MMA News

Author: Curtis Calhoun

  • Chad Mendes Set To Make Bare Knuckle Debut On Feb. 19

    Former UFC featherweight title challenger Chad Mendes will make his combat sports return in Bare Knuckle FC next month.

    News of Mendes’ promotional debut was first reported by MMA Junkie.

    Mendes signed a multi-fight deal with BKFC despite still being technically under contract with the UFC. Shortly after signing with BKFC, he praised the UFC for allowing him to continue this new chapter in his fight career.

    Mendes is expected to face Joshuah Alvarez in a 155-pound bout on Feb. 19 in Hollywood, FL. BKFC has yet to make an official announcement of the booking and Mendes’ opponent for his debut.

    Alvarez fell in his BKFC debut last November to Arthur Walcott-Ceesay.

    Chad Mendes Makes His Fighting Return After Lengthy Absence

    Mendes had a bit of a rocky exit from the UFC after losing multiple featherweight title shots. Following his loss to Frankie Edgar in late 2015, he was served with a two-year USADA suspension after an out-of-competition test found growth hormone in Mendes’ system.

    Mendes would eventually return in July 2018 to earn a first-round knockout over Myles Jury. He would then go on to lose to current featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 232.

    After his loss to Volkanovski, Mendes announced his retirement from MMA. During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, he announced his return to fighting in bare-knuckle, with an eventual return to MMA still on the table.

    At 36 years old, Mendes still has the opportunity to fight at an elite level. He’ll look to silence the doubters next month in the BKFC ring.

    How do you think Chad Mendes will do in bare knuckle?

  • Michel Pereira Finds Short-Notice Replacement For UFC Vegas 46

    UFC welterweight prospect Michel Pereira will fight at UFC Vegas 46 after all, as Andre Fialho will step up as a fill-in for Muslim Salikhov.

    Salikhov pulled out just days before the fight due to an undisclosed illness, as first reported by MMA Fighting. The promotion had been rushing in recent days to find an opponent for Pereira ahead of his originally scheduled co-main event slot.

    Fialho is an intriguing welterweight prospect who has won four-straight fights in smaller promotions overseas such as UAE Warriors and XMMA. He last fought in October in a first-round knockout over Stefan Sekulić.

    Pereira is arguably one of the most exciting strikers in the welterweight division, with an unusual style and wild techniques. He’s won three fights in a row in an impressive fashion over Niko Price, Khaos Williams, and Zelim Imadaev.

    Before his recent stint in UAE Warriors, Fialho had made the rounds in Bellator, PFL, and Legacy. He’s earned wins over former UFC standout James Vick and AJ Matthews.

    Fialho should present a tough challenge to Pereira on short notice, as he’s accumulated 11 of his 14 wins by knockout. All four of his consecutive wins have been finished within two rounds.

    After his recent wins, Pereira has called out Nate Diaz on numerous occasions, despite not getting a clear response from the Stockton native. Another impressive win over a tough prospect such as Fialho would further propel him into welterweight contention.

    Are you excited about Michel Pereira’s return to the Octagon?

  • [UPDATE] Sterling Explains Why Yan Rematch Is Being Delayed Yet Again

    UPDATE: The rematch will officially take place at UFC 273 on April 9 per a Tuesday report from MMA journalist Ariel Helwani.

    ***

    Aljamain Sterling confirmed reports that his rematch with Petr Yan at UFC 272 may get pushed back to April.

    Sterling got the belt via disqualification after Yan landed an illegal knee at UFC 259. The UFC has attempted to put the rematch together on multiple occasions, but injuries and other issues have come to the surface.

    Sterling and Yan were supposed to fight at UFC 267 before Sterling pulled out due to lingering health issues. Yan would then fight and beat Cory Sandhagen for the interim bantamweight title.

    During a recent post on social media, Sterling confirmed rumors that the Yan rematch may be in jeopardy once again.

    “Yes, they’re talking about pushing my fight back to April,” Sterling said. “Not because of me. This is what I was told: [Mocking] ‘Yan isn’t vaccinated so he can’t fight in March’.

    “I actually respect his gangster. If this is the real reason, I actually respect his stance. I respect it, but it doesn’t make any sense. And I’m making fun of it because it’s like, is he going to be vaccinated in April? I don’t think so. So what are we doing?

    “I just want to know when we’re fighting. It’s about time we get to punch each other in the face. So, hopefully, we can figure this out sooner rather than later, unify these belts and figure out who is really the guy.”

    The tension between Sterling and Yan has skyrocketed in recent months. Sterling has accused Yan of using performance-enhancing drugs, which Yan has vehemently denied.

    Since the time of their first matchup, the UFC’s bantamweight division has grown into arguably the most stacked division in the sport. The title picture is in desperate need of clarity, beginning with the second chapter of Sterling vs. Yan.

    As of now, it appears that the fight could likely get pushed back to UFC 273 in April, which is slated to be the promotion’s pay-per-view in Brooklyn, NY. Therefore, fans may have to wait a little longer to see these two rivals go to battle once again.

    What is your reaction to the Aljamain Sterling/Petr Yan rematch getting pushed back once again?

  • Faber to Swanson: We Might Have To See Whoā€™s The King of California

    Urijah Faber and Cub Swanson may be on a collision course in 2022 as the two veterans look to continue their respective UFC careers.

    Faber hasn’t fought in the Octagon in a little over two years since his knockout loss to Petr Yan at UFC 245. It was his second fight back in the cage after retiring in 2016.

    Faber hasn’t ruled out continuing his combat sports career alongside his leadership at Team Alpha Male. One name who has been making the rounds is Swanson, who recently hinted at a potential fight with Faber in a throwback matchup.

    During a recent post on his YouTube channel, Faber opined about a possible veteran vs. veteran matchup in the UFC.

    ā€œHonestly, I know he broke his hand, that might give me enough time to train,ā€ Faber said. ā€œHe might drop down to 135 ā€“ we were supposed to fight back in 2004, with King of the Cage on short notice for a thousand bucks, I think they were gonna pay him a couple of hundred bucks and me a thousand bucks and that never happened, so Cubby, Iā€™m honored that Iā€™m your dream fight here in this scenario. So we might have to find out who the king of California is, I donā€™t know.ā€

    Swanson most recently defeated Darren Elkins at UFC Vegas 45 and has won three of his last four bouts. His most recent defeat was to the rising featherweight contender Giga Chikadze, who finished him with a brutal body kick and ground-and-pound strikes.

    Swanson first brought up the idea of facing Faber in late 2020, and conversations regarding the matchup have resurfaced in recent weeks.

    It’s unclear if Swanson intends on moving down to 135 pounds at this stage in his career, but it has worked out well for fighters such as JosĆ© Aldo. If Swanson wants to move down to bantamweight, Faber seems like a game opponent who could be ready to fight this year.

    Would you be interested in a Urijah Faber vs. Cub Swanson matchup?

  • Jake Paul Confirms Recent Reports Regarding His Next Opponent

    The polarizing YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul is moving on from the idea of a Tommy Fury fight as he turns his attention to Julio CƩsar ChƔvez Jr.

    There had been reports of Paul being interested in fighting ChƔvez Jr. since days after his Tyron Woodley rematch, and ChƔvez Jr. has also discussed the potential bout. Paul was originally supposed to face Tommy Fury instead of Woodley, but Fury pulled out of the fight roughly two weeks prior to the event.

    During a recent interview on the Boxing with Chris Mannix podcast, Paul confirmed his interest in a possible matchup with ChƔvez Jr. for his next challenge in the ring instead of rescheduling the Fury Fight.

    ā€œItā€™s interesting. I like that fight a lot, because it silences the critics,ā€ Paul said.

    ā€œHe was a former world champion, and I know I could beat him. And you look at his record, itā€™s like 50 wins or something, and I donā€™t even know the losses, but itā€™s a good record. So that challenge excites me and Iā€™m down.

    “And this is what people donā€™t understand is that, even after I knocked out Woodley, they were all like, ā€˜Fight a real boxer.ā€™

    ā€œIā€™m like, ā€˜You guys, I tried, and he dropped out of the fight two weeks before.ā€™ So I want to fight a real boxer, newsflash, and Iā€™m going to. Just have some f*cking patience.ā€ (h/t MMA Fighting)

    Jake Paul Has Hinted At Taking Time Off From Boxing

    Despite speculation running rampant regarding Paul’s next fight, he has alluded to taking some time off from the ring after a busy 2021. Paul earned a vicious knockout over Ben Askren before back-to-back wins over Woodley.

    Paul first hinted at taking time off from the ring after his split-decision win over Woodley last August. However, his interest in fighting Chavez Jr. may lure him back to the fight game sooner than expected.

    Paul has remained active in the gym and on social media, as shown in recent footage of him practicing leg kicks in a teased move to MMA. Fans and critics of Paul have called for him to face a true boxer over the past year, and it sounds like it could be close to happening.

    Who do you want to see Jake Paul fight next?

  • JP Buys Rejects Wife Cheyanne Vlismas’ Claim Of Being In Hiding

    It’s unclear when Cheyanne Vlismas will return to the Octagon, but her soon-to-be ex-husband JP Buys isn’t buying her excuses.

    Vlismas is coming off of arguably the best win of her career at UFC Vegas 44 over Mallory Martin. She earned the Fight of the Night performance bonus for her unanimous decision win.

    After the victory, Vlismas was vague when asked about her plans to return to the Octagon. During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, she briefly alluded to her whereabouts and reasoning for going overseas. Vlismas revealed that she had to leave the United States due to unspecified personal issues.

    ā€œNo one knows where Iā€™m at, and Iā€™m actually keeping it that way,ā€ Vlismas said. ā€œA lot of things happened before my fight ā€” and even after my fightā€”and I decided whatā€™s best is to just escape. Iā€™ve been gone now for two weeks and I love it. Iā€™m overseas and just living my life.ā€

    After the interview aired, Buys issued a harsh response to Vlismas’ comments and claims of being in hiding.

    “Hiding from what?” Buys tweeted. “In a country no one knows where she’s at? Everyone here knows she has been in Batumi, Georgia with Roman, the same guy she has been having an affair with behind my back. While still married.”

    Vlismas has yet to issue a public response to Buys’ tweet.

    Vlismas garnered the attention of UFC president Dana White after earning an impressive win on Dana White’s Contender Series. Following her win over Hilarie Rose, she would earn a contract due to her skill set and potential.

    Buys has struggled since earning a contract on DWCS. He’s lost back-to-back fights to Bruno Silva and Montel Jackson and is still looking for his first win with the promotion.

    What is your reaction to the JP Buys/Cheyanne Vlismas story?

  • Belal Muhammad Jokingly Hints Khamzat Chimaev Rejected Fight

    UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad poked fun at Khamzat Chimaev for allegedly dodging him for a fight in the Octagon.

    Muhammad most recently put on arguably the most dominant performance of his career against Stephen Thompson. As the new year begins, he’s potentially one fight away from a welterweight title shot.

    Muhammad has been calling out Chimaev for weeks for a bout. Meanwhile, Chimaev has been eagerly waiting for his return to the Octagon after a decisive win at UFC 267 over Li Jingliang.

    Muhammad first called out Chimaev following his latest win. During a recent Instagram post, he jokingly aimed at Chimaev.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYiUermMIZ3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Muhammad and Chimaev have gone back-and-forth on Twitter recently after preliminary fight rumors surfaced on social media. Now, it appears that Chimaev has turned his attention to a fight with former title challenger Gilbert Burns.

    Chimaev first became a household name after a memorable 2020. He finished the calendar year with three-straight finishes, including two within 10 days.

    As for Muhammad, it’s unclear who he’ll face for his first fight of 2022, but he remains interested in a matchup with the rising Chimaev. Depending on how the welterweight title conversation plays out, these two could battle sooner rather than later.

    Who should Belal Muhammad fight next?

  • Michael Chandler Interested In Dustin Poirier Matchup For 2022 Return

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler still thinks a matchup with Dustin Poirier makes a lot of sense if Poirier stays at 155 pounds.

    Chandler still has UFC title ambitions despite back-to-back losses to Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje. He remains a big name in the lightweight division and could be back in the title shot conversation if he can get on a winning streak.

    Poirier also lost to Oliveira at UFC 269, and both men are in somewhat of an uncertain position in the 155-pound division. Poirier has also alluded to a move to welterweight for the remainder of his career after losing his second title shot to Oliveira.

    Meanwhile, Chandler has hinted at a possible matchup with Conor McGregor in 2022, although it’s unclear if the UFC will go through with it.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Chandler pointed to what intrigues him about a fight with Poirier.

    ā€œThatā€™s what I wanted to do when I came into the UFC,ā€ Chandler said. ā€œI wanted to fight all the top guys. Poirier was actually one of the guys that we asked for, and he declined at the very beginning, which I have no problem with that. He was at the top of the division and I was the guy from outside the UFC coming in.

    ā€œSo heā€™s always been a name on the list. Heā€™s a guy that I respect. A guy that I admire inside the sport of mixed martial arts. A guy who I would love to compete against.ā€

    Chandler has recently taken back comments in which he referred to Poirier as a “quitter” following his UFC 269 defeat. After getting off to a good start against Oliveira, Poirier was submitted with a standing rear-naked choke in Round 3.

    Chandler and Poirier are still fighting for championships, and a matchup between them would certainly make sense at lightweight. However, Poirier’s reluctance to commit to a future at 155 pounds may take the matchup out of the conversation.

    Who do you want to see Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier fight next?

  • Holly Holm Teases Potential Boxing Return: “I Can Still Be A Champion”

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm appears to be flirting with a potential return to boxing.

    Holm hasn’t competed since October 2020, when she earned a dominant win over Irene Aldana. Before that, she had earned a decision win over Raquel Pennington at UFC 246.

    Holm was supposed to face Norma Dumont in a featherweight bout last year but had to withdraw after suffering a knee injury in training. She was replaced on just days’ notice by Aspen Ladd, who would go on to lose to Dumont decisively.

    Despite being right in the thick of things in the UFC title picture at bantamweight and featherweight, Holm isn’t ruling out a return to her roots in the boxing ring. During a recent interview with FightHype.com, she described her possible motivation for returning to the ‘sweet science.’

    ā€œI miss boxing,” Holm said. “itā€™s always going to be a part of my heart and so you never know. You know maybe I will go back and a lot of these people are going also. A lot of fighters are trying to go back and forth and nobody is doing it successfully.

    ā€œNot a lot of people can do it successfully but I can. I know I can, I know I can go back to boxing and still be a champion.ā€ (h/t EssentiallySports)

    Holly Holm Earned Multiple World Titles In Boxing

    Before making the full-time transition to MMA, Holm had been regarded as arguably the top female boxer in the world. She successfully defended her belts a total of 16 times in three different weight classes.

    After retaining her IBA and WBF light-welterweight titles, Holm went on a run to the UFC bantamweight belt. She would go on to eventually pull off one of the greatest upsets in UFC history over Ronda Rousey at UFC 193.

    Holm has also hinted at a potential matchup with the newly-crowned bantamweight champion Julianna PeƱa.

    It’s unclear when Holm will eventually return to the Octagon, but it appears that all options are on the table for her combat sports career. She still seems intent on challenging for the UFC title once again.

    How do you think Holly Holm would fare against some of the top female boxers today?

  • Sterling Predicts Jake Paul Would “Really Hurt” Silva In Boxing Match

    UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling likes Jake Paul’s chances in a hypothetical boxing match against MMA legend Anderson Silva.

    Paul wrapped up his impressive run in 2021 with back-to-back wins over former UFC champion Tyron Woodley. An undefeated boxer, Paul was originally scheduled to face Tommy Fury before Fury pulled out with an injury.

    Speculation has run rampant regarding who Paul could face next in the boxing ring. One of the names that has come up is Silva, who was allegedly in brief talks to fight Jake’s brother Logan before negotiations stalled.

    During a recent podcast segment on his YouTube channel, Sterling previewed a potential matchup between Paul and Silva.

    “I know Anderson Silva was supposedly a frontrunner to fight Jake,” Sterling said. “If Jake were to connect, I think he would really hurt Anderson. I think Paul is going to tie him up, lean on him. He’s a young guy, he’s going to grab him. Against Woodley, he clinched 30 times over the first five rounds. With this one, Silva’s got hands. But the only thing is, can he take a shot?”

    Following his latest knockout win over Woodley, Paul alluded to taking some time away from the boxing spotlight. He’s allegedly anticipating a return to the ring this summer, although a scheduled fight earlier is certainly possible.

    Silva most recently defeated former UFC colleague Tito Ortiz in a first-round knockout. Before that, he had defeated Julio CƩsar ChƔvez in an impressive decision victory.

    Silva has vocalized his interest in boxing the Paul brothers at some point, although it’s unclear if a fight between the two sides will come to fruition. He’s also hinted at a potential boxing rematch against Vitor Belfort.

    Paul seems determined to continue to fight MMA stars, including Nate Diaz and Conor Mcgregor. However, Silva could be a name to watch for a potential bout in 2022.

    Do you agree with Aljamain Sterling? Would Jake Paul “hurt” Anderson Silva in a boxing match?

  • Dustin Poirier Signals Heā€™s Still Hopeful For Nate Diaz Fight

    UFC star Dustin Poirier remains optimistic that a showdown with Nate Diaz can still happen next.

    Poirier most recently fell to UFC lightweight champ Charles Oliveira at UFC 269. After the disappointing result, he has hinted at a potential move to welterweight to avoid harsh weight cuts at this stage of his career.

    When asked about a name who would excite him to return, Poirier immediately pointed to Diaz. The two were supposed to fight in November 2018 at UFC 230, but the bout fell through and both men were issued different opponents.

    Fight talks have been all over the place regarding a Poirier vs. Diaz bout, with Diaz appearing to dismiss the fight on social media and recent reports stating the UFC has moved on from the idea for the time being. But in a recent tweet, Poirier alluded to his targeted foe.

    Both fighters have accused the other of the stalled negotiations. Poirier has alleged that Diaz doesn’t want the fight, and Diaz has indicated that Poirier’s recent loss makes him an unworthy opponent.

    Poirier and Diaz are both also in the running for a rematch with Conor McGregor in 2022. Poirier most recently defeated McGregor via doctor’s stoppage at UFC 264 and a fourth fight is certainly on the table.

    Poirier allegedly accepted a short-notice bout against Diaz slated for this month, but it never came to fruition. Despite Poirier vs. Diaz still being a question mark, the former interim lightweight champion still wants to make it happen.

    Do you think we’ll see Dustin Poirier vs. Nate Diaz in 2022?

  • Charles Oliveira Teases Possible Superfights With Volkanovski, Usman

    UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira is already thinking about the pursuit of ‘champ-champ’ status after his first title defense.

    Oliveira wrapped up his stellar 2021 by defeating Dustin Poirier at UFC 269, further cementing himself as the lightweight king. He earned the then-vacant title over Michael Chandler at UFC 262 after Khabib Nurmagomedov retired.

    Oliveira has found a home at 155 pounds after an up-and-down tenure at featherweight. But, he has previously stated that he would entertain the idea of moving back down to 145 if a title shot was available.

    During a recent interview on MMA Fighting’s Trocacao Franca podcast, Oliveira further explained his ambitions, after his coach stated that chasing more than one title was possible.

    ā€œI really thought I couldnā€™t drop to 145 anymore,ā€ Oliveira said, ā€œBut this last weight cut, I was really [close to] 155 before the fight with this work weā€™ve been doing, with lots of water in the body, and we believe we could easily make 145.

    ā€œIf I had the opportunity to go straight for the 145 belt, Iā€™d move down to fight. Also, if I had the opportunity to go straight for the 170 belt, Iā€™d also move up to fight, but I believe itā€™s more viable to [drop down] to 145 instead of going to 170 at this moment.”

    Kamaru Usman is widely expected to face Leon Edwards next but has taken out most top contenders. Volkanovski recently had his Max Holloway trilogy canceled and is awaiting a new opponent for UFC 272.

    Oliveira is widely expected to face Justin Gaethje for his next lightweight title defense, but a money fight against Conor McGregor might be possible as well. Oliveira is looking ahead to a potentially active 2022.

    Do you think Charles Oliveira could become a UFC double champ?

  • Chandler Says Unranked UFC Newcomer Will Be Champion In Two Years

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler still has championship ambitions, but he’s got his eyes on a teammate who may beat him to it.

    Chandler fell short in a Fight of the Year contender against Justin Gaethje at UFC 268. Despite the defeat, Chandler earned plenty of respect and support from the UFC fanbase and is a big name in the lightweight division. He also had to apologize to his wife afterward for the sheer brutality of the contest.

    Chandler trains down at Sanford MMA alongside some of the top UFC talents, including Gilbert Burns and, formerly, Kamaru Usman. But one particular teammate of his, Ian Garry, has impressed him since joining the gym last year.

    During a recent interview with ESPN’s Megan Olivi, Chandler praised Garry and made quite the prediction for his UFC future.

    “We had a couple of conversations and then I was like, okay, obviously the talent is there, you know?” Chandler said. “His body type, his confidence in himself, the part of the world that he comes from – he’s a young, brash Irishman who does not lack confidence in any area of his life. And that’s something I’m attracted to as well. Even as a 35-year-old – a guy who has been in the game for a decade longer than he has – I still try to remember myself as that young, hungry, nothing-to-lose kind of guy.

    Ian Garry
    Ian Garry

    “And I think my fight style shows it, my attention to detail shows it because I want to live a champion lifestyle. And it’s just awesome to see these guys come in and even Ian himself, I think his game is on a trajectory to the moon. I think he will be world champion in the next couple of years.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    Before signing with the UFC, Garry made waves by earning the then-vacant Cage Warriors welterweight title over Jack Grant at CW 125. Coincidentally, this is the same promotion where his fellow countryman, Conor McGregor, began his rise to stardom.

    Garry made a nod to McGregor during his post-fight interview at UFC 268, alluding to his “We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over” quote.

    Chandler and Garry are in different weight classes but could benefit from one another in training. Both men could be in the title conversation by the end of 2022.

    Do you agree with Michael Chandler?

  • Tommy Fury: Calling Jake Paul Fight Off Was Darkest Day Of My Life

    Tommy Fury’s decision to pull out of his originally scheduled fight with Jake Paul was more difficult to make than most were poised to believe.

    Fury defeated Anthony Taylor on the first Paul vs. Tyron Woodley card in 2021 before agreeing to a fight with Paul next. The buildup to the Fury vs. Paul fight began backstage in Cleveland when their respective teams nearly came to blows.

    The fight was expected to be a true test for Paul, who arguably hasn’t faced a true boxer in his young fighting career. Just weeks before the event, Fury withdrew due to a chest infection and rib injury.

    During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Fury described the aftermath of pulling out of the highly anticipated matchup.

    “When I made the call, to call this fight off, me and my team, that was probably the darkest days that I’ve had in my life so far,” Fury said. “Because when you train as a kid for that particular night, you know, the big headlining show in Florida, in America, streamed all over the world, that’s the moment you train for all your life.

    When it gets ripped away from you through no fault of your own really, it’s devastating. That was the darkest time of my life.

    “But I’ve said to myself I’m not gonna let that carry on into next year. This year is all about positivity. I’m leaving all those setbacks in 2021.”

    Tommy Fury Still Thinks Jake Paul Rescheduled Bout Is Fight To Make

    Paul won back-to-back fights over Woodley in 2021. Before that, he earned a vicious first-round knockout over former UFC fighter Ben Askren. Both he and Fury are undefeated in their young boxing tenures.

    Tommy, the younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has been tabbed as a legitimate boxing prospect in recent years. But despite his flawless record, his strength of competition hasn’t exactly been stellar, with many of his opponents having abysmal records.

    It’s unclear whether or not Fury vs. Paul will happen next, as Paul has alluded to taking some time off and returning in the summer. In the meantime, Fury sounds hellbent on getting the fight rescheduled and settling their beef inside the ring.

    How do you think a Jake Paul-Tommy Fury fight plays out?

  • Jairzinho Rozenstruik To Return Against Marcin Tybura on Feb. 26

    A UFC heavyweight showdown between Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Marcin Tybura is set to take place at UFC Vegas 49 on February 26.

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

    Rozenstruik and Tybura were both in the heavyweight title discussion before recent losses. Rozenstruik fell to Curtis Blaydes at UFC 266 while Tybura lost just weeks later at UFC 267 against Alexander Volkov.

    Rozenstruik has traded wins and losses since his knockout loss to Francis Ngannou in just 20 seconds at UFC 249. He’s earned wins most recently against Junior dos Santos and Augusto Sakai.

    Tybura was arguably the hottest heavyweight contender before a loss to Volkov. He had won five fights in a row over the likes of Ben Rothwell, Greg Hardy, and Walt Harris.

    The full card for UFC Vegas 49 has yet to be announced, but the card will be headlined by top lightweight contenders Beneil Dariush and Islam Makhachev. The winner of that matchup will more than likely be next in line for the 155-pound title.

    Before losing to Blaydes, Rozenstruik had called for potential matchups with the likes of Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic at heavyweight. Both men remain sidelined and are expected to return at some point in 2022.

    As for Tybura, he remains a potential dark horse in the heavyweight division. Previous wins over Stefan Struve and Andrei Arlovski helped propel him into the heavyweight rankings.

    Rozenstruik is listed at No. 6 and Tybura is slated at No. 9 in the latest UFC heavyweight rankings. The winner of this matchup could get a Top-5 opponent next.

    What is your prediction for this fight?

  • Paul Felder Reacts Strongly To Aleksandar Rakić’s Commentary Snub

    UFC light heavyweight contender Aleksandar Rakić took a subtle dig at former UFC fighter turned commentator Paul Felder on Twitter.

    Rakić is set to face former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz later this year in his return to the Octagon. He most recently defeated Thiago Santos and Anthony Smith in a pair of massive light heavyweight wins.

    Rakić has never been afraid to speak his mind, especially when it comes to the UFC commentary team and their supposed bias. He most recently took a shot at Daniel Cormier after Dominick Cruz criticized his fight commentary leading up to UFC 269.

    Felder, who has become a notable voice on UFC broadcasts since retiring last year, took exception when Rakić appeared to leave him out of a complimentary tweet towards fight commentators.

    Paul Felder Responds To Aleksandar Rakic’s Apparent Jab

    https://twitter.com/felderpaul/status/1480027732197064704?s=20

    “Just say what you gotta say,” Felder said. “Is this a third-grade crush? Tell me you don’t like my commentary and I’ll tell you some of your fights suck.”

    In a series of since-deleted tweets, Rakić said he tends to mute the UFC broadcasts when commentators such as Felder are at the desk. Felder took exception to this and even responded to Rakic in the middle of a fight card.

    Rakić has emerged as one of the more outspoken light heavyweight contenders, as evidenced by his recent back-and-forths with JiÅ™Ć­ ProchĆ”zka. Rakić could get the next 205-pound title shot with another impressive win in the Octagon.

    Felder also has a history of not letting trolls and critics go unchallenged. He’s notorious for putting harsh critics of his commentary on blast and often engages in Twitter back-and-forths.

    What are your thoughts on the UFC commentary team?

  • Miesha Tate Declines To Pursue ‘Desperate’ OnlyFans Career

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Miesha Tate may consider a run at flyweight, but she’s ruling out a potential gig on OnlyFans.

    Tate most recently fell to Ketlen Vieira last November via a unanimous decision, after dominating her UFC return against Marion Reneau. She returned to the Octagon after retiring following her loss at UFC 205 in 2016.

    There has been some speculation as to what Tate may do with her career. She’s hinted at a potential move to 125 pounds to challenge for another UFC title but is also still pursuing a run at bantamweight.

    But one fan was interested in whether or not Tate would ever join the adult site OnlyFans.com as a side gig, and the former UFC champion shut that idea down quickly.

    ā€œNowhere in this video did I say I was desperate,ā€ Tate replied on a video on her YouTube channel.

    Miesha Tate Has A Large Social Media Following

    Miesha Tate
    Miesha Tate

    Miesha Tate has managed to accumulate quite the following on social media despite her prior absence from fighting. As of the publishing of this story, she has earned 2.1 million followers on her Instagram page and is also increasingly active on her YouTube channel.

    The biggest win of Tate’s UFC career came when she pulled off a remarkable comeback win over Holly Holm for the bantamweight title at UFC 196. She went on to lose the title to Amanda Nunes at UFC 200 before her pre-retirement loss to Raquel Pennington.

    Tate appears to be rejuvenated in this next chapter of her career, but fans shouldn’t expect any mature content from the star athlete.

    What do you make of Miesha Tate’s comments?

  • Giga Chikadze Blasts ‘Chump’ Alexander Volkanovski In Twitter Rampage

    Giga Chikadze isn’t happy with Alexander Volkanovski after the featherweight champion alluded to ‘The Korean Zombie’ getting the next title shot.

    Volkanovski was originally supposed to fight Max Holloway in their trilogy at UFC 272 before Holloway reaggravated an injury in recent days. Chikadze is slated to face Calvin Kattar in a UFC Fight Night main event on Jan. 15 and could potentially get a title shot if he wins.

    After Holloway pulled out, the UFC and Volkanovski immediately began looking for potential replacements. Chan Sung Jung, otherwise known as ‘The Korean Zombie’, is reportedly at the top of the list, along with possibly Yair Rodriguez.

    This appeared to irk Chikadze, who is coming off a dominant win over Edson Barboza. He aired his frustration in a recent Twitter rant.

    Giga Chikadze Roasted Alexander Volkanovski On Twitter

    Many believe that it’s only a matter of time until Chikadze gets a featherweight title shot, but he may be impatient.

    Volkanovski most recently defeated Brian Ortega at UFC 266 via unanimous decision, in one of the most gritty performances of 2021. Before that, he had earned back-to-back wins over Holloway inside the Octagon.

    It’s still unknown who will get the short-notice bout at UFC 272, but Chikadze appears ready and willing to step up if he can get past Kattar.

    How close is Giga Chikadze to a title shot?

  • Watch: MMA Event Features Controversial Mismatch, Quick Knockout

    Footage is circulating on social media of a physical mismatch that was somehow allowed to be featured at the Evolution of Combat 9 MMA event last September.

    Critics came at the event organizers, along with Aron Leo, for appearing to attempt to pad records rather than fighting fair in the cage. Leo, who is just 3-0 in his career, held a distinct physical advantage over the much smaller Connor Knight at ECMMA 9.

    UK MMA writer Harry Williams put out a recent tweet that showed how the exhibition bout arguably shouldn’t have been sanctioned in the first place.

    Just seconds into the fight, Leo imposed his will on Knight, quickly dropping him with a big right hand followed up by some brutal ground-and-pound.

    Here were some reactions to the viral video.

    https://twitter.com/tictac_UFO/status/1479531256979374080

    Aron Leo Went On To Earn Dominant Win Just Weeks Later

    After earning the lopsided win over Knight, Leo went on to compete just weeks later at ECMMA 10, earning a quick submission victory over Robbie Dunlop to remain undefeated.

    Unfortunately for Knight, he has yet to earn an amateur or professional win inside the cage. He had two scheduled amateur MMA fights canceled to wrap up 2021 against Ryan Southern and Brandon Jackson. Aside from the decisive defeat to Leo, he had lost in his pro kickboxing debut to Toby Preistley.

    What is your reaction to this amateur MMA mismatch in Scotland?

  • Chael Sonnen Hits Back At Paddy Pimblett Over ‘Stupid’ Clickbait Claim

    Chael Sonnen has responded to Paddy Pimblett accusing him of clickbait after the recent rumors surrounding a possible Donald Cerrone fight.

    Pimblett is coming off an impressive UFC debut over Luigi Vendramini in 2021. After a long tenure with Cage Warriors, he made the move to the UFC as arguably the biggest signing by the promotion in recent years.

    Speculation has run rampant in recent weeks and months regarding who Pimblett will face next. Some pundits, including Sonnen, have alluded to a possible matchup with Cerrone happening for his next UFC test.

    Pimblett ruled out Cerrone being his next opponent in recent days and also accused Sonnen of pushing a false narrative for his next fight. During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen took exception to Pimblett’s jab.

    “Is Paddy secretly one stupid son of a bi**h?” Sonnen said. “Paddy woke up, took stupid pills, and goes on Michael Bisping’s show. On Michael’s show, Paddy accuses me of using his name for clickbaitā€¦ I’d never do it and I’m also irritated that Paddy thinks his name is big enough that I would clickbait him. That might sound arrogant but that’s the truth. It pissed me offā€¦

    “Three weeks ago, I was sitting with Cerrone. He asked me what weight Paddy is. I had beautiful things to say about him. As I’m having this conversation, Cowboy’s texting Sean Shelby saying does Paddy have an opponent. I asked him, ‘Can I talk about this? He said, ‘Yes.’ So that’s what we did.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    Paddy Pimblett Pointed To Chael Sonnen For Starting The Rumors

    Earlier this week during an appearance on Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast, Pimblett blamed Sonnen for allegedly sparking the Cerrone rumors. He also teased that his next Octagon appearance will take place on the upcoming UFC London card.

    Sonnen has never been unafraid to state what he thinks on a variety of topics, specifically when it comes to MMA. Regarded as one of the best trash talkers in the sport’s history, Sonnen has transitioned well from fighting to a career in broadcasting.

    Pimblett and Sonnen will more than likely bump into each other at some point this year, and it’ll be interesting to see if they bury the hatchet and settle their differences.

    What are your thoughts on Chael Sonnen’s comments? Who do you want to see Paddy Pimblett fight next?

  • Paige VanZant Targeting Spring Return To BKFC

    Former UFC fighter Paige VanZant isn’t giving up on her Bare Knuckle FC ambitions, as she plans a return to the ring later this year.

    After an up-and-down tenure in the UFC, VanZant became a free agent and opted to sign with BKFC. She ended up dropping her first two fights with the promotion against Britain Hart and Rachael Ostovich via unanimous decisions.

    Despite her recent struggles, VanZant remains a big name in the promotion and is still relatively young in her career at 27. During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, BKFC President Dave Feldman alluded to preliminary plans for VanZant’s return to bare-knuckle.

    ā€œSheā€™s going to be fighting again,ā€ Feldman said. ā€œWe were thinking about throwing her on the KnuckleMania card, too. I thought it was too much and we needed to just spread it out a little. I donā€™t have an exact date but Iā€™d love to get her back in April. It would be great to get her back and thereā€™s a lot of talent out there that would be good opponents for her, April-May-ish.”

    Paige VanZant PVZ
    Photo via Instagram @barekuncklefc

    VanZant had hinted at a possible move to Bellator as her BKFC contract nears an end and also detailed some of her struggles away from competition. VanZant has a large following on a variety of social media platforms, and the pressure to perform may have been a bit overwhelming for her in recent fights.

    Coincidentally, VanZant hasn’t won in any combat sport since defeating Ostovich in the UFC Octagon in 2019. Before that, she had lost fights to the likes of Jessica-Rose Clark, Michelle Waterson, and Rose Namajunas.

    VanZant is looking to get back on track in her professional fighting career and more than likely needs to get back in the win column in her next appearance to do so.

    Do you think Paige VanZant has championship potential in BKFC?

  • Sonnen Compares Jake Paulā€™s ā€œRidiculousā€ Rise To Conor McGregor

    Chael Sonnen has been impressed by Jake Paul’s young boxing career, and he sees some likenesses to that of former UFC champion Conor McGregor.

    Paul is fresh off his sixth-round knockout over another former UFC champion, Tyron Woodley, to remain undefeated in the ring. In 2021, he earned back-to-back wins over Woodley along with a vicious knockout of Ben Askren.

    There’s no question that Paul has great ambitions in boxing, as evidenced by recent callouts of Jorge Masvidal, Nate Diaz, and McGregor. While he has been criticized for his lack of true boxing competition, he seems intent on continuing the ‘MMA vs. Boxing’ storyline.

    During a recent segment on his YouTube channel, Sonnen explains what he thinks so highly of Paul despite being just a few fights into his boxing career.

    “Jake Paul had a crazy idea that he’s going to go into a sport of which he does not belong with no amateur pedigree, no golden gloves, no lineage within the family, like you know, my uncle fought, my grandpa used to box in the Army, nothing like that,” Sonnen said. “He’s going to do well, and he’s going to headline shows with Olympians and world champions on the card. They are going to open. He is going to be the marquee fight. That is ridiculous. He did just that. Jake Paul is calling his own shots the way Conor McGregor used to do when Conor was getting his come up and then he’s seeing them through.”

    Chael Sonnen Sees Eerie Parallels Between Jake Paul, Conor McGregor

    Conor McGregor
    Conor McGregor, Image Credit: USA TODAY Sports

    Sonnen went on to point out how McGregor used to defy the odds with his fight predictions, which is similar to what Paul is doing now.

    “Remember ‘Mystic Mac’ and he had a crystal ball? Conor was not only calling the stoppages, he was calling the rounds. And then once he calls the stoppages and he calls the rounds, he starts calling the technique that he’s going to stop them with. Remember when he was doing that? Jake Paul is doing the same thing.”

    McGregor has dabbled into the boxing world once before when he fought Floyd Mayweather back in 2017. Despite losing via TKO, he impressed many with his ability to transition well to another sport.

    Paul has claimed that he makes more than McGregor, who topped the Forbes Top 100 list in 2021. He has also teased McGregor on social media and in multiple interviews, and a big-money fight between the two of them may not be far-fetched.

    Do you agree with Chael Sonnen’s comments?

  • Francis Ngannou Unamused By Ciryl Gane Downplaying His Power

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou won’t allow himself to divert from the gameplan ahead of his UFC 270 clash with Ciryl Gane.

    Ngannou will make his first title defense against Gane, a former teammate of his while they were at MMA Factory in France. He’s been at an impasse with the UFC brass amidst an ongoing contract dispute but is ready to defend his belt at the UFC’s first pay-per-view event of 2022.

    Ngannou and Gane have had a bit of an interesting buildup to their fight. The two had an awkward run-in backstage at UFC 268, and Gane recently downplayed the champion’s trademark knockout power.

    ā€œI think Francis did a lot these last years, and he proved he improved and heā€™s more intelligent,ā€ Gane said inĀ an interview with BT Sport. ā€œAnd thatā€™s great. Heā€™s well-rounded now. And I think itā€™s gonna be more like that. Because he (knows) I can manage the power. I think he knows I can manage the power.ā€

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Ngannou responded to Gane’s remarks and thinks his prediction was a bit forced.

    ā€œThatā€™s probably his prediction because he has nowhere else to go,ā€ Ngannou said. 

    ā€œHe has nothing else to do. Instead of expecting to jump around and waiting for the decision, Iā€™m sure heā€™s going to be like, ā€˜Iā€™m going to take him to the long rounds, the deep waterā€™ and all this. That can be his only prediction, which could be very contrary of my prediction, which is knocking him out.ā€

    Francis Ngannou Vs. Ciryl Gane Wasn’t Expected To Happen Next

    Gane earned the title shot after winning the interim heavyweight title over Derrick Lewis at UFC 265. He was able to stifle Lewis on the feet and control the pace of the fight, eventually earning a TKO finish.

    Ngannou was widely expected to face Jon Jones for his first title defense after earning the belt over Stipe Miocic. The UFC then targeted a matchup between him and Lewis, but contract negotiations stalled as Ngannou asked for more money.

    The Ngannou vs. Gane matchup pits two of the most elite strikers in MMA against one another. If Ngannou were to lose to Gane, his UFC future could be uncertain as he would then enter free agency.

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

  • TJ Dillashaw, Paulo Costa Among USADA’s Most Tested Fighters In 2021

    TJ Dillashaw and Paulo Costa were among the most targeted fighters in USADA’s drug-testing program in 2021.

    This comes after a report by MMA Junkie into the top-10 most tested fighters by USADA during the calendar year.

    Dillashaw had made his return to the Octagon following a two-year suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. Following his flyweight title loss to Henry Cejudo, he tested positive for EPO and was served with a lengthy suspension by USADA.

    The former bantamweight champion has since claimed that he used EPO to assist in his weight cut to 125 pounds and wasn’t meant to give him an added boost in the cage. He was tested 25 times by USADA over the past year.

    Dillashaw & Costa Both Fought Once In 2021

    Cory Sandhagen TJ Dillashaw
    Cory Sandhagen and TJ Dillashaw

    Dillashaw made his long-awaited return to the cage in 2021 against rising bantamweight Cory Sandhagen, earning a split-decision win in a Fight of the Year contender.

    Costa was tested 23 times in 2021, which could be seen as a bit surprising given his relative inactivity in the UFC over the past few years. He faced Marvin Vettori in a catchweight bout in his lone fight of the year, losing via a unanimous decision in a back-and-forth contest.

    Just above Dillashaw and Costa on the list was Misha Cirkunov, as the middleweight and former light heavyweight was tested by USADA on 27 separate occasions.

    As the new year begins, Dillashaw looks to earn another bantamweight title shot, while Costa is looking to get back on track in the middleweight conversation.

    What are your predictions for TJ Dillashaw and Paulo Costa in 2022?

  • Charles Oliveira Says He Hasnā€™t Received $20K Donation Yet From Poirier

    UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira hasn’t received Dustin Poirier’s promised donation yet, despite their post-UFC 269 conversations.

    Oliveira defeated Poirier in the main event of UFC 269 via third-round submission, locking in a standing rear-naked choke in his first title defense. He had earned the belt after defeating Michael Chandler earlier this year.

    Following their lightweight title fight, Poirier told Oliveira that he intends to donate $20,000 to a charity of Oliveira’s choice in his hometown of Sao Paulo, BR.

    During a recent interview with Sherdog, Oliveira claimed that Poirier hasn’t lived up to his word.

    ā€œI just tell people that the money didnā€™t arrive yet, but if Dustin really wants to make a donation and needs those bureaucracy documents, IĀ“ll pick some local social project in my area,” Oliveira said. “The most important thing is helping people who need to be helped, but to tell you the truth, after all the headaches IĀ“ve been dealing with due to that Octagon proposal, I really donā€™t know if it was good or not.ā€

    Dustin Poirier Is Working With Charles Oliveira’s Team

    After getting word of Oliveira’s comments, Poirier assured that he intends to live up to his promise and help the champ’s community.

    ā€œFor anyone asking about the $20k donation I promised, of course, Iā€™m going to honor it!” Poirier said. “We have been in contact with Charles and his team. We are waiting for them to figure out what project they want it donated to.ā€

    This isn’t the first time that Poirier has been involved in a donation-related controversy. Ahead of his trilogy with Conor McGregor, Poirier had accused the Irishman of failing to follow up on his promised donation to his charity, sparking a feud between the two lightweights.

    It appears that Poirier intends to live up to his end of the deal, but it’s a bit surprising that it hasn’t come to fruition just yet after earlier tensions with McGregor regarding a similar issue.

    What are your thoughts on this latest donation debacle?