Valentina Shevchenko

Wang Cong addressed the story behind a fake eyelash gift following UFC 329 and used the moment to call for a rematch with Valentina Shevchenko. The Chinese fighter is eager to run things back with the former flyweight champion.

Valentina ShevchenkoWang Cong

A deep-dive analysis compares Conor McGregor's early career form — highlighted by his capoeira-style knockout of Buchinger — against his current state at UFC 329. The argument holds that a more disciplined McGregor, training consistently over a decade, could have developed a counter-punching style reminiscent of Valentina Shevchenko, backed by knockout power and elite reach. His 188 cm wingspan, the longest in lightweight history for fighters under 175 cm, is cited as a key underutilized asset. The piece notes that when McGregor first fought Dustin Poirier, he was the less experienced fighter on paper yet won inside a round — underscoring the gap in raw talent that discipline could have widened further.

Dustin PoirierValentina ShevchenkoConor McGregor

Conor McGregor has released his personal all-time top-10 UFC fighters list, placing himself at number one ahead of Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, and Demetrious Johnson. McGregor ranked Islam Makhachev seventh, ahead of both Daniel Cormier and Khabib Nurmagomedov, citing Makhachev's record and finishes across two divisions. McGregor also stated that despite talk of retirement from those around Makhachev, the champion still has a great deal left to offer.

Khabib NurmagomedovJon JonesValentina ShevchenkoAnderson Silva+6

Rafael Fiziev has rejected the label of being a product of Kyrgyz combat sports, saying he considers himself self-made and does not credit the country's MMA scene for his development. He praised fellow fighters Razhababli and Orolbay as genuine phenoms while noting that figures such as Valentina Shevchenko trained in Kyrgyzstan only briefly before moving on. Fiziev also described Justin Gaethje as a uniquely gifted fighter, likening his striking to "two knives."

Valentina ShevchenkoJustin GaethjeRafael Fiziev

Rafael Fiziev has distanced himself from being labeled a product of the Kyrgyz martial arts school, saying he considers himself self-made. He also disputed that Valentina Shevchenko should be classified as a product of that system, pointing to her coach Pavel Fedotov's Korean taekwondo background and her years of training abroad. Fiziev praised fighters like Radjabali and Orolbai as exceptional talents, comparing their rare gifts to those of Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Justin Gaethje.

Valentina ShevchenkoIslam MakhachevJustin GaethjeRafael Fiziev

Rafael Fiziev has distanced himself from being called a product of Kyrgyz martial arts, stating he considers himself self-made. He credited the nation's fighters with natural athletic gifts rooted in their nomadic heritage, singling out Radjabali as a global phenomenon for his 100-percent finishing rate, while also praising the distinctiveness of fighters like Islam Makhachev, Khabib, Jon Jones, and Justin Gaethje.

Jon JonesValentina ShevchenkoIslam MakhachevIlia Topuria+2