MMA News

Author: Curtis Calhoun

  • Bisping & Schaub Tout Bobby Green As Live Underdog Against Makhachev

    Former UFC fighters Michael Bisping and Brendan Schaub think fans shouldn’t count out Bobby Green against Islam Makhachev.

    Green will step up for his second fight in the same amount of weeks against Makhachev in the UFC Vegas 49 main event. He most recently defeated Nasrat Haqparast with his impressive boxing and movement at UFC 271.

    Green got the call from the UFC to help save the UFC Vegas 49 card after Beneil Dariush suffered a significant injury in camp. While many have praised Green for being game for the short-notice challenge, few fans believe he has a legitimate shot at the elite grappler Makhachev.

    But Bisping and Schaub are proud to be part of that minority. They not only believe that Green can surprise a lot of people against the -900 favorited Makhachev but could also leave Las Vegas with the upset win.

    Michael Bisping Explains Why Bobby Green Has A Reasonable Chance To Pull Off An Upset

    Michael Bisping
    (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Bisping alluded to Green’s underrated ground game as a reason to not rule out an upset at UFC Vegas 49.

    “For Bobby Green to step up, I mean, what an opportunity,” Bisping said. “And by the way, let’s be honest, Bobby can win this fight. On the feet, Bobby is way better, simple as that. Islam can strike, of course. He’s not a one-trick pony. He’s not just a wrestler, right? But he’s nowhere near as fast as Bobby Green. He’s nowhere near as slick. He hasn’t got the footwork, either, that Bobby has. Now, when it comes to wrestling and jiu-jitsu, I’ll give Islam the edge there. He’s better. He’s better in that regard, but you’ve got to get (Green) down.

    “One thing we know about Bobby Green is the sprawl. He has a beautiful sprawl. He also has really, really good takedowns. I doubt he’s going to use these. In this fight, it wouldn’t be smart to take down Islam. That’s just going into his world, giving him what he wants. So Bobby needs to stay on the feet, try and put Islam on the back foot, but be careful that when he goes forward, Islam doesn’t shoot underneath. Obviously he’s going to get taken down. Look at what Islam did against Dan Hooker.” (h/t MMA Junkie)

    Makhachev is arguably one of the top grapplers in the UFC, as evidenced by his most recent first-round submission of Dan Hooker at UFC 267. He has won nine in a row and could be on the verge of a lightweight title shot.

    Brendan Schaub Also Likes The Idea Of Picking An Upset At UFC Vegas 49

    Brendan Schaub
    Image Credit: Desiree Navarro/WireImage via Getty Images

    Schaub, like Bisping, also believes that picking Green may not be an unwise choice. He explained why in a recent episode of The Schaub Show.

    “It’s not a bad idea taking a chance on Bobby Green if you have some extra cash to f*ck around with. It’s not a terrible bet. It’s hard to plan for, short notice, huge underdog, main event. He’s an experienced fighter, very explosive, hard, hard to train for. So we’ll see.

    “I would assume Makhachev tries to take him down early on to take away and nullify that XFactor that is Bobby Green. He gets him down early on, tries to break him, wears him out, nullify that kind of XFactor. Makhachev is an absolute monster when it comes to that.” (h/t BJPenn)

    If Green can shock the world and stop the Makhachev hype train, he’ll no doubt emerge as a top contender in the lightweight division. As for Makhachev, he’s looking to keep his winning streak intact and potentially earn the winner of Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje for the belt.

    Do you think Bobby Green has a chance against Islam Makhachev on short notice?

  • Joanna Jędrzejczyk Convinced Ex-Teammate Nunes Will Regain BW Title

    Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk thinks her former teammate Amanda Nunes won’t be a title challenger for long.

    Nunes is without a second belt for the first time in a long time after losing to Julianna Peña at UFC 269. She still holds the women’s featherweight title, but it’s unclear if and when she’ll defend it this year.

    Nunes and Peña will square off in an immediate rematch later this year after facing off as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter.

    One storyline that has been building with Nunes has been her recent departure from her longtime gym American Top Team. She recently opted to leave the team to focus on a private setting for her to train.

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, Jędrzejczyk was asked about Nunes’ chances in a rematch with Pena and if her departure from ATT may have anything to do with the result.

    “I’m not looking (to make the story deeper than it is). And that’s it,” Jędrzejczyk said. “I made a similar decision a few years ago when I came (to American Top Team). It was her choice. She’s the champion, champion in two different divisions—in one now, but I really believe in her that she will be back to holding two belts in two different weight classes because she’s a beast.”

    When asked to elaborate on Nunes’ decision to leave ATT, Jędrzejczyk expressed empathy and understanding behind Nunes’ decision-making process.

    “And it was her choice. This level, you have to do what’s right for you and how you feel. And it’s not only about getting the best partners (and) training (in) the best facility. But it’s all about getting the good vibe and keep the balance. Because the mental preparation is as much important as the physical or even more important.”

    Nunes will have the opportunity to get her belt back later this year in a rematch against Peña. As for Jędrzejczyk, she’s in a similar position as her former teammate as she works to return to the Octagon in 2022.

    Do you think Amanda Nunes will get her bantamweight title back?

  • Paige VanZant Details First Meeting With “Mega Star” Conor McGregor

    Former UFC fighter Paige VanZant knew right away that Conor McGregor was going to be special in MMA from the first time they met.

    McGregor is anticipating a return to the Octagon later this year after suffering a nasty leg break at UFC 264 against Dustin Poirier. It’s unclear who he’ll face in his return, but a few names including Michael Chandler have thrown their name into the conversation.

    McGregor is arguably the biggest and most important star in the history of the UFC, dating back to his promotional debut win over Marcus Brimage in 2013. He has earned multiple world titles with the promotion and topped Forbes’ highest-paid athletes list in 2021.

    VanZant plans to visit McGregor’s Black Forge Inn pub while in Ireland as her husband, Austin Vanderford, faces Gegard Mousasi in the Bellator 275 headliner in Dublin. During a recent Q+A session on her Instagram page, she spoke about the first time she came face-to-face with the Irish superstar.

    “I remember meeting him and telling my dad he was a fight genius and that he was going to be a mega-star,” VanZant said. “That is like No.1 on our list of things to do in Ireland. I know [Austin’s] dad, his step-dad, and my dad are all extremely excited to go to Conor McGregor ’s bar.” (h/t Mirror)

    VanZant was let go by the UFC in 2020 following losses in three of her last four fights with the promotion. She has since signed with Bare Knuckle FC and has yet to earn her first win in the ring, falling to Britain Hart and Rachael Ostovich.

    Like VanZant, McGregor is looking to get back in the win column after losses in three of his last four appearances. His lone win since 2018 came against Donald Cerrone at welterweight at UFC 246.

    What was your first impression of Conor McGregor?

  • Dustin Poirier Details When Colby Covington Changed Ahead Of ATT Split

    Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier saw a change in Colby Covington once “Chaos” started finding success in the UFC.

    Covington is slated to face Jorge Masvidal in the main event of UFC 272 next month. It is a welterweight grudge match between two former friends and former American Top Team teammates and a fight that fans have wanted for a long time.

    Covington and Masvidal are both looking to get back in the win column after losses to welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. A win could propel one of them back into the title picture at 170 pounds.

    One of the biggest storylines of the Covington/Masvidal beef is when Covington split with ATT to join MMA Masters in south Florida. He was allegedly kicked out of the gym after several near-brawls broke out over time between Covington and multiple members of the team, including Masvidal.

    During a recent guest fighter interview at UFC 271, Poirier detailed what would eventually lead to Covington’s withdrawal from ATT.

    “He was winning fights in the UFC, and he started getting that shtick,” Poirier said. “He was winning fights, but he wasn’t getting the attention. Then, he kinda started switching. And at the beginning of it, it was kinda funny, kinda cool. But there was a point where he started believing all that craziness and started being that person. And that’s when things started changing.”

    Poirier and Covington used to be on friendly terms during their early days at ATT. When asked before about a potential fight against Covington, Poirier shut down the idea despite months of trash talk aimed at Poirier.

    Poirier most recently fell to UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 and is pondering his next move. He has previously teased a potential move up to welterweight and a fight against his longtime adversary Nate Diaz.

    The Covington/ATT beef doesn’t appear to be letting up anytime soon, and fans shouldn’t expect pleasantries between Covington and Poirier should they run into each other leading up to UFC 272 fight week.

    What is your take on the way Colby Covington carries himself?

  • Report: Paul Daley/Andrey Koreshkov In The Works For Bellator London

    A Bellator welterweight showdown between the retiring Paul Daley and rising contender Andrey Koreshkov is in the works for Bellator London.

    News of the booking was reported by MMA journalist Michael Martin.

    Daley has recently said in an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour that he intends to retire after one more fight in the Bellator cage. He most recently lost to Jason Jackson at Bellator 260 after winning three in a row.

    The Bellator London card is scheduled to take place at The SSE Arena on May 13.

    Koreshkov is just days removed from his first-round knockout over Chance Rencountre at Bellator 274. He landed a heavy spinning back kick before finishing the fight with a flurry of ground-and-pound punches.

    Koreshkov hasn’t lost since his controversial split decision defeat to Lorenz Larkin at Bellator 229.

    Daley looked to be back in the welterweight title picture in Bellator after back-to-back wins over Saad Awad and Erick Silva in 2019. He followed it up with an impressive knockout over Sabah Homasi before the loss to Jackson.

    Daley made his Bellator debut back in 2015 at Bellator 134, earning a unanimous decision win over Andre Santos. This was after he received a lifetime ban from the UFC for sucker-punching Josh Koscheck at UFC 113.

    The Bellator London card will be headlined by a welterweight title fight between the champion Yaroslav Amosov against Michael Venom Page. If Koreshkov can get past Daley, he may move one step closer to a potential title shot in 2022.

    What is your prediction for Paul Daley vs. Andrey Koreshkov?

  • Jan Blachowicz Shares The “Secret” Behind His Adesanya Win

    Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jan Blachowicz has teased what made him get the better of Israel Adesanya at UFC 259.

    Blachowicz earned a dominant win over Adesanya at UFC 259, which was Adesanya’s first and only defeat in the Octagon. He has risen to stardom at middleweight despite falling short of double-champion status against Blachowicz.

    A lot has changed since Blachowicz and Adesanya went to battle last year. Blachowicz went on to lose the title stunningly to Glover Teixeira at UFC 267, while Adesanya has defended his belt against Marvin Vettori and most recently against Robert Whittaker.

    Despite being the light heavyweight titleholder in their matchup, some fans saw Blachowicz as the underdog against Adesanya. During a recent interview with Sportsnaut, Blachowicz explained what made his approach to Adesanya different than his other opponents.

    “It was because I’m Jan Blachowicz, they are not,” Blachowicz said. “This is the biggest difference. In this fight, I took my legendary Polish power with me. That’s it. This is the secret, legendary Polish power. If I don’t forget it in the hotel room I beat everybody. If I forget it, not.”

    Adesanya hasn’t ruled out another attempt at light heavyweight after losing to Blachowicz. He’s also been at odds with another former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones after a series of social media banter.

    Blachowicz was supposed to face Aleksandar Rakic next month but had to withdraw due to an injury. The matchup is expected to be rescheduled for later this year.

    If Blachowicz is victorious against Rakic and reclaims the light heavyweight throne, a rematch against Adesanya could be on the table. This would allow Adesanya to get vengeance at 205 pounds.

    What did you make of the Jan Blachowicz vs. Israel Adesanya matchup?

  • Michael Bisping On Joe Rogan Fill: “Not Looking To Take Anyone’s Job”

    UFC analyst and former middleweight champion Michael Bisping has heard the critics of his fill-in for Joe Rogan at the desk at UFC 271.

    Bisping was on the call with play-by-play broadcaster Jon Anik and color commentator Daniel Cormier for the recent UFC 271 pay-per-view in Houston, TX. One notable absence from the event was Rogan, who has been marred by controversy in recent weeks.

    Fans were divided on Bisping’s performance at the commentary desk, with some accusing him of showing bias and not replacing Rogan adequately. Bisping has commentated UFC Fight Night events but has been rarely seen for pay-per-view broadcasts.

    During a recent Q+A session on his YouTube channel, Bisping addressed his critics and whether or not he would return to work pay-per-views in the future should he be needed.

    “Well, considering all the backlash from all the motherfuckers out there, probably not. They’re probably like, ‘Whoa, we gave him a try. He was fuking awful. He was biased.’ Nah. I don’t know. We’ll see. We’ll see because I was only filling in for Joe Rogan; so, probably not. Joe will more than likely be back on the next one. So, therefore, I will not. I don’t wanna take anyone’s job. And you know what? I like enjoying the pay-per-views as a fan. Now, don’t get me wrong. The best seat in the house is literally right there, working the shows.

    “If nobody can make it and they need somebody to fill in, I would be absolutely over the moon to do so. But I don’t want to take anyone’s job.” (h/t SportsKeeda)

    It was initially reported that Rogan would miss UFC 271 due to a “scheduling conflict”, which was later shut down by UFC president Dana White. After Rogan stepped away from his usual post just days before the event, Bisping filled in on short notice to help boost the commentary team.

    While Rogan wasn’t present at the event, some fans chanted “We Want Rogan” throughout the fights. Bisping appears to be unbothered by the unwavering support for Rogan by his fans.

    It’s not 100% clear whether or not Rogan’s absence will be long-term or short-term ahead of the UFC 272 pay-per-view next month. If Rogan opts to once again step aside, Bisping could get the call to fill once again.

    What were your thoughts on Michael Bisping’s commentary at UFC 271?

  • Bobby Green Claims BMF Status After Dariush Fill-In Vs. Makhachev

    UFC lightweight contender Bobby Green knows taking a short-notice fight against Islam Makhachev is risky, but he’s ready for the challenge.

    Green was just days removed from his win over Nasrat Harparast at UFC 271 when he got the call to fill in against Makhachev at UFC Vegas 49. This was after Beneil Dariush had to withdraw from the Feb. 26 headliner due to an injury in camp.

    Welterweight star Jorge Masvidal won the promotion’s first, and likely only, BMF title over Nate Diaz at UFC 244. Green thinks his name should be included in the discussion for the hypothetical BMF champion of the 155-pound division.

    In a recent Instagram post, Green hinted that he deserves to be considered the BMF champion of the lightweight division after taking a tough fight against Makhachev in a quick turnaround.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CaFi6j5p8rD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “If they had one for the lightweight division,” Green said in the caption.

    Green has won two in a row after back-to-back losses to Rafael Fiziev and Thiago Moises. He got back on track with a gruesome knockout over Al Iaquinta at UFC 268 before earning an impressive win over Haqparast.

    Green will face a tough challenge in Makhachev, who is arguably a tough matchup for most lightweights even with a full camp. Makhachev has won nine in a row including most recently over Dan Hooker at UFC 267.

    Many have commended Green for taking the short-notice bout against Makhachev, but some doubt he has what it takes to stop Makhachev’s streak. However, if he’s able to pull off the upset, there won’t be many critics who will doubt his rhetorical BMF lightweight status.

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

  • Quote: Gregor Gillespie Could’ve Beaten Khabib Nurmagomedov

    Chael Sonnen thinks Gregor Gillespie could’ve gotten the upper hand against former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in the Octagon.

    Gillespie’s lone defeat in his MMA career came by way of a head kick against Kevin Lee at UFC 244. Outside of that, he has mauled all of his opponents, including most recently Diego Ferreira last May.

    Gillespie’s always been known to have a grappling-first style when it comes to fighting. Sonnen believes this could’ve challenged Nurmagomedov as he made his rise in the lightweight division and his tenure as the champion.

    During a segment on his YouTube channel, Sonnen explained why he believes Gillespie could’ve beaten Nurmagomedov while both were competing in the UFC.

    “When I would have private conversations… people would ask me all the time, is there anyone that could beat Khabib. Who’s the guy that can stop Khabib and in private conversations I would say we actually have a guy now,” Sonnen said. “He’s 11-0, he’s a national wrestling champion, nobody’s ever come close to taking him down, he’s taken absolutely everybody down, oh, and by the way, he can hold up.

    Gregor Gillespie | UFC
    A victorious Gregor Gillespie, Image Credit: UFC.com

    “One thing that Khabib could do was push a pace that was much higher than what the opponent could push back. (Gregor) made his living getting people tired. That’s how highly I personally think of him. Now in all fairness, I did not do that publicly but the reason I didn’t do that publicly was you didn’t know what a Gregor Gillespie was.” (h/t PunditArena)

    Gillespie’s loss to Lee knocked him out of the lightweight title picture, and he’s still hoping to get back in the thick of things at 155 pounds. He’s allegedly had trouble finding a next opponent, but he recently called out former interim champ Tony Ferguson for a fight.

    Nurmagomedov left the fight game in 2020 after the death of his father, Abdulmanap. His last fight in the Octagon came against Justin Gaethje in a second-round submission.

    Sonnen is never afraid to speak his mind, but many might classify this as a “hot take.” Nurmagomedov retired as arguably the best UFC fighter of all time while Gillespie is still finding traction in his UFC run.

    Do you agree with Chael Sonnen?

  • Jim Miller Intrigued By Idea Of Main Event Fight Vs. Joe Lauzon

    UFC veteran Jim Miller wouldn’t mind running it back one more time with Joe Lauzon before their careers come to a close.

    Miller earned a dominant win over Nikolas Motta at UFC Vegas 48 via second-round TKO. The victory put him in a tie with Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone for most UFC wins by a single fighter.

    Miller has now won back-to-back fights after 14 years in the Octagon, dating back to his debut win against David Baron at UFC 89. Leading up to UFC Vegas 48, he dismantled an up-and-coming Erick Gonzalez with a brutal knockout last October.

    Miller and Lauzon are two of the most veteran fighters in the promotion and have gone to battle twice before. Both men are arguably in the twilight of their careers and their days in the cage may be numbered.

    UFC Vancouver Adds Jim Miller vs. Joe Lauzon II
    Jim Miller vs. Joe Lauzon II, Image Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

    During his UFC Vegas 48 post-fight press conference, Miller named Lauzon as a possible next opponent and likes the idea of their trilogy taking place in a main event.

    “No—I mean, you’ve got Lauzon and Cerrone fighting again, and I don’t know what the plans are after that,” Miller said. “I mean, they’re both guys I’ve shared time in the Octagon with, and it’s like, ‘hey, I’ve got two against Joe, and do you go and do it again?’ Fuck yeah, we’ll do it again. I love that guy. If we could sell it, and main event a small card or something like that—because we’re two old guys that have been around for a while— then let’s do it and get the main event bonus. And a guy like Cerrone, another one, I’ve got a ton of respect for him, and if he wants to do it, let’s do it.”

    Miller and Lauzon last fought against one another at a UFC Fight Night event in 2016, with Miller earning a controversial split decision win. It was a close fight that divided fans as to who came out as the victor.

    Their first fight took place at UFC 155 with Miller earning a unanimous decision win.

    Lauzon is slated to face Cerrone at UFC 274 later this year. It’s unclear what the interest would be from Lauzon regarding a trilogy with Miller, but it could help bring clarity to the matchup of two of the most seasoned athletes in UFC history.

    Who do you want Jim Miller to face next?

  • Johnny Walker Addresses Fans Following Violent Knockout Loss

    UFC light heavyweight contender Johnny Walker has spoken out for the first time since his knockout loss to Jamahal Hill at UFC Vegas 48.

    Walker has now lost four of his last five fights after the brutal knockout to Hill in his second-straight UFC main event. He had lost to former title challenger Thiago Santos in his last outing via a unanimous decision.

    Walker and Hill slugged it out in the opening minutes of the fight before Hill caught Walker with a massive right hand that sent Walker falling backward and onto the canvas below. Hill has rebounded with back-to-back wins since his first UFC loss to Paul Craig.

    In a recent Instagram post, Walker updated his fans on his health following the loss and where he plans to go from here.

    “I’m OK,” Walker said. “Just a little cut. I (go to) sleep in the fight, so something happened wrong.

    “Let’s eat and be happy. And let’s go to the next one.”

    Walker made his UFC debut against Khalil Rountree in 2018 following his appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series. He began his UFC career with three-straight wins over the likes of Rountree, Justin Ledet, and Misha Cirkunov.

    But things have taken a different turn for Walker since his last winning streak. He has suffered lopsided defeats at the hands of Nikita Krylov and Corey Anderson before bouncing back with a win over Ryan Spann.

    At 29 years old, Walker still has plenty of time to get back on track in his UFC tenure. However, it’ll take a lot for him to work out of his series of recent struggles inside the cage.

    What do you think is next for Johnny Walker’s UFC career?

  • Ngannou Stands 100% Behind Jake Paul’s Calls For Better Fighter Pay

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou believes that Jake Paul’s promotion of better fighter pay is legitimate and not an act.

    Ngannou is fresh off his win over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in his first title defense as a UFC champion. But he is expected to miss a significant amount of time due to a lingering knee injury he suffered in his training leading up to the fight.

    Ngannou has continued to push for the UFC to change its current pay scale model amidst tense contract negotiations. It remains unclear whether or not Ngannou and the UFC brass will end up coming to terms on a new deal.

    One of most vocal presences in the fighter pay conversation has been Paul, who has gone at it with UFC President Dana White regarding how the promotion treats its roster. The controversial YouTuber turned boxer has previously offered to sign a one-fight deal with the UFC if the brass promises to add benefits such as long-term healthcare.

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Ngannou addressed Paul’s comments in support of giving UFC fighters more incentives away from the cage.

    “I follow all those stuff and I am aware of what’s happening,” Ngannou said. “You know Paul has his own way of communicating, which is a little bit different. Maybe not the same way as I will. But in the meantime, I can’t blame him. I’m 100 percent with him for what he says.

    “When he claimed for fighter healthcare, I am 100 percent down with that. He claimed for fighter pay increase, I’m a 1000 percent down for that. So the fighters are not protected, they are all out there on their own and nobody look up to them… They are putting their body on the line for something. At least [give them] healthcare.” (h/t SportsKeeda)

    One of Ngannou’s biggest gripes with the promotion has been the lack of freedom fighters like him have when it comes to pursuing other avenues. This includes boxing, where Ngannou has gone back-and-forth on social media with heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

    Ngannou admitted during a recent interview that Paul’s management reached out to him to inquire about his interest in boxing. The UFC then allegedly threatened legal action against his manager for being in contact with Paul’s team.

    But not all UFC fighters agree with Ngannou. Some veterans such as Sam Alvey have called Paul’s interest in UFC fighter pay “fake” and an effort to promote himself.

    It’s unclear if and when Ngannou will return to the Octagon, but in the meantime, he’ll continue to voice his displeasure in how fighters are compensated for their efforts in the cage.

    What are your thoughts on Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul’s calls for better UFC fighter pay and treatment?

  • Maycee Barber: Modafferi Chose Favorable O’Neill Fight Over Rematch

    UFC flyweight Maycee Barber wishes Roxanne Modafferi wouldn’t have retired before a potential rematch against her.

    Barber is set to face Montana De La Rosa at an upcoming UFC Fight Night event on April 23. She got back in the win column with a decision win over Miranda Maverick in her last fight at UFC Vegas 32.

    Barber’s first setback in the UFC came against Modafferi at UFC 246, as she lost the fight via unanimous decision and suffered a gruesome leg injury. She had to be carried out of the arena by her teammates following the fight’s conclusion.

    Modafferi announced her retirement before her last fight at UFC 271 against Casey O’Neill. Despite losing via a split decision, Modafferi seemed content to have her MMA career come to a close.

    During an exclusive interview with MMA News’ James Lynch, Barber expressed some frustration regarding Modafferi’s opponent choice for her retirement fight.

    “I meant to make a post to congratulate Roxy on a great career,” Barber said. “Obviously as a fighter who fought her, and busted my knee up, I tried to get that fight back and asked for it back. But she was at the last fight of her career and she definitely wanted one that was gonna be in her favor, and I completely understand that.”

    Barber went on to explain why the Modafferi rematch being off the table going forward is a bit of a nuisance.

    “Yeah, I mean, part of you is like, as a fighter, it sounds like a loss. But at the same time, I know how that fight went out (against Modafferi). So it’s not like one, you know, if you go out and get beat down and you lose on a healthy body, and you’re like, ‘Dang, I lost, I wanna get that back.’ I know I was compromised and I know where my heart was and how my body was. Honestly, that was her fight to win. Good for her. I’m not gonna lose sleep over it.”

    The loss to O’Neill was Modafferi’s third straight on her way out of the sport. She last won against Andrea Lee last September via unanimous decision.

    Barber is looking to be a mainstay in the flyweight division for years to come, similar to her former rival Modafferi. She’ll look to continue her momentum later this year as she gets ready to make her 2022 debut.

    How do you think Maycee Barber will perform in 2022?

  • UFC Veteran Blasts “Clown” Jake Paul For Fake Fighter-Pay Interest

    UFC veteran Sam Alvey isn’t buying what Jake Paul is selling when it comes to the controversial issue of fighter pay.

    Paul has been a vocal critic of UFC President Dana White regarding how fighters on the roster are treated. He has also offered to sign a one-fight deal to fight in the UFC if certain demands are met by White and the promotion, which includes providing health insurance for athletes.

    Paul is coming off an eventful 2021 in which he continued his undefeated streak in boxing. He earned back-to-back wins over former UFC champion Tyron Woodley and also knocked out former Bellator champion Ben Askren.

    In addition to his actions inside the ring, Paul has taken it to the UFC outside of it. He has also accused White of using cocaine with the two sides claiming that the other has dodged challenges.

    During a recent interview with Full Mount MMA, Alvey explained why he thinks Paul’s promotion of better fighter pay isn’t legitimate.

    “Jake Paul is a clown and he is not trying to help fighter pay, he is trying to help himself,” Alvey said. “Every fight sells when you either want to see somebody win or see somebody get knocked out. Jake Paul has figured out that everyone wants to see him get knocked out so he wants to try and switch that narrative… and so he goes after the low-hanging fruit that sounds great to everyone, ‘pay fighters more’… If UFC, Dana White, any of those guys were to do what Jake Paul is asking, he wouldn’t get us paid more, he would eliminate the roster of the UFC. We would go from a roster of what 800 to down to 75.” (h/t SportsKeeda)

    Paul has called out UFC fighters Nate Diaz, Conor McGregor, and Jorge Masvidal for fights in the ring. However, all three are still under contract with the UFC and will likely not be allowed to fight Paul anytime soon.

    Paul continues to put the heat on White and the UFC brass to enact change in how fighters are compensated. But some fighters such as Alvey don’t believe Paul is someone to be taken seriously.

    Do you agree with Sam Alvey?

  • Israel Adesanya Grills Whittaker On How He Thinks He Won Rematch

    UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya isn’t happy with how Robert Whittaker has handled the aftermath of their rematch at UFC 271.

    Adesanya earned a unanimous decision victory over Whittaker in their main event rematch at UFC 271. It was a back-and-forth competitive fight, but Adesanya earned the win on the judges’ scorecards.

    Despite the final result, some fans along with Whittaker himself had the fight scored the other way. Whittaker admitted he felt he won the fight during his post-fight press conference.

    Adesanya had a similar situation happen with another of his previous opponents, Marvin Vettori. During their post-UFC 263 banter, Vettori claimed that he felt he won the fight over Adesanya.

    During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Adesanya compared how Whittaker and Vettori handled their losses.

    “He and Vettori are sippin’ the same wine that Costa was sippin’,” Adesanya said.

    Adesanya went on to claim that he allegedly heard Whittaker’s team having the opposite opinion mid-fight.

    “But yeah, everyone’s entitled to their opinion. I’m not gonna try to change their opinion. But from what I’ve heard, his corner was telling him in the corner, like, ‘You’re losing this fight. You need to step up.’ That’s what I’ve heard. How the fuck you gonna think you won when your corner’s telling you you’re losing the fight?”

    Israel Adesanya Is Expected To Face Jared Cannonier Next

    Israel Adesanya’s next fight might be against Jared Cannonier later this year. Cannonier earned a gruesome knockout win over Derek Brunson on the UFC 271 main card, setting up a showdown for the middleweight title.

    Adesanya has previously expressed interest in a fight with Cannonier, and it appears that it’ll finally come to fruition. Before the win over Brunson, Cannonier had earned big wins over the likes of Jack Hermansson and Kelvin Gastelum.

    For now, it appears that any hope of a third fight between Adesanya and Whittaker is on hold. Whittaker will need to go on another win streak to potentially earn a third chance at Adesanya.

    How did you score Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker 2?

  • Sonnen Urges Floyd Mayweather To Pay Paul Before FBI Involvement

    Chael Sonnen thinks Floyd Mayweather should speed up the process of paying Logan Paul his fair share after their exhibition.

    Mayweather and Paul competed in a boxing exhibition in Miami, FL last year. It was one of the most-watched boxing events of 2021, despite a formal winner not being declared.

    The bout between Mayweather and Paul wasn’t officially sanctioned due to the large physical discrepancy between the two of them. The result of the bout was left in the eyes and minds of the viewers.

    While Mayweather and Paul seemed to be on amicable terms just minutes after their fight, that has appeared to have fizzled over. Paul has reportedly threatened legal action against Mayweather over an alleged failed payout.

    Mayweather has since responded to the allegations during a recent podcast appearance, citing that the issue has to do with pay-per-view revenue.

    During a recent segment on his YouTube channel, Sonnen addressed the ongoing drama between Mayweather and Paul.

    “I know some of you (who) got the little TMT shirts think that The Money Team’s a real business. It’s not,” Sonnen said of Mayweather. “It’s a bank account that goes one way: Money comes in. They do not have a team. They do not have a staff. They do not have a lease. They do not have obligations. They don’t have debt to service. It’s not a real company. He signed a contract with (The Money Team). That’s a big problem. Big problem for Floyd if he received funds, and he did. And he converted those funds to his own, which it appears that he did.

    “So this story is going to be ongoing. But if you are Team Floyd, you’re gonna wanna lawyer up real fast, you’re gonna wanna get a hold of their representation. Before the FB gets called in to look at this, you’re gonna wanna make a deal, and you’re gonna want to pay Logan Paul.”

    Mayweather hasn’t competed in professional boxing since his win over former UFC champion Conor McGregor in 2017. He remains adamant about staying retired despite calls for him to return to the ring.

    Paul has hinted at a return to boxing in 2022 against fellow YouTube sensation Whindersson Nunes. It’s unclear how the Mayweather/Paul drama will end up playing out in the coming weeks and months.

    What are your thoughts on the Floyd Mayweather/Logan Paul drama?

  • Strickland Wants To “Sodomize” Self-Defense Guru Dale Brown In Brawl

    UFC middleweight contender Sean Strickland isn’t a fan of the internet sensation and self-defense guru Dale Brown.

    Strickland is fresh off his win over Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 47. He appears to be just one step away from a middleweight title shot following the victory and could get a No. 1 contender fight next.

    But the added success inside the cage hasn’t tampered Strickland’s ferocity outside of it.

    Brown has accumulated a large following on social media due to his unique self-defense instructional videos. He’ll also reportedly be in Joaquin Buckley’s corner during his fight against Abdul Razak Alhassan at UFC Vegas 48.

    During a recent Instagram post, Strickland called out Brown for a fight should they run into each other while Brown is in Las Vegas.

    “This Detroit tactical guy, he’s in fucking Vegas,” Strickland said. “I don’t really have anything against him besides he’s a fucking fraud, He’s probably a big, old fucking pussy.

    “But that being said, I want to be proved wrong. I want to think you’re a fucking ninja. I want you to disarm me and kick my ass. So I will make you an offer. Cause I think you’re a fucking fraud. Monday, come to the gym. We could fucking spar. We could use plastic knives. We could use real fucking knives. I guarantee I will fucking sodomize you with whatever you pick.

    “You should man the fuck up and show everybody you’re such a fucking bad-ass, but you’re probably going to be a pussy and ignore this. So continue to be a fraud, get people killed.” (h/t MiddleEasy)

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CaGxn2olNF8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    UFC fighters such as Kevin Holland and Derek Brunson have criticized Strickland for how he handles himself in and out of the Octagon. Strickland also published a nearly violent road rage incident on social media just months ago and also said that he would take pleasure in killing someone in the cage.

    Brown has yet to respond to Strickland’s video, and it’s unknown if he’ll take him up on the offer to fight while he’s in Las Vegas.

    Who do you want to see Sean Strickland fight next?

  • Report: Russian MMA Fighter Competes One Day After Being Shot

    Kazakhstan MMA fighter Bagdat Dyusembaev was shot in the chest just hours before his scheduled fight and was still able to compete.

    The incident happened on Wednesday at an MMA gym in Moscow, RU near where Dyusembaev was scheduled to fight in the co-main event of Hardcore Fighting Championships 22 on Thursday.

    According to local news outlets, Dyusembaev was shot in the chest after getting into an altercation with a security guard outside of the gym. It’s unclear what led up to the altercation and what caused shots to be fired.

    Dyusembaev was rushed to a local hospital shortly afterward but remarkably was still able to compete against his scheduled opponent Mikhail Avakyan, losing via TKO in the second round, according to Sherdog and Tapology. However, this has not yet been confirmed by the promotion.

    Dyusembaev was looking to get his first professional win after falling to 0-2 in his young career. He has competed twice before in Hardcore FC and fights at middleweight.

    Dyusembaev had also fought and lost in an exhibition against Danila Volkov via a unanimous decision at Hardcore FC 8 last September. He is still looking to get in the win column and remarkably was somehow able to fight after suffering a gunshot wound just hours earlier.

    What is your reaction to this wild story?

  • Jimmy Crute To Miss Rest Of 2022 Due To Knee Reconstruction

    UFC light heavyweight Jimmy Crute’s 2022 in the cage will end before it even began due to a necessary knee reconstruction operation.

    Crute announced the news on his Instagram page.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ-t8BIPwLg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “Absolutely gutted to announce that I will be out for the rest of the year,” Crute said. “I need a knee [reconstruction]. I have been putting this off for years but I have sustained too much damage over the last few fights and it has finally come to the point that if I don’t get it fixed it could turn into a career ending injury. I am obviously very disappointed but at the same time a challenge like this is also exciting. It gives me 9+ months to work on other aspects of training and life and come back 100% refreshed and injury free. Thank you all for the continued support. I’m not going anywhere and the Bendigo express is still in full motion.”

    Crute has lost back-to-back fights to Anthony Smith and Jamahal Hill over the past year. His loss to Smith at UFC 261 was due to a doctor’s stoppage after injuring his left leg. It’s unclear if the reconstruction is on the same leg that Crute injured.

    Crute’s loss to Hill at UFC Vegas 44 came by knockout in just 48 seconds.

    Crute had once been touted as one of the top light heavyweight prospects in the UFC following wins over the likes of Michal Oleksiejczuk and Paul Craig. He earned a shot in the promotion after an impressive first-round knockout over Chris Birchler on Dana White’s Contender Series.

    For now, Crute will look ahead to 2023 and work to bounce back in a big way in the Octagon. At 25 years old, he has plenty of time to get back on track in his UFC career.

    What is your reaction to Jimmy Crute missing all of 2022?

  • Report: Joe Rogan’s Spotify Deal $200 Million, More Than First Reported

    Podcaster and UFC commentator Joe Rogan got paid more than first reported to bring his The Joe Rogan Experience podcast to Spotify.

    Rogan signed what was originally reported to be a $100 million deal to stream his podcast on Spotify. But according to a new report by The New York Times, this is half of what he’s actually earning from the platform.

    A pair of anonymous sources told The Times that Rogan is making roughly $200 million to stream his podcast on Spotify, with the possibility of more. The deal covers three and a half years, dating to when he first signed the original deal in May 2020.

    Rogan has been under fire in recent weeks regarding his views on the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines, along with a viral compilation video with him using a racial slur. Spotify has elected to keep him on the platform despite calls for him to be removed, such as from musical artists like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell.

    Rogan was also notably absent from the UFC 271 commentary team, for a reason which is still unclear. After it was originally reported as a “scheduling conflict”, UFC president Dana White downplayed it and said that it was Rogan’s choice not to attend.

    While Rogan’s podcast has skyrocketed Spotify to the top of the streaming world, the podcast’s tenure with Spotify hasn’t come without controversy. He’s been accused of spreading alleged misinformation regarding the pandemic and more specifically, vaccines and vaccine side effects.

    Rogan has yet to respond publically to the latest report from The New York Times.

    What is your reaction to Joe Rogan’s massive Spotify deal?

  • Renato Moicano Wants Bobby Green For Main Event Fight This Year

    UFC lightweight Renato Moicano wants a shot at Bobby Green following their respective wins at UFC 271 last weekend.

    Moicano earned a dominant win over Alexander Hernandez shortly after Green put on a striking showcase against Nasrat Haqparast. Both men are right in the thick of things in the lightweight division following their performances at UFC 271.

    Some, including UFC commentator Jon Anik, have called for Green to get a main event slot at an upcoming Fight Night event.

    Yesterday, we learned that Anik and Bobby Green fans will get their wish when Green faces Islam Makhachev on February 26. Prior to that bout being announced, Moicano wanted to be Green’s first main event opponent.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Moicano spoke about what could be next in his UFC career and liked the idea of a fight with Green.

    “I don’t know, let’s see what the UFC has to offer,” Moicano said. “I heard some people are asking for a main event for Bobby Green. Maybe it’s good if we do a Fight Night. I have a lot of respect for Bobby Green. On the same day, he put on a great performance, so did I. He deserves a main event. If he goes to do a main event, I want to be there and fight, promote the fight, get the fans excited about that. But let’s see what the UFC has to offer. Let’s put some guys with action like boxing versus Jiu-Jitsu. I can strike too, it’ll be a fun fight, five rounds and the fans will enjoy.”

    Moicano has now won three of his last four in the Octagon following back-to-back featherweight losses to José Aldo and Chan Sung Jung. He made the move to lightweight in 2020 with his lone defeat in the division coming against rising contender Rafael Fiziev.

    Moicano has been known for his strong grappling base, but his striking has improved in a big way in recent outings. This could make a matchup with Green particularly entertaining for the fans.

    If Green defeats Makhachev on February 26, though, Green would almost surely be looking very high up the lightweight ranks for his next fight. If he loses, a defeat suffered to Makhachev is not exactly anything to hang one’s head over or damage one’s athletic reputation, so there’s a good chance Moicano’s offer would still stand to face Green next.

    Do you want to see Renato Moicano vs. Bobby Green in 2022?

  • Anthony Pettis Opens Up On Struggles In His First PFL Season

    Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis didn’t have the ideal start to the new chapter of his MMA career in the PFL in 2021.

    Pettis signed with the PFL last year after a long tenure in the UFC, which included a reign as the lightweight king. He would go on to lose the belt at UFC 185 before up-and-down runs at featherweight and welterweight.

    Pettis was seen as arguably the biggest acquisition by the league in recent years. Many believed he would be the favorite to earn the league’s lightweight championship in his first season, but it wasn’t to be.

    Pettis went winless in his rookie season with the PFL, falling to Clay Collard in the season opener before a controversial split decision loss to Raush Manfio at PFL 6. He would fail to qualify for the postseason after being regarded as the title favorite in some circles.

    As Pettis gets ready for a potential bounceback in 2022 in the PFL, he’s still reflecting on what went wrong last year. During a recent interview with MMA Island, Pettis opened up on his first season with the league.

    “I didn’t know what to expect last year in the PFL, honestly,” Pettis said. “You know I was coming over from a format of the UFC, of we would fight, take our time off, heal our injuries and then call somebody out, get the next fight, have a camp, sometimes have a quick short-notice fight that would be like the worst-case scenario. But like the PFL format and the season is probably one of the hardest formats of fighting there is. You know, fighting every eight weeks is the fight.”

    Anthony Pettis Reflects On Losses & Pressure Of First PFL Year

    PFL 6 results: Anthony Pettis loses again, Kayla Harrison extends unbeaten record to 10-0 - Bloody Elbow
    Anthony Pettis, Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

    Pettis’ loss to Collard was a shocking upset in many eyes. He was knocked down multiple times in the fight and seemed to struggle to get anything going with his striking. Pettis said his first fight set him back in the lightweight division.

    “Like the first fight I went out there and fought Clay Collard; I had a horrible performance from the way the cage felt it was like I never fought on canvas, for I mean—I haven’t fought on vinyl in a long time where I was used to fight on canvas,” Pettis admitted. “Every kick I threw, I was slipping. I was falling down, so it was like a lot of adjustments after that first fight where I was like, all right I only have eight weeks to change this fighting style to make it work for this style for fighting in this cage and this floor, so I worked on my boxing for the second half of the season.

    “I had a great close fight with the champ Raush Manfio. I thought I won that fight, but obviously, he got it. He got his million bucks. I’m not a hater. Congrats to him, but for me, it’s like I know how good I am and where I’m at and I’ve seen he’s the champion and seen how our fights went, I’m right there. I just got to make small adjustments, and I think the experience from last season is going to definitely help me out with this season.” 

    Pettis went on to admit that he felt the pressure of being a big-name fighter entering a new promotion.

    “There was a lot of pressure too,” Pettis said. “It’s weird because like you know even being a vet where I’m at in the fights that I fought in there was a lot of pressure going to a new organization and they were like expecting, well I felt like they’re expecting that show to come out and I put a lot of pressure on myself to fight that way. This time around I’m like yo that one out of the system, let’s have this season to win and not to perform if you will.”

    Pettis will be joined by Manfio, Collard, and former UFC fighter Jeremy Stephens during the 2022 lightweight season. He defeated Jeremy Stephens via split decision at UFC 136 as he made his run to the belt.

    Pettis is looking to remind fight fans of how dominant he can be in the cage when he’s at his best. While some may be writing off Pettis already, he’s looking to silence the doubters in the upcoming season.

    What are your predictions for Anthony Pettis in 2022?

  • Luke Rockhold Suggests Drug Usage To Blame For Strickland’s Remarks

    It’s safe to say that former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold isn’t a fan of Sean Strickland’s antics.

    Rockhold is working towards a return to the UFC in 2022, nearly three years after his last fight against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 239. He has alluded to a move back to middleweight after falling flat in his light heavyweight debut.

    Rockhold was supposed to face Strickland at UFC 268 to wrap up 2021, but Rockhold pulled out with an injury. Strickland was removed from the card and instead fought and defeated Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 47.

    Tensions flared when Strickland threatened Rockhold on his social media pages, going as far as to promise a fight with Rockhold if the two ever met in a parking lot.

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Rockhold made his opinion of Strickland as clear as can be.

    “I don’t have a lot of respect for the man, what that man says; I don’t think anybody does,” Rockhold said. “I don’t think he really knows what he’s talking about. When you’ve done that many drugs, I don’t know if things really come out clearly. I don’t know if there’s much of a thorough process to what he does. I think why he’s so effective is he doesn’t think, he doesn’t know. He just fights with stupidity. It actually benefits him to a certain extent.”

    Rockhold has previously said that Strickland is “stupid but effective” when it comes to his brash approach to fighting. Rockhold has fought and defeated some of the best ever in the middleweight division, including Chris Weidman and Lyoto Machida.

    Following his win over Hermansson, Strickland appears to be knocking on the door for a potential middleweight title shot. He could earn a No. 1 contender fight next or a possible showdown with his adversary Rockhold.

    What are your thoughts on Sean Strickland?

  • Poirier Details Reason Behind Oliveira Charity Donation Misunderstanding

    Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has cleared the air regarding the donation issue with Charles Oliveira following UFC 269.

    Just minutes after getting submitted by Oliveira for the lightweight title, Poirier and Oliveira embraced and Poirier promised to donate $20,000 to a charity of Oliveira’s choice.

    But a few weeks after the initial donation promise, Oliveira revealed that he hadn’t received it and some began to question whether or not Poirier’s promise was legitimate.

    During a recent interview with InsideFighting, Poirier provided clarity regarding the situation and said the initial confusion has been resolved.

    “So, I ended up getting in touch with Charles and his team,” Poirier said. “We had some back and forth, talking about where the money was gonna go. Right after the fight, he had sent me his personal banking information. I was like, ‘I have a non-profit, I can’t directly deposit $20,000 from my non-profit into your bank account.’ I’m sure the translation, he was probably using a translator to text me back, that’s how we were speaking, on WhatsApp. All the stuff probably got mixed up, maybe, when I asked him about where the money would go and he sent his personal info.

    “Now we got it resolved. So he’s looking for a charity and we’re also speaking to the UFC, the Brazilian department of the UFC, and we’re working with them. So $20,000’s going to somewhere.”

    Poirier’s defeat to Oliveira was his second shot at the lightweight title after losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242. He would go on to earn back-to-back wins over Conor McGregor along with a unanimous decision win over Dan Hooker.

    Poirier has hinted at a potential move to welterweight to face his adversary Nate Diaz. Formal negotiations haven’t materialized regarding a fight but both sides have expressed a profound interest in the matchup.

    As for Oliveira, he will defend his lightweight title against Justin Gaethje later this year at UFC 274. It appears that any potential tension between him and Poirier regarding the promised donation to charity has diminished.

    Who do you want to see Dustin Poirier fight next?

  • Adrian Yanez’s Twitter Hacked, Fans Scammed By Fake Giveaway

    UFC fighter Adrian Yanez suffered a Twitter hacking earlier this week, resulting in many fans getting financially scammed in a fake giveaway.

    It all started when a post from Yanez’s accounts allegedly posted a giveaway of a PlayStation 5 gaming console and a glove. This prompted many fans to message the account and provide the Yanez imposter with banking information to enter the giveaway.

    After fans would provide their banking information, the imposter would block them from accessing and contacting Yanez’s account.

    One Twitter user going by Rudy Sanchez called out the scam on social media, prompting many fans to question the validity of the giveaway and Yanez’s recent posts.

    “Please don’t fall for the PS5 and glove!” Sanchez said. “This is a scam, people are really out here getting [scammed] left and right. Adrian Yanez got hacked on [Twitter] and Instagram.”

    Shortly after many fans complained about getting scammed, Yanez spoke out on his Twitter after getting his account back.

    “My Twitter was hacked yesterday,” Yanez said. “I didn’t get access til just a moment ago. If you’ve gotten scammed, please reach out to your bank immediately and dispute the transaction.”

    All of the giveaway posts from Yanez’s Twitter and Instagram accounts have been deleted and Yanez has recovered both pages.

    Yanez has a 15-3 professional MMA record and has impressed many UFC fans since his time on Dana White’s Contender Series. After successfully earning a UFC contract, he would go on to win four fights in a row over the likes of Davey Grant and Randy Costa.

    Yanez is arguably one of the most intriguing UFC bantamweight prospects entering 2022 and has been linked to a potential fight with Sean O’Malley. This goes back to when O’Malley called him out on social media last November.

    Coincidentally, UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling was hacked as well this week, but it’s unclear if it was by the same culprit.

    “I’m sorry for anyone that was DM’d from me,” Sterling said. “I was hacked like a JV superstar. I got played and didn’t realize the fake email, being half asleep after training. I hope no one bought anything from that scammer! Let my tweets continue to attack [Petr].”

    Yanez and Sterling aren’t the only ones to have their social media accounts hacked. UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman was infamously hacked back in 2020, with the account sending various threats.

    Has your social media ever been hacked?