MMA News

Author: Curtis Calhoun

  • Sean Strickland Rips Into “PC Beta Male” Khalil Rountree

    UFC middleweight Sean Strickland isn’t a fan of Khalil Rountree showing his sensitive side following a win at UFC Vegas 50.

    Following his win over Karl Roberson at UFC Vegas 50, Rountree used his post-fight Octagon interview and press conference to attempt to inspire those who come from hard times. Rountree has talked about his journey before MMA on numerous occasions, reflecting on when he was overweight and not confident and turning into an exciting MMA fighter.

    Rountree’s post-fight comments went viral on social media, with many praising him for his openness and honesty on mental health issues. However, Strickland appears to be far from a fan of Rountree’s transparency.

    After watching a viral clip from Rountree’s UFC Vegas 50 post-fight presser, Strickland attacked Rountree for showing emotion after discussing his life journey.

    “Gayest shit I’ve ever seen and I love bi women so ive seen a lot of gay,” Strickland said of Rountree. “Yeah you’re really special, a special little snow flake… This man is the definition of a PC BETA male. You all would hate him….. seriously being in the same room as him makes me cringe.”

    Strickland has been in hot water in recent months for his comments on homosexuals, saying that if he were to have a gay son, he would’ve felt he failed as a man. He later backtracked on those comments saying months later “I love gay men”.

    An apology from Strickland has proven to be a rarity, as evidenced by him rarely backtracking on his past controversial remarks. Fans shouldn’t expect Strickland to backtrack on this attack on Rountree.

    The rising middleweight contender Strickland isn’t afraid to speak his mind, but he has arguably crossed the line with some of his recent social media rants.

    What is your reaction to Sean Strickland’s rant about Khalil Rountree?

  • Michael Chandler Calls Ferguson “Unbreakable” Ahead Of Targeted Bout

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler knows what he’s getting into with Tony Ferguson ahead of their targeted fight at UFC 274.

    Chandler and Ferguson are looking to get back in the UFC lightweight title picture after a series of losses from both fighters. Chandler most recently fought against Justin Gaethje in an all-time classic at UFC 268, losing via a unanimous decision.

    Ferguson has lost three in a row, including most recently to Beneil Dariush. Although he still has his trademark toughness and ability to take damage, he’s been beaten up badly in losses to Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje.

    During a recent interview with MMA journalist Helen Yee, Chandler praised Ferguson for his tough approach inside the Octagon.

    “The thing about Tony is he’s unbreakable,” Chandler said. “He’s a little bit crazy, got a screw loose. He’s not gonna be a guy that I’m going to be able to break, he’s not going to be a guy that I’m going to be able to wear out and tire out. But, I’m going to get in his face and put hands on him very quickly.”

    One example of Ferguson’s toughness was his fight with Gaethje. Despite being blitzed on the feet by Gaethje early and often, he was still able to throw damaging shots and withstand the barrage into Round 5.

    Ferguson has also only been finished twice in the entirety of his MMA career. Once against Jamie Tony back in 2009 for NFAMMA, and then the recent fifth-round TKO to Gaethje. Even in lopsided defeats to Oliveira and Dariush, Ferguson has managed to be a tough out for most of the top UFC lightweights.

    Tony Ferguson is the elbow-sharpening, blood-splattering UFC maverick who busts faces up and is itching to hurt Conor McGregor
    Tony Ferguson

    Chandler and Ferguson had been interested in fighting one another back in 2020, but negotiations never materialized. Chandler would go on to earn a vicious knockout over Dan Hooker at UFC 257 before losing to Oliveira for the vacant title at UFC 262.

    Chandler and Ferguson will be on the same card as Oliveira and Gaethje at UFC 274. The winner of Chandler vs. Ferguson will look to move forward in the lightweight division and potentially enter the title shot conversation in 2022.

    What is your prediction for Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson?

  • Kayla Harrison Feels Wins Over Cyborg, Nunes Give Her GOAT Status

    Kayla Harrison feels she needs to eventually square off with Cris “Cyborg” Justino and Amanda Nunes to claim GOAT status.

    Harrison recently re-signed with the PFL following a lengthy free agency process in which she flirted with the idea of signing with top promotions such as Bellator and the UFC. Bellator offered the top deal for Harrison before PFL matched and ultimately signed her to a new contract.

    Harrison has recently said that earning GOAT status is attainable in the PFL, despite some critics noting her alleged lack of competition in the league. She is undefeated in her MMA career and is coming off of another championship-winning season in the PFL.

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, Harrison laid out her roadmap towards potentially earning the title of the greatest combat sports athlete of all time.

    “I just think I have to keep putting one foot in front of the other,” Harrison said. “I think I definitely need to beat Cyborg. I’d really like to fight Amanda, beat Amanda if I’m going to go ahead and say it. That’s obviously in the cards. I gotta win a couple more titles. If I win belts in every major organization or beat champions in every major organization, then does that make me the greatest of all time?”

    Kayla Harrison
    Kayla Harrison (Image Credit: PFL MMA)

    Harrison has dominated her competition to this point in her professional career, most recently finishing Taylor Guardado and Genah Fabian. She is expected to get a step up in competition this year after the league signed former Bellator champion Julia Budd for the 2022 season.

    Harrison had previously been coy regarding a fight with Nunes but seems more open to it now after Nunes’ departure from American Top Team. She and Justino have also gone back-and-forth on social media in recent weeks, ramping up talks of a fight between them.

    Harrison will have the opportunity to silence the critics in 2022 and beyond. If she’s able to defeat top female fighters such as Nunes and Justino, it would be hard to argue against the notion that she deserves to be in the all-time great conversation.

    How do you think Kayla Harrison would fare against Amanda Nunes and Cris Cyborg?

  • Ciryl Gane: Tai Tuivasa Can Do Something Big In The HW Division

    Former UFC interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane likes what he sees from Tai Tuivasa following his win over Derrick Lewis at UFC 271.

    Gane and Tuivasa could be on a collision course sooner rather than later in the UFC heavyweight division. Tuivasa moved up to No. 3 in the latest UFC rankings while Gane remains at No. 1 despite his UFC 270 loss to Francis Ngannou.

    Tuivasa is arguably the hottest heavyweight contender in the division at the moment, having won five straight via knockout. He has also become a UFC fan favorite with his post-fight ‘shoey’ celebrations.

    During an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Gane tabbed Tuivasa as a legitimate factor in the heavyweight division.

    “Congratulations to this guy,” Gane said of Tuivasa. “It was a really interesting fight. Unfortunately, I was sleeping at this moment, like every time. But I saw the fight after and it was a really tough fight. So congratulations to Derrick Lewis also, it was a beautiful fight. And Tuivasa is an amazing fighter. He can do something big in this division. He has something.”

    Gane is hopeful for an eventual rematch with Ngannou in the UFC. A win over a top contender such as Tuivasa could put him on the fast track to another title shot.

    Tuivasa is now a Top-3 UFC heavyweight and will surely get a big name for his next octagon appearance. His win over Lewis put him on the map and demonstrated that he can compete with the best heavyweights in MMA.

    How far do you think Tai Tuivasa can go in the UFC’s heavyweight division?

  • Coker Says Fedor Emelianenko’s Last Fight Won’t Be In Moscow

    MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko’s last fight in the Bellator cage won’t take place in Moscow amidst the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

    Emelianenko is coming off of a violent knockout of former interim title challenger Tim Johnson last October. He returned to fight in front of the Russian faithful and delivered one of his best performances in recent memory.

    Bellator 269: Twitter reacts to Fedor Emelianenko's KO of Timothy Johnson - Bloody Elbow
    Credit: Lucas Noonan/Bellator MMA

    Bellator and Coker had previously planned to have Emelianenko fight one more time in Moscow, but those plans have been scratched amidst the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Bellator became the latest organization in sports to take a stand against Russia’s actions and disruption of the world order.

    Emelianenko has recently called for a rematch with Bellator Heavyweight Champion Ryan Bader before he rides off into the sunset. Bader will face Cheick Kongo later this year at Bellator Paris.

    During his Bellator 276 post-fight press conference, Coker confirmed that Emelianenko’s planned last fight won’t take place in his home country.

    “It’s definitely not going to happen in Moscow this year,” Coker said of Emelianenko’s next fight. “We’re not gonna do Fedor’s retirement fight there for obvious reasons. We’ll be looking for an alternative site at some point, but we’re going to sit down with Fedor when he comes to [Bellator 277] in San Jose and see what he’s thinking.”

    Coker’s comments come after a slew of MMA fighters, including Bellator welterweight champion Yaroslav Amosov, have spoken out and defended Ukraine against the Russian forces.

    Before his win over Johnson, Emelianenko had won three of his previous four fights over the likes of Rampage Jackson, Chael Sonnen, and Frank Mir. He lost to Bader for the heavyweight tournament championship at Bellator 214 via first-round knockout.

    Depending on how things play out in the upcoming Bader vs. Kongo fight, Emelianenko could face the winner for his final outing. He’s arguably the greatest heavyweight fighter in MMA history and would love the opportunity to go out on top.

    Who do you want to see Fedor Emelianenko fight before he retires?

  • Song Yadong, Khalil Rountree Among Four UFC Vegas 50 Bonus Winners

    UFC bantamweight prospect Song Yadong and light heavyweight Khalil Rountree earned $50k for their performances at UFC Vegas 50.

    Yadong seized his moment in the UFC Vegas 50 co-headliner against former title challenger Marlon Moraes, knocking him out with a vicious uppercut in the first round. He has now won three straight and appears to be on the verge of a top 10 spot.

    Check out Yadong’s violent knockout below.

    Yadong is a protege of MMA legend Urijah Faber down at Team Alpha Male.

    Yadong wasn’t the only one who shut the lights out on his opponent. Rountree overcame a slow start against Karl Roberson to blitz him with a barrage of strikes in Round 2.

    Rountree landed a stiff body kick along with a series of hooks that sent Roberson collapsing to the canvas.

    Rountree has now won back-to-back fights.

    In one of the most miraculous in-fight comebacks in recent memory, UFC middleweight Cody Brundage survived a near TKO finish from Dalcha Lungiambula to choke him out with a guillotine. He sunk in the choke by allowing Lungiambula into his guard off of a takedown attempt.

    The UFC Vegas 50 prelims began with a wild flying knee knockout by the undefeated Azamat Murzakanov against Tafon Nchukwi in his UFC debut.

    Murzakanov is a former Dana White’s Contender Series standout and could be a light heavyweight to watch in 2022.

    Yadong, Rountree, Brundage, and Murzakanov all cashed in a $50k post-fight bonus check and will look to continue their positive momentum later in 2022.

    Who do you want to see Song Yadong fight next?

  • Thiago Santos On UFC Vegas 50 Defeat To Ankalaev: “No Excuses”

    UFC light heavyweight Thiago Santos isn’t making excuses for his performance after falling to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Vegas 50.

    Santos looked to earn a second straight win in his second straight UFC main event against the upstart Ankalaev. However, it wasn’t meant to be as he appeared hesitant to throw strikes and find his timing throughout the fight with Ankalaev.

    Santos, who previously had gone toe-to-toe with Jon Jones at UFC 239, has failed to recapture the same magic in losses in three of his last four fights. He’s fallen to the likes of Aleksandar Rakic, Glover Teixeira, and now Ankalaev.

    In a recent Instagram post, Santos addressed his fans while also reflecting on the loss to Ankalaev.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbDWw4-piiG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “No words about yesterday, no excuses, another hard and painful defeat,” Santos said. “Still, my faith in God remains unshakable and my gratitude to him, my family, my friends, coaches and true fans only increases, thank you for everything.”

    Santos had once looked like a world-beater after moving from middleweight to light heavyweight earlier in his UFC career. While he remains a dangerous foe for most 205 pounders, it’s unclear whether or not he’ll still be able to contend for a light heavyweight title.

    Despite the disappointing loss, Santos seems optimistic about his future in the UFC. He’ll look to get back in the win column with his next potential appearance later this year.

    What do you think is next for Thiago Santos?

  • Greg Hardy Appears To Announce UFC Release Following UFC 272 Loss

    It appears that UFC heavyweight Greg Hardy’s time with the promotion may be coming to a close based on a recent social media post.

    Hardy is coming off of a disappointing loss to Serghei Spivac at UFC 272, losing via first-round submission. Hardy has now lost three in a row after impressive wins over the likes of Maurice Greene and Yorgan De Castro.

    Hardy has had his fair share of ups and downs in the UFC, making the full-time move to MMA following a tumultuous end to his career in professional football. But Hardy appears to be turning the page to the next chapter of his athletic career, and it may not be in the UFC.

    In a recent Instagram post, Hardy appeared to say his goodbyes to UFC fans and hinted at a departure from the top MMA promotion.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbAno3JL2Fn/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading

    “What a run,” Hardy said. “Ya boy is far from done just got some fine tuning to do. Thank you to all my fans and haters. I appreciate you all. Mostly i appreciate my coaches, family, and the @ufc for giving me the opportunity to shine bright.” (h/t Bloody Elbow)

    The UFC hasn’t officially announced anything regarding Hardy’s status with the promotion and it’s not yet clear what Hardy’s next move will be. Despite the loss to Spivac, Hardy sounded optimistic about his UFC future immediately following UFC 272.

    Hardy made his UFC debut back in January 2019 after throwing an illegal knee against Allen Crowder. He would rebound in a big way with TKO finishes over Dmitry Smolyakov and Juan Adams.

    Hardy garnered the attention of UFC President Dana White after a pair of impressive wins on Dana White’s Contender Series. He also competed on the regional scene leading up to his shot on DWCS in brief stints with LFA and Rite of Passage.

    Hardy has accumulated a 7-5 record in the cage since making the move to MMA.

    What do you think is next for Greg Hardy and his MMA career?

  • Alex Pereira Wants Big Step Up In Form Of Jared Cannonier: “Why Not?”

    Alex Pereira hasn’t entered the Top 15 yet in the UFC middleweight rankings, but he has his eyes on top contender Jared Cannonier.

    Pereira outlasted a tough Bruno Silva to kick off the main card of UFC Vegas 50. Despite having Silva badly hurt in the third round, Pereira wasn’t able to secure the finish and would settle for a unanimous decision victory.

    Pereira is now 2-0 in the UFC after a decorated career in Glory Kickboxing. He also has a 5-1 record in MMA and seems focused on title contention in the UFC.

    Pereira has discussed a potential third fight with Israel Adesanya in the UFC after beating him twice in kickboxing. However, Pereira thinks he’s ready for a fight with Cannonier next following Cannonier’s knockout over Derek Brunson at UFC 271.

    During his UFC Vegas 50 post-fight press conference, Pereira explained his reasoning behind calling out Cannonier so early into his UFC career.

    “I had talked about Jared Cannonier because he’s a guy that is next for a title shot,” Pereira said. “Some people have already talked about me and Adesanya, so why not Cannonier? I don’t think I’m talking too much calling out Cannonier.

    “I had two great fights and I was able to showcase my skills. I didn’t even show everything that I go through my daily basis training with Glover Teixeira’s gym. I’m improving and evolving every day. Where I am in the division? I don’t know. I’ll let the promotors talk and they’ll know where to properly put me in.” (h/t MMA Junkie)

    Before his win over Silva, Pereira passed his first UFC test with flying colors against Andreas Michailidis at UFC 268. He earned a violent flying knee knockout that put the rest of the division on notice.

    Cannonier is expected to face Adesanya for the next middleweight title shot later this year. If he were to lose, a fight against Pereira may happen down the line.

    For now,

    UFC Vegas 50: Pros react to Alex Pereira's unanimous decision win over Bruno Silva - Bloody Elbow

    Alex Pereira is planning his next move in the UFC Octagon as he continues to pursue his long-standing rival Adesanya.

    Who do you want Alex Pereira to fight next?

  • Manager Shares The Only Way Harrison Can Fight Cyborg After PFL Deal

    MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz says talks of his client Kayla Harrison fighting Cris “Cyborg” Justino could theoretically happen, despite Harrison’s new deal with the PFL.

    Harrison concluded her free agency by re-signing with the PFL, despite lucrative offers from Bellator and the UFC. In addition to signing Harrison, the PFL announced that they intend to launch a “super fight division” to garner the attention of some of the best fighters around the sport.

    Talks of a fight between Harrison and Cyborg began when Cyborg defeated Sinead Kavanagh at Bellator 271. Harrison was a guest of Bellator President Scott Coker to watch Cyborg put on a dominant performance.

    Tensions between Harrison and Cyborg have skyrocketed in recent weeks. This was after Harrison challenged Cyborg to a fight at American Top Team before getting blocked by her on Twitter.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Abdelaziz explained how a Harrison vs. Cyborg fight can still happen down the line, which is for the reigning Bellator featherweight champion to jump ship.

    “Listen, Cyborg is a Bellator fighter. Kayla is a PFL fighter,” Abdelaziz said. Whatever super fight is gonna happen, it’s gonna happen with someone inside PFL. It’s not going to happen with someone in Bellator, because it’s a completely different entity. At the end of the day, I know both people, I’m good with both people, but it’s very hard to get two promoters to sit down and talk. I can be in the middle if they ask me to, but at the end of the day, PFL people fight people in the PFL. To be honest with you, I don’t know of any other champion in another promotion who would fight Kayla.”

    Abdelaziz went on to question whether or not a fight with Harrison is a matchup that Cyborg would want.

    “I don’t know if she does, I don’t know if she doesn’t. I just think people can say things, but when a contract is drawn, we don’t know what kind of move you’re going to make. You don’t know how you’re going to feel, what kind of butterfly you’re going to feel. One thing I can tell you, [Kayla’s] the greatest fighter of all time. It’s not Ronda, it’s not Amanda Nunes, she is. She’s the most dominant.”

    Harrison is getting ready to defend her women’s lightweight title in the upcoming 2022 PFL season. She defeated Taylor Guardado last October for her second consecutive championship in the league.

    As for Cyborg, she’s set to face Arlene Blencowe at Bellator 279 in April. She’s won five straight since losing to Amanda Nunes at UFC 232.

    If a Harrison vs. Cyborg fight will happen this year, it would have to take place in a cross-promotion event. But according to Abdelaziz, the only way the fight ever happens would be if Cyborg joined the PFL. For now, any conflict between Harrison and Cyborg will only take place from afar.

    Do you think Kayla Harrison vs. Cris Cyborg will eventually happen?

  • Tsarukyan: 70% Of Russians Thought Ferguson Would Beat Khabib

    UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan claims the majority of Russians picked Tony Ferguson to upend Khabib Nurmagomedov in the Octagon.

    Tsarukyan has been on a tear with five-straight wins in the UFC. He earned a brutal TKO finish over Joel Alvarez at UFC Vegas 49 to continue his climb up the lightweight rankings.

    While Tsarukyan has proven to be a real factor at 155 pounds, he has arguably yet to earn a signature big-name win on his record. His lone defeat came against Islam Makhachev in April 2019.

    Arman Tsarukyan Says Tony Ferguson Has A Lot Of Support, But Can’t Beat Khabib

    During a past media scrum, Tsarukyan gave his thoughts on the seemingly cursed Ferguson vs. Nurmagomedov matchup. The two were once considered the best lightweights in the world and a very intriguing stylistic matchup.

    Many believed that Ferguson had the tools to give Khabib trouble wherever the fight would go, including on the mat. And apparently, the majority of Russians thought so as well.

    “I don’t think so,” Tsarukyan said when asked about Ferguson’s chances against Nurmagomedov. “But, you know, I live in Russia … UFC is I think number one sport. Everyone, like, watch UFC, and like 70% said Tony Ferguson was going to win—I don’t know why. Tony Ferguson really, like, he has a lot of fans in Russia.”

    Ferguson and Nurmagomedov were supposed to fight on numerous occasions during their respective careers, but the bout constantly fell through. Nurmagomedov retired following his win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.

    Ferguson is looking to get back in the win column after losses to Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Beneil Dariush. He hasn’t won since his finish doctor’s stoppage victory over Donald Cerrone at UFC 238. He is currently scheduled to fight Michael Chandler at UFC 274.

    Do you believe Arman Tsarukyan Do you think most Russians picked Tony Ferguson to beat Khabib?

  • Mackenzie Dern Reveals Pre-Fight Injury Before Rodriguez Loss

    Mackenzie Dern revealed in an exclusive interview with MMA News that she suffered a knee injury before her main event loss to Marina Rodriguez.

    Dern went on to lose to Rodriguez in her first career UFC main event at UFC Vegas 39 last October via a unanimous decision. She was unable to deal with Rodriguez’s boxing or get the fight to the ground by using her signature Jiu-Jitsu.

    Dern remains one of the top UFC strawweight prospects heading into her 2022 debut against Tecia Torres at UFC 273. However, it was a hard road back to full health following the knee injury before her fight with Rodriguez.

    Dern explained what led to her knee injury in a recent sitdown with MMA News’ James Lynch.

    “Yeah, I hurt it on the last sparring before my fight with Marina on Friday [of fight week],” Dern said. “It was more during the fight week, so during fight week it just blew up and it was huge. I couldn’t really do anything, I couldn’t train during fight week, I couldn’t move around too much, I couldn’t put pressure on my knee or anything like that. In the fight, I didn’t feel it or anything like that. Marina did a couple of kicks and it was in the back of my head. She didn’t know about it or anything like that.

    “I felt good, I had trained hard and everything like that. But it was a little distraction. All of these things are little distractions and you just gotta learn to block it all out.”

    Dern went on to reveal that she underwent knee surgery following the fight with Rodriguez and made a full recovery ahead of this fight camp.

    Before the loss to Rodriguez, Dern had won four straight over the likes of Nina Nunes and Virna Jandiroba. She debuted in the UFC back at UFC 222 following successful stints in LFA and Invicta FC.

    Dern will look to get back into the strawweight title picture with a win over Torres at UFC 273. Her grappling is arguably the best in the strawweight division and she’s proven to be a matchup nightmare for most contenders.

    What is your prediction for Mackenzie Dern vs. Tecia Torres?

  • Chael Sonnen: The BMF Title Is Finished

    UFC commentator Chael Sonnen doesn’t want to hear about the BMF title ever again, and he doesn’t think there’s any reason to still discuss it.

    Sonnen’s thoughts come after the BMF titleholder, Jorge Masvidal, lost via unanimous decision to Colby Covington at UFC 272. Masvidal earned the BMF title by defeating Nate Diaz at UFC 244.

    Sonnen, who was arguably a ‘BMF’ during his time in the UFC, is never afraid to speak his mind. He’s proven to be just as outspoken after retirement as he was during his fighting career.

    During a recent segment on his YouTube channel, Sonnen explained why the BMF title is dead.

    “The BMF is gone,” Sonnen said. “I’m annoyed that it took me this long to see it. I usually see these things upfront. We don’t need to discuss it again. It’s not going to be contested again. I love the BMF and I’m sad that it’s over. I’ve been talking about it for three years now hoping that we’d resurrect that thing. We gotta stop, it ends today. The BMF is not getting fought for again.”

    Sonnen’s comments come after UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman said he was relinquishing the BMF title prior to UFC 272. Masvidal has lost three straight fights, including back-to-back fights to Usman with one vicious KO loss.

    The BMF title was made specifically after Diaz called out Masvidal following his win over Anthony Pettis at UFC 241. It’s unclear if Diaz and Masvidal will ever rematch down the line after their first matchup ended in controversy.

    Do you agree with Chael Sonnen about the BMF title being finished?

  • Paige VanZant Not Ruling Out MMA Return Despite Recent AEW Deal

    Former UFC fighter Paige VanZant isn’t done with MMA just yet despite having recently signed a deal with wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling.

    VanZant signed with AEW earlier this week after speculation ran rampant on her next career move. She most recently lost back-to-back fights in bare-knuckle boxing at BKFC against Rachael Ostovich and Britain Hart.

    VanZant had a rough end to her UFC tenure with losses in three of her last four fights. Her last fight in the Octagon came against Amanda Ribas at UFC 251 when she lost via first-round armbar.

    During a recent interview with ESPN, VanZant provided clarity on her MMA future.

    “I do want to do MMA still and I do see my future in MMA,” VanZant said. “I’m 27 years old. I’ve just been fortunate enough that my career got kick-started at a very young age. I’m not closing any doors.”

    VanZant made her MMA debut back in 2012 at UWF 4, earning a split-decision win over Jordan Gaza. She would sign with the UFC in 2014 and earn three-straight wins for the promotion, including finishes over Alex Chambers and Kailin Curran.

    While she would go on to pick up wins in the Octagon over the likes of Bec Rawlings and Ostovich, she failed to replicate the same success against elite competition. She was finished by the likes of Michelle Waterson and Rose Namajunas during the latter end of her time with the UFC.

    Despite her recent struggles, VanZant is still young in her athletic career and has plenty of time to get things back on track. She’ll perhaps utilize her time in AEW to turn the chapter towards a potential return down the line to the top MMA promotions in the sport.

    Is there an MMA promotion you’d like to see sign Paige VanZant?

  • Khamzat Chimaev Mocks Usman’s Boxing Skills Amid Canelo Fight Talks

    Rising UFC welterweight star Khamzat Chimaev doesn’t think Kamaru Usman would fare well in a fight with boxing champion Canelo Álvarez.

    Chimaev is set to face Gilbert Burns at UFC 273, in arguably the toughest test of his UFC tenure. He has won 10 straight to begin his MMA career, including most recently in a smothering of Li Jingliang at UFC 267.

    Usman is the UFC’s best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and is coming off an electric 2021. In the leadup to his last fight at UFC 268, he hinted at a potential crossover against Alvarez soon.

    Usman’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, recently said that Usman can knock out Alvarez inside three rounds of boxing. This prompted a variety of reactions around combat sports, including from Chimaev.

    In a recent tweet, Chimaev mocked the UFC welterweight champion along with a retweeted video of Usman whiffing punches.

    “[He is] good boxer,” Chimaev said sarcastically.

    Usman’s striking has arguably improved drastically over his past few fights, particularly showcased in knockouts of Burns and Jorge Masvidal. Yet, it seems Chimaev is not impressed to the point that he thinks Usman would stand a chance against Alvarez.

    UFC President Dana White has recently teased that Chimaev vs. Burns “makes sense” as a No. 1 contender fight. If that’s the case and Chimaev can defeat Burns, he could secure a matchup with Usman sooner rather than later.

    As for Usman/Alvarez, White has made it clear that he is not interested in helping put that superfight together.

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

  • Jake Paul: I Would KO Conor McGregor In Boxing Or MMA

    YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul says he could beat UFC superstar Conor McGregor in a ring or in a cage.

    Paul has been on McGregor’s case for several months, as he continues to tease a potential boxing match with McGregor down the line. Paul is coming off of three-straight wins in 2021 over former UFC champion Tyron Woodley and former UFC fighter Ben Askren.

    McGregor was a target of Paul in a recent diss track that featured jabs at UFC President Dana White, Nate Diaz, and others. But not all of Paul’s comments towards McGregor have been adversarial, as he recently claimed that McGregor is the most underpaid fighter in history.

    In a recent tweet, Paul took his confidence to a different level when hinting at a potential fight with McGregor.

    “I would KO Conor in boxing or MMA,” Paul said. “Right hand of God.”

    Paul showed off his right hand in a gruesome knockout of Woodley last December. After five back-and-forth rounds, Paul landed a powerful right hook that sent Woodley to sleep.

    McGregor has hinted at a potential return to boxing down the line, most recently when he was allegedly in negotiations to fight Manny Pacquiao last year. However, he’s anticipating a return to MMA first, with a timetable set for this summer at the earliest.

    Though unlikely, Paul vs. McGregor boxing match could theoretically happen down the line, and Paul is confident he can put on another impressive performance against arguably one of the fight game’s best strikers.

    What do you make of Jake Paul’s roast of Conor McGregor?

  • Watch: MMA Referee Halts Post-Fight Brawl With Brute Force

    A Brave CF title fight between Mohammad Fakhreddine and Mohamed Said Maalem nearly had a chaotic aftermath before an MMA referee stepped in.

    Fakhreddine earned a first-round TKO victory over Maalem at Brave CF 57 to claim the promotion’s vacant light heavyweight title. The two had been on each other’s nerves for months, stemming from their first matchup that resulted in a no-contest at Brave CF 52.

    Fakhreddine was hyped up after earning the knockout, running to his opponent’s corner and trash-talking them just seconds after the finish. Things began to escalate when one of Maalem’s cornermen attempted to jump into the cage and engage in a brawl with Fakhreddine and his team.

    That’s all before referee Aaron Wallace grabbed Fakhreddine and carried him by himself to the other side of the cage. Wallace’s actions would need repeating as Fakhreddine broke free and nearly brawled again with Maalem and his corner.

    Wallace would take his heroics one step further by grabbing Fakhreddine with one arm, and Fakhreddine’s cornermen with the other away from the chaotic scene. It was a wild moment that drew quite the reaction from the crowd and the broadcast team.

    Check out the fight’s aftermath and Wallace’s moment of fame below.

    https://twitter.com/bravemmaf/status/1502380335190843394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1502380335190843394%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmmajunkie.usatoday.com%2F2022%2F03%2Fvideo-referee-go-above-beyond-stop-all-out-brawl-brave-cf-57
    https://twitter.com/nok1980/status/1502391310354948102?s=20&t=94T6oi4BjA3XevM3ZDyoFw

    While Wallace’s actions to calm the scene attracted a lot of attention, the chaos may fuel the fire towards a trilogy between Fakhreddine and Maalem in the future. If a trilogy happens, look for Wallace to potentially get the nod to officiate in case things get out of hand again.

    What is your reaction to this wild referee moment?

  • Cejudo Says He’d Stop McGregor In Training Critique, Mac Hits Back

    Former UFC double-champ Henry Cejudo isn’t impressed by Conor McGregor’s striking that he showed off in a recent social media post.

    Cejudo and McGregor have bickered back and forth on social media on and off for months. While Cejudo remains a retired UFC fighter, he remains active on social media and is also a commentator for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC promotion.

    Cejudo is never afraid to speak his mind when it comes to his UFC colleagues, including former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and former opponent Dominick Cruz.

    Despite being known mostly for his elite grappling during his time in the Octagon, the Olympic wrestler isn’t impressed with McGregor’s boxing. In a recent tweet, he criticized McGregor for his technique when hitting pads.

    “The same reason why you let people chew that front leg [Conor McGregor] is the same reason why I would stop you,” Cejudo said. “What do you say I make my comeback at 155?“

    McGregor, who has had his fair share of social media back-and-forths with his rivals, quickly hit back at Cejudo in a reply.

    “Shut up u little fart,” McGregor replied.

    Cejudo had hinted at a UFC comeback against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski before UFC president Dana White booked ‘The Korean Zombie’ for UFC 273. He hasn’t fought since he retired following UFC 249 in 2020.

    McGregor is preparing for a UFC comeback later this year after snapping his leg in his trilogy with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. While Cejudo is unafraid of McGregor, the Irishman is the more likely of the two to return to competition in 2022.

    What do you make of the Henry Cejudo/Conor McGregor Twitter beef?

  • Bruno Silva Looks To Steal Alex Pereira’s Hype At UFC Vegas 50

    UFC middleweight Bruno Silva is aiming to make a statement against the highly-touted striker Alex Pereira at UFC Vegas 50.

    Silva has been deserving of some hype of his own following seven-straight wins. He hasn’t lost since 2016 and has earned UFC victories over the likes of Andrew Sanchez and Jordan Wright.

    Silva is the slight underdog against Pereira at UFC Vegas 50. Pereira was one of the biggest signings by the UFC in 2021 following a decorated career in Glory Kickboxing.

    Pereira passed his first test with flying colors with a debut win over Andreas Michailidis at UFC 268. During his UFC Vegas 50 pre-fight press conference, Silva talked about his intentions for making a name for himself against Pereira while stealing his hype.

    “Absolutely, [I will steal his hype with a win], that’s one of the reasons why I took this fight,” Silva said. “According to Alex, 15 guys turned him down, and I was crazy No. 16. A lot of guys have fear. I have fear, but I’m brave, so I will fight him.” (h/t Cageside Press)

    Silva went on to tease an aggressive approach to his fight with Pereira.

    “There is no way to make history if you are not brave enough. So you guys are not going to see me fighting like Khabib [Nurmagomedov] or Damian Maia. If I have to, I will, but I’m going to look for another knockout.”

    Pereira is also the only man to ever knock out UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in any sport, as he’s continued to allude to during his UFC rise.

    Silva could give Pereira plenty of challenges inside the Octagon. He possesses powerful striking and has showcased the ability to finish a fight with a single blow.

    Silva will look to put on a show against Pereira and continue his rise in the middleweight division.

    What is your prediction for Bruno Silva vs. Alex Pereira?

  • Henry Cejudo’s Intuition Says He Won’t Fight In The UFC Again

    Former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo is beginning to lose hope in a UFC comeback in light of his recent jabs at UFC President Dana White.

    Cejudo hasn’t fought in the UFC Octagon since his last bantamweight title defense against Dominick Cruz at UFC 249. In his post-fight interview, he announced his retirement from the UFC and officially vacated the title shortly thereafter.

    But Cejudo has hinted at a UFC comeback, most recently volunteering to fight against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 273. This was after Max Holloway pulled out of the Volkanovski fight due to an injury. However, the UFC opted to go with ‘The Korean Zombie’ as a replacement.

    Cejudo has recently claimed that he demanded too much money and that was the reasoning behind not getting the Volkanovski fight. In the meantime, he has coached various UFC fighters at Fight Ready in Arizona.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Cejudo addressed his status towards a UFC comeback and sounded less than optimistic.

    “I don’t think so,” Cejudo said. “I think the way that things are going, I think I talked too much sh*t. I think I picked on (UFC president) Dana (White) a little too much. He’s just not going to pay me. I’ve accepted that. This is why I’m able to throw out the kitchen sink from now on because it’s never going to change. It’s not going to change.”

    Cejudo went on to criticize White and the UFC’s pay model in light of recent deals with Jorge Masvidal and UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

    “He’s going to pay Jorge. He’s going to pay the 1 percent. He’s going to pay the entertainers – and that’s partially what I am. I’m an entertainer. I could sell a damn fight and I can fight better than all those dudes combined. It sucks, but that’s just the way it is. It’s just business. I ain’t mad. (I’m) maybe a little frustrated, but I ain’t mad. That’s just life.”

    Masvidal and Adesanya earned mega deals leading up to their recent fights, prompting frustration from Cejudo. His issues with the UFC have allegedly been financially related and could’ve potentially led to his retirement.

    Cejudo is regarded as arguably one of the greatest combat sports athletes of all time. After earning a gold medal in Olympic Wrestling, he earned UFC titles at flyweight and bantamweight and wrapped up his UFC tenure with six straight wins.

    Do you think Henry Cejudo will fight in the UFC again?

  • Masvidal Shares Aftermath Of Eyepoke From “Cheating F**k” Covington

    Jorge Masvidal suffered quite the eye injury after getting poked by Colby Covington during their grudge match at UFC 272.

    Masvidal and Covington finally got their chance to settle their beef in the Octagon, with Covington earning a unanimous decision win. Outside of a Round 4 knockdown from Masvidal, it was a largely impressive performance from Covington.

    Seconds after the fight ended, Covington and Masvidal nearly brawled more before security personnel separated the two welterweights. During his post-fight press conference, Masvidal also claimed that Covington cheated and intentionally eye-poked him during the fight.

    Just days after their fight, Masvidal is still dealing with the physical consequences of his loss to Covington.

    In a recent tweet, Masvidal sent a message to Covington along with an image of his eye injury.

    “Almost took eyes out but all good u cheating f**k see u soon,” Masvidal said.

    Despite some retirement talks from fans and pundits, Masvidal seems intent on returning to the Octagon later this year. It’s unclear who his next opponent will be, but he seems focused on working his way back to the title picture and a potential rematch with Covington.

    Masvidal and Covington shared quite the buildup to their fight at UFC 272. They held arguably one of the most chaotic pre-fight press conferences in recent memory and went back and forth for months on social media.

    Masvidal seems keen to settle his beef with Covington in the Octagon or on the streets. Masvidal’s eye injury could fuel the fire to their severed relationship for years to come.

    Who do you want Jorge Masvidal to fight next?

  • Coker On Harrison/PFL: I Hope They Can Find Someone For Her To Fight

    Bellator president Scott Coker is questioning Kayla Harrison’s decision to re-sign with the PFL and not sign with either Bellator or the UFC.

    Harrison concluded her free agency this week when she opted to re-sign with the PFL on a multi-year deal. She also had conversations with the UFC and Bellator before ultimately deciding to stay loyal to PFL.

    Coker and Bellator pitched the top offer to Harrison before the PFL matched shortly afterward.

    Some around MMA remain concerned about Harrison’s level of competition in the PFL, despite the league signing former Bellator champion Julia Budd and boxing superstar Claressa Shields. Nevertheless, Harrison remains intent on accomplishing her goals in the PFL and seems confident that the league will bring top talent to face her.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Coker opined that Harrison could have ongoing issues finding elite competition in the PFL.

    “With Kayla right now, I don’t know who she’s gonna fight over there,” Coker said of Harrison. “She’s got to fight the girls that are the dominant girls in that weight class, (who) are Cyborg, to me the greatest female fighter of all time, Amanda Nunes, and then Kayla. She’s growing, she’s doing very well, but she’s got to fight somebody to really showcase that she has that ability to fight at that elite level.

    PFL Harrison vs Dandois
    Kayla Harrison and Cindy Dandois in their lightweight fight at PFL 6 (PHOTO: Cooper Neill / PFL)

    “And that’s why we made a run because Cris Cyborg was like, ‘Look, I’ll fight anybody, and let’s get her on.’ And we said, ‘Hey, that would be a fun fight to promote,’ but listen, it didn’t work out. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t, good for them, but we’re gonna move forward with our business with Cris. We’re in the Cris Cyborg business. I just hope they find somebody to fight Kayla at some point.”

    Harrison is getting ready to compete in the 2022 PFL season and will look to defend her women’s lightweight title. Harrison defeated Taylor Guardado for the PFL Championship last October.

    Harrison had been rumored to be tied to superfights with former UFC champions Amanda Nunes and Cris “Cyborg” Justino. In addition to Harrison’s new deal, the PFL has announced that they will open a “superfight division” to attract top talent to the league.

    Do you think Kayla Harrison made the right move to return to PFL?

  • Henry Cejudo Challenges UFC Following Adesanya, Masvidal Deals

    Former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo was taken aback when Israel Adesanya and Jorge Masvidal got recent mega deals and he didn’t.

    Cejudo retired following his successful bantamweight title defense against Dominick Cruz at UFC 249. He hasn’t fought since but has teased a potential UFC return to face featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.

    Cejudo put his name in the sweepstakes to replace Max Holloway against Volkanovski, but Chan Sung Jung (otherwise known as The Korean Zombie) ended up getting the fight over him. UFC president Dana White has remained adamant that Cejudo will need to fight another contender before getting a title shot.

    Adesanya and Masvidal both secured new UFC deals ahead of their fights at UFC 271 and UFC 272. Adesanya’s deal has been rumored to be one of the most lucrative in UFC history, while Masvidal’s new deal makes him among the Top 3 highest paid.

    Cejudo left the UFC after being in a contract dispute with the promotion. But after getting word of Adesanya and Masvidal’s new contracts, Cejudo isn’t sure why he wasn’t or hasn’t been offered a similar deal.

    “Money talks, bulls*** walks, and I’m not walking, I’m not signing up to USADA until I really get what I deserve,” Cejudo said in an interview with The Underground. “They’re gonna give Israel Adesanya, who doesn’t know how to do a damn moonwalk, can’t win a second belt, can’t defend a takedown to save his life, or Jorge Masvidal, he’s got 17 losses in his career, and they can’t give the ‘Triple C’ some of that cash?

    Henry Cejudo
    Photo via Instagram @henrycejudo

    “If you really think about it, it’s almost like, why do I do this? If the UFC’s just gonna handpick people to decide to pay, because notice what they’re doing now: a week before the fight, they’re starting to give this big payday to those guys because they want to keep the one-percenters happy so nobody else talks s***. I am those one-percenters, so how come they ain’t paying me?” (h/t MMA Fighting)

    Cejudo has helped train top UFC stars such as former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo down at Fight Ready in Arizona. Though it remains unclear whether or not he still intends to return to MMA at some point, he has recently expressed interest in a fight against Max Holloway as a return fight.

    If Cejudo ends up returning to the UFC, it’s apparent that the former champion will need a pay raise in comparison to his previous contract. In the meantime, the idea of a super fight between Cejudo and Volkanovski seems dead.

    Do you think Henry Cejudo will eventually return to the UFC?

  • Robert Whittaker vs. Marvin Vettori Targeted For UFC 275

    A UFC middleweight showdown between former champion Robert Whittaker and former title challenger Marvin Vettori is in the works.

    MMA Fighting was the first to report the news of the targeted booking for UFC 275 on June 11.

    Whittaker hinted at a quick turnaround during a recent interview with MMA journalist Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. He also recently teased a fight with Vettori as the fight to make, and it appears that the matchup will come to fruition.

    Whittaker most recently fell to UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 271. It was a competitive fight from start to finish, but Adesanya earned the unanimous decision victory in their title rematch.

    Whittaker had worked his way back to the title shot after getting knocked out by Adesanya at UFC 243. He earned dominant wins over Kelvin Gastelum, Jared Cannonier, and Darren Till before getting the second fight with Adesanya.

    Vettori Adesanya
    Marvin Vettori, Israel Adesanya

    Vettori is one of the few top UFC middleweights who Whittaker hasn’t fought to date.

    Vettori rebounded from a loss to Adesanya at UFC 263 with a win over Paulo Costa last October. The fight was originally supposed to take place at middleweight but took place at light heavyweight after Costa showed up on fight week overweight.

    Before the loss to Adesanya, Vettori earned one-sided wins over the likes of Kevin Holland and Jack Hermansson.

    Along with Whittaker vs. Vettori, Adesanya is expected to defend his title later this year against top contender Jared Cannonier. Sean Strickland is also closing in on a title shot after beating Hermansson earlier this year to make it six straight wins.

    Whittaker and Vettori are both vying for another shot at Adesanya and a fight between them would certainly make sense. UFC 275 is set to be headlined by a light heavyweight title fight between Glover Teixeira and Jiří Procházka.

    What is your prediction for the planned Robert Whittaker vs. Marvin Vettori fight?

  • Jorge Masvidal Praises Bryce Mitchell Following His Fox News Interview

    UFC welterweight star Jorge Masvidal liked what Bryce Mitchell had to say during his recent Fox News interview with Tucker Carlson.

    Masvidal and Mitchell just fought on the same card together at UFC 272. Mitchell earned arguably the best win of his career against Edson Barboza, while Masvidal fell short in his main event bout against Colby Covington.

    Both Masvidal and Mitchell are unafraid to make their opinions known on various political and societal issues. Mitchell recently stopped by Carlson’s show on Fox News for an interview regarding his recent comments on the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

    “I’m not going to fight for these politicians,” Mitchell said in a quote he tweeted from the interview. “I’m staying home and when the war comes to Arkansas, I will dig my boots in the ground, and die for everything I love.”

    Mitchell’s comments seemed to divide the MMA community with their reactions to his remarks. However, Masvidal praised Mitchell for his comments on the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

    “Amen,” Masvidal replied.

    Leading up to UFC 272, Mitchell elaborated that he intended to resist any sort of government mandate requiring him to serve overseas. The tensions between Ukraine and Russia continue to build, with some opining that this could be the potential beginning of a global war.

    While Mitchell has raised some eyebrows with his comments during a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, it appears he has a big-name supporter in the form of Masvidal.

    What is your reaction to Bryce Mitchell’s Fox News appearance?