MMA News

Author: Curtis Calhoun

  • Clay Guida Wants To Run It Back With Nate Diaz After Comeback Win

    UFC lightweight Clay Guida feels now is the perfect time to get a rematch against Nate Diaz after his improbable win at UFC Vegas 44.

    It was looking to be a disastrous night for Guida against Leonardo Santos after he got caught with some hard strikes on the feet and got dropped early in the fight. After somehow surviving some big blows to the head, he was able to grapple his way out of trouble and survive through the first round.

    Santos appeared to be gassed out entering Round 2, and Guida took advantage of the opportunity and sunk in a rear-naked choke for the comeback win. It snapped a recent skid of losses in three of his previous four fights.

    During his UFC Vegas 44 post-fight press conference, Guida said he still wants another shot at Diaz before their careers are over.

    “We just wanna stay on the gas pedal, stay active, and there’s still one dude out there with our name on him,” Guida said. “I beat him once, I’ll give him another chance. Nate Diaz, I know you’re out there. You can’t run, you can’t hide. I know you’re gonna turn the fight down, you probably won’t even know we want to fight you again. But if you ever want to do it again, buddy, I’ll give you a shot. Let me know.”

    Clay Guida Earned A Close Win Over Nate Diaz At UFC 94

    Guida has been a mainstay in the UFC’s lightweight division since he made his UFC debut back in 2006 at UFC 64. Coincidentally, his first UFC loss came against Din Thomas in 2007, and Thomas was part of the broadcast crew for his UFC Vegas 44 victory.

    Guida has fought most of the top names that have come through the lightweight division; including Diego Sanchez, Anthony Pettis, and Rafael dos Anjos. Despite his long career in the promotion, he has yet to fight for a title.

    Since their first fight, Diaz has emerged as a top star in the UFC and has recently focused on a run at welterweight. He most recently fell to Leon Edwards earlier this year at UFC 263.

    It’s unclear whether or not Guida still has it in him to make another title run, but Diaz is still searching for an opponent for his UFC return. A throwback matchup between Guida and Diaz could be the fight to make if both sides want to make it happen.

    Would you be interested in seeing Clay Guida vs. Nate Diaz 2?

  • Dana White Shares “Savage” Julianna Peña Story Ahead Of UFC 269

    UFC bantamweight contender Julianna Peña pleaded to Dana White for a shot at Amanda Nunes, and she’ll get her chance at UFC 269.

    Peña will face Nunes in her first shot at the UFC bantamweight title after years in the promotion. She most recently defeated Sara McMann by submission at UFC 257.

    White gave Peña a shot in the UFC after she earned a dominant victory over Jessica Rakoczy on The Ultimate Fighter: Season 18.

    Peña hasn’t mince words when it comes to her thoughts about her chances against Nunes in the UFC 269 co-main event. During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, White praised Peña for her confidence and approach to the upcoming title fight.

    “I love that about Julianna Peña,” White said. “She’s a savage. She is an absolute lunatic. She got in a fistfight with a bouncer in a bar, OK? She got into a full-blown fistfight with a bouncer in a bar, and the bouncer called the police. Let’s put it that way. [LAUGHS] Julianna is a fighter, and there’s no doubt in my mind that she’s gonna come in and go to war with Amanda Nunes. How that turns out, we will see (on) Saturday.”

    Julianna Peña Is Looking To Prove To Dana White That She Can Win

    Pena has gone off on Nunes in a series of recent interviews leading up to her fight with Nunes. The two top bantamweights were originally scheduled to fight at UFC 265, but Nunes withdrew from the bout on short notice. Pena has said that Nunes can’t claim the status of the women’s MMA GOAT without fighting her.

    White has been very vocal when it comes to Nunes’ dominance inside the octagon. He’s called Nunes the undisputed female GOAT and has said that other fighters such as Kayla Harrison and Cris “Cyborg” Justino don’t belong in the same discussion as her.

    What are your predictions for Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Peña at UFC 269?

  • Aldo After UFC Vegas 44 Win: No One Will Stop Me From Being Champion

    Former UFC featherweight champion José Aldo will stop at nothing for another shot at the bantamweight title before his career is over.

    Aldo earned arguably the biggest win since moving down to bantamweight over Rob Font at UFC Vegas 44. Despite some early struggles in the fight, he controlled the pace on the feet throughout and battered Font badly as the bout went on.

    Aldo’s kickboxing was in full force on Saturday night, as he landed hard combinations to all targets. In rounds 4 and 5, he knocked down and nearly finished the fight twice before Font was somehow able to recover and survive.

    Following the win, Aldo took to Instagram to thank his fans and look ahead to what’s next in his illustrious career.

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

    “Thank you to my fans, thank you Brazil!” Aldo posted. “My team and my family! I’m after my dream, I want to be the champion of the [division] and no one will stop me!”

    José Aldo Could Get TJ Dillashaw Or A Title Shot Next

    Entering UFC Vegas 44, Aldo earned back-to-back impressive wins over Marlon Vera and Pedro Munhoz. After dropping his first two bantamweight outings to Petr Yan and Marlon Moraes, he’s rebounded nicely and appears more comfortable with the weight cut to 135 pounds.

    Aldo called out former bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw following his win, and the timing could make a lot of sense for both men to fight. Yan will face Aljamain Sterling in a title rematch next unless it falls through once again.

    Regardless of who Aldo ends up competing against next, the fact he’s able to still compete amongst the elite in the UFC is incredible.

    Who would you like to see José Aldo fight next?

  • Darren Till Sends Message To Troubled Youth After Recent UK Stabbing

    UFC middleweight contender Darren Till sent a powerful message to troubled youth in his community in light of a recent tragedy in Liverpool.

    Professional athletes often take the opportunity to use their platforms to improve their locale, and Till is no different. Nine years after suffering a brutal stabbing, he took the time to encourage children to turn to outlets such as MMA instead of a life of crime.

    “9 years ago today I was stabbed twice in the back of my ribs,” Till posted on Instagram. “The great city of Liverpool has recently been shook up by the tragic death of the young and beautiful Ava White. Put down the knives, kids and ask ur mums and dads to take you or take yourselves down to the local gyms. Best thing you will ever do is step foot into a gym with a nice healthy environment and a good mentor in and out of the gym. You won’t regret it.”

    Darren Till Continues To Inspire Others In His Hometown

    Till has become quite the fan-favorite since making his UFC debut back in 2015. He’s well-known for his comedic social media presence but also takes the time to engage with his fans and leave an impact in his community.

    Hundreds of Liverpool residents gathered in the city this weekend for a vigil for stabbing victim Ava White, a 12-year-old schoolgirl. The investigation into the tragic incident is ongoing.

    Till is looking to get back in the win column in the Octagon after losing four of his last five fights overall. He most recently fell to Derek Brunson at UFC Vegas 36 by submission, later alleging that he had suffered a devastating knee injury just weeks before the fight.

    It’s unclear as to when Till will return to fighting as he continues to get his health in order, but he’s currently using the time off to make a positive impact in his city.

    What are your thoughts on Darren Till’s comments?

  • Kayla Harrison Tabs Cris Cyborg, Not Amanda Nunes, As FW GOAT

    Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison thinks Cris “Cyborg” Justino is the greatest women’s featherweight, and not her teammate Amanda Nunes.

    Harrison has been linked to potential future matchups against both Justino and Nunes, most recently appearing at a Bellator event to watch Justino knock out Sinead Kavanagh. She’s teammates with Nunes down at the famous American Top Team gym in south Florida.

    Harrison is a free agent and was recently asked to give her thoughts on Bellator and claimed that Justino is the greatest women’s featherweight of all time.

    “I’ve heard nothing but good things (about Bellator).” Harrison said in a recent interview on the ‘Weighing In‘ podcast. “I don’t think I’ve heard a fighter go to Bellator from another promotion and complain. That’s across the board from Austin (Vanderford) to Johnny (Eblen), to Kyoji (Horiguchi). Everybody seems happy there.”

    “They also happen to have one of the greatest female featherweights,” Harrison continued. “I think [Justino’s] the greatest featherweight of all time. One of the greatest fighters of all time.”

    Kayla Harrison Is Currently A Free Agent

    It’s unclear what could be next for Harrison in her MMA career. After winning the PFL lightweight championship over Taylor Guardado earlier this year, she’s on the free-agent market for the first time. Harrison has expressed interest in signing with the UFC, Bellator, and even re-signing with the PFL.

    Fans have long clamored for a potential matchup between Nunes and Harrison. UFC featherweight contender Felicia Spencer also went out of her way to say that Harrison is “definitely a threat” in the featherweight division if she chooses to sign with the promotion.

    Nunes is slated to face Julianna Peña at UFC 269 next weekend and could have virtually cleaned out both the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. She could potentially be on a collision course with her teammate Harrison if the UFC comes to terms with the reigning PFL champ.

    Do you agree with Kayla Harrison?

  • Michael Chandler Explains Why Many LWs “Don’t Want To Fight” Him

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler thinks he’s a force to be reckoned with in the division after his recent performances.

    Chandler is coming off of his Fight of the Year contender against Justin Gaethje at UFC 268. While Chandler lost the bout by a unanimous decision, he had Gaethje in trouble on multiple occasions during the fight and put on a show for the fans.

    Despite the loss, Chandler remains in the thick of things in the lightweight division. He’s also arguably gained the respect of the UFC fanbase for his performances against the likes of Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Dan Hooker since signing with the promotion.

    During a recent interview on the Bussin With The Boys podcast, Chandler explains why he feels other top contenders don’t want to step up and fight him.

    “I know there’s a lot of guys one foot in, one foot out of the violence of the sport. I’m all in,” Chandler said. “I love it, which is not a good thing necessarily. I think it’s a scary thing. I think there’s a lot of guys at the 155 division that doesn’t want to fight me because of that. I think every single fan on the mixed martial arts planet wants to watch me fight now, so you weigh both sides of it.”

    Michael Chandler Has Called For A Conor McGregor Fight

    While Chandler thinks many lightweights won’t want him, Conor McGregor is a potential fit for his next matchup in the Octagon. The two have cordially gone back and forth in the media for a possible fight between them in the future.

    McGregor continues to recover from a nasty leg injury he suffered at UFC 264 earlier this year and is planning a return for some time in mid-2022.

    Chandler is coming off of back-to-back losses but has proven himself in many eyes with his performances. He’s anticipating a return for some time early next year.

    Who would you like to see Michael Chandler fight next in the Octagon?

  • Hasbulla In Hot Water Over Alleged Death Threats Towards Woman

    MMA social media sensation Hasbulla Magomedov has been accused of a threatening message to a woman on Instagram and has been blocked.

    Magomedov has skyrocketed in popularity over the past year, accumulating a massive following on various social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. He’s also formed relationships with some of the biggest names in the UFC; including UFC president Dana White and former champ Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    Magomedov suffers from Dwarfism, a rare growth disorder. This hasn’t stopped him from picking fights online with various bloggers such as Abdu Rozik.

    But Magomedov may have crossed the line this time, as he’s been accused of threatening to take an unknown woman’s life after she posted a video of his sister.

    “I will not leave this girl alive until she apologizes to the whole of Instagram, because she filmed a video of my sister and posted it for the entire Instagram,” Magomedov is accused of writing. (h/t Lenta)

    On a backup Instagram account, Magomedov alleged that he took the action of blocking his main account himself and not at the direction of the platform.

    It’s unclear if Instagram will inflict further punishment towards Magomedov for the alleged incident, but it sounds like the Russian star is moving forward with his life and career in the entertainment business.

    What are your thoughts on Hasbulla’s latest controversy?

  • Israel Adesanya’s Coach Says Whittaker Rematch Not A Done Deal

    UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is slated to face Robert Whittaker in a title rematch at UFC 271, but Adesanya’s coach says nothing is finalized and the fight could get pushed back.

    Adesanya and Whittaker were expected to fight at the end of 2021, but contract negotiations never materialized. The fight was pushed back to UFC 271 in February at a location that has yet to be determined.

    Now, coach Eugene Bareman says the fight could be in jeopardy of happening once again, and Adesanya and his team are unsure if Whittaker and his team will be ready to compete in just a matter of months.

    “Rob and his people, his wonderful manager, can’t secure this fight and they’re panicking,” Bareman said in an interview with Submission Radio. “So, they put out these stupid tweets and this and that. It’s like, mate, just relax, boys. Just train. That’s all we’re doing. You guys do the same. Let us handle the business because you guys are incapable. That management team’s incapable. So, we’ll just handle the business side of things, and if this is the direction that the fight is going to go, towards Robert, then we’ll secure it for you. We’ll do your job for you. But stop with the social media stuff. Like, that doesn’t mean anything, it doesn’t do anything. It just shows your insecurity about the fight. Don’t worry. We’ll sort the fight out.”

    Bareman went on to hint that Adesanya is also considering other options if the Whittaker rematch doesn’t happen right away.

    “Maybe we’re working on something different. Maybe if we can delay this Robert fight by a few months, we can have it in a big stadium in Australia,” Bareman continued. “Maybe that’s the right thing to do. And that’s fine. Let’s get everybody around together and let’s push Robert back a bit. I’m sure Robert would love to do this fight in a massive stadium on home turf. Let’s put someone else in this February slot. You don’t know, and I’m not willing to confirm that.”

    Israel Adesanya Has Looked Nearly Flawless Since Their First Matchup

    UFC President Dana White and the rest of the brass have yet to confirm whether or not the UFC 271 matchup is at risk of cancelation. White has hinted that the Adesanya vs. Whittaker rematch could happen in Australia once again, as their first bout did.

    Since earning the title over Whittaker at UFC 243, Adesanya has successfully defended the belt three times over Marvin Vettori, Paulo Costa, and Yoel Romero. Adesanya also challenged former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259, falling short by a unanimous decision.

    Whittaker has gotten back on track as well since losing the title. He’s currently on a three-fight winning streak and most recently dominated Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Vegas 24.

    There’s no love lost between Adesanya, Whittaker, and their respective teams. The two sides have gone back-and-forth on social media for months and Whittaker has shared his disdain for Adesanya.

    It’s unclear whether or not UFC 271 is legitimately in trouble, but it sounds like Adesanya and coach Bareman are prepared to wait a bit longer for the rematch with Whittaker.

    What is your prediction for the eventual rematch between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker?

  • Nicco Montaño’s Alleged Assaulter Speaks Out On Accusations

    Justin Watson, the man who allegedly assaulted former UFC flyweight champ Nicco Montaño, has addressed her recent accusations on social media.

    Internet sleuths and fans of Montaño began to investigate as to who Watson was after Montaño called him out by name in a series of posts on her Instagram story. Montaño was hospitalized after an alleged incident at a hotel in Texas, as confirmed by her manager Ricky Kottenstette.

    Watson then addressed the accusations after UFC fans and Reddit users pointed out a ‘Justin Watson’ that was among the accounts that Montaño followed on Instagram. In the comments under a post by MMA Island, the man in question spoke out on the incident.

    “Always two sides to a story y’all and trust me Nicco and the rest of the world should probably sober up,” Watson commented.

    After this comment, he was asked to elaborate by one fan in the thread.

    “Nothing really to explain,” Watson said. “Cops were involved, they investigated, nobody got arrested. It’s terrible that she went to the hospital. My only explanation is there are two sides to a story so don’t get consumed with an assumption or a biased opinion.”

    It’s important to point out that Watson hasn’t been officially charged with anything after the alleged incident and the investigation into what exactly happened is still ongoing.

    Montaño earned the UFC inaugural women’s flyweight title after defeating Roxanne Modafferi on The Ultimate Fighter: Season 26. Montaño was supposed to defend her belt against Valentina Shevchenko but was stripped of the title after missing weight.

    Montaño hasn’t competed since her loss to Julianna Peña at bantamweight in 2019. She is still planning on a potential return to MMA in 2022 at featherweight.

    What are your thoughts on the Nicco Montaño incident?

  • Amanda Nunes/Kayla Harrison Potential Fight Has Major Barrier

    MMA fans have discussed a rhetorical matchup between American Top Team teammates Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison for months.

    Nunes and Harrison have skyrocketed to the top of women’s MMA, especially over the past year. Harrison is undefeated in her young MMA career as the multiple-time PFL lightweight champion while Nunes currently holds UFC belts at featherweight and bantamweight.

    Nunes has cleared out most of the top contenders in both of her divisions while Harrison has looked virtually unstoppable in many eyes in the PFL. Fans have drooled and debated a potential future matchup between Nunes and Harrison in the UFC and how it could play out.

    Amanda Nunes, Kayla Harrison

    However, a major obstacle is in the way of making that happen. ATT gym owner Dan Lambert isn’t keen on a matchup between Nunes and Harrison and is extremely uncomfortable with the discussion.

    During a recent interview on The MMA Hour, Lambert explained why a Nunes vs. Harrison fight isn’t on his ‘to-do list’.

    “I’d do everything I could to avoid it,” Lambert said. “I don’t like when our people fight. Usually, when you go into a fight you’ve got at least a 50-50 of leaving happy or sad. Put two of our people against each other, especially in such a high-stakes fight, you’ve got a 100 percent chance of leaving feeling pretty bad for somebody.”

    “But hey, sometimes sh*t happens,” Lambert continued. “If it were to happen, we’d separate the training, pick out training partners and coaches that would help each and may the best man or woman win.”

    Harrison is officially a free agent after fulfilling her PFL contract. She defeated Taylor Guardado for the PFL lightweight championship last week and is currently pondering her options for the next chapter of her career.

    Nunes is scheduled to face former The Ultimate Fighter winner Julianna Peña at UFC 269. She has won 12 fights in a row and has demolished top featherweight and bantamweight title contenders during her reigns.

    Nunes and Harrison haven’t exactly shied away from a potential matchup in the future between the two teammates. Just last year, Harrison alluded to chasing Nunes as the greatest female MMA fighter in the sport.

    Harrison and Nunes remain two of the biggest names in MMA, regardless of gender. While a matchup between the two ATT stars isn’t completely off the table, it faces some obstacles in the form of Lambert and the ATT leadership.

    Do you think we’ll ever see an Amanda Nunes vs. Kayla Harrison super fight?