MMA News

Author: Curtis Calhoun

  • Mariya Agapova: I’m Not Playing Maryna Moroz’s Game

    UFC flyweight Mariya Agapova isn’t planning on fighting on emotion ahead of her grudge match against Maryna Moroz at UFC 272.

    Agapova and Moroz used to be cordial as teammates at American Top Team in south Florida. But their respect for one another as teammates has fizzled out in recent years.

    It all started when Moroz accused Agapova of struggling with drug addiction and jealousy, which allegedly led to her dismissal from ATT. Agapova has since denied Moroz’s claims and called her out following a win over Sabina Mazo last October.

    Moroz has also claimed that Agapova attempted to injure her teammates during training. The two flyweights have a score to settle at UFC 272 following their series of back-and-forths.

    During a recent interview with The AllStar, Agapova detailed how she plans to not fight on emotion against her ex-teammate turned adversary.

    “I think, if I will be affected and mad, that might be her weapon,” Agapova said. “Because she’s purposely trying to drive me crazy. She post a lot of stories; she talking sh*t about me. She’s trying to make me mad because she knows if I get mad I will try to punch her hard and I will waste all my energy, and she will finish me like Shana Dobson. It’s what she wants. That’s why she’s trying to drive me crazy. But I (decided) I’m not going to play this game. I will be calm, cold, like an assassin, and I will open her weak places and hopefully finish her.”

    Agapova vs. Moroz isn’t the only matchup between former ATT teammates on the card. The event will be headlined by a welterweight matchup between former friends turned bitter rivals Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal.

    Aside from their beef, both Agapova and Moroz need a win to stay in the thick of things in the women’s flyweight division. Both women are coming into the matchup with plenty to prove and with long-term bragging rights on the line.

    What is your prediction for Mariya Agapova vs. Maryna Moroz?

  • Tyson Fury Calls Recent Conor McGregor Banter “A Publicity Stunt”

    Heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury says his recent back-and-forth with Conor McGregor on social media wasn’t what most think it was.

    McGregor and Fury recently went at it on social media after Fury posted a message of support for McGregor’s longtime rival Khabib Nurmagomedov. The two engaged in a bit of a roast fest on social media, and it seemed that there was genuine animosity between the two stars.

    Fury will face Dillian Whyte in what he claims will be his last professional boxing match. He intends on still remaining active afterward for crossover fights and a potential bout with UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

    During his pre-fight press conference for his matchup with Whyte, Fury cleared the air on his apparent beef with McGregor.

    “Bit of a publicity stunt. Super Bowl weekend, all eyes on us,” Fury said.

    Fury went on to clarify that he feels there’s no genuine hatred between him and McGregor.

    “Beef? Man’s 10 stone. I’m 20 stone, behave yourselves. Only beef we would have is me eating him in a beef sandwich.”

    McGregor is preparing for a return to the Octagon later this year against a to-be-named opponent. He has hinted that he will get a lightweight title shot upon his return to the UFC.

    Fury and McGregor are arguably two of the most popular combat sports figures today but are also known for their attempts at mental warfare. Yet, it appears that Fury doesn’t hold any genuine dislike for McGregor.

    What do you make of Tyson Fury’s reflections on his Twitter banter with Conor McGregor?

  • Michelle Waterson Suffers Potential “Career-Ending” Injury

    UFC strawweight contender Michelle Waterson has to withdraw from her upcoming fight against Amanda Ribas due to a serious injury.

    Waterson was supposed to face Ribas on the upcoming UFC 274 card before suffering an injury in her camp. The details of the injury aren’t, clear and it’s also uncertain if she’ll require surgery.

    Waterson took to her Instagram to announce the heartbreaking news to her fans.

    “I’m hoping, keeping my fingers crossed that it is a short break,” Waterson said. “It’s an injury that stopped me from training, and it’s heartbreaking. I was really excited to fight Amanda. I know she was very excited to fight, as well, so hopefully it’s a fight that we can still have. But if I don’t take care of this injury, it will turn into something that can be worse and career ending.” (h/t Yahoo Sports)

    After getting word of Waterson’s withdrawal, Ribas posted a comment on the Instagram video in support of her originally scheduled opponent.

    “Heyy Michelle!” Ribas said. “Good recovery for you. Hope we can reschedule soon.”

    Waterson has lost three of her last four fights and has had four different fights canceled since early 2020. She fell to Marina Rodriguez via unanimous decision in a flyweight headliner last May.

    What is your reaction to Michelle Waterson’s potentially career-ending injury?

  • Greg Hardy Isn’t Worried About People Wanting Him To Lose

    UFC heavyweight Greg Hardy knows he has plenty of critics and haters, but he tends to tune them out entering fight week.

    Hardy is set to face Sergey Spivak at UFC 272 and is looking to get back on track after back-to-back losses. He most recently fell to Tai Tuivasa at UFC 264 via first-round knockout.

    Hardy transitioned from professional football to MMA in 2017 after a tumultuous end to his career on the gridiron. After two wins on Dana White’s Contender Series, he would eventually make his UFC debut in 2019, falling to Allen Crowder.

    Despite the early setback, Hardy was able to get back on track with wins over the likes of Juan Adams and Yorgan De Castro.

    Hardy came under fire in 2014 after he was arrested on domestic violence charges for beating his then-girlfriend. He was then found guilty to assaulting a female and communicating threats and had a 60-day jail sentence suspended.

    Hardy’s out-of-competition setbacks have caused him to have quite the target on his back, especially in MMA.

    During his UFC 272 pre-fight press conference, Hardy spoke about how he handles harsh criticism on social media.

    “I tell myself that everyone loves me, and everyone loves me back,” Hardy said. “But the reality is, from what I’ve heard; internet, face-to-face: ‘F— Greg Hardy, he shouldn’t be in the league.’ My response is, I do what I want. I’m a super soldier, bro. I’m entertaining myself, I’m entertaining the fans, I love it. If you’re hating, that’s your right as an American citizen. Thank you for watching. Buy the ticket, though!”

    Hardy is looking for his first win in nearly two years at UFC 272. His last win came against Maurice Greene in an impressive second-round TKO finish in October 2020.

    What are your thoughts on Greg Hardy’s MMA career?

  • Bryce Mitchell Responds To Those Who Say ‘Shut Up & Fight’

    UFC featherweight contender Bryce Mitchell doesn’t care what you think of his recent rants about political issues.

    Mitchell is set to face Edson Barboza on the UFC 272 main card this weekend. He’s looking forward to a triumphant return to the Octagon after nearly two years away from MMA action.

    Mitchell has been in hot water in recent weeks following his viral interview with MMA journalist Ariel Helwani. Instead of it being a routine pre-fight interview, Mitchell used his time to criticize the U.S. Government and COVID-19 vaccines, among other issues.

    Athletes speaking out on political issues has become more common during the current social climate. Mitchell isn’t alone in making his views readily available to the public. For instance, NBA superstar LeBron James began speaking out on issues regarding race and social justice just a few years back.

    During his recent UFC 272 pre-fight press conference, Mitchell hit back at critics of his political views and him speaking out on civic issues.

    “For me to be able to talk about something greater than fighting is more purposeful than anything I can talk about related to fighting,” Mitchell said. “And so I’m grateful to be able to do that. And a lot of people say, ‘Shut up and fight.’ Well, you know what? If you don’t want to hear that shit, turn off the TV and watch the fight. You don’t have to watch my interviews. Turn them off then.

    “Instead of telling me to shut up, why don’t you just stop listening? Because there’s a lot of people that agree with what I’m saying about some of my political views, and I’m happy to talk about ’em and debate about ’em.”

    James, like Mitchell, has been a target of some who feel athletes shouldn’t share their political and societal views on current issues. This comes after Fox News commentator Laura Ingraham scolded James to “shut up and dribble” back in 2018.

    Mitchell has emerged as a polarizing figure in MMA and is allegedly not alone in his controversial views. Regardless, he’ll look to silence the critics and earn a big win over Barboza.

    What are your opinions on Bryce Mitchell as a person and a fighter?

  • Rousey Shares Message Of Support And Defense Of Cain Velasquez

    Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey is the latest UFC star to come to the defense of Cain Velasquez following his recent arrest for attempted murder.

    Velasquez was arrested and charged with attempted murder among other charges for allegedly shooting the stepfather of an accused molester near San Jose, CA. Velasquez pursued Harry Eugene Goularte and went on a high-speed chase in footage just released to the public.

    The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated for his wounds at a local hospital.

    Velasquez is currently being held at a Bay Area prison without bail. He has been charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, assault with a firearm, and willfully discharging a firearm from a vehicle. He could face at least 20 years of jail time with a maximum life sentence also on the table.

    In a recent tweet, Rousey came to the defense of Velasquez following his legal issues this week.

    “I would have done the same thing if not worse #freeCainVelasquez,” Rousey tweeted.

    Many current and former UFC stars and personalities have come to the defense of Velasquez in recent days. This includes UFC president Dana White and former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    Velasquez last competed in the UFC against Francis Ngannou in 2019, suffering a first-round knockout loss. The investigation into the alleged shooting incident is ongoing.

    What are your thoughts on the whole Cain Velasquez situation?

  • Jorge Masvidal Recalls Inviting Covington To Brawl At A Sushi Restaurant

    A South Florida sushi restaurant nearly turned into a makeshift Octagon for UFC 272 headliners Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington.

    Masvidal and Covington are slated to face off in a welterweight grudge match at UFC 272. The two former friends and teammates have been on each other’s nerves for years following their fallout.

    Masvidal has proven to not be someone who will back down from a fight, even if it means confronting someone in a public setting. This element of his game goes back to his days fighting on the streets of Miami and also when he confronted Leon Edwards backstage in London.

    The tension between Masvidal and Covington hit a boiling point following Covington’s win over Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 225. Masvidal has claimed that Covington allegedly failed to pay one of his coaches, which caused tensions to escalate.

    Masvidal and Covington nearly brawled on numerous occasions during their time at American Top Team, according to both fighters. But things nearly took a sharp turn after Masvidal tried to lure Covington to a local sushi spot.

    During a recent interview with ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, Masvidal detailed his nearly successful plot to fight Covington at a local restaurant.

    “I come into a gym, random practice, and I see him there. And he kinda tries to ignore me,” Masvidal claimed. “And I was like, ‘Hey, bro, after practice, we’ll talk.’ He’s like, “Yeah, yeah, for sure, bro. Cool, cool. We’ll talk.’ And it’s pretty amicable. It’s not that bad.

    Jorge Masvidal
    © Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

    “He’s like, ‘What do you want to talk about?’ I’m like, ‘I want to talk about you being a bitch and bringing up my name in interviews and Dan [Lambert] said not to.’ I still haven’t gone public with him. I’m just trying to address him man to man. Like, ‘Let’s not go that route, bro. And if you are, let’s just put the gloves on and beat the shit out of each other and get it out the system, you know? It’s pretty cool. I tell him all this; it’s pretty cool. As soon as I turn my back and a couple people come with him, the show starts. I’ll [MUTED] kill you, bro! Don’t ever talk to me like that!’”

    After Covington allegedly switched into character, Masvidal details how things escalated in the middle of the gym.

    “I turn around, I come to confront him, it’s too late. The whole gym’s involved because he made such a show. So I tell him, ‘There’s this sushi place we always used to go to right here.’ And I tell him, ‘I’m gonna go to the sushi place, bro. Dinner’s on me. Let’s go. I’ll be waiting for you.

    “So I get in my car, go to the place, he’s not showing up. I get on Instagram, ‘Hey, bro, if you wanna collect your dinner, I’m over here,’ blah, blah, blah. Never showed up. So I’ve always known, deep down inside, he’s a coward. I just can’t wait for March 5 to expose it.”

    Covington has yet to formally reply to Masvidal’s claims.

    ATT owner Dan Lambert has recently claimed that the fractured relationship between Masvidal and Covington was unfixable. This led to Covington parting ways with the team and joining nearby MMA Masters to train going forward.

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

  • Colby Covington Alleges Pay Cut, Declined PPV Points For Grudge Match

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington was allegedly willing to take a pay cut and give up pay-per-view points to fight at UFC 272.

    Covington will face former friend and American Top Team teammate Jorge Masvidal in the UFC 272 headliner. The bad blood between them has been boiling for a couple of years, and they’ll finally get the chance to get their hands on each other in the Octagon.

    Love him or hate him, Covington has emerged as one of the top PPV stars in the UFC along with his rival Masvidal. The fight itself was expected to potentially garner earth-shattering numbers when it was first announced, but Covington has allegedly declined any extra pay raise.

    During his UFC 272 pre-fight media day availability, Covington detailed how personal this fight is for him to the point that money is an afterthought.

    “This is just a personal rivalry, this isn’t about the money,” Covington said. “I didn’t come here to fight for money. I took a pay cut, I didn’t care about the money for this fight. This is about settling a blood rivalry, this is a long time coming. This guy’s been holding it off as long as he could until he had no other opportunities. This is the biggest opportunity he can get to pay his alimony, to pay his child support. So of course he’s gotta come and get this losing paycheck.

    When further pressed for clarification, Covington doubled down on his financial stance regarding his fight with Masvidal.

    “Yeah, I foregoed the pay-per-view, I don’t care about the pay-per-view for this fight. I wanna come put on a show in the UFC and show that I’m deserving of being a lifetime UFC fighter.”

    Covington and Masvidal are both looking to get a third fight with UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman after losses in 2021. Masvidal was also supposed to face Leon Edwards at UFC 269 before pulling out with an injury and setting up the fight with Covington.

    UFC President Dana White hasn’t addressed Covington’s claims of a pay cut and forfeiting PPV points publically, but he may be questioned in the coming days.

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

  • Conor McGregor Expresses Interest In Buying Chelsea FC

    UFC superstar Conor McGregor is interested in pitching an offer to buy Chelsea Football Club after the club’s owner put it up for sale this week.

    McGregor is expected to return to the Octagon later this year after suffering a nasty leg break at UFC 264. He’s been focusing on his recovery while enjoying his usual lavish lifestyle leading up to his eventual return to the cage.

    McGregor topped the Forbes’ Top 100 highest-earning athletes in 2021, over top athletes such as footballers Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. His earnings skyrocketed following his rise to UFC supremacy along with his ‘money fight’ with Floyd Mayweather in the boxing ring.

    Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich announced this week that he intends to put Chelsea FC up for sale amidst Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It appears that McGregor is one of the top names who has teased interest in pitching an offer to Abramovich.

    In a recent tweet, McGregor screenshotted a text conversation with an unknown colleague expressing his interest in buying Chelsea FC.

    “I wish to explore this,” McGregor tweeted.

    Just last year, McGregor teased a potential investment in other Football clubs such as Celtic and Manchester United. McGregor was also present for the 2018 FIFA World Cup when it was held in Russia.

    McGregor intends to keep building his financial portfolio and continue to separate himself amongst the highest-earning athletes in the world. We should know sooner rather than later whether or not McGregor will purchase a stake of Chelsea FC.

    For the latest on what’s next for the flamboyant Irishman, check out our latest feature looking at possible opponents for Conor McGregor’s next Fight.

    Do you think Conor McGregor will purchase Chelsea FC?

  • White Says Islam Makhachev Will Face Dariush After Turning Down RDA

    UFC President Dana White says lightweight contender Islam Makhachev will have to face Beneil Dariush before a title shot.

    Makhachev most recently defeated Bobby Green in the main event of UFC Vegas 49 last weekend. Shortly after the fight, it was revealed that Rafael Fiziev had to pull out of his UFC 272 matchup with Rafael dos Anjos after testing positive for COVID-19.

    The UFC scrambled to find a short-notice replacement to face Dos Anjos, with Makhachev raising his hand immediately on social media. However, he allegedly turned down the fight and the promotion ended up booking dos Anjos vs. Renato Moicano in the UFC 272 co-headliner.

    Makhachev was originally supposed to face Dariush in the UFC Vegas 49 main event before Dariush suffered an injury in camp. During a recent interview with Barstool Sports, White appeared to shut down Makhachev getting a title shot next.

    “Pretty close. I thought we had it done,” White said about Makhachev vs. Dos Anjos. “When I went to bed one of the nights, I thought it was done. Woke up the next morning and found out they turned it down. Islam [turned it down]. No clue [why].

    Islam Makhachev
    Islam Makhachev, Credit: USA TODAY Sports

    “He’s obviously doing very well. I love the Dariush fight. Since he turned down this fight, we’re going to remake the Dariush fight. We’ll get that fight going. Dying to see that fight. He gets through Dariush, very interesting.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

    After dos Anjos found out that Makhachev turned down a short-notice fight, he accused Makhachev of “folding” when offered a co-main event opportunity.

    White’s admission could potentially open the door to former UFC champion Conor McGregor skipping the line and getting a title shot upon his return later this year.

    White previously said in a separate interview with TMZ that Dariush remains a factor in the lightweight division. After Makhachev called for the next title shot, it appears that the UFC plans to go in a different direction for his next Octagon appearance.

    What is your reaction to Dana White’s plan for Islam Makhachev?

  • Tyson Fury Plans 2022 Retirement, Still Eyes Ngannou Fight

    Heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury plans to hang up the gloves after his upcoming fight against Dillian Whyte in London.

    Fury is coming off of back-to-back wins over Deontay Wilder and won the rubber match of their trilogy last October. Despite some rumblings regarding a potential crossover fight against UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, the WBC required that he negotiate a fight with Whyte.

    Fury’s tenure in the boxing ring is well documented. After battling issues with his mental health, he returned to defeat Sefer Seferi before eventually earning the WBO inter-continental heavyweight belt against Tom Schwarz.

    During a recent interview with MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, he stated that he plans to call it quits following the Whyte fight.

    “This is the final countdown of ‘The Gypsy King.’ Hollywood awaits,” Fury said. “This is my retirement fight. 100,000 people at Wembley, all British world title fight. Return of the Mack after four years to the U.K. This is it, going out on a high. Retiring on top. Two-time world heavyweight champion and I’ll have made eight defenses of the lineal championship. Never to lose a fight. To go down as only the second heavyweight in history to retire unbeaten. Me and Rocky Marciano.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

    Fury went on to clarify that while he plans on retiring from professional boxing, a crossover fight with Ngannou is still in the cards.

    “I don’t count that as a real boxing fight. That’s not a boxing fight. That’s gonna be a ‘special’ fight. That will be in a cage in four-ounce gloves, in Las Vegas, at the Raiders Stadium….

    “I will have retired from competitive, championship boxing and I’ll be ready to do the crossover fights completely. He won’t be the UFC heavyweight champion anymore, I won’t be the WBC heavyweight champion anymore, but I will still be the lineal heavyweight champion because they can’t take that from me!”

    Fury and Ngannou have gone back-and-forth on social media for months, and a matchup between them seems imminent. Ngannou will miss a chunk of 2022 after undergoing knee surgery.

    If Fury is planning on retiring following the fight with Whyte, he’ll go down as arguably one of the best heavyweights in boxing history.

    Do you think Tyson Fury will retire after fighting Dillian Whyte?

  • Joe Rogan Will Return To Fight Commentary At UFC 272

    UFC President Dana White has confirmed that Joe Rogan will return to commentate on the upcoming pay-per-view at UFC 272.

    Rogan was absent from the UFC 271 commentary team for reasons that are still unclear. After it was originally reported by some outlets as a scheduling conflict, White later shut down those rumors and said that Rogan chose not to work.

    White announced Rogan’s return to the desk during a recent sitdown with Barstool Sports.

    “Yeah, he’ll be here,” White said. “[Rogan is] on this week, [Daniel] Cormier’s off.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

    Rogan will make his return to the broadcast alongside play-by-play broadcaster Jon Anik and former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping.

    Rogan has been under fire over the past few months for allegedly spreading misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines and also after a racial-slur-filled compilation went viral. In the compilation of a series of past podcast episodes, Rogan can be heard using the ‘n-word’ without context.

    Despite being absent from UFC 271, Rogan’s presence was still felt by the fans. Chants of “Free Joe Rogan” were prevalent throughout the fight card.

    Cormier will miss this weekend’s pay-per-view due to the recent death of his mother, as he announced earlier this week.

    UFC 272 will be headlined by a welterweight grudge match between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington, two fighters who Rogan has praised many times in the past.

    What is your reaction to Joe Rogan returning for UFC 272?

  • Kayla Harrison’s Coach Wants To See Her Face Stiffer Competition

    American Top Team coach Mike Brown wants Kayla Harrison to take the next steps in her professional MMA career.

    Harrison is still contemplating her next career move in her first experience in MMA free agency. She is coming off of back-to-back lightweight title-winning seasons in the PFL and has hinted at moving up to promotions such as Bellator and the UFC.

    MMA journalist Ariel Helwani recently reported that the PFL has matched Bellator’s offer to sign Harrison and that she could re-sign with the PFL within the next few days. However, nothing has been made official by Harrison and her camp.

    Harrison has attended Bellator and UFC events over the past few months as she decides on her next move in MMA. She won the 2021 PFL lightweight title over Taylor Guardado after a dominant regular season.

    During a recent interview with Helwani on The MMA Hour, Brown gave his thoughts on whether or not Harrison should move on to another promotion.

    “I think it’s time,” Brown said. “I mean, I’m happy wherever she goes. I think they’ll bring talent to her in the PFL…I know she wants big challenges. She wants big fights, she’s ready to challenge herself, she really wants that. I thought we’ve been in a great spot. She was learning MMA in a major promotion, having zero fights and you’re already fighting in a major promotion like PFL. It’s good money, you’re getting decent competition.

    Brown went on to point out that Harrison’s journey to MMA stardom has been faster and more unique than most professional athletes.

    “It’s not always the norm for most pro fighters. Maybe they fight some amateur fights, then go on to a little bit tougher competition. From her first fight that she’s ever had, she’s in the PFL. Obviously, she’s a special athlete, but it’s not easy to do. She’s been learning, developing, and honing her skills and trying new skills, experimenting and seeing what works and doesn’t work in combat.

    Kayla Harrison
    Photo by Dave Mandel/Invicta FC

    “Now she’s over 10 fights experience and three or four years in, and I think she’s ready to make big challenges now. She wants to fight everybody and honestly, we’ve been holding her back. She’s been saying for about a year and a half or so, ‘ I want ’em all, I want to fight the best. I don’t want to do this, I want to show that I’m the best.’ We’ve told her to take her time, but it’s not what she necessarily wants. I think we’re coming to that point now that it’s going to happen.”

    Harrison was in attendance to watch Bellator featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino earn a first-round knockout in her latest defense at Bellator 271. Harrison was also linked to a matchup with Amanda Nunes before Nunes lost to Julianna Peña at UFC 269.

    Harrison’s free agency could be coming to a close as soon as this week, much to her preference. She’ll remain one of the biggest names in women’s MMA in 2022 regardless of what she chooses to do.

    Where do you think Kayla Harrison will sign in free agency?

  • Jorge Masvidal Shares Video Of Friendship Timeline With Covington

    UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal has shared a video compilation of his past friendship with Colby Covington ahead of their grudge match.

    Masvidal and Covington will cap off the rise and fall of their friendship in the UFC 272 main event. The two top welterweight contenders are vying for another potential title shot with a victory.

    Bad blood has boiled over during fight week, even before their highly-anticipated pre-fight press conference. The two welterweights also verbally sparred in a recent joint interview with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.

    Masvidal and Covington used to be great friends and loyal teammates during their time together at American Top Team in Florida. However, things fell off in recent years after Covington allegedly failed to pay one of Masvidal’s coaches after a fight.

    The past friendship between Masvidal and Covington is arguably the biggest storyline of UFC 272 fight week. Amidst the massive interest ahead of the pay-per-view, Masvidal posted a video compilation on his YouTube channel describing the highs and lows of their previous friendship.

    The video shows the two former ATT teammates and roommates playing video games, training together, sprinting down a hallway, and doing other activities. Masvidal and Covington also are seen praising one another for their successes in the Octagon.

    The second half of the video shows where things went wrong between Masvidal and Covington. It demonstrates Covington’s shift as a heel in and out of the cage along with a past interview that Masvidal conducts with MMA journalist Ariel Helwani.

    Masvidal and Covington will now slug it out this weekend at UFC 272. In what is expected to be one of the biggest fights of 2022, no love remains between these two brawlers.

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

  • Dana White On McGregor/Diaz 3: “I’d Be Shocked If It Didn’t Happen”

    UFC President Dana White feels as optimistic as ever about a Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz trilogy happening down the line.

    McGregor is expected to return in 2022 following his nasty leg break against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. There are a few potential opponents for his return, including Michael Chandler and even lightweight champ Charles Oliveira.

    Diaz appears set to face Poirier in a grudge match later this year, although negotiations are still ongoing. He hasn’t fought since his loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 263.

    Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz
    Credit: Getty Images

    McGregor and Diaz last competed against one another at UFC 202, with McGregor earning a majority decision win. Diaz won their first matchup on short notice at UFC 196.

    McGregor and Diaz voiced their interest in a trilogy directly following their last matchup. But, Diaz has hinted that McGregor will need to be triumphant in his return to deserve a third fight with him.

    During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, White spoke about whether or not talks of the McGregor/Diaz trilogy are dead.

    “We’re still working on that fight, that fight’s not done yet,” White said of Diaz vs. Poirier. “But yeah, I wouldn’t count out Conor-Nate 3. Listen, I’d be shocked if that fight didn’t happen again. [Conor’s] chomping at the bit to come back. Realistically, when you look at everything [Conor] has going on right now with coming back and other things he needs to do to prepare again, it’s looking like early fall [for his return].”

    White has also teased a potential title fight for McGregor upon his return, although he alluded to a few different things happening before that becomes a possibility. McGregor has claimed that he’ll get the title shot in his first fight back from his injury.

    McGregor and Diaz are two of the biggest stars in UFC history, and the third fight between them figures to be arguably the biggest event to make going forward.

    We recently wrote about possible opponents for the Conor McGregor’s next fight.

    Do you think Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 3 will happen?

  • Valentina Shevchenko Vs. Taila Santos In The Works For UFC 275

    UFC Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko will make her next title defense against Taila Santos at UFC 275 on June 11.

    The news of the booking was first reported by MMA Fighting.

    Shevchenko is coming off another dominant win over Lauren Murphy at UFC 266. She has won eight straight fights and earned six straight successful title defenses.

    Shevchenko earned the title by defeating Joanna Jędrzejczyk for the vacant title at UFC 231. She earned a unanimous decision victory and followed it up with wins over Jessica Eye, Liz Carmouche, and Katlyn Chookagian.

    One of Shevchenko’s few tests as the flyweight champion came against Jennifer Maia at UFC 255. It was a back-and-forth battle with Shevchenko winning the fight based on activity.

    It was also announced today that Maia is scheduled to face Manon Fiorot at a UFC Fight Night event on March 26 on the promotion’s Columbus, OH card.

    TAILA SANTOS SET FOR UFC RETURN - MTK Global
    Taila Santos

    Santos will look to provide the toughest test of Shevchenko’s flyweight reign. A winner of four-straight bouts, she most recently earned a nasty first-round submission victory over Joanne Wood last November.

    Santos has also earned lopsided victories over the likes of Molly McCann and Gillian Robertson.

    Shevchenko had previously been interested in a trilogy bout with Amanda Nunes before Nunes lost in shocking fashion to Julianna Pena at UFC 269. Nunes will face Peña in a bantamweight title rematch later this year after coaching The Ultimate Fighter together.

    UFC 275 is scheduled to be headlined by a UFC light heavyweight title bout between Glover Teixeira and Jiří Procházk.

    Shevchenko has a win over the current bantamweight champion Peña and could face her in a rematch down the line. But Shevchenko will have to get past another tough test at flyweight before any talk of fighting at different weight classes resumes.

    Do you think Taila Santos could give Valentina Shevchenko a challenge?

  • Darren Till Inks New Deal With The UFC Ahead Of 2022 Return

    UFC middleweight contender Darren Till has signed a new contract with the UFC in anticipation of his 2022 return to the Octagon.

    News of the agreement was first reported by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.

    Till has lost four of his last five with just one lone victory since moving from welterweight to middleweight. He most recently fell to Derek Brunson via third-round submission last September and allegedly entered the fight with a knee injury.

    Till’s last win in the Octagon came against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 244. He earned a split decision victory in his middleweight debut before back-to-back losses.

    Till has recently trained with rising UFC star Khamzat Chimaev ahead of his 2022 debut. The two of them have been seen going through rigorous workouts together at the Allstars Training Center in Stockholm, SE.

    Darren Till Khamzat Chimaev
    Darren Till Khamzat Chimaev

    Till and Chimaev have also spent their time doing philanthropy work in Sweden, feeding local homeless people and assisting the community around the gym.

    In terms of a timeline for his return to the cage, Till is unsure exactly when he’ll have his next fight booked. He’s gone back-and-forth on social media with the likes of Uriah Hall and others as he works his way back to potential middleweight title contention.

    Till made his FUC Debut back in 2015 against Wendell de Oliveira Marques, earning a second-round knockout. He would go on to earn four straight wins before falling short against Tyron Woodley for the welterweight belt at UFC 228.

    Till would then follow it up with a stunning knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal in early 2019 in London, before making the move up to 185 pounds.

    At 29 years old, Till still has plenty of time to turn things around in his UFC career and pursue another title shot at middleweight. UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya has previously conveyed interest in a fight with Till if he can get on another winning streak.

    Who do you want to see Darren Till fight next?

  • Oscar De La Hoya’s Latest Remarks Kills Hopes Of Belfort Rebooking

    Boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya may not attempt a comeback to the ‘sweet science’ after all, following a recent interview.

    De La Hoya was supposed to face Vitor Belfort last year in an event held by Triller Fight Club but pulled out of the event after testing positive for COVID-19. He ended up getting a brief hospital stay to help treat his symptoms.

    Belfort’s trainer, Derik Santos, questioned the validity of De La Hoya’s COVID-19 diagnosis.

    It had been previously reported that Triller had been in talks to re-book the Belfort fight, but it appears that De La Hoya has no intentions of a comeback.

    “I can’t imagine myself in the ring anymore. I’m hanging up the gloves for sure and calling it a day,” De La Hoya said in an interview with BoxingScene. “It’s not likely [I will fight again]. I’m not feeling it. I went through so much in training. I was on it. When I trained, I left everything and my focus was 100%. It just drained me. I couldn’t handle it. Once I got COVID, I still have problems breathing when I’m running.

    Oscar De La Hoya
    (via AP)

    “I feel complete now. I have six projects aside from boxing that I’m working on right now that are huge – mega. I’ve refocused. I have the energy. I have a woman by my side who makes me feel like King Kong. It’s motivating. It really is. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen with Golden Boy and my personal brand. Things are moving in the right direction. I’m really excited about it.”

    De La Hoya last fought in the ring against Manny Pacquiao in 2008. He would lose the fight after his corner stopped the action in the later rounds.

    De La Hoya earned multiple boxing world titles and fought some of the greatest in the sport’s history, including Bernard Hopkins and Floyd Mayweather Jr. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014.

    Do you think Oscar De La Hoya will fight again?

  • dos Anjos Accuses Makhachev Of “Folding” After UFC 272 “Bluff”

    Rafael dos Anjos believes Islam Makhachev got caught in a bluff when dos Anjos accepted his offer to fight on short notice at UFC 272.

    dos Anjos was supposed to face Rafael Fiziev in the co-main event of UFC 272 before Fiziev recently pulled out due to COVID-19. We now know that dos Anjos will be facing Renato Moicano at the event, but just yesterday, Makhachev volunteered to step up.

    Makhachev and dos Anjos were supposed to fight on multiple occasions in the past, with both fighters pulling out.

    In a Monday tweet, Makhachev called out Dos Anjos for the new UFC 272 co-headliner.

    “170 ??? Let’s do it,” Makhachev said. “We have unfinished business RDA.”

    After getting word of Makhachev’s callout, Dos Anjos sounded game for a short-notice bout against him in the UFC 272 co-main event.

    “170Ibs I’m in!!” Dos Anjos said. “Let’s go!!! Don’t run!!”

    Following the announcement of the UFC selecting Moicano as the replacement, dos Anjos took a parting shot at Makhachev.

    “I called his bluff and he folded. Let’s move on…” dos Anjos wrote.

    Makhachev was supposed to face Beneil Dariush last weekend before Dariush pulled out with an injury. Instead, he defeated Bobby Green via first-round TKO in the UFC Vegas 49 main event.

    There is no word on why Makhachev will not be facing dos Anjos at UFC 272, but it may have something to do with Makhachev already being widely considered to be the #1 contender for the winner of the upcoming Charles Oliveira/Justin Gaethje title fight.

    Do you think we will ever see Islam Makhachev vs. Rafael dos Anjos?

  • Gina Carano Thinks Ukraine Invasion Is Due To Loss Of “COVID Narrative”

    Former MMA fighter Gina Carano has her theory and what caused the Russian Federation’s ongoing invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

    Carano has made a slew of controversial remarks regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and how conservative political voices are treated in society. She compared the treatment of Republicans to that of how the Jewish people were treated during the Holocaust.

    Carano has made a career move to filmmaking following her MMA career. She last fought in the cage against Cris “Cyborg” Justino in Strikeforce back in 2009, losing via TKO with just a second left in the first round.

    Carano is widely regarded as arguably one of the biggest pioneers of women’s MMA, dating back to her time competing against the likes of Tonya Evinger and Kaitlin Young in EliteXC. But she has ruffled some feathers in the MMA community with some of her controversial comments on social media.

    In a recent tweet, Carano blamed countries losing hold of the “COVID narrative” for why Russia is invading Ukraine.

    https://twitter.com/ginacarano/status/1497253427730010117?s=20&t=42bRWg6h2ZbGZpuG6Nwn-Q

    “The moment they lost control of the covid narrative.
    Cue a war.

    “Straight from one crisis to the next.

    “A scripted reality show sacrificing innocent lives for unquenchable greed.

    “Endless power grabs.
    No accountability.
    Devastated economies.

    “Never give up freedom for fear,” Carano said.

    Carano has been a vocal critic of COVID-19 vaccines and more specifically, COVID-19 vaccine mandates. She has also compared mandatory vaccines with the AIDS epidemic that surged in the 1980s.

    Carano was let go by LucasFilms after her comments about the Holocaust in early 2021. Before that, she played a major role in the hit television show The Mandalorian, which is streamed exclusively on Disney+.

    Carano will be the main star of an upcoming Western film streamed through the right-wing publication The Daily Wire later this year. The film is titled “Terror on the Prairie” and will also feature a cameo from UFC fan-favorite Donald Cerrone.

    What are your thoughts on Gina Carano’s comments?

  • The Korean Zombie Is Looking For The Best Street Fighters In Korea

    UFC featherweight contender Chan Sung Jung (otherwise known as ‘The Korean Zombie’ is traveling around Korea looking for fighters.

    The Korean Zombie is set to face UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 273. He stepped up for Max Holloway after Holloway suffered an injury shortly after the trilogy was originally announced.

    Jung has won three of his last four and has re-emerged in the featherweight title picture despite a recent loss to Brian Ortega. He most recently defeated Dan Ige via unanimous decision last June.

    Jung is seen as a hero in South Korea. He has risen to prominence ever since he first challenged for the featherweight title against then-champion José Aldo at UFC 163.

    But The Korean Zombie is looking to make an impact outside of the UFC Octagon in his home country.

    During a recent joint interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Jung’s coach Eddie Cha made an exciting announcement regarding Jung’s journey in content creation.

    “Go check out Zombie’s YouTube channel, he has over like 600 thousand subscribers,” Cha said of Jung. “Literally it’s gone viral, he’s got some cool stuff. His latest show right now that he’s doing, it’s kinda like a “Bully Beatdown.” They’re actually going from city to city to find who the best street fighters are and they kind of do a five-round scrap, they’ll give em five-grand. Not to win, but if they perform well. So he’s going from city to city [in Korea] to find the best fighters in the world.”

    Jung has posted a variety of content on his YouTube channel, including food challenges and inside footage of his fight camps. He’s looking to pull off a shocking upset over Volkanovski and help promote the sport in South Korea in the process.

    What is your prediction for Alexander Volkanovski vs. Chan Sung Jung?

  • Samuel L. Jackson Weighs In On The Joe Rogan “N-Word” Controversy

    World-renowned movie star Samuel L. Jackson isn’t buying Joe Rogan’s explanation regarding his past use of a racial slur.

    Rogan has been under fire in recent weeks after videos of him using language considered to be racially insensitive went viral, including a video compilation of him using the ‘N-word’. Calls for Rogan to be canceled and removed from streaming platform Spotify skyrocketed after the video’s release.

    Rogan was absent from the UFC 271 pay-per-view due to undisclosed reasons. Initially, it was presumed that he was removed from the broadcast team in light of recent events.

    Jackson, like Rogan, is never afraid to speak his mind on world issues. During a recent interview with The Sunday Times, Jackson explained why he believes Rogan’s excuse that the clips were taken out of context is invalid.

    “He is saying nobody understood the context when he said it,” Jackson told the Times, which describes him as rolling his eyes over Rogan. “But he shouldn’t have said it. It’s not the context, dude — it’s that he was comfortable doing it. Say that you’re sorry because you want to keep your money, but you were having fun and you say you did it because it was entertaining.”

    Jackson went on to explain why Rogan’s use of the ‘N-word’ is different than his filmmaking colleague and award-winning director Quentin Tarantino.

    “Every time someone wants an example of overuse of the n-word, they go to Quentin — it’s unfair,” he told the U.K. publication. “He’s just telling the story and the characters do talk like that. When Steve McQueen does it, it’s art. He’s an artiste. Quentin’s just a popcorn film-maker.”

    Rogan is expected to be on the call for the upcoming UFC 272 card featuring a welterweight grudge match between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington. He has been with the UFC since 1997.

    What are your thoughts on Samuel L. Jackson’s take on Joe Rogan’s N-word controversy?

  • Jędrzejczyk: Masvidal Has ATT Nation On His Back For Covington Fight

    Joanna Jędrzejczyk says welterweight star Jorge Masvidal will have the full support of American Top Team ahead of his fight at UFC 272.

    Masvidal will square off against his former friend and former ATT teammate, Colby Covington in the UFC 272 headliner. It is arguably one of the most highly-anticipated grudge matches in UFC history.

    Covington split from ATT amidst his rise in success in the UFC welterweight division. His trash talk combined with tense relationships with teammates such as Masvidal led to him moving to train at MMA Masters.

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, Jędrzejczyk previewed the fight and why Masvidal is fighting for more than just bragging rights.

    “Man, it’s a big fight,” Jędrzejczyk said. “It’s going to be one of the biggest fights of 2022. And Jorge Masvidal has (the) ATT nation behind his back, but Colby is hell of a fighter, very dedicated. I remember them both training here. They used to do training together for one and a half hours and do some extra training together after. So they both are very dedicated, very talented, but I feel like Jorge is going to surprise like he did in the fight with Ben Askren or Darren Till, for example.”

    Masvidal has lost back-to-back fights to UFC Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who will be in attendance for the fight. He was originally slated to face Leon Edwards at UFC 269 before withdrawing from the fight due to an injury.

    Covington and ATT have a very public and complicated history, and Masvidal will look to exact revenge for Jędrzejczyk, Dustin Poirier, and others who have been victims of Covington’s relentless banter.

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

  • Quote: Bryce Mitchell’s Radical Views Are Common In MMA Community

    UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell’s recent interview with Ariel Helwani has blown up the internet, but his views may not be that surprising.

    In what was expected to be a routine pre-fight interview, Mitchell used it to interview the interviewer Helwani. He discussed his thoughts on mass shootings in America, his opposition to the COVID-19 vaccine mandates, and other oft-kilter topics.

    While the conversation was largely cordial, Helwani challenged Mitchell when the featherweight questioned the legitimacy of mass shootings and if the US government is responsible for them, along with claiming the 2020 US Presidential Election was rigged.

    MMA journalist Luke Thomas, who is an award-winning journalist and a former host of The MMA Hour, touched on Mitchell’s viral interview with Helwani. During a recent segment on his Morning Kombat podcast, Thomas addressed the shockwave that Mitchell caused around the MMA community.

    “So what I would say is in this day and age when we’re asked for our views and you’re doing it in a public way and you have a person who is young, very online, on social media, probably doesn’t have views anyway that are even in lockstep with the wider state to some degree, then you’re going to get these kinds of moments when people espouse views that are impossible to otherwise justify,” Thomas said of Mitchell.

    Thomas went on to explain why he feels Mitchell’s controversial views may not be as uncommon in the MMA community as some are led to believe.

    “I gotta tell you, people were like, ‘This is a shock to my conscience! I can’t believe that someone in the community would hold views such as these!’ I’m like, are you motherfuckers on Twitter for like five seconds? My mentions every day are, fuckin’, ‘Obama drinks the blood of young babies!’ And ‘COVID is a lie! It’s just the flu with a skirt on!’ Or whatever the fuck they say. I don’t even know what they say anymore.

    Luke Thomas mma journalist wife, wiki, age, mma, net worth 2018
    Luke Thomas


    “But my mentions—and not even that, just what I see on different places is filled to the brim with these very online radicalized views. Like, I would argue Bryce Mitchell’s views on this are far closer to what the average person in this community believes than mine. I guarantee that.”

    Mitchell is slated to face Edson Barboza at UFC 272 on March 5. He’ll likely be questioned by media members about his views leading up to the fight, and this controversy may be far from over.

    What was your reaction to the Bryce Mitchell/Ariel Helwani interview?

  • Islam Makhachev Isn’t Ruling Out Double-Champ Pursuit In The UFC

    UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev may not have the lightweight throne yet, but he already has big ambitions for his next few fights.

    Makhachev put on another grappling clinic against Bobby Green at UFC Vegas 49. He was originally supposed to face Beneil Dariush but made quick work of the short-notice replacement Green.

    Makhachev and his team have long called for the lightweight title shot amidst his 10-fight winning streak. After the win over Green, he appears set to get the winner of Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje later this year.

    But Makhachev doesn’t just want to pursue supremacy in the lightweight division. He also intends on cementing himself as one of the pound-for-pound best in the world by earning championships at multiple weight classes.

    During his UFC Vegas 49 post-fight press conference, Makhachev spoke about his plans to potentially earn ‘champ-champ’ status.

    “First, I have to take this belt, 155 (pounds),” Makhachev said. “We’ll see, why not (go for the welterweight title)? I think in future—(I’m) thinking about this. We have to see with my team and talk about this because I want some challenge, you know? (Having) two belts, I (would) like this moment.”

    Makhachev and current UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman share the same manager, Ali Abdelaziz. It’s unclear how much longer Usman will fight in the Octagon, as he has previously hinted at eventually leaving the sport on top.

    Depending on what the landscape looks like if and when Makhachev earns the lightweight belt, a move to welterweight may not be too far-fetched. This would allow him to become one of the few UFC fighters to earn titles in multiple divisions, which was once unprecedented in the sport.

    How do you think Islam Makhachev would perform at welterweight?