MMA News

Author: Curtis Calhoun

  • Cat Zingano Accuses Cris Cyborg Of Dodging Drug Tests

    Bellator fighter and former UFC title challenger Cat Zingano thinks Cris “Cyborg” Justino may be doping again ahead of their potential fight.

    Zingano hasn’t fought since her first-round submission over Olivia Parker at Bellator 256. After an up-and-down tenure in the UFC, she is undefeated through two fights in the Bellator cage.

    Zingano is on the rise in the Bellator featherweight division and could face the champion, Justino sooner rather than later. Justino most recently earned a vicious first-round knockout over Sinead Kavanagh at Bellator 271.

    While Justino is widely considered to be one of the greatest female MMA fighters of all time, her legacy remains complicated. She’s tested positive for steroids in the past and even had her license suspended in California.

    Fighters such as former UFC champion Ronda Rousey have criticized and accused Justino of doping. UFC president Dana White has also had his fair share of harsh comments directed at Justino and her history with performance-enhancing drugs.

    Wednesday, Zingano aimed at Justino with the following tweet.

    “Hearing [Justino] is refusing to drug test,” Zingano tweeted.

    Zingano could be on the verge of a matchup with Cyborg with another win. The two had informally agreed to fight one another next, but now Zingano is alluding to her next matchup being set for the spring and a potential fight with the featherweight champ in the summer.

    “I have been told my opponent and that it’s a number one contender match set for March 11,” Zingano said. “That’ll give someone plenty of time to get their shit together enough to fight me by summer.”

    Zingano is one of the few Bellator featherweights who hasn’t competed against Justino in the cage. The promotion was in preliminary talks to sign PFL champ Kayla Harrison to the roster, but it sounds like Harrison will likely re-sign with the PFL in free agency.

    Justino has yet to respond to Zingano’s comments and allegations.

    What do you think of Cat Zingano’s allegations?

  • Chimaev Blasts Usman After LHW Contemplations: “I’m The King Here”

    UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev doesn’t want Kamaru Usman to go anywhere after his past idea of moving up to light heavyweight.

    Chimaev is awaiting his next opponent in the Octagon after a quick finish over Li Jingliang at UFC 267. He’s undefeated in his MMA career and has emerged as one of the biggest stars in the welterweight division.

    Usman recently alluded that he once considered a move up to 205 pounds to take on the then-champion, Jan Blachowicz, for the light heavyweight title. Blachowicz would go on to lose his belt to Glover Teixeira at UFC 267.

    Chimaev is knocking on the door of the welterweight title picture after a string of dominant wins. His most recent victory over Jingliang propelled him into the welterweight rankings.

    Usman’s comments about pursuing titles at multiple weight classes have irked Chimaev. In a recent tweet, Chimaev aimed at Usman for his previous comments.

    https://twitter.com/KChimaev/status/1486560064823463942?s=20

    “So your trying to change weight before I come for you?” Chimaev said. “Don’t go anywhere I am coming! I smash you and Burns in 2 mins believe me! I’m THE KING here.”

    Usman is expected to face Leon Edwards later this year in his next welterweight title defense. He’s coming off an electric 2021 in which he earned finishes over Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns, along with another decision win over Colby Covington.

    Chimaev’s starpower began to rise after an impressive 2020 in the Octagon. He earned three-straight finishes at both welterweight and middleweight, including two wins in 10 days.

    Usman has remained somewhat mysterious regarding his future in the UFC. He has hinted at a potential retirement after a few more fights in the Octagon and has also pitched a crossover fight against boxing world champion Canelo Alvarez.

    Chimaev and Burns have verbally agreed to fight in the spring, although nothing has been formally announced by the UFC. With a win over Burns, Chimaev could potentially land a future title shot and faceoff with Usman.

    How do you think a Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev fight would play out?

  • Spotify Begins Removing Neil Young’s Music After Joe Rogan Ultimatum

    Spotify has begun to remove the music of Neil Young after the Canadian issued an ultimatum to the streaming platform to either remove his music or remove Joe Rogan’s podcast.

    In addition to being arguably the voice of the UFC, Rogan has become one of the most influential personalities in the world via his The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. The popularity of the podcast has also been met with its fair share of critics, including a series of alleged medical professionals who accused Rogan of spreading misinformation regarding vaccines.

    In a since-deleted letter to his manager, Young threatened to pull his music from Spotify if the streaming platform doesn’t take action against Rogan.

    “I am doing this because Spotify is spreading fake information about vaccines — potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them,” Young said. “Please act on this immediately today and keep me informed of the time schedule.

    “I want you to let Spotify know immediately TODAY that I want all my music off their platform. They can have Rogan or Young. Not both.” (h/t The Star)

    Rogan signed a nine-figure deal with Spotify back in 2020. Coincidentally, Rogan’s partnership with the streaming service began right as the COVID-19 global pandemic began to run rampant across the world.

    Spotify Accomodates Neil Young’s Request For Removal

    Wednesday, Spotify issued the following response to Young in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter:

    “We want all the world’s music and audio content to be available to Spotify users. With that comes great responsibility in balancing both safety for listeners and freedom for creators. We have detailed content policies in place and we’ve removed over 20,000 podcast episodes related to COVID since the start of the pandemic.

    “We regret Neil’s decision to remove his music from Spotify but hope to welcome him back soon.

    Young also issued a statement Wednesday where he thanked Warner Brothers and his fans for supporting him through this decision. He also encouraged other musicians to make a stand and take part in a mass exit of the streaming platform in protest of Rogan’s alleged COVID-19 misinformation that he called “deadly.”

    Neil Young is a member of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a multi-time Grammy Award winner, and was considered one of Rolling Stone magazine’s top 100 greatest music artists of all time.

    What are your thoughts on the Neil Young vs. Joe Rogan split?

  • Demian Maia Explains Past Bar Brawl, Stabbing Incident In Sweden

    A routine night out at a bar turned into a night of chaos for former UFC welterweight Demian Maia.

    Maia’s latest Octagon appearance came at UFC 263 in a unanimous decision loss to Belal Muhammad. Despite his grappling prowess still being a problem for most fighters, the 44-year-old looked years past his physical prime in recent losses to Muhammad and Gilbert Burns.

    The UFC parted ways with Maia back in August, along with former bantamweight Jimmie Rivera.

    Maia is arguably one of the most universally liked and respected fighters in UFC history. He was never one to engage in trash talk during his career and let his trademark Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu do the talking for him.

    But a few years ago, Maia’s life was in danger when he was attacked and stabbed, suffering serious injury. During a recent appearance on the Inteligencia Ltda podcast, Maia detailed a scuffle he got into with some alleged Middle Eastern gang members while at a bar in Sweden. (h/t Bloody Elbow)

    “I’m in the corner, and like in other clubs outside Brazil, at 2 AM, they turn on the light,” Maia explained. “2 AM, all lights turned on. All the security guards went down to evacuate people and things like that. When I stood up, there were some guys from that gang there and they saw me. I think it was a small town thing. The guy came at me to attack me, but not exactly attack me. He came to push me. No reason, man. They were very messy.”

    Maia initially didn’t think much of the push, but the altercation was more serious than he realized.

    “They kind of ran the place. I was upset because my knee wasn’t getting better. I had hurt myself again in Sweden teaching class and stuff like that. When the guy came to put his hand on me, I threw an elbow at him. In his face,” he said. But that elbow was so hard, he didn’t fall over. He just imploded in the same place, you know. Do you know when a guy lands on his own leg? Yeah, man. He imploded. Man, by the time he fell, my first thought was, ‘God, please help me. I hope I didn’t kill this guy.’ Because it was too strong and the guy blacked out right away. I thought, ‘Imagine I killed this guy, I’m going to be f—ked, stuck in Sweden for the rest of my life.’

    “F—k, no one would want to know he came to assault me,” Maia continued. “In the end, I would have killed the guy, Suddenly, I see a small guy coming up beside me quietly. All this I’m talking about was in five or six seconds, I don’t know. But very fast. The elbow, two punches. I walked backward, the guy came and hit me in the belly. This guy didn’t hit me in the belly, he stabbed me. And I knew it right away. Why did I notice? Because these guys don’t know how to fight, they’re just making trouble. If the guy isn’t a very good boxer who knows what to do, he’ll never hit you in the belly. He’ll hit the head. The guy will try to hurt you in the face. And as soon as it hit down here, I felt a knock and they ran away.”

    Maia then explained what went through his mind after being stabbed.

    “I had this thing in my head, ‘Can’t get air, can’t get air.’ I knew that getting air could cause embolism, and I got this paranoia. I still didn’t know if I was stabbed. I just felt the knock, but I was suspicious. When the guys ran away, I did it here. I looked over quickly and my shirt was soaked with blood.”

    Maia was sent to a local hospital directly after the incident. He was treated and quickly released by medical staff.

    Maia’s story shows that MMA fighters can still be the victim of vicious attacks, despite their athletic accolades. Thankfully, Maia is still alive to tell the story and continues to practice and teach the art of BJJ.

    What is your reaction to this Demian Maia story?

  • Kamaru Usman Considered Facing Jan Blachowicz For LHW Belt

    UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman pondered the idea of furthering his greatness by facing Jan Blachowicz at 205 pounds.

    Usman has risen to the top spot in the UFC’s pound-for-pound list after a memorable 2021. He earned knockout finishes over Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal and won his rematch with Colby Covington at UFC 268.

    Usman is widely expected to face Leon Edwards next in another defense of his welterweight title. However, he’s also flirted with the idea of attempting to become a champ at multiple weight classes.

    During a recent interview with GQ, Usman revealed that he once eyed a matchup with Blachowicz when he was the light heavyweight champion.

    “I was going to skip Israel [Adesanya and go fight Jan at 205 [pounds],” Usman said. “Because I’m pound-for-pound, I want to prove it. No matter what weight it is, I thought he was a really good matchup for me.”

    Blachowicz shares a two-inch height advantage over Usman. Still, Usman has always been seen as big for a welterweight and has at times looked extraordinarily drained after weight cuts.

    For now, the possibility of a Usman vs. Blachowicz fight is off the table. Blachowicz lost his belt to Glover Teixeira in stunning fashion at UFC 267 and will face Aleksandar Rakic later this year.

    This isn’t the first time that Usman has raised some eyebrows with his ambitions. He has called for a boxing match with world champion Canelo Alvarez despite no boxing experience, but UFC president Dana White doesn’t seem keen on making it happen.

    Usman and Blachowicz are still looking to hold their spots as two of the most intimidating fighters on the planet, but a fight between them looks to be buried in the past.

    How do you think a Kamaru Usman vs. Jan Blachowicz fight would play out?

  • PFL Announces New ESPN Broadcasting Deal Amidst Harrison Talks

    The PFL has renewed its broadcasting deal with ESPN for the 2022 league season and beyond amidst contract talks with its biggest star.

    The league is also reportedly expected to re-sign Kayla Harrison to a new contract as her free agency comes to a close.

    2022 regular season and playoff events will be simulcasted on ESPN and ESPN+. Some additional PFL coverage will take place on ESPN2.

    The PFL first agreed to a broadcast partnership with ESPN back in 2019. Before that, the league had a longstanding deal with NBC Sports before “The Worldwide Leader in Sports” agreed to become the league’s new televised home.

    2022 is expected to be another huge year for the PFL as a whole. The league’s new Challenger Series program, similar to Dana White’s Contender Series, will launch next month. The show will give up-and-coming prospects a chance at signing with the league.

    “After two successful years of providing fans with premium MMA content alongside ESPN, PFL is proud to extend and expand our agreement,” CEO Peter Murray said via a press release. “As MMA continues to evolve as a sport and rights property, our differentiated product and unique approach will help shape its path forward and in 2022 fans can expect more events, matchups between the world’s best fighters, and innovative content than ever before.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

    The league has added a different spin on how MMA is scored and judged. The PFL’s point-based system, along with its league standings and postseason, has added a new and unique dimension to the sport.

    The PFL regular season will begin on April 20 as Anthony Pettis, Julia Budd, and possibly Harrison make their returns to the cage.

    Will you watch the PFL this season?

  • Now Is Your Chance To Ask Dana White Anything You Want

    UFC President Dana White is holding a fan Q&A session exclusively for ESPN+ subscribers amidst his recent Francis Ngannou snub.

    Fans around the MMA community have remained perplexed on why White didn’t put the belt around Ngannou following his win over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. Arguably even more surprising was White’s noted absence from post-fight media obligations.

    News of the planned Q&A was announced in a press release, as relayed by TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter.

    This comes just days after a wild weekend in the UFC at UFC 270, the promotion’s first pay-per-view of 2022. Ngannou’s win over Gane was preceded by Deiveson Figueiredo’s win over Brandon Moreno to reclaim the UFC flyweight title.

    White has been under fire in recent days for how he’s handled the promotion’s ongoing dispute with Ngannou. The two sides are currently at a standstill as contract talks have seemingly hit a dead end.

    Following the win over Gane, details have surfaced regarding what Ngannou had to go through in the lead up to UFC 270. He alleged that the UFC threatened to sue his manager, Marquel Martin for being in contact with Jake Paul’s team to talk boxing.

    Ngannou has remained in a holding pattern in his stance against the UFC and White. He’s adamant that money alone won’t fix the relationship he has with the promotion, as speculation runs rampant regarding his next Octagon appearance.

    As for White, we could get answers regarding all of the Ngannou controversies as soon as tomorrow, unless White declines to answer those questions at the upcoming Q&A.

    Will you attend Dana White’s Q&A session?

  • Watch: Legendary MMA Fighter Don Frye Punches Fan At UFC 270

    Former UFC and Pride fighter Don Frye taught one fan quite the lesson while in attendance at UFC 270 in Anaheim.

    TMZ Sports released footage of Frye appearing to engage in a heated confrontation with a fan at the Honda Center. It all allegedly started after the unidentified fan bumped into Frye’s hat while finding his seat at the venue.

    After a few words between the two, Frye says the fan attempted to challenge him to a fight in the stands. This resulted in Frye landing a right straight to the man’s face.

    Check out the incident below.

    Frye first made his claim to fame by winning multiple UFC tourneys, including at UFC 8 over Gary Goodridge. He went on to become one of MMA’s earliest superstars, earning wins over the likes of Ken Shamrock and Tank Abbott during his illustrious career.

    The 56-year-old Frye continues to enjoy retirement but has hinted at a potential fight against Francis Ngannou in a comeback. He’s also been critical of the UFC’s partnership with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in recent years.

    Frye was not arrested for the assault and it’s unclear if the fan was removed from the arena and plans to press charges. As for Frye, he returned to his seat soon after and enjoyed the rest of the main card, including Ngannou’s win over Ciryl Gane.

    What is your reaction to this altercation between Don Frye and a fan?

  • Khabib More Open Than Cormier To Doing Business With Jake Paul

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov wants to sign the polarizing YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul to Eagle FC in the future.

    Nurmagomedov is just days away from hosting Eagle FC 44 in Miami, FL. The card will be headlined by kickboxer Tyrone Spong taking on former Bellator standout Sergei Kharitonov.

    Nurmagomedov has managed to sign elite talent to Eagle FC since putting his promoter hat on. He most recently signed former UFC interim title challenger Kevin Lee following his dismissal from the UFC.

    But Nurmagomedov has bigger plans for the promotion’s future and is interested in signing Paul for his planned transition to MMA. This is in direct contrast to his friend Daniel Cormier, who expressed his refusal to train Paul if he were to join American Kickboxing Academy.

    During a recent tweet, Nurmagomedov expressed his interest in eventually adding Paul to the Eagle FC roster.

    “The doors of [Eagle FC] always open for you and your team,” Nurmagomedov said.

    Paul then agreed to Nurmagomedov’s proposition under the condition that the former UFC champion agrees to fight him.

    “Deal,” Paul said. “Only if I fight you first.”

    Cormier and Nurmagomedov made their rise to championship status through their training at AKA. At present, Nurmagomedov seems more game to help Paul in his eventual move to MMA than Cormier is.

    Cormier and Paul also have a bit of history, with the two of them coming face to face cageside at UFC 261. They also went back and forth last year on social media and in various interviews.

    In addition to Eagle FC, the PFL and Bellator have remained interested in adding Paul to their respective rosters. It’s unclear how Paul will proceed going forward, but Nurmagomedov seems open to negotiations with the controversial boxer.

    How do you think Jake Paul would fare in MMA? Should he sign with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC?

  • Francis Ngannou Gets Tito Ortiz’s Support After Recent UFC Quarrels

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou has the support of a former light heavyweight champion in his battle with the UFC.

    Ngannou most recently defended his heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 via unanimous decision. While it wasn’t exactly the showcase UFC fans expected, Ngannou showed off his improved wrestling after allegedly suffering a significant knee injury in camp.

    Ngannou continues to be at odds with the UFC brass, and more specifically company president Dana White, regarding contract negotiations. This prompted former UFC star Tito Ortiz to reach out to Ngannou on social media in support of his cause.

    “[Francis Ngannou] congrats on the fight and standing your ground for the future of all MMA fighters,” Ortiz said. “I did it and they tried to erase me from the UFC’s history books. I hope they don’t [do] the same to you.”

    Ngannou has been vocal over the past year regarding his displeasure with how the UFC has treated him. This quarrel was allegedly part of the reasoning for the promotion organizing an interim title bout between Gane and Derrick Lewis just months after Ngannou earned the title at UFC 260.

    Ortiz has plenty of experience dealing with the promotion and White after his legendary career in the cage. Ortiz’s relationship with White became so heated that the two of them nearly competed in a boxing exhibition against each other.

    Like Ortiz, Ngannou’s issues with the UFC are financially focused and also term-based. Ngannou has made it clear that he wants the freedom to pursue potential boxing matches to go alongside his MMA fights.

    Ngannou is expected to undergo surgery on his injured right knee and could miss significant time. In the meantime, the ongoing negotiations with the UFC continue.

    What do you think is next for Francis Ngannou in the UFC?

  • Ngannou: Doctor Warned Me Of Irreversible Damage Ahead Of UFC 270

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou entered UFC 270 with more than just the pressure of facing his former teammate Ciryl Gane.

    Ngannou defeated Gane via unanimous decision in their heavyweight battle to begin 2022. To the surprise of almost everyone, Ngannou’s wrestling gave him the path to victory and not his trademark striking.

    As Ngannou walked into the Octagon, the commentary team was quick to note that both of his knees were covered. This caused many to question whether or not the heavyweight champ entered the fight healthy.

    After the fight, Ngannou told media members that he had suffered a significant right knee injury that nearly forced him to pull out of the fight.

    “I saw the doctor on Tuesday to clear me and he wasn’t very optimistic about it,” Ngannou said. “But I still decided to move on… My team was by my side regardless, whatever I decided to do, that’s what they said. But the doctor said he wouldn’t recommend me because I could have irreversible damage if I got kicked on that knee. That’s why I couldn’t switch my stance.”

    This explains why Ngannou was in the orthodox stance for the majority of the fight. He also appeared timid to throw punches which could’ve been the result of not having the proper torque in his lower half.

    Francis Ngannou beats Ciryl Gane to retain heavyweight title at UFC 270 - Mirror Online

    Ngannou then revealed just how exposed his knee was entering the fight with Gane.

    “It was pretty bad. I had a grade three MCL (tear), I have a damaged ACL, and a damaged MPFL. That was 25 days ago.”

    Ngannou was then asked if he thinks he’ll need surgery done on his compromised knee.

    “Yeah, I think so,” he replied.

    It’s unclear how long Ngannou will be sidelined with his injured knee. He remains amid contract negotiations with the UFC regarding a new deal and has hinted at a potential move to boxing.

    For now, it appears that Ngannou will turn his attention to the health of his knee and begin the road to recovery following his UFC 270 win.

    What do you think the future holds for Francis Ngannou?

  • Julianna Peña Defends Joe Rogan Amidst Recent Outrage

    UFC Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña doesn’t understand all of the heat coming Joe Rogan’s way after recent COVID-19 claims.

    Peña is on top of the world after her upset win over Amanda Nunes for the bantamweight title at UFC 269. She has made the rounds in the media since earning the belt and is enjoying the perks of fame and fortune.

    But that hasn’t stopped Peña from expressing her opinions openly and in some cases, taking shots at her recently defeated opponent.

    During a recent interview with the New York Post, Peña explained her desire to go on Rogan’s podcast and defended him against recent critics.

    “I was like, ‘Joe, I wanna come on the podcast.’ He was like, ‘Let’s f–king go. How about January 26?’”

    Peña went on to elaborate on why she feels perplexed by the amount of hate and critique heading Rogan’s direction.

    “It’s a little crazy to me how mad people get about his opinions,” Peña said. “I have a philosophy where if people aren’t inciting violence, or in positions of government authority where they hold power over others, I don’t get hung up over anybody’s opinions. I get much more mad about actions than people’s opinions. I see him as someone trying to learn in real-time, and just because he says something now that people think is bad, it’s not necessarily a permanent harmful thought. I think he’s valuable for the proverbial conversation.”

    UFC champ Julianna Peña talks wild alley brawl, Joe Rogan
    Joe Rogan Interviews Julianna Peña After UFC 269 Championship Win


    “I find him very interesting. I actually find a lot of what he says to be like-minded with the way that I feel. Not all things, obviously. I listen to the podcast, but it’s not like I’m waiting for him to say something people disagree with him.”

    Some have wondered why Rogan continues to commentate given the success he’s found in other ventures, including landing a $100 million Spotify deal. Peña thinks Rogan is still in the booth because of his love for the sport.

    “It is, and the fact that we even still get him is a blessing,” Peña said. “The fact that he still wants to do it, and that he’s still passionate about it, shows the kind of person he is, where his heart is and how loyal he is. I admire that. There’s not anything bad that I can say about Joe. I think he’s a genuine, what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of person, and that’s a rarity in this day and age – to see people who are “no bulls–t.”

    Rogan has been accused of spreading COVID-19 misinformation and some have called for Spotify to part ways with the prominent podcaster. Some have criticized him for promoting the drug Ivermectin, which he used as a treatment for COVID-19 but is not officially recommended as a treatment by the FDA. UFC President Dana White and many others disagree and have shared their own testimonies and viewpoints on the subject in defense of Rogan.

    Peña and Rogan have never shied away from expressing their thoughts, and their planned podcast episode will certainly be seen and heard by millions.

    What are your thoughts on Julianna Peña and Joe Rogan?

  • Jake Paul Reveals MMA Weight Class, Ignores White’s Cease-Fire

    The often polarizing YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul isn’t letting UFC President Dana White off the hook for his previous remarks.

    White has recently alluded to being done with his back-and-forths with Paul on social media and in interviews. However, Paul doesn’t appear to be done with White just yet.

    Paul has hinted at a future move to MMA after a few more boxing fights and has allegedly contacted American Kickboxing Academy to train there. Promotions such as Bellator and the PFL have reportedly been interested in Paul’s services.

    Despite White’s calls of a cease-fire between him and Paul, “The Problem Child” isn’t willing to oblige as evidenced in a recent tweet.

    “[Dana White] when I make my MMA debut, I could cut 20 pounds and do it at welterweight/170 pounds,” Paul said. “That’s what all UFC fighters do and many have destroyed their bodies and minds doing it. But I’m gonna do it at Middleweight (185). Health first. PS Conor [McGregor] walking around at 190.”

    Paul wrapped up his stellar 2021 boxing calendar year with back-to-back wins over former UFC champion Tyron Woodley. He also knocked out former UFC welterweight Ben Askren in seconds last spring.

    Paul has criticized White and the UFC for their treatment of fighters. He has specifically targeted the issue of fighter pay as a primary focus of his outside of the ring.

    It had appeared that the White/Paul drama had briefly died down, but it didn’t take long for Paul to take shots at his combat sports adversary.

    Do you think the Jake Paul/Dana White drama will ever end?

  • Francis Ngannou Is Stumped About Dana White’s Post-Fight Absence

    UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is just as confused as anyone about why company president Dana White didn’t put the belt around him at UFC 270.

    Ngannou grinded out a hard-fought victory against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. While it wasn’t quite the showcase that everyone expected, he used his vastly improved wrestling and patience on the feet to stifle Gane’s attack.

    After earning a unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards, UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard was the one who put the belt around Ngannou and not White. This surprised many around the MMA community since Dana White is usually the one to perform these honors. This has caused some to wonder whether or not Ngannou requested not to have White be involved.

    During his UFC 270 post-fight press conference, Ngannou gave his side of the story.

    “I don’t know, you’ll have to ask him,” Ngannou said about the reason for White’s absence. “I had nothing to do about that. I think that was their decision, I’m about to ask about that, too.”

    Ngannou was later told by a reporter that White also didn’t attend post-fight media availability, which was apparently news to the champ. He was then asked if White’s cryptic post-fight absence makes him wonder about his future with the promotion with his contract negotiations still at a standstill.

    “It’s been a long time that I’ve been wondering about my future in the company,” Ngannou said, shrugging off that notion. “So, nothing has changed. I’m still in the same position.”

    Ngannou and White have had their fair share of tense moments leading up to UFC 270. Since Ngannou first earned the belt at UFC 260, he and the UFC brass haven’t been on the same page in regard to contract negotiations.

    White has previously claimed that with a win at UFC 270, Ngannou has one more fight on his deal. However, White’s absence during Ngannou’s post-fight celebration could be telling with what lies ahead between the two of them.

    Why do you think Dana White wasn’t present after Francis Ngannou’s win at UFC 270?

  • Maycee Barber To Return Against Montana De La Rosa At April Fight Night

    UFC women’s flyweight prospect Maycee Barber will make her return to the Octagon at a UFC Fight Night event in April vs. Montana De La Rosa.

    MMA journalists Nolan King and Marcel Dorff were amongst the first to report the booking.

    Barber most recently defeated Miranda Maverick in a split decision win at UFC Vegas 32. Before that, she had lost back-to-back lopsided Octagon appearances against Alexa Grasso and Roxanne Modafferi.

    Barber will face a tough test in De La Rosa, who knocked out Ariane Lipski at UFC Vegas 28 and holds previous wins over Rachael Ostovich and Nadia Kassem. She is another solid flyweight prospect who, like Barber, is looking to make a name for herself in the division.

    The Barber/De La Rosa matchup will be joined by several intriguing matchups on April 23, including Jessica Andrade vs. Amanda Lemos and Clay Guida vs. Claudio Puelles. The venue for the event has yet to be announced as well as the official main event.

    Barber began her professional MMA career with a perfect 8-0 record, including three-straight wins to begin her UFC tenure. After earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, she showcased elite power for a flyweight and earned the praise of the UFC brass.

    Despite her back-to-back losses to Modafferi and Grasso, UFC president Dana White remained confident that Barber could turn it around. After a controversial win over Maverick in his last outing, she’ll look to make a statement against De La Rosa.

    How do you think Maycee Barber will fare in her return against Montana De La Rosa?

  • Shields: My MMA Run Made Boxing World Forget Who’s The Best

    Claressa Shields is out to remind the boxing world who she believes is the best female boxer in the sport after her recent MMA fights.

    Despite signing with PFL, Shields has remained adamant that she intends to fight in both boxing and MMA going forward. Her debut season in the league featured a mixed bag, with a comeback win over Brittney Elkin followed up by a decision loss to Abigail Montes.

    Shields will now face Ema Kozin as she defends her WBC, WBA, and IBF middleweight world titles in her U.K. debut. During a recent media appearance in Detroit, she reiterated her intentions to show boxing fans how great she is in the ring.

    “The boxing world has forgotten who the best female fighter is since I’ve been doing MMA,” Shields said. “The other girls like Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor have been showcasing some great skills, but I’m planning to showcase even better skills in my fight on February 5. I’m looking forward to coming back and showcasing my skills. In my last fight, I was coming off over a year layoff and I didn’t perform how I wanted to. When I watch back the film, I wasn’t sharp. I didn’t have the speed and the timing that I normally have.” (h/t 15Rounds.com)

    During Shields’ absence from boxing, fighters such as Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor have risen to the top of the pound-for-pound discussion. A fight between Serrano and Taylor is expected to happen next in arguably the best fight in women’s boxing history.

    What are your thoughts on Claressa Shields’ MMA future?

  • Bryce Mitchell’s Mom Hated His Rap Music Without Knowing It Was Him

    UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell is finding out the hard way that there will always be music critics, even if they’re in your own family.

    Mitchell, an undefeated prospect who has emerged as a UFC fan favorite, recently put out his first rap mixtape Pasture Fire on social media. Fans gave “Thug Nasty” mostly rave reviews for his first musical endeavor.

    But not everyone is a fan of Mitchell’s music, including his own mother. During a recent interview with MMA journalist Helen Yee, Mitchell revealed an awkward moment he had when his mom commented on his rap mixtape.

    “I was playing my music in the car and rolled up to my mom’s house. Was going to say hi, eat and everything. I pulled up and I didn’t know she was out in the yard,” Mitchell said. “She hates rap music. I had my mixtape playing, practicing the words. My song’s playing as I park, and she yells ‘Turn that nasty s**t off, I don’t like all that rap stuff!’ I just couldn’t help but laugh because she was talking about my music.

    “I turned the music right off, I know better than to tell my mom. I just laughed it off. She don’t like it, but that’s alright. It’s not for everyone.”

    Mitchell is set to return to the Octagon at UFC 272 against Edson Barboza. He has been sidelined since late 2020 due to a variety of circumstances, including injury issues.

    Mitchell has called for fights against any willing challenger, including grappling specialist Ryan Hall. He’ll get the opportunity to move up in the featherweight division against a tough out in Barboza.

    Meanwhile, Mitchell isn’t just focused on his MMA ambitions. He wants to prove that his recent musical journey isn’t just an antic and that he’s here to stay on the mic.

    Do you like Bryce Mitchell’s rap music?

  • UFC 269: Oliveira Vs. Poirier Estimated Domestic PPV Buys Revealed

    The UFC’s final pay-per-view event of 2021, UFC 269, was reportedly another great night of business for the promotion overall.

    UFC 269 featured plenty of exciting fights and wild finishes inside the Octagon. Arguably the most shocking moment of the event came courtesy of Julianna Peña’s upset over Amanda Nunes in the co-main.

    The event was capped off by UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira’s successful title defense against Dustin Poirier. After surviving an early barrage, Oliveira utilized his grappling and secured a third-round submission with a standing rear-naked choke.

    T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas was raucous from start to finish as the fights went on, with the athletes competing in front of another sold-out crowd. Sports Business Journal’s Adam Stern recently reported the PPV statistics for UFC 269.

    While the UFC managed to exceed a half-million PPV buys on ESPN+, the event didn’t outsell UFC 268. The card held at Madison Square Garden in New York City recorded around 700,000 PPV purchases.

    It’s unclear how UFC 270 did in terms of PPV purchases, as president Dana White wasn’t present at the post-fight press conference to talk about the promotion’s business trends. Nevertheless, the recent bump in PPV price to $74.99 may have an impact on their business going forward in 2022.

    Did you purchase the UFC 269 pay-per-view?

  • MMA Fighter Maiquel Falcao Stabbed To Death In Brazil

    Former Bellator title challenger Maiquel Falcao has died after an alleged stabbing in his hometown of Pelotas, BR.

    Brazilian news outlet Gaucha ZH was the first to report the news of Falcao’s death.

    According to reports, Falcao was standing outside of a bar when he was attacked and stabbed multiple times. It’s unclear if there is one or multiple suspects in the attack.

    The 40-year-old Falcao was rushed to a local hospital but did not recover from his stab wounds, being pronounced dead just hours later.

    Falcao began his professional MMA career back in 2004, making a name for himself in various Brazilian regional promotions. He would eventually sign with the UFC for a fight against Gerald Harris at UFC 123, earning a unanimous decision victory.

    Falcao’s most notable performances came in Bellator, where he won the middleweight tournament championship over Andreas Spang. He would get a title shot against then-champion Alexander Shlemenko at Bellator 88, losing via second-round knockout.

    The UFC had planned to bring Falcao back to its promotion for multiple fights before he was let go for assaulting a female. He spent eight months in jail before serving the rest of his sentence under house arrest.

    After beginning his career with an astounding 31-5 record, Falcao’s end to his MMA career was less than ideal. He lost his final five fights overseas, including in October against Nemanja Uveric at Serbian Battle Championship 36.

    The investigation into Falcao’s death is ongoing and we’ll bring you the latest here at MMANews.

    What is your reaction to the death of Maiquel Falcao?

  • Ciryl Gane Hopeful Francis Ngannou Stays In UFC: “I Want My Rematch”

    Ciryl Gane wants the UFC to come to terms with heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou on a new deal so he can eventually get a rematch.

    Gane fell short via a unanimous decision against Ngannou at UFC 270. After finding his range on the feet early in the fight, Ngannou’s improved wrestling gave Gane fits as the fight went on.

    Ngannou and the UFC have been at odds for months over negotiations of a new contract. A new deal didn’t come to fruition leading up to UFC 270, and Ngannou’s future with the promotion remains uncertain.

    But Gane wants Ngannou to stay in the UFC so they can run it back at some point. During his UFC 270 post-fight press conference, Gane opined on Ngannou possibly leaving the promotion and transitioning to boxing.

    “If he leave like that, I don’t want that,” Gane said. “I want my rematch. I want to do this fight a second time. I want this fight. I want this rematch.”

    Gane was then asked by a reporter whether or not it’ll be a relief to not deal with the Ngannou pre-fight drama in a potential rematch.

    “No, I was ready for this one….All the (stories) around this fight was just stories. It was not important for me. I was just focused on my target. And no, no, no, if we have a rematch, I’m gonna be focused, but I’m gonna improve on my weakness.”

    Ngannou and Gane never seemed to have bad blood with one another, but Ngannou’s issues with coach Fernand Lopez have been widely publicized. In addition to promoting Gane, Lopez had taken shots at Ngannou throughout the pre-fight buildup.

    Ngannou is widely expected to face former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones next, although Jones didn’t seem impressed with Ngannou’s performance. As for Gane, he’ll look to rebound from the first defeat of his career and get back to the heavyweight title shot at some point.

    What do you think is next for Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane in the UFC?

  • Covington Mocks Masvidal’s Trash Talk Comments With Ex-Wife Pic

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington isn’t holding back in his attempts at mental warfare against his UFC 272 opponent Jorge Masvidal.

    Covington is set to face his old American Top Team teammate and friend, Masvidal in the main event of UFC 272. It is one of the few times in recent UFC history that a pay-per-view main event will feature a non-title fight.

    Masvidal made headlines recently after opining on why fighters like Covington and former middleweight Chael Sonnen have to be brash and talk trash. He alluded to Covington and Sonnen’s wrestling-first style as a reason for them to overcompensate outside the Octagon.

    After getting word of Masvidal’s comments, Covington posted a photo of him and Masvidal’s ex on his Instagram page.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZAOICSOQmF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “Don’t worry [Jorge Masvidal], I got you,” Covington said.

    Covington and Masvidal have been on each other’s nerves for years, stemming from Covington’s dismissal from ATT. Masvidal has accused Covington of failing to pay his former coach following a win over Rafael dos Anjos for the interim welterweight title.

    In response, Covington has thrown decency out of the window, bringing family into the discussion. He’s accused Masvidal of cheating on his former wife and being a poor father to his children.

    Masvidal and Covington used to be great friends as the two of them were grinding their way into the UFC headlines. However, their friendship has soured and a grudge match between them is on the horizon.

    Masvidal isn’t one to promote trash talk too often, but it’s safe to say that his matchup with Covington may be another exception to that rule.

  • Neil Magny To Return Against Max Griffin At UFC Columbus

    UFC welterweight contenders Neil Magny and Max Griffin will square off at the upcoming Fight Night event in Columbus, OH on March 26.

    MMA journalist Marcel Dorff was among the first to report news of the booking.

    Magny was expected to face fast-rising welterweight Khamzat Chimaev next, but negotiations never materialized. Now, he’ll face a tough test in the form of Griffin as the UFC slowly returns to hosting fights outside of Las Vegas.

    Magny has won four of his last five inside the Octagon, including most recently against Geoff Neal at UFC Vegas 26. He’s been a mainstay in the welterweight division and has earned recent wins over the likes of Robbie Lawler and Li Jingliang.

    Griffin has managed to resurrect his UFC career with three-straight wins, including arguably the biggest win of his tenure against Carlos Condit at UFC 264. He put a beating on Condit, a former title challenger who announced his retirement shortly after the bout.

    The UFC is planning a big card for the promotion’s return to Ohio. The event will be headlined by a light heavyweight bloodbath between former champion Jan Blachowicz and Aleksandar Rakic. A flyweight matchup between Askar Askarov and Kai Kara-France will also be featured, along with the return of fan-favorite Matt Brown against Bryan Barberena.

    Magny has a legitimate opportunity to put on an impressive performance against a solid challenger in Griffin. With a win, he could earn a fight against a top-5 welterweight for his next Octagon appearance.

    As for the unranked Griffin, he’s looking to make a statement and continue his rise at 170 pounds. A win could put him right in the thick of things in the welterweight division.

    What is your prediction for Neil Magny vs. Max Griffin?

  • Dana White Teases Virtual Fights In The Metaverse

    UFC President Dana White has big plans for the UFC going forward, including an unorthodox way of hosting fights.

    White and the UFC are set to host their first string of pay-per-views to begin the 2022 calendar year. It all begins with UFC 270, featuring a heavyweight clash for the ages between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane.

    But White has always looked ahead to what’s next for the sport of MMA, more specifically his promotion. During a recent interview on the Full Send Podcast, White raised eyebrows when he iterated plans to combine MMA fights with virtual reality.

    “We’re looking to do a fight in the metaverse,” White said. “We’ve been working on it for a while. It’ll be a live fight, an actual fight that takes place inside the metaverse.”

    When further pushed on what that would look like, White described how it would play out.

    “It’d be kids at home, you put on your fuckin’ goggles and you can fuckin’ get up and go walk around. We’re still working it out, but yeah, it’ll be soon. We’ll be doing a fight in the metaverse. It’ll be a real fight.”

    White even stated that fans would be able to buy tickets and experience these events virtually.

    The metaverse is a network of virtual worlds of the internet, most prominently linked to the Oculus Quest virtual reality headset. Devices such as the Oculus have become more popular in recent months.

    As virtual reality becomes more prominent in the current technological evolution, White and the UFC are looking to adjust to the times. It’s unclear when this will all take place, but it sounds like it has been in the works for a while and could happen as soon as this year.

    What do you think of Dana White’s claims? Would you attend a fight virtually?

  • Francis Ngannou Expects Big Wrestling Advantage Over Ciryl Gane

    UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is teasing the use of his vastly improved grappling against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270.

    Ngannou earned the heavyweight title by knocking out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 last year. While he’s mainly known as an elite striker with knockout power, he showcased superb takedown defense and stifled Miocic’s advances in the grappling department.

    Ngannou will likely never be known as an elite wrestler as he is a striker, but he isn’t counting out the use of that toolbox in his matchup with Gane. During a recent interview with Michael Bisping on BT Sport, he explained why he feels he holds the advantage when it comes to grappling.

    “I’ve gotta admit that it’s gonna be a tough fight, regarding his style,” Ngannou said. “But (this is) one of the first times that I worked to a fight and like, I feel pretty confident about like, ‘Okay, let’s say this guy will attempt a takedown or wrestling,’ I’m like, ‘This is not a fight, this is not a game.’ It’s not like when I was preparing for the Stipe fight, I (was like), ‘You better don’t let him touch your legs,’ you know?

    “So, Ciryl has a good striking, but he kind of lacks in that area (wrestling), which is all in my favor because I have a little bit of experience there. When I look at him and his record, he hasn’t fought a wrestler, a good wrestler, yet. I was hoping sometime that he’d get Curtis Blaydes. Before you get past Curtis Blaydes, I don’t sign you off [LAUGHS].”

    Gane has arguably the most unique skillset out of all the heavyweight contenders. He’s able to use his movement on the feet like a welterweight to go with his power as a heavyweight.

    Ngannou and Gane used to train together briefly at MMA Factory in France before Ngannou parted ways with coach Fernand Lopez and moved to the United States. The two of them are familiar with one another’s strengths and weaknesses through their time under Lopez.

    The Ngannou vs. Gane matchup has been pinned as a prototypical ‘power vs. technique’ matchup, but Gane has played that down. While striking will be the main form of attack from both men, expect the unexpected in this heavyweight battle.

    What is your prediction for UFC 270?

  • Brandon Moreno Expects Smarter Version Of “Wild” Figueiredo In Trilogy

    UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno is expecting a completely different version of his rival Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 270.

    Moreno earned the title over Figueiredo at UFC 263 last year in a dominant performance that led to a submission victory. He and Figueiredo fought to a majority draw in their first matchup, with Figueiredo retaining the belt.

    UFC 256: Champ Figueiredo finally finds a rival in draw against Moreno - CGTN

    Now that Moreno is the flyweight champion, he appears extra focused ahead of his massive trilogy with Figueiredo. It’s arguably one of the biggest trilogies in UFC history and the first of its kind in the flyweight division.

    But Moreno’s game plan might change a bit entering UFC 270. During his UFC 270 pre-fight press conference, he alluded to expecting a different Figueiredo this time around.

    “I’m expecting, maybe a combination of both. You know, with Figueiredo trying to be a little bit more smart,” Moreno said. “But at the same time, trying to get that skill… I feel like the biggest ability of Figueiredo is he’s big, he punch hard, and he’s very intimidating, you know, he tried to intimidate all of his opponents in the Octagon. So I’m expecting the same wild fighter, but a little bit more smart, at the same time.”

    Brandon Moreno Had A Long Road To The Title

    After falling short of a championship on The Ultimate Fighter, Moreno had to take the long journey to the title shot in the UFC. He went on to win his first few UFC bouts, before back-to-back losses to Alexandre Pantoja and Sergio Pettis.

    This would prove to be a turning point in Moreno’s career. He would go on to earn dominant wins over the likes of former LFA champion Brandon Royval, Kai Kara-France, and Jussier Formiga in the Octagon.

    Moreno also used to train with former flyweight champion Henry Cejudo, before their alleged falling out. Figueiredo now trains with Cejudo and has called for revenge on behalf of the former flyweight king.

    Moreno’s journey to champion status has been unique, but arguably the toughest part of his quest looms ahead of his trilogy with Figueiredo. With another win over the former champion, he can cement himself as an all-time great flyweight.

    What is your prediction for Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo 3?