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Gillian Robertson believes she's being overlooked by Mackenzie Dern ahead of UFC 330: "All for my benefit"

Published

4 months ago

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Gillian Robertson believes she's being overlooked by Mackenzie Dern ahead of UFC 330: "All for my benefit"

Gillian Robertson is feeling underestimated going into the biggest fight of her career at UFC 330.

Robertson is scheduled to challenge for the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship on July 11. Mackenzie Dern is the reigning titleholder having captured the gold by defeating Virna Jandiroba at UFC 321 back in Oct. 2025. “The Savage†earned her opportunity against Dern by amassing a five-fight winning streak with victories over the likes of Amanda Lemos and Marina Rodriguez.

The 115-pound  title challenger spoke to MMAJunkie ahead of fight night, and she thinks that Dern hasn't been paying attention to her rise in the strawweight division. Robertson believes that being overlooked could play in her favor during the upcoming title fight.

“It seems like she's never really watched me before, honestly,†Robertson said. “I'm like, ‘You know we're fighting in like six weeks?' Just the way she was talking, it's like she doesn't even know my skills, my ability. It seemed like she didn't know a lot about me, which I guess is all for my benefit.

“I think she might be underestimating me a little bit. Obviously, the ground has always been her world, so she expects it to be that way. There's no better way to end that (than a submission), but I'm happy with the TKO, too.â€

Robertson hasn't been defeated since June 2023. From that point on, she's racked up wins over Polyana Viana, Michelle Waterson-Gomez, Luana Pinheiro, Rodriguez, and Lemos. Dern's three-fight winning streak includes victories over Loopy Godinez, Amanda Ribas, and Jandiroba.

Dern vs. Robertson will be a part of the same card headlined by the highly anticipated return of Conor McGregor. The “Notorious†one will be facing Max Holloway inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. BJPenn.com will continue to provide updates on UFC 330 leading up to the event.

Who do you think will walk out of UFC 330 with the women's strawweight gold? Will Mackenzie Dern retain, or are we looking at a new 115-pound titleholder on July 11? Drop your prediction in the comments below.

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MMA

UFC reportedly lets 16-0 Farid Basharat walk after seven wins

Published

21 minutes ago

on

October 15, 2026

By

UFC reportedly lets 16-0 Farid Basharat walk after seven wins
The
Ultimate Fighting Championship has reportedly declined to renew
another undefeated fighter's contract.

Farid
Basharat (16-0) has been removed from the UFC roster, according
to MMA Fighting. He earned a contract on
Dana White's Contender Series in 2022 and went 7-0 in the
promotion.

Farid Basharat exits UFC after 7-0 Octagon run as promotion
reportedly declines to renew contract

Basharat completed his contract with a victory over John Garza
in July and wasn’t offered a new deal. The Afghan-born British
fighter also defeated Da'Mon Blackshear, Jean
Matsumoto and Chris
Gutierrez. Six of his seven UFC victories came by decision.

Basharat joins Muhammad
Mokaev and Michael
Page among fighters whose UFC contracts were not renewed
despite winning streaks.

His brother, Javid
Basharat, also left the UFC in February and has since joined
the
Professional Fighters League. Javid won his final UFC
appearance, though he went 1-2 with one no contest in his last four
bouts with the promotion.

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MMA

Alex Pereira backs Paulo Costa to beat Magomed Ankalaev with pressure

Published

18 hours ago

on

October 14, 2026

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Alex Pereira backs Paulo Costa to beat Magomed Ankalaev with pressure
Alex
Pereira believes aggression could be decisive in a potential
fight between Paulo Costa
and Magomed
Ankalaev.

With
Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion
Carlos
Ulberg sidelined by injury, Costa and Ankalaev are seeking a
title opportunity. Pereira believes his fellow Brazilian can defeat
Ankalaev by applying pressure.

Alex Pereira says Paulo Costa must impose his pace to defeat
Magomed Ankalaev

“Poatan†said Costa must impose his pace to beat Ankalaev. He
expects a more evenly matched contest if Costa hesitates.

“I think ‘Borrachinha' [wins],†Pereira told Laerte Viana. “He's
more aggressive. I think ‘Borrachinha' would do better. If he stays
there like will he or won't he [hesitant], then it will be a fairly
even fight. You don't know who takes it. But if he imposes his
game, his rhythm, I think he takes it.â€

Costa (16-4) and Ankalaev (21-2-1, 1 NC) have exchanged criticism
on social media, with Ankalaev accusing the Brazilian of declining
multiple offers to fight him. Costa has also publicly disputed the
UFC's proposed terms for his next bout, saying he wants to complete
the one fight remaining on his contract.

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MMA

Dana White dismisses Alex Pereira’s claims against Daniel Cormier: ‘I don’t tell anybody what to say’

Published

19 hours ago

on

October 14, 2026

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Dana White dismisses Alex Pereira’s claims against Daniel Cormier: ‘I don’t tell anybody what to say’

Dana White puts no stock in Alex Pereira's complaints against Daniel Cormier.

“Of course that's not true,†White said. “These guys are the most paranoid people on the planet. Like we're telling DC — I've never told DC to do anything, ever. It doesn't work like that. We don't operate like that.â€

Pereira's complaint seems primarily to stem from his personal animosity with Gane. “Poatan†lost his fight with Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC White House, and has since lobbied for a rematch, citing illegal blows from Gane as the reason for his loss. Pereira has had some issues with the UFC before, but this one seems to run a bit deeper for the former two-division champion. It also comes at the same time as UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has been airing his grievances about the promotion. But for White, this is simply a normal part of fight promotion.

“I don't know. We have over 700 guys on contract, and we've talked about two of them being sideways right now,†White said. “This is normal when you're in this business. As you guys know — first of all, I've never told Rogan or DC or any of these guys to say anything about anybody. And one of the things, as a longtime fan of the fight business, I actually can't stand the commentators saying negative things about fighters or anything like that.

“But I don't tell anybody what to say. I don't tell the fighters what to say, I don't tell the commentators what to say. This thing all just plays out organically in the way that the fights are called, and whatever they say when they walk out here and they interview with you guys tonight. We don't police any of that stuff. If we did, Sean Strickland would've been gone three f*cking years ago, and we wouldn't even be having this conversation.â€

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