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The MMA world has got some crucial stories in the last 24 hours and we are back with another MMA roundup to summarise those stories. So, without any further ado, let’s get started. We will start the round-up with news relating to Ronda Rousey and Joe Rogan. Then we will shift our focus to Dana White’s promise to pay Diego Lopes’ fine from UFC 300. At last, we will conclude with a beef between Alexandre Pantoja and Sean O’Malley.

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Ex-UFC commentator slams Ronda Rousey for victim mentality against Joe Rogan

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Ronda Rousey has been one of the greatest woman division fighters to have ever graced the Octagon. However, even the greatest had to face defeat and leave for the better. Back in 2015 and 2016, Rousey lost back-to-back fights against Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes and this seems to have broken her will to fight. Approximately a decade later, Rousey came forward to state that she was sidelined by Joe Rogan and the UFC admin because of her losses.

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Her words were not taken lightly by former UFC and Bellator commentator Jimmy Smith. While having a conversation on Sirius XM, Smith did not hold back on calling out the hypocrisy of the former champion as he said, “One thing that’s always said about God “He gets all the credit, none of the blame. That’s what Ronda Rousey wants: all the credit, none of the blame. ‘I want credit for all my wins. My losses, I had CTE and I had this and I had that. I’m the greatest to ever do it, but when it didn’t work, it was so and so and never me.”

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Smith’s statement was later shared on Instagram and when one fan asked why was Ronda Rousey doing these things after nearly a decade, Smith said, “Book Tour.” Smith was unfiltered in his take and indirectly accused the former champ of giving controversial statements to promote her book ‘Our Fight’.

While one former champion is calling out people for not providing her with enough support, another UFC star Diego Lopes has received the backing from Dana White.

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Dana White comes to the rescue of Diego Lopes

Diego Lopes has been having an amazing run in the UFC, and his last fight was just another gemstone in his crown. Lopes fought at the UFC 300 against Sodiq Yusuff. The match started with Lopes dominating Yusuff and then the Brazilian threw an epic punch to the head to knock him out in the very first round. Lopes was excited about his victory, and when he saw Dana White in the stands, he asked the UFC President if he could come over to him. White permitted him, and then Lopes jumped out of the cage to go towards White and Mark Zuckerberg.

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This act has caused a huge uproar in the Nevada State Athletic Commission as they have voted to withhold five percent ($5,000) of Lopes’ $100,000 purse for hopping over the cage to celebrate the victory. However, according to the reports, Dana White seems to have promised the Brazilian fighter that he would bear the fine amount.

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Executive director Jeff Mullen came forward to state that Dana White will pay the fines on Diego Lopes, as he was the one who permitted the fighter to come to him to celebrate. Well, White’s generosity might come in handy for him in the future, but right now let’s move forward to a champ-champ beef.

Sean O’Malley and Alexandre Pantoja pull each other legs

Alexandre Pantoja recently reminisced about an event where he smashed the bantamweight champion six years ago. The flyweight champion is about to defend his belt again at UFC 301 against Steve Erceg and in his latest confession, Pantoja explained an event about how he defeated Sean O’Malley when they were sparring together.

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While having a conversation with the media, Pantoja said, “I have some history with [O’Malley]… I [sparred] with him like 6 years ago for my first UFC fight, and he said some bad things about that. That’s crazy because he recorded the sparring … and he never passed the training. And I asked [his friend] ‘Can you talk with your friend for send the video’, and he said to me ‘Hey, he’s not gonna send it to you bro you smashed him.’”

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Pantoja’s words got a response from Sean O’Malley when it was shared on social media handles. The bantamweight champion tweeted, “Twas a first-round TKO.” O’Malley seems to be frustrated with Pantoja’s statement.

What’s your opinion about this? State your thoughts in the comments below.

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Written by

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Suryakant Das

3,440 Articles

Suryakant Das is a senior writer who leads UFC live coverage at EssentiallySports, known for his broad expertise and standout professionalism in MMA journalism. Over two years in the field, he has become a key voice on real-time event updates, pre- and post-fight interviews, and analysis of viral moments from the Joe Rogan Experience. His dynamic reporting is backed by selection to the Journalistic Excellence Program, which hones advanced editorial skills and strategic coverage approaches for top talent. Suryakant’s career is defined by his ability to deliver both speed and depth. His versatile background spans sports journalism, content writing, and editorial roles, helping him navigate fast-paced live coverage and deliver meaningful stories with clarity and precision. Recognition from respected MMA figures such as Nina-Marie Daniele and Hall of Famer Michael Bisping further marks him as a trusted authority in the UFC community.

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Sakshi Jain

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