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Jon Jones reveals how Ciryl Gane 'intimidated' him after first-round win, predicts Tom Aspinall rematch

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Jon Jones reveals how Ciryl Gane 'intimidated' him after first-round win, predicts Tom Aspinall rematch

Jon Jones' former rival Ciryl Gane earned his respect in how he handled himself in the moments immediately after their UFC 285 fight.

Former two-division UFC champion Jon Jones won the heavyweight title by handing Ciryl Gane a humiliating defeat at UFC 285. Just seconds into their fight, Jones tapped Gane with a nasty guillotine choke to become the UFC's latest ‘champ-champ'.

Fast forward to 2026, and Gane has earned his fourth undisputed heavyweight title shot after defeating Alex Pereira to win the interim belt at UFC Freedom 250. Gane is expected to face undisputed champion Tom Aspinall in a rematch later this year, after their first fight ended in a no-contest last year.

Jones will keep a keen eye on the Aspinall vs. Gane rematch as he continues to ponder another potential return to the Octagon. After stopping Gane at UFC 285, Jones was intimidated by his opponent.

Jon Jones shares ‘intimidating' interaction with Ciryl Gane that earned his respect

In a recent interview with Ring Magazine, Jones predicted the Aspinall vs. Gane rematch and shared an eye-opening story about Gane's competitiveness.

“I think Gane is going to win. When you become the champion, and you beat a man like Alex Pereira, it has to do something for your confidence,†Jones said of Gane.

“The night I fought him, we were backstage and talking with the doctor. He came in behind the curtain, came up in front of me…and at that moment he seemed so much bigger than just moments before [LAUGHS]. He looked me in the eye, shook my hand, and said, ‘I'll be back. We're going to do this again'. And he meant it! It taught me a lot about his character. He wasn't mad, wasn't bitter; he was a great sportsman, and he seemed more destined and determined than ever. To the point that it was slightly intimidating, because I just choked him out minutes ago, and he was looking like he was ready for Round 2.

“So I believed him when he said ‘I'll be back', and now he is back, just against different competition,†Jones continued on Gane. “He has my support, and I love the class that he carries. Great representative for France and for the UFC, and I hope he does really well for a really long time.â€

What is your prediction for Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane 2? Let us know in the comments!

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MMA

Alex Apodaca reacts to historic DWCS upset over -6000 favorite Bella Mir

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1 hour ago

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August 26, 2026

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Alex Apodaca reacts to historic DWCS upset over -6000 favorite Bella Mir
Alex
Apodaca didn't want to be affected by the odds going into her

Dana White's Contender Series outing against Bella
Mir.

Apodaca (5-1) took on Mir (4-1), daughter of former
Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholder Frank Mir, in a
bantamweight tilt on
Week 3 of DWCS 2026. Mir was a -6000 favorite, the biggest in
DWCS history, going into her clash against Apodaca, a +1200
underdog.

However, it was clear that the odds were off as soon as Apodaca
defended the first takedown.

Alex Apodaca earned a UFC contract after beating Bella Mir in
the biggest upset in DWCS history

Apodaca gave Mir all she could handle in a highly competitive
affair, establishing control in the final round to earn a unanimous
decision victory. The former earned a UFC contract for the biggest
upset in DWCS history, and after the bout, she revealed that she
avoided looking at the odds to stay focused on the high-profile
matchup.

“I didn’t want to look at the odds before; I knew they were some
bullsh*t,†Apodaca said in her post-fight interview. “I just truly
believe if I stay present and in the moment that I can see
everything and nobody is going to beat me. Cause I’m pretty
technical, and I’m strong as f*ck.â€

Notably, while giving Apodaca the contract, UFC CEO Dana
White admitted that he was heavily biased towards Mir, having
been involved in the latter's combat sports career.

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MMA

DWCS winner Joseph Kropschot lands UFC debut just weeks after earning contract

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2 hours ago

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August 26, 2026

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DWCS winner Joseph Kropschot lands UFC debut just weeks after earning contract
Joseph
Kropschot won’t have to wait long for his
Ultimate Fighting Championship debut.

The
Dana White's Contender Series Season 10
Week 1 contract winner has been booked to face Nick Klein
at a UFC
Fight Night on Oct. 31 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas.

Joseph Kropschot faces Nick Klein at UFC Fight Night on Oct.
31

Kropschot earned his UFC contract on Aug. 11, defeating Jonathan
Kunneman by unanimous decision after three rounds on the
opening episode of the 2026 Contender Series season. He boasts a
9-3 professional record in mixed martial arts and has won his last
five fights. His contract-winning effort on DWCS marks the lone
decision win of his career.

Meanwhile, Klein owns a 6-3 professional record and has not
competed since a technical knockout loss to Andrey
Pulyaev in August 2025. He lost to Mansur
Abdul-Malik in his UFC debut after earning a contract on DWCS
in 2024.

The upcoming matchup gives Kropschot an opportunity to build on his
Contender Series debut and officially begin his UFC tenure. For
Klein, it offers a chance to snap a two-fight losing streak and
record his first win in the UFC.

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MMA

Sean Clancy Jr. explains why he waited until Round 2 to finish Gary Balletto Jr.

Published

3 hours ago

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August 26, 2026

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Sean Clancy Jr. explains why he waited until Round 2 to finish Gary Balletto Jr.
Sean
Clancy Jr. claims he could have finished his
Dana White's Contender Series bout sooner than he did.

Clancy Jr. (9-0) took on Gary
Balletto Jr. (11-4) in a welterweight clash on
Week 3 of DWCS 2026. Clancy Jr. took Balletto Jr. down in the
second round and blasted him with elbows to earn a stoppage and an

Ultimate Fighting Championship contract.

Sean Clancy Jr. says he sought experience before finishing Gary
Balletto Jr.

Clancy Jr. says he felt Balletto Jr.'s face get crushed between his
elbow and the mat.

“I’m buzzing, yeah, I’ve always wanted to put something open like
that,†Clancy Jr. said in his post-fight interview. “It was, aye,
it’s something I’ve wanted for a while. I remember being so
present; it just, as soon as I put it down, I just felt his face
just get crushed in between my elbow and the mat. It was
phenomenal. Just split wide open. It’s the first time I’ve done it,
but aye, here’s to many more.â€

The 23-year-old also claims he chose to gain some striking
experience against Balletto Jr. in the first round. “The One†is
confident he can finish anyone the way he finished his counterpart
in the second frame.

“Well, I’m only a 23-year-old boy, like people forget that,†Clancy
Jr. added. “Forget that I’m looking to try and pick up experience
in there. That’s where he’s good, so I chose to spend a little bit
of time there with him and just see, just rack up experience and
stuff, you know? But I did in the second round, I can do that to
absolutely anyone. I know I could have done that to him in the
first round. Just wanted to have fun. Pick up the experience.â€

Clancy Jr., a former
Cage Warriors interim welterweight champion, has finished all
nine of his career wins so far.

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