MMA News

Author: Brandon Sibcy

  • Sterling Says He’ll Be “So Petty” If He Beats Yan In The Rematch

    The UFC bantamweight champion has once again taken aim at his detractors. 

    Aljamain Sterling has had a rough 2021. After becoming the first champion to win the belt via disqualification, Sterling became the target of MMA fans. Petr Yan landed an illegal knee in their title bout, and Sterling was unable to continue. Yet, fans were quick to point out that they felt Sterling overreacted to the blow. 

    While dealing with the blowback, Sterling was forced out of their rematch because of lingering issues from neck surgery. The withdrawal fueled the vitriol hurled at “The Funkmaster.” 

    If you’ve been following Yan and Sterling on social media, it’s no secret they don’t like each other. The fighters have gone back and forth on social media and memes disparaging Sterling are aplenty around the web. All this seems to feed Sterling.

    Prior to the fight being rebooked for UFC 273 in April, Sterling went on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour to explain one of the incentives to beating Yan in the rematch: rubbing it in others’ faces. 

    “So it’d be nice to make some money. And I can’t wait to do it and shove it up everyone’s asses and have them just—I’m gonna be so petty, man. I try to be humble about my wins. I always talk shit before the fights with all my opponents, but I always be humble about the wins. But this one, there’s just something different where I feel like it’s deserved.

    Aljamain Sterling Put Everything Together At The Right Time
    Aljamain Sterling, Image Credit: UFC.com

    “And either way. Knock on wood, if things don’t go my way and he decides to do the same thing, that’s fine. I’ll eat it. I’ll eat it. I’m a man of my word, I back up my words, and I have no problem eating shit if I lose. But at the same time, I really do in my heart feel like I’m better than this guy and I can’t wait to have everyone just suck it.”

    When Sterling pulled out of the rematch at UFC 267, Cory Sandhagen stepped up to fight the Russian destroyer. Sandhagen and Yan put on an entertaining display of technical mastery that ended with the interim belt around Yan’s waist.

    Sterling has been absent from the Octagon since winning the title back in March. That will change when he steps into the Octagon to finally settle the score with Petr Yan in April.

    How do you think the Yan/Sterling rematch goes down?

  • Anthony Smith:”I Get Paid A Lot Of Money To Run My Mouth”

    Anthony Smith doesn’t understand the backlash to his commentary on fights. 

    When Anthony Smith isn’t in the cage beating down top-tier fighters, the Texas native often finds himself working the UFC’s broadcast desk. Between fights, Smith breaks down and gives his predictions on the upcoming bouts. Typically, he’s joined by Michael Eaves, Chael Sonnen, and Rashad Evans, among others. 

    While the desk job may seem a little cushier than throwing blows in the cage, it comes with its own downsides. One of those is that he frequently upsets fans and fellow fighters with his words (h/t MMA Fighting). 

    “It’s so weird,” Smith said while appearing on The Fighter vs. The Writer. “I’ve seen comments and gotten tagged in stuff where people actually say ‘why is Anthony Smith just up there running his mouth all the time!’ It is the weirdest comment when people say that or I’ll hear things from other gyms where a guy is all pissed off and mad about what I said. He’s like ‘he’s always up there talking sh*t.’

    “I don’t know if you guys know this — I get paid a lot of money to just run my mouth and give my opinion. That’s why I’m up there running my mouth all the time. That’s literally my job. I’m paid to answer the questions that people ask me. I don’t know what they expect. I’m not going to bullsh*t you and I’ve always told fighters if you guys have issues with something I say, I’m an open book. If you want to come talk about it, I’ll tell you why I said it and I’ll give you my analysis. Text me. I’ll tell you.”

    Anthony Smith finishes Ryan Spann

    In picking fights, Smith is always going to have to pick someone to lose. For fighters who pay attention to his analyses, it may ruffle some feathers. Others surely understand the job and let the predictions roll off their back. 

    People may berate Smith for his commentary, but it’s hard to downplay his fighting skills. The UFC has Smith ranked at #4in his division.  He’s currently on a three-fight win streak, with each of those victories coming via stoppage.  Most recently, “Lionheart” made quick work of Ryan Spann in their main event in September of last year.

  • Sean O’Malley Trolls Public With His “Fighter Of The Year” Proclamation

    Is Sean O’Malley your fighter of the year? 

    The colorful bantamweight is a talented prospect in a division full of killers. Besides a loss to Marlon Vera in 2020, O’Malley has looked great in his UFC run. “Suga” shows solid power and pinpoint accuracy in his bouts.

    Yet, as many on the internet will quickly point out, O’Malley hasn’t exactly faced the stiffest competition. But that seemed to be neither here nor there, for the flashy fighter recently took to Instagram to proclaim himself the “Fighter of the Year.” 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXeN9KAPago/

    “2021 fighter of the year. Thanks ??

    UFC 260 3rd round KO-Bonus

    UFC 264 3rd round KO-Bonus

    UFC 269 1st round KO-Bonus” .

    In a later appearance on The Full Send Podcast, O’Malley admitted he was intentionally trying to rile people up by making this claim and gave his nod to Kamaru Usman as the true fighter of the year.

    How Does The Suga Show Compare?

    Of course, when deciding who should be crowned “Fighter of the Year,” one has to dig a bit into the competition faced.

    O’Malley fought zero ranked opponents in 2021. Thomas Almeida was on a three-fight losing streak when he met the 27-year-old striker. Chris Moutinho had never fought on the big stage and was brought in as a late replacement, even though multiple UFC-proven fighters offered to step up on short notice for the bout.

    O’Malley’s most recent victim, Raulian Paiva, was on a three-fight win streak, but the undersized bantamweight had bounced between 125lbs. and 135lbs. over the last few years. All in all, it’s easy to see that O’Malley was trolling with his Instagram post.

    There are no easy fights in a promotion like the UFC, but there are levels to this stuff. Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman also went 3-0 in 2021. His current run saw him knockout Jorge Masvidal, Gilbert Burns and take a decision over Colby Covington. 

    Another fighter that comes to mind for his 2021 streak is Charles Oliveira. The lightweight champ overcame adversity in bouts with Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier to win and then defend his UFC gold.  

    Who is your 2021 fighter of the year?

  • Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira Opens Dubai’s Largest MMA Center

    Minotauro was on hand to christen the massive martial arts and fitness center bearing his name. 

    Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, or, “Big Nog,” has opened the largest martial arts facility in Dubai. Team Nogueira Dubai is roughly 24,000 square feet and broken up into sections for different types of martial arts training.

    The gym features MMA, boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian jiujitsu, the “most advanced equipment in the field of exercise,” and a ladies-only area. 

    About Us - Team Nogueira Dubai

    Tarik bin Faisal Al-Qasimi, a jiujitsu champion and chairman of various investment and development groups in the region, will oversee the facility. Of the new gym, Al-Qasimi stated the following.

    “We have brought the best and latest sports equipment to the region, and the center is divided into several sections, including halls for practicing different forms of martial arts, weightlifting areas and fitness units. All of this occurs under the supervision of the best trainers, under whose instruction many champions, including the only Arab ever to compete in the UFC World Championship, have graduated. (h/t Gulf Today)”

    Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira battles Stefan Struve at UFC 190 Credit: Esther Lin

    The Nogueira name is synonymous with MMA and BJJ. Both “Big Nog” and his twin brother,  Antônio Rogério Nogueira, competed across PRIDE and the UFC.

    “Big Nog” won multiple jiu-jitsu championships before transitioning to MMA. In his career, fought high-profile names such as Frank Mir, Fedor Emelianenko, Cain Velasquez, Randy Couture, and others. He retired from the sport in 2015 following a loss to Stefan Struve at UFC 190.

    Despite his departure from competition, Nogueira lends his name to multiple facilities around Brazil, the United States, and now, Dubai. Nogueira hopes the new gym will fill a void in the region and help manufacture the next generation of champions. 

     “We have noticed a steady increase in the number of UAE’s residents interested in practicing sports, as well as an increase in the number of both local and international tournaments and competitions,” stated Nogueira. “This center, which is the largest and most modern in the region, offers these residents a place to train. I am confident that Gym Nogs will create more champions, especially with all the facilities and tools available to help people develop and refine their talents.”

  • Derrick Lewis Doesn’t Want To Get “Rodney King’d” On ESPN

    It’s not a “Black Beast” fight week without some memorable quotes. 

    Derrick Lewis is known for his quick wit and vicious knockout power. Put a microphone in front of him, and the Houston native shines. So it’s no surprise that ahead of his main event bout with Chris Daukaus, a former police officer, that Lewis brought up his opponent’s past occupation at the press conference(h/t Sportskeeda). 

    “He’s gotta be a good guy because he is a police officer. I support the police department all over the world, specially in Houston. I appreciate most of you all for letting me slide with speeding ticket here, and that’s why I appreciate you all, back the blue all day long. Whenever you fighting a police officer, you don’t wanna get Rodney King’d on ESPN, so you gotta go out there and fight hard, man. Do it for the people.”

    Derrick Lewis
    Derrick Lewis (Photo: Instagram @UFC)

    For those who may not be in the know, Rodney King is a black man who was excessively beaten by police officers after a traffic chase in 1991. The four officers accused of excessive force were freed without punishment, causing the city of Los Angeles to erupt in riots and chaos.

    Lewis and Daukaus will meet in the main event of UFC Vegas 45 this Saturday. Daukaus will be looking to make it five straight wins since joining the UFC in 2020. His last outing saw him TKO Shamil Abdurakhimov at UFC 266. 

    The bout will be Lewis’ first return to the Octagon since failing to capture interim gold against Cyril Gane at UFC 265 in August.

    Who wins between Chris Daukaus and Derrick Lewis this weekend?

  • Belal Muhammed Down To Fight Khamzat Chimaev After “Wonderboy”

    Regardless of Dana White’s claims, not everyone is afraid of Khamzat Chimaev. 

    Sans a brutal eye poke in a short-notice bout against Leon Edwards, Belal Muhammed has been on a tear since 2019. He’s dispatched Demian Maia, Dhiego Lima, and Lyman Good during his current run. Wins over unranked opponents and an aging Maia may not be enough to earn “The Bully” a crack at the title, but he feels a win over Stephen Thompson this weekend will be enough to shoot him into contention (h/t MMA Junkie). 

    “The only guys who have beaten (Thompson) in the last whatever years is either the champion or Gilbert Burns, who’s fought for the title,” Muhammad told MMA Junkie at UFC Vegas 45 media day. “(Thompson has) fought for the title twice so if he fought for the title twice, I just beat (Demian) Maia who fought for the title twice– ‘Bully B’ needs to fight for the title once.”

    Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf?

    Khamzat Chimaev
    Khamzat Chimaev (Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa)

    Thompson did fight for the title twice, but that was years ago. Currently, Thompson is 2-3 in his last five bouts. This means Muhammed may need to put in some more work before he’s summoned to fight for a belt. If that’s the case, the Chicagoan has no problem facing one of the promotion’s fastest rising stars in Khamzat Chimaev.  

    “He’s the biggest name right now, the biggest star, has the most momentum, the biggest hype,” Muhammad said. “He has Conor McGregor hype where it’s like you beat him, you gain more from beating him than anybody else in the division—where he has this stigma of him being the boogeyman of how he just dominated everybody. So you beat somebody like that, you’re the next star. You steal all of his hype, you steal all of his momentum. So it’s like, why not?”

    Chimaev looked nearly unstoppable since he joined the UFC last year. He has the fastest turnaround in the organization’s history and most recently ran through Li Jingliang at UFC 267 in October. Belal Muhammad’s upcoming bout against Stephen Thompson takes place tomorrow (Dec. 18) at UFC Vegas 45.

    How do you think a fight between Belal Muhammed and Khamzat Chimaev would play out?

  • Sean Strickland Accuses Adesanya Of Steroid Use In Profane Tirade

    Sean Strickland has absolutely unloaded on Israel Adesanya. 

    Sean Strickland has spent 2021 making waves. The UFC middleweight is on a five-fight win streak and has been slowly moving his way up the rankings over the last few years. But his in-cage prowess isn’t what’s been getting him attention. 

    The stories surrounding Strickland lately have been about his bizarre interviews and social media actions. In recent months, the top-ten middleweight has revealed his neo-Nazi past, threatened violence towards those sharing the road with him, and divulged his desire to kill somebody in the Octagon. 

    In a recent MMA Junkie interview, Strickland set his sights on the champion of his division, Israel Adesanya. Strickland believes the champ is using steroids and showing signs of gynecomastia (enlarged breasts in men) as a result (h/t MMA Junkie). 

    Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

    “Izzy’s a great fighter – he comes from kickboxing – have you ever seen a fighter with gyno for any other reason than that?” Strickland said. “Besides him, have you ever seen a fighter in the UFC that smokes weed that gets gyno? Ever? You can’t, because it doesn’t f*cking happen unless you cycle wrong. That’s a fact. We all know it. But regardless of the fact, Izzy’s a f*cking great fighter. We know that. That’s the fight I want.

    “Izzy, I’ll come over dude. We can f*cking watch anime and you can put some f*cking testosterone in my ass. I’ll do it with you. Let’s f*cking go. With a needle, I think you guys do the stomach, right? Is that where you guys do, the stomach? You’re the expert on f*cking steroids. How’s it done?”

    Last year, a photo of Adesanya’s pectoral went viral and lead to people claiming his flabby chest muscle was a result of steroid use. Adesanya addressed the drama, saying he had everything checked out, including a mammogram, but believes his condition may be due to “unhealthy living” and “smoking weed.” 

    When Sean Strickland isn’t being an absolute madman on the web, he can be found in the cage. The American’s last trip to the Octagon saw him take a unanimous decision over Uriah Hall in July. He is next scheduled to face Jack Hermansson on February 5.

  • Stephen Thompson & Tyron Woodley Involved In Cobra Kai Series

    Stephen Thompson reveals he and former rival Tyron Woodley have been involved in some way with the Netflix smash hit Cobra Kai.

    Cobra Kai is crushing the views. The sequel to the 1980s The Karate Kid films is hailed as a solid mix of drama, martial-arts action, and a heavy dose of nostalgia for some older viewers. 

    It’s no surprise that a series so entrenched in martial arts is reaching out to actual martial artists. And there may have been no better choice for a cameo than real-life karateka, Stephen Thompson. 

    The former title challenger revealed that not only is he involved with the show, but so is a former MMA champion turned boxer in Tyron Woodley. The revelation came when “Wonderboy” was asked about the upcoming Woodley vs. Jake Paul rematch on a recent episode of The MMA Hour (h/t MiddleEasy).

    “I think so, he’s got to (win). I think Tyron gets it,” Thompson said before letting slip that they are both to feature in Cobra Kai. “I chatted with him not too long doing some Cobra Kai stuff. I can’t really give too much away but we were there hanging out [on set], and yeah, the beef has been squashed. Since then, he’s awesome and fun to hang out with while we were there. I didn’t get to hang out with him a ton but while we were there on set.”

    Cobra Kai Never Die

    Stephen Thompson and Tyron Woodley face off ahead of their world title fight.

    Thompson wouldn’t divulge their role but did say they would not be in the forthcoming season that releases later this month.

    It may be some time before we see the fighters on the small screen in an acting capacity, but both men will be active this weekend in very different roles. Stephen Thompson is set to take on Belal Muhammed in the co-main event of UFV Vegas 45 on Saturday. On the same night, Woodley looks for revenge against Jake Paul in a rematch of their October bout. 

    Will you be tuning in if Stephen Thompson and Tyron Woodley are announced to appear on an episode of Cobra Kai?

  • Chris Daukaus: Derrick Lewis Has More Power Than Francis Ngannou

    In the heavyweight realm, fighters hit hard, but some hit harder than others.

    Rising contender Chris Daukaus (12-3) took to MMA on SiriusXM to discuss his upcoming bout with Derrick Lewis this weekend at UFC Vegas 45. According to Daukaus, the Houston slugger hits harder than the current UFC heavyweight champion. 

    “I think he’s got more power than Francis Ngannou,” proclaimed Daukaus. 

    While it’s hard to qualify punching power, there’s no debate that Lewis hits like a Mack truck to the face. Of his 25 victories in mixed martial arts, 20 of those have ended via knockout. “The Black Beast” has been utterly outclassed more than once before detonating a single fist on his opponent’s jaw and ending the fight. 

    Francis Ngannou, though, is no slouch in the power department. With 16 victories to his name, Ngannou earned 12 of them with his punches. Many outlets gave the Cameroonian “KO of the Year: honors back in 2017 for his astonishing finish of Alistair Overeem. 

    Yet, Daukaus is no stranger to turning off another man’s lights himself. The Philadelphian has finished every UFC fight thus far with strikes. His last outing saw him TKO Shamil Abdurakhimov at UFC 266.

    Derrick Lewis vs. Chris Daukaus is scheduled for UFC Vegas 45 on December 18. There, the behemoths will meet in a five-round main event. 

  • Nunes Prepared For Peña The Same Way She Prepared For Meisha Tate

    Amanda Nunes feels well-prepared for the “Venezuelan Vixen.” 

    Every fight is a different affair. Amanda Nunes knows this going into UFC 269. So, while Nunes does look back on her past camps and opponents before she faces a new challenger, the American Top Team standout also tweaks everything just enough for the fresh challenges that Julianna Peña brings (h/t Bloody Elbow).

    “Julianna is an opponent I’ve known ever since the TUF days, which she won. I really know her style. She’s really close with Miesha Tate and they have the same style of fighting, but I think Julianna is even more of a grinder. We used a little bit of my camp for Tate for this Julianna fight, but with a bit more precision.”

    Amanda Nunes Smashes Meisha Tate at UFC 200 Image Credit: Rey Del Rio/Getty Images

    Staying Grounded As The Champ-Champ

    With wins over the likes of Ronda Rousey, Meisha Tate, Cris  Cyborg, and Holly Holm, many consider Nunes the best woman fighter to ever grace the Octagon. But the two-division champ doesn’t let her 12-fight win streak go to her head. “The Lioness” knows every opponent who stands across from her in the cage is hungry and ready to take what’s hers. 

    “I’m really looking forward to it, but at the same time I’m keeping my feet on the ground. I know everyone who walks into that cage will do their best to win. She has nothing to lose. I’m the champion and she’s going to come at me to take my belt. I just need to be really sharp so I can finish the fight at the right moment.”

    Peña earned her shot at the champ after submitting another former title challenger in Sarah McMann at UFC 257. Pena and Nunes were expected to clash at UFC 265, but Nunes tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the bout. 

    The Saturday will be the Nunes’ first trip back to bantamweight in almost two years. The champ spent 2020 and 2021 thus far, defending her featherweight belt against Megan Anderson and Felicia Spencer. 

  • Dana White Agrees With Poirier Being Favored Over Oliveira

    Dana White explains why he feels the odds make sense.

    We are one day away from the final UFC PPV of 2021. The main event features Charles Oliveira and challenger, Dustin Poirier, throwing down in a highly-anticipated scrap for the lightweight title. 

    Currently, oddsmakers slightly favor Poirier to win the main event at -160. This means that a $160 bet on “The Diamond” would net the bettor $100. The champion is an underdog at +140. So, $100 would net the bettor $140 if Oliveira pulls off the upset. 

    It may seem strange that a champion on a 9-fight win streak is the underdog, but Dana White thinks it makes perfect sense. He explained his reasoning to TSN.

    “Yeah, that’s fair. I mean, when you look at Dustin, what he’s done, what he’s accomplished, he’s a bigger guy, I think he has the advantage on his feet. I think if it goes to the ground, obviously, Oliveira has the advantage. I think that’s a pretty good line.”

    Charles Oliveira
    Charles Oliveira Getty Images

    Is The Champ Getting The Respect He Deserves?

    Poirier has won seven of his last eight fights. Not only does he have a high winning percentage, but the level of competition he’s beaten is also the who’s who of the division. Victories over Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, Eddie Alvarez, and Conor McGregor (twice) are just some names on the murder’s row Poirier has run through en route to this title shot. His lone loss in that time came at the hands of Khabib Nurmagomedov. 

    Oliveira is on a solid streak of his own and earned victories over Kevin Lee, Tony Ferguson, and Michael Chandler during his current run. While Oliveira did have issues in the cage early in his career, “Do Bronx” seems well past them at this point. White knows what Oliveira is capable of and feels that people are sleeping on the Brazilian submission specialist. 

    “No, he doesn’t get enough credit. And that’s one of the things. With some guys, it takes longer than others. Oliveira’s had a long, hard road. 28 of his 31 wins are by finish. He’s got a 90% finish rate, has the record for most finishes in the UFC, most submission wins in the UFC, most performance of the night bonuses, second-most post-fight bonuses in UFC history. I mean, the guy is an absolute stud. He’s just gotta keep grinding and knocking them down, and eventually, his day will come.”

    Do you agree with the UFC 269 betting line for Charles Oliveira vs. Dustin Poirier?

  • Oliveira: On Dec. 11, We’ll Be There To Prove Who Is The Best

    Charles Oliveira looks forward to proving his doubters wrong. 

    The UFC’s final Pay-per-view of 2021 looks to end the year with a bang. The card features some rising prospects, a welterweight banger, and a women’s bantamweight title fight. In the main event of the evening, Charles Oliveira will try to keep the gold around his waist when he meets #1-ranked, Dustin Poirier. 

    Poirier has been sitting near the top of the division for the last three years. He holds wins over Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, Conor McGregor, and Eddie Alvarez in that time. So, for many, it makes sense that with Khabib Nurmagomedov out of the picture, Poirier has a good chance of obtaining the lightweight title. In the meantime, many people also believe that Oliveira has not been receiving his full respect as the undisputed champion.

    Charles Oliveira blasts Michael Chandler en route to winning UFC gold Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

    Oddsmakers have the Louisianian as a slight favorite heading into the title fight. Oliveira, though, sees UFC 269 going differently. The submission ace detailed his prediction for the bout in a recent interview with MMA Fighting. 

    “On [December] 11, we’ll be there to prove who’s best and who’s not the best,” Oliveira said. “There’s not much to say. We’ll only know when we face each other. I trust myself, I believe myself. I think I have way more weapons than him. All you guys that think [he’s No. 1], watch his last fight and watch my last fight, see what I’m good at and what he’s good at, and match it all up to see what happens.

    “Strikers took him down way too easily, and you know what happens if I take him down. If he trades on the feet with me, you know I’m hitting hard, brother. It will be fire on the 11th. I have firepower in my hands, I have my jiu-jitsu. I respect him a lot, but I want to remain champion, I want to keep this belt here. I couldn’t care less what others say or criticize. It’s about time I take all that inside my head and look at what people say on Instagram.”

    While Poirier is a slight favorite at the time of writing, the money could turn the odds as bets come in the next couple of weeks. Oliveira has had issues with durability and weight cuts in the past but has found his stride the last half of his UFC career. The champion is currently on a nine fight win streak, with eight of those victories coming by submission or knockout. 

    His last outing saw “Do Bronx” capture UFC gold when he rallied from the brink to knock Michael Chandler unconscious at UFC 262.

    Who do you think will win next Saturday between Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira?