MMA News

Author: Curtis Calhoun

  • Darren Till: 100% Till Would Get Whittaker Out Of There Quickly

    UFC middleweight contender Darren Till feels he would’ve made quick work of former champion Robert Whittaker had he not torn his MCL.

    Till got off to a fast start against Whittaker in their July 2020 headliner but was unable to keep his momentum for five full rounds. It was later revealed by Till’s coach, Colin Heron, that he suffered a torn MCL during the fight.

    Till has lost four of his last five and has just one win at middleweight, a split-decision victory over Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 244. He made the move from 170 to 185 pounds following back-to-back losses to Tyron Woodley and Jorge Masvidal.

    Till’s middleweight tenure has produced mixed results. After his win over Gastelum, he has lost back-to-back fights to Whittaker and Derek Brunson.

    During a recent interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Till gave his thoughts on what went wrong in his matchup with Whittaker.

    “The fight before (Brunson), I lost to Whittaker. In my opinion now, Whittaker and Adesanya are the two best middleweights on Earth. I don’t feel like I even gave 50%,” Till said. “God’s honest truthā€”I’m not trying to disrespect Whittaker. I don’t feel like I was even giving 50% in that fight. I was making him miss, I was relaxed, I was knocking him down. If I came in there 100% Darren Till, I would get Whittaker out of there quite quickly.”

    Till is anticipating a return to the Octagon in 2022 and recently signed a new multi-fight deal with the UFC. He has also been seen training with rising UFC star Khamzat Chimaev in Sweden.

    Despite his recent struggles, Till arguably still has massive potential at middleweight and could challenge for another UFC title someday. If he is victorious in his next bout, a rematch with Whittaker may become a part of the discussion.

    Who do you want Darren Till to fight next?

  • Stephen A. Smith Rips Jorge Masvidal For Post-UFC 272 Comments

    Stephen A. Smith is not buying what UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal is selling following his loss to Colby Covington.

    Covington defeated Masvidal via unanimous decision in their welterweight grudge match after months of back-and-forth banter. Covington dominated with his wrestling and also out-landed Masvidal with his standup.

    After the fight, Masvidal claimed that he was “flat” with his wrestling, which he feels was a major reason for the loss. Covington has always been known to be a wrestler by nature but has also shown improved standup over time.

    During a recent segment of ESPN’s First Take, Smith gave his thoughts on Masvidal’s approach to the fight with Covington and his post-fight comments.

    “Iā€™m a huge, huge Masvidal fan,” Smith prefaced. “I think heā€™s great for the sport because heā€™s got knockout power in both punches, he can obviously use that knee very well and he has improved his wrestling. But Colby Covington showed that heā€™s on a different level from a wrestling standpoint, and from a stamina standpoint.

    Masvidal reflects on UFC 272 loss to Covington: 'The bā€”ch can wrestle' - MMAmania.com
    Image Credit: David Becker/Getty Images

    “One of the things that I paid attention to coming into this fight is something that Colby Covington said. Because he knew him and they were former best friends and roommates turned enemies, Covington said, ā€˜Masvidal trains for his fights; I live this.ā€™ What he was talking about is he is always in shape. Heā€™s never out of shape. Heā€™s renowned for his condition and the pressure heā€™s able to apply and how he never lets up because he keeps on coming.”

    Smith went on to point out how fatigued Masvidal looked as the fight came to a close.

    “I saw Masvidal gutsy and survive the five rounds, but while he was waving Covington on to come on, ā€˜Letā€™s get some more.ā€™ He was literally using two security personnel to lean on because thatā€™s how exhausted he was. Covington looked like he was just starting. He was that energized. The guy is in phenomenal shape, heā€™s an outstanding wrestler and Masvidal admitted that his wrestling was flat.

    “How was it flat coming into this fight knowing this guy as well as you know him and knowing what he was going to try to do to you, and how much you supposedly hate him? How you were not ready for a wrestling match, I donā€™t understand. Itā€™s inexplicable.ā€ (h/t MMA Junkie)

    Masvidal has now lost three straight bouts and hasn’t won since his BMF title victory over Nate Diaz at UFC 244. He’s anticipating a return later this year to work his way towards a potential rematch against Covington down the line.

    Smith has had a complicated relationship with the MMA community. In addition to his criticisms of Masvidal, he also came under fire after attacking Donald Cerrone on the ESPN post-fight show for his quick loss to Conor McGregor.

    What are your thoughts on how Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby Covington played out?

  • Bryce Mitchell: Every Time I Fight There Will Be Children Healed

    UFC featherweight contender Bryce Mitchell intends to make a difference outside of the cage following all of his future fights.

    Mitchell earned a dominant win over Edson Barboza on the UFC 272 main card. He wrestled and smothered Barboza for a majority of the fight and was able to withstand Barboza’s advances on the feet.

    After the fight, Mitchell used his post-fight Octagon interview with Joe Rogan to announce that he would be donating half of his purse to help local youth back home in Arkansas. This caused quite the positive pop from the T-Mobile Arena crowd, and he certainly gained fans for his generosity.

    During his UFC 272 post-fight press conference, Mitchell said that UFC President Dana White wants to get involved in his out-of-competition causes.

    ā€œDana White came up to me after the fight and said ā€˜Donā€™t give your money; Iā€™m going to give the $45,000,ā€™” Mitchell revealed. “Iā€™m still going to give some money, you know? But he told me, ā€˜Donā€™t give any of your money. Itā€™s going to be mine, and Iā€™m going to take care of it.ā€™ But Iā€™m still going to do something because I just need to, but there will be more than $45,000. We have people coming out of the woodwork. So Iā€™m planting the seed and weā€™re going to watch this thing grow.ā€

    Mitchell is the latest UFC fighter to use his platform to help those less fortunate. UFC stars such as Dustin Poirier and Kamaru Usman have helped their hometowns in a big way by being an inspiration and continuing to grow MMA.

    ā€œWell, children are some of the most precious things on the planet, brother,” Mitchell said. “I mean, I see so much evil and wickedness in the world and so much greed, people killing for money, it makes me sick. I want to do the exact opposite. And do you know what the greatest thing I can do in that cage is? Itā€™s inspire. Thatā€™s the greatest thing I can do in that cage is inspire people. And let me tell you why; because me, by myself, I really canā€™t do shit. My $45,000, when it comes to (the) medical profession, really ainā€™t shit. That shitā€™s gone in one surgery. That shitā€™s gone in a couple skin grafts. You see what Iā€™m saying?

    “But if I can inspire you, and you, and you, and you, then itā€™s limitless, it keeps going, itā€™s perpetual. So the greatest thing I can do is inspire, and I really feel that Iā€™ve done that, and I really feel that I owe that to God.ā€

    Mitchell went on to clarify that this isn’t just a one-time opportunity of his to make a difference for Arkansas youth.

    ā€œEvery time I fight there will be children healed through the fight.ā€

    Mitchell’s win over Barboza is arguably the biggest win of his young UFC career. He returned to the cage following a nearly two-year hiatus from the sport.

    While Mitchell seems proud of his performance inside the cage, he appears even more focused on his efforts outside of it. He’s looking to make an impact on children back in his hometown and continuing to use his platform for societal causes.

  • Greg Hardy Speaks Out After Disappointing Loss To Spivac At UFC 272

    UFC heavyweight Greg Hardy is looking forward and not backward following his lopsided defeat to Serghei Spivac at UFC 272.

    Hardy came out firing a series of brutal leg kicks that successfully landed on Spivac in the opening minutes. Then, he was smothered on the ground and taken down numerous times in the first round.

    After Spivac got the top mount on Hardy, he landed a series of violent ground-and-pound combinations to finish the fight. Hardy failed to defend himself and the referee stepped in just a couple of minutes into the bout.

    In a recent Instagram post following the loss, Hardy updated his fans on his health and wellbeing after losing a third straight bout.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Cav3Sn4LkXS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “Iā€™m ok first of all for those who wanna know,” Hardy said. “No excuses, gotta get better. I donā€™t know what to do but say sorry. More coming for the prince of War just gotta get my shit together. Thank you to the [UFC] and [Dana White] for being in my corner. Thank you coaches and training partners and agents [First Round Management]. Everyone did their job accept for me. This one is on me and there are no excuses for me lacking. I refuse to die but I have to reevaluate for sure.”

    Hardy has now lost three fights in a row with all three coming by stoppage. His last win came against Maurice Greene in October 2020.

    Hardy has had his fair share of ups and downs in the Octagon since transitioning from professional Football to MMA. After an impressive performance on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018, he’s traded wins and losses inside the cage.

    Hardy was supposed to make his return to the Octagon earlier this year at UFC 270 before Aleksei Oleinik pulled out on short notice. He then faced a new opponent in Spivac and the fight was pushed back to UFC 272.

    UFC President Dana White has historically shown to have thin patience when it comes to fighters on losing streaks, and Hardy will likely need a win in his next appearance to remain on the UFC roster for the long termā€”if there is a next appearance.

    Who do you want to see Greg Hardy fight next?

  • dos Anjos Remains Dead Set On McGregor Rebooking After UFC 272 Win

    Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos still feels he has unfinished business with Conor McGregor inside the Octagon.

    dos Anjos dismantled short-notice replacement Renato Moicano in the UFC 272 co-headliner. He was originally supposed to face Rafael Fiziev before Fiziev recently tested positive for COVID-19.

    The 37-year-old dos Anjos proved that he still can compete with some of the best lightweights in the UFC with his latest win. He returned to the cage following a two-year layoff after his win over Paul Felder in his last appearance.

    dos Anjos has previously stated that he feels a fight with McGregor needs to happen before their careers come to a close. They were supposed to compete at UFC 196 when RDA held the lightweight title but pulled out with an injury.

    McGregor went on to face Nate Diaz on short notice, losing in a shocking submission defeat.

    McGregor has also expressed mutual interest in a fight with dos Anjos. The two could’ve potentially met at UFC 264 when RDA served as the backup to McGregor’s matchup with Dustin Poirier.

    dos Anjos and McGregor nearly got into a physical altercation at the UFC Apex during the UFC 264 weigh-ins.

    Rafael dos Anjos Still Set On McGregor Bout

    During his UFC 272 post-fight press conference, dos Anjos named McGregor as his top target for his next fight later this year.

    ā€œThe fight would make sense,” dos Anjos opined. “Conor is coming back in the summer.ā€

    dos Anjos went on to elaborate as to why a fight with McGregor would make the most sense for both parties.

    “Heā€™s a big name, sells a lot of PPV, we have a history, too. Iā€™m looking for names that make me want to go to the gym. Donā€™t wanna fight names that donā€™t interest me. Heā€™s the guy that would motivate me.”

    McGregor is expected to return later this year after suffering a nasty leg break against Poirier at UFC 264. It’s unclear whether or not McGregor will return as a lightweight to face RDA following his recent weight gains.

    If McGregor is still intent on pursuing a lightweight title run, a matchup with dos Anjos would make sense. The winner could surge into the title picture and potentially earn a shot at the belt sooner rather than later.

    Do you want to see Rafael dos Anjos vs. Conor McGregor next?

  • White On Rodriguez Facing Esparza/Namajunas Winner: “Makes Sense”

    It appears that UFC strawweight contender Marina Rodriguez did enough to earn a No. 1 contender spot in her win over Yan Xiaonan at UFC 272.

    Rodriguez won a closely-contested top-5 matchup against Xiaonan in a back-and-forth war on the feet. Rodriguez struggled with Xiaonan’s speed early in the fight but found a rhythm with her pacing as the bout went on.

    Rodriguez has been on a roll in the strawweight division after an impressive 2021. She earned three-straight wins last year including lopsided victories over the likes of Michelle Waterson and Mackenzie Dern.

    During his UFC 272 post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White said it “makes sense” that Rodriguez would face the winner of Rose Namajunas vs. Carla Esparza.

    The promotion has been working on booking the Namajunas/Esparza rematch in 2022. Although it hasn’t been formally announced, it’s widely expected to be the next title fight at 115 pounds.

    Rodriguez made her UFC debut back in 2018 following a gruesome knockout of Maria Oliveira on Dana White’s Contender Series. She has yet to face Namajunas in the UFC but lost in a close split decision against Esparza in July 2020.

    Namajunas earned her second stint as the strawweight queen by knocking out Zhang Weili at UFC 261. She would follow it up by earning a decision win over Weili in their rematch at UFC 268.

    Rodriguez is looking to become the latest Brazilian UFC champion and the first Brazilian strawweight champion since JĆ©ssica Andrade held the title in 2019. She’ll have the chance to prove herself with her next Octagon appearance, which is expected to be for a championship belt.

    Do you think Marina Rodriguez is a future UFC champion?

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov To Be Inducted Into The UFC Hall of Fame

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will headline the UFC Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022 following his legendary career.

    Nurmagomedov retired from MMA following his win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. He retired as arguably the greatest lightweight champion in UFC history and is also in the conversation as the greatest MMA fighter of all time.

    Nurmagomedov left the fight game with a 29-0 professional record, beating the likes of Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, and Conor McGregor during his run. He made his UFC debut back in 2012 against Kamal Shalorus, earning a third-round submission victory.

    Nurmagomedov has paved the way for Dagestan fighters to find success in MMA. This includes top contenders such as Islam Makhachev, who appears to be just one win away from a lightweight title shot.

    UFC President Dana White attempted to lure Nurmagomedov out of retirement last year for a potential matchup with former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. Nurmagomedov declined the offer and seems committed to his decision to remain retired.

    Nurmagomedov still remains a massive part of the MMA community as a coach and was most recently spotted at UFC 272 cornering a number of fighters. He also is a promoter of Eagle FC, which recently signed former UFC fighters such as Rashad Evans and Kevin Lee.

    The UFC surprised Nurmagomedov with the news during a promotional video during the UFC 272 fight card in Las Vegas.

    Nurmagomedov joins the Hall of Fame as a member of the Modern Era wing.

    What is your favorite memory from Khabib Nurmagomedov’s UFC career?

  • Julianna PeƱa Says Sheā€™s Still Being ā€˜Harassedā€™ By Her Naysayers

    UFC Bantamweight Champion Julianna PeƱa feels she still has plenty to prove in the upcoming rematch against Amanda Nunes.

    PeƱa pulled off arguably the biggest upset in UFC history at UFC 269, dismantling Nunes on the feet before eventually securing a rear-naked choke for the finish. It was Nunes’ first loss in the Octagon since 2014 when she lost to Cat Zingano at UFC 178.

    PeƱa has enjoyed the newfound fame after her win over Nunes but still deals with her fair share of critics despite the success. During an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, PeƱa explained how she still has a vocal group of haters who believe her win over Nunes was an outlier.

    ā€œThereā€™s still naysayers out there,” PeƱa said. “Thereā€™s still people that think there was a fluke. Thereā€™s people that are still harassing me. Thereā€™s still people that are being like, ā€˜Sheā€™s gonna kill you.ā€™ Theyā€™re like, ā€˜10 seconds and youā€™re dead.ā€™ And so I would love nothing more than to put the naysayers to bed for one last time.ā€

    Social media trolls aren’t the only ones who have aimed at Pena following the win. Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov downplayed her victory during a recent press conference, criticizing the current level of women’s MMA. Meanwhile, PeƱa’s former Ultimate Fighting coach Miesha Tate believes anyone who thinks the UFC 269 outcome was a fluke is crazy.

    PeƱa and Nunes will have a rematch later this year following coaching opposite one another on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter. PeƱa pulled off an all-time great victory at UFC 269, and she’s looking to prove that she’s here to stay as the UFC bantamweight queen

    How do you think the Julianna PeƱa -Amanda Nunes rematch will play out?

  • White Touts Zhang Weili Rematch For Joanna Jędrzejczyk’s UFC Return

    UFC President Dana White likes the idea of a rematch between former UFC strawweight champions Joanna Jędrzejczyk and Zhang Weili.

    Jędrzejczyk has been away from the Octagon for nearly two years since her first matchup with Weili at UFC 248. It was arguably the greatest fight in women’s MMA history as Weili earned a split-decision victory.

    Joanna J drzejczyk Weili Zhang
    Joanna Jędrzejczyk and Weili Zhang

    Despite the loss, many fans believed that Jędrzejczyk did enough to earn the win on the scorecards. Many believed that a rematch would take place eventually and it sounds like it could come to fruition later this year.

    Jędrzejczyk held a guest fighter press conference at UFC 272. She hinted at her desire to fight Weili for her first fight back in the cage and attempt to settle the score between the former champions.

    During his UFC 272 post-fight press conference, White was asked whether or not he liked the idea of booking the Jędrzejczyk/Weili rematch.

    “Yeah, that’s the fight that makes sense,” White said.

    Jędrzejczyk has previously touted the idea of a rematch with Weili and claimed that the UFC’s first-ever Chinese champion hasn’t been the same since their fight. Weili has lost back-to-back fights to Rose Namajunas and is looking to potentially earn another title shot down the line.

    Jędrzejczyk has also suffered two losses to Namajunas but remains intent on reclaiming the UFC strawweight throne. Before her close loss to Weili, she earned dominant wins over Michelle Waterson and Tecia Torres.

    Who wins in a Joanna Jędrzejczyk /Zhang Weili rematch?

  • Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje Official For UFC 274 Headliner

    UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira will make his next title defense against former interim champion Justin Gaethje at UFC 274.

    The UFC confirmed the booking during the UFC 272 broadcast.

    Oliveira is coming off of his first successful title defense against Dustin Poirier at UFC 269. After withstanding an early barrage from Poirier, Oliveira was able to impose his will with his signature grappling and submit Poirier in Round 3.

    Oliveira earned the then-vacant lightweight title over Michael Chandler at UFC 262 following dominant wins over Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee.

    Gaethje will get his second shot at the UFC lightweight title after losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254. He had earned the interim belt by defeating Ferguson at UFC 249 via fifth-round TKO.

    Before getting the shot against Oliveira, Gaethje won a barnburner against Chandler at UFC 268. He won the fight via a unanimous decision in arguably one of the most exciting fights in UFC history.

    While there isn’t any notable bad blood between Oliveira and Gaethje, there has been some verbal banter between the two sides. Gaethje has recently said that he plans to make Oliveira quit in their matchup, while Oliveira has called Gaethje a “phony” following their post-UFC 269 run-in.

    The booking comes amidst an interesting lightweight title picture. Islam Makhachev is expected to face Beneil Dariush in a re-scheduled bout later this year, while Conor McGregor is looking to return in the summer.

    UFC 274 is scheduled to take place at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ on May 7.

    What is your prediction for Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje?

  • Dustin Poirier Responds To Colby Covingtonā€™s Post-Fight Callout

    Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier hit back at Colby Covington on social media following Covington’s UFC 272 callout.

    Covington defeated Jorge Masvidal in a back-and-forth war in the UFC 272 headliner. After earning a mostly-dominant win over Masvidal, Covington used his post-fight interview to call out another former American Top Team teammate in Poirier.

    Covington and Poirier have had their fair share of fallout since Covington split with ATT. Covington has taken shots at Poirier’s wife and daughter, giving them both unflattering labels. He’s also mocked Poirier following his loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 and also claimed that he made Poirier leave ATT in tears following their training sessions together.

    After getting word of Covington’s UFC 272 callout, Poirier took to social media to respond.

    “Bombaclot!” Poirier tweeted shortly after the callout.

    The term ‘Bumbaclot’ is Jamaican slang for “d**chebag” or “motherf**ker”. Poirier is clearly not a fan of Covington’s antics, especially after downplaying the idea of facing him in the Octagon.

    Poirier then went on to question why Covington would call him out instead of calling out another top UFC welterweight.

    https://twitter.com/DustinPoirier/status/1500364396903682050?s=20&t=Zy2ntaPnxhl5bmPdvkPoyQ

    “Maybez fight a welterweight contender?”

    Poirier has previously hinted at a move to welterweight in 2022 to fight Nate Diaz. The fight is still in consideration for later this year, and it’s unclear if Poirier will move to 170 pounds full-time.

    As for Covington, he’s looking to potentially earn a third fight with welterweight champion Kamaru Usman down the line. A win over another top UFC star like Poirier could give him that opportunity.

    Do you want to see Dustin Poirier vs Colby Covington next?

  • EXCLUSIVE | ATT Fighter Johnny Eblen Talks Masvidal/Covington Beef

    Bellator middleweight and American Top Team fighter Johnny Eblen gave MMA News the inside scoop regarding Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington.

    Eblen is set to face former Bellator title challenger John Salter at Bellator 276 next weekend. He’s spent plenty of time around Covington and Masvidal at ATT and knows their story from the inside out.

    Masvidal and Covington will square off in the UFC 272 headliner this weekend. It is one of the most highly-anticipated fights in recent memory and one of the biggest non-title grudge matches in UFC history.

    Eblen was a teammate of Covington before Covington’s split from the gym. He continues to work with Masvidal at ATT as one of his main sparring partners.

    During an exclusive interview with MMA News, Eblen gave his thoughts on the matchup between Covington and Masvidal.

    “I think Jorge is going to put it on the motherf**ker, to be honest,” Eblen said of Masvidal. “I sparred a lot with that dude this camp, he’s on point and I can’t wait to watch him break his jaw. And I can’t wait to watch it on national television.”

    Johnny Eblen Explains The Difference Between Jorge Masvidal And Colby Covington

    Eblen went on to detail his personal experience with Covington at ATT and why he’s glad he’s still a teammate of Masvidal.

    “When I kinda came into the gym, he was just transitioning into that whole gimmick thing, and he was kinda doing it at the gym as well,” Eblen said of Covington. “I never really got close to him, never really trained with him too much. There were some instances where I trained with him, but outside of that didn’t get close to him. I don’t know, he just seems like a clown to me now. I’m definitely on the side of Jorge. Jorge is my homie and I’ve been training with that dude since I’ve been at the gym and I kind of gravitated closer to him instead of Colby, and I’m glad I did.”

    While Covington and Masvidal have had their fair share of verbal banter leading up to the fight, Eblen says their intentions are completely different.

    “He’s more respectful to people,” Eblen said of Masvidal. “He doesn’t talk s**t to talk s**t. When he’s talking s**t, there’s a reason for it. You’re on his bad side. Colby’s talking s**t to get likes and to be relevant. He was calling out teammates and s**t, which is a big no-no. Causing tension at the gym that wasn’t supposed to be there.”

    The storyline of Masvidal and Covington’s friendship and time together at ATT has been well documented. Eblen and the rest of ATT don’t plan on burying the hatchet with Covington anytime soon, regardless of what happens at UFC 272.

    What are your thoughts on our Johnny Eblen interview about Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington?

  • Adesanya On Potential Covington Fight: “Who The F**k Are You?”

    UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya is open to the idea of a Colby Covington fight, but Covington has some work to do first.

    Adesanya is fresh off his title rematch win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 271. He’s more than likely set to face Jared Cannonier next later this year after Cannonier knocked out Derek Brunson earlier on that same card.

    Covington is set to face Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272 but has already discussed his future plans. He’s teased a potential matchup with Adesanya at middleweight happening sometime over his next few fights.

    UFC President Dana White has shut down the idea of Covington getting an immediate title shot and listed what he needs to do to get a fight against Adesanya.

    During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Adesanya responded to Covington’s desires for a middleweight title shot against him.

    “Everyone always has the idea until they’re across the cage from me, and then it’s a different beast,” Adesanya said. “Ala Paulo Costa, or anyone else I’ve fought. I’d say just fight someone else. You can’t just come straight for the champ. Who the f**k are you? Are you dumb? Call someone else out. It would be a selling point, definitely. Big mouth. I can shut that s**t up.”

    Adesanya and the interviewer went on to allude that Covington is really a 155 pounder fighting at 170.

    Covington has had a long-standing rivalry with Adesanya’s close friend, Kamaru Usman. Covington fell to Usman at UFC 268 in their rematch via a unanimous decision.

    While a Covington vs. Adesanya fight may not be out of the question going forward, it appears that Covington has a few things to do first before a middleweight title shot.

    Do you want to see Israel Adesanya vs. Colby Covington?

  • Brunson: Velasquez Shouldn’t Get Jail Time Due To “Temporary Insanity”

    UFC middleweight Derek Brunson gave his take on Cain Velasquez after he was arrested on an attempted murder charge earlier this week.

    Velasquez faces at least 20 years in prison after he intended to shoot an alleged molester of one of his younger relatives. The incident included a high-speed chase, with Velasquez intending to shoot the molester but instead inflicting a gunshot wound to the alleged molester’s stepfather.

    The shooting victim is being treated at a Bay Area hospital and is expected to make a full recovery from his injuries.

    Many around the MMA community have spoken in support of Velasquez in recent days. This includes UFC President Dana White, who hinted that he feels most people in Velasquez’s position would’ve acted similarly.

    In a recent Instagram post, Brunson defended Velasquez’s action and called for a minor sentence.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Cap6AQIvreD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “No one said Cain Velasquez handled the situation legally correct,” Brunson said. “From Day 1 of being a loving father, our objective is to guide and protect our kids through life. If the accusations of a 40-year-old man molesting a 4 year old for over a year (even once) is accurate. Cain acted in temporary (temporary definition reads not permanent, even a year could be temporary when comparing to a year) insanity and should receive probation at best. No one was killed. DONT MESS WITH KIDS OR YOU GET WHAT YOU GET #FreeCainVelasquez.”

    Brunson’s comments come shortly after former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey recently hinted that she would’ve done the same thing if not worse. In a separate Instagram post, Brunson donned a shirt in support of Velasquez and his legal situation.

    But the shirt was apparently just the start of Brunson’s support of Velasquez. Shortly afterward on his Twitter page, Brunson revealed that he and the MMA community have raised $10,000 for Velasquez’s legal fees.

    “As a father I feel you Cain,” Brunson tweeted. “The MMA community got your back! 10k in 2 1/2 days sent to his wife! #FreeCainVelasquez.”

    The investigation into Velasquez and the shooting incident is ongoing. He’s scheduled to face arraignment next week and we’ll bring you the latest right here at MMA News.

    Do you agree with Derek Brunson’s take on Cain Velasquez?

  • Covington Takes One Last Personal Shot At Masvidal & ATT Pre-UFC 272

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington wanted to get a final message across to Jorge Masvidal before their grudge match at UFC 272.

    After months and years of brewing tensions between Covington and Masvidal, they’ll finally get the opportunity to prove themselves in the Octagon in the UFC 272 headliner. The former friends turned rivals have engaged in quite the mental warfare over time, especially during fight week.

    A chaotic UFC 272 pre-fight press conference was followed up by an intense staredown at the ceremonial weigh-ins. Covington and Masvidal came face to face one last time before their highly-anticipated matchup.

    An excess of security personnel and UFC President Dana White separated the two sides from engaging in a physical altercation, but the battle continued shortly after their faceoff. Covington has been on Masvidal’s nerves, invoking Masvidal’s personal life and his ex-wife.

    Just hours before his fight with Masvidal, Covington took an opportunity to take a final shot at his UFC 272 opponent along with his former coach Mike Brown.

    “Hey [Jorge Masvidal] you looked real nervous bud…” Covington said. “Maybe you should try that juiced up little drug addict Mike Browns favorite trick to take the edge off and fight on some GHB. Yeah I said GHB, but Brown did HGH too because he’s a nut less b**ch just like you.”

    Brown is one of Masvidal’s main coaches and is arguably the closest to the welterweight star. Covington accused Brown of being a drug addict at the pre-fight press conference and doubled down on his stance in this most recent tweet.

    Covington and Masvidal used to be teammates and friends at American Top Team in Florida. This was before the amicable relations between the two shattered following an alleged failed payout to a coach by Covington and a series of near-brawls at the gym.

    Brown recently confirmed Covington’s leaked information regarding Masvidal’s injury that forced him to withdraw from UFC 269. He was supposed to face Leon Edwards, another bitter rival of his.

    Masvidal has also recently shared a near-brawl that took place between him and Covington at a Miami-area sushi restaurant as their friendship deteriorated. After inviting Covington for a meal, and possibly a fight, Covington failed to show up.

    This is much more than a grudge match, as former strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk has alluded. This is a matchup between two of the biggest stars in recent UFC history and Covington and Masvidal will look to put on a show at UFC 272.

    What is your prediction for Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal?

  • Israel Adesanya On Cain Velasquez’s Arrest: “I Can’t Imagine The Rage”

    UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya has become the latest UFC star to speak out in favor of Cain Velasquez after his arrest this week.

    Velasquez was arrested earlier this week on an attempted murder charge after a targeted shooting of an alleged molester of one of his younger relatives. In a high-speed chase, Velasquez intended to shoot the accused molester, Harry Eugene Goularte, but wounded Goularte’s stepfather instead.

    Velasquez faces at least 20 years in prison if convicted. He is currently being held without bail at a Bay Area jail.

    During a recent sitdown with TMZ Sports, Adesanya defended Velasquez’s actions and reflected on how he would’ve handled the same situation.

    “Yeah, that’s f**ked up,” Adesanya said of Velasquez’s recent incident. “I know they’re saying he hit the wrong guy, he shot the wrong guy. But look, I can’t imagine the rage. Because there’s been times, and I’m a human being. There’s been times where my shadow self has emerged and I lose it. That’s why I don’t like to react these days, I like to respond. Because if you react, you’re acting off of emotion. But I can’t imagine because I’m not a father, and I can’t imagine what that’s like, but I know for a fact he did the right thing. He honestly did the right thing, 100 percent.”

    Adesanya isn’t alone in his defense of Velasquez. Many current and former stars, including former bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, have spoken out in favor of the former heavyweight champ.

    Adesanya has emerged as one of the biggest stars in the UFC. He most recently defeated former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker via unanimous decision at UFC 271.

    Adesanya’s star power was rewarded when he signed a new deal with the UFC earlier this year. It’s been rumored to be one of the most lucrative in UFC history.

    Velasquez is scheduled for arraignment next week. We’ll bring you the latest here at MMA News.

    Do you agree with Israel Adesanya regarding Cain Velasquez?

  • Terrance McKinney To Step In Against Drew Dober At UFC Vegas 50

    Up-and-coming UFC lightweight prospect Terrance McKinney will get back in the Octagon on short notice against Drew Dober at UFC Vegas 50.

    The UFC announced the news on Friday that McKinney will fill in for Ricky Glenn, who had to withdraw due to an injury. UFC Vegas 50 takes place on March 12.

    McKinney just fought at UFC Vegas 49, earning an impressive submission win over Fares Ziam. The win over Ziam was McKinney’s fifth-straight first-round finish and second straight in the UFC.

    McKinney has bounced back in a big way since losing to Sean Woodson during the 2019 season of Dana White’s Contender Series. He’s gone on to win five of his last six with impressive performances in LFA and SHP.

    McKinney will face arguably the toughest test of his career against Dober, who has lost back-to-back fights but is still regarded as arguably one of the most dangerous lightweights in the UFC. His last win came against Alexander Hernandez via second-round knockout in May 2020.

    McKinney shattered a UFC record in his promotional debut at UFC 263. He knocked out Matt Frevola in just seven seconds, which still stands as the fastest knockout in lightweight history.

    A win over Dober could propel McKinney into the lightweight rankings just three fights into his UFC tenure. Meanwhile, Dober is looking to get back in the win column and back in the thick of things in the division.

    UFC Vegas 50 will be headlined by a light heavyweight matchup between top contenders Thiago Santos and Magomed Ankalaev.

    What is your prediction for Terrance McKinney vs. Drew Dober?

  • MMA Fighter Kyle Sefcik Leads Failed DC Trucker Convoy

    MMA fighter Kyle Sefcik attempted to organize a trucker rally in Washington D.C. to protest U.S. President Joe Biden, but it failed miserably.

    Sefcik, who is currently running for governor of Maryland, organized a rally in Washington D.C with estimations of at least 3,000 people attending. But only 12 people showed up for the gathering.

    After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with the small group, Sefcik allegedly went into a diatribe aimed at those who failed to show up.

    ā€œWhere are the trucks?! Where are the trucks?!ā€ Sefcik said, according to Hot Air. ā€œI know the ones that I had planned comingā€¦ theyā€™re not even allowed in because they need a commercial license and have proof of a checkoff today because of the checkpoints, so they werenā€™t even able to stage and make it look cool here.ā€

    Sefcik is 1-2 in his professional MMA career but hasn’t competed since 2013. His lone win came against Micah Terrill at Shogun Fights 7 after winning his lone amateur fight over Lucas Wright.

    Sefcik isn’t the only MMA fighter who has made his voice heard on controversial political issues. UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell recently said that he plans to resist the U.S. government until his death.

    What is your reaction to this failed protest?

  • Colby Covington Claims He Rejected An Invitation Back To ATT

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington recently revealed that he had an opportunity to go back to American Top Team, but turned it down.

    Covington is set to face his former friend and ATT teammate Jorge Masvidal in the main event of UFC 272. It is arguably one of the biggest grudge matches in UFC history and one of the rare non-title main events in recent memory.

    A major storyline of the Covington/Masvidal fight is the two fighters’ time at ATT, and Covington’s eventual departure. Covington left the team after near brawls and building tension between Covington and Masvidal, Joanna Jędrzejczyk, and Dustin Poirier.

    ATT owner Dan Lambert has recently detailed his version of what led to Covington leaving the team, and that Covington’s fractured relationship with Masvidal was unfixable.

    During a recent interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Covington admitted that he turned down an offer to return to ATT after the initial split.

    “Yeah, I got invited back by Dan and Conan,” Covington said. “Yeah, go ask them. I got texts, if you want to see the receipts I can show you. I have them, they invited me back. I didn’t want to go back. It wasn’t a good situation for me anymore. The last two years of training there, just all drama. Terrible energy. I couldn’t have any focus in my career, there was no direction, nothing. Just, it was terrible. It was draining me and I wasn’t getting the best out of myself. What was sacrificed was my training and my evolution as a fighter.

    Interview with UFC Champ Colby Covington of American Top Team in South Florida - YouTube
    Colby Covington

    “Now, I rid myself of that drama and all that stuff, I have a great camp that actually cares about me. It’s not about money, it’s not about paychecks, it’s about developing us as a fighter. Evolving. Taking the steps to get better every single day and I’ve seen the growth.”

    Covington went on to join nearby MMA Masters and is now coached by Cesar Carneiro and Daniel Valverde. He has said on numerous occasions how much of a burden training at ATT was for him during the final days of his tenure.

    Covington’s matchup with Masvidal isn’t just seen by some as a fighter vs. fighter battle, but also one with his former gym ATT. Covington will have the chance to silence his critics this weekend at UFC 272.

    What is your prediction for Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal?

  • Conor McGregor Goes On Twitter Rampage About Islam Makhachev

    Former UFC champion Conor McGregor went after Islam Makhachev on social media regarding talks of a fight between them.

    McGregor is focused on a return to the Octagon later this year after a nasty leg break he suffered against Dustin Poirier last summer at UFC 264. Makhachev is coming off of his 10th straight win over short-notice replacement Bobby Green at UFC Vegas 49, after he was originally supposed to face Beneil Dariush.

    McGregor has a long history with Makhachev’s coach and mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov. McGregor fell to Nurmagomedov via fourth-round submission at UFC 229 after a series of personal attacks in the buildup.

    Following his win over Green, Makhachev hinted at wanting a title shot next but also an “easy” fight against McGregor. UFC President Dana White most recently shut down the idea of Makhachev fighting for the title next.

    McGregor began his attack on Makhachev by expressing interest in a future fight between the two of them.

    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1499793340052746246?s=20&t=jBm0tB306w8wDJExr9AdCQ

    “Iā€™ll fight that shit stain makchavich, no sweat,” McGregor said. “Embarrassing gā€™nā€™p the other night IMO. Pitiful punching. And then bottles the RDA fight after mouthing of him lol. Embarrassing. Watch when I come back. Same as before. Anyone. Any weight. Anywhere. Game full of shit stains.”

    McGregor went on to discredit Makhachev’s most recent win over Green at UFC Vegas 49.

    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1499795855091585035?s=20&t=bmVMujeVzFWAz64vlwn7Og
    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1499797224888455168?s=20&t=c3CK5Gzi6lEjll6aJhX6nA

    “Full mount gā€™nā€™p and the guy bounces up not a scratch, huggin and kissing,” McGregor said. “Talkin bout thanks for the match etc. If thatā€™s me thereā€™s holes left in their head like they been smacked with a sock full of golf balls. Donā€™t even know where they are. Caramel butter skin strikes again!

    “Am I the only one that sees this stuff for what it is or whatā€™s the craic ?
    Not a scratch, man. Embarrassing!”

    Makhachev had been rumored to be a short-notice opponent against Rafael dos Anjos before he allegedly turned the fight down. dos Anjos will now face Renato Moicano in the UFC 272 co-main event.

    McGregor has previously said that he expects a title shot upon his MMA return, and a matchup with Makhachev could be an option as well. It seems that this could only be the beginning of a new rivalry between McGregor and Makhachev.

    Do you think we’ll see Conor McGregor vs. Islam Makhachev in 2022?

  • ATT Founder Talks Gym “Blowback” From Covington’s Brazil Comments

    American Top Team founder Dan Lambert says the team began to turn against Colby Covington following his infamous roast of Brazil.

    Covington’s shift from relatively unknown welterweight fighter to a professional wrestling-like heel occurred following his win over Demian Maia at UFC Sao Paulo in 2017. After earning a dominant unanimous decision victory, Covington used his post-fight interview to call out the Brazilian crowd as “filthy animals” during his Octagon chat with Daniel Cormier.

    Covington had to be escorted out of the arena by groups of security personnel following the post-fight interview. Covington put a target on his back with his comments, including callouts from Belal Muhammad and Warlley Alves.

    During a recent interview with ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, Lambert explained how Covington’s post-fight comments about Brazil impacted the training environment at ATT.

    “Yeah, we had blowback immediately at the gym from some of those comments,” Lambert said of Covington. “Colby had never really caused much of a problem for other fighters at the gym leading up to that point. We obviously have a Brazilian presence at our gym with some other fighters and some coaches. I think most of them saw it for exactly what it wasā€”just him trying to promote himself, but it’s not just how you see things in this business. These guys (Brazilians at ATT) are opening up their Instagram accounts and they’re getting direct messages from a million people in Brazil saying, ‘What are you doing you piece of [MUTED]? You’re gonna train this guy? You’re gonna work with this guy? You better step up and represent our country! What are you doing?’ So, they felt pressured.

    As tensions escalated between Covington and his now-former Brazilian teammates, Lambert explained how he needed to hold a meeting to bring the team back together and have everyone on the same page.

    “Basically, we just had a meeting at the gym, sat everybody down, and said, ‘Hey man, this is American Top Team here. I don’t care where you’re from or who you are. When you’re inside this gym, you’re here to do your job, and we’re a team. If anybody has an issue outside of the gym, or something somebody’s doing outside of the gym, that’s fine. But it stays outside the gym. Nobody’s too big to be asked to leave this gym.’ I think everybody brought into it and everybody understood it at the time.”

    Covington has since doubled down on his previous Brazil comments and isn’t apologetic for the post-fight interview. Covington will face former ATT teammate turned bitter rival Jorge Masvidal this weekend in the UFC 272 main event.

    Did Colby Covington go too far with his Brazil comments?

  • Liudvik Sholinian, UFC Fighter, Stuck In Ukraine During Russian Invasion

    Ukrainian-Armenian UFC fighter Liudvik Sholinian is stuck in Kyiv amidst the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

    Sholinian, a former The Ultimate Fighter Season 28 participant, is in danger of missing his upcoming fight at UFC London on March 19 against Nathaniel Wood. He most recently fell in his UFC debut against Jack Shore last September.

    Russian and Ukrainian fighters, like Bellator champ Yaroslav Amosov, have both been impacted by the current crisis in Ukraine. UFC President Dana White recently alluded to potential issues for some fighters on the upcoming UFC London card.

    During a recent interview with the Armenian Weekly, Sholinian provided details on what it’s like right now in Kyiv.

    ā€œBasically, the situation right now is very stressful,ā€ Sholinian said. ā€œEveryone is on pins and needles. Everyone is staying indoors, trying to watch the news and follow everything thatā€™s going on. Most of all, Iā€™m at home with my family making sure theyā€™re safe.

    ā€œI was actually looking forward to this fight. Iā€™ve been training for it the hardest Iā€™ve ever trained for a fight. As much as Iā€™ve trained for this fight, itā€™s the last thing on my mind and Iā€™m willing to give my entire career for this war to end today. Right now, I donā€™t think the discussion should be about the fight at all.ā€

    Before getting his shot on TUF 28, Sholinian enjoyed success in smaller promotions such as LFA and Gladiator Challenge. He has accumulated a 9-2-1 professional record.

    It’s unclear if Sholinian will be allowed to leave Ukraine for his upcoming fight. But for now, that appears to be the last thing on his mind.

    What are your thoughts on the Russia/Ukraine conflict?

  • Bryce Mitchell Hopes For A Happy Ending To Covington/Masvidal Drama

    UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell is hopeful that Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal can bury the hatchet following their UFC 272 grudge match.

    Covington and Masvidal, former friends and teammates turned bitter rivals, will square off in the main event of UFC 272. It is one of the few non-title UFC main events in recent memory.

    The beef between Covington and Masvidal has turned from heated, to downright nasty ahead of their fight. Covington has invoked Masvidal’s family and ex-romantic partner while Masvidal has said that he intends to leave Covington in critical condition in their matchup.

    During his UFC 272 pre-fight press conference, Mitchell gave his thoughts on the level of trash talk between Covington and Masvidal.

    ā€œI kinda hate to see the personal attacks, you know what I mean?” Mitchell said. “I kinda hope after the fight they just kinda hug it out. But I hate to see all that personalā€”it gets so personal. Because I think, overall, theyā€™re both probably pretty good people. And I donā€™t know whoā€™s gonna win, brother.

    Jorge Masvidal Colby Covington
    Courtesy of Jorge Masvidal’s Instagram (via Daily Mail)

    ā€œI hope that both of those guys leave that cage healthy because theyā€™re talking about wanting to kill each other and all that. And I hope that neither of them dies. I hope that both of those people goes home healthy. I know they have a lot of people that care about ā€˜em back home, so thatā€™s what I hope.ā€

    Mitchell will fight featherweight contender Edson Barboza in the lead up to the UFC 272 main event between Covington and Masvidal. He’s looking to get back in the win column after nearly two years away from the sport.

    Covington and Masvidal have both spewed heated rhetoric during the buildup to their fight, but Mitchell is hopeful that after they get their aggression out of their system, they can patch things up.

    Do you think Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington will be friends again at some point?

  • Islam Makhachev Answers If Heā€™d Be A Backup For Oliveira/Gaethje

    UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev is waiting to wait as long as it takes for the next lightweight title shot in Abu Dhabi and not as a backup.

    Makhachev has now won 10 in a row, with the latest coming against short-notice replacement Bobby Green at UFC Vegas 49 last weekend. It didn’t take long for Makhachev to get a feel for Green’s gameplan and to finish the fight on the ground.

    Makhachev has emerged as arguably the top lightweight contender who could face the winner of Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje. Oliveira and Gaethje are slated to meet in the main event of UFC 274 on May 7.

    One element of conversation has been who could serve as the backup for the UFC 274 main event. During his UFC Vegas 49 post-fight press conference, Makhachev appeared to downplay the idea of serving as the backup and weighing in.

    ā€œFor step-in, we have some guys like dos Anjos or Michael Chandler,” Makhachev said. “But (I deserve the title shot). I have 10-fight streak. And last 11 months, Iā€™m training so hard. Like next week, Iā€™m ready for fight, like, next pay-per-view show. But I want to fight in Abu Dhabi because I have (many friends) who stay outside because they cannot come (to the UFC APEX). I want to fight for the title in Abu Dhabi. All my friends can come and support me inside.ā€

    Makhachev has long called for the title shot but wants to be slated as the certain challenger and not utilized as a backup plan. He’s looking to continue the legacy of his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and reclaim the lightweight throne for Dagestan.

    What is your prediction for Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje? How do you think Islam Makhachev would fare against both fighters?

  • Dana White Anticipates “Problems” For Russian Fighters For UFC London

    UFC President Dana White is unsure whether or not Russia-based fighters will be able to compete at the upcoming UFC London card.

    The UFC’s return to London is slated to take place on March 19 at the O2 Arena. The event will be headlined by a heavyweight matchup between Tom Aspinall and Russian contender Alexander Volkov.

    Other British stars such as Paddy Pimblett and Arnold Allen will also be on the UFC London card. White has been waiting for months to bring the UFC not just to the U.K., but to the European continent in general.

    During a recent interview with Barstool Sports, White gave an update on the status of Russian fighters competing at UFC London amidst the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

    “Yeah, you know, it’s obviously gonna cause problems. But we’ll figure it out,” White said.

    White went on to address whether or not he could contact U.S. President Joe Biden for some assistance to have the Russian fighters fight in London.

    “No, I have Trump’s number, but I definitely don’t have Biden’s number.”

    It’s unclear if the UFC will have a backup plan in case Volkov and others won’t be able to fight. Russian heavyweights Sergei Pavlovich and Shamil Abdurakhimov will also compete on the main card.

    In addition to recent concerns about Russian fighters, the O2 Arena’s roof was also partially damaged during a recent storm in the London area.

    White sounds optimistic about making everything work for the upcoming UFC London card, but it’s clear that some hurdles remain just a few weeks before the event.

    What fight are you most excited for at UFC London?