MMA News

Author: Clyde Aidoo

  • Derek Brunson vs. Jared Cannonier Moved To UFC 271 In February

    The middleweight title eliminator between Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier has been moved to UFC 271 on February 12.

    ESPN was the first to report the new date for the bout. The event is set to be headlined by Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker and is scheduled to take place in the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

    Barring the unexpected, this match will be widely viewed as a #1-contender bout to determine who faces the winner of Adesanya/Whittaker 2, with one of the two men potentially acting as a replacement option for the main event.

    Both Brunson and Cannonier have compelling arguments for a title shot. In Brunson’s case, he is currently riding an impressive five-fight winning streak, including most recently finishing former UFC title challenger Darren Till in September. For Cannonier, he was victorious in a bout in August in defeating Kelvin Gastelum, thus making it four wins out of his last five fights.

    With this adjustment, here is the updated lineup for UFC 271:

    UFC Middleweight Championship Bout: Israel Adesanya(c) vs. Robert Whittaker

    Jared Cannonier vs. Derek Brunson

    Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell

    Alexander Hernandez vs. Renato Moicano

    Roxanne Modafferi vs. Casey O’Neill

    Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Sergey Morozov

    Mark Madsen vs. Vinc Pichel

    Fabio Cherant vs. Carlos Ulberg

    Orion Cosce vs. Mike Mathetha

    Maxim Grishin vs. Ed Herman

    Ronnie Lawrence vs. Mana Martinez

    AJ Dobson vs. Jacob Malkoun

    Who do you think will emerge victorious in this middleweight title eliminator between Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier?

  • PFL Commits To Holding Events In Africa And Europe In 2022

    The Professional Fighters League (PFL) will be branching out beyond North America in 2022, with plans to hold events in Africa and Europe.

    The PFL is one of the fastest-growing MMA promotions in the world. Ever since adopting its season-themed approach to the sport, the PFL has begun airing on ESPN and has become the home to stars of yesterday and tomorrow, with names like Rory MacDonald, Anthony Pettis, Kayla Harrison, and Claressa Shields competing in the promotion. With the $1 million prize offered to the winner of each division’s tournament, the PFL is expected to continue attracting big names for several years to come.

    As the promotion continues to grow, one of its New Year’s resolutions is to continue its expansion onto new soil. This includes Africa, a continent that has given birth to UFC champions Kamaru Usman, Israel Adesanya, and Francis Ngannou. Yet, according to PFL CEO Peter Murray, the PFL will be putting on events in Africa before the UFC does.

    “We’ll be making announcements in the first quarter of 2022,” Murray said. “What I can tell you is we’re committed to Africa as a priority market, to develop and grow the sport – at the pro level, at the grassroots level,” Murray told The Independent.

    “We’re committed to expanding PFL distribution throughout the continent in 2022, and we’re also committed to staging events in Africa in 2022. So, the plans are firm, it’s just a matter of finalising partnerships and rolling out those details. But come first quarter, we’ll be in a better position to share some context on that.”

    Murray also plans on making a splash in the European market next year as well, with the continent figuring largely into the promotion’s 2022 plans.

    “With respect to Europe, and in particular the UK, we’re excited about staging events,” Murray said. “We’ll have a new premium distribution partner in the UK in 2022 – critically important for the PFL – so we expect to tick the box on both distribution and live events in the UK next year.”

    The PFL is currently being distributed in 160 countries. In addition to these expansion plans, the PFL has also recently announced a “Challenger Series” that will serve as a scouting mechanism for new talent, similar to Dana White’s Contender Series. With all these changes coming down the pike, 2022 figures to be a very ambitious year for the North American promotion.

  • Charles Oliveira Approves Conor McGregor’s Request For LW Title Shot

    UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira has given the green light for his red-panty night.

    Conor McGregor has let it be known that when he makes his return to the Octagon, he expects to be greeted with a world title shot. Being that McGregor is currently ranked down at #9 and has not won a fight since January 2020, not everyone is taking his expectation seriously. However, one of the only people whose opinion matters, Charles Oliveira himself, is very much on board with the idea.

    “If I had the chance [in the past] to fight for the belt or fight Conor, everybody knows I’d fight for the belt,” Oliveira told MMA Fighting through translation. “That already happened, I’m the champion now. The champion has a name and his name is Charles Oliveira, Charles ‘do Bronx.’ If I had the chance to fight Conor for money today, I would. The belt is mine and continues being mine. We’ll continue building our legacy and making history.”

    With Oliveira being the undisputed UFC lightweight champion, he certainly has a say in what is next for him. UFC President Dana White has already confirmed that the current plan is for Oliveira to defend his title against Justin Gaethje next. But if the choice were Oliveira’s, the champion insists that he’s no dummy and would opt for the cash grab.

    “If I had the opportunity to fight Conor, I would definitely fight Conor. The belt is mine regardless. The division has to get by and wait a little bit. There’s nothing else to do. We have to think about our families, our children, think about what we can do down the line.”

    Oliveira would have little sympathy for his lightweight peers if McGregor jumped the line because they weren’t willing to give him an opportunity before he became champion. That being said, Oliveira doesn’t intend on lobbying for the McGregor fight and will continue to be a company man and fight whomever the promotion wants him to, including #1 contender Justin Gaethje.

    “That happened to me,” Oliveira said. “I was the No. 7 in the rankings and wanted to fight [top contenders] and they didn’t want to. The champion has a name now, we’re part of the same organization, and I’ll fight whoever the UFC puts against me. If they say it’s Conor, I’ll fight him. If they say it’s Justin, I’ll fight him. I just want to go home now and get some rest with my daughter and go back to the cage as soon as possible.”

    What would be your reaction if Conor McGregor skipped the line to a title shot against Charles Oliveira?

  • GSP’s Coach Accuses Schools of “Feminizing Men” With LGBTQ Material

    Firas Zahabi, coach of UFC Hall of Famer Georges St-Pierre, is accusing schools of attempting to “feminize our men.”

    Best known for his leadership of TriStar gym and as GSP’s head coach, Firas Zahabi has always been an outspoken individual. He would continue this characteristic with high amplitude in some recent remarks made about the curriculum of his son’s school.

    According to Zahabi, his son’s exposure to LGBTQ-related material is an example of schools, or society as a whole, attempting to emasculate men (transcription via Bloody Elbow).

    “It’s become encouraged now to feminize men,” Zahabi said during an episode of The 3Muslims podcast (h/t r/MMAPoliticsAndCulture).

    Zahabi would then share a story in an attempt to illustrate his point. According to the MMA coach, a movie featuring a homosexual couple was played in his son’s classroom. His son found humor in the situation, but Zahabi was unamused.

    “One of my sons, on Valentine’s Day, they showed him a movie about one guy falling in love with another. My kids, they’re open books—so my son is like, ‘I watched this movie and two guys were kissing each other so me and my friend were laughing and everybody got angry with us. They were telling me it’s normal, it’s normal.’

    Firas Zahabi
    Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    “The teacher was telling my son, it’s ok [to be gay]. Well, that’s pretty weird, man. Kids haven’t even gotten through puberty yet. I send my kid to school to math, science, history, philosophy, ethics
the basics. Why are you showing them on Valentine’s Day, a story about a man with another man?”

    Zahabi would then express that he and his family have no issue acknowledging the existence of homosexuals. However, when it comes to the Zahabi household, the MMA coach gave his son an assignment to personally deliver to his teacher the next time he arrives in that classroom.

    “Now listen, there are gay people in the world. I tell my kids that there are gay people. You will see them. But we are not gay. That is what I told them, straight up, and I’m not ashamed. I told them ‘tell your teacher you’re heterosexual, and if he has a problem with that, to call me.”

    Coach Firas Zahabi continues to run the TriStar Gym, as he has since he purchased the gym in 2008. Aside from GSP, some other notable fighters to train at TrisStar on a full-time basis include Rory MacDonald, Kenny Florian, Johnny Walker, and Arnold Allen.

    What is your reaction to these comments from Firas Zahabi?

  • Kevin Lee Signs With Khabib’s Eagle FC Promotion After UFC Release

    Kevin Lee has a new home after his UFC release.

    As initially reported by MMA Fighting on Wednesday, Kevin Lee has signed with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC promotion following his UFC release last month. Eagle FC will also create a 165-lb division, something Lee had lobbied for throughout his UFC run. The 29-year-old went 11-7 in the UFC and currently has a professional record of 18-7.

    Kevin Lee and Khabib Nurmagomedov have a one-sided history of Lee calling out Khabib for a fight for years. In a true case of irony, Lee will ultimately fight for Khabib instead of against him. Lee currently does not have an Eagle FC debut date or opponent set at this time.

    Lee made his UFC in 2014. After losing his debut to Al Iaquinta, Lee strung together four consecutive victories before his next defeat to Leonardo Santo at UFC 194.

    UFC Fight Night 106 results: Kevin Lee stuns Brazilian fans, taps out Francisco Trinaldo | MMA Junkie
    Kevin Lee vs. Francisco Trinaldo. Image Credit: Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports

    After this loss, Lee would win his next five fights, including two Performance of the Night bonuses for his rear-naked choke victories over Magomed Mustafaev in 2016 and Michael Chiesa in 2017. The victory over Chiesa was Lee’s first main event in the promotion.

    Lee would go 2-5 in his next seven bouts, including a 2017 loss to Tony Ferguson in an interim lightweight title fight and another loss to Al Iaquinta, losing his welterweight debut to Rafael dos Anjos, and most recently losing to Daniel Rodriguez back in August.

    What are your thoughts on Kevin Lee’s decision to sign with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC promotion?

  • Watch: Brazilian Mayor Battles Political Rival In Full-On MMA Fight

    There’s at least one politician who followed through on giving the people what they want.

    At UFC 269, Charles Oliveira defeated Dustin Poirier in a lightweight tussle and Julianna Peña pulled off one of the biggest upset in years when she defeated Amanda Nunes—mere exhibitions compared to the real smackdown last Saturday: a Brazilian mayor taking on a disgruntled political rival!

    Imagine a council meeting where a mayor challenges a political rival to do something about it if he doesn’t like his policies. That’s essentially what took place in Borba, Brazil, with mayor Simao Peixoto (39) and his future opponent, Erineu Alvas Da Silva (44), aka “Mirico.”

    As the story goes, Da Silva posted a video online in September criticizing the mayor’s job performance. Instead of wasting his time with those pointless “debates” and “negotiations,” the fine mayor opted for a good-ol-fashioned exchange of fisticuffs instead of ideas.

    Specifically, Peixoto challenged Da Silva to an MMA fight. You can peep the challenge below.

    After the fight was accepted, naturally, the mayor had to put in the hard training for the fight of his life, which was set to take place not at the ballots but in a cage.

    The MMA fight was scheduled for three rounds, and the mayor would get the victory in the end via split decision. And much like most MMA-related feuds, the bad blood ended in mutual respect after sharing the cage together, with the two men embracing after the fight.

    Without further ado, you can peep the action below!

  • Training Partner: Jake Paul Is Really Good For A YouTuber But Still Green

    Jake Paul’s training partners have shared some intel on the YouTuber’s progression into the world of professional boxing.

    This Saturday (Dec. 18), Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley will compete in a rematch of their August 29 bout that saw Paul take home a split-decision victory. Thus far, Paul is 4-0 as a professional, with wins also over AnEsonGib, Nate Robinson, and Ben Askren.

    Ahead of Paul/Woodley 2, several training partners of Paul were interviewed about how the YouTuber is coming along in his new career venture. Here are some notable quotes (via The Sun).

    “He’s got good speed and good reactions. He’s naturally born with speed, explosiveness and reactions, that’s what you’re born with.” – Muhsin Cason

    Muhsin Cason went from bouncer to boxer, is sparring partner of Jake Paul and KSI and brother to ex-champ Hasim Rahman
    J’Leon Love, Jake Paul and Muhsin Cason 

    “I hit him with some clean shots, he didn’t care, threw some shots back, slipping, moving, his jab is good.” – Jake Bostwick

    Jake Paul pictured with sparring partner Jake Bostwick
    Jake Paul, Jake Bostwick

    “He seems relaxed and composed which is really good. He has a great right hand, great right hand, very strong, to the body or head.” – Ahmed Elbiali

    Jake Paul trolls Ben Askren's coach with prank call pretending to be ESPN - Dexerto
    Jake Paul, Logan Paul

    “I was like a lot of people at the beginning, thinking these guys are just YouTubers, Jake and Logan. But to be in camp with them, to see them training hard everyday, training like world-class boxers, I was surprised and very, very shocked. – Jean Pascal


    Logan Paul is 'more natural' boxer but Jake is 'better technically' as sparring partner Jean Pascal compares brothers
    Jean Pascal, Jake Paul

    Jake Paul “Really Good For A YouTuber,” Still Green

    14-0 light heavyweight Robin Safar also had complimentary things to say about Paul. Although he admits Paul still has a lot of work to do, that is to be expected for a boxer with only four pro fights. Safar detailed his experience sparring with Paul and how he views the YouTuber’s current development stage.

    “I feel like when I sparred him, he was developing his ring IQ, he was trying to think in the ring,” Safar said. “He’s a good kid and he’s got ambition for what he’s doing, he’s determined and I believe anybody can do anything in life, no matter who you are or what your background is.

    “Jake is still green, but for being green he’s good. I think he’s really good. He’s really good for a YouTuber. He’s a smart kid because he wouldn’t be in the position he is today if he wasn’t. In boxing, you’ve got to have a brain and I know Jake’s got it.

    “If he can use his IQ the way he does outside of boxing, in the ring, and add the determination and ambition, he can be really good.” – Robin safar

    Below, you can find footage posted on Safar’s Instagram page of Jake Paul sparring.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ_m8jpl371/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=cf6c0fef-8988-4998-a3d9-4d5d7d8fd7df

    Jake Paul will be getting more live, in-ring experience this Saturday on pay-per-view when he faces former UFC champion Tyron Woodley. The event will take place  at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida and will be broadcast on Showtime PPV in the US and on Fite TV in the UK.

    How do you think Jake Paul will perform in the rematch against Tyron Woodley this Saturday?

  • Gegard Mousasi Defends MW Title Against Austin Vanderford Feb. 25

    Gegard Mousasi will attempt to pick up a fourth consecutive victory against the undefeated Austin Vanderford in February.

    As originally reported by MMA Junkie, Mousasi is set to defend against Vanderford inside the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. Mousasi is ranked #4 in the Bellator pound-for-pound rankings. Vanderford is the #1-ranked middleweight.

    At Bellator 250, Gegard Mousasi became a two-time Bellator middleweight champion when he defeated Douglas Lima to capture the vacant title. Earlier this year, the 57-fight veteran successfully defended his title with a TKO victory over John Salter. The 36-year-old champion has a promotional record of 6-1 after joining the promotion in 2017. Throughout his lengthy MMA career, Mousasi has defeated names such as Chris Weidman, Rory MacDonald, Dan Henderson, and Thiago Santos, to name a few.

    Mousasi will be tasked with trying to hand Austin Vanderford the first loss of his professional career. Vanderford may be best known for being the husband of Paige VanZant, but he is making quite the name for himself with his work inside of the cage. 6 of Vanderford’s 11 wins have come under the Bellator umbrella. Most recently, Vanderford defeated veteran Fabian Edwards at Bellator 259.

    MMA News will be bringing you full coverage of this Bellator event when that February night arrives. In the meantime, let us hear your predictions! Does Gegard Mousasi pick up a second consecutive title defense, or does Austin Vanderford remain undefeated while picking up championship gold?

  • Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell Rebooked For UFC 271 on February 12

    Top-10 flyweights Alex Perez and Matt Schnell will meet on February 12.

    As announced in a UFC press release, former title challenger Alex Perez will compete for the first time in over a year when he takes on Matt Schnell at UFC 271. This will be the fifth time this fight has been booked this calendar year. The latest attempt to see this fight was for this past weekend’s UFC 269. However, Schnell had to withdraw due to medical reasons.

    Alex Perez (24-6) last competed at UFC 255 against then-flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. Perez earned this shot by defeating three consecutive opponents, including two finishes in a row over Jordan Espinosa (triangle choke) and Jussier Formiga (TKO). Perez fell short in his bid to unseat Figueiredo, but the 29-year-old will march forward onto his next assignment in veteran Matt Schnell.

    Matt Schnell (15-6) has had mixed results as of late, going 2-2 in his last four bouts. In his most recent contest, Schnell fell to RogĂ©rio Bontorin at UFC 262 in May. From 2017-2019, Schnell enjoyed a four-fight winning streak with victories over Marco BeltrĂĄn, Naoki Inoue, Louis Smolka, and Jordan Espinosa. 8 of Schnell’s 15 career wins have come by submission.

    The main event for UFC 271 has been announced to feature middleweight champion Israel Adesanya defending his title against former champion Robert Whittaker in a rematch of their 2019 showcase inside the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.

    With this addition, here is the updated lineup for UFC 271:

    UFC Middleweight Championship Bout: Israel Adesanya(c) vs. Robert Whittaker

    Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell

    Alexander Hernandez vs. Renato Moicano

    Roxanne Modafferi vs. Casey O’Neill

    Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Sergey Morozov

    Mark Madsen vs. Vinc Pichel

    Fabio Cherant vs. Carlos Ulberg

    Orion Cosce vs. Mike Mathetha

    Maxim Grishin vs. Ed Herman

    Ronnie Lawrence vs. Mana Martinez

    AJ Dobson vs. Jacob Malkoun

    MMA News will keep you updated on all the latest updates concerning the UFC 271 event.

  • UFC 269 Medical Suspensions: O’Malley Faces Potential 6-Month Layoff

    The medical suspensions have been released following last Saturday’s UFC 269 event, and four fighters face a six-month layoff.

    UFC 269 included one title retention in the main event and one new champion crowned. There were a total of six fighters who took home performance bonus checks for the action-packed night. If you missed any of the action at all, you can find all the results and highlights right here.

    Now that the dust has settled, there’s always the grim outlook of injuries sustained and potentially long layoffs. Four fighters could be out for six months if they do not receive medical clearance, including “Suga” Sean O’Malley.

    Below you can find the full medical suspensions list, courtesy of mixedmartialarts.com.

    UFC 269 Medical Suspensions List

    • Charles Oliveira suspended until 01/11/22. No contact until 01/02/22
    • Dustin Poirier suspended until 01/11/22. No contact until 01/02/22
    • Julianna Peña suspended until 01/11/22. No contact until 01/02/22
    • Amanda Nunes suspended until 01/26/22. No contact until 01/11/22
    • Geoff Neal suspended until 01/11/22. No contact until 01/02/22
    • Santiago Ponzinibbio suspended until 01/26/22 for right eye laceration. No contact until 01/11/22
    • Kai Kara-France: No suspension
    • Cody Garbrandt suspended until 01/26/22. No contact until 01/11/22
    • Sean O’Malley must have x-ray and MRI of right hand/base of thumb. If positive, he must be cleared by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until 06/10/22. Minimum suspension no contest until 01/11/22, no contact until 01/02/22
    • Raulian Paiva suspended until 01/26/22. No contact until 01/11/22
    • Josh Emmett suspended until 01/26/22. No contact until 01/11/22
    • Dan Ige suspend until 01/11/22. No contact until 01/02/22
    • Dominick Cruz: No suspension
    • Pedro Munhoz must have x-ray of right foot If positive, must be cleared by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until 06/10/22. Minimum suspension no contest until 01/26/22, no contact until 01/11/22
    • Tai Tuivasa: No suspension
    • Augusto Sakai suspended until 02/10/22 for left upper lip laceration. No contact until 01/26/22
    • Bruno Silva facing no suspension
    • Jordan Wright suspended until 01/26/22. No contact until 01/11/22
    • AndrĂ© Muniz: No suspension
    • Eryk Anders: No suspension
    • Erin Blanchfield: No suspension
    • Miranda Maverick must have x-ray of left foot. If positive, she must be cleared by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until 06/10/22. Minimum suspension no contest until 01/11/22, no contact until 01/02/22
    • Ryan Hall suspended until 01/26/22 for right eye laceration. No contact until 01/11/22
    • Darrick Minner: No suspension
    • Tony Kelley must have left shoulder cleared by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until 06/10/22. Minimum suspension no contest until 01/11/22, no contact until 01/02/22
    • Randy Costa suspended until 01/26/22 for left eye laceration. No contact until 01/11/22
    • Gillian Robertson suspended until 01/11/22. No contact until 01/02/22
    • Priscila Cachoeira: No suspension

  • UFC Rankings Report: Nunes Drops Noticeably, “The Suga Show” Arrives

    The UFC rankings have been updated following UFC 269, and we’ve got the full report for you below!

    Men’s Pound for Pound: After Charles Oliveira’s submission victory over Dustin Poirier in the UFC 269 main event, the Brazilian advances three spots up to #5. Conversely, Poirier falls three spots to #8. 

    Women’s Pound for Pound: Valentina Shevchenko is now the #1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the women’s rankings following Amanda Nunes’ loss to Julianna Peña at UFC 269. Nunes falls down to #3, with strawweight champion Rose Namajunas (#2) also placed in front of her. Peña skyrockets up seven spots to #4 after her submission victory over Nunes. 

    Peña’s move up the ranks has caused Zhang Weili (#5), Jessica Andrade (#6), Holly Holm (#7), and Carla Esparza (#8) to move down. Katlyn Chookagian (#10) and Xiaonan Yan (#11) also dropped down in this week’s rankings.

    Strawweight: No Changes

    Women’s Flyweight: Cynthia Calvillo (#9) and Jessica Eye (#10) swap positions.

    Women’s Bantamweight: Amanda Nunes is now the #1 contender after the crowning of new champion, Julianna Peña. Holly Holm is now ranked #2, and Irene Aldana sits at #3. Additionally, Pannie Kianzad (#12) and Karol Rosa (#13) swap places in the rankings. 

    Women’s Featherweight: N/A 

    Flyweight: Sumudaerji (#12) and Amir Albazi (#13) swap places for the second consecutive week. 

    Bantamweight: Following his victory over Pedro Munhoz at UFC 269, Dominick Cruz moves up two spots to #7 in the rankings. Marlon Vera made a big leap this week, jumping up three spots to #8 right behind Cruz. As for Munhoz, he dropped two spots to #10, and Marlon Moraes moved up one spot to #9. Frankie Edgar now sits at #11 after moving up two positions.

    Sean O'Malley
    Sean O’Malley (Image Credit: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

    And finally, “The Suga Show” has arrived in the UFC rankings, with the self-proclaimed “Unranked Champ” now being stripped of that title after debuting in the rankings at #13 following his first-round TKO of Raulian Paiva at UFC 269.

    Featherweight: Josh Emmett moves up to #6, with Arnold Allen (#7) and Giga Chikadze each (#8) falling back one position.

    Lightweight: Justin Gaethje is now the #1 contender, with Dustin Poirier ranked at #2 after his loss to champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 269.

    Welterweight: No Changes

    Middleweight: André Muniz debuts in the rankings at #13 following his eighth straight victory and advancing his UFC record to 4-0 by submitting Eryk Anders at UFC 269. This has caused Chris Weidman (#14) and Kevin Holland (#15) to drop in the rankings.

    Light Heavyweight: No Changes

    Heavyweight: After earning another knockout at UFC 269 over Augusto Sakai, Tai Tuivasa returns to the heavyweight rankings, landing at #11. Meanwhile, Sakai (#12), Blagoy Ivanov (#13), Walt Harris (#14), and Sergei Pavlovich (#15) each drop this week.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here. 

    What are your thoughts on these updates to the UFC rankings following UFC 269?

  • Dominick Cruz Shares His One Regret About Viral Cormier Criticisms

    Dominick Cruz regrets his viral comments criticizing Daniel Cormier’s performance as a color analyst—sort of.

    Prior to UFC 269, one story that made headlines across the MMA media was the critical remarks made by Dominick Cruz regarding Daniel Cormier’s job preparation as a color analyst. Here is a portion of what was said during the UFC 269 pre-fight media scrum.

    “I watch (Jon) Anik do so much homework leading up to a fight. Like, people have no idea how much homework he has to do to be prepared for that, and the most kudos, for me, goes to him. He leads us in the broadcast with how he talks. When it comes to DC, I usually mute it. I love DC, he’s my friend, but to me, from my experience, he doesn’t do the homework. He wants to get in and out, get the job done, make his money.”

    Cruz and Cormier later had a face-to-face dialogue to hash things out within hours of Cruz’s comments going viral. Cormier would then go on to serve as one of the commentators for Cruz’s UFC 269 bout against Pedro Munhoz, which saw the former bantamweight champion pick up his second consecutive win.

    Dominick Cruz Shares One Regret About His Viral Comments

    Dominick Cruz Daniel Cormier
    Photo via Facebook – Dominick Cruz

    Now a week removed from his comments and with the chaos of a PPV fight week now behind him, Dominick Cruz appeared on Monday’s installment of The MMA Hour hosted by Ariel Helwani.

    During the interview, Cruz was asked if he has any regrets about his comments. If he could do it again, Cruz would have said the same thing, but there is one thing he would have changed.

    “I don’t regret what I said because I hadn’t eaten in three days, I hadn’t drank in two days. They asked me questions, I spoke from my heart. And I don’t really regret what I said because it wasn’t mean. It was very loving. But what I regret, I guess, is where I said it. Maybe I shouldn’t have said it there because then that allowed the media to take it and do whatever they wanted with it.”

    As he did in the face-to-face discussion with Cormier, Cruz accused the media of manipulating his words for the sake of clicks. He would then clarify the point he was attempting to make when expressing the criticisms. According to Cruz, it was more about asking key, job-related questions as opposed to outright dressing down his partner.

    “You and me both know I love Cormier. You love Cormier. How do you not love Cormier?” Cruz asked Helwani. “He’s got the personality of gold. I get that. This was a completely different question we had. This was about job and what is your job? ‘Not everyone needs to do it your way, Dom.’ I hear you.

    “The point is, what is the job of a color analyst? Not my job. Not what is my job as a color analyst. What is your job as a color analyst? Well, is it just to know off the top of your head what these guys do? Put yourself in their position, Cormier. Would you want someone to watch film before you fight, or would you want them to not? That was the only question I asked. All the other defense came from whatever else it came from. I simply asked questions.”

    Cruz stated that he was satisfied with Cormier’s commentating performance during his UFC 269 bout with Pedro Munhoz. As someone who knows full well how difficult the job of an MMA color analyst is, the bantamweight legend appreciates, more than anything, whenever someone’s best effort is made while sitting at the desk.

  • Peña Responds To Backlash For Saying She’s The UFC’s 1st Mom Champ

    Newly crowned women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña has responded to the backlash she received for comments made following her UFC 269 title win.

    After pulling off one of the biggest upsets in MMA history, Julianna Peña served as an inspiration for many people. Peña entered her fight against Amanda Nunes as a +670 underdog, with Nunes cracking four figures as a -1000 favorite.

    However, it wasn’t the upset aspect that Peña noted as being historic about her victory. That, as she told reporters after the fight, would be her becoming the first birthing mother to become a UFC champion.

    “The UFC absolutely needs to create a new belt for me It needs to be ‘The Baddest Mom on the Planet,’ Peña said during the UFC 269 post-fight press conference. “And you know, I’m not trying to take away anything from Amanda. She’s a wonderful mother. But I gave birth to my daughter, and I know that I feel like, for giving birth, I am the first mom champ. And that, to me, is also a little feather in the cap.”

    Julianna Peña Reacts To Backlash

    Many considered Peña’s remarks to be distasteful, with her being accused of minimizing, if not disqualifying Amanda Nunes as a mother because she did not give birth to her daughter.

    When MMA reporter Ariel Helwani congratulated Peña on becoming the first UFC champion who gave birth to a child, he also caught some flack. This caused him to post a follow-up tweet to clarify why he feels Peña’s achievement should be celebrated.

    “FTR, I’m not trying to diminish anyone. Cmon. Just noting, given my immense respect for what women go through during and post-pregnancy, that this is a first and very much worth commending. That’s it. I know there are many ways to be a mom and they all deserve love + respect,” Helwani tweeted Saturday night.

    Helwani would have Peña on as a guest of Monday’s installment of The MMA Hour to respond to the backlash herself. First, Helwani defended Peña from the criticism she’s received and doubled down on his belief that her achievement as the first birth mother to win UFC gold is something to be celebrated.

    “Yes, it is, and my words were 1,000% misinterpreted,” Peña said. “I’m not trying to take away from Amanda as a mom-champ by any means. But what I meant to say is, you’re pregnant for 10 months, actually. And your body goes through massive changes. I went to my doctor’s appointment. I was almost 42 weeks pregnant at this point, and they’re like, ‘We gotta get this baby out now! STAT! Right now!’

    “They rushed me to the ER. And I got my guts ripped open. I’m literally (lying) on the table and looking at my guts on the side. They gut me like a fish; they stuffed it all back in. If it wasn’t for Mercier Therapy, I wouldn’t have been able to get back into the Octagon. And I think that that process of healing, and taking my actual time to do that Mercier Therapy, and taking the time to heal my body and get to fighting and be able to perform at my peak is a lot. And it says a lot to be able to do that after giving birth.”

    In the interview, Peña praised both Amanda and Nina Nunes for being great parents and reiterated that Amanda Nunes is a legitimate mom champ. That said, Peña believes she offers her own unique, inspirational story as a champion.

    “And I’m not, by any means, trying to take away from Amanda at all. All I was simply saying is that when I gave birth, I had to put my body through the trenches to get back to this point that I’m at right now. And it’s something that should be celebrated. But I, by no means, want to take away from Amanda’s accomplishments at all. She is an incredible mom-champ. She was an incredible champion. She did so much for the sport. But I am the new champion right now, and that is the light that I want to stay in.”

    Julianna Peña is expected to rematch Amanda Nunes sometime in 2022.

    What are your thoughts on Julianna Peña’s comments?

  • The Pulse of MMA: Fans React To Julianna Peña’s Upset Of Amanda Nunes

    The Pulse of MMA: Fan Reactions To The Sport’s Biggest Stories

    In this installment of The Pulse of MMA, we look at the raw, unfiltered reactions from MMA fans to the result of UFC 269’s co-main event that saw Julianna Peña upset Amanda Nunes.

    Julianna Peña def. Amanda Nunes via Submission

    Amanda Nunes entered the UFC 269 co-main event as a -1000 favorite against Julianna Peña. After a strong first round, Peña would stand and trade with Nunes, getting the better of the “The Lioness,” much to the surprise of the audience in attendance. That shock would then quickly expand when Peña made the victory official with her rear-naked choke submission in the second round.

    Here is one look at a stunned crowd’s reaction, including many fighters in attendance who could not believe what they just witnessed.

    We also covered fighters’ Twitter reactions to this stunning upset immediately after the event.

    But what about The Pulse of MMA? What were the reactions to the fans of our great sport after witnessing such a monumental moment! You can find the raw, unfiltered commentary on the crowning of a new UFC bantamweight champion below.

    https://twitter.com/wehaveagronk/status/1469896782377324550
    https://twitter.com/bromachenko/status/1469896097820721152
    https://twitter.com/DamnitChristoff/status/1469904822174375937
    https://twitter.com/MartialMind1/status/1469895227418812417

    Want to weigh in on the sport’s biggest stories? Be sure to follow us on Twitter and let your voice be heard!

  • Conor McGregor Sets Sights On Charles Oliveira Fight Upon UFC Return

    Conor McGregor has doubled down on his expectations of receiving a title shot upon his UFC return by getting an early start on hyping a fight against Charles Oliveira.

    At UFC 269, Charles Oliveira logged his first successful lightweight title defense when he submitted Dustin Poirier in the main event. UFC President Dana White has confirmed that Justin Gaethje will be next up for Oliveira, and Gaethje is already salivating at the future showdown.

    However, according to Conor McGregor, there is an X-factor in the 2022 lightweight title equation.

    Conor McGregor Sets His Sights On Charles Oliveira

    Last month, Conor McGregor caught many by surprise when the #9-ranked contender said he would be challenging for the lightweight title when he returns to action in 2022. Now that the UFC 269 dust has settled, McGregor again inserted himself into the lightweight title picture.

    “So what date am I fighting Oliveira?” McGregor asked Monday morning. He would then begin promoting the fight as a future international incident in the tweet below.

    McGregor would also share an image of himself in the gym with a UFC world title around his waist and a poster of himself hoisting up two UFC titles at UFC 205 in the background.

    It seems McGregor may be expecting to skip Justin Gaethje in the lightweight title queue since he singled out Oliveira instead of generalizing a title shot being next for him.

    Many would expect a fourth fight between McGregor and Dustin Poirier after the Irishman’s adamance at receiving a rematch following his doctor’s stoppage loss at UFC 264. With Poirier not capturing lightweight gold, there is nothing standing in the way of immediately booking that fight again, an idea that Dana White has expressed interest in.

    Dustin Poirier, Conor McGregor
    Image Courtesy of MMA Junkie

    McGregor has not won a fight since January 2020 and is 1-3 in his last four outings. Thus, a world title shot upon his return would seem to be a tough sell on principle, even if not at the box office.

    McGregor has also mentioned other bouts awaiting him in his near future. And with the noticeable weight gains he’s made during his post-surgery layoff, a welterweight run doesn’t seem at all out of the question, either, something else the Irishman has teased in the past.

    As of Monday, however, McGregor only has one name and one name only on his mind: undisputed UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.

    Do you think we’ll be seeing Charles Oliveira vs. Conor McGregor in 2022?

  • Claressa Shields Threatens To Sue Jake Paul & Team For Defamation

    Claressa Shields is willing to take the fight to Jake Paul beyond the boxing gym and into the court of law.

    This Saturday, Jake Paul returns to pay-per-view when he meets Tyron Woodley in a rematch of their August clash. However, the YouTuber may have another fight on his hands if he and his representatives are not mindful.

    Last week, Jake Paul’s management team BAVAFA Sports made a shocking claim. They stated in a tweet that Claressa Shields requested to be placed on the undercard for Jake Paul events on multiple occasions. This was a curious revelation seeing as how adamantly Shields has refused to ever even consider doing such a thing in the past.

    In fact, it was her open dismissal of that very idea that sparked a feud between herself and Paul, which included the YouTuber mocking her after her first MMA loss and Shields later challenging Paul to a $100,000 sparring match.

    Once Shields saw the tweet from Paul’s management team, she issued a warning about making such claims.

    “Somebody bout to get sued for lying on my name. Can’t wait to call my lawyer tomorrow morning.”

    “Never have I ever. I’m bout Sue @jakepaul & his team for defamation and of character cause I ain’t never asked to be on no undercard of no YouTuber!”

    “@BAVAFASports y’all bout to get sued! Because Claressa Shields ain’t never asked to be on Jake Paul undercard. You sound crazy as hell! My lawyer will be reaching out though! Use my name for clout. I’ll use your name for a check losers”

    After a fan stated that Shields was continuously being disrespected, the Olympic gold medalist put an end to the discussion with some strong closing remarks.

    “They bout to have to write a check they ass gonna hate having to cash. Because you talk trash but lying on me is another story! I’m a BIG BOSS WITH A BIG LAWYER!”

    Claressa Shields will be competing again on January 29 against Ema Kozin in a boxing match. Her MMA return has not yet been set, though she plans to compete again in 2022 following her loss to Abigail Montes in October.

    Do you believe Claressa Shields has a potential legal case against Jake Paul and his representation for defamation of character?

  • Julianna Peña’s Victory Lap Includes Circling Back To Three Opponents

    Newly crowned UFC bantamweight champion Julianna Peña is ready and willing to fight whomever the UFC puts in front of her, but there are three names she specifically has in mind.

    At UFC 269, Julianna Peña pulled off the upset of the year and one of the biggest upsets in UFC history when she submitted Amanda Nunes in the co-main event. UFC President Dana White has already expressed interest in booking a rematch between the two if Nunes wants it. But what about the new champ?

    “The Venezuelan Vixen” did not hesitate to commit to the idea.

    “We can do it next week, I’m free next month, two months from now. Whenever they want to do it, I’m ready,” Peña said during the UFC 269 post-fight press conference. “In all fairness, I’ve been in camp for a year. I really think my daughter deserves some well-deserved mommy time, a little vacation. After that, definitely. If she wants to do a rematch, we can do a rematch.”

    Julianna Peña Eyes Two Other Rematches

    Julianna Pena eyes quick turnaround after submission loss to Germaine de Randamie at UFC Fight Island 4 - MMAmania.com

    The outside world did not have much faith in Julianna Peña heading into UFC 269, but there was one thing most everyone could agree on about her: she was not short on confidence.

    Therefore, it should come as no surprise that she sees herself remaining in full control of whom she fights next outside of an Amanda Nunes rematch. And if she has it her way, not only will she give a rematch, but she will also receive two rematches to avenge her only losses in the UFC.

    “I think that there’s some rematches that I want to do. I would like to go down and challenge Valentina Shevchenko. I would love to get that rematch against Germaine de Randamie. I would love a rematch, if that’s what she wants, against Amanda Nunes. Those are the rematches that I have in my peripheral.”

    Peña’s loss to current women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko took place in 2017 via armbar in what was then a #1-contender bout. And last year, Peña dropped a fight to former featherweight champ Germaine de Randamie via third-round guillotine.

    Below, you check out the start of Julianna Peña’s victory lap around her naysayers in this Octagon interview following her UFC 269 upset of Amanda Nunes.

    How do you think Julianna Peña would fare if this rematch tour comes together?

  • Flashback To Dana White Appearing On The Rock’s “Wake Up Call”

    Seven years ago today, UFC President Dana White was featured on The Rock’s reality television show Wake-Up Call in the series premiere on TNT.

    The one-hour show featured The Rock mentoring people who were struggling in their lives. The first and only season of the show featured eight episodes.

    In the debut edition that debuted seven years ago to this day, The Rock and Dana White attempted to give teenager Terrell Moore a shot at becoming a professional mixed-martial-arts fighter.

    You can find a clip of the trailer for the series premiere below.

    “I literally walked out on the job when I was 19 years old where I made good money because I knew I wanted to be in the fight business,” White said. “And there was no guarantees I was going to do anything in the fight business or ever make it. And my whole life I’ve been overcoming hurdles.

    “When I came up with the idea to buy the UFC, I went to the Fertitta brothers and pitched them this idea. We bought the UFC and it wasn’t some huge success story. We were $44 million in the hole before we turned this thing around. So I’ve had a ton of seven-buck moments in my life.”

    As White alluded to, the series was inspired by The Rock’s story of when he hit Rock Bottom with only $7 to his name, only to later become a multi-millionaire and global icon years later.

    The theme of the show is to follow the journey of other big dreamers who were being pushed by The Rock and sometimes other people who took life-changing risks before finding tremendous success.

    In 2021, Dana White is still finding success as the UFC President, which continues to turn a larger profit year after year. Meanwhile, The Rock has been named the highest-paid athlete in Hollywood on many occasions throughout his legendary and versatile acting career.

    Did you ever catch any episodes of The Rock’s Wake-Up Call series?

  • Flashback To When Fedor Dared Dana White To Let Him Fight Couture

    Fedor Emelianenko hasn’t thought too highly of UFC President Dana White for well over a decade now.

    The year was 2007. Fedor Emelianenko was the PRIDE FC world heavyweight champion for over four years strong and was days away from his 24th consecutive victory, with the then 1-0 Choi Hong-man pegged as the next victim.

    It was during this December that Dana White was quoted as saying the following:

    “I don’t think Fedor is a top-five heavyweight in the world, and I’m not saying that because I didn’t get Fedor. I’ve always felt that way about Fedor and I always felt Randy Couture would beat Fedor … Fedor is a farce.” 

    In a 2007 interview with MMA Weekly, Fedor was asked to respond to these comments, and the Russian legend was sure to include a daring proposal to Dana White in his retort.

    “Dana talks a lot and uses words lightly. Let Randy Couture fight me. Allow this fight that everyone wants to take place. Me, Randy and MMA fans all over the world want it. The only obstacle is Dana.”

    Fedor’s interest in fighting then-UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture was purely professional. Many people, Dana White included, have lamented the fact that the MMA world never bore witness to Fedor vs. Lesnar. However, a Russian icon in Fedor Emelianenko going against an American icon in Randy Couture in a champion vs. champion clash would have been pure money, and Fedor was convinced everyone wanted to see it. 

    “People want to see this fight and I want to meet him in the ring. I have the greatest respect for Randy and have always admired him. I am also thankful that he has such a high opinion of me.”

    As recently as two months ago, Fedor was still letting his thoughts on Dana White be known. The legend stated that White was selfish and lacks respect for fighters. That said, even though Fedor is incredibly still fighting, and winning, at age 45, don’t expect his swan song to include any high notes in the UFC.

    Who do you think would have won between Fedor Emelianenko and Randy Couture?

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  • Flashback To Conor McGregor’s 13-Second KO Of JosĂ© Aldo At UFC 194

    Six years ago today, Conor McGregor made the giant leap from rising star to megastar, and it only took him 13 seconds.

    UFC 194 was headlined by the featherweight unification title bout between undisputed champion José Aldo and Conor McGregor. The build-up remains, to this day, one of the most contentious of all time due to the relentless provocation of Aldo by The Notorious One.

    Here is an extended look at the build-up of what was arguably the most anticipated fight in the history of the featherweight division and of 2015.

    The Play-By-Play

    Below is a look at the live play-by-play provided by MMA News during the UFC 194 event (h/t Matt Boone):

    Round 1: The first two “holy sh*t I can’t believe this is happening” fights delivered lots of action, drama, and storytelling. Now, it’s time for the real deal. The main event. The one everyone has been waiting for. To UFC’s credit, they did not stall or do much hype bullsh*t at all. They went from Rockhold and Weidman interviews to Conor McGregor’s entrance in just a few minutes.

    “Notorious B.I.G.” by The Notorious B.I.G. plays as “The Notorious” Conor McGregor wraps up in the Irish flag and makes his walk to the Octagon. Can he really get it done against the best in the world, or is he just really good? We’re about to find out!

    McGregor settles in the cage as the camera pans and “Run This Town” by Jay-Z, Kanye West & Rihanna plays as the only UFC 145-pound champion in history, JosĂ© Aldo, begins his walk to the cage. The dude looks ready as hell, folks. Bruce Buffer does his thing. Seconds, people. SECONDS away. McGregor is introduced and takes to the center of the cage like a boss. Aldo is introduced and swings side-to-side with his head down the entire time like a killer.

    Staredown time. Aldo walks up with his head down and continues what he was just doing. McGregor just stares at him. Here we go!

    Holy shit, it’s over. McGregor face-planted Aldo with his first shot. One follow-up. Aldo was out stiff, face-first. Ladies and gentlemen, “The Notorious” Conor McGregor is the real deal. He did what he said he was going to do again.

    Conor McGregor def. Jose Aldo via knockout (punch) at 0:13 of Round 1 to become the new undisputed UFC Featherweight Champion.

    Note: 13 seconds folks. Prior to Bruce Buffer’s official decision, we saw JosĂ© Aldo with a towel covering his face crying. Poor guy. McGregor meanwhile is doing the “make it rain” hand gesture sitting on top of the cage. McGregor says he feels sad for Aldo but precision beats power. We see replays of the knockout again.

    The Live Reaction

    Check out this video the UFC put together of the live reaction to this historic KO:

    The Aftermath

    After this ascent to megastardom, Conor McGregor would take it up even another level when he became the first-ever simultaneous multi-division champion when he defeated Eddie Alvarez for the UFC lightweight championship at UFC 205.

    Today, McGregor is ranked #9 in the UFC’s lightweight division and continues to set records and accumulate wealth inside and outside of the Octagon. Meanwhile, JosĂ© Aldo has been unable to reclaim UFC championship gold but is currently experiencing a career resurgence that has him ranked #3 in the bantamweight division.

    As for that contentious build-up, these two former enemies have been exchanging mutual respect recently, with McGregor even coming to Aldo’s defense after Khabib Nurmagomedov questioned his current skill level.

    What was your reaction to Conor McGregor’s historic 13-second knockout of JosĂ© Aldo at UFC 194?

  • Dustin Poirier Uncertain Of Future After UFC 269 Loss

    If anybody can come back from adversity, it’s Dustin Poirier, but that’s not the question Poirier will be confronting in the coming days.

    At UFC 269, Dustin Poirier entered the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada as a man with a second chance. Two years ago, Poirier contested for the undisputed lightweight title for the first time, and he lost via rear-naked choke to then-champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    UFC 242 results: Khabib Nurmagomedov submits Dustin Poirier to retain
    Image Credit: Per Haljestam, USA TODAY Sports

    In his second attempt at undisputed gold yesterday against Charles Oliveira, he would fall victim to the same hold in the same third round.

    During the UFC 269 post-fight press conference, a brave and visibly emotional Poirier was asked about his future. The veteran is unsure what the future holds, but he is certain that if he chooses to be right back challenging for the world title again, he would.

    However, he is still unsure if that will happen for reasons that go deeper than his abilities.

    “I can do anything I put my mind to,” Poirier told reporters. “I can fight for another belt. I can go on another streak. I can claw, and climb, and get back to wherever I wanna be. It’s just, do I want to? That’s the question I have to look in the mirror and answer. Do I want to do it again? Do I want to go down that road again?

    Dustin Poirier
    Dustin Poirier (Photo: Chris Unger/Zuffa)

    “And that answer will come in the next couple days, next couple weeks. I just need to let this pass and see what’s next for me. But if it’s in my heart and that’s what I wanna do, I’ll be here again fighting for another world title.”

    Dustin Poirier has proven time and time again that he can pull himself up by the bootstraps and get right back to work, whether it’s in the middle of a taxing battle or if it’s after a major setback in the form of a loss. Poirier has hinted at retirement earlier this year, but leading up to this fight he sounded much more certain about sticking around.

    However, those plans were uttered with the expectation that he would be the undisputed lightweight world champion. Now that he has come up short for the second time, it sounds as though everything hangs in the balance for Dustin Poirier, and fans will have to wait and see what the future holds for this living legend.

    You can view Dustin Poirier’s full UFC 269 post-fight press conference scrum below.

  • O’Malley Slams Cormier’s ‘Amateur’ Commentary: “Don’t Say Stupid S**t”

    You can add Sean O’Malley to the list of Daniel Cormier’s commentary critics.

    Last week, Daniel Cormier was the subject of criticism for his performance as a UFC commentator by his own colleague, Dominick Cruz. Cormier and Cruz later hashed things out to some degree with the aid of mediator Michael Bisping. Cormier would then go on to call Cruz’s UFC 269 victory over Pedro Munhoz alongside Joe Rogan and Jon Anik without missing a beat.

    However, there is another fighter who competed at UFC 269 who has something to say about Cormier’s commentating skills or perceived lack thereof.

    “Suga” Sean O’Malley defeated Raulian Paiva to kick off the pay-per-view and was then asked how the fight played out relative to his expectations during the post-fight press conference. Here is what O’Malley said in response.

    “I did see [the Paiva fight] playing out like that. And I want to thank myself for looking at the clock and seeing how much time was left because some people, Daniel Cormier—my last fight, he’s like, ‘Oh, my god! He’s looking at the clock!’ It’s like, what are you talking about, dude? Of course. Yeah, I’m gonna look at the clock. If I didn’t look at the clock, I wouldn’t know how much time I have left. I landed a big shot. I  don’t know much time I got left. I gotta know, should I empty my tank and try to take this dude out, or should I wait and have the rest of the fight—save my energy. 

    Kris Moutinho O'Malley
    PHOTO: MMA FIGHTING

    “So that kinda bugged me (that he) kept bringing that up. ‘Oh, he looked at the clock! Oh, he looked at the clock!’ It’s like, dude’s a double-champ. It’s like, where’s your IQ, your fight IQ? You think LeBron James is gonna fuckin’ drive the ball down and not look at the clock? It’s amateur…

    “Don’t say stupid shit,” O’Malley later added about Cormier’s commentary.

    O’Malley Shares Theory To Explain His Perception Of DC’s Commentary

    In the above comments, O’Malley is referencing his UFC 264 victory over Kris Moutinho in July. Cormier pointed out that O’Malley was repeatedly looking at the clock during the fight, with the implication being that O’Malley was tiring to Moutinho’s relentless forward pressure.

    The more O’Malley thought about it, he eventually landed on a theory that could explain Cormier’s commentary.

    “I’ve always felt like DC wants me to lose,” O’Malley said. “I don’t know. I could be completely wrong. I just sat down with him the other day. It’s not like he doesn’t like me personally. I just feel like he kinda wants to see me lose. I don’t know what it is, if I remind him of a young Jon Jones—but for some reason, I feel like he wants me to lose.”

    O’Malley would taper these criticisms by saying there’s a chance he is being overly sensitive and is way off base. He also confessed that he himself would be terrible at the gig and that UFC commentators have a very difficult job to do.

    Commentary aside, O’Malley has now moved to 15-1 as a professional and is now on a three-fight winning streak. As O’Malley awaits his next fight, perhaps now he and Cormier could hash out these criticisms in the public eye with or without the aid of Michael Bisping.

    What are your thoughts on these comments from Sean O’Malley regarding Daniel Cormier’s commentary?

  • Archives: Reliving The Cancellation Of UFC 233 (2018)

    On this day three years ago, UFC 233 joined UFC 151 and UFC 176 as the only two UFC pay-per-views to be cancelled. Below you’ll find our coverage of the announcement the moment it came through.

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DECEMBER 12, 2018, 2:43 PM]

    Headline: UFC 233 in Anaheim Scrapped, Fights Being Rebooked on Other Events

    Author: Damon Martin

    UFC 233 scheduled for Jan. 26 in Anaheim, Calif. has been scrapped after the UFC failed to secure a main event for the upcoming show at the Honda Center.

    UFC officials announced the news on Wednesday.

    “UFC today announced that the UFC 233 pay-per-view event scheduled for January 26 is postponed,” UFC officials wrote in a statement. “All bouts previously slated for UFC 233 are being rescheduled for upcoming cards. The February 10th pay-per-view event at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Australia will remain titled UFC 234: Whittaker vs. Gastelum. Tickets for UFC 234 sold out within minutes.

    “UFC’s 2019 event calendar will still feature 12 Pay-Per-View events. Additional details about the postponed pay-per-view will be announced at a later date.”

    While the UFC is using the language ‘postponed’, UFC 233 has been scrapped completely, although the promotion does still plan on 12 total pay-per-view cards for 2019.

    Plans for the main event for UFC 233 were constantly evolving after the flyweight title fight between Henry Cejudo and T.J. Dillashaw was moved from the Anaheim card to Brooklyn to headline the first UFC on ESPN+ card on Jan. 19.

    The UFC hoped to schedule a welterweight title fight between Tyron Woodley and Colby Covington but the reigning champion at 170 pounds was still recovering from thumb surgery and wasn’t certain he could compete as early as Jan. 26.

    The UFC then began scrambling to try and find all sorts of alternatives to fill the void for the main event but nothing ever came together.

    With that, the UFC decided to cancel UFC 233 completely with the fights from that card being shifted to different events in the near future.

    There’s no word on where the fights will end up but sources say the UFC has started reaching out to managers to begin talks on moving the bouts to nearby events in January, February or March.

  • Diaz and McGregor Take Shots At Dustin Poirier Over “Embarrassing” Loss

    Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor both had something to say about Dustin Poirier’s loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 269.

    In last night’s UFC 269 main event, Dustin Poirier and champion Charles Oliveira went to war to solidify who was the best lightweight in the world. It was Oliveira who had his hand raised in the end to log his first successful title defense. Poirier was gracious and classy in defeat, but grace was not something extended to the Louisianian by two familiar faces to him, Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor.

    First, Diaz took an indirect shot at nemesis Conor McGregor in his reaction to the outcome of the UFC 269 main event.

    “How Conor let Dp fuck him up hella times he sucks”

    It’s up for interpretation if the “he” is in reference to McGregor or Poirier, but judging by the overall context, it would seem the insult could apply equally to either gentleman.

    Poirier had more pressing issues to deal with at the moment than what Nate Diaz had to say about him, but McGregor continues to have plenty of time to fire back at his rival while also launching an indirect shot at Poirier in this instance.

    “you lanky string of piss he got lumped around and got lucky twice. That’s it. Is what it is. Embarrassing night for him alright. That closed guard game. Wtf was that. Wow! Shocking. All good happy Sat night horse yupya it’s proper twelve day tomorrow 12/12. New Paddy’s Day!,” McGregor said in response to Diaz.

    Nate Diaz and Dustin Poirier have been linked together in the past. The two were supposed to fight at UFC 230 in 2018, but that fight fell apart, with both fighters pointing the finger at the other as far as who was to blame for the collapse.

    Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier have fought three times, with Poirier getting the better of McGregor twice, as Diaz alluded to in his tweet. The last time Poirier and McGregor competed against one another was at UFC 264. At the close of this trilogy bout, McGregor suffered a gruesome leg injury that resulted in a Poirier TKO victory via doctor’s stoppage.

    What do you make of these remarks from Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor about Dustin Poirier’s UFC 269 loss?

  • Dana White Says Amanda Nunes Will Get Peña Rematch If She Wants It

    Amanda Nunes may have lost for the first time in seven years, but she still is in the driver’s seat of what happens next at the top of the bantamweight division.

    At UFC 269, Julianna Peña stunned a public that bet Amanda Nunes up to be a -1000 favorite heading into the co-main event. Not only did Peña pull off the upset, but she was able to get the finish within two rounds.

    UFC 269: Amanda Nunes stunningly CHOKED OUT by Julianna Pena in one of biggest upset wins in MMA history - thejjReport
    Julianna Pena, Amanda Nunes

    The finish was convincing. And although “doubt” would be an understatement regarding what Peña was up against coming into the fight, she managed to leave none about who deserved to have their hand raised at UFC 269. Indeed, odds aside, Julianna Peña proved to be the better woman on the night of December 11, and her bulletproof confidence was rewarded with bantamweight gold.

    Peña vs. Nunes 2 Already In The Works?

    However, be all that as it may, Julianna Peña may just have to turn around and do what no one has ever done before: defeat Amanda Nunes twice. All that needs to happen to place this task in front of her is “The Lioness” saying the word.

    “It’s a big rematch if [Nunes] wants it,” White said at the UFC 269 post-fight press conference.

    During the UFC 269 pre-fight press conference, Peña was actually asked about this scenario of an immediate rematch when it was all completely hypothetical. Here is what she had to say:

    “Yes, an immediate rematch, and when I win that fight, I will be 11-2 in the division, which is a better bantamweight record in the history of the bantamweight division.”

    If this remains Peña’s stance, then all that’s left is the green light from Amanda Nunes. MMA News will keep you posted if and when that immediate rematch becomes a work in progress.

    Do you think there should be an immediate rematch between Amanda Nunes and Julianna Peña?