MMA News

Author: Curtis Calhoun

  • Khamzat Chimaev Sends Message Of Support To Jon Jones

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has had a rough past few months, but he still has a strong supporter in Khamzat Chimaev.

    Jones recently announced that he and his longtime fiancée, Jessie Moses, have split following Jones’ latest arrest back in September. He was accused of battering Moses in a Las Vegas hotel room before headbutting a police vehicle during his arrest.

    The battery domestic violence charges were dropped in exchange for Jones paying a small fine for the damage inflicted on the police vehicle. It’s still unclear what fully transpired between Jones and Moses leading up to when local authorities arrived at the scene.

    Jones has a lot on his plate at the moment ahead of his anticipated UFC return in 2022. He’s expected to make his heavyweight debut and potentially challenge for the heavyweight title later this year.

    In a tweet, Chimaev reached out to Jones in a message of support following his recent controversies.

    “We are with you legend [Jon Jones],” Chimaev said.

    Chimaev has risen to stardom following a dominant run in the UFC Octagon. He most recently dismantled Li Jingliang at UFC 267 and has allegedly been in talks to face former title challenger Gilbert Burns later this year.

    Jones has been under fire from fans, pundits, and fighting colleagues following his most recent arrest in Las Vegas. UFC President Dana White went as far as saying that Jones has “a lot of demons” outside of competition.

    It’s not yet clear how Jones’ recent transgressions could impact his return to the cage, but Chimaev appears to still have faith in the former UFC champion.

    Who do you want Jon Jones to face in his return?

  • Yaroslav Amosov, Bellator Champ, Intent On Defending Ukraine

    Bellator Welterweight Champion Yaroslav Amosov has opted to stay in his home country, Ukraine amidst the ongoing Russian invasion.

    Amosov earned the Bellator welterweight title in defeating Douglas Lima at Bellator 260. He’s set to face Michael “Venom” Page on the upcoming Bellator London card on May 13.

    Amosov, a native of Kyiv, has been outspoken regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military actions against Ukraine. After months of tension along the Ukraine-Russia border, Russia opted to invade Ukraine and targeting major cities around the country.

    In a recent post on his Instagram page, Amosov updated his fans on the situation in Ukraine and his message to his fellow countrymen.

    “Greetings, probably, many will think that I ran away, I’m hiding or something like that, but this is not so,” Amosov said. “I took my family to the safe zone. Now I have returned and will defend this country as best I can, with what I can.

    “I love this country, our own. Russia came to our house and started a war here, many people are dying – innocents, women and children. We have to defend this country, and we succeed, friends. And we will succeed, because the truth is behind us.

    “I would like to address those who subscribed to me from Russia. What is shown to you on TV, you may not watch – this is not true. If I were you, I wouldn’t even watch your news. We are in a real war. I cannot understand those people who do not believe that Russian troops entered Ukraine. I see it with my own eyes, I hear it. Terrible things are happening here. We can do this.” (h/t MMA Junkie)

    Amosov isn’t the only notable combat sports star to join forces with the Ukrainian military. Former boxing champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko recently announced that they are willing to fight against the Russian attack.

    Many MMA fighters have addressed the current situation in Ukraine, including non-Ukrainians. Amosov will look to fight and represent his home country later this year.

    What is your reaction to Yaroslav Amosov defending Ukraine?

  • Masvidal Breaks Down “Nightmare” Hypothetical Match Against GSP

    UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal is always ready for a scrap, as evidenced by his nickname “Gamebred.”

    But he feels that one particular matchup above all others would’ve been a headache to prepare for.

    Masvidal is set to face former friend and former American Top Team teammate Colby Covington in the UFC 272 headliner. It is one of the most anticipated fights of 2022 and a chance for both welterweights to get back into the title shot conversation.

    Masvidal has lost back-to-back fights to welterweight champion Kamaru Usman but remains one of the UFC’s biggest stars. His forward-pushing style to go along with his fight-ready personality has made him a household name in the Octagon.

    Masvidal has faced some of the best fighters in UFC history, including Usman and former UFC champion Benson Henderson.

    During a recent Q+A session on Rumble, Masvidal pointed to former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre as the toughest hypothetical matchup for him.

    “GSP’s one of the best ever. He’s got that fu**ing amazing [ability where] he could wrestle, wrestle, wrestle, or he could strike, he actually had great boxing, you know, very technical. He didn’t have the most power but he would set it up beautifully and get you off your feet.

    Georges St-Pierre
    Georges St-Pierre, Photo Credit: Getty Images

    “It’s one of those fights, it’s like a nightmare matchup for me but those are the fights that I wanted… Obviously, I’m going to put the money on me, I’m gonna be going for his chin the whole time with flying knees, hoping I get him to duck into something bad, you know, and make it into a war but GSP’s one of the best ever. I would have loved to be standing in front of the cage across that guy and just fu**ing giving it my all to take his a** out.” (h/t SportsKeeda)

    St-Pierre retired following a split decision win over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167 but would return to win the middleweight title at UFC 217. He would go back into retirement but has hinted at a potential move to boxing in the future.

    As Masvidal pointed out, St-Pierre’s legacy in the sport of MMA is unquestionable. He remains one of the most talked-about fighters in the history of the UFC and is one of the pioneers of the promotion’s rise in popularity.

    How do you think Jorge Masvidal would’ve fared against Georges St-Pierre?

  • Teddy Atlas Breaks Down Adjustment Tuivasa Made That Led To KO Win

    Boxing and MMA commentator Teddy Atlas has given a detailed breakdown of what led up to Tai Tuivasa’s knockout of Derrick Lewis at UFC 271.

    Tuivasa has been on a roll in the UFC’s heavyweight division over the past year. He has won five straight overall by knockout and has demonstrated the ability to end a fight with a single punch. Tuivasa also earned a post-fight performance check for his finish at UFC 271.

    The most stunning moment of Tuivasa’s career to this point was his finish of Lewis at UFC 271. After surviving an early barrage from Lewis, “Bam Bam” found his range on the feet and had Lewis up against the cage. He would land a solid lead elbow that slept Lewis directly after impact.

    During a recent segment on his The Fight podcast, Atlas explained what led to Tuivasa’s KO of the Year candidate at UFC 271.

    “His toughness got him there, no doubt about it, but his intelligence won it for him,” Atlas said of Tuivasa. “Because what did he do? He made an adjustment. A lot of people might not have noticed, (they just) saw two big guys slugging it out. Not quite. Tuivasa started countering in between the big shots of Lewis—in between his reckless aggression. I’ll say it again: his reckless aggression. And he was catching him in between. And that’s how he hurt him. And then, he goes and hits him with an elbow—a clean elbow—that puts the lights out for Lewis.”

    Tuivasa is now a Top-3 heavyweight contender in the UFC following his win over Lewis. He could potentially get a No. 1 contender fight next after just recently catapulting into the rankings.

    What do you think is next for Tai Tuivasa?

  • Bobby Green On Islam Makhachev: I Get It Now

    UFC veteran Bobby Green now understands what makes Islam Makhachev so formidable after spending a few minutes of Octagon time with him.

    Green stepped up on short notice to face Makhachev in the UFC Vegas 49 main event. He filled in for the injured Beneil Dariush just weeks after earning a decisive win over Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 271.

    Makhachev has long been seen as the heir apparent to former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. He appears on the verge of a title shot following his first-round TKO finish of Green.

    Fighters have seemed to have a different perspective on Makhachev’s skillset after spending time inside the cage with him. During his UFC Vegas 49 post-fight interview with ESPN’s Megan Olivi, Green explained how Makhachev can overwhelm his opposition.

    “Yeah, I got it now,” Green said. “So what they do is, they do this little thing where he’s so patient, he’s so strong, and he just goes little, little, little, little, until he gets right where he wants to be, you know? And so, I tried to do some turning over, and as I did it, he went to mount, and he was so strong at holding his mount, so I was like; ‘interesting.’ I tried to turn, and I couldn’t move out of it, and I’m like ‘no one’s been that strong before.’ So, I gotta work on my weight training and get on my muscles to build that strength for this division.”

    Makhachev will more than likely get the winner of Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje later this year. Oliveira and Gaethje will square off in the UFC 274 main event in May.

    Green had won back-to-back fights before the loss to Makhachev. He earned a violent knockout of Al Iaquinta at UFC 268 before putting on a boxing clinic against Haqparast.

    If Green’s comments are any indication, fighters need to develop a certain type of skill set to challenge a talent of Makhachev’s caliber.

    Who do you want Bobby Green to fight next?

  • Khabib Reveals The UFC’s Potential Plans For Islam Makhachev

    Khabib Nurmagomedov says the UFC plans on having top lightweight contender Islam Makhachev fight for the belt at the end of 2022.

    Makhachev put on another dominant performance against short-notice replacement Bobby Green at UFC Vegas 49. He was originally supposed to face Beneil Dariush before Dariush withdrew from the bout due to an injury.

    Makhachev entered UFC Vegas 49 as the fourth-ranked lightweight contender in the UFC and is assumingly the next man in line for the title shot. UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira will face Justin Gaethje for his latest title defense later this year at UFC 274.

    In an interview with ESPN’s Megan Olivi, Nurmagomedov spoke about his protege Makhachev and what’s next for him in the Octagon.

    “A couple days ago, when we meet with Dana, we was talking about, ‘Hey, what’s next?’” Nurmagomedov said of Makhachev. “He’s like, ‘Hey, you have to fight with Bobby Green first. I’m like, ‘Dana, it’s not like—they’re not same level.’ Of course, we don’t underestimate him, but if Islam catch him, it’s finished, you know?

    Islam Makhachev
    Islam Makhachev, Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

    “And he (said) ‘I’m really focused on Islam fight winner of Charles [Oliveira] vs. Justin Gaethje, end of this year.’ Dana (said) they gonna make very big show in Abu Dhabi end of this year. And I think it is this place Islam gonna compete, fight for the title.”

    Makhachev has been seen as the heir apparent to Nurmagomedov for years. He is on a 10-fight winning streak and has soared to the top of the lightweight division’s title picture.

    Entering UFC Vegas 49, Makhachev had earned three-straight submission wins in 2021 over Thiago Moisés, Drew Dober, and Dan Hooker. A loss to Adriano Martins at UFC 192 is the lone blemish on his otherwise stellar record.

    Makhachev, Nurmagomedov, and the other Dagestani fighters are seen as heroes in Abu Dhabi. If Makhachev earns a title shot on Fight Island, it would arguably make the biggest stage of his career that much bigger.

    Do you think Islam Makhachev will earn the lightweight title in 2022?

  • Henry Cejudo Puts Himself Above GSP In UFC GOAT Conversation

    Former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo holds himself in high regard, even higher than the legend Georges St-Pierre.

    Cejudo hasn’t fought in the Octagon since defeating Dominick Cruz at UFC 249. He announced his retirement in his post-fight interview but has since hinted at a UFC comeback.

    Similar to St-Pierre’s title win over Michael Bisping, Cejudo has alluded to a matchup one division up against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Cejudo threw his name into the conversation to fill in against Volkanovski before the UFC opted to book Chan Sung Jung for the bout.

    Nowadays, Cejudo remains a fixture of MMA culture. He has coached multiple current and former UFC champions such as Deiveson Figueiredo and Jon Jones, along with podcasting.

    During a recent segment of The Triple C & Schmo Show, Cejudo listed his top-5 UFC fighters of all time and put himself above St-Pierre in the discussion.

    “These are my top five. No. 1 Jon Jones. No. 2 Demetrious Johnson. No. 3 Anderson Silva. And you know what, I’ve been thinking about it a lot Schmo, I am actually No. 4. I used to put GSP there, but I am actually No. 4, just for the fact that I won both my bouts with [the] two greatests. Just because Bisping had a championship at that time doesn’t mean he was the best in the world.

    Canadian Georges St-Pierre wins in his return to UFC | Offside
    Georges St-Pierre

    “I literally beat the best guys in the world. I beat three Hall of Famers in my last four fights. Demetrious Johnson, TJ Dillashaw, and Dominick Cruz. I am gonna have to put myself in that GOAT mountain man. I used to think more of GSP. But in reality, I just feel he cherry picked, man, with all the due respect to the legend. So, I am gonna have to put him at No. 5.” (h/t SportsKeeda)

    St-Pierre went back into retirement following his win over Bisping at UFC 217. He teased a potential matchup with Khabib Nurmagomedov in recent years, but the fight never materialized.

    Cejudo has the chance to prove his ranking of himself if he’s able to become a three-division champion. For now, it’s unclear if he’ll ever return to the cage.

    What are your thoughts on Henry Cejudo’s Top-5 all-time list?

  • Israel Adesanya Names Retired Boxer As #1 Dream Matchup

    UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya would’ve loved to have tested himself against boxing legend Prince Naseem Hamed in the ring.

    Adesanya is fresh off his unanimous decision win over Robert Whittaker in their title rematch at UFC 271. Adesanya is undefeated at middleweight since signing with the UFC back in 2018.

    In addition to being one of the best fighters in the world, Adesanya is also a student of the fight game. He has followed boxing and MMA for years and has implemented skills from other legends into his repertoire.

    During a recent interview with SunSport, Adesanya named Hamed as the one fighter he would’ve wanted to go back in time and fight.

    “I would’ve liked to have fought Prince Naseem Hamed.

    Prince Naseem Hamed deserves HOF election
    Prince Naseem Hamed, Credit: AP2001

    “Just because I liked the style [he had]. His cadence, his rhythm, his showmanship. Everything.

    “So I would’ve liked to have tested myself against that guy.” (h/t The Sun)

    Hamed earned the WBO featherweight title and the WBC super-bantamweight title during his illustrious career. He retired in 2002 following his win over Manuel Calvo in front of a raucous crowd in London, UK.

    Adesanya has recently signed a new mega-deal with the UFC that is alleged to be one of the most lucrative in UFC history. He’s anticipating a return later this year – details on Israel Adesanya’s next fight.

    You can check out some of Prince Naseem Hamed’s highlights below! (h/t shaheer09shaheer)

    How do you think this fight between Israel Adesanya and Prince Naseem Hamed would’ve played out?

  • Francis Ngannou Thinks The Hype Got To Ciryl Gane Before UFC 270

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou thinks the pre-UFC 270 hype got in Ciryl Gane’s head ahead of their fight.

    Ngannou earned a unanimous decision win at UFC 270 over Gane, but it was anything but easy. Entering the cage with a significant knee injury, Ngannou didn’t use his striking as much and instead utilized his improved grappling, especially in the later rounds.

    Ngannou vs. Gane was arguably the most highly-anticipated heavyweight title clash in UFC history. While the fight itself wasn’t as much of a barn-burner as many expected, it was a technical showcase from both fighters.

    The pre-fight hype included the relationship between Ngannou and his former MMA Factory head coach, Fernand Lopez, along with his past sparring sessions with Gane. Many believed Gane had the perfect skillset to dethrone Ngannou, especially on the feet.

    During a recent Q+A on his YouTube channel, Ngannou spoke about what he thinks went wrong for Gane at UFC 270.

    “The weak spot, I hoped that before the fight was that he’d really listen and believe to what they were saying in the media,” Ngannou said. “He did believe everything in the media was saying at some point, and that’s why even at the press conference or at the faceoff face-to-face, I’m like ‘I really like you, don’t just let this get in your mind’. Not only for this fight, because what would’ve happened if he won this fight? Then they would keep telling him the same thing until he face the same situation with somebody.”

    Gane has hinted that he hopes Ngannou will stay with the UFC long-term so that he can get a potential rematch in the future. Ngannou is expected to miss a majority of 2022 after undergoing surgery on his injured knee.

    In the meantime, the UFC could potentially schedule another interim title fight later this year. Gane could win a pair of fights and work his way back to potential vengeance against Ngannou.

    What do you think is next for Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane?

  • Colby Covington Open To Adesanya Matchup After Masvidal Fight

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington is open to a shot at middleweight champion Israel Adesanya after a win at UFC 272.

    Covington is slated to face his former friend and teammate Jorge Masvidal in a grudge match at UFC 272. The headliner has been a highly anticipated matchup for months and a fight that the fans have wanted for a long time.

    Covington and Masvidal have both lost to UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman twice, which makes their respective prospects for another title run a bit questionable. Covington in particular has teased competing at multiple weight classes in the past.

    Those ambitions remain. During a recent interview with Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole, Covington hinted at what could be next for him following UFC 272, including a matchup with Adesanya.

    “I’m not opposed to going up to 185 and beating up Stylebender,” Covington said. “That guy, he’s not a well-rounded fighter. He can’t keep up with my pace. I know I can take him down and drown him. So there’s a lot of options for me out there.”

    Covington has also expressed a profound interest in a third fight with Usman along with a potential matchup with another former teammate of his in Dustin Poirier.

    Adesanya earned the middleweight title over Robert Whittaker at UFC 243 before earning dominant wins over Paulo Costa and Marvin Vettori. He rematched Whittaker at UFC 271 and won the bout via a unanimous decision.

    First thing’s first for Covington. He and Masvidal have gone at it on social media for years and will settle their beef in the Octagon at UFC 272. Depending on how it plays out, a matchup with Adesanya may not be outside of the realm of possibility.

    Who do you want Colby Covington to face after UFC 272?

  • Shogun Rua vs. Ovince St. Preux 2 Targeted For UFC 274

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua will make his return to the cage later this year against Ovince St. Preux.

    The fight booking was first reported by MMA journalist Marcel Dorff.

    Rua has previously stated that he intends on fighting at least two more times before calling it a career. The 40-year-old last fought against Paul Craig at UFC 255, losing via second-round knockout.

    Rua earned the UFC light heavyweight title after defeating Lyoto Machida at UFC 113. He would go on to lose the belt to Jon Jones in his first title defense at UFC 128.

    St. Preux has spent time at light heavyweight and heavyweight since losing in an interim title fight against Jones at UFC 197. He has lost three of his last four fights in the cage, including most recently against heavyweight contender Tanner Boser last June.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CaamnpSMws7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    St. Preux and Rua have previously battled in the Octagon in their tenures with the promotion. St. Preux knocked out Rua in just 34 seconds in a UFC Fight Night event in late 2014.

    St. Preux went on to earn dominant wins over Patrick Cummins and Rafael Cavalcante before losing to Jones for the interim light heavyweight belt.

    Both Rua and St. Preux are looking to get back in the win column before their respective careers come to a close. UFC 274 will be headlined by a lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje.

    What is your prediction for Shogun Rua vs. Ovince St. Preux?

  • Green Says The “Real” UFC Vegas 49 Test Isn’t Beating Makhachev

    UFC lightweight Bobby Green says beating Islam Makhachev at UFC Vegas 49 isn’t the only challenge on his mind this weekend.

    Green will step up on short notice for the injured Beneil Dariush to face Makhachev in the UFC Vegas 49 main event. This comes just weeks after he defeated Nasrat Haqparast via a unanimous decision at UFC 271.

    Green has proven to not be afraid to speak his mind, especially when it comes to his opponents. He’s a brash trash talker inside the cage and has made some of his recent opponents look foolish with his showmanship.

    During his UFC Vegas 49 pre-fight press conference, Green gave an honest assessment on how he views Makhachev’s skillset inside the Octagon.

    “With Islam, he does what he does,” Green said. “But to be honest, it’s kinda boring. Even when he’s getting finishes, it’s still been boring. And so my whole thing is entertainment, excitement. So he can be championship material, but it’s just fuckin’ boring. Nobody wants to see it Nobody cares. I fall asleep watching his fights. And then it’s like, ‘Oh, there’s the finish.’ So they can show a bunch of finishes, which is cool. But it was sleeping, it was boring, it was lackluster.”

    Islam Makhachev Thiago Moises
    (via Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

    Green went on to elaborate and hint that he prides himself on putting on signature performances, not just earning monumental victories.

    “So that’s the real test: is making somebody that boring exciting. How can I do that? Can I do that? Can I pull that one out of my ass? Let me see what I can do. I think I can do it.”

    Despite Green’s confidence, he’s seen as a significant underdog against Makhachev. However, some highly recognized MMA personalities have touted the idea of not ruling out an upset by Green.

    The winner of the UFC Vegas 49 headliner could quite possibly emerge as the top lightweight title contender and could face the Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje winner later this year.

    What is your prediction for Bobby Green vs. Islam Makhachev?

  • Jan Blachowicz Applies For “Legendary Polish Power” Trademark

    The term “Legendary Polish Power” is now exclusive to former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz.

    Blachowicz was slated to face Aleksandar Rakic next month but pulled out due to an injury. The matchup is expected to be rescheduled for later this year.

    Blachowicz has kept busy in his personal life after losing the belt to Glover Teixeira at UFC 267. He appears as motivated as ever to reclaim the light heavyweight throne and is having some fun in the process.

    One element that has made Blachowicz particularly unique in MMA circles is his incredible power with his standup. He has showcased the ability to end the fight with one punch, as illustrated by finishes over Luke Rockhold and Dominick Reyes.

    In a recent tweet, Blachowicz shared to his fans that he has trademarked the phrase “Legendary Polish Power” for his use alone.

    “It’s official. #LegendaryPolishPower #LegendarnaPolskaSila,” Blachowicz shared.

    Blachowicz’s legend rose to new heights after dismantling middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in a super fight at UFC 259. In a bout in which many counted him out as an underdog, he controlled the pace of the fight from start to finish and mauled Adesanya with his grappling.

    Despite the loss to Teixeira, Blachowicz appears in good spirits ahead of his UFC return. He’s looking to get back in the light heavyweight title picture if he can get past a top contender in Rakic.

    Do you think Jan Blachowicz will get the UFC light heavyweight title back in 2022?

  • Jon Jones Shares Emotions After Fiancée Split & “Embarrassing” Video

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has provided an update on how he’s dealing with the split from his fiancée.

    Jones posted on his social media earlier this week that he and his long-time fiancée, Jessie Moses, have recently called it quits. This comes just months after Jones’ alleged battery domestic violence incident with her at a Las Vegas hotel.

    Jones was also arrested that night on vehicle tampering charges for headbutting the hood of a police vehicle. He recently plead no contest to the battery domestic violence charges in exchange for having them dismissed and paying for the vehicle damage.

    It’s not yet clear what officially ended the partnership, but one can deduce that the incident in September may have been the icing on the cake.

    Jones updated his followers on his wellbeing in a series of recent tweets. He began by addressing the bodycam footage of his arrest in Las Vegas, which was made public this week.

    https://twitter.com/JonnyBones/status/1496904521691267072?s=20&t=zDD5HKbReQX-6fuHAzMTOw

    “Lol, I was hoping that video got lost in some files somewhere,” Jones said.

    After one fan checked in on him in a Twitter reply, he elaborated on his overall mood and where he intends to go from here.

    https://twitter.com/JonnyBones/status/1496910253778030592?s=20&t=zDD5HKbReQX-6fuHAzMTOw

    “I can deal with embarrassment, it’s the loneliness that gets me,” Jones admitted. “Taking things one day at a time.”

    Jones addressed his haters following his announced split from his fiance, hinting that they may be celebrating his recent missteps. He sounded optimistic when approached with the topic.

    https://twitter.com/JonnyBones/status/1496914031495434243?s=20&t=PAuQgHvkzLJFDRbxnSaR3w

    “No way my guy, the story is far from over,” Jones replied to a fan. “I’m wise enough to know that we all go through seasons in life. I’ve had many great ones and several bad ones. I’m excited for the next one, about to be heavyweight champion of the world, capable of so many things, loved.”

    Jones is planning a return to the Octagon in 2022 as he prepares for his heavyweight debut. He’s recently hinted at a fight with the “heavyweight GOAT” Stipe Miocic, although nothing is in motion just yet.

    UFC President Dana White and the rest of the brass have yet to comment publicly on the bodycam footage and the development in Jones’ family life.

    What is your reaction to Jon Jones’ downfall?

  • Bobby Green To Beneil Dariush: “We’re Even Now”

    UFC lightweight Bobby Green is happy to fill in for Beneil Dariush at UFC Vegas 49 after Dariush stepped up for him earlier in their careers.

    Green is set to face rising lightweight contender Islam Makhachev in the UFC Vegas 49 main event. Green most recently earned a unanimous decision win over Nasrat Harparast just days ago at UFC 271.

    Dariush pulled out of his originally scheduled main event bout with Makhachev after suffering an injury in his training camp. The UFC quickly moved to find a replacement, with Green raising his hand without hesitation.

    During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Green sent Dariush a message after stepping up for him on short notice.

    “Dariush filled in for me for a fight where I got hurt,” Green said. “So Dariush, heal up, get better, I got your back. You filled in for me, now I filled in for you. We’re even.”

    Green is likely referring to when he and Dariush were supposed to square off at UFC 222 in 2018 before Green pulled out with an injury. Dariush would stay on the card and face Alexander Hernandez, suffering a first-round knockout.

    UFC 222 results: Alexander Hernandez shocks Beneil Dariush with first round knockout
    Getty Images

    Green has won back-to-back fights over Haqparast and former lightweight title challenger Al Iaquinta after suffering defeats to Rafael Fiziev and Thiago Moises. He made his UFC debut against Jacob Volkmann back at UFC 156.

    Before suffering an injury, Dariush appeared to be on the verge of a title shot in the lightweight division. He has won seven straight including recent dominant wins over Tony Ferguson and Scott Holtzman.

    It’s unclear how long Dariush will be sidelined as he recovers from his injury. But for now, Green is ready and willing to fill the void and help save the UFC Vegas 49 card.

    What is your prediction for Bobby Green vs. Islam Makhachev?

  • Korean Zombie Plans To Pick Ortega’s Brains Ahead Of Volkanovski Fight

    UFC featherweight contender Chan Sung Jung, otherwise known as ‘The Korean Zombie, plans to utilize his old rival for Alexander Volkanovski.

    Jung has been training at the growing Fight Ready gym in Arizona, alongside former UFC champions such as Jon Jones and Henry Cejudo. He has also come across Brian Ortega, a former rival of his who recently fell to Volkanovski at UFC 266.

    Jung will step up and fight Volkanovski in substitute of Max Holloway, who pulled out of UFC 273 just days after it was first announced. This will be Jung’s second title shot after falling to José Aldo at UFC 163.

    Jung plans to use all resources he can to prepare for arguably the biggest fight of his career against Volkanovski. During a recent interview with The Schmo, Jung hinted at working with Ortega in the lead up to his fight with Volkanovski.

    “I’d love to pick his brain a little bit,” Jung said. “I know he went back to California yesterday, so I’m looking for him to come back so we can talk about it a little more.”

    Jung earned the next title shot after winning three of his last four fights in the Octagon. He most recently put on a dominant performance against Dan Ige last June after falling to Ortega in a lopsided defeat.

    Volkanovski earned the title over Holloway at UFC 245 before defending it against him at UFC 251. The rematch was controversial, and some believe Holloway deserved to get the win on the scorecards.

    Regardless, Jung will get the next featherweight title shot and an opportunity to become the first Korean-born UFC champion. He’ll look to shock the world at UFC 273, with potentially the help of his former adversary Ortega.

    What is your prediction for The Korean Zombie vs. Alexander Volkanovski?

  • Jorge Masvidal Explains Why Beating Covington Must Mean Title Shot

    UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal thinks a win over former American Top Team teammate Colby Covington will earn him a title shot.

    Masvidal will face his friend-turned-foe Covington in the main event of UFC 272. The two top welterweights will settle their ongoing beef in the Octagon in a matchup set for five rounds.

    Masvidal and Covington are both looking to get back into the welterweight title picture after losses to Kamaru Usman. Covington most recently fell to Usman via unanimous decision at UFC 268, and Masvidal is coming off back-to-back losses to Usman at UFC 251 and UFC 261.

    Masvidal and Covington’s chances at another shot at Usman appear to be on life support after falling short in multiple opportunities. But during a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Masvidal sounded optimistic about what a win over Covington would do for his title shot odds.

    “He’s got the number-one ranking, so it’s gotta do something, right?” Masvidal said. “Because those rankings, as much bullshit that I think they are, he does have the number one. So there’s no denying me. If I’m number one, there’s no denying me, and that’s it. What has to happen has to happen.”

    Masvidal was supposed to face Leon Edwards at UFC 269 before pulling out with an injury. He is fully recovered from his injury and appears ready to potentially make another run at the belt in 2022.

    Before his back-to-back losses to Usman, Masvidal earned finishes over Ben Askren and Darren Till, along with a doctor’s stoppage win over Nate Diaz. He remains one of the UFC’s biggest stars and will look to capitalize on another main event opportunity at UFC 272.

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

  • Jędrzejczyk Responds To Notion She Should Accept An “Easy Fight”

    Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk is ready to return to the title picture and not take a tune-up fight for her 2022 debut.

    Jędrzejczyk has been inactive since UFC 248 in early 2020 when she lost in a split decision to then-strawweight champion Zhang Weili. Before that, she had won two of her previous three to get back into the thick of things in the strawweight division.

    Some fans may believe that the two-year layoff that Jędrzejczyk has taken from the Octagon may be to her detriment. But she remains as poised and confident as ever ahead of her planned return to the cage later this year.

    During a recent interview with MMA journalist Helen Yee, Jędrzejczyk explained why she doesn’t see a point in taking a fight against a less experienced opponent.

    “People are like, ‘Oh, you should get an easy fight.’ There’s no easy fights in the UFC, especially this whole sport,” Jędrzejczyk said. “And the strawweight division, the women’s division is growing up. So the fight is a pleasure. And the hardest part is done so many weeks before, and it’s the training. So I never train easy. I always train hard…so I prefer to get the big fight and the money fight, and (I’m) patiently waiting, preparing here. And I will just be getting stronger and better.”

    As for who Jędrzejczyk will face in her Octagon return, that remains unclear. Jędrzejczyk recently claimed that she had been offered a world title fight but opted not to sit out for the required time.

    A rematch with Zhang Weili would certainly make sense for both women. Following her win over Jędrzejczyk, Weili went on to lose back-to-back fights to Rose Namajunas in 2021.

    Who do you want to see Joanna Jędrzejczyk fight in her return to the cage?

  • Miesha Tate Wins Celebrity Big Brother Reality TV Show

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Miesha Tate can now claim that she is now a champion of a major reality television show.

    Tate was named the winner of Celebrity Big Brother, a Survivor-style show where various celebrities spend time in a house and compete in various competitions. Tate was considered the frontrunner after winning the opening Head of Household, the role who controls who gets evicted and kicked off the show.

    Tate could be seen training MMA and exercising during the show as she gets ready for her return to the Octagon. She’ll return later this year at a May UFC Fight Night event in her flyweight debut against Lauren Murphy.

    Tate would win a grand prize of $250,000 for winning this season of the show.

    Tate’s last appearance on a reality television show came as a coach on Season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter opposite Ronda Rousey. The two bantamweight rivals would face off at the end of the season, with Rousey winning by submission.

    Tate most recently lost to Ketlen Vieira back in November, her second fight back after returning from retirement. Upon her return to the cage, she earned a dominant win over Marion Reneau.

    Who do you want to see Miesha Tate fight next?

  • Triller Purchases Majority Stake In Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship

    Bare Knuckle FC President David Feldman has announced that Triller has purchased a majority stake in his promotion.

    Feldman announced the news during a recent interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour (h/t MMA Fighting).

    “We grew this thing to a point where we thought that we got it as far as we could take it by ourselves right now,” Feldman said of BKFC. “We’ve overcome so many obstacles and so many people telling us no and, ‘this will never happen, you’ll never make it work.’ And we got to a point where we’re pretty well accepted among the combat sports community right now, and we needed to make a partnership that was going to take us to the next level, create more opportunities, more resources, more funding, more things like that to acquire some more fighters, take care of the fighters that are already there, and just create more opportunities for everybody.

    “So we have entered into an agreement to have the majority stake of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship be acquired by Triller Verzuz. So Triller will acquire the majority stake in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, like I said, to allow more opportunities, more resources, more funding, just everything that we really need to vie for that No. 1, No. 2 spot in combat sports.”

    BKFC has most recently hosted their KnuckleMania 2 event, featuring a matchup between former UFC fighter Mike Perry and former The Ultimate Fighter standout Julian Lane. Other former UFC fighters such as Paige VanZant and Chad Mendes have also signed with the promotion.

    Triller expanded into fight promotion back in 2020, with their first event featuring a boxing exhibition between legends Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. Former UFC champions Anderson Silva and Tito Ortiz have also competed for Triller in recent months.

    What is your reaction to the BKFC-Triller ownership merge?

  • Brock Lesnar Reveals What He Asked Dana White Before MMA Debut

    UFC President Dana White gave former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar his own makeshift Octagon to get ready for his MMA transition.

    Lesnar last fought in MMA at UFC 200, earning a decision win over Mark Hunt that was later overturned to a no-contest. This was after Lesnar tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in a pre-fight test.

    But Lesnar’s MMA career included arguably the best start in the sport’s history. After a professional debut win against Min Soo Kim in K-1 Hero’s, he would win four of his first five fights in the UFC including his heavyweight title win over Randy Couture at UFC 91.

    Lesnar would go on to defend the title against Frank Mir and Shane Carwin before losing it to Cain Velasquez.

    Lesnar made his transition to MMA after a long tenure in professional wrestling. He continues to be a massive star in the WWE, and it wasn’t an easy move to MMA for him.

    During a recent interview on The Pat McAfee Show, Lesnar told a story about the lengths he went to become physically and mentally ready for his UFC debut.

    “Like when you go through the door… I built or ordered an Octagon so I could, didn’t have at first, like, jitters of getting in an Octagon,” Lesnar admitted. “I’m like, ‘Dana, I want an Octagon’ and like, ah boom, [the UFC] shipped an Octagon. So I can fight in it and practice in it, you know? But then you’re in front of 20,000 people and they shut the door and it’s like, ‘Ahhh’.”

    “Boom, then it took off. I fought Heath Herring and then I got Randy Couture and won the belt.” (h/t The Sun)

    While Lesnar has alluded to his cordial relationship with White, he has admitted that he feels he should’ve been compensated more for his efforts. This comes amidst current UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou’s call for a better pay structure for fighters.

    Lesnar continues to be a prominent figure in the WWE and can be seen competing in the promotion’s Monday Night Raw shows, among others.

    Where would you rank Brock Lesnar amongst the best all-time UFC heavyweights?

  • MMA Fighter Royce White To Run For Congress Against Ilhan Omar

    LFA fighter and former NCAA Basketball standout Royce White will run against Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar in the upcoming election.

    White, a former first-round NBA draft pick of the Houston Rockets, left Basketball in 2014 and transitioned into an MMA fighter. He made his professional debut at LFA 120, losing via unanimous decision to Daiqwon Buckley.

    White didn’t make clear if he’s running under a specific political party or as an independent candidate. He’s reportedly spoken out in favor of former presidential advisor Steve Bannon and former U.S. President Donald J. Trump in a series of posts on his Substack page.

    White has also been seen at various protests in Minnesota after the shooting deaths of Daunte Wright and George Floyd, a few police incidents that have captivated the nation in recent years.

    This is White’s first attempt at achieving political office. He announced his candidacy on his social media.

    “I’m a fifth-generation Minnesotan and a product of the Twin Cities,” White said. “But, first and foremost, I’m an American,” White says in a video he posted to Twitter Tuesday morning. “I’m running for Congress because our leaders have sold us out.” (h/t CBS Minnesota)

    It is unclear if White’s MMA career was a one-off or if he intends on returning to fighting should he fall short in his candidacy.

    Do you think Royce White can defeat Ilhan Omar in the upcoming election?

  • Colby Covington Roasts Jon Jones After Fiancée Allegedly Leaves Him

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington jabbed Jon Jones after Jones announced on his Twitter that his fiancée had recently left him.

    Covington is set to face former friend and teammate Jorge Masvidal in the UFC 272 main event. It’s arguably one of the biggest fights of 2022 and is a grudge match that fans have waited for a long time to see play out.

    Jones hinted that his now allegedly former fiancée, Jessie Moses, has recently split with him. This comes just a few months after Jones was accused of battery domestic violence just hours following his UFC Hall of Fame ceremony in Las Vegas.

    Bodycam footage has been published of Jones’ arrest, which shows a disturbing scene with Jones headbutting a police vehicle.

    After Jones announced to his “haters” that he and his fiance had split, Covington took the opportunity to blast his former college roommate.

    “Tremendous news,” Covington said of the alleged split. “Guess you finally knocked some sense into her, [Jon Jones].”

    Covington and Jones have had a tumultuous relationship over the years and have blasted each other on social media. Jones also has accused Covington of being a “pathological liar” and overblowing their time as roommates at Iowa Central Community College.

    Jones is anticipating a UFC return in 2022 at heavyweight, nearly two years after vacating the light heavyweight title. He hasn’t fought since his win over Dominick Reyes at UFC 247.

    Covington has fully embraced his role as a heel in MMA circles, but even by his standards, he may have taken things a bit too far with these latest remarks.

    Do you think Colby Covington took things too far with these comments about Jon Jones and Jessie Moses?

  • Beneil Dariush Updates On Broken Fibula After UFC Vegas 49 Pullout

    UFC lightweight contender Beneil Dariush may not require surgery on his broken fibula after all, which could speed up his timetable for a return.

    Dariush had to pull out of his originally scheduled main event against Islam Makhachev at UFC Vegas 49 just days before the fight. The severity of Dariush’s injury was somewhat unclear after the news broke, but he recently provided an update to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.

    While Dariush opting to move towards physical therapy instead of surgery may be a risky move, it could potentially speed up his return to the cage. Dariush has won seven straight, including most recently against Tony Ferguson at UFC 262.

    Many saw Dariush’s fight against Makhachev as a potential No. 1 lightweight contender bout. Makhachev has also been on a lengthy winning streak and is viewed as one of the top grapplers in MMA today.

    Shortly after news of Dariush’s withdrawal broke, Bobby Green volunteered to step in and fight Makhachev in his first career UFC main event. Green most recently competed at UFC 271 and earned a unanimous decision win against Nasrat Haqparast.

    Dariush could still conceivably undergo surgery with a change of heart and if any potential setbacks occur, but for now he appears focused on a swift return to the lightweight title picture.

    Who do you want Beneil Dariush to face in his eventual return to the UFC?

  • Jamahal Hill Decides He Wants To “Make An Example” Out Of Oezdemir

    UFC light heavyweight contender Jamahal Hill knows he has at least one more doubter to silence as he continues to rise in the rankings.

    Hill earned arguably the most gruesome knockout of his career against Johnny Walker at UFC Vegas 48. After taking his time to find his rhythm on the feet, he landed a big right hand that sent Walker collapsing to the mat halfway through the first round.

    Hill has rebounded in a big way since his first UFC loss to Paul Craig at UFC 263. Before his knockout win over Walker, he finished Jimmy Crute in just 48 seconds last December.

    Hill used his UFC Vegas 48 post-fight interview to address the doubters of his skillset. After getting word of Hill’s comments, Oezdemir pointed out that he remains a doubter following Hill’s main event win.

    During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Hill addressed Oezdemir’s tweet and whether or not he’ll be his next opponent in the cage.

    “I’ve already said it, bro, as long as I got the say-so, he’s next,” Hill said. “Just for the simple fact that what I’m here to do, I can’t have people speaking out. If you gonna speak my name, you better be sure. You better be sure. And he spoke it, and I’m going to go out and make an example of him.”

    Hill earned a spot amongst the top 10 UFC light heavyweights after his recent wins and could potentially face Oezdemir next. After back-to-back losses to Magomed Ankalaev and Jiří Procházka, Oezdemir has slipped to No. 8 in the latest light heavyweight rankings.

    Hill has proven to not walk away from a challenge or a fight and seems intent on addressing Oezdemir’s questions. If a fight between them ends up happening next, fans can expect quite the hostility in the buildup.

    Do you want to see Jamahal Hill vs. Volkan Oezdemir next?