MMA News

Author: Curtis Calhoun

  • Kayla Harrison Tired Of Free Agency Process: “I’m Ready To Fight”

    Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison is ready to be done with the business aspect of fighting and focus solely on competing and training.

    It’s reportedly been a wild ride for Harrison during her first experience with free agency on a massive scale. She was originally reported to be close to re-signing with the PFL, but the door has reopened due to a recent alleged roadblock in negotiations.

    After also admitting that the UFC’s offer to sign her was a case of bad timing, the biggest platform in MMA doesn’t seem completely out of the running. Harrison has also teased a potential fight against UFC Bantamweight Champion Julianna PeƱa.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Harrison was blunt when asked about the status of her free agency and speculation regarding her next move.

    ā€œIā€™m getting real sick of it at this point,” Harrison said. “I canā€™t comment on where Iā€™m going or what Iā€™m doing, but I can comment that Iā€™m getting real sick of it. So whoever wants me, Iā€™m ready to fight. Iā€™m ready to sign on the dotted line, get a contract, get a fight booked. Iā€™m tired of talking about it. Iā€™d like to find either a new home or Iā€™d like to talk to PFL and continue to make them my home. But Iā€™d like to get this done sooner rather than later.ā€

    Harrison went on to elaborate on the ups and downs that come with the free agency process and the pressures that come with it.

    Kayla Harrison
    Kayla Harrison, Image Credit: Gregory Payan/Associated Press

    ā€œI mean, at first, it was kinda fun. You know, you go to the dances, you go get wined and dinedā€¦you feel special, everyoneā€™s interested in you, youā€™re the new kid. But at this point, I know the fans are sick of it, I know the media is sick of it, Iā€™m sick of it,” Harrison admitted. “I know the promotions are all like, ā€˜Where the hell is she going? Letā€™s figure this out.ā€™ And I know that patience is a virtue and itā€™s something that I sorely lack. But at this point, I would really justā€”I already had to take a year off almost from fighting because of COVID, so I donā€™t want to waste any time, you know? Iā€™m here for a good time, not a long time. I want to get back in there and keep getting better.ā€

    Harrison capped off another dominant season in the PFL with a win over Taylor Guardado at the 2021 PFL Championships. She also earned first-round finishes over Genah Fabian, Cindy Dandois, and Mariana Morais in the PFL cage.

    Harrison has competed at lightweight for virtually her entire MMA career except for a featherweight bout against Courtney King in Invicta FC. While it’s unclear where she’ll compete next in MMA, she appears ready to focus on the fighting part of the fight game.

    Who do you want Kayla Harrison to sign with in free agency?

  • Coach Debunks Rogan’s Theory Of Adesanya Breaking Hand At UFC 271

    Israel Adesanya’s head coach Eugene Bareman has shut down Joe Rogan’s in-fight assessment that the UFC champion broke his hand at UFC 271.

    Adesanya earned a unanimous decision win over former champion Robert Whittaker in the UFC 271 main event. He utilized an efficient striking attack to out-pace Whittaker, especially in the later rounds.

    Eyebrows were raised when Rogan texted play-by-play commentator Jon Anik in the middle of the broadcast that he thought Adesanya had broken his right hand. Adesanya appeared to curl his right hand and not be as active with it as the fight went on.

    During a recent interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Bareman clarified Adesanya’s reasoning for the inactivity with his right hand.

    “No, that’s more to do with something that happened in Rounds 2 through 4, trying to get that right-hand side going,” Bareman said. “But for whatever reason, Robert was making Israel a little anxious to throw not just the right hand but the right side in terms of the leg going a little bit. [Israel] said not just the right side in terms of the upper body moving, but there was a block there that [Israel] tried to mitigate [his] way through each round. But for whatever reason, [he] wasn’t able to successfully get that right hand going the way we wanted to. So it wasn’t about a broken hand or anything, it was [mental].”

    Rogan was absent from the commentary team due to an unknown conflict. It was originally reported by some outlets that it was due to a scheduling issue, but UFC President Dana White has since shut that theory down.

    Adesanya has now successfully defended his title four times since knocking out Whittaker at UFC 243. He also challenged for the light heavyweight title against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 but fell short in a decision.

    Bareman has clarified Adesanya’s health status with his hand and it sounds like the middleweight champion is still anticipating a return for some time this summer.

    Who do you want to see Israel Adesanya fight next in 2022?

  • Khabib Thinks Ngannou Should Box Fury Just For Money, Not For Sport

    Former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov thinks heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou should box Tyson Fury for the big payday.

    Ngannou has alluded to moving to boxing down the line, potentially when his current UFC deal comes to a close. He’s been at odds with the UFC brass regarding a new deal and has advocated for changing the promotion’s pay structure.

    During a recent interview with Sky Sports, Nurmagomedov gave his thoughts on the potential Fury vs. Ngannou crossover fight.

    ā€œIf they fight in the UFC yeah, Fury doesn’t have too many chances,” Nurmagomedov said. “But in boxing, I don’t see anyone even touching his faceā€”maybe Oleksandr Usyk. Usyk is going to be a tough challenge for Fury. But Ngannou? I think he has to stay with the UFC. But if he goes to boxing and he’s making 50 or 60 million dollarsā€” he has to. Why not?

    “I know Ngannou comes from a very, very poor life in Africa. He was with no money, no home, nothing. So if someone pays you more money then go and take.” (h/t The Sun)

    Nurmagomedov was reportedly offered $100 million to box Floyd Mayweather at the end of his UFC run, but he turned it down. Nurmagomedov would retire in 2020 following a win over Justin Gaethje.

    Ngannou most recently defended his UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. He suffered a significant knee injury leading up to the event and is expected to miss some time following surgery.

    Fury most recently defeated Deontay Wilder in their trilogy last year and has been in negotiations to fight Dillian Whyte next. Nevertheless, both Ngannou and Fury have traded barbs on social media and are interested in a future clash.

    Do you want to see Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou?

  • Mayweather Responds To Logan Paul’s Claims Of Not Being Paid For Fight

    Boxing Hall of Famer Floyd Mayweather has responded to Logan Paul’s lawsuit threat and claims that he has failed to pay him for their exhibition.

    Mayweather and Paul went toe-to-toe in the boxing ring last summer in an exhibition bout, with the fight going the full distance. The fight wasn’t sanctioned due to the notable physical discrepancy between the two boxers.

    Despite the two controversial personalities seeming to end their fight on respectful terms, things have taken a drastic turn in recent weeks. Paul has alleged that Mayweather has failed to pay him the full amount owed for their boxing match.

    Paul has gone as far as threatening lawsuits, although nothing has been filed just yet. During a recent appearance on The Pivot Podcast, Mayweather responded to the latest Paul fiasco (h/t The Sun).

    ā€œThis comes with the territory,” Mayweather said. “To them, thatā€™s real money, and I like the YouTubers. The money on the back end though, from pay-per-view, that takes a while. Nothing comes right away. Iā€™m still collecting checks from fights seven or eight years ago. They just hate when the table is turned. Be happy with the biggest payday you ever got in your life.ā€

    After Logan’s initial claim of not being paid by Mayweather, matters escalated recently when Logan’s brother, Jake, hinted that Mayweather was going to be a target of a lawsuit for allegedly not paying Logan his fair share. Logan then went on to confirm Jake’s claims in a series of interviews and social media posts.

    Paul is anticipating a return to the boxing ring later this year, potentially against fellow YouTube star Whindersson Nunes. Paul also previously hinted at a potential faceoff with UFC legend Anderson Silva in the ring.

    It appears that Logan Paul won’t be getting a check from Mayweather anytime soon, which could create more tension between the two brash personalities.

    What is your reaction to the Floyd Mayweather/Logan Paul drama?

  • Alexander Gustafsson Using Glover Teixeira As Inspiration For Return

    Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson is using Glover Teixeira as inspiration for his return at heavyweight.

    Gustafsson is set to face Ben Rothwell at a May 21 Fight Night event. He’s looking to get back in the win column after he announced his retirement following a loss to Fabricio Werdum in July 2020.

    Gustafsson is seeking vengeance at heavyweight and is looking to attempt one last potential title run before his career comes to a close. Teixeira, at 42 years old, showed that age may be just a number after he defeated Jan Blachowicz for the 205-pound belt at UFC 267.

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Gustafsson reacted to his old rival Teixeira becoming a UFC champion.

    “It’s amazing to see,” Gustafsson said of Teixeira earning a UFC title. “He’s a tough dude, man, a really tough dude. It’s very impressive. I saw the fight with [Jan Blachowicz] and he was very impressive, he’s a beast. It wasn’t only me [who beat him], he got a pretty tough beating against Jon Jones and a couple of other guys, and he just comes back. He just goes one direction, he doesn’t care. It’s impressive to see and now he has the belt. All respect to him.

    “How old is he, 40? 41? It’s amazing to see. He’s a lot of inspiration for me to see him succeed, it’s crazy to see.”

    Teixeira is set to make his first title defense as the champion against JiÅ™Ć­ ProchĆ”zka at UFC 274. He has won six-straight bouts and 7 of his last 8 since falling to Gustafsson in 2017.

    Teixeira’s win over Blachowicz was one of the most shocking moments in the UFC in 2021. After watching Teixeira finally realize a championship dream, Gustafsson is looking to replicate his success and potentially earn a title at heavyweight.

    What are your predictions for Glover Teixeira and Alexander Gustafsson in 2022?

  • Report: Brian Ortega Vs. Yair Rodriguez In The Works For TBD Date

    A showdown between top UFC featherweight contenders Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez is reportedly in the works for later this year.

    This was first reported by MMA journalist Ariel Helwani on his Substack channel.

    It’s unclear if the matchup will headline a UFC Fight Night event or if it will take place on an upcoming pay-per-view card.

    Ortega lost to UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 266 via unanimous decision. He nearly secured a submission win on numerous occasions throughout the fight but couldn’t quite pull through over five rounds of action.

    Before the loss to Volkanovski, Ortega earned a dominant win over Chan Sung Jung (otherwise known as The Korean Zombie) following a loss to former featherweight champion Max Holloway.

    Rodriguez made his return to the Octagon against Holloway at UFC Vegas 42. The two featherweights engaged in a back-and-forth clash with Holloway walking away with a decision win.

    Rodriguez had been sidelined for two years following a win over Jeremy Stephens in Oct. 2019. His absence was preceded by impressive wins over BJ Penn and Alex Caceres.

    The Ortega/Rodriguez winner could move one step closer to a title shot. Volkanovski will defend his title later this year against Jung at UFC 273.

    If the matchup comes to fruition, Ortega and Rodriguez could put on a show in their fight. They’re two of the most dangerous featherweights in the UFC who have proven to be versatile in the cage.

    What are your thoughts on the planned Brian Ortega vs. Yair Rodriguez fight?

  • Dustin Poirier Agrees With Notion Fighters Should Be Paid More

    Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has weighed in on the controversial issue regarding fighter pay.

    Poirier is coming off of a disappointing loss to UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 to wrap up 2021. Before that, he had earned back-to-back wins over Conor McGregor.

    Many fighters in the UFC, including Poirier’s teammate Jorge Masvidal, have weighed in on fighter pay. Poirier, undoubtedly one of the UFC’s biggest stars, has remained somewhat quiet on the ongoing debate.

    During a recent interview with InsideFighting, Poirier gave his thoughts on how fighters are compensated for their efforts.

    “You know, I think that the more people who do speak up, and the more it’s in the media and the press, it draws more attention to it and that’s great. I think the pay rates will continue to increase year after year. I do think we should be paid more, for sure. But you know, we sign these contracts. You’re not forced into fighting. And it’s an individual thing. For me, I’m just trying to navigate and do the best deals I can from here on. It is what it is.”

    Poirier went on to specifically point out the discrepancy between entry-level fighters and veterans.

    “Yeah, I mean, entry-level pay was even less when I first came to the UFC 11 years ago. But it might be 12 and 12 now? $12,000 to show and $12,000 to win might be like, the base starting point in the UFC, I think. You know, you go out there and win a fight, or worst-case scenario you go out there and lose, and you get $12,000; you’ve gotta pay medicals in preparation for the fightā€¦ then taxes, then your gym fees, stuff like that. There’s not a lot of money left on the table after everyone’s paid.”

    UFC President Dana White has been under fire from some former fighters regarding the promotion’s pay structure. Former UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt and the controversial YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul have been a couple of his biggest critics.

    Poirier is anticipating a return to the Octagon in 2022, potentially against Nate Diaz. He has alluded to a potential move to welterweight following his title loss to Oliveira.

    Do you agree with Dustin Poirier?

  • Nate Diaz Puts McGregor Trilogy On Ice: “He Got A Lot Of Work To Do”

    Nate Diaz is looking forward to his return to the Octagon in 2022 on the last fight of his deal, but it won’t be against Conor McGregor.

    Diaz hasn’t fought in the UFC since his loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 263. Despite his promise of an active 2021, he competed just once in the calendar year and is now on the last fight of his contract.

    Diaz has hinted at the idea of a fight with Dustin Poirier for months, but an agreement hasn’t materialized just yet. Poirier seems game for a fight with Diaz but things have stalled regarding talks of a bout.

    One element of the Diaz saga is regarding a potential trilogy with McGregor. He won the first matchup on short notice at UFC 196, before narrowly falling to McGregor in the rematch at UFC 202.

    During a recent interview with YouTuber Adam’s Apple, Diaz kept it short and sweet when asked about a potential trilogy with McGregor.

    ā€œNot right now,” Diaz said. “He got a lot of work to do.ā€ (h/t SportsKeeda)

    McGregor is also anticipating a return to action later this year after suffering a gruesome leg break at UFC 264 against Poirier. He has lost three of his last four fights with the lone victory coming against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246.

    Diaz and McGregor have gone at it on social media in recent months, especially following McGregor’s most recent loss to Poirier via doctor’s stoppage. Diaz and McGregor are undoubtedly two of the UFC’s biggest stars.

    Do you think we’ll ever see Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor 3?

  • Brock Lesnar On UFC Tenure: “I Probably Should Have Gotten Paid More”

    Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar has spoken out on his time with the UFC and how it compared to working for WWE.

    Lesnar remains a massive star in the professional wrestling scene and is one of the biggest personalities in WWE. He also made a name for himself in the Octagon by earning the heavyweight title despite relatively little MMA experience leading up to his 2008 fight against Randy Couture.

    Lesnar retired from the UFC following his loss to Alistair Overeem at UFC 141. After five years away from the sport, he would return for UFC 200 in one of the most highly-anticipated Octagon appearances in recent memory.

    Lesnar last competed in this bout against Mark Hunt. He won the fight via unanimous decision, but the decision was later overturned to a no-contest after Lesnar tested positive for PEDs.

    Lesnar has teased the idea of a return to the UFC, most notably when Daniel Cormier won the title over Stipe Miocic at UFC 226.

    During a recent interview on The Pat McAfee Show, Lesnar revealed what his relationship is like with UFC President Dana White today and how he feels he was treated by the promotion.

    ā€œDanaā€™s all right,ā€ Lesnar said of White. ā€œIā€™ve got a lot of money from him. I probably should have got paid more, maybe.ā€

    Lesnar went on to compare working for White compared to his at-times tumultuous relationship with WWE headman Vince McMahon.

    ā€œI really canā€™t compare the two guys,ā€ Lesnar said. ā€œHonestly, my relationship with Vince is so different than it is with Dana over the years. Vince and I have had a love-hate relationship for the last 20 years, but itā€™s been good. We have a lot of water under the bridge. I have a lot of respect for both.”

    Lesnar’s admission that he feels he should’ve been compensated better is eye-opening during the current debate regarding fighter pay. Fighters such as Jorge Masvidal and current heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou have been a couple of the critics of the UFC’s current pay model.

    Lesnar appears to be done with MMA, but the UFC will forever be a part of his athletic legacy.

    What is Brock Lesnar’s legacy in MMA in your opinion?

  • Israel Adesanya Trolls Jon Jones With Valentine’s Day Tweet

    UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya began his Valentine’s Day with a more-than-subtle jab at former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

    Adesanya is just days removed from his rematch win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 271. It was a much more competitive fight than their first matchup, but Adesanya earned the decision on the scorecards.

    Jones is preparing for a run at heavyweight in 2022, but it’s unclear when he’ll return. He’s recently teased a potential fight with Stipe Miocic for later this year.

    Adesanya and Jones have had their fair share of back-and-forths on social media, and at one point seemed on track to fight each other. Their beef has gotten personal at times, but Adesanya took things to a new level on Valentine’s Day.

    In a recent tweet, Adesanya mocked Jones’ recent run-in with the law and alleged domestic violence incident in Las Vegas.

    “Happy Valentine’s Day,” Adesanya tweeted. “It’s the thought that counts XO.”

    Jones was accused of assaulting his fiancƩe, Jessie Moses, in a Las Vegas casino hotel room last year just hours after the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony. The battery domestic violence charge was dismissed last December.

    Adesanya signed a new contract with the UFC leading up to his headliner at UFC 271. The exact details of the contract are unknown, but it’s been rumored to be one of the most lucrative in the promotion’s history.

    Adesanya and Jones seem to be on different paths for their Octagon returns, but a fight between them isn’t completely out of the realm of possibility down the line. If a fight between these two stars gets booked in the future, the buildup is sure to be anything but amicable.

    What is your reaction to Israel Adesanya trolling Jon Jones?

  • Watch: Khabib Remains Undefeated With Metaverse Win Over Holloway

    Khabib Nurmagomedov and former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway finally went to battle in the metaverse.

    Nurmagomedov and Holloway faced off in the virtual reality boxing game Creed: Rise To Glory. UFC commentator Daniel Cormier and lightweight contender Islam Makhachev were among those in attendance for the match.

    Nurmagomedov and Holloway used the Oculus VR headset and controllers to fight in the virtual boxing match. Both UFC stars had their moments in the ring, but ultimately Nurmagomedov came out on top with a massive knockout.

    Nurmagomedov participated in the event at the American Kickboxing Academy gym, while Holloway could be seen fighting in his living room. Nurmagomedov talked trash to Holloway throughout the fight.

    Check out footage of the fight below courtesy of YouTuber FightNight.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zt7twerRa0A

    The event was put together by Legionfarm and attendees had to purchase at least one Legionfarm NFT to sit in the virtual crowd. The fight took place just hours before the UFC 271 card got underway in Houston, TX.

    Nurmagomedov and Holloway were supposed to fight back at UFC 223 before Holloway pulled out due to an illness. Holloway stepped up on short notice after Nurmagomedov’s original opponent, Tony Ferguson, withdrew due to an injury sustained during fight week.

    UFC President Dana White has also teased a virtual fight in the metaverse to happen at some point. No details have been revealed just yet.

    Holloway is looking to bounce back in 2022 with another push for the featherweight title, while Nurmagomedov is planning on a busy year as a promoter for Eagle FC.

    What is your reaction to this metaverse fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Max Holloway?

  • Michael Chandler Believes Ferguson Win Could Get Him Back To The Title

    Former UFC lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler feels a win over potential opponent Tony Ferguson could get him on the path to revenge.

    Chandler is looking to get back into the lightweight title picture after his back-and-forth war with Justin Gaethje at UFC 268. Despite having his fair share of moments in the fight, he ended up losing via unanimous decision.

    Before that, Chandler had lost his title shot against Charles Oliveira at UFC 262. Many believed he was rushed to the title too quickly after winning his UFC debut against Dan Hooker following a successful run in Bellator.

    Ferguson was one of the more outspoken critics of Chandler’s quick path to the title shot, even coining the phrase “Dana White Privilege” to describe Chandler’s swift ascension up the ranks. He recently aimed at Chandler again during a recent Instagram post.

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

    During a recent appearance on the DC&RC show, Chandler opined on what a win over Ferguson could do for his standing in the lightweight division.

    “It’s always tough. I mean, regardless of organization, us fighters are never really in control of our destiny,” Chandler said. “We have promoters that we work for, and especially when you get to the level of the UFC; these guys are geniuses, they know how to put together fights and they wanna put together fights that make the most sense.

    “With that being said, do I think I automatically make myself the number one contender by beating Tony Ferguson or winning my next fight? I don’t think so under normal circumstances. But these are not normal circumstances. I think everybody wants to see a rematch of myself and Charles Oliveira. They wanna see, they definitely wanna see a rematch, chapter two of the fight of the year against Justin Gaethje. So, I’ve kind of put myself in a unique position, where I could be one win away, and I get the nod to go out there and win the title by the end of 2022.”

    Ferguson was one of the names who Chandler pointed to earlier this year when asked what he’s looking for in his next opponent. Chandler and Ferguson have had a bit of banter over the past few months, but it’s clear that Chandler has respect for the former interim champ.

    UFC President Dana White first teased the matchup during a recent ESPN Q+A with Laura Sanko, stating that the UFC is working on making it happen. It’s unclear timing-wise if and when it’ll take place, but it’s certainly a major fight for both lightweights as well as the fans.

    What are your thoughts on the targeted Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson matchup?

  • Bobby Green Reveals What In-Fight Comment Enraged Him At UFC 271

    One sly in-fight comment from Nasrat Haqparast caused the rage in Bobby Green’s eyes that helped lead to his impressive win at UFC 271.

    Green and Haqparast battled in a three-round war at UFC 271. It was a standup showcase from start to finish as Green displayed impressive boxing and movement throughout the fight.

    Green and Haqparast got off to a slow start in the fight, but that changed over rounds 2 and 3. Haqparast got into Green’s face in between rounds, and that fired up Green going forward.

    During his UFC 271 post-fight press conference, Green talked about what Haqparast said to him that made him visibly furious midway through the fight.

    “Man, I don’t wanna do a lot of talking but he was getting under my skin,” Green said. “He was like coming with this energy and then he said he saw fear in my eyes, and that pissed me off. And I’m like, ‘Oh yeah? what’s up?’. That brings the hood out of me. I wasn’t going to say s**t but then he said s**t that hit me deep in the heart. There’s no f**king fear in me, homie, and my coach was trying to calm me down. I was hot and I just took it personally.”

    Green made the Toyota Center in Houston erupt during and after the fight. He has no personal connections to the area, but the crowd was clearly in his favor before and after putting on a stellar performance against Haqparast.

    Green came into UFC 271 off of a first-round knockout against Al Iaquinta at UFC 268. Before that, he lost back-to-back fights against ThiagoĀ MoisĆ©s and Rafael Fiziev.

    In terms of what he wants next in his UFC career, Green doesn’t have a specific name in mind. But it seems likely that he’s in line for a big opportunity following an impressive win at UFC 271 after previously hinting at retirement.

    Who do you want to see Bobby Green fight next?

  • Uriah Hall Rips ‘Ugly’ Darren Till For Being Too ‘Scared’ To Fight Him

    UFC middleweight Uriah Hall is not happy with Darren Till and is accusing the English UFC star of ducking him for a fight.

    Hall is in the middle of training camp as he works towards his scheduled UFC return at a UFC Fight Night event on April 16. He’s slated to face Andre Muniz, an up-and-coming middleweight who is looking for another signature win on his record.

    But Hall wanted another solidified middleweight for his Octagon return. He targeted a fight with Till on the upcoming UFC London card, but Till allegedly turned down the fight for an undisclosed reason, according to Hall.

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, Hall had some choice words for Till after allegedly passing up a fight with him.

    “I mean to be honest, it’s not something that I wanted,” Hall said of the Muniz matchup. “I wanted Darren Till but he’s being a punk a** b**ch, and I don’t know what happened. He’s just playing the UFC or whatnot, but he’s one that makes sense. I wanted him, but I think he’s just scared. I think he’s really scared. Either that or he’s injured or some s**t, he’s always making excuses. He talks smack but I know when he stands in front of me he’s going to be quiet. I just know I can beat him. He’s short, he sucks, he’s ugly. I just know I can kick his a**.”

    Hall has won four of his last five fights but is coming off of a unanimous decision loss to Sean Strickland last July. Before that, he had earned a TKO win after Chris Weidman snapped his leg just seconds into the fight at UFC 261.

    Till has lost four of his last five against some of the best talents in the UFC, including most recently against Derek Brunson and Robert Whittaker. His lone win since moving to middleweight came against Kelvin Gastelum via split decision at UFC 244.

    Hall and Till have gone at each other in recent months. Hall called out Till on social media before Till called him an “ugly motherf**ker” in an interview with Ariel Helwani. Hall’s description of Till’s physical attributes indicates that the feeling is mutual.

    It’s unclear when Till is slated to return after allegedly suffering a knee injury in the lead-up to his last fight. But Hall seems to be a willing opponent, depending on what happens with his fight against Muniz.

    What do you make of Uriah Hall’s comments regarding Darren Till?

  • Chandler To Adesanya: ‘Take More Chances, Don’t You Dare Spar’

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler thinks UFC champs such as Israel Adesanya should be more aggressive in the cage.

    Chandler is coming off of his three-round war with Justin Gaethje at UFC 268. It was arguably one of the greatest fights in UFC history and featured nonstop action from the two lightweight brawlers.

    In light of his recent fight, Chandler thinks that some of the UFC’s titleholders need to impose their will a bit more in the cage. This comes after Adesanya earned a unanimous decision victory over Robert Whittaker but many were disappointed by Adesanya’s lack of output in the later rounds.

    During a recent tweet, Chandler praised Adesanya’s skill set but also stated why he prefers that UFC champions take more risks when defending their titles.

    “Trust me, I love Izzy,” Chandler said. “But we have gotten to a point where a dominant champ just needs to stand there, throw a few shots per round and he will not lose unless he gets caught and he will always get the nod. Izzy god paid on this last contract… go FIGHT, don’t you dare spar.”

    Chandler later clarified that champions don’t need to throw caution to the wind to put on a stellar title defense.

    “I’m not advocating ‘banging’ over ‘tactically fighting’, all I’m trying to advocate for is a spirit of inflicting dominance in the face of danger. Don’t play it safe. Take more chances. I don’t need you to plod forward with reckless abandon…but have a little anger in your heart.”

    Chandler has lost back-to-back fights but is expected to return against Tony Ferguson later this year. The fight hasn’t been booked and scheduled by the UFC just yet, but that could come in the next few weeks. Ferguson has recently accused Chandler of delaying the fight.

    Chandler is a former Bellator lightweight champion who earned wins over Benson Henderson and Patricky Freire during his time with the promotion. He made his UFC debut last year at UFC 257 with a knockout win over Dan Hooker.

    Adesanya is expected to defend his title next against Jared Cannonier later this year, and Chandler hopes that he and other UFC champs be a bit more aggressive in their approach to defending their titles.

    Do you agree with Michael Chandler?

  • Derek Brunson Speaks Out Following UFC 271 Loss To Jared Cannonier

    UFC middleweight contender Derek Brunson addressed his fans following a disappointing loss to Jared Cannonier.

    Brunson fell to Cannonier at UFC 271 via second-round knockout after a dominant opening round. He utilized his wrestling and nearly sunk in a rear-naked choke submission as the first round came to a close.

    However, Cannonier was able to find his footing in the second round and overwhelm Brunson with strikes. He would eventually land a lead elbow that dropped Brunson and followed it up with heavy ground-and-pound shots.

    The fight was built up as a No. 1 middleweight contender fight between two of the top-4 middleweights in the UFC. Cannonier will more than likely get the next shot at Israel Adesanya later this year.

    Shortly after the loss, Brunson took to social media to address his fans and update them on how he’s doing physically and mentally.

    “Made a title push. Number 3 vs. 4 in the world,” Brunson said. “I came up short. Life lessons. I’m all good, sad but life will give you [these] moments.”

    Entering UFC 271, Brunson was arguably the hottest middleweight in the UFC with five-straight wins. He hadn’t lost since falling to Adesanya at UFC 230 as the champion made his rise towards the title conversation.

    Brunson has one more fight left on his deal and plans on competing once more in the Octagon before he calls it quits. Brunson made his UFC debut at UFC 155 following an up-and-down tenure in Strikeforce. Leading up to UFC 271, he alluded to retirement following the conclusion of his contract.

    Who do you want to see Derek Brunson fight for his final UFC appearance?

  • Conor McGregor Rips Tyson Fury After Khabib Support, Fury Fires Back

    Former UFC champion Conor McGregor ripped boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury on social media over the weekend after Fury praised McGregor’s old rival, Khabib Nurmagomedov, in a tweet.

    Nurmagomedov retired from MMA on top of the sport in 2020 following a title defense against Justin Gaethje.

    Fury and McGregor are known as arguably two of the brashest personalities in combat sports today. Fury most recently defeated Deontay Wilder in one of the best trilogies in boxing history.

    After getting word of Fury’s supportive tweet aimed at Nurmagomedov, McGregor ripped Fury in response.

    “This man did it right. Got in and won [gold] and got out on top,” Fury tweeted in support of Nurmagomedov.

    Nearly two weeks after the original tweet, McGregor weighed in on Fury’s support of his rival Nurmagomedov while also mocking Fury’s response to his Billy Joe Saunders’ father’s altercation with security at a Canelo Alvarez boxing event.

    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1492721714274394112?s=20&t=Efr30N0RngyA2prelByO_A

    “Yup the Joyces. Big Joe!” McGregor said. “You bottled it with Billy Joe Da, what were you doing there? You left him, Versace twat. You. Done. Nothing. Ya’s did it right ye right [laughs]. Even when I’m wrong I’m right. Who did it right? The Mac daddy tonight, in house. Miami d12! Bahamas.”

    Fury responded to McGregor by mocking his recent struggles in the UFC.

    “Come back when you win a fight mush,” Fury said. “And the difference in me and you is I don’t get myself in trouble and people actually like me, your just a bully who hit old man, and yes big up the hulk Joe.”

    McGregor and Fury are both anticipating returns to the fight game in 2022. McGregor has been sidelined since suffering a leg injury at UFC 264, and Fury has been in negotiations to potentially box Dillian Whyte next.

    McGregor and Fury appeared to be on mutually respectful terms after McGregor offered to train him in MMA. But it appears that friendship has fizzled out, and the two no longer see each other in a positive light.

    What do you make of the recent Conor McGregor/Tyson Fury squabble?

  • Robert Whittaker: A Trilogy Fight Against Adesanya Is Inevitable

    Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker thinks a trilogy with Israel Adesanya down the line may not be too far-fetched.

    Whittaker and Adesanya went the distance at UFC 271 in a back and forth war. Whittaker had plenty of moments and looked improved from their first fight, but Adesanya was the more active in the later rounds and earned the unanimous decision win.

    Whittaker felt he did enough to earn the win over Adesanya despite all three judges giving the reigning champion the decision. Most of the rounds were close, and some can be debated in Whittaker’s favor.

    During his UFC 271 post-fight press conference, Whittaker spoke about his rivalry with Adesanya and what’s next for him.

    ā€œPottery (laughs),” Whittaker said. “Nah. Honestly, a third fight between me and Izzy is inevitable, because Iā€™m gonna stomp anybody who comes in front of me again, and he knows that too, thatā€™s why he said ā€˜Iā€™ll be seeing you in the future.ā€™ And I donā€™t see him losing the belt anytime soon, heā€™s good, he is good. I think I am the person to beat him. My mission stays the same: beat the next guy in front of me.ā€

    Whittaker went on to hint that he doesn’t plan on making it a long road back to the title and winning another three fights as he did before the rematch.

    ā€œHopefully it will be quicker than that. I guess thereā€™s obvious people I need to fight firstā€”the people who I havenā€™t already beaten in the top ten. Then surely that puts me in a position to fight for the title again, especially considering how close this one was. Letā€™s be honest, there arenā€™t a lot of people in the top ten that I havenā€™t had it over. I donā€™t know, Iā€™m not really thinking about it. Iā€™m more thinking about going home to my family and just cruising.ā€

    After getting knocked out by Adesanya at UFC 243, Whittaker went on to earn three-straight dominant wins over Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and Kelvin Gastelum. He showed better patience on the feet over his previous few fights which he showcased at UFC 271.

    Cannonier will more than likely get the next title shot after a win over Derek Brunson earlier in the night. While it’s unclear what Whittaker’s exact path back to another title shot could look like, he seems intent on getting his revenge over Adesanya.

    Do you think we’ll see a trilogy between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker?

  • Israel Adesanya Shares What He Told Whittaker Directly After Rematch

    UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya had a message for Robert Whittaker just seconds after their rematch at UFC 271.

    Adesanya and Whittaker went five full rounds this time around in their second battle in the Octagon. The two went toe-to-toe on the feet and ground, but Adesanya was seen as more active throughout the fight.

    Adesanya defeated Whittaker the first time around at UFC 243 with a vicious knockout. He has emerged as one of the UFC’s biggest stars since earning the belt.

    Israel Adesanya
    Image Credit: Carmen Mandato/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    Following their rematch, Adesanya and Whittaker shared a brief moment in the cage. The two appeared to bury the hatchet of their rivalry and show mutual respect for one another.

    During his UFC 271 post-fight press conference, Adesanya revealed the content of his conversation with Whittaker as the fifth round came to a close.

    ā€œI said, you know, ā€˜I donā€™t like you, you donā€™t like me, but I respect you,ā€™” Adesanya said. “And he said the same thing and ā€˜Iā€™m sure in another life we could be friends.ā€™ And I said ā€˜maybe.ā€™ But yeah, we’re just two guys trying to be the best in the world. But tonight Iā€™m the best in the world.ā€

    Adesanya will more than likely face Jared Cannonier next after Cannonier knocked out Brunson just a couple of fights before the Whittaker rematch. He has been a target of Adesanya’s for months, and Adesanya has praised him as the dark horse of the division.

    Outside of Cannonier, there aren’t a ton of first-time title challengers waiting for a shot. There is Sean Strickland, who recently earned a unanimous decision win over Jack Hermansson, but he may need to win one more to earn a shot at Adesanya.

    As for Whittaker, he’ll need to win a few more to have any hope of earning a third fight with Adesanya. While their rematch was close and competitive, it’s hard to see a scenario in which these two go to battle for a third time without Whittaker going on a torrid streak.

    What are your thoughts on Israel Adesanya vs. Jared Cannonier next?

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Vs. Max Holloway Set For Metaverse Fight

    Former UFC champions Khabib Nurmagomedov and Max Holloway will finally face off in the Octagon.

    Well, sort of.

    Nurmagomedov and Holloway will participate in what’s being advertised as the first Metaverse fight in world history on February 12. Viewers will be able to attend the event by purchasing at least one Legionfarm NFT.

    Nurmagomedov’s former American Kickboxing Academy teammates, Daniel Cormier and Islam Makhachev will be featured guests at the event. Cormier will then turn around and be part of the UFC 271 commentary team in Houston, TX.

    Holloway confirmed the news in a recent Instagram post.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ0P90UvjpI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    ā€œAre you ready to make history?ā€ Holloway said. ā€œOn February 12, Legionfarm, a place where gamers meet and play with PRO players, will be hosting an epic event in Mozilla Hubs Metaverse with the First Metaverse Fight in the history of the Earth between Khabib Nurmagomedov and me. And you are invited to witness it.ā€ (h/t MMA Mania)

    Holloway and Nurmagomedov nearly squared off in the UFC Octagon at UFC 223. This was after Nurmagomedov’s original opponent, Tony Ferguson, pulled out with an injury just days before the event.

    Holloway was then ruled physically unfit to compete on short notice against Nurmagomedov and Al Iaquinta ended up getting the title shot. Nurmagomedov defeated him via a unanimous decision to earn the lightweight title.

    Nurmagomedov has retired from professional MMA and currently promotes Eagle FC. Holloway is looking to earn another featherweight title shot in 2022.

    UFC President Dana White has previously teased that his promotion will hold a fight in the Metaverse at some point. The Nurmagomedov vs. Holloway event appears to be completely separate from that declaration.

    Will you attend the Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Max Holloway Metaverse fight?

  • MMA Fighter Snaps Her Opponent’s Arm During Kimura Submission

    Female MMA fighter Hannah Sharp ended up walking away with more than just a win during a recent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament.

    The sheer brutality of MMA was on full display as Sharp attempted a Kimura submission on her opponent at a Sub Spectrum competition. Sharp, out of Renzo Gracie Portland, dominated the entire 135-pound bracket of the tournament but also ended up dislocating one of her opponent’s elbows.

    Watch the incident below.

    Sharp has competed on Submission Underground before and is 1-2 on the professional grappling scene. She most recently fell to Ffion Davies at the IBJJF No-Gi World Championships last October.

    The injury sustained by Sharp’s opponent is similar to that of Jerome Rivera during his fight against Brandon Royval at LFA 39. Rivera dislocated his elbow during a takedown attempt from Royval.

    What is your reaction to the result of Hannah Sharp’s submission attempt?

  • Usman To Attend UFC 272 To Watch Sons Covington/Masvidal Fight

    UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman will be cageside to watch his rivals Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington fight at UFC 272.

    Usman is coming off an electric 2021 inside the Octagon, in which he successfully defended his welterweight title three times. He earned TKO wins over Gilbert Burns and Masvidal, along with another unanimous decision win in a rematch against Covington.

    Usman has become the UFC’s pound-for-pound best after a remarkable rise to the title. Now, he’s no longer the hunter and is now hunted when it comes to the welterweight title picture.

    Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington
    Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington

    Covington and Masvidal, former American Top Team teammates and friends turned enemies, will square off in the main event of UFC 272. During a recent interview with CBS Sports on the Super Bowl 56 Media Row, Usman gave his thoughts on the UFC 272 headliner.

    ā€œItā€™s a good fight. Itā€™s an intriguing fight,” Usman said. “Other than the Francis Ngannou fight (UFC 270), I havenā€™t really been to an event to sit and watch in a while. Itā€™s one that I will be there to watch. Itā€™s a great one. Iā€™ll just be sitting there like a proud dad watching my sons fight and do what they do. So Iā€™m excited to watch that one.ā€

    Usman successfully underwent surgery on a torn ligament in his hand after suffering an injury during his rematch with Covington. Luckily, he won’t miss much time and is targeting a return in July for the UFC’s International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

    As for his next opponent, Usman is widely expected to face Leon Edwards next. The two of them battled earlier in their careers, with Usman earning a unanimous decision victory in 2015.

    Both Masvidal and Covington are looking to get back in the title picture and earn a possible third fight down the line against Usman. But first, they’ll need to settle their beef inside the Octagon at UFC 272.

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

  • Watch: Russian MMA Fighter Gets Disqualified, Brawl Ensues

    A Conflict Fighting MMA event descended into chaos after one fighter was disqualified from his fight.

    It all started when the disqualified fighter started throwing his accessories into the crowd, including his gloves. One of his opponent’s teammates can be heard laughing at him, which then prompted an altercation and an all-out brawl.

    Check out the incident below.

    After punches were thrown from both sides, officials intervened and briefly stopped the commotion. But this wouldn’t last long as another brawl erupted on the opposite side of the ring.

    The winner of the fight dragged his defeated opponent out of the ring at one point. He then walked away from the scene just as the second brawl erupted.

    It’s unclear if punishments will be issued by Conflict Fighting for the incident.

    What is your reaction to this wild MMA brawl?

  • Curtis Blaydes vs. Chris Daukaus Targeted For March 26 Main Event

    UFC heavyweight contenders Curtis Blaydes and Chris Daukaus will square off as the new main event of the upcoming UFC Columbus card.

    This was first reported by MMA journalist Ariel Helwani.

    Blaydes is looking to continue his momentum after an impressive win over Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC 264. Before that, he had lost via second-round knockout to Derrick Lewis last February.

    Blaydes will face a tough challenge in Daukaus, who also is looking to get back on track after a knockout loss to Lewis. He had been on a five-fight winning streak before the defeat to Lewis, which was his first loss in the UFC.

    Blaydes/Daukaus will take the place of a light heavyweight showdown between Jan Blachowicz and Aleksandar Rakic. It was the originally scheduled main event before Blachowicz was forced to withdraw with an injury. That matchup is expected to be re-booked for later this year.

    Blaydes had recently called for a fight with former interim champion Ciryl Gane next, but it appears that Gane wants to take some time off after losing to Francis Ngannou at UFC 270. The matchup could still happen if Blaydes can get past Daukaus.

    The UFC heavyweight title picture is a bit shaky at the moment as Ngannou is expected to miss a majority of 2022 after undergoing knee surgery. Some believe that the promotion will likely book another interim title bout as Ngannou recovers from his injury.

    Blaydes vs. Daukaus won’t be the only intriguing fight on the card. A potential No. 1 flyweight contender bout between Askar Askarov and Kai Kara France will serve as the co-main event, and Michelle Waterson will make her return to the Octagon against Amanda Ribas.

    What is your prediction for Curtis Blaydes vs. Chris Daukaus?

  • Cannonier Rejects ‘Grappler V. Striker’ Narrative Ahead Of Brunson Fight

    UFC middleweight contender Jared Cannonier wants to prove that he can wrestle with the best of them, including UFC 271 opponent Derek Brunson.

    Cannonier and Brunson are set to meet in a middleweight showcase on the UFC 271 main card. Both men are vying for a potential title shot against the winner of Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker.

    Cannonier has always been known for his ferocious striking and intimidating presence in the Octagon. His grappling hasn’t been discussed as much by the MMA faithful, but he showed off superb takedown defense in recent wins over Kelvin Gastelum and Jack Hermansson.

    Cannonier will face a tough test against Brunson, arguably the best wrestler in the middleweight division. During his UFC 271 media day press conference, Cannonier seemed to welcome the challenge.

    “I can grapple. I train at The MMA Lab and we got good grapplers, D-1 level wrestlers that I’m learning from,” Cannonier said. “They don’t have to be the same size as me, but we got some big guys in there. I’ve trained with the little guys damn near my whole career. You see how far that’s gotten me.

    UFC Fight Night 160 results, highlights: Jared Cannonier blasts Jack Hermansson for second round TKO - CBSSports.com
    Jared Cannonier, Image: 2019 Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

    “Yeah, I can grapple too. I can wrestle too. I have a pair of wrestling shoes my damn self. They’re probably not as worn out as his, he’s been doing it way longer than me, but my mind allows me to be as good as these other guys when I need be. You may see me taking him down if the opportunity presents itself.”

    Cannonier has won four of his last five fights over some of the best contenders in the division. He has fought at multiple weight classes during his UFC career but seems to have found a home at 185 pounds.

    This is arguably Cannonier’s biggest fight to date and biggest test inside the cage. If he ends up being victorious against Brunson, he’ll likely need to utilize some grappling skills in the process.

    What is your prediction for Jared Cannonier vs. Derek Brunson?