MMA News

Author: Andrew Starc

  • UFC 304 Results & Highlights: Belal Muhammad Decisions Leon Edwards

    UFC 304 Results & Highlights: Belal Muhammad Decisions Leon Edwards

    UFC 304 took place tonight from the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!Ā 

    In the main event, Leon Edwards put his welterweight title on the line againstĀ Belal Muhammad. While in the co-main event, heavyweight interim champ Tom Aspinall took on Curtis Blaydes.Ā 

    UFC 305 Results: Main Card

    • Welterweight Championship Main Event: Belal MuhammadĀ def. Leon Edwards via unanimous decision (48-47×2, 49-46)
    • Interim Heavyweight Championship Co-Main Event: Tom Aspinall def. Curtis Blaydes via KO: R1, 1.00
    • Lightweight: Paddy Pimblett def. King Green via submission: R1, 3.22  
    • Middleweight: Gregory Rodrigues def. Christian Leroy Duncan via unanimous decision (30-27×3)Ā 
    • Featherweight: Arnold Allen def. Giga Chikadze via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

    Preliminary Card

    • Featherweight: Nathaniel Wood def. Daniel Pineda via unanimous decision (29-27×2, 29-28)
    • Womenā€™s Strawweight: Bruna Brasil def. Molly McCann via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
    • Bantamweight: Jake Hadley def. CaolĆ”n Loughran via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
    • Flyweight: Muhammad Mokaev def. Manel Kape via unanimous decision (29-28×2, 30-27)

    Early Preliminary Card

    • Welterweight: Oban Elliott def. Preston Parsons via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27×2)
    • Light Heavyweight: Modestas Bukauskas def. Marcin Prachnio via submission: R3, 3.12
    • Welterweight: Sam Patterson def. Kiefer Crosbie via submission: R1, 2.50
    • Heavyweight: Mick Parkin def. Łukasz Brzeski via TKO: R1, 3.23  
    • Womenā€™s Strawweight: Shauna Bannon def. Alice Ardelean via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Mick Parkin def. Łukasz Brzeski

    Mick Parkin made it four wins in a row in the UFC with a first-round TKO of Łukasz Brzeski in their heavyweight bout.

    Sam Patterson def. Kiefer Crosbie

    In this welterweight bout, Sam Patterson submitted Kiefer Crosbie with an arm triangle in the first round.

    Modestas Bukauskas def. Marcin Prachnio

    Modestas Bukauskas got it done via submission against Marcin Prachnio in the third round of their light heavyweight matchup.

    Main Card Highlights

    Arnold AllenĀ def. Giga Chikadze

    In this featherweight bout, Arnold AllenĀ earned a unanimous decision win against Giga Chikadze.

    Gregory Rodrigues def. Christian Leroy

    In this middleweight bout, Gregory Rodrigues earned a unanimous decision win against Christian Leroy.

    Paddy Pimblett def. King Green

    Paddy Pimblett kept his UFC unbeaten streak alive after submitting King Green with a triangle choke in the first round of their lightweight contest.

    Tom AspinallĀ def. Curtis Blaydes

    In the co-main event, Tom AspinallĀ retained his interim heavyweight title with a KO of Curtis Blaydes after just one minute of action.

    Belal MuhammadĀ def. Leon Edwards

    In the main event, Belal MuhammadĀ clinched the welterweight title with a unanimous decision against Leon Edwards.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Virna Jandiroba Submits Amanda LemosĀ 

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Virna Jandiroba Submits Amanda LemosĀ 

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!Ā 

    In the main event, top-five ranked strawweightsĀ Amanda Lemos (#3) and Virna Jandiroba (#5)Ā clashed. While in the co-main event, Steve GarciaĀ faced Seungwoo Choi in a featherweight matchup.Ā 

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Womenā€™s Strawweight Main Event: Virna Jandiroba def. Amanda Lemos via submission: R2, 4.48Ā 
    • Featherweight: Steve Garcia def. Seungwoo Choi via TKO: R1, 1.36 
    • Lightweight: Kurt Holobaugh def. Kaynan Kruschewsky via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Flyweight: Bruno Silva def. Cody Durden via TKO: R2 2.58  
    • Featherweight: Dooho Choi def Bill Algeo via TKO: R2, 3.38 
    • Featherweight: Hyder Amil def. JeongYeong Lee via TKO: R1, 1.05  

    Preliminary Card

    • Bantamweight: Cody Gibson def. Brian Kelleher via submission: R1, 3.58
    • Womenā€™s Flyweight: Miranda Maverick def. Dione Barbosa via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27×2) 
    • Lightweight: Trey Ogden def. Loik Radzhabov via unanimous decision (29-28×2, 30-27) 
    • Womenā€™s Flyweight: Luana Carolina def. Lucie PudilovĆ” via unanimous decision (29-28×2, 30-27) 
    • Heavyweight: Thomas Petersen def. Mohammed Usman via unanimous decision (30-27×3)

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Cody Gibson def. Brian KelleherĀ 

    In this bantamweight bout, Cody Gibson got it done in the first round with an arm triangle submission of Brian Kelleher.

    Main Card Highlights

    Hyder Amil def. JeongYeong

    Hyder Amil unleashed a flurry of strikes to overwhelm JeongYeong early in the first round to get the TKO.

    Dooho Choi def Bill Algeo

    In this featherweight bout, Dooho Choi got back in the win column with a TKO of Bill Algeo in the second round.

    Bruno Silva def. Cody Durden

    Bruno Silva earned his fourth win in a row with a TKO against Cody Durden in the second round of their featherweight matchup.

    Kurt Holobaugh def. Kaynan Kruschewsky

    Kurt Holobaugh earned a unanimous decision win against Kaynan Kruschewsky in their lightweight bout.

    Steve Garcia def. Seungwoo Choi

    In the co-main event, Steve Garcia earned a first-round TKO of Seungwoo Choi.

    Virna Jandiroba def. Amanda Lemos

    In the main event, Virna Jandiroba locked in an arm bar to get the win against Amanda Lemos in the second round of their strawweight matchup.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Rose Namajunas Decisions Tracy Cortez

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Rose Namajunas Decisions Tracy Cortez

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!Ā 

    In the main event, former two-time strawweight champ Rose Namajunas took on #11-ranked womenā€™s flyweight Tracy Cortez. While in the co-main event, Santiago Ponzinibbio faced Muslim Salikhov in a welterweight matchup.Ā 

    Make sure to catch all the UFC Fight Night results and highlights as they happen below!Ā 

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Womenā€™s flyweight Main Event: Rose Namajunas def. Tracy Cortez via unanimous decision (49-46×2, 48-47)
    • Welterweight Co-Main Event: Muslim Salikhov def. Santiago Ponzinibbio via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Lightweight: Jean Silva def. Drew Dober via TKO (doctor’s stoppage): R3, 1.28
    • Welterweight: Gabriel Bonfim def. Ange Loosa via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
    • Featherweight: Julian Erosa def. Christian Rodriguez via submission: R1, 4.49
    • Middleweight: Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cody Brundage ends in no contest (illegal elbows by Alhassan): R1, 0.37

    Preliminary Card

    • Flyweight: Charles Johnson def. Joshua Van via KO: R3, 0.20
    • Womenā€™s Flyweight: Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Fatima Kline via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Bantamweight: Montel Jackson def. Daā€™Mon Blackshear via KO: R1, 0.18
    • Womenā€™s Flyweight: Luana Santos def. Mariya Agapova via submission: R1, 3.27
    • Middleweight: Andre Petroski def. Josh Fremd via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Welterweight: Evan Elder def. Darrius Flowers via submission: R2, 1.46

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Evan Elder def. Darrius Flowers

    In this welterweight matchup, Evan Elder got it done with a submission of Darrius Flowers in the second round.

    Luana Santos def. Mariya Agapova

    Luana Santos locked in a rear-naked choke to get the win against Mariya Agapova in the first round of their flyweight bout.

    Montel Jackson def. Daā€™Mon Blackshear

    Montel Jackson unleashed a huge left to KO Daā€™Mon Blackshear after just 18 seconds of their bantamweight bout.

    Charles JohnsonĀ def. Joshua Van

    In this flyweight matchup, Charles JohnsonĀ earned a KO of Joshua Van 20 seconds into round three.

    Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cody BrundageĀ ends in no contest

    This middleweight bout ended in a no contest after Abdul Razak Alhassan landed elbows to the back of Cody Brundage’s head, who was not able to continue.

    Julian Erosa def. Christian Rodriguez

    Julian Erosa locked in a guillotine to submit Christian Rodriguez at the end of round one in their featherweight contest.

    Gabriel Bonfim def. Ange Loosa

    Gabriel Bonfim earned a unanimous decision win against Ange Loosa in their welterweight bout.

    Jean Silva def.Ā Drew Dober

    In this lightweight bout, Jean Silva was awarded a TKO victory after inflicting a nasty cut above Drew Dober’s right eye that caused the ringside doctor to stop the fight.

    Muslim Salikhov def. Santiago Ponzinibbio

    In the co-main event, Muslim Salikhov earned a split decision victory against Santiago Ponzinibbio.

    Rose Namajunas def. Tracy Cortez

    In the main event, Rose Namajunas earned a unanimous decision against Tracy Cortez to make it two wins in a row in the flyweight division.


  • Why Staying In The PFL Was A Smart Move For Kayla Harrison

    It was the moment Kayla Harrisonā€™s dream was shattered. Sitting cageside at UFC 269, the two-time PFL women’s lightweight champ watched in disbelief as monumental underdog Julianna PeƱa took the back of Amanda Nunes, sunk in a rear-naked choke, and forced the Baddest Woman on the Planet to tap.

    For months, speculation had been rife that Harrison, at the time testing free agency, would soon sign with the UFC, face Nunes, and perhaps become the first to dethrone the seemingly unbeatable Brazilian. But as she watched PeƱa beat her to it, Harrison knew that the opportunity of her careerā€”to defeat the GOAT and thereby claim the title for herselfā€”had just passed agonizingly by.

    Harrison, a two-time Olympic judo gold medalist with a 12-0 MMA record, has consistently voiced her ambition to become the greatest womenā€™s mixed martial artist of all time. And thatā€™s why, earlier this month, the 31-year-old shocked many fans by spurning an offer to fight the very best in the UFC, and instead, re-sign with the PFL.

    Perhaps Nunesā€™ defeat factored into her decision. The massive spectacle (and payday) that a matchup with the Brazilian promised is now a far less attractive prospect. That aside, it seems there are other compelling reasons why Harrison may have made the right decisionā€”both financially and for her long-term career.

    Why Staying In The PFL Is Good For Harrison’s Career

    Harrison only made her pro MMA debut in the PFL just under four years ago. Despite her claim that she could beat UFC bantamweight champ PeƱa with one arm, Kayla is still relatively inexperienced in MMA and, it can safely be argued, untested.

    As inexperienced Kayla is, the opponents thrown her way in the PFL are even more so. Her last opponent, Taylor Guardado, had a pro MMA career spanning less than two years and four fights when the duo met in October last year. Her opponent before that, Genah Fabian, had just five fights. And if Harrisonā€™s opponents arenā€™t inexperienced, they have worryingly checkered records. When she fought Mariana Morais in May last year, the Brazilian was 16-10.

    Kayla Harrison
    PHOTO: ESPN

    Sure, Harrison has looked impressive, having ended seven of her twelve fights in the first round. But whether she can defeat someone like Amanda Nunes, whose 14-year, 26 fight career has mostly taken place in the UFC, is highly debatable. Fighting Nunes or PeƱa now would certainly be in their favor, and if Kayla were to lose, it would irreparably damage her star power. Fighting them after a few more years growing as a mixed martial artist in the PFL will surely be in Harrisonā€™s.

    And why not stay and work on her game in the PFL, where sheā€™s made $2 million by winning the lightweight tournament in the last two years? And now with her new contract, Harrison is reportedly the highest-paid female mixed martial artist of all time. Despite the UFC offering Harrison a “first-of-its-kind” deal during her free agency, even its president, Dana White, believes the easy, more-than-generous paydays she earns in the PFL are too good to give up.

    ā€œThey pay her an obscene amount of money to fight over there,” White said of Harrisonā€™s PFL stint in October. ā€œIf I was her, Iā€™d stay right where she is and keep picking off the people over [there]. When you come here [chuckles], Amanda Nunes is no joke; Shevchenko is no joke; Rose Namajunasā€”these are all the best women in the world, the best female fighters in the world.ā€

    The Personal Reasons Keeping Kayla Harrison In The PFL

    Part of the reason why Harrison made the decision, it seems, is because sheā€™s motivated by conflicting ambitions. Yes, she wants to prove sheā€™s the best. But having recently acquired legal guardianship of two children, her quest for GOAT status has become complicated by the need for financial security.

    ā€œThree years ago, I would have said legacy,ā€ Harrison said of her ambitions in a February interview with ESPN. ā€œThatā€™s all I give a shit about. My advisers, they care about security. Obviously, I have two kids now, so for me, as hard as it is, security comes first. I have to make sure. Thereā€™s no guarantees in this life. Thereā€™s no certainties. I could snap my neck tomorrow and never fight again. Security is important. But if I can find a way to have security and continue to build my legacy, I think thatā€™s a winner.ā€

    The question is: can Harrison have her cake and eat it too?

    Kayla Harrison
    Kayla Harrison (Image Credit: PFL MMA)

    The Less Travelled Road To GOAT Status In The PFL

    Having been given assurances by the PFL, Kayla Harrison earnestly believes that sheā€™ll get the big, legacy-building fights while fighting in the promotion. And one matchup that she feels will help her on the road to GOAT status is with Bellator featherweight champ Cris Cyborg, which PFL founder Donn Davis has promised to aggressively pursue through a cross-promotion. 

    “When I talked to Donn, and one of the things that really sort of put my worries about my legacy to rest, was he was like, ‘Listen, ‘I don’t care if we have to do this on the Moon, I don’t care if we have to cross-promote, co-promote, we’re going to make this fight happen. This is the fight to make happen,’” Harrison told The Underground this month. “I was like, ‘Well, hell yeah, it is. Let’s go.’”

    Unlike the UFC, which is notoriously unwilling to stage a cross-promotion fight, there’s a good chance that Bellator will, having previously done so with Rizin Fighting Federation in 2019. But even if Harrison were to land a big-money fight with Cyborg, defeating her would by no means confer GOAT status in the eyes of fans.

    So, is Harrison sacrificing her prime years in a promotion that many, including PeƱa, regard as the ‘B-Leagues?’ There’s certainly an argument for that. But by staying in the PFL for a few more years, Harrison will emerge a much more complete fighter. And if she does enter the UFC in the future, she’ll undoubtedly have a much more realistic chance of becoming the greatest of all time.

    What do you think? Was staying in the PFL the right move for Kayla Harrison?

  • Fighters React To Aspinall’s Submission Of Volkov At UFC London

    England now has a heavyweight title contender after Tom Aspinall made a statement against Alexander Volkov in the main event of UFC London this evening.

    Aspinall dominated from early on, taking Volkov down twice before cranking on a straight armlock to earn a first-round win before a rapturous hometown crowd at the O2 Arena. The 28-year-old is now angling for a matchup with Tai Tuivasa, after calling the Australian out post-fight.

    It was Aspinall’s fifth consecutive victory in the UFC, all of which have been finishes. He remains undefeated in the promotion, having most recently defeated Sergey Spivak and Andrei Arlovski. Aspinall is currently ranked #11 in the heavyweight division, and with victory over #6 ranked Volkov, we’re likely to see him enter the top ten in the coming days.

    You can catch all the highlights of the main event below.

    This was Tom Aspinall’s fifth UFC win in a row.

    Now, let’s see how fighters reacted to the co-main event of UFC London.

    https://twitter.com/BulldozerBoser/status/1505321703785652227

    UFC London: Volkov vs. Aspinall Results & Highlights

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC London. Weā€™ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

  • Fighters React To Arnold Allen’s KO Of Dan Hooker At UFC London

    Surging featherweight prospect Arnold Allen showed why he’s a future title contender with a spectacular first-round victory over Dan Hooker in the co-main event of UFC London.

    Fighting in front of a rapturous hometown crowd at the O2 Arena, Allen swarmed Hooker early with a flurry of strikes. Hooker countered and dazed the Englishman before Allen unloaded on the New Zealander once again until the ref stepped in to award a TKO victory.

    It was Allen’s ninth straight victory in the UFC, where he remains undefeated. The #7 ranked featherweight is now 18-1 in his professional MMA career. For Hooker, the loss was his second in a row, having previously lost to Islam Makhachev as a lightweight.

    You can catch all the highlights of the co-main event below.

    Arnold Allen is now on a nine-fight win streak.

    Now, let’s see how fighters reacted to the co-main event of UFC London.

    UFC London: Volkov vs. Aspinall Results & Highlights

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC London. Weā€™ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

  • Fighters React To Pimblett’s Submission Of Vargas At UFC London

    Lightweight Paddy Pimblett more than delivered on home-crowd expectations after earning a first-round submission victory over Kazula Vargas at UFC London tonight.

    It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Pimblett, however, who was caught early and taken down. But the Liverpudlian rebounded to take the back of Vargas, sink in a rear-naked choke, and get his second UFC win before a delirious O2 Arena crowd.

    Pimblett, a former Cage Warriors featherweight champion, is now 18-3 as a professional mixed martial artist, and after two first-round finishes in as many UFC bouts, the 27-year-old is on the cusp of becoming one of the promotion’s biggest stars.

    You can catch all the highlights of “The Baddy’s” win below.

    This was Pimblett’s second win in as many UFC fights

    Now, let’s see how fighters reacted to Pimblett’s win at UFC London.

    UFC London: Volkov vs. Aspinall Results & Highlights

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC London. Weā€™ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

  • UFC London Results & Highlights: Aspinall Submits Volkov

    UFC London took place today from the O2 Arena, and we’ve got you covered with all the results and highlights.

    Tonightā€™s main event featured Alexander Volkov taking on England’s own Tom Aspinall. In the co-main event, Dan Hooker returned to the featherweight division against the streaking Arnold Allen. Also on deck was the highly anticipated return of Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett, who took on Kazula Vargas.

    Also on the main card, Jai Herbert faced off with undefeated Ilia Topuria, Molly McCann took on Luana Carolina, and Gunnar Nelson returned against Takashi Sato.

    You can view all the UFC London highlights below.

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Muhammad Mokaev def. Cody Durden

    The first UFC event in the UK for over two years kicked off with a bang as local fighter Muhammad Mokaev made light work of Cody Durden, submitting the American via guillotine choke after just 58 seconds. Catch the finish below.

    Paul Craig def. Nikita Krylov

    In this light heavyweight bout, Scotland’s Paul Craig survived some savage ground and pound to pull off a come from behind win, submitting Nikita Krylov via triangle choke in round one. Catch the highlights below.

    Sergei Pavlovich def. Shamil Abdurakhimov

    In this all-Russian heavyweight affair, Sergei Pavlovich made easy work of Shamil Abdurakhimov, earning a first-round TKO with some heavy ground and pound. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Makwan Amirkhani def. Mike Grundy

    In this featherweight bout, Finland’s Makwan Amirkhani snapped a three-fight losing streak by submitting Englishman Mike Grundy with an anaconda choke in less than a minute. Catch the finish below.

    Main Card Highlights

    Ilia Topuria def. Jai Herbert

    The main card opener saw a lightweight matchup between local favorite Jai Herbert and Ilia Topuria. Herbert dropped Topuria early in round one with a vicious headkick, and had the better of the striking exchanges. But in round two, Topuria flipped the script by putting Herbet to sleep to earn his third-straight KO victory, before calling out Paddy Pimblett. Catch the highlights below.

    Molly McCann def. Luana Carolina

    In this women’s flyweight bout, Liverpool’s Molly McCann defeated Luana Carolina with a contender for KO of the year. A wild round one saw McCann unload on Carolina mutiple times. In round two, McCann had more striking success, and dominated Carolina on the ground. In round three, Carolina came out on the offensive, but McCann landed a spectacular spinning elbow KO out of nowhere. Catch the highlights below.

    Gunnar Nelson def. Takashi Sato

    Gunnar Nelson dominated Takashi Sato in this grappling-heavy welterweight matchup. Round one saw Nelson take Sato’s back and land successive head strikes. It was more of the same in round two, with Nelson dominating Sato on the ground and taking his back again. In round three, Nelson took Sato’s back once more and spent much of the round attempting a submission finish. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Paddy Pimblett def. Kazula Vargas

    In this lightweight bout, Paddy Pimblett blew the roof off the O2 arena with a first-round submission of Kazula Vargas. Pimblett was caught early and taken down, but the Liverpudlian rebounded to take the back of Vargas and sink in a rear-naked choke. Catch the highlights below.

    Arnold Allen def. Dan Hooker

    Local favorite Arnold Allen dominated Dan Hooker in this wild featherweight bout, earning a first-round TKO victory. Allen blitzed Hooker with a barrage of strikes early on. Hooker countered and dazed the Englishman, before Allen unloaded on the New Zealander once again, before the ref stepped in. Catch the highlights below.

    Tom Aspinall def. Alexander Volkov

    In the main event of the evening, Tom Aspinall showed why he’s a future heavyweight title contender with a first-round submisison of Alexander Volkov. The Englishman took Volkov down twice and dominated on the ground before cranking on a straight armlock to get the win, afterwards, call out Tai Tuivasa. Catch the highlights below.

    UFC LONDON MAIN CARD (4:00 PM ET)

    Main Event ā€“ Heavyweight Bout: Tom Aspinall def. Alexander Volkov via submission: R1, 3.45

    Co-Main Event ā€“ Featherweight Bout: Arnold Allen def. Dan Hooker via TKO: R1, 2.33

    Lightweight Bout: Paddy Pimblett def. Kazula Vargas via submission: R1, 3:49

    Welterweight Bout: Gunnar Nelson def. Takashi Sato via unanimous decision (30-26×3)

    Womenā€™s Flyweight Bout: Molly McCann def. Luana Carolina via KO: R3, 1.52  

    Lightweight Bout: Ilia Topuria def. Jai Herbert via KO: R2, 1.07

    UFC LONDON PRELIMINARY CARD (1:00 PM ET)

    Featherweight Bout: Makwan Amirkhani def. Mike Grundy via submission: R1, 0.57

    Heavyweight Bout: Sergei Pavlovich def. Shamil Abdurakhimov via TKO: R1, 4.03

    Light Heavyweight Bout: Paul Craig def. Nikita Krylov via submission: R1, 3.57

    Bantamweight Bout: Jack Shore def. Timur Valiev via unanimous decision (29-28×2, 29-27)

    Womenā€™s Strawweight: Elise Reed def. Cory McKenna via split decision: (27-30, 29-28×2)

    Flyweight Bout: Muhammad Mokaev def. Cody Durden via submission: R1, 0.58

  • When It Comes To Free Speech, Are All Fighters Treated Equally?

    Last week, UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell appeared on Fox News. In a free-wheeling interview with Tucker Carlson, the 27-year-old opined on a number of conservative talking points, ranging from his refusal to fight in foreign wars, to the illegitimacy of the US Federal Reserve, before delivering an ominous warning to viewers at home.

    ā€œEvil has took over this nation and we ain’t afraid of it. And we’re ready to fight,” declared the Arkansas native.

    https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1501394105632493570

    Such sentiment no doubt fell on sympathetic ears among Fox Newsā€™ staunchly conservative viewers, and perhaps, many MMA fans, too. But for some, ā€˜Thug Nastyā€™sā€™ appearance on the network seems to highlight a glaring double standard when it comes to athletes speaking out on political issues.Ā 

    Fox News is, after all, a network that demanded Lebron James ā€˜shut up and dribbleā€™ after it deemed the Lakers star guilty of “talking politics” during a 2018 interview with ESPN. Mitchell, who in media appearances leading up to his Fox News interview committed that same supposed sin of mixing politics and sport, not only failed to incur the networkā€™s righteous anger but was invited onto its airwaves for a soft-ball, primetime interview.

    This double standard, it seems, has also played out within the MMA community, as scores of fans rallied to Mitchell’s defense in recent weeks. His statements, no matter how outrageous, are a righteous expression of free speech, they’ve argued.

    But is this same right to free speech afforded to fighters with whom fans may not agree with? When fighters voice political beliefs considered left of the aisle, do fans defend their right to do so under the guise of free speech, or are they told to shut up and fight?

    Bryce Mitchell

    The Free Speech Absolutism Of The UFC

    MMA prides itself as one of the last bastions of free speech in what many consider an increasingly censorious national discourse. No more is this ideal present than in the UFC, where controversial opinions that attract censure or punitive repercussions in other sports routinely take safe haven.

    Weā€™ve seen UFC President Dana White turn a blind eye to what some considered racist comments made by Colby Covington. So too controversial statements made by Sean Strickland, who in the past few months has publicly asserted that having a gay son would deem him a failure as a man, in between declaring his murderous fantasies. 

    “In this insanely politically correct world we’re living in, this is one place that is not,” UFC President Dana White said of his promotion last year.

    Woodley Covington
    PHOTO: GETTY

    Mitchell is just the latest in a long line of UFC fighters to thoroughly test his employerā€™s commitment to free speech. In Mitchell’s defense, some of his statements have simply been the declaration of legitimate, albeit fringe conservative beliefs. Others, however, like Mitchellā€™s claim that the 2017 Las Vegas shooting was staged by the US government, were in the realm of Alex Jonesian lunacy.

    The UFC, of course, didnā€™t censor nor rebuke Mitchell for his more controversial, and to some, offensive claims. And true to the promotion’s commitment to free speech, it has historically afforded the same liberty to those fighters who espouse causes and beliefs on the other end of the political spectrum. But can the same be said for fight fans?

    When Tyron Woodley Turned Political Activist

    At the pre-fight press conference of his 2020 bout with Colby Covington, Tyron Woodley decided to make what some in the MMA world considered a controversial political statement. Wearing a Trump-inspired cap that read ā€œMake Racists Catch The Fade Again,ā€ the former welterweight champ answered every question with some variation of ā€œbecause black lives matter.ā€

    Woodley in this case, much like Mitchell has in recent weeks, used his platform as a sportsperson to voice his political beliefs. But unlike Mitchell, or Donald Trump supporting Covington, the former welterweight champ was excoriated online for unashamedly mixing politics with sport. Calls for Woodley to simply ā€˜shut up and fightā€™ were many, and those defending his right to express his political beliefs under the guise of free speechā€”like in the case of Mitchellā€”were few.

    Addressing The Free Speech Double Standard

    Unlike more mainstream sports, whose governing bodies and, to an extent, fans, display a left-of-center bias, MMA generally skews toward the right. And thereā€™s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Conservative opinions, in the marketplace of ideas, are as legitimate as progressive ones.

    But if MMA fans pride themselves as fierce defenders of free speechā€”a right exalted in mostly conservative circlesā€”then surely this ideal must be consistently applied to all fighters, regardless of their political persuasion.

    Perhaps the words of Mitchell, as spoken during his recent Fox News interview, ring true for any fighter who enters the realm of political debateā€”no matter where they sit on the political spectrum.

    ā€œFor me to be able to talk about something greater than fighting is more purposeful than anything I can talk about related to fighting,ā€ Mitchell said. ā€œAnd so Iā€™m grateful to be able to do that. And a lot of people say, ā€˜Shut up and fight.ā€™ Well, you know what? If you donā€™t want to hear that shit, turn off the TV and watch the fight. You donā€™t have to watch my interviews. Turn them off then.”

    Bryce Mitchell
    Bryce Mitchell (Image Credit: Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

  • Fighters React To Ankalaev Outlasting Santos At UFC Vegas 50

    Magomed Ankalaev has continued his rise through the UFC light heavyweight division with a victory over Thiago Santos in the main event of UFC Vegas 50 this evening.

    The duo went five rounds at the UFC Apex in what was for the most part a cagey affair. Dagestan native Ankalaev, who went into the bout on a seven-fight win streak, pushed the pace early on before Santos earned a knockdown in round two. But Ankalaev responded by landing the only takedown of the fight in round four and rounding out a unanimous decision win by outstriking Santos 70-60.

    The #6 ranked Ankalaev’s UFC record now stands at 8-1, and with victory over #5-ranked Santos, we’ll likely see the 29-year-old break into the top five in the coming days.

    You can catch the highlights of the main event below.

    This was Ankalaev’s eighth UFC win in a row.

    Ankalaev won the final scorecard of 49-46, 49-46, 48-47.

    Now, let’s see how fighters reacted to the UFC Vegas 50 main event.

    UFC Vegas 50: Santos vs. Ankalaev Results & Highlights

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC Vegas 50. Weā€™ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

  • Fighters React To Yadong’s KO Of Moraes At UFC Vegas 50

    Song Yadong showed why he’s a future bantamweight title contender in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 50.

    Yadong earned a spectacular first-round KO of former title challenger Marlon Moraes at the UFC Apex this evening, extending his win streak to three. For Moraes, the loss was his fifth in six fights, all of which have come via KO or TKO.

    Still only 24 years old, Yadong has fought in the UFC since 2017. His record in the promotion now stands at 8-1-1, while his overall record reads like that of a fighter far more advanced in years, at 19-5-1. With a victory over #10 ranked bantamweight Moraes, it’s likely we’ll see #14 ranked Yadong enter the top ten in the coming days.

    You can catch the highlights of the co-main event below.

    This was Yadong’s third win in a row.

    Now, let’s see how fighters reacted to the co-main event of UFC Vegas 50.

    UFC Vegas 50: Santos vs. Ankalaev Results & Highlights

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC Vegas 50. Weā€™ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

  • UFC Vegas 50 Results & Highlights: Ankalaev Decisions Santos

    UFC Vegas 50 took place tonight from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas Nevada, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Tonight’s main event featured former title challenger Thiago Santos taking on surging light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev. The co-main event saw another Brazilian who has competed for a UFC title before, Marlon Moraes, also face a rising star in 24-year-old Song Yadong. Also on the main card was ranked featherweights Sodiq Yusuff and Alex Caceres.

    Check out all the UFC Vegas 50 results and highlights below.

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Azamat Murzakanov def. Tafon Nchukwi

    Light heavyweights Azamat Murzakanov and Tafon Nchukwi faced off in the opening bout of the evening. Making his UFC debut, Murzakanov was down on the cards after two rounds, before landing an impressive flying knee in the third to earn a TKO victory. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Guido Cannetti def. Kris Moutinho

    Argentina’s Guido Cannetti made quick work of Kris Moutinho in this bantamweight bout. Much like he did in his previous outing against Sean O’Malley, Moutinho took heavy damage, but this time the ref stepped in to call off the fight just two minutes into round one, declaring a TKO victory for Canetti. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Cody Brundage def. Dalcha Lungiambula

    Cody Brundage pulled off an impressive come-from-behind win in this middleweight bout with Dalcha Lungiambula. After sustaining heavy damage throughout round one, Brundage locked in a guillotine choke to force a tap from Lungiambula, ending the fight in just under four minutes. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Miranda Maverick def. Sabina Mazo

    In this women’s flyweight bout, Miranda Maverick forced Sabina Mazo to tap in round two after sinking in a rear-naked choke. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Damon Jackson def. Kamuela Kirk

    Damon Jackson took on Kamuela Kirk in this featherweight bout. Jackson dominated in round one, and continued doing so in round two, before ending the fight with an arm triangle with just 18 seconds left in the round. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Main Card Highlights

    Alex Pereira def. Bruno Silva

    The main card opener saw a much-awaited middleweight matchup between former K1 kickboxer Alex Pereira and his fellow Brazilian Bruno Silva. After being taken down briefly, Pereira ended round one unloading on Silva. In round two, Silva continued to hold his own on the feet against Pereira, with both men having success. Round three saw Pereira rock Silva multiple times, defend another takedown, and wrap up a dominant victory. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Drew Dober def. Terrance McKinney

    In this lightweight bout, Drew Dober pulled off a remarkable come-from-behind win against surging prospect Terrance McKinney. McKinney came out of the gates fast and hard, almost putting Dober away with a flurry of ferocious strikes. Dober, however, weathered the storm and turned the tables on McKinney, earning a TKO victory in round one. Catch the highlights below.

    Khalil Rountree def. Karl Roberson

    Khalil Rountree made a statement against Karl Roberson in this light heavyweight clash. Round one saw both men throw heavy leather, with Rountree getting the better of the exchanges. In round two, Rountree dropped Roberson early and swarmed his opponent with a series of devastating strikes and kicks to earn a TKO victory. Catch the highlights below.

    Sodiq Yusuff def. Alex Caceres

    Nigeria’s Sodiq Yusuff marked his return to the Octagon with a convincing win against featherweight Alex Caceres. Yusuff got the better of the grappling exchanges in round one, before Caceres made a hopeful rear-naked choke attempt late on. Round two saw both fighters exchange heavy strikes, with Yusuff landing successive leg kicks that swept Caceres off his feet. In round three, Yusuff landed the more potent strikes to round out a unanimous decision win.

    Song Yadong def. Marlon Moraes

    Song Yadong announced himself as a future title contender in this bantamweight clash with Marlon Moraes. The Chinese proved too fast and explosive for former title challenger Moraes, landing a blistering uppercut to earn a KO victory in round one. Catch the highlights below.

    Magomed Ankalaev def. Thiago Santos

    In the main event of the evening, surging light heavyweight prospect Magomed Ankalaev took on Thiago Santos. A very cagey first round saw Ankalaev get the better of the few striking exchanges between the duo.

    Both men remained tentative in round two, before Santos dropped Ankalaev late on, landing further strikes form on top. In round three, Ankalaev continued to pressure Santos, with both landing strikes, albeit sparingly.

    The action continued in much the same vein in round four, before Ankalaev landed a take down late on. In the final round, Ankalaev controlled Santos against the fence, doing minimal damage, but enough to round out a unanimous decision victory. Catch the end of the fight below.

    MAIN CARD (7:00 PM ET, ESPN+)

    Main Event ā€“ Light Heavyweight Bout: Magomed Ankalaev def. Thiago Santos via unanimous decision (49-46×2, 48-47)

    Co-Main Event ā€“ Bantamweight Bout: Song Yadong def. Marlon Moraes via KO: R1, 2.06

    Featherweight Bout: Sodiq Yusuff def. Alex Caceres via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)

    Light Heavyweight Bout: Khalil Rountree def. Karl Roberson via TKO: R2, 0.25

    Lightweight Bout: Drew Dober def. Terrance McKinney via TKO: R1, 3:17

    Middleweight Bout: Alex Pereira def. Bruno Silva via unanimous decision (30-27×3)

    PRELIMINARY CARD (4:00 PM ET, ESPN+)

    Welterweight Bout: Matthew Semelsberger def. AJ Fletcher via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

    Womenā€™s Flyweight Bout: JJ Aldrich def. Gillian Robertson via unanimous decision (30-27×3)

    Bantamweight Bout: Javid Basharat def. Trevin Jones via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)

    Featherweight Bout: Damon Jackson def. Kamuela Kirk via submission: R2, 4.42

    Womenā€™s Flyweight Bout: Miranda Maverick def. Sabina Mazo via submission: R2, 2:15

    Middleweight Bout: Cody Brundage def. Dalcha Lungiambula via submission: R1, 3.41

    Bantamweight Bout: Guido Cannetti def. Kris Moutinho via TKO: R1, 2:07

    Light Heavyweight Bout: Azamat Murzakanov def. Tafon Nchukwi via TKO: R3, 0.44

  • As War Rages In Ukraine, Should The UFC Ban Russian Fighters?

    Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of MMA News or its members.

    Two days after the invasion, as Russian forces were closing in on his hometown of Irpin, Ukraine, Bellator Welterweight Champion Yaroslav Amosov addressed his Instagram followers.

    “Probably, many will think that I ran away, I’m hiding or something like that, but this is not so,” said Amosov. “I took my family to the safe zone. Now I have returned and will defend this country as best I can, with what I can.ā€

    Amosov is one of several high profile Ukrainian fighters taking up arms against a Russian invasion that has so far claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians. Boxing greats Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, who are reportedly on Russian President Vladimir Putinā€™s ā€˜kill list,ā€™ have also vowed to serve on the front lines. So too current boxing stars Oleksandr Usyk and Vasyl Lomachenko.

    While these men and so many other Ukrainians are risking their lives to defend their homeland, it almost seems trivial to talk about the implications that the Russian invasion may have for MMA. But with much of the West placing economic sanctions on Russia and as the horrors of the war continue to unfold before us, should top promotions like the UFC and Bellator make an ethical decision to ban Russian fighters from competing?

    Klitschko Lomachenko
    Left: Former heavyweight boxing great and current mayor of Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko. Right: Pound-for-pound boxing great Vasyl Lomachenko in the military fatigues of the Belgorod-Dnestrovsky Territorial Defense Battalion.

    A War Bleeding Into Global Sport

    Last week, Polish-based MMA promotion KSW did just that, making what it termed an ā€œethically justifiable decisionā€ to cancel Russian fighter Shamil Musaevā€™s upcoming fight. While this decision must be considered within the context of Polandā€™s close geopolitical proximity to the war in Ukraine, the ban followed similar actions taken by some of the world’s biggest sporting bodies.

    FIFA, soccerā€™s world governing body, has banned Russia from competing at the World Cup, and similar bans have also followed in tennis, hockey, athletics, and F1 racing. Countries, too, have made a point of punishing Russian athletes. Shortly following the invasion of Ukraine, the UK government cancelled visas issued to the menā€™s basketball team of Belarus, a close Russian ally, banning it from the country. 

    This particular ban could have near-term implications for the UFC, which will hold its first event in the UK since the COVID-19 outbreak two years ago. UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall, set for March 19 in London, will feature four Russian fighters, including heavyweights Shamil Abdurakhimov, Sergei Pavlovich, and headliner Alexander Volkov. Their participation in the card is now in doubt thanks to the UK governmentā€™s hardline stance.

    UFC President Dana White, whose forehead vein seems to be at bursting point most of the time thanks to the logistical nightmares presented by COVID-19, now has the political ramifications of a European war to factor into his event planning. Not only is the aforementioned Fight Night in doubt, but Petr Yan could also face difficulties entering the US for his long-awaited rematch with Aljamain Sterling at UFC 273 on April 9 in Jacksonville, Florida.

    Petr Yan
    Petr Yan (PHOTO: USA TODAY)

    ā€œLike I tell you guys all the time, just when you think the worldā€™s about to get normal again, it gets even nuttier,ā€ White said in an interview with TSN last week. “If Petr Yan cannot get into the country?ā€™ I have no idea whatā€™s going to happen with Russia and all these other things. I donā€™t know.ā€

    And itā€™s not only Petr Yan who may face visa challenges. You never know how the US government might treat a fighter like Khamzat Chimaev, who while a naturalized Swede, maintains close ties with Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrovā€”a loyal ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

    The Argument Against Banning Russian MMA Fighters

    Vladimir Putin, like many strong-man leaders of the former Soviet Union, has a history of fraternizing with some of MMAā€™s biggest stars. A long-time relationship with Russian heavyweight great Fedor Emelianenko, in between much publicized meetings with Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor, have all been part of his attempt to ā€œsportswashā€ the many crimes of his regime.

    Putin McGregor Khabib

    A ban on Russians competing in the likes of the UFC or Bellator would therefore seem by some an appropriate punitive measure against Putin. But as the Russian military becomes bogged down in an increasingly difficult war, while suffering the dire economic consequences of US-led sanctions, banning Russian fightersā€”or any of its athletes, for that matterā€”is highly unlikely to register on Putinā€™s list of things to worry about, nor factor into his geopolitical decisions going forward. Rather, it will simply punish the fighters.

    Regardless of any ethical argument in favor of a ban, the UFC, which under the guise of Dana White has historically been staunchly apolitical, is far from likely to place a ban on Russian fighters. Considering there are 27 Russians currently fighting in the promotionā€”the third largest national cohort after the US and Brazilā€”the effect on the UFC’s bottom line would be dire.

    The Silence Of Russian Fighters

    So, perhaps the ethical responsibility of denouncing the Russian invasion falls upon the nations fighters? Newly-signed Ukrainian UFC light heavyweight Ihor Potiera believes so. Last week, the Contender Series alum called out freshly-minted UFC Hall of Famer Nurmagomedov for remaining silent on the conflict.

    ā€œYou were loved by millions,ā€ Potiera said in an Instagram story (h/t Bloody Elbow). ā€œYouā€™ve been an example in many martial arts gyms. You started your career in Ukraine. You speak about honor and faith. And now you are silent.ā€

    Khabib, however, isn’t the only Russian MMA fighter to remain silent on the Ukraine war. Thus far, only Petr Yan has made a statement, posting a peace symbol in a since-deleted Instagram story. However, it must be noted that in a country like Russia, no matter how nominally democratic it is, those who voice dissent at a time of war could face severe consequences.

    But while the UFC’s Russian fighters have remained silent, those from Ukraine certainly haven’t. And perhaps the most outspoken has been women’s flyweight Maryna Moroz, who following her victory at UFC 272 on Saturday, delivered an emotional speech that showed just how real the conflict is for Ukraine’s fighters.

    ā€œMy family is in Ukraine,” said Moroz to the Las Vegas crowd. “I had a hard week. I worried, I cried, because my family is right now in a bad situation. Thank you to everyone who messaged me, because this week was hard for me. I want to cry because of this war my country is in.ā€

    Do you believe the UFC should ban Russian fighters during the country’s invasion of Ukraine?

  • Watch: EFC 92 Opens With MMA Fighter Suffering Horrific Leg Break

    South African promotion EFC 92 kicked off in one of the worst ways possible on Saturday with an MMA fighter experiencing a nasty broken leg.

    Such injuries have unfortunately become a familiar sight for MMA fans in the past year. At UFC 261 last April, Chris Weidman shattered his right tibia and fibula after his leg kick was checked by Uriah Hall. Just two months later, Conor McGregor’s leg crumpled beneath him after Dustin Poirier checked one of the Irishman’s low kicks. Now, yet another MMA fighter has suffered the same fate at EFC 92 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    In the opening bout between heavyweights Willem Smith and Ivan Strydom, fans in attendance witnessed a grisly spectacle when a right outside leg kick from Smith landed on the knee of Strydom, causing an immediate break. You can watch the unfortunate incident yourself below.

    Fortunately for Smith, who crashed to the canvas wincing in pain, both Strydom and the referee noticed the injury and there were no subsequent strikes landed. It was the fifth loss of Smith’s six-fight professional MMA career.

    Smith, however, later appeared in good spirits, sporting a smile and giving a thumbs up to the camera while lying on a gurney backstage.

    The 6-foot 5-inch Strydom notched up the second win of his professional MMA career. Hopefully, this will be the last time he, or any of us, see a similar ending to a fight.

    You can check out the full EFC 92 fight card and results here.

  • UFC 272 Results & Highlights: Covington Outworks Masvidal

    UFC 272 took place tonight, and you can find all the results and highlights from the card right here!

    UFC 272 took place from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada tonight, March 5, 2022. The main event featured Colby Covington taking on Jorge Masvidal in arguably the biggest grudge match the promotion has ever seen. In the co-main event, former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos took on Renato Moicano in a 160 lbs. catchweight bout. Also on the lineup was ranked featherweights Edson Barboza (#10) taking on Bryce Mitchell (#11).

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Umar Nurmagomedov def. Brian Kelleher

    In the featured early prelims, highly touted bantamweight prospect Umar Nurmagomedov took on veteran Brian Kelleher. On the heels of a kick-heavy attack, Nurmagomedov would progressively lean on his grappling skills to take over the fight and eventually earn the rear-naked choke submission victory to move to 14-0.

    Maryna Moroz def. Mariya Agapova

    In a highly anticipated grudge match between two former training partners, Maryna Moroz took on Mariya Agapova. The grappling-heavy encounter saw Agapova survive a rear-naked choke in round one, before attempting the same on Moroz. In round two, Moroz dominated on the ground, landing heavy strikes from on top, before forcing Agapova to tap after sinking in an arm triangle.

    Marina Rodriguez def. Yan Xiaonan

    In a possible women’s strawweight title eliminator, #3 ranked Marina Rodriguez took on #4 ranked Yan Xiaonan. Round one saw both fighters exchange blistering strikes. An an illegal groin strike to Xiaonan saw a brief timeout, before the Chinese ended the round with a takedown. The fast pace continued in round two, with Xiaonan eating a massive right early on, before the duo battled against the fence. The fight remained razor-thin early in round three as both fighters traded vicious strikes, before a late rally from Rodriguez saw her land a series of head strikes and a knee.

    Jalin Turner def. Jamie Mullarkey

    In this matchup between two up-and-coming lightweights, Jalin Turner dominated throughout, ending the fight early in round two via TKO.

    Main Card Highlights

    Sergey Spivak def. Greg Hardy

    Kicking off the main card was a heavyweight bout between Sergey Spivak and Greg Hardy. Hardy looked to be out of his element throughout the fight and had no answers for Spivak’s wrestling-heavy approach. Spivak took Hardy down repeatedly in the first and only round before eventually getting into full mount and winning via ground and pound. You can capture the closing moments of the fight below.

    Kevin Holland def. Alex Oliveira

    Making his welterweight debut, Kevin Holland faced up against veteran Alex Oliveira in what was a wildly entertaining, albeit short bout. Both fighters exchanged big punches in round one, before Oliveira landed a huge takedown, took Holland’s back, and attempted a rear-naked choke. In round two, Holland dropped Oliveira early, then piled on the punches to gain an impressive TKO victory. You can capture the highlights below.

    Bryce Mitchell def. Edson Barboza

    With a place in the division’s top-ten beckoning, Bryce Mitchell squared off with Edson Barboza in this featherweight bout. After sustaining heavy leg kicks early in round one, Mitchell dropped Barboza and later landed a takedown, before dominating the Brazilian from on top.

    In round two, Mitchell landed another takedown early and spent the rest of the round out-grappling Barboza, while landing heavy ground and pound.

    In round three, Mitchell took Barboza down once again. The Brazilian attempted an unlikely triangle, before Mitchell resumed dominant position, and proceeded to batter Barboza with vicious ground strikes.

    You can capture the end of the fight below.

    Rafael dos Anjos def. Renato Moicano

    The co-main event was an all-Brazilian, 160-pound catchweight affair between Rafael dos Anjos and Renato Moicano, who had taken the fight on short notice. Dos Anjos landed a takedown in round one and proceed to land heavy strikes from top position.

    In round two, dos Anjos got the better of the striking exchanges, before landing a takedown and dominating from on top. Round three saw dos Anjos land a vicious head kick, sending Moicano to the canvas. Dos Anjos piled on some heavy ground and pound, as Moicano somehow hung on for dear life.

    In round four, a visibly battered Moicano had some fleeting success in the striking exchanges, before dos Anjos took him down once again and landed brutal punches, which almost forced the ref to end the fight between rounds.

    The final round largely stayed on the feet, with Moicano landing some brutal strikes towards to mark a thrilling finish to the bout. You can catch the end of the fight below.

    Colby Covington def. Jorge Masvidal

    In what was perhaps the biggest grudge match in UFC history, the main event saw Colby Covington take on Jorge Masvidal. Taken down early, Masvidal spent most of round one fending off Colby’s rear-naked choke attempts.

    The second round saw Masvidal have some striking success before Covington took his back. The duo ended the round exchanging vicious strikes.

    In round three, Colby got a takedown early and proceeded to land heavy ground and pound.

    Round four saw Covington have increased success on the feet before Masvidal suddenly rocked Colby, sending him down on one knee.

    In the final round, Covington smothered Masvidal from on top, ending the fight with some heavy ground and pound.

    You can catch the highlights below.

    Below, you can view the quick results for tonight’s UFC 272 pay-per-view!

    UFC 272 Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass, 4:00 PM ET)

    Umar Nurmagomedov def. Brian Kelleher via submission: R1, 3:15

    Tim Elliott def. Tagir Ulanbekov via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

    Ludovit Klein def. Devonte Smith via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)

    Dustin Jacoby def. Michal Oleksiejczuk via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

    UFC 272 Preliminary Card (ESPN/ESPN+, 6:00 PM ET)

    Jalin Turner def. Jamie Mullarkey via TKO: R2, 0:46

    Marina Rodriguez def. Yan Xiaonan via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)

    Nicolae Negumereanu def. Kennedy Nzechukwu via split decision (27-29, 29-27×2)

    Maryna Moroz def. Mariya Agapova via submission: R2, 3:27

    UFC 272 Main Card (Pay-Per-View, 8:00 PM ET)

    Colby Covington def. Jorge Masvidal via unanimous decision (49-46, 50-44, 59-45)

    Rafael dos Anjos def. Renato Moicano via unanimous decision (49-45, 49-44, 50 44)

    Bryce Mitchell def. Edson Barboza via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-26, 30-27)

    Kevin Holland def. Alex Oliveira via TKO: R2, 0.38

    Sergey Spivak def. Greg Hardy via TKO (ground and pound) R1, 2:16

  • How Far Can Jamahal Hill Go In The Light Heavyweight Division?

    Dressed to the nines in a white tux, red tie, and shades, Jamahal Hill rocked up to the UFC Vegas 48 post-fight press conference in style to deliver a message. Having just achieved the biggest win of his career over Johnny Walker, Hill, with his similarly attired son sitting next to him, wanted the assembled press to know one thingā€”that they should start believing, because heā€™s the real deal.

    ā€œItā€™s time to start having a different kind of conversation, because you all are asking the wrong questions about me,” Hill told press. “ā€˜Whereā€™s he going next? How good am I for real?ā€™ Stop doubting. Start believing, ā€˜cause itā€™s for real.ā€

    Despite knocking out almost every opponent placed before him in his young career, Hill feels that heā€™s underappreciatedā€”by the UFC and the press. The 30-year-old believes he’s been denied the fanfare lavished upon the UFCā€™s other top prospects.

    Jamahal Hill
    Jamahal Hill, and his son, at the the UFC Vegas 48 post-fight press conference. PHOTO: MMA JUNKIE

    ā€œThe spotlight isnā€™t shining on me like it is on other people,ā€ Hill said in 2021. ā€œWhich is cool. You know what I mean? ā€˜Cause at the end of the day, what I can do, my abilities, you canā€™t ignore it.ā€

    And ignore them you canā€™t. By knocking Johnny Walker out on his feet with an early frontrunner for KO of the year, Jamahal showed why he should be touted as a future title contender. Now in the light heavyweight top ten, he plans on doing the same to the divisionā€™s best.

    ā€œI feel like the division is a little tired,ā€ Hill told the press after his victory over Walker. ā€œSome guys need some naps.ā€Ā 

    A Future champion or Another ā€˜Johnny Walker?ā€™

    Hill, the self-proclaimed ā€œbest boxer in the UFCā€, isnā€™t short on confidence. But the Michigan native, who only made his professional MMA debut just over four years ago, has so far backed it up. Entering the UFC via the Contender Series in early 2020, Hill has earned five KOs in six fights (one, however, was later ruled a no-contest after he tested positive for marijuana).Ā 

    Hill’s only loss, and perhaps the biggest asterisk against his future potential, was that to jiu-jitsu specialist Paul Craig, who submitted him within two minutes, dislocating his arm in the process. Humbled, Hill admitted to learning a powerful lesson, attributing the loss to his ā€œflat-out arroganceā€ heading into the fight.

    Jamahal Hill
    Jamahal Hill Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

    Clearly, much like Johnny Walker early in his UFC career, Hill has relied on his spectacular KO power to end fights early. But will ā€˜Sweet Dreamsā€™ similarly stumble against the divisionā€™s best? Or can he become champ?

    According to former UFC lightweight Kenny Florian, it all depends on whether Hill can shore up his ground game.

    “I absolutely believe he can be champion,ā€ said Florian on a recent episode of the Anik & Florian Podcast (h/t Sporskeeda). ā€œYou know with that Paul Craig loss, I think that’s the kind of loss that’s going to drive someone like Jamahal Hill. That’s the kind of thing that’s going to motivate him and get him to shore up those weaknesses that perhaps was exposed in that fight. So, does he need to improve his grappling based on what we saw? Yes. But I do think he has absolutely all the makings of the champion based on what I have seen, based on how he handles himself, based on how he has climbed back in that division with the adversity that he has experienced… I would not be surprised in the least to see him as a 205-pound champion at some point.”

    What’s Next For Jamahal Hill?

    Relentlessly ambitious, Hill said after his victory over Walker that he wanted #2 ranked JiÅ™Ć­ ProchĆ”zka next. But after Volkan Oezdemir tweeted that he’s “still doubting” Hill, it appears ‘Sweet Dreams’ now has his sights set on the Swiss.

    ā€œIā€™ve already said it, bro, as long as I got the say-so, heā€™s next,ā€ Hill told TMZ. ā€œJust for the simple fact that what Iā€™m here to do, I canā€™t have people speaking out. If you gonna speak my name, you better be sure. You better be sure. And he spoke it, and Iā€™m going to go out and make an example of him.ā€

    Even without the beef between the duo, a matchup between newly-ranked #10 Hill and #8 Oezdemir makes a lot of sense. Oezdemir has lost five of his last seven fights, including his most recent to ProchƔzka and Magomed Ankalaev. Derailing a surging prospect like Hill could give his UFC career the life-saving defibrillation it needs.

    For Hill, facing a fellow knockout artist with little ground game like Oezdemirā€”and a seemingly faded one at thatā€”will likely be easy work and propel him further up the top ten, where a true test of his skills may await.

    However, many may no doubt be wondering: Would Hill’s one-punch knockout power, like Walker and Oezdemir before him, only carry him so far? Possibly. But if there’s one thing that drives ‘Sweet Dreams,’ it’s proving his doubters wrong.

    What do you think? Does Jamahal Hill have the potential to be light heavyweight champ?

  • Tai Tuivasa: The UFCā€™s Joker, Or A Serious Title Contender?

    It wasnā€™t long ago, on the night of 6 October 2019, that Tai Tuivasa looked to be on his way out of the UFC. Stretched out flat on the canvas, with his face bloodied to a pulp and the arm-triangle of Sergey Spivac pressing into his neck, ā€˜Bam Bamā€™ was at a low point of his fledgling MMA career. 

    Losing consciousness seconds later, it was the third straight loss for the Australian and a glaring example of what happens when a self-styled street brawler like Tuivasa enters the cage with a submission specialist like Spivac. Repeatedly taken down to the canvas with ease, and once there, not knowing what to do, Tai looked gravely out of his depth.Ā Making it all the worse, the drubbing came in front of a home crowd in Melbourne, Australia.

    Fast forward to 2022, and Tai Tuivasa is a different, revitalized fighter. At UFC 271 earlier this month, the Australianā€™s head displayed an otherworldly ability to absorb Derrick Lewisā€™ best shots, before his elbow sent the American slumping face-first to the canvas. ‘Bam Bam’ is now not only a potential future title contender, but thanks to his larger-than-life personality, fast becoming one of the UFCā€™s most popular stars.Ā 

    Tuivasa Spivac
    The night it all went wrong for Tai Tuivasa against Sergey Spivac at UFC 243 in Melbourne, Australia. PHOTO: USA TODAY Sports

    ā€œIā€™m A Banger From Western Sydneyā€

    A Tai Tuivasa fight reliably delivers all those ingredients that make for an entertaining spectacle; a blistering KO, quickly followed by the swilling of beer from shoe and a post-fight interview that evokes plenty of chuckles, typically punctuated by his catch cry of ā€œEshay” resounding through the arena.

    Pig Latin for ā€œsesh,ā€ the phrase is a nod to Australian-lad subculture to which Tuivasa proudly belongs. And that along with his social housing upbringing in the gritty, working-class suburbs of Western Sydney, Australia, are partly what makes ā€˜Bam Bamā€™ the uncouth-yet-highly likable personality we see in the UFC.

    ā€œI said it before and I say it again, Iā€™m a banger from Western Sydney,ā€ declared Tuivasa after his victory over Lewis. ā€œIā€™ll bang on with anyone and will bang on till the day I die.ā€ 

    ā€œI donā€™t mind being the guy who drinks piss out of shoes and this and that. I suppose everyone focuses on all that, but at the end of the day, Iā€™m knocking the best in the world out.ā€ 

    Tai Tuivasa
    Tai Tuivasa dressed in the traditional ‘Eshay’ uniform of Nautica shirt, Nike sneakers, and a fanny pack. PHOTO: Instagram/bambamtuivasa

    Evolving His Game in the United States

    But behind Tuivasaā€™s larrikin persona lies a serious athlete who’s been putting in the work to evolve as a mixed martial artist.

    Disillusioned with the sport following his loss to Spivac, Tai spent a soul-searching year on the sidelines, during which time he uprooted from Australia and joined the ranks of American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose, California. There, under the tutelage of Daniel Cormier and Javier Mendez, Tuivasa says he made significant improvements to his game, particularly with regard to wrestling.

    ā€œThe wrestling side of things I havenā€™t stopped working on since Iā€™ve been to America,ā€ Tuivasa told 7News in Australia last year. ā€œI feel Iā€™m getting a lot better at wrestling and I havenā€™t even got to spend a lot of time in America.ā€

    All that work seemed to have paid off, when in October 2020, Tai returned to the Octagon with a first-round KO of Stefan Struve. That win kicked off what is now a five-fight win-streakā€”all knockoutsā€”culminating with that of Derrick Lewis earlier this month, which sawĀ Taiā€™s heavyweight ranking catapult from #11 to #3.

    Tuivasa now faces the prospect of fighting the divisionā€™s elite. But is he ready for it?

    Tuivasa American Kickboxing Academy
    Tai Tuivasa with Daniel Cormier and UFC middleweight Deron Winn at AKA. PHOTO: Instagram/bambamtuivasa

    Tai Tuivasaā€™s Title Prospects

    According to Daniel Cormier, who mentored Tuivasa during his stint at AKA, there are plenty of questions to be answered in ‘Bam Bam’s’ next fight.

    ā€œSo the question now becomes, is Tai Tuivasa ready for the level of competition that heā€™s going to fight?ā€ said Cormier on ESPN. ā€œBecause Sergey Spivac wrestled him to death, but when you get into the top five, getting wrestled to death is not just getting taken downā€”itā€™s getting pummelled into the ground by a guy like Curtis Blaydes. Itā€™s him standing in front of a former champion like Stipe Miocic. Now the competition level skyrockets.ā€

    Cormier further points out that, of those five KO’s Tuivasa has amassed in his last five fights, none came against a wrestler.

    ā€œOne of the things that Tai has had the luck of having over the course of his win-streak is; Stefan Struveā€™s a striker. Greg Hardyā€™s a striker. Augusto Sakai is a striker. Derek Lewis is a striker. So heā€™s had strikers. Ultimately, heā€™s going to have to prove that he can stand in front of these wrestlers and defend takedowns enough to make them fight his fight. Itā€™s a daunting task for a guy that, when you look back to the Spivac fight, had a massive hole in his game, and no oneā€™s been able to fight him and exploit that to this point. But trust me, the next guy will have that ability,” said Cormier.

    So, has Tai sufficiently plastered up the holes in his ground game to take on the likes of Blaydes and Miocic? Given their wrestling nous and that a title fight against Ngannou is unlikely, perhaps the bout that makes the most sense from Tuivasa’s perspective is Ciryl Gane. Not only for the relatively lesser threat he poses on the ground, but for the spectacle it promises: that of a clean-cut, technically sound Frenchman with an Adonis-like physique against a beer-from-shoe-swilling, love-handled Australian brawler.

    But for Tuivasa, it doesn’t seem like he even cares who comes next. He just wants to punch on.

    ā€œBrah, to be honest I donā€™t even know who the fuckā€™s in the top five,” he told press after his victory over Lewis. “I donā€™t even watch fighting, brah. Like I said, I heard thereā€™s the Stipeā€™s, the Cyril Ganeā€™s and all of that and everyone up there. But this is my job. I rock up, I prepare with my team, and we fuckinā€™ punch on.ā€

    How do you think Tai Tuivasa will fare against the heavyweight elite?

  • Daukaus On Fighter Pay Debate: “Does Everyone Want $1 million?”

    UFC heavyweight Chris Daukaus doesnā€™t believe Francis Nagnnouā€™s efforts to increase fighter pay will result in bigger purses for all.

    The seemingly never-ending fighter pay debate has divided opinion among the UFC’s biggest stars. On one side of the aisle, the likes of Ngannou, Jon Jones, and Paulo Costa have fiercely voiced their salary grievances. On the other side, Valentina Shevchenko, Kevin Holland, and Darren Till, among others, have publicly defended their employerā€™s remuneration practices.     

    Other than perennial Dana White agitator Jake Paulā€”whoā€™s made inflaming the fighter pay debate his pet project in recent monthsā€”thereā€™s been no more vocal critic of the UFC than Ngannou. The 35-year-old, whoā€™s been locked in protracted contract negotiations with the UFC for some time, has publicly declared he ā€œwould not fight for $500,000 or $600,000 anymore.ā€ Ngannou has also consistently argued for more equitable contract terms.

    Under his present contract, Ngannou is precluded from fighting outside of the UFC and therefore canā€™t test the market for higher pay. The Cameroonian, it seems, is willing to remain inactive for 12 months so as to annul his contract, and thereafter pursue a big-money superfight with heavyweight boxing champ Tyson Fury. As it happens, Ngannou is set to have knee surgery, taking his willingness to be inactive out of his hands.

    Francis Ngannou

    Chris Daukaus Explains Why He Thinks Fighter Pay Wonā€™t Increase

    The argument goes that if the UFCā€™s biggest stars continue to pressure the franchise for better pay, a trickle-down effect will see bigger purses for all. But in an exclusive interview with MMANews, Ngannou’s heavyweight peer Chris Daukaus explains why that theory is flawed. The 32-year-old says that arguments for better fighter pay fail to take into account simple market economics.

    “No, no,ā€ said Daukaus when asked if Ngannou speaking out will lead to better pay for all fighters. ā€œBecause, I mean, when they were all figuring out who was gonna fight for the heavyweight belt before, Jon Jones said he won’t fight Francis for anything less than $10 million, and then Derrick Lewis tweeted out like, ‘I’ll fight him for eight.’ That’s us fighters. If you won’t do something for $10, I’ll do it for $8 because I know I’m gonna get that opportunity.ā€

    Daukaus is also skeptical of the figure Ngannou claims to receive from the UFC each fight but doesnā€™t fault the champ for desiring a bigger paycheck.Ā 

    “Plus, let’s be real, Francis isn’t only making $600,000,” continued Daukaus. ā€œHe’s not. That’s just not the way it goes. He’s definitely getting paid a lot more than that. I think he wishes that he got paid more. Everyone wishes that they got paid more. That’s just natural.”

    Personally, Daukaus says that heā€™s content with how he’s been treated by the UFC and notes that while it would be ideal for fighter pay to increase across the board, certain economic realities must be appreciated.

    “I really don’t know what it’s going to take for us to get paid better,” said Daukaus. “I’m extremely happy with my pay scale, my everything, especially with the last two main events. I’m extremely happy with that. I mean, I don’t know what people want. I don’t know what fighters want. Does everyone want $1 million to fight? That’s just not the way it is. So I don’t know what the hell’s gonna happen with it.”

    What do you think? Do you agree with Chris Daukausā€™ take on fighter pay?

  • Maycee Barber: “I Wasnā€™t Ready” To Become Youngest Ever UFC Champ

    Maycee Barber believes she wasnā€™t sufficiently developed as a mixed martial artist to become the youngest ever UFC champion. 

    Barber, who made her promotional debut in 2018 as a 21-year-old, had long been touted to become the youngest ever to take UFC goldā€”a record held by Jon Jones, who won the light heavyweight belt at the age of 23 years and 243 days.

    The Contender Series alum experienced a rapid rise through the flyweight division, winning her first three fights via TKO in blistering fashion. Comparisons to Ronda Rousey were made, and it seemed Barber was destined to soon challenge for the title.

    However back-to-back unanimous decision losses to Roxanne Modafferi and Alexa Grasso, in between lengthy layoffs due to an ACL injury, saw Barberā€™s rapid rise through the flyweight ranks halted. ā€˜The Futureā€™ returned to action with a win over Miranda Maverick in July last year, but as she approaches her 24th birthday this May, the chance to break Jon Jonesā€™ record has all but passed her by.

    Miranda Maverick, Maycee Barber
    Maycee Barber gets back into the win column against Miranda Maverick last July. Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

    Barber Says She Wasnā€™t Ready To Become Youngest Ever Champ

    As she prepares to return to the Octagon against Montana De La Rosa in April, Barber spoke exclusively with MMANews about her missed opportunity to go down in the UFC record books. The #14 ranked flyweight was philosophical about how her career has panned out, explaining that she needed to grow as a fighter before she could become champion.

    ā€œHonestly, when I tore my ACL, I was thinking about it,ā€ she says. ā€œBecause I was like, me being the youngest champion, it didnā€™t seem as feasible. Because obviously, I was gonna be out for a whole year. And that kinda messes with the timing and everything. But the thing that I learned was: maybe I wasnā€™t ready to become champion at that age. Maybe there is so many more lessons that I had. Maybe there was so much more growth that I had to do as a striker, as a wrestler, as a grappler.ā€

    Barber says that becoming the youngest ever UFC champ was a personal ambition that she was ā€œtrying to achieve for everybody.ā€ Failing to reach that goal, the 23-year-old explained, has attracted some haters. But itā€™s this pressure from fans that Barber says helps her progress towards her goals, so sheā€™ll continue to dream big and share her ambitions publicly.

    During her extended layoff, Maycee says she also realized that simply dreaming about becoming the youngest ever champ, and nothing other than that, was somewhat short-sighted.

    ā€œThe other thing that I also learned is; when having that goal, I feel like that was the goal that I set,ā€ she says. ā€œThat was the goal for me that I was like, thatā€™s what Iā€™m gonna go after. And I didnā€™t really plan anything after that. Because I definitely had that feeling, I was like, ā€˜Well, wait. So Iā€™m not gonna get that. So obviously, Iā€™m not achieving that. And I was just like, so, waitā€¦whatā€™s next?ā€ 

    Maycee-Barber-
    PHOTO: FIRSTSPORTZ

    Barber says that while she’s won’t be erasing Jon Jones’ name from the record books, youth is still very much on her side, and she’s got plenty of ambition to make a huge impact in the UFC. 

    ā€œSo for me, it was kinda a realization of like, Iā€™m still freakinā€™ 23,” she says. “Urijah [Faber] tells me this all the time: ā€˜I didnā€™t start fighting or training until I was 24ā€™ And to me Iā€™m like, ā€˜Oh, yeah, I am young. I am young. And Iā€™m 9-2, soon to be 10-2 as a professional fighter and however many in the UFC at 23 years old. And I just have so much potential and so much growth. And the thing that Iā€™m gonna do in this life, and in this career, and in this platform is gonna be huge, and this is literally just the beginning.ā€

    What do you think? Can Maycee Barber make it two wins in a row against Montana De La Rosa?

  • Nate Diaz Wants To Quit MMA After ā€˜Retirement Fight’ With Dustin Poirier

    Nate Diaz says he wants to call it quits on his MMA career after his next fight.

    With one fight remaining on his UFC contract, Diaz has spent the last few months angling for a grudge match with Dustin Poirier. But despite both expressing interest in the fight, the UFC is yet to make it official. 

    Diaz, a veteran of 26 UFC fights since his debut in 2007, now says his potential next bout with Poirier will be his last.

    ā€œI would like to fight Dustin Poirier, like now,ā€ Diaz told TMZ on Friday night. ā€œ Like Iā€™ve been trying to. So if thereā€™s any mix up, itā€™s him, itā€™s them and the game, Iā€™m trynaā€”you know what Iā€™m sayinā€™? I want the fight now. Whatā€™s up? Dana White, letā€™s get this retirement fight crackinā€™ so I get get out of this f*cken game, Iā€™m done with it.ā€

    Nate Diaz Leon Edwards
    (via Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

    This is the first time the Stockton-native has publicly voiced his intention to retire, and if he’s serious, it would see the UFC lose one of its biggest stars. Despite currently riding a two-fight losing streak, Diaz still looks like he has plenty to offer the welterweight division, having come close to earning a TKO victory over Leon Edwards in his last fight in June 2021.

    Diaz has previously flirted with retirement, having taken a three-year hiatus from MMA following his loss to Conor McGregor in August 2016. He marked his long-awaited return to the UFC in 2019 with an impressive victory over Anthony Pettis, before losing via TKO to Jorge Masvidal later that year.

    What do you think? Will Nate Diazā€™s next fight really be his last?

  • Khabib Shares A Time He Was Ready To Fight An Overzealous Fan

    The price of fame appears to be weighing heavily on Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    The consensus lightweight GOAT retired from MMA over a year ago and has since transitioned into a highly successful coaching career. Like he was in the UFC, as a coach Khabib remains undefeated, having most recently steered Islam Makhachev to victory at UFC 267. His record as a coach stands at 7-0.

    While ā€œThe Eagleā€ remains content helping out his teammates from the sidelines, heā€™s still very much in the headlines. This year, Nurmagomedov leveled some honest yet fiery criticisms at former opponent Justin Gaethje, who he claims isnā€™t worthy of a lightweight title shot over Makhachev. Khabib also went after old foe Tony Ferguson, and even JosĆ© Aldo caught some of ā€œThe Eagleā€™sā€ brutally honest critiques.

    Khabib Shares How He Deals With Fame, Tells Story Of Almost Fighting Fan

    So it seems Nurmagomedov is still very much in the MMA limelight, and as one of the sportā€™s most recognizable faces, will be for a long time. But the life of a global sports star hasnā€™t been all roses for Khabib.

    Speaking at an event in the UK, the 33-year-old revealed that to avoid the thronging masses of fans who regularly clamor for his attention, he often goes out completely incognito, wearing a hoodie and COVID mask.

    ā€œThis is best feelingā€”go outside when people not bother you, just be like regular person. Sometimes I do this,ā€ said Khabib.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov
    PHOTO: GETTY

    Khabibā€™s disguise isnā€™t always foolproof, however. The Dagestani related an incidentā€”one of many, he claimsā€”where a fan spotted him, and things got a little tense.   

    ā€œIn Moscow, couple weeks ago, I put mask, hoodie, and just walk around, and one guy come to meet,” said Khabib. “It was a lot of people there. And (he said), ā€˜Can I take picture?ā€™ And I was walking. I said, ā€˜No.ā€™ He said, ā€˜Why?ā€™ I said, ā€˜Because I donā€™t want.ā€™ It was (a discussion) between me and him, just walking. He said, ā€˜But I want to take picture with you.ā€™ I said, ā€˜OK, take on the way, but I donā€™t want to stop.ā€™ Because I know if I stop, put mask off, I have to stop there for one hour. And he donā€™t like this. It was very nervous (discussion) with him. I feel pressure, too. But I was ready for fight. Because I donā€™t want to take picture. Because now is not time.ā€

    How would you handle a situation like the one Khabib found himself in with this overzealous fan?

  • Poirier Believes Oliveira Deserves More Respect: ā€œMan, Raise The Guy Upā€

    Dustin Poirier believes fans and fighters need to put some respect on lightweight champ Charles Oliveiraā€™s name.

    On December 11, Poirier will make his second attempt to win the lightweight belt when he faces Oliveira at UFC 269. Since his first title bout loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019, the 32-year-old has won three in a row, including a victory over Dan Hooker and back-to-back wins against Conor McGregor.

    Oliveria will be looking to make his first title defence since defeating Chandler to claim the vacant belt in May. However some argue that victory, Oliveriaā€™s ninth in a row, came only as a result of Poirier turning down the original offer to fight for the vacant belt. Instead of UFC gold, the ā€œDiamondā€ chose to pursue a second big money fight with McGregor.

    Many now believe the onus is on Oliveria to prove his legitimacy as champ by defeating Poirier, who some consider the unofficial title holder. And as if thatā€™s not enough, questions regarding the Brazilian’s mental strength have been consistently raised, most most notably by Justin Gaethje who recently branded Oliveira a ā€œquitter,ā€  and on that basis, favors Poirier to claim the title. Chandler has similarly slapped the quitter title on ā€œDo Bronx.ā€

    Charles Oliveira, Michael Chandler

    Poirier Defends Oliveira From Claims That He Isnā€™t A Worthy Champion

    Oliveria may be lacking respect from some of his lightweight peers, but not from the man who will attempt to dethrone him next month. Speaking to The MMA Hour, Poirier defended the honor of Oliveria as champion, saying that in knocking out Chandler, he accomplished something his chief critic, Gaethje, couldn’t.

    ā€œDude, the thing about fighting is: Every time the bell rings, we get a live, real-time appraisal,ā€ said Poirier. ā€œWe change from fight to fight. Things happen. Weā€™re in different mental spaces. Weā€™re in different physical positions and in shape or injuries. Thereā€™s a lot of things that go on behind the scenes, but the beautiful thing is every time that bell rings, itā€™s an appraisal in front of the world. And if weā€™re going off his last appraisal, the guy got hurt and showed grit, came back, won a fight, knocked a former world champion out, something Gaethje didnā€™t do just recently.ā€

    Dustin Poirier
    Image Credit: Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    The “Diamondā€ believes Oliveira deserves far more respect from fans and fighters, and that heā€™s under no illusions that come December 11, the Brazilian wonā€™t put up a good fight.

    ā€œHe did get pressed. He got hurt. He almost got finished. The bell rang, he came back, and won a world championship,ā€ said Poirier. ā€œIā€™m not here to put anybody down or talk bad about people. Man, people love to try to shit on people. Man, raise the guy up. Heā€™s the world champion. Itā€™s a tough task, and Iā€™m doing everything I can to put myself in position to compete the best on December 11 for 25 minutes and be the world champion, a goal I set out from a very young age. And thatā€™s just it, dude. I donā€™t really play into all this that much.ā€

    If Oliveiraā€™s critics only remembered the adversity he overcome early in his UFC career, and consider his current phenomenal win-streak, Poirier believes they would truly see how worthy a champion he is.

    ā€œItā€™s one thing to get into this organization and make it to the top, but itā€™s another thing to do it for a decade like heā€™s done. That shows that this guyā€™s a fighter,” said Poirier.

    What do you think? Does Charles Oliveria deserve more respect as champ?