GM fight fans, and welcome to this weeks MMA news. This week we had a new promotion challenging the UFC, Viral MMA star loses his unbeaten record and Jon Jones responds to fighter claiming he would beat him, so without further a do lets get into it 👊 

NEW PROMOTION TRYING TO CHALLENGE THE UFC

Sky Sports and ONE Championship have announced an exclusive partnership to broadcast live ONE events in the UK and Ireland. The coverage is set to kick off with ONE Fight Night 18 on January 13, featuring Superlek Kiatmuu9 against Elias Mahmoudi.

ONE's events represent the full spectrum of martial arts, with world-class athletes representing over 80 countries competing across MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, submission grappling, and other disciplines. The organization produces and distributes world-class events across more than 190 countries, featuring martial artists and World Champions from over 80 nations and all styles of martial arts, including MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and more 🥋 

On the announcement of the partnership, Sky Sports Director of Multi Sports Helen Falkus said, "We're pleased to partner with ONE Championship to bring their full range of martial arts to Sky Sports for the first time. We hope to bring new fans to the world-class competitive formats on our channels, as well as reach new audiences for Sky."

Chatri Sityodtong, the ONE Championship Chairman and CEO, added, "For years, our UK fans have been clamoring for ONE to be broadcast on one of the region's major networks. Today, I'm excited to announce a new partnership with Sky Sports, the premier broadcaster for live sports in the UK and one of the most well-known sports networks in the world. This deal marks an important milestone for the celebration of martial arts and the continued expansion of ONE Championship's global footprint." 🌍️ 

VIRAL MMA FIGHTER LOSES UNBEATEN STREAK 

In the realm of mixed martial arts, the narrative often weaves fascinating stories of rising talents, and Khamzat Maaev is no exception. Unlike his Chechen compatriot Khamzat Chimaev, who has made waves in the UFC, Maaev has been making his mark in the BRAVE FC promotion.

Maaev, much like Chimaev, initially carried the mystique of an undefeated record, boasting a perfect four-fight run. The Chechen fighter displayed a penchant for finishing his opponents, securing victories via knockout, TKO, or submission, all within the first round ⚡️ 

However, the undefeated streak came to an end at BRAVE CF 79 when Maaev faced Nika Kupravishvili. In a surprising turn of events, Kupravishvili secured a TKO victory in the second round, leaving Maaev's fans stunned 🤯 

Despite the setback, the parallels between Khamzat Maaev and Khamzat Chimaev are striking. From knockout power and shared surnames to nationality and even their nicknames, the similarities are notable. While the loss at BRAVE CF 79 may be a tough pill to swallow for Maaev, it occurred early in his career, and at 23 years old, he undoubtedly has ample room for improvement and a chance at redemption.

JON JONES RESPONSE TO DAN HENDERSON

UFC 151 holds a notorious place in MMA history as the first event that the promotion had to cancel, triggered by Jon Jones' refusal to face Chael Sonnen on short notice. This decision, however, was prompted by Dan Henderson's withdrawal due to a knee injury 🤕 

In a recent ESPN MMA interview, Henderson expressed confidence that he would have emerged victorious against Jon Jones had the fight materialized. He stated, "I was just 100% certain I was gonna beat the f*** out of him... I absolutely would have beat him up in my mind. I was so prepared, not just physically prepared, but tactically, my game plan, everything."

Jones, in response to Henderson's comments shared on Instagram by MMA Junkie, referenced their Submission Underground 2 grappling match, stating, "How can you confidently say that when I've already choked you out?" Jones has been vocal in dismissing claims from fighters asserting they could defeat him, with recent friction involving Tom Aspinall calling for a bout and the stripping of Jones' undisputed title 🏆️ 

HIT THE INBOX OF MMA FANS!!!

Advertise with Cage Chronicle’s and get your brand infront of the eyes of MMA fans. GET IN TOUCH TODAY.