MMA News

Author: Curtis Calhoun

  • Quote: Colby Covington Has The Best Wrestling At Welterweight

    MMA veteran Gleison Tibau has faced some of the best grapplers in the sport, but he thinks Colby Covington is the best at 170 pounds.

    Tibau and Covington used to train together at American Top Team before Covington left the gym for MMA Masters. His dismissal was mostly due to ongoing feuds with teammates such as Jorge Masvidal and Dustin Poirier.

    Covington has managed to alienate himself from most of his former ATT teammates, but Tibau is not one of them. In a recent Instagram comment on a post by MMA Uncensored, Tibau praised Covington as the best grappler in the welterweight division.

    Screenshot courtesy of SportsKeeda

    Tibau’s praise of Covington comes despite the two-time UFC title challenger’s stance regarding his previous comments about Brazil. Following his win over Demian Maia, Covington called out the Brazilian crowd as “filthy animals” and was blasted by many of his colleagues.

    Covington most recently fell to UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 268. Despite losing two of his last three to Usman, Covington remains ranked #1 at 170 pounds.

    Tibau’s first season in the PFL featured a controversial win over Rory MacDonald. He is planning on contending for the league title for the 2022 season.

    While it’s unclear if Covington will ever earn a UFC title, big fights with names such as Masvidal and Poirier remain on the table in 2022 and beyond.

    Do you think Colby Covington is the best wrestler in the welterweight division?

  • Brandon Moreno Opines On Cody Garbrandt’s “Sad” Recent Struggles

    UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno believes the hype surrounding Cody Garbrandt’s move to 125 pounds may have been too much for him.

    Moreno is set to face former champion Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 270 in their trilogy. He earned the belt over Figueiredo in their last matchup at UFC 263 via submission.

    Moreno understands the ups and downs of the fight game better than most. He went from falling short of The Ultimate Fighter title to winning a championship belt on MMA’s biggest platform.

    One of the biggest storylines in his division as of late was the addition of Garbrandt, a former bantamweight champion who entered the flyweight division with expectations. His flyweight debut didn’t go according to plan as he lost via first-round TKO to Kai Kara-France at UFC 269.

    Garbrandt’s loss to Kara-France was his fifth over his last six bouts. During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura, Moreno gave his thoughts on Garbrandt’s troubles in the Octagon.

    “It was sad,” Moreno said. “You get carried away by the hype because they start doing all the promos, and they start promoting Cody Garbrandt, and you kind of start believing like, ‘Hey, he could be something interesting in the division.’

    “But then what happened happened, and you start reflecting on a sober mind. It was a tough scene for Cody. He was knocked out at 135 pounds. His chin was touched. He cuts the weight – who knows how the brain was? Then you give him a Kai Kara-France, who hits very hard, and I know it because I already fought him. It wasn’t a good situation for him, and it’s sad.” (h/t Bloody Elbow)

    Moreno isn’t the only big-name fighter to express sympathy for Garbrandt. Rising bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley went from talking trash to saying he felt bad for Garbrandt in weeks.

    Despite his losing skid, Garbrandt has remained optimistic regarding his future at 125 pounds and beyond. A matchup between Moreno and Garbrandt is still possible down the line, depending on how their next Octagon appearances play out.

    What do you think Cody Garbrandt should do next?

  • Coach Reveals How Ngannou Has Dealt With Dramatic UFC 270 Buildup

    Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick doesn’t believe that heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has been distracted ahead of UFC 270.

    Ngannou has had to deal with quite the buildup to his matchup with Ciryl Gane, including back-and-forths in the media with his former coach Fernand Lopez. Ngannou had a public split from Lopez and MMA Factory in which he has been accused of being a bad teammate and not paying fees.

    Sparring footage of Ngannou and Gane training together at MMA Factory has also leaked to the public, with many making assumptions of how the fight could play out. But during a recent interview with ESPN’s Phil Murphy, Nicksick claims that it’s business as usual for the heavyweight champ.

    “It’s a lot of the same. He doesn’t show a lot of emotion,” Nicksick said. “It’s hard to give the right analogy, but it’s a lot like a Shark cruising through the water and not bothered by anything. He’s very calm, very collect, and gathering everything through the process. Nothing’s really stood out to me that’s been alarming. It’s something else when you get him ready for a fight. It’s a Mike Tyson effect. When the lights come on, he’s always ready to go.”

    Ngannou and Gane also had an awkward run-in backstage at UFC 268 in which Ngannou walked past Gane and his team without acknowledging his former colleagues. Ngannou has accused the UFC of setting the whole thing up, which Gane has disagreed with.

    The UFC 270 main event will kick off the calendar year for the promotion, with Ngannou and Gane looking to prove who is arguably the baddest man on the planet. According to Ngannou’s coach, he doesn’t plan on fighting with emotion when he enters the Octagon.

    What are your thoughts on the Francis Ngannou/Ciryl Gane pre-fight buildup?

  • Deiveson Figueiredo Cites Moreno’s “Biggest Betrayal” Of Henry Cejudo

    The mental warfare is in full effect ahead of the trilogy between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno at UFC 270.

    Figueiredo and Moreno will settle the final chapter of their electrifying trilogy to begin 2022. Figueiredo retained the belt via a controversial majority draw at UFC 256, and Moreno submitted him in the rematch at UFC 263.

    Tensions have escalated since Moreno earned the belt, and Figueiredo has gotten ready for their trilogy alongside former flyweight champion Henry Cejudo. Moreno and Cejudo used to train together and Figueiredo has alluded to feeling better and healthier with his new team at Fight Ready in Arizona.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting’s Trocacao Franca podcast, Figueiredo explained his newfound beef with Moreno.

    “Brandon Moreno is dirty—that’s all I have to say about him,” Figueiredo said. “He’s dirty. He’s a traitor. When I came to Scottsdale, [Ariz. at the Fight Ready gym,] Henry Cejudo told me about his betrayal. He lived with Henry Cejudo here and then became [Joseph] Benavidez’s sparring partner to fight Cejudo, so that was his biggest betrayal.”

    Cejudo retired from the UFC following his bantamweight title defense against Dominick Cruz at UFC 249. He has hinted at a possible comeback to challenge for the featherweight title against Alexander Volkanovski.

    After Moreno and Cejudo were once teammates, Moreno has recently hinted at a possible showdown with Cejudo shortly. It’s unclear if Cejudo would ever consider returning at 125 pounds or a higher weight class.

    Figueiredo and Cejudo have had their fair share of differences in the past, but it appears that the two have become close since training together. The buildup to the trilogy with Moreno could include more intensity than their previous two bouts.

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

  • Ian Garry Set To Return At UFC 273 Against Darian Weeks

    Former Cage Warriors champion Ian Garry will return for his second act in the UFC against Darian Weeks at UFC 273 on April 9.

    MMA journalist Marcel Dorff and Iridium Sports Agency were among the first to report the news of the booking.

    Garry passed his first UFC test with flying colors, getting the early knockout with one second left in the first round against Jordan Williams at UFC 268. He was arguably one of if not the biggest signing by the promotion in 2021.

    Garry will face a tough test against another welterweight prospect in Weeks. He most recently fell via unanimous decision to Bryan Barberena for the first loss of his professional career after successful stints in LFA and Midwest Fight League.

    Garry has been compared to another Irishman and former CW champion, Conor McGregor. After his debut win over Williams, he infamously alluded to a McGregor quote with his “We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over” declaration.

    Garry most recently earned the praise of former UFC title challenger Michael Chandler. The two of them train together down at the world-renowned Sanford MMA gym in Florida.

    Before signing with the UFC, Garry earned the CW welterweight championship over Jack Grant at CW 125. He would go on to garner the attention of the UFC brass just weeks later and made his promotional debut at the end of the year.

    At 24 years old, Garry is expected to be a welterweight to watch for years to come. If he can earn another impressive win over Weeks, he could move one step closer to a spot in the UFC rankings.

    Do you think Ian Garry is a future UFC champion?

  • Khamzat Chimaev: I’m More Brazilian Than Gilbert Burns

    UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev is still waiting for his next booking in the Octagon, but the mental games have already begun with Gilbert Burns.

    Chimaev most recently defeated Li Jingliang at UFC 267, in arguably the most dominant performance of his career to date. He is undefeated in his professional career and has earned four-straight finishes in the UFC.

    Chimaev has remained active on social media as he awaits his next opponent. One name who has constantly been at the top of the discussion is Burns, a former title challenger who beat Stephen Thompson at UFC 264.

    Despite the two exciting welterweights not having any obvious bad blood between them, Chimaev is already making attempts to get into Burns’ head. During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Chimaev aimed at his next potential adversary.

    “Everybody is talking about me, but nobody wants to fight with me because we kill everybody,” Chimaev said. “For me, it doesn’t matter. Gilbert Burns talked about Brazil.

    “I’m more Brazilian than him because my coach is Brazilian. I’m a blue belt under Alan ‘Finfou’ (Nascimento). I know many times my coach smashed (Burns), too, on the mats. We are going to choke him out. A ‘Finfou’ blue belt against a black belt. “

    “I like this guy, actually. He’s a funny, nice guy. I want to fight with him. But in war, brother, I can’t be nice with somebody. I want to eat everybody. Take my money. Take my belt. I’m so hungry. When I talk about fighters, I’m hungry. I hope I will fight in Brazil, as well. Nice country. Nice people.” (h/t MiddleEasy)

    The two sides had verbally agreed to fight in April, but it’s unclear whether or not that’ll come to fruition. If Chimaev and Burns seek a fight in Brazil, they may get their opportunity as the promotion plans a return to the country at UFC 274 in May.

    Both Chimaev and Burns have title ambitions, with Chimaev seeking his first title shot and Burns wanting revenge against Kamaru Usman. A formal fight booking could come sooner rather than later.

    How do you think a Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns fight would play out?

  • Ciryl Gane Applauds Francis Ngannou’s Boxing Aspirations

    Ciryl Gane doesn’t mind UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou speaking about a possible crossover fight with boxer Tyson Fury.

    Ngannou and Gane have had quite the buildup to their showdown at UFC 270. While the two heavyweights haven’t gone at each other directly in the media, Ngannou’s issues with Gane’s coach Fernand Lopez are well-publicized.

    Ngannou and the UFC appear to still be at a crossroads regarding a new contract. His fight with Gane is the last bout on his deal if he loses his heavyweight title at UFC 270.

    Ngannou and Fury recently went at it on social media regarding a possible boxing match, but Gane doesn’t believe Ngannou is overlooking him. During a recent interview with Mirror and others, Gane reacted to Ngannou’s recent comments regarding a move to the boxing ring.

    “This is a smart move, this is a new move. Everybody knows you have more money in this game [boxing] for a long time, so yeah this is a smart move,” Gane said. “I think Francis is a smart guy, he talks about that and he talks about the future but he’s focused on the present. He knows he has a challenge with me, so I think he takes me serious.” (h/t Mirror)

    Gane is widely regarded as one of the most diverse strikers in the UFC, with incredible movement for a heavyweight. He could potentially give Ngannou all kinds of issues in their matchup.

    The two giants briefly trained together at MMA Factory in France before Ngannou was kicked out by Lopez due to allegedly being a bad teammate and not paying fees. Sparring footage of Gane and Ngannou has leaked during the pre-fight theatrics.

    If Ngannou is overlooking Gane, it’s clear that Gane would be the beneficiary. In what UFC president Dana White has called arguably the biggest heavyweight fight in years, both men look to cement themselves as potentially an all-time UFC great.

    What is your prediction for UFC 270?

  • Francis Ngannou Converting Half Of UFC 270 Purse To Bitcoin

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou intends to invest half of his purse from UFC 270 into Bitcoin and plans on giving a portion to fans.

    Ngannou is set to face interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane in the UFC 270 main event. This will be his first fight in the Octagon since earning the belt against Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 last year.

    MMA journalist Ariel Helwani was the first the report the news via his Instagram page.

    In addition to converting half of his purse into cryptocurrency, Ngannou will also partner up with Cash App to giveaway $300,000 worth of Bitcoin to fans through his Twitter and Instagram pages.

    Ngannou’s reported purse conversion comes just weeks after former UFC title challenger Kevin Lee announced that he would be paid exclusively in Bitcoin for his fights in Eagle FC. He signed with the promotion last month after being let go by the UFC.

    Ngannou joins a long list of current and former athletes who are dipping their toes into the world of cryptocurrency. Former UFC welterweight Ben Askren along with NFL stars Aaron Rodgers and Odell Beckham Jr. are just a few of the names involved in Bitcoin.

    Ngannou’s fight against Gane could be his last with the UFC, as he and the promotion are still working to come to terms on a new deal. While UFC President Dana White has remained optimistic that a deal can get done, Ngannou has voiced his displeasure with how he’s been treated by the promotion in recent months and years.

    It’s unclear if Ngannou’s partnership with Cash App and cryptocurrency will be a long-term deal or a short-term one, but it’s clear that Bitcoin is continuing to make waves in the world of sports.

    What is your reaction to Francis Ngannou converting a portion of his purse to Bitcoin?

  • Francis Ngannou Teases Big Surprises Ahead Of Ciryl Gane Matchup

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou may have some surprises in store for Ciryl Gane during their clash at UFC 270.

    Ngannou will make his first heavyweight title defense against the interim champ Gane to kick-off 2022. This is his first fight in the Octagon since earning the belt over Stipe Miocic in a vicious knockout at UFC 260 last year.

    Ngannou has always been known for his knockout power, but his takedown defense and overall grappling showed big gains in his last fight. While he’ll always be a striker first, he’s looking to prove that he’s not one-dimensional in his approach.

    During a recent interview with MMA journalist Megan Olivi, Ngannou tells fans to expect the unexpected at UFC 270.

    “I’m cooking something that I’m gonna surprise people with. They think they have seen a lot of my tools, and I’m coming up with something. Having those short fights never really (gave) me an opportunity to showcase what I’m capable of. And I think this might be the opportunity, and I’m getting ready for that, January 22. It’s gonna be like a (completely) different fighter in the best way.

    Francis Ngannou
    Francis Ngannou (Image Credit: Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

    “Obviously, the power’s still gonna be there. I won’t take that off. It’s a good thing to always have in your pocket in case you need it. Because even though I want to really (put on a show), I won’t say no to a knockout, even if it comes in the first minute. So January 22, you’re gonna understand why I’m the champ.”

    Ngannou will more than likely need a balanced approach to his fight with Gane. A former teammate of his at MMA Factory, Gane has shown a diverse skillset in recent wins over Derrick Lewis and Junior dos Santos. His movement has been compared to that of a modern-day welterweight.

    Things have become tense between Ngannou and his former coach Fernand Lopez, but Gane recently assured fans that there’s no bad blood between the two heavyweight titans. If the recent buildup and interviews are any indication, Ngannou and Gane look to put on an all-time classic at UFC 270.

    What is your prediction for Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane?

  • Alex Pereira Claims He Made Israel Adesanya Cry Following Knockout

    UFC middleweight Alex Pereira says he made champion Israel Adesanya cry after knocking him out during their time competing in Glory Kickboxing.

    Pereira is coming off an impressive UFC debut at UFC 268, as he finished Andreas Michailidis with a flying knee and punches in Round 2. Pereira, a former multi-division kickboxing world champion, signed with the UFC last year in a full-time transition to MMA.

    To go along with his incredible combat accolades, he’s also the only man ever to finish Adesanya in any sport. He defeated Adesanya via unanimous decision in 2016 before knocking him out in the rematch in 2017 at Glory of Heroes 7.

    During an interview with PVT’s Marcelo Alonso, Pereira revealed how he shook Adesanya’s confidence following the finish.

    “I don’t know if with his friends, right, with the people close to him, he’s that arrogant guy, that annoying guy, because every time I met the guy, it was all that arrogance, that ego, he was always like that,” Pereira said. “Since our first fight in China, he was a guy who pissed me off a lot, from the weigh-in to the fight. Even losing, when there was the rematch here in Brazil he made a post that I don’t really remember, but it was something like ‘I’ll have to beat Pereira in his backyard and then run out of the favela’. It was something like that, right?

    “I only saw him at the weigh-in and the fight. After the fight I saw him crying outside in Ibirapuera. Sitting on a low wall with his trainer – that’s it.” (h/t SportsKeeda)

    Pereira and Adesanya could be on a collision course once again in the UFC. Adesanya will face former champion Robert Whittaker in a rematch at UFC 271, but the door remains open in the middleweight title picture.

    Adesanya has also previously said that he expects to meet Pereira once again, this time in the Octagon.

    If Pereira can continue his winning ways, he could earn the opportunity to defeat Adesanya for the third time. But this time, Adesanya will have more tools at his disposal in MMA.

    Do you think we’ll see Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya in the UFC?

  • MMA Fighter Alleges Promotion’s Terrorism Ties Prevented His Payment

    MMA fighter Marcus Davis, who recently made his MMA return at Premier FC 32, allegedly didn’t get paid for his first-round finish in November.

    The 48-year-old Davis, who was a mainstay in the UFC’s welterweight division between 2006 and 2010, had made his return to the cage after a seven-year absence. Despite being long past his physical prime, Davis looked like he hadn’t missed a second of the action as he submitted Stephen Stengel in minutes.

    But Davis isn’t happy with the way he’s been treated in the days and weeks since his return. In a recent thread on Facebook, the MMA fighter accused Premier FC of failing to pay him for his win for circumstances outside of his control.

    “Zero, been two months, haven’t paid me 1 cent,” Davis said when asked if he’d been paid. “They ghosted me for the past 25 days. I reached out to them today to let them know I was going public. Only to have the CEO threaten me with an attorney if I spoke out. The claim is they took on an investor that after his check cleared the bank, the fed froze the account because the investor had ties to terrorism.”

    During his time with the UFC, Davis had fought some of the best at 170 pounds, including Nate Diaz at UFC 118. He also earned wins over the likes of Chris Lytle and Paul Kelly in the Octagon.

    The promotion has yet to respond to Davis’ comments and it’s unclear if he’ll ultimately be compensated for his latest victory.

    You can view Davis’ first-round victory at the Premier FC 32 event below via Marcus Davis’ YouTube channel.

    What is your reaction to these wild allegations of an MMA promotion failing to pay a fighter due to an investor being tied to terrorism?

  • Ciryl Gane Assures It Isn’t Personal Between Him And Francis Ngannou

    UFC interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane says despite the tense UFC 270 buildup, he doesn’t have anything against Francis Ngannou.

    Gane is set to face Ngannou in arguably the best heavyweight fight in UFC history at UFC 270. He earned the interim title at UFC 265 over Derrick Lewis in a dominant performance.

    During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Gane shared his thoughts on Ngannou as a person after things have become tense leading up to the event.

    “We’ll shake hands before, during, and after the fight,” Gane said. “I have nothing against him. He’s just my opponent, I have no deal with him. Just an opponent, that’s it.”

    Ciryl Gane’s Coach Has The Most Beef With Francis Ngannou

    Gane and Ngannou used to train together at MMA Factory in France, and leaked sparring footage is part of what has caused a rift between Ngannou and his former coach, Fernand Lopez. In a variety of interviews, Lopez has attacked Ngannou’s character and added more spice to the buildup.

    Ngannou has gone on the record saying he has no relationship with his former coach after allegedly being close for years. Lopez went as far as calling Ngannou a “f**king liar” over his denial of alleged Gane sabotage.

    The speculation in regards to Ngannou and Lopez’s relationship began after the two sides had an awkward run-in backstage at UFC 268. While Ngannou and Gane have each denied that this fight isn’t personal for them, it’s hard to doubt that there won’t be a bit of extra motivation for each man to get their hand raised.

    What is your prediction for Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane?

  • Kevin Holland Reveals OnlyFans Aspirations

    UFC fighter Kevin Holland has a plan in place to continue to build his brand outside of the Octagon in 2022.

    Holland is set to make his UFC return at 170 pounds at UFC 272 against Alex Oliveira. This is his first fight since his controversial no-contest against Kyle Daukaus in October.

    Holland is looking to get back in the win column after going home without a victory over his last three fights. Before the Daukaus fight, he lost back-to-back unanimous decisions to top middleweight contenders Derek Brunson and Marvin Vettori.

    Lots of things are changing in Holland’s MMA career, including a drop to welterweight from middleweight. Standing at 6’3″, he’ll easily be one of the biggest welterweights in the division as he gets set to make his 170-pound debut.

    During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Holland revealed that he’s also planning on a pursuit on the adult site OnlyFans to help support his income.

    “It’s pretty cool,” Holland said. “I’ll probably put some of my gaming content up there so I can still smoke while playing games, so on and so forth. I can just be who I wanna be on OnlyFans, without having to worry about being kicked off… It’s free, you don’t have to pay. So, I’m gonna drop, kinda like, a day in the life type thing. So when I drop that, I’ll probably do the first couple of episodes free, and then if everybody likes it, you know what I mean, I’ll probably do a small subscription to the page. I’ll try and keep it real cheap. I got 4,000 fans on there. If I can do a dollar a fan, that’d be crazy.”

    Holland’s comments come just weeks after former UFC bantamweight champion Miesha Tate shut down the idea of making an OnlyFans account. She has since clarified her comments in which she alluded to it as a “desperate” career path.

    OnlyFans is often used to post mature content, but it sounds like Holland intends to use his account to stream video games and chat with his fanbase. As he gets ready for a potentially eventful 2022, he seems to be in a great place in and out of the cage.

    How do you think Kevin Holland will do at welterweight?

  • Dana White Doesn’t Like The PPV Price Increase Any More Than You Do

    UFC President Dana White says the recent bump in pricing for pay-per-views entering the new year was above his paygrade.

    It was reported just days ago that ESPN intends to increase its price on UFC pay-per-views by $5.00, beginning with UFC 270 on January 22. White and the UFC are coming off of arguably their best year in 2021.

    This is the third time that ESPN has bumped the price of UFC pay-per-views since the biggest MMA promotion found its new broadcasting home. The price tag moved to $64.99 at the beginning of 2020 and bumped up to $69.99 last year.

    During his UFC Vegas 46 post-fight press conference, White was asked whether or not the UFC had any say in the decision to move UFC PPV prices up to $74.99.

    “We don’t. We don’t have any say in that,” White said. “We gave the pay-per-views to ESPN. So yeah, that’s their decision. You know how I feel about that stuff. I don’t love when prices get raised, but it’s not my decision. It’s theirs.”

    Fans went wild when news first broke regarding the PPV increase. It’s unclear if this will hurt the UFC’s sales as 2022 begins.

    White and the UFC’s calendar year began with UFC Vegas 46 and an exciting featherweight main event between Calvin Kattar and Giga Chikadze. The event was available to watch for ESPN+ subscribers at no extra charge.

    As White gets ready for UFC 270, the residual impact of the PPV price increase could be a story to watch as the event gets closer.

    What are your thoughts on the new UFC pay-per-view price? Will this hurt the UFC financially?

  • Junior dos Santos On The UFC: “They Don’t Care About Anybody”

    Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos ripped the UFC for how they handled the final days and months of his tenure.

    dos Santos is slated to face Kubrat Pulev at an upcoming Triller Triad Combat event next month. He was released by the UFC last year after a string of losses and alleged tensions with the brass and Dana White.

    During a recent interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, dos Santos revealed how he and the UFC split with a fractured relationship.

    “They are businessmen, they are good at doing that,” dos Santos said. “They don’t care about anybody, they care about making money and that’s it. I’m thankful for everything that happened to me and my career. When I took my last two fights they said ‘you take or you’re out’. After this last fight what he [Gane] did wasn’t legal. After that, the UFC called me with a fight on 20 days’ notice and I was like, ‘I just fought I can’t fight’. If you can’t fight, then you’re out. They do business and they don’t build anything for athletes and our careers. I was treated like that and they were trying to drain everything that I had, everything that I was so that they could keep everything for them.”

    Some fans of dos Santos are concerned about this next chapter of his combat sports career. His next opponent, Pulev has an astounding 28-2 boxing record while dos Santos is making his boxing debut on the Triad Combat card.

    dos Santos challenged for the UFC heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 211 but fell via first-round knockout. He would go on to win three straight before slumping with four straight defeats.

    dos Santos isn’t the only former UFC fighter to allege wrongdoing by the promotion. Fighters such as former champions Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva have also criticized how the promotion conducts their business in the past.

    For now, it appears that dos Santos is hell-bent on success in Triller, but his MMA future remains uncertain.

    What do you think about Junior dos Santos’ allegations against the UFC?

  • Chikadze Ready To Go From ‘People’s Champ’ To Official #1 Contender

    UFC featherweight contender Giga Chikadze isn’t expecting anything less than a title shot if he gets an impressive win over Calvin Kattar.

    Chikadze has surged to the top of the featherweight division with seven-straight wins since signing with the UFC in 2019. He most recently earned arguably the most impressive win of his career over former lightweight standout Edson Barboza at UFC Vegas 35.

    Following each of his past two wins, Chikadze has called out some of the best fighters in the UFC, including former featherweight king Max Holloway. While he didn’t end up getting a fight with Holloway next, he faces a tough test against another solid contender in Kattar tomorrow night.

    During an interview with MMA Junkie, Chikadze made his intentions perfectly clear for his upcoming fight, and where it could put him in the featherweight title picture.

    “They’ve been talking about this, and I get it, but this fight already happened twice,” Chikadze said. “So I could pass this and just ask for a title (shot), but I want to fight someone from the top five, and Calvin Kattar’s name came. I think that was the only guy who wasn’t busy, and ‘Zombie’ (Chan Sung Jung) was injured, so I picked Kattar, and now we have him for January.”

    “I’ve been saying this for a long time, and people didn’t believe it before,” Chikadze continued. “Now finally they’re starting to believe it. I’m the people’s champ. I can beat anyone in the featherweight division in the world, and I feel it’s time, and it’s time to make it all official.”

    Chikadze and Kattar will go to battle in the main event of UFC Vegas 46 in Las Vegas, NV. The winner of the bout could also potentially serve as the backup fighter to Volkanovski/Zombie, which goes down at UFC 273 in April.

    Chikadze’s kickboxing has proven to be one of the most dangerous skillsets in the 145-pound division. If he’s able to keep up his positive momentum, he could be holding the title sooner rather than later.

    Do you think Giga Chikadze is a future UFC featherweight champion?

  • Calvin Kattar On Best UFC Boxer Debate: “Who Really Gives A Sh*t?”

    UFC featherweight Calvin Kattar is ready to put the ‘best boxer in the UFC’ debate to rest ahead of his matchup with Giga Chikadze.

    Kattar is looking to get back in the featherweight title picture after his disappointing loss to Max Holloway nearly a year ago. He faces a tough task in Chikadze, an exciting Georgian prospect who has skyrocketed into the featherweight fold.

    In addition to dominating Kattar, Holloway notably yelled “I’m the best boxer in the UFC!” while bobbing and weaving through his strikes. He would go on to win the fight via unanimous decision.

    This sparked the debate of who the best UFC boxer is. Holloway, Sean O’Malley, Conor McGregor, and Petr Yan are just a few of the names who have been thrown into the conversation.

    During his UFC Vegas 46 pre-fight press conference, Kattar explained why he’s tired of hearing about the best boxer debate.

    “Everyone’s catching onto that, ‘Who’s the best boxer in the UFC?’ I mean, who really gives a sh*t?” Kattar said. “This is martial arts. Yeah, you can box, but I mean, there’s elbows, there’s knees, there’s everything man. And if you wanna talk about who’s the best boxer, I mean, everyone’s got everyone’s card at some point, so, it’s just musical chairs at this point.”

    The winner of the Kattar vs. Chikadze fight could get a featherweight title shot next. Alexander Volkanovski will face Chan Sung Jung (otherwise known as ‘The Korean Zombie’). Many threw their name in the hat when Holloway had to pull out of his trilogy with Volkanovski, but Kattar was not one of them.

    Regardless of Kattar’s feelings, it seems that the best UFC boxer debate isn’t going away anytime soon. However, he has the opportunity to throw himself into the conversation with a win over Chikadze at UFC Vegas 46.

    Who do you think is the best boxer in the UFC?

  • Giga Chikadze Targets Submission Wins Soon, Wants To KO Kattar First

    UFC featherweight contender Giga Chikadze is looking to prove that he’s not just an elite striker but also a well-rounded mixed martial artist.

    Chikadze faces arguably the toughest test of his UFC career against Calvin Kattar at UFC Vegas 46. While Kattar is coming off of a tough loss to Max Holloway last year, he’s still regarded as one of the toughest brawlers in the featherweight division.

    Chikadze knocked out the always-dangerous Edson Barboza in his last Octagon appearance but also showcased an improved grappling skillset in the win. He nearly had Barboza in trouble on the ground before transitioning back to his striking base.

    During his UFC Vegas 46 pre-fight media scrum, Chikadze teased his game plan for his matchup with Kattar.

    “I feel like he’s going to mix it up with a bit of the wrestling,” Chikadze said. “I think that’s going to be his plan because he is from a wrestling background. Then he has some nice boxing techniques. Either he’s going to box with me, or he’s gonna wrestle with me.

    “Honestly, I really want to show the people how great my ground game became. I want to submit people eventually, very soon, and start submitting people. But because Calvin Kattar has never been knocked out, it gives me a little bit more motivation to finish him with striking.”

    Chikadze later explained why he moved away from his grappling in his last victory over Barboza.

    “Last time I really had the chance to finish Edson with submission, but like I said, I had to prove that I’m the best striker and this was the reason why I let it go. This time? I said that I’m the best boxer in the UFC too, so probably I’m gonna still go more to the strikes. But if I get a chance like I did with Edson, this time I’m not going to let it go.”

    Chikadze could be one win away from a featherweight title shot after going back-and-forth on social media with Alexander Volkanovski. If he’s able to continue to improve his overall game, he could be an unstoppable force at 145 pounds for years to come.

    What is your prediction for Giga Chikadze vs. Calvin Kattar?

  • Dustin Poirier Looks Ripped Ahead Of Potential Welterweight Move

    Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier is looking big ahead of a potential move to 170 pounds.

    Poirier is coming off of a disappointing loss to Charles Oliveira for the lightweight title at UFC 269. After getting off to a good start in the opening minutes, he struggled with Oliveira’s grappling and was eventually submitted in Round 3.

    Poirier has admitted to being at a bit of a crossroads in his MMA career. He’s alluded to a move to welterweight as the cut to 155 pounds becomes more difficult at this stage in his life.

    While Poirier doesn’t have a fight lined up just yet, he looks to be getting in possibly the best shape of his life ahead of his Octagon return. He showed off his physical gains in a recent Instagram post.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYozrcfrt41/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “Bulking SZN,” Poirier said in the post’s caption.

    Dustin Poirier Remains Interested In A Nate Diaz Fight

    One name who has piqued Poirier’s interest is Nate Diaz. Shortly after his loss to Oliveira, Poirier pointed to Diaz as the one opponent who would excite him for a quick turnaround in the UFC.

    Poirier and Diaz have gone at it on social media for years, as talks of a fight between them continue to ramp up. The two former lightweight contenders were supposed to fight in 2018 before fight negotiations fell through.

    Despite the challenge of getting Diaz to the negotiating table proving to be difficult, Poirier remains optimistic about a fight with his Stockton-based rival. Both men are coming off of tough losses, and the winner of the matchup could get right back on track at welterweight.

    How do you think Dustin Poirier would perform at welterweight?

  • Giga Chikadze Says He’s Lost Respect For Volkanovski For “Cheap Move”

    UFC featherweight contender Giga Chikadze is no longer a fan of Alexander Volkanovski after recent tensions between the two top 145 pounders.

    Chikadze had called for the next title shot against Volkanovski after the champion’s original UFC 272 opponent, Max Holloway, pulled out with an injury. Volkanovski and the UFC opted to go with Chan Sung Jung, otherwise known as ‘The Korean Zombie’, as a replacement.

    Chikadze volunteered to make a quick turnaround from his upcoming fight to fill in against Volkanovski, but the UFC had other plans.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Chikadze was asked about whether or not he had lost respect for Volkanovski.

    “Absolutely, yeah,” Chikadze said. “Before that, I kind of messaged him after his last fight, I congratulated him,” said Chikadze. “Brother, this (Volkanovski’s response to me on Twitter) is a cheap move for me to see. He messages me, he tweeted that I’m fighting a top five or something, and like, I lost a lot of respect for him. And plus, bro, I’m not here for respect and all this stuff. No friends for me. These guys, I’m here to take over everybody, smash, you know, I don’t need extra friends here. I feel like these people are trying to take my dreams, so I’m gonna fight them.”

    Giga Chikadze Could Be On The Verge Of A Bout With Volkanovski

    Chikadze will face Calvin Kattar in a second straight main event at UFC Vegas 46 this weekend. In his last fight, he put on a dominant performance over Edson Barboza and ended up earning TKO victory.

    Chikadze has long been considered by many to be the dark horse of the featherweight division. After losing out on a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, he’s won nine fights in a row over the likes of Cub Swanson, Omar Morales, and Barboza. For these reasons, Dana White allegedly told Chikadze that he’s close to earning the next shot. Another impressive win over Kattar is the first step to making that happen.

    How do you think a Giga Chikadze vs. Alexander Volkanovski fight would play out?

  • Antonio Rogerio Nogueira To Make Boxing Return In Brazil

    MMA legend Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will box a former UFC colleague, Leonardo Guimaraes, at the upcoming Fight Music Show card on Jan. 30.

    News of the booking was first reported by MMA Fighting.

    The Balneario Camburiu, BR event will be headlined by a matchup between YouTube star Whindersson Nunes and former WBO champion Acelino Freitas. It’s unclear if Nogueira is signed with FMS for multiple fights after the scheduled bout with Guimaraes.

    Nogueira retired from the UFC in July 2020 following a razor-thin split-decision defeat to longtime rival Mauricio Rua on Fight Island. Before that, he had traded wins and losses against the likes of Anthony Johnson and Sam Alvey.

    This isn’t the first time Nogueira has competed in the boxing ring. In the mid-2000s, he won super-heavyweight world titles at the Brazilian and South American Championships. He would later win the bronze medal at the 2007 Pan-American Games.

    FMS will air on pay-per-view and is expected to be attended by 2,200 fans, with the limited crowd size due to the COVID-19 pandemic. FMS is also allegedly in talks to sign another former UFC standout, Wanderlei Silva, to a multi-fight contract.

    Nogueira is widely regarded as one of the greatest legends in MMA history. During his run in Pride, he earned wins over the likes of Dan Henderson, Alistair Overeem, and Kazushi Sakuraba just as the sport began to garner worldwide attention.

    Nogueira clearly still has the fire to compete and will look to put on an impressive performance in his return to the boxing ring.

    Will you watch Minotauro’s boxing return?

  • Sonnen Shares How Tommy Fury Can “Earn” Fight Against Jake Paul

    Former UFC star Chael Sonnen thinks he has the recipe for Tommy Fury to get his long-awaited fight with Jake Paul in the boxing ring.

    Fury was supposed to face Paul just last month before he had to pull out due to an injury. Paul ended up knocking out Tyron Woodley in the sixth round on short notice.

    Paul has appeared to take his attention away from rescheduling a fight with Fury and is instead interested in a fight with Julio César Chávez Jr. Fury is anticipating a return to the ring as soon as March and is hopeful the two sides can agree on a bout in 2022.

    Sonnen is a bit more optimistic regarding Fury’s chances at getting a Paul fight booked. During a recent segment on his YouTube channel, he detailed how Fury can earn the attention of Paul and get the fight he wants.

    “You wanna know a fight that would work throw Tommy Fury in there with Tyron Woodley,” Sonnen said. “If Tommy can show that he can handle himself with Tyron, then Tommy will belong in there with Jake afterward. The problem with doing that is that Tommy can’t beat Tyron Woodley.

    “Tommy would not beat Tyron and if Tommy wouldn’t show up to face Jake because of the pressures that came with that, then it’s going to be even more pressure to fight a guy who Jake has beaten twice. And he wouldn’t show up for that trust me!” (h/t Mirror)

    Woodley has alluded to an active 2022, regardless of how his last fight with Paul resulted. Fury is undefeated in his young boxing career despite a questionable run of opponents on his record.

    Fury and Woodley don’t seem to have any beef between the two of them, which could potentially make it a hard fight to sell. However, a Fury victory could certainly get the attention necessary for a possible fight with Paul shortly.

    After Fury suffered a chest infection and an injured rib, it was believed that he could be sidelined from the ring for a while. Despite this, he’s anticipating a profound return to the ring in hopes of making a Paul fight come to fruition.

    Do you agree with Chael Sonnen?

  • Coach Shares Additional Insight On Jake Paul’s Potential MMA Move

    Jake Paul seems intent on transitioning to MMA in the future, and his boxing coach BJ Flores is optimistic about his chances in the cage.

    Paul most recently knocked out former UFC champion Tyron Woodley in the sixth round of their rematch. Leading up to the fight, he hinted at a future move to MMA after he gets a few more boxing fights on his record.

    In the meantime, Paul has been calling out some of MMA’s biggest stars, including Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor. Before his wins over Woodley, he earned a vicious knockout over former Bellator champion Ben Askren.

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, Flores spoke about why Paul could make the move to MMA with relative ease.

    “He’s just a well-rounded kid,” Flores said. “If he wants to learn how to kick, if he wants to do an MMA fight, [Paul should] do it 100%.”

    “I’ll help any way I can, anywhere possible. Like it’s not about me, it’s about him. If that’s the direction he wants to go, no problem. He’ll be good at anything he does, trust me.” (h/t MiddleEasy)

    Jake Paul Has Been In Talks With American Kickboxing Academy

    Paul revealed that he’s been in contact with the American Kickboxing Academy, the home of former champions Daniel Cormier and Khabib Nurmagomedov, to eventually train MMA. It’s unclear when he’ll begin his planned move to the cage.

    Paul has also been a vocal component of the UFC fighter pay issue. He’s poked at UFC president Dana White for underpaying fighters and not giving the roster long-term health care benefits.

    Paul has taken the boxing world by storm over the past year, and he has the potential to attract a lot of attention in a possible move to MMA.

    How do you think Jake Paul would do in MMA?

  • Yan: UFC Delayed Rematch To Avoid Sterling Headlining PPV

    Petr Yan has his theory on why the UFC opted to move his scheduled rematch with Aljamain Sterling from UFC 272 to the UFC 273 co-main.

    Yan lost his bantamweight title to Sterling at UFC 259 after landing an illegal knee to a grounded Sterling late in the fight. Sterling would earn the title via disqualification and the saga began regarding rematch talks.

    Sterling and Yan were originally scheduled to square off at UFC 267, but Sterling pulled out due to lingering health issues. Yan would go on to fight and defeat Cory Sandhagen for the interim belt at UFC 267.

    After they were originally scheduled once again to battle at UFC 272, the fight has now been pushed back to UFC 273. The two sides have gone at it on social media regarding the reasoning for the delay, with Sterling accusing Yan of being responsible for it.

    The two went at it on Twitter regarding the situation, with Yan citing Sterling as the reasoning.

    “Pathetic liar desperately trying to look good and control the narrative but it won’t work. I’m vaccinated and ready to bash you anywhere even tomorrow. UFC simply doesn’t want fake champion to headline the event,” Yan tweeted.

    The UFC and president Dana White haven’t come out publically and explained the fight getting pushed back. Yan’s attack prompted a brutal response from Sterling.

    “Lmao I’m only repeating what I was told from the bosses. Don’t get your potato tits in a twist! I’d happily fuck you up tmw too. That can easily be arranged.”

    The bantamweight title picture has been searching for clarity ever since Sterling controversially earned the belt. The UFC’s feelings about the situation can be attributed to Yan being on the pound-for-pound list while the champion Sterling is notably absent.

    For now, it appears that the Sterling-Yan rematch is set to happen at UFC 273, and fans will need to keep their fingers crossed regarding any potential shakeups between now and then.

    What is your prediction for the Petr Yan-Aljamain Sterling rematch?

  • O’Malley Would Expect Fury To ‘Piece Ngannou Up’ In Boxing Match

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou has flirted with the idea of boxing against Tyson Fury, but Sean O’Malley doesn’t like his odds.

    Ngannou is set to face Ciryl Gane for the unified UFC heavyweight title at UFC 270. It’s been quite the buildup to the fight, featuring his strained relationship with his former coach Fernand Lopez.

    After winning his trilogy with Deontay Wilder, Fury is widely expected to face Dillian Whyte next after a mandatory negotiation order. It’s unclear if and when the fight will happen as an official date hasn’t been targeted.

    During a recent episode of his podcast, O’Malley explained why he feels Ngannou wouldn’t match up well against Fury.

    “Ngannou vs. Fury potential boxing fight. If I’m being real, I’ve seen Ngannou throw [punches] like he doesn’t have a lot of boxing skills,” O’Malley said. “If you see how he throws some of his punches, it’s not like a good one too. It’s not even close [to Fury’s level]. With that being said, he could still catch him. He’s got that much f***ing power. Ngannou’s probably got more power than Wilder I’d say… So if they’re in a boxing ring, Francis is so big and terrifying but Tyson Fury would probably piece him up.”

    After the negotiations with Whyte stalled, Fury and Ngannou have gone at it on social media for a potential crossover fight. Ngannou, who has long hinted at a move to boxing, has publicly entertained the idea of fighting Fury.

    Ngannou has been at odds with the UFC brass for months over an ongoing contract dispute. While UFC President Dana White has expressed recent optimism regarding a new contract for Ngannou, it’s unclear if a deal will get done with one fight left.

    O’Malley is arguably one of the best strikers in MMA today and seems to know what he’s talking about when it comes to the boxing aspect of fighting. Ngannou vs. Fury may or may not happen, but O’Malley certainly thinks that Ngannou should stay away from the potential matchup.

    How do you think a Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou matchup would play out?