115 bout.

Whether she was out or not, I'm not here to judge."

Dione Barbosa spoke further on the controversy surrounding her illegal soccer kick against Melissa Gatto this past Saturday. My latest - Uncrowned👑

Cherry blossoms in Japan.

I just watched the Lando fight. He lost, and his opponent says in the post-fight, 'I've been in the UFC over four years and this is my first win.'

That really says it all.

Trumpian 🧐

I've never been closer to leaving the Elon app for good, now that Tweetdeck costs $40 a month. That was the only reason it was worth paying for to begin with -- even then, we never should have had to pay for it. Absolute joke 🖕

UFC 326 predictions: Max Holloway or Charles Oliveria, who takes home the BMF belt? UFC 326 focuses on action and lightweight stakes when Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira run it back Saturday in Las Vegas.

Love or hate the concept, there really has been no failure to deliver in a BMF title tilt. ... outside of the first one. But it's been smooth sailing since! Holloway vs. Oliveira 2 will surely continue the trend of bangers. Who wins?

👑Uncrowned:

Dricus du Plessis has rewatched Khamzat Chimaev loss at least twice a week since September: 'Hard getting through it' Former UFC champ Dricus du Plessis has been deep in study and learning from his mistakes after his lopsided title loss to Khamzat Chimaev.

Gotta say, I admire Dricus du Plessis' commitment to improvement. Dude is admittedly torturing himself 😅

👑Uncrowned:

UFC Mexico preview and predictions: Brandon Moreno or Lone’er Kavanagh — who wins? Brandon Moreno and Lone'er Kavanagh make a push toward flyweight gold this Saturday at UFC Mexico.

#UFCMexico is, on paper, a night loaded with underdogs. The question now is whether they can capitalize. Who ya got?

👑Uncrowned:

This is so important. People who create things – whether art, entertainment, podcasts, journalism, criticism, or other content – hear relentless negativity, and it can be extraordinarily discouraging to the point that you want to stop creating. If someone creates something you enjoy, TELL THEM.

Love this! Appreciate you

'It was just meant to be': How Japan's most fearless women (and MySpace) helped Smackgirl shape MMA's future In 2001, women's MMA was more of an idea than a full-fledged sport — especially out east. But that changed with one promotion that dared to go against the grain.

With Carano and Rousey in the spot light, let me share @drakeriggs.bsky.social wonderful article on the first big name in Women's MMA, Megumi Fujii. Much less problematic than either Gina and Ronda.
sports.yahoo.com/mma/article/...

Michael Page irked by 'how quickly' Dana White willing to pay Conor Benn more than UFC fighters: 'It's just upsetting' Benn's reported $15 million deal with Zuffa Boxing instantly makes him one of the highest-paid — if not the highest-paid — fighters under the TKO umbrella.

Kind of difficult to disagree with MVP. Surely, he isn't alone.

👑Uncrowned:

Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano: Winners and losers of Rousey’s shocking return — and Netflix’s seismic MMA entry Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano is actually, implausibly happening. Let's break down the biggest winners and losers in the making of 2026's new surprise spectacle.

Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano proves that things are indeed happening in MMA as 2026 gains steam. While it may be a good thing for most, it's not for everyone.

👑Uncrowned:

You're sick!

UFC legend Michael Bisping offers Tom Aspinall advice amid 'toxic' noise from MMA fan base Having experienced severe eye injuries of his own, Bisping warns the UFC heavyweight champ to proceed with caution with how Aspinall handles 2026.

Michael Bisping knows a thing or two about dealing with severe eye issues... and taking backlash from the fans. So who better to get your advice from if you're Tom Aspinall? My latest - Uncrowned👑

UFC 324 predictions: Will Justin Gaethje spoil the Paddy Pimblett party? UFC 324 kicks off the UFC on Paramount era, headlined by a big interim lightweight title tilt between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett.

After a lengthy break, UFC 324 is just about here to start 2026 in style. One can hope, anyway.

It's a solid card top to bottom for the Paramount era launch... but will the night belong to Justin Garthje or Paddy Pimblett?

👑Uncrowned:

That means a lot of dumb 😆

Social media in rough shape. Brutal over on the former bird place right now.

How's it going over in the Sky that is Blue?

I pop on BlueSky for a literal five seconds and see this banger.

'It was just meant to be': How Japan's most fearless women (and MySpace) helped Smackgirl shape MMA's future In 2001, women's MMA was more of an idea than a full-fledged sport — especially out east. But that changed with one promotion that dared to go against the grain.

@drakeriggs.bsky.social did a wonderful job with this! I get that seeing the word MMA might scare a lot of people, but this was before it became the sport of global fascism. Smackgirl was a very special promotion during a special time for a lot of fans.
sports.yahoo.com/mma/article/...

Noche UFC: Lopes vs Silva | Tatiana Suarez vs Amanda Lemos FULL ANALYSIS | Phantom Punch Podcast 6 YouTube video by Phantom Punch Breakdowns

Deep analysis podcast

@drakeriggs.bsky.social and I breakdown all the small details in this prelim fight

youtu.be/atpxSFUzlxc?...

'It was just meant to be': How Japan's most fearless women (and MySpace) helped Smackgirl shape MMA's future In 2001, women's MMA was more of an idea than a full-fledged sport — especially out east. But that changed with one promotion that dared to go against the grain.

Please read this phenomenal deep dive article on how Smack Girl and how it influenced MMA by
@drakeriggs.bsky.social

This article took years in the making, so please like, share, and tell your friends who aren't into MMA about it.

sports.yahoo.com/mma/article/...

Colby Covington set out to be the villain, and he succeeded. But that legacy won't be a lasting one After a UFC Tampa beatdown, Colby Covington’s place seems to increasingly be in the UFC welterweight division’s past.

Some thoughts on Colby Covington, who created a heel gimmick that nobody really connected with or enjoyed and now has to find a way to keep it going amid mounting losses. sports.yahoo.com/colby-coving...

Perfect send-off 🫡

Sound and Pound Ep 47 by Drake Riggs and Alex Behunin Support Drake Riggs not the d-bags at mma mania

Got to be a guest on the last episode of Sound and Pound with @drakeriggs.bsky.social

Listen to it on my substack since mma mania is owned by an immature petty jerk who can’t act like a professional.

open.substack.com/pub/phantomp...

Say it with me, kids: When you’re a fight promoter, what’s the biggest fight you’ve ever done? The next one. Always, always the next one.

What universe are we living in where two Vine kids grow up to professionally set up a boxing match against one of the all-time greats inside an NFL stadium?

I like this line of thinking ✨️