The UFC is no stranger to fighters finding trouble with the law. Dana White once infamously had to reassure fans and media that noted featherweight action fighter Jeremy Stephens would definitely be fighting that night despite finding himself in police custody that day. Stephens did not end up fighting on October 5th, 2012, although he was eventually only charged with a misdemeanor.
That said, in a social media age where younger generations are seemingly uploading their whole lives onto the internet, there’s still a trick or two that the world’s largest MMA promotion has yet to see. In the case of middleweight fighter Sedriques Dumas that means live streaming your own arrest.
UFC middleweight Sedriques Dumas arrested on felony battery charge
TMZ reports that UFC middleweight Sedriques Dumas was taken into custody at Escambia County Jail in Florida early Tuesday morning, following reports from an unidentified woman that her boyfriend had been banging on the door and ringing the doorbell.
“So, it was a disturbance call, in regards to, her boyfriend was banging on the door and ringing the bell,” an officer can be heard telling Dumas, after he claimed that he had been stopped while out for a walk to “blow off steam.”
“I’m not her boyfriend, so that wasn’t me!” Dumas tells the officer, “We been broken up.”
“What, are you trying to say I hit her or some s—t?” Dumas added, “So please don’t f—ing play with me like that. Anyways, so what I was just saying is, bro, I’m not disturbing the peace, I’m just walking. Pure point blank.”
Shortly after that it appears that Dumas was taken into police custody.
Sedriques Dumas live streamed himself getting arrested after talking to the police pic.twitter.com/X1BdEXuwwa
Currently sporting a 2-1 record in the UFC (9-1 overall), Sedriques Dumas had been set for a March 30th fight against Octagon newcomer Nursulton Ruziboev. The Uzbek fighter made his UFC debut back in July of last year, taking on Brazilian power puncher Brunno Ferreira and picking up a first round KO in the process.
Fortunately for Dumas, in recent years the UFC has tended toward a policy that the promotion will not take punitive measures against their talent without an official conviction first. So, if he’s still free to travel by the March 30th date, it seems likely that he’ll remain on the card.
UFC Atlantic City is set to take place at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The card had been expected to be headlined by a welterweight bout between Sean Brady and Vicente Luque, unfortunately a previous injury for Brady has left him unable to make the fight date. No word yet on a new main event.
The UFC has found plenty of defenders over the years within the ranks of fighters who once fought for the promotion. Some, like Forrest Griffin get actual day-to-day jobs working for the promotion in one of their many business interests. Others, like Daniel Cormier and Michael Bisping, are part of a long string of athletes brought in to provide color commentary in the broadcast booth.
Even when it comes to things like fighter pay, there are no shortage of fighters happy to say that the UFC gave them all the money they earned and more.
“To be honest, it makes me mad, because people don’t understand,” Michael Bisping told MMA Fighting way back in 2012. “I’ve worked hard, and I get [the amount stipulated in the contract], but when Dana comes into the locker room and gives me a check afterwards, they don’t have to do that. Far from it. I was already very happy with the money I was getting, but then they’ll hand you another check on top of that and say, ‘Well done…good job,’ and there’ll be another huge check inside the envelope.”
No fighters ask to exit UFC class action lawsuit
Given the amount of support the UFC has as a leader in the industry, then, it may be somewhat surprising to learn that they’re not getting a lot of backup when it comes to the still looming UFC class action lawsuit.
First filed in 2014, but only just recently granted class certification, the lawsuit covers somewhere around 1,200 athletes that competed inside the Octagon between December 2010 and June 2017. In it, the UFC has been accused of a variety of anti-competitive practices aimed to keep fighter salaries low and rival promotions from gaining a foothold in the industry. If successful, the lawsuit could provide not just damages to those fighters who meet the class requirements, but could even potentially shake up the UFC’s current fighter contract structure.
Despite the vocal support the UFC may get in interviews and social media, it seems nobody is willing to take the opportunity to really show their solidarity and pass up the opportunity for an extra check. Combat Sports Law reports that lawyers working on behalf of the fighters produced the following filing this week, formally announcing that no eligible athletes chose to opt out of the lawsuit.
Plaintiffs submit this notice to confirm: (1) the Court’s approved plan for distributing notice to members of the certified Bout Class (the “Notice Plan”) has been effectuated as required by this Court’s November 17, 2023, Order Granting Plaintiffs’ Unopposed Motion to Approve Class Notice Plan, ECF No. 921 (“Class Notice Order” or “Order”); and (2) no members of the Bout Class have requested exclusion from the certified Bout Class. The attached Declaration of Plaintiffs’ Notice Administrator, Steven Weisbrot, President and CEO of Angeion Group, LLC (“Angeion”),1 and accompanying exhibits detail the implementation of the Notice Plan and the absence of valid exclusions or objections from Bout Class members.
Put more simply, on November 17th, Angeion Group was tasked with notifying those athletes that meet the criteria of the UFC antitrust lawsuit, and with giving them the option to opt out should a decision be made in the plaintiff’s favor. According to Combat Sports Law’s reporting, the notifications included a letter sent to the athletes, an email notice, a media campaign, posted notices at 48 gyms, and a website and hotline dedicated to the lawsuit.
Despite no apparent interest from fighters in removing themselves from the proceedings, the UFC has apparently asked that the opt-out window be extended in response to the plaintiff filing above.
Chael Sonnen rips monopsony complaints, doesn’t opt out
Perhaps few fighters have been so willing to attack some of the arguments at play in the UFC class action lawsuit as former title contender Chael Sonnen. A talent with the UFC from 2009 to 2013, the 46-year-old is right square in the middle of the Bout Class classification. Recently, however, he’s made a point of public criticism of the idea that fighters are entitled to a bigger share of UFC revenue.
“Can you name 1 company on Earth that gives 50/50 revenue split?” Sonnen replied to a post from Combat Sports Law’s Erik Magraken, who noted that the antitrust lawsuit probably wouldn’t exist at all if the promotion weren’t withholding such a large share of their profit from their fighters.
Enough about a company in a country you don’t reside- let’s talk about YOU. Does your boss give you 50/50 split on revenue? Maybe you ARE the boss. Do you give crew 50%?
Can you name 1 company on Earth that gives 50/50 revenue split? (The word you were looking for was PROFIT… https://t.co/sTtN6yOV6g
“Price is set by the market,” Sonnen said, continuing the argument in a November 17th video posted to his YouTube—in which he responded to Magraken and the UFC antitrust case at length. “Nothing else sets price. Nothing. Not revenues, not debts, not assets, not longevity, not even talents. Those would all seemingly be good things to go in, when you’re negotiating, and trying to get market value, but they don’t directly set the value, the market does.”
“[Magraken] is coming in and saying the UFC is not paying enough, therefore it’s a monopoly and it’s unfair and there’s nothing fighters can do—when he’s confronted with the idea that they are paying market value. Chatri would not tell you any different, Scott Coker would not tell you any different, Donn Davis at the PFL, they won’t tell you any different. The UFC is paying market value. And they come to us and we can give the same thing, and we can trade them around. As long as the contract is up and we can all do our best to find the matchups that we think are the most compelling, that we can work with. That’s the business, very straight forward.”
Maybe if the UFC is granted the opt-out continuation that they seek, fighters like Sonnen will be lining up to jump ship and make it clear that they believe the UFC doesn’t owe them a dime. If that doesn’t happen, however, then it feels like the chance was given for fighters to stand up and say they don’t support this class action lawsuit, and everyone decided to stick with it and see where it goes.
Update: Vince McMahon has resigned from his roles at WWE and parent company TKO after disturbing new allegations surfaced.
“Out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents, and all of the employees and Superstars who helped make WWE into the global leader it is today, I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors, effective immediately,” Vince McMahon said in a statement.
For the past several years WWE chairman Vince McMahon has been embroiled in a series of sexual misconduct scandals, some of them stretching back to allegations made more than 30 years ago. In 2022, the company’s board of directors launched an investigation into ‘hush-money’ settlements paid by McMahon totaling nearly $20 million.
As a result of that investigation, Vince McMahon was forced to step down as CEO of the WWE, and eventually announced his retirement. That move was short lived, however, with Vince McMahon returning to the pro-wrestling promotion just six months later to once again take control. In a recent report from the Wall Street Journal, however, one of the apparent recipients of McMahon’s payoffs has filed a lawsuit, exposing his alleged conduct in more disturbing detail.
Disgusting details have surfaced about the longtime WWE boss Vince McMahon | Joe Camporeale / USA TODAY Network, IMAGO
Wall Street Journal exposes Vince McMahon’s sexual assault claims
This lawsuit appears to have come about after McMahon failed to follow through on a $3 million NDA agreement. Paying only $1 million of the money promised before allegations of his past misconduct became public knowledge in 2022, at which point he stopped further payments. As a result the current lawsuit would nullify the terms of the NDA, along with granting unspecified damages.
In the WSJ article, the accusing party alleges that they met McMahon through a manager at her apartment building in 2019, where the WWE executive lived in the penthouse suite. McMahon reportedly showered them with gifts and pressured them into sex in exchange for employment with the WWE. After sharing photos and stories of his sexual exploits to other WWE employees, the plaintiff alleges that they were also coerced to have sex with former WWE head of talent relations John Laurinaitis, who is also named in the lawsuit.
McMahon controlled her professional and personal lives and subjected her to degradation, according to the suit. In the June 2021 encounter inside the WWE office, the suit said McMahon and Laurinaitis forced themselves on her and took turns restraining her for the other, while saying “No means yes” and “Take it, b—.”
The lawsuit also claims that at one point, during a sexual encounter McMahon “defecated” on the plaintiff’s head, as detailed in a report from Variety.
Citing an example of McMahon’s “extreme depravity,” on May 9, 2020, “he defecated on Ms. Grant during a threesome, and then commanded her to continue pleasuring his ‘friend’ — with feces in her hair and running down her back — while McMahon went to the bathroom to shower off,” the lawsuit says.
Eventually McMahon reportedly paid for an extended stay at a health clinic for the plaintiff due to her deteriorating physical and mental health.
Brock Lesnar named
One of the most notable names to come up in this new lawsuit is former UFC and current WWE superstar Brock Lesnar. Allegedly Vince McMahon shared sexually explicit material featuring the plaintiff with Lesnar, as a lure to get the former NCAA D1 national champion wrestler back under contract in 2021. Afterward, McMahon apparently texted the plaintiff that “part of the deal was f—ing U.”
WSJ reports that Lesnar asked the plaintiff to send a video of themselves urinating, then called them a “b—h” after they complied. Lesnar then attempted to “set a play date,” only to cancel the plan after a snowstorm prevented him from traveling.
WWE and UFC star Brock Lesnar was also named in the lawsuit. | Joe Camporeale / USA TODAY Network, IMAGO
TKO statement
The Wall Street Journal claims they have reached out to McMahon, his attorney, Lesnar, and the WWE for comment, but did not receive a response.
In the Variety report, a spokesperson for TKO claimed the company was currently “addressing this matter internally.”
“Mr. McMahon does not control TKO nor does he oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE,” TKO said of the current lawsuit. “While this matter predates our TKO executive team’s tenure at the company, we take [the plaintiff]’s horrific allegations very seriously and are addressing this matter internally.”
Jamahal Hill isn’t expected to be fighting in the Octagon any time too soon, as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon injury suffered back in July. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem his professional inactivity has kept him out of trouble.
The 32-year-old former Dana White’s Contender Series contestant is back in the headlines this week, and it’s not with an update on his potential return to contender status.
Former UFC champ Jamahal Hill arrested on DV charge against brother
TMZ has obtained police records from Kent, Michigan, that show former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill was arrested on Monday, November 27th, around 1 am, on a misdemeanor charge of aggravated domestic violence resulting in “serious or aggravated injury.”
The alleged victim in the incident was a man by the name of James Anthony Hill, reported by TMZ to be Jamahal Hill’s brother. James Hill is listed as a “resident or former resident” of the Black Lion BJJ fighter’s household.
Hill was released later Monday evening, on the same day of his arrest, and is apparently due back in court in January of next year.
Former UFC champ Jamahal Hill was reportedly arrested for an altercation with his brother
Jamahal Hill goes to bat for Dana White in domestic violence case
This isn’t the first time the UFC champion has found himself facing public scrutiny in connection with a case of domestic violence. Back in January of 2023, UFC CEO Dana White faced massive amounts of public backlash for a public altercation with his wife at a bar in Cabo San Lucas. Video of the event showed White seemingly striking his wife several times after after she struck him when he grabbed her arm.
It’s unclear exactly when Hill will be returning to the cage, however, when he does so, it seems likely that ‘Sweet Dreams’ will have another shot at the UFC light heavyweight title waiting for him. Hill was forced to vacate his belt after suffering an injury during a UFC branded pick-up basketball game during International Fight Week.
The current champion, Alex Pereira, defeated fellow former champion Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 back on November 11th. Whether Hill will represent Pereira’s first title defense at 205, or if the promotion will find another challenger for the Brazilian first remains to be seen.
From the sound of things the saga of Jorge Masvidal’s assault of Colby Covington has finally reached something like a conclusion. The 38-year-old surrendered himself to Miami-Dade police back in March of last year on felony assault charges related to an altercation with his UFC rival outside Papi Steak restaurant in Miami.
Covington told officers at the time that a masked man he recognized as Masvidal approached him as he left the restaurant yelling at Covington about comments the MMA Masters talent had made about Masvidal’s family in the lead up to their bout at UFC 272 earlier that month. Covington ended up defeating Masvidal inside the Octagon via 5-round unanimous decision.
“I can see in his eyes, it’s Jorge Masvidal,” Covington said in a statement to officers. “I can see his hair coming out of his hoodie, but he has a face mask on. A surgical face mask. But he’s saying, ‘You shouldn’t have f-cking talked about my kids, you shouldn’t have f-cking talked about my kids.’ So I was easily able to identify, like, that’s his voice, that’s his eyes, that’s his hair. I know exactly who that is and he took two quick punches to me.”
Felony charges dropped, Jorge Masvidal cops to misdemeanor assault
Initially after the incident, Jorge Masvidal issued several statements through social media seemingly taking indirect responsibility for assaulting Covington. However, once it became clear that authorities were going to be involved, Masvidal maintained his innocence.
“I come from a different place than many people and we walk differently in that place,” Masvidal said back in May of last year. “I am not going to let anyone disrespect my family. I can’t talk much because they are charging me with three felonies. I can only say that I am innocent.”
Despite his denials, however, MMA Junkie reports that Masvidal accepted a plea of misdemeanor batter on Monday, November 6th in Miami-Dade county. In exchange for his plea, two felony counts carrying a potential penalty of $10,000 and/or 15-years in prison were dropped. As a result, Masvidal was sentenced to time served as well as an agreement to pay court costs from the case. Masvidal appeared in person for the sentencing and gave a statement outside the courthouse.
“Just beat the case,” Masvidal proclaimed. “I want to thank God, and I also want to thank this man right here—because I’m a free ****ing man,” he added, introducing his lawyer Bradford Cohen.
“**** you Colby, it’s gonna be a ****ing movie now. All these orders, all these restraining orders, all these things have been lifted off; it’s gonna be a ****ing movie. Thank you Brad, God bless. If you run into trouble, this is the dude right here, huh? I’m telling you. Undefeated in this ****ing court room.”
Covington did not appear for the sentencing. A former friend, teammate, and roommate of Masvidal’s ‘Chaos’ is currently preparing to once again challenge for the welterweight UFC title. The 35-year-old has not appeared in the Octagon since defeating Masvidal in last year’s grudge match, at one point even claiming that the had suffered a “brain injury” as a result of the assault.
Despite Masvidal’s obvious joy at the verdict, the conclusion of his criminal case does open the door to serious repercussions on the civil side of things. Having plead guilty, even to misdemeanor assault could make it very difficult for Masvidal to deny culpability if Covington wants to file a lawsuit for damages suffered as a result of the incident. Gamebred won’t be headed to jail, but he could be headed for a hefty hit to his bank account.
Jorge Masvidal brags about booming Papi Steak business
Jorge Masvidal may have been unwilling to admit his guilt in assaulting Covington in the months leading up to his plea deal, but that didn’t stop him from bragging about the resulting fame from the incident. Most notably, ‘Gamebred’ has claimed that the Miami steakhouse ‘Papi Steak’, where the assault took place, has seen booming business since that infamous night back in 2022. So much so that Masvidal says the manager has thanked him personally.
“No, that dude loves me, actually,” Masvidal told Jake Paul, when asked if he was banned from the restaurant back in June. “I ran into him the other night, because—I’ve run into him a couple times—and he was like, ‘Man! Since that freakin’ little rumor that, allegedly, you were there, reservations went through the roof.’ Like, 530%, he said. And I was like, ‘I would love to take these nice vibes you’re giving me, but that was “allegedly,” we both know.’ And he was like, ‘I know, man. But still!’”
“They were doing great before, but he said, after that pshooo!”
The longtime ATT fighter competed once more inside the Octagon, losing a unanimous decision to Gilbert Burns back in April of this year, before calling it quits on his MMA career. In the time since, Masvidal has hinted that he might be interested in a boxing bout sometime in the future, but would have to negotiate the move as he is still under UFC contract. In the meantime, the former title contender has focused his efforts on growing his Gamebred FC fight promotion.
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA returns this Friday, November 10th at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, for a heavyweight title fight between former UFC talents Alan Belcher and Roy Nelson. The event will be co-mained by a featherweight bout between Randy Costa and Jason Knight.
The UFC is headed to Sao Paulo this week for a Fight Night card featuring former heavyweight title contender Derrick Lewis in a five round main event against fast rising prospect Jailton Almeida. The bout marks Lewis’ first since signing a new 8-fight contract to compete for the world’s largest MMA promotion.
At the moment, however, it sounds like Lewis will just be lucky he was able to make it to the event. That’s after news has surfaced of a recent arrest for the ‘Black Beast.’
Derrick Lewis arrested, accused of going 136 MPH in 50 MPH zone
Local Houston affiliate ABC 13 reports that Derrick Lewis was arrested on Wednesday, October 25th after an officer apparently spotted the notable UFC talent weaving dangerously through traffic in his red Lamborghini. According to arrest records, Lewis was clocked going 136 mph on FM (Farm to Market Route) 2100 on the outskirts of Houston, TX. The speed limit for the area is only 50 mph, meaning Lewis was traveling at nearly three-times the legal limit.
According to reports, Lewis was released on his own recognizance after meeting a $100 bond on the same day as his arrest. He is due back in court on December 27th.
While Lewis drives exclusively in style these days, he wasn’t always so fortunate. In a 2021 interview on the Rich Eisen show, the 4oz Fight Club talent talked about getting started in the combat sports game. Originally, Lewis had been interested in a professional boxing career training under legendary heavyweight champion George Forman.
Things got serious enough that Foreman gave Lewis a car and was planning to put him up in an apartment near the boxing gym. That relationship quickly soured, however, when Lewis announced his intentions of going into MMA instead.
“I told him, ‘No I don’t think boxing is going to be for me.’ By this time they had already given me a car,” Lewis recalled. “They were about to put me up in an apartment across from the gym I was training at in downtown Houston.
“I told them, ‘Nah, I don’t want to do boxing. I’m going to stick to MMA’ because I felt like MMA was easier than boxing. So they took the car away from me. It was a Buick anyway.”
That time someone tried to steal Derrick Lewis’ car
In fact, these days, Derrick Lewis’ cars are so nice that someone tried to steal one. Back in 2021, Lewis made headlines when he posted an image to his Instagram account featuring his bruised knuckles and a caption that read simply “Satisfaction” and “He’s ok.”
In a now deleted video uploaded along with the image, Lewis noted that the “motherf*cker tried to break into my sh*t.”
Police reports from the incident state that Lewis was leaving a training session at his gym, when he heard sounds coming from the driver’s side of his vehicle. There Lewis apparently confronted 36-year-old Quinton Wright, attempting to jimmy the lock with a screwdriver. Wright was charged with simple criminal mischief because, as a police spokesperson at the time put it, “our winner did not get into the vehicle.”
“Mr. Lewis says he went over to the suspect, struck him, placed him onto the ground until the police arrived,” the spokesperson said in a statement to MMA Fighting at the time. “That’s the nicest way to put it.”
Lewis vs. Almeida is set to go down this Saturday, November 4th, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Alongside the heavyweight main event, the card is expected to play host to a middleweight bout between Caio Borralho and Abus Magomedov. Hopefully Lewis won’t get to do any driving while he’s getting ready for fight night.
Just three weeks ahead of his recent title defense against Sean Strickland, Adesanya was picked up in Auckland with a blood-alcohol level nearing twice the legal limit.
“Court documents show the international star was charged with driving a car on Wellesley St in Auckland Central with 87 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 50 milligrams,” a report from the New Zealand Herald states. According to reports, Adesanya did not contest the charges—which carry a maximum penalty of $4,500 or 3-months in prison.
“I am disappointed with my decision to drive, It was wrong,” Israel Adesanya said in a statement to the New Zealand Herald. “I know that people might follow me and I want them to know I do not think this behavior is acceptable.”
Michael Bisping gives thoughts on Israel Adesanya’s DUI
Following the news, former UFC champion Michael Bisping gave his thoughts on Israel Adesanya’s guilty plea. While he characterized drunk driving as “disgusting,” the ‘Count’ also suggested fans shouldn’t judge Adesanya too harshly.
According to Bisping, Adesanya’s blood-alcohol level was much more in line with a normal evening out rather than suggesting that the Nigerian-born New Zealander was smashed behind the wheel.
“When you see it—the headline—it sounds really bad,” Bisping said of Adesanya’s arrest on a recent episode of his podcast. “And, of course, drink driving is. It’s a terrible thing, because so many innocent people lose their lives—and I don’t think anyone can justify that. But what I said on [my YouTube channel], when you look into it, it’s not like he rolled out of a nightclub, hammered drunk. It’s not like he was on a session with the guys all weekend and got behind the wheel of a car.
“And I said this as well… but 50 miligrams, if that’s the legal limit? If the government—the New Zealand government, at that, mandate a lot of stuff—if they say you can drive a car at 50 miligrams, that means you’re sober, you maybe had one beer. So he was a little bit over that. So he’s had, like, two beers, two glasses of wine, maybe a cocktail at dinner? And he’s had a bad judgement call. He thought, ‘I’ve had a meal, it’s been a couple of hours, I’ll be good.’ I don’t know, I wasn’t there, but I’m just trying to piece it together. And he made a mistake.”
For his part, Bisping’s co-host—light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith—agreed.
“I’m not saying he’s not wrong,” Smith chimed in. “Because he is above the legal limit, and that’s wrong, and he needs to be punished. But let’s not pretend like this guy’s out here, you know, he’s front-flipping a vehicle into a house or something.”
“If we’re all honest with ourselves,” Bisping continued. “I think most people—I know I have. I don’t drink drive, I don’t get behind the wheel of a car drunk, but I have made a judgement call. I’ve had a beer at dinner, and sometimes I might have had two. But I think, ‘It’s been a few hours, I’m good. I’m fine.’ And I think most people have done that. I am not defending Israel Adesanya. Because drink driving, innocent people lose their lives. And it’s a disgusting thing. But, I think if most people are honest? I think they could admit to having a beer, thinking ‘I’m fine,’ and jumping behind the wheel.”
Anthony Smith admits he has a couple DUIs as well
With Michael Bisping putting in his two cents that “most people” have had a drink or two and got behind the wheel of a car, Anthony Smith took a moment to bring his own history into the mix, for the sake of transparency.
“Yeah, I have,” Smith stated after Bisping’s own admission. “I think transparency is only fair here. I have a couple DUIs. I have a couple. And I’ve been very honest about this in the past, I haven’t hidden it, one of them was a car accident. So, when I say there is levels to—he’s wrong no matter what, but there’s levels to how bad we’re going to quote-unquote ‘crucify’ him. Like, is he wrong? For sure, I’ll say it a hundred times, he’s definitely wrong. But it could be much worse, we’ve seen much worse, and I’ve done much worse, personally.”
As for the details of the incident Smith alluded to? That happened all the way back in 2009. In a 2012 interview, ‘Lionheart’ gave a more detailed explanation, noting that he was in his teens and had turned to alcohol in the wake of a bad relationship and the death of his grandfather who had been his principal father figure.
“I was out partying with friends, and I ended up getting in this really bad car accident trying to make it home,” Smith said in an interview with MMA Junkie.
“The car accident was actually at 11 o’clock in the afternoon. I was still drinking from the night before. They found me unresponsive after the wreck. I hit a house. It was pretty bad. I almost killed myself.”
Smith went on to reveal that he woke up on life support and was relieved to find that he wasn’t paralyzed as a result of the accident. The fighter fractured his cheek bone, and damaged his lungs, and required a large number of stitches to his face, but didn’t take any real longterm damage.
“I didn’t know what really happened,” Smith explained. “So my mom gave me her phone, and we were typing out messages to each other since I couldn’t talk. The first thing I asked is, ‘What happened?’ She said, ‘You got in a car accident.’ I didn’t really want to ask, but I typed, ‘Did I hurt anybody?’ The whole room started crying. It was crazy because they were like, ‘Wow, he really doesn’t know if he killed anybody or not.’ Obviously, I didn’t. I was by myself. I didn’t hit anybody. I just wrecked it in a one-car accident. I fell asleep on a gravel road while drunk driving, and I went in a ditch and totaled it.”
“When they found me, I was unresponsive. When I came back and started to wake up, I was hammered. My alcohol level was like a 0.295. I freaked out, so they sedated me, and that’s how I ended up on a ventilator. It was crazy.”
Hopefully this stands as a moment Adesanya can learn from. As an athlete who recently talked about hiring daily tutoring for his future offspring to give them a home school education, it seems safe to say that he has the money to afford an Uber next time he goes out on the town.
Former UFC welterweight champion Pat Miletich hasn’t been having the easiest time lately, at least not when it comes to making headlines in the news. Back in 2021, the Bettendorf, IA native was shown the door by LFA—seemingly for his participation in the January 6th riots in Washington, DC, which saw Trump supporters swarm the nation’s capitol, hoping to overturn the election of President Joe Biden. Although Miletich himself did not appear to take part in any criminal activity.
That incident was also the apparent tipping point for the souring of the relationship between Miletich and a former student of his, onetime CM Punk opponent Mike Jackson. Jackson took to his personal blog and social media disparaging the man he once considered a close friend after photos surfaced of Miletich alongside noted far right agitators. Actions from Jackson, that Miletich feels directly resulted in his release from LFA.
Ex-UFC champ Pat Miletich arrested on suspicion of third DUI
Just one month out from the fight between Pat Miletich and Mike Jackson at Caged Aggression 36: Bad Blood, the UFC hall of famer has been arrested under suspicion of driving under the influence. Local ABC affiliate KWQC reported the news, stating that a “wrong way driver,” identified as Miletich crossed an embankment before stopping his vehicle at a nearby Shell station.
Police reports state that the responding officer had to wake Miletich and ask him to put his still idling car into park. The 55-year-old reportedly admitted that he had been drinking wine, but refused to submit to a field sobriety test or a breathalyzer. However, officers noted vegetation caught on Miletich’s vehicle, consistent with nearby damage to plantings, in corroboration with reports of his erratic driving. Miletich was also said to have displayed bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and unsteady balance.
Pat Miletich was charged by the Bettendorf Police Department for his third OWI offence. Miletich was released on $5000 bail. Miletich was supposed to be in attendance for his press conference with Mike Jackson tonight for his fight at Caged Aggression #CagedAggressionpic.twitter.com/fR659hfxre
Miletich was taken into custody and later released on $5,000 bail. He has two prior convictions for drunk driving, the first in March of 2019, the second in June of 2021.
Miletich vs. Jackson fight still on
Despite Miletich’s recent alleged actions and arrest, it doesn’t look like he’s put his upcoming MMA return in danger. At least not for now. MMA Junkie reports that sources close to the situation do not expect the fight will be cancelled.
Caged Aggression 36 is a two-day event, starting on October 13th and concluding with the catchweight 175-lb grudge match between Miletich and Jackson the following day. The events will feature a mix of amateur and professional bouts.
Back in 2022, the UFC signed one of the most hyped prospects in the featherweight division: 27-year-old Chechen standout Khusein Askhabov. Alongside his twin brother Khasan Askhabov, the the two MMA standouts have been wrecking shop on the Eastern European regional scene for years. When his signing to the UFC was announced, Khusein sported a perfect 23-0 record (Khasan currently sits at 22-2).
Unfortunately for Askhabov, his Octagon debut didn’t go according to plan. Matched up against sneaky-tough veteran Jamall Emmers, ‘Nohcho’ found himself on the wrong end of a unanimous decision. The first loss in his unbeaten career. But that setback appears little more than a tiny bump in the road compared to the problems he’s facing now.
UFC fighter Khusein Askhabov reportedly detained along with twin brother in connection with violent robbery
The Phuket News reports that both Khasan and his brother, UFC featherweight Khusein Askhabov, have been arrested in connection with a violent robbery in Cherng Talay, a district of Thalang on the island of Phuket.
According to reports, three unnamed men (said to be Kazakh nationals), broke into the alleged victim’s home while he was sleeping, proceeded to bind and gag him, and then tortured him over a series of hours in order to gain access to computers, phones, and bank account information. During that time the men were reportedly in regular phone contact with a third party apparently orchestrating the crime. The incident was eventually reported after the attackers fled and the man was able to roll out of his home and into a parking lot in the resort community where the attack took place.
🚨 Selon @thephuketnews, le combattant UFC Khusein Askhabov et Khasan Askhabov ont été arrêtés en Thaïlande avec trois autres hommes pour avoir prétendument forcé l'entrée de la maison d'un Italien, l'avoir volé, kidnappé et torturé. pic.twitter.com/XgEPXSZddH
Authorities have not stated what role they suspect the Askhabov brothers of playing in the alleged robbery, kidnapping and torture. However, the brothers are not believed to have been physically involved in this incident.
The alleged victim reported that he had never seen any of the men that attacked him, who have apparently since been identified by authorities and are said to have returned to Kazakhstan, via Dubai. The victim claimed, however, that Khusein and Khasan were acquaintances, and that he first met them at a beach cafe a year prior to the robbery.
According to the Phuket News, government officials have yet to officially acknowledge the incident, which is said to have seen a Rolex watch, a Patek Philippe watch, a GRAFF watch, assorted electronics, and €56,000 in cash taken, along with a passport, debit card, and numerous passwords. However, the Cherng Talay Police Chief did confirm with the outlet that the 28-year-old twins had been arrested on Tuesday, September 5th on warrants citing “an act of robbery done with cruelty to the extent that others receive it and endangering the body or mind through torture.” In total something in the neighborhood of $350k in assets were reported stolen.
Khusein Askhabov booked to fight Daniel Pineda in October
Whatever future prosecution may await the Askhabovs this news will almost certainly put a stop to Khusein’s immediate future with the UFC. The former Tiger Muay Thai talent (reportedly recently having moved camp to Cherng Talay), has had numerous issues getting to the Octagon in his short history with the UFC. Visa problems and injuries have resulted in the cancellation of four out of five bookings in the last three years.
At the moment, Khusein had been preparing to fight Daniel Pineda at UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green on October 7th, his first time hitting the cage since his loss to Emmers back in February. It has to be expected that that fight will be cancelled in the coming days.
For his part, Khasan Askhabov has not competed since at 2020 win over Cliff Wright, in Biloxi, MS. That fight marked the first time Khasan had ever competed outside of Eastern Europe. Two attempted bookings in Bellator have since fallen through, with Khasan withdrawing from both contests.
The UFC has announced that Khusein Askhabov vs. Daniel Pineda will no longer go ahead on October 7. The promotion also released a statement on this matter (via MMA Junkie).
“UFC is aware of the recent arrest and allegations regarding Khusein Askhabov,” the UFC said in a statement. “The organization will continue to gather additional details regarding the incident. UFC will allow the legal process to play out before making any additional statements, however, his scheduled fight on Oct. 7 has been canceled.”
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One of the most unfortunate parts of gaining celebrity status is the target it paints on a person’s back for con men, grifters, and plain old-fashioned thieves. Whether it’s athletes, musicians, or actors, celebrities tend to have money and the kinds of luxury goods than money can buy.
That’s an unfortunate reality that recent UFC headliner Ciryl Gane appears to have experienced, with reports that while the heavyweight top contender was busy busting up Sergey Spivac in the Octagon this past Saturday criminals were breaking in to his Paris apartment.
UFC headliner Ciryl Gane victim of fight night robbery
The second ever event in France for the world’s largest MMA promotion provided a perfect platform for ‘Bon Gamin’ to return to his winning ways. Following a shockingly one-sided defeat at the hands of Jon Jones back in March, MMA Factory star Ciryl Gane returned to action for the first time on September 2nd, dishing out one-and-a-half rounds of punishment to keep his name firmly among the ranks of future title challengers.
At the same time, Le Parisien reports that Gane’s apartment in the Nogent-sur-Marne neighborhood of Paris was getting ransacked by thieves who clearly must have had the UFC fighter’s schedule scoped out in advance. According to police reports, the criminals made off with more than €150,000 in property, made up mostly by the theft of a Rolex watch and “various jewels.” Access to the apartment was gained by forcing the front door.
At this time, no arrests have been made. However a source close to the investigation reports that “it is possible that the thugs have carried out scouting or that someone from the sportsman’s entourage has informed them about his schedule.” The report also states that police found possible evidence connected to the burglars at the scene of the crime.
We may not know exactly what Gane made from his UFC fight purse—his last publicly disclosed payday was $500k for his title challenge against Francis Ngannou at UFC 270—but we do know that the 33-year-old Frenchman walked away from the night with an extra $50k in his pocket. Not enough by itself to replace his stolen goods, but hopefully those were insured.
What’s next for Ciryl Gane?
After Ciryl Gane’s victory, the heavyweight was asked about the possibility of fighting Tom Aspinall, who had called for the winner of this bout, and was seated Octagon side for the occasion. Gane wasn’t exactly evasive in his answer, but made it clear that he’s more focused on getting a title shot than matching up against other contenders.
“No matter where, no matter who, I just want to go back to the belt,” Gane stated flatly during his post-fight press conference.
At the moment, the title is set to be on the line for UFC 295 on November 11th at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. There Jon Jones will defend his belt against former multiple time champion Stipe Miocic. What will be next for the belt once that fight is in the books very much remains to be seen.
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