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Sean Strickland gives "a lot of motivation" to reinspired Johnny Eblen before PFL Austin title bout

Published

3 months ago

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Sean Strickland gives "a lot of motivation" to reinspired Johnny Eblen before PFL Austin title bout

Sean Strickland helms the UFC's middleweight division and steadily gets in work with someone vying for gold in another promotion this weekend. The combatant in question is Johnny Eblen, who runs it back with Impa Kasanganay for a rematch with the interim middleweight belt on the line at PFL Austin on July 18th. The winner will battle lineal PFL middleweight champion Costello Van Steenis at a later juncture when the 185-pound titleholder gets off the shelf from his injury.

Speaking to the motivational component, getting to work with the UFC champion and potential future UFC Hall of Famer in Sean Strickland, who really touts Johnny Eblen's skills in quite a high regard, Eblen said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

“Yeah, absolutely. A lot of motivation. Especially when you lose to a guy that you know you can beat [Costello Van Steenis]. It definitely gave me motivation to stay with the PFL and right that wrong. Cuz around that time, I was kind of like running through everybody, beating everybody, and I wanted to find new competition outside of the PFL cuz I fought everybody in the PFL.â€

“But having that loss, and then having Bryan Battle come over, and now I get to run it back with Impa [Kasanganay]. Some people thought I might have lost that fight with Impa because it was a split decision and now I have a road back to redemption with Costello [Van Steenis]. It truly spiced up the division and it truly motivated me, I think.â€

Sean Strickland foresees a UFC title fight with Johnny Eblen someday

Sean Strickland and Johnny Eblen have often got in work inside the gym together, whether in Florida or Nevada, with the former envisioning a fight with the latter transpiring someday. Touching upon that during a recent training excursion taken at American Top Team, Strickland stated [via Bloody Elbow],

“First session done with Johnny [Eblen], this guy is a savage… This guy is going to win the [PFL] belt. Then he's going to come to the UFC, he's going to win a fight and then we're going to fight for the belt. And I don't know who's going to f***ing win but I know we're going to fight.â€

To that, Eblen responded,

“It's going to be fun.â€

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MMA

Court McGee at peace with UFC farewell: ‘OK is good enough for me’

Published

21 minutes ago

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October 7, 2026

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Court McGee at peace with UFC farewell: ‘OK is good enough for me’
Court
McGee is proud of his final
Ultimate Fighting Championship appearance.

McGee's final bout came against Eric Nolan
at UFC
332 on Oct. 3 in front of his home fans in Salt Lake City. He
suffered a third-round technical knockout loss after a hard-fought
battle and subsequently laid down his gloves inside the Octagon to
mark the end of his UFC career.

Court McGee reflects on his final UFC fight after 16 years in
the promotion

McGee released a statement addressing his retirement. He is proud
of his final UFC fight despite the loss. After 16 years in the UFC,
McGee said he finally took it all in leading up to his farewell
bout. “The Crusher†also paid tribute to 13 coaches and training
partners he lost along the way.

“Saturday night was my last fight in the UFC,†McGee posted on X.
“16 years. 29 fights, including my time in the Ultimate Fighter
house. One hell of a journey. I didn't get my hand raised, but I'm
incredibly proud of my performance, proud of my opponent, and
genuinely happy for him. For the first time, I was able to slow
down and truly experience it all—the weeks leading up to the fight,
fight week, the walk to the Octagon, and everyone who's been beside
me through the highs and lows. Including the 13 coaches and
training partners we've lost. RIP. I gave this sport everything I
had. Sometimes my best was great. Sometimes it was just okay.
Saturday night, I was okay—and okay is good enough for me. I'm
grateful for the wins, the losses, the lessons, the people, and
every damn moment in between. What a journey. Thank you.â€

McGee (22-15) won Season 11 of “The Ultimate Fighter†in 2010,
earning a UFC contract. He overcame addiction before beginning his
professional mixed martial arts career.

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MMA

Dustin Poirier admits he helped teammate cheat scale to make weight

Published

18 hours ago

on

October 6, 2026

By

Dustin Poirier admits he helped teammate cheat scale to make weight
Dustin
Poirier will do whatever it takes to help his teammates.

Poirier recently recalled an incident in which he helped a teammate
make weight illegally. Poirier's friend was over the weight limit
for a fight in Mississippi, and the former
Ultimate Fighting Championship interim titleholder resorted to
manipulating the scale to help him.

Dustin Poirier details how he lifted an overweight teammate
during a Mississippi weigh-in

Fighters shed every bit of clothing and stand behind a towel when
they're close to the weight limit. Poirier stood behind the towel
with his teammate while everyone else was on the other side. “The
Diamond†claims he slightly lifted his friend so that he made
weight.

“One time one of my buddies was fighting in Mississippi,†Poirier
said on the “Deep Waters†podcast. “And they had the towel out, he
was naked, he was over [the weight limit]. I was behind the towel
with him. Everybody was in front. I grabbed a handful of hairy man
*ss cheeks and I lifted him up a little bit, got him on
weight.â€

Poirier (30-10) hung up his gloves after losing to Max
Holloway last year. He has since admitted that he misses
fighting and hasn't entirely ruled out a return.

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MMA

Dustin Poirier admits he helped teammate cheat scale to make weight

Published

18 hours ago

on

October 6, 2026

By

Dustin Poirier admits he helped teammate cheat scale to make weight
Dustin
Poirier will do whatever it takes to help his teammates.

Poirier recently recalled an incident in which he helped a teammate
make weight illegally. Poirier's friend was over the weight limit
for a fight in Mississippi, and the former
Ultimate Fighting Championship interim titleholder resorted to
manipulating the scale to help him.

Dustin Poirier details how he lifted an overweight teammate
during a Mississippi weigh-in

Fighters shed every bit of clothing and stand behind a towel when
they're close to the weight limit. Poirier stood behind the towel
with his teammate while everyone else was on the other side. “The
Diamond†claims he slightly lifted his friend so that he made
weight.

“One time one of my buddies was fighting in Mississippi,†Poirier
said on the “Deep Waters†podcast. “And they had the towel out, he
was naked, he was over [the weight limit]. I was behind the towel
with him. Everybody was in front. I grabbed a handful of hairy man
*ss cheeks and I lifted him up a little bit, got him on
weight.â€

Poirier (30-10) hung up his gloves after losing to Max
Holloway last year. He has since admitted that he misses
fighting and hasn't entirely ruled out a return.

Continue Reading
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