MMA News

Author: Clyde Aidoo

  • Masvidal Contradicts Heel Origin Story Covington Has Told For Years

    Jorge Masvidal claims that the origin of Colby Covington’s outspoken persona did not begin for the reasons his former teammate claims it did.

    Prior to his 2017 fight against Demian Maia, Colby Covington was on a four-fight winning streak and had a UFC record of 7-1. Yet, according to Covington, that was not enough for the UFC. He claims the promotion said they were going to cut him despite the fact that he was winning because he was not entertaining enough.

    As the story goes, it was this warning that led to the infamous “filthy animals” Octagon interview after he defeated Demian Maia in São Paulo, Brazil.

    At the time of this promo, Covington and Masvidal were still teammates and close friends. And Masvidal claims to have direct knowledge that the reason for Covington’s promo had absolutely nothing to do with the UFC putting him on notice.

    “The UFC didn’t say that. Colby said that,” Masvidal told ESPN in reference to the true origin of the “bad boy” side of Covington.

    Masvidal went on to state that he, not unlike the Brazilian audience, was blindsided by the promo.

    “I didn’t know that it was coming. I was like, ‘Man, I don’t know how I feel about that. Because for me to have to diss a whole nation to get my name out there, to me, is like—damn. Especially in Brazil. There’s a lot of kids suffering. There’s a lot of hungry people out there. You’re kinda going too far.”

    Masvidal went on to say that he told Colby that what he said was wrong, and Covington did not take the criticism well.

    Masvidal: Jędrzejczyk & Nunes Have Both Confronted Covington

    During his fallout with American Top Team, Colby Covington did not only target Jorge Masvidal. He has also had words about Dustin Poirier and two female leaders of the gym: Joanna Jędrzejczyk and, allegedly, ex-teammate Amanda Nunes.

    Masvidal questions why Covington would speak about Jędrzejczyk and Nunes at all if his aim was just to sell pay-per-views as he claims.

    “Why’s he talking about Joanna? Why is he talking about Amanda? Is he gonna fight them? Is he gonna make pay-per-views with them? Because his whole thing is like, <whimpering> ‘UFC was gonna cut me. I need to sell pay-per-views,’” Masvidal said.

    Joanna Jedrzejczyk Colby Covington
    Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Colby Covington

    “You’re gonna sell pay-per-views when you fight Amanda? Why are you insulting women? Why are you bringing up women and things that you would do to them, this and that? Like, you’re a [MUTED] coward. And then he would see Amanda like, ‘Hey, Amanda, it’s just businesses.’ I’ve seen him myself do that. Same thing with Joanna. Same thing with numerous guys.”

    According to Jędrzejczyk, Jorge Masvidal has all of American Top Team on his back when he faces Colby Covington this Saturday at UFC 272. The night will present Masvidal with an opportunity to avenge all the teammates Covington trashed in the past. And no matter what was the origin of Covington’s decision to begin behaving in such an abrasive manner, Masvidal will look to put an end to it once and for all in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    What do you make of Jorge Masvidal’s remarks about Colby Covington’s persona?

  • The Countdown To UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal Officially Begins

    After two years of build-up, the “former friends turned bitter rivals” story starring Colby “Chaos” Covington and Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal will reach its climax.

    It’s fight week, and we now are limited to five more days of torrid trash talk between former chums Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal. Both fighters are coming off a loss to Kamaru Usman in their latest fight and will be looking to reroute back to the top of the division, beginning with this grudge match.

    In the co-main event, Rafael dos Anjos will be competing against Renato Moicano. And in another featured bout, rising featherweight Bryce Mitchell will be tested against proven vet Edson Barboza.

    UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal: Countdown

    “This isn’t gonna be a baptism. This is gonna be Street Judas’ funeral.” – Colby Covington

    Colby Covington
    Colby Covington, Getty Images

    At UFC 272, Colby Covington will look to put an end to Jorge Masvidal as we know him. The Countdown video captures the intensity and the “Chaos” that Covington plans to bring with him into the Octagon when he seeks to close out this dramatic chapter of his career.

    “I’m gonna look at him. You know what the [BLEEP] I’m talkin’ about, man. I brought you in, and I’m gonna take your ass out.” – Jorge masvidal

    Jorge Masvidal
    © Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

    At UFC 272, Jorge Masvidal finally gets the opportunity he’s been craving: to be the man to silence Colby Covington. The Countdown video captures Masvidal explaining why he feels it’s his responsibility to wipe Covington off the MMA map.

    Overall, the Countdown video does a thorough job of telling both sides of the story of how the two became friends, when and why things went sour, and just how eager they are to finally settle matters.

    “In my mind, I want to do this forever because I’m a fighter. – Edson Barboza

    Edson Barboza
    Edson Barboza, Credit: USA TODAY Sports

    UFC iron man Edson Barboza will be entering year 12 of his UFC tenure at UFC 272 when he takes on Bryce Mitchell. The Countdown video captures what makes Barboza such a thrilling, must-see staple of the UFC roster.

    “When the fight first starts, it’s basically gonna be like a little simmer. When I get him down, it’s a boil. And when I get him in certain spots, it’s a pressure cook. If I can get him in certain spots where I can pressure-cook him, then that meat’s gonna fall off the bone.” – Bryce Mitchell

    Bryce Mitchell
    Bryce Mitchell (Image Credit: Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

    At UFC 272, 27-year-old grappling maestro Bryce Mitchell will try to add the biggest feather in his fresh cap by defeating Edson Barboza. The Countdown video captures the “grappling vs. striker” dynamic of this fight in large part by highlighting Mitchell’s impressive submission skills.

    The co-main event between Rafael dos Anjos and Renato Moicano is not featured in the Countdown video due to the last-minute nature of that booking.

    UFC 272 takes place this Saturday, March 5, 2022, from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Neva. You can find the full card and viewing information below followed by the UFC 272 Countdown video.

    Main Card (Pay-Per-View, 8:00 PM ET)

    Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby Covington

    Rafael dos Anjos vs. Renato Moicano

    Edson Barboza vs. Bryce Mitchell

    Kevin Holland vs. Alex Oliveira

    Sergey Spivak vs. Greg Hardy

    Preliminary Card (ESPN/ESPN+, 6:00 PM ET)

    Jamie Mullarkey vs. Jalin Turner

    Yan Xiaonan vs. Marina Rodriguez

    Nicolae Negumereanu vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu

    Mariya Agapova vs. Maryna Moroz

    Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass, 4:00 PM ET)

    Brian Kelleher vs. Umar Nurmagomedov

    Tim Elliott vs. Tagir Ulanbekov

    Ludovit Klein vs. Devonte Smith

    Dustin Jacoby vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk

    Without further ado, you can check out the UFC 272 Countdown video below!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oxenHOvDV4

  • Archives: Hendricks: ‘I Wish GSP Would’ve Stayed Out’ Of MMA (2017)

    On November 16, 2013, Georges St-Pierre earned what was widely considered to be the narrowest, most hard-earned victory of his career when he defeated Johny Hendricks via split decision at UFC 167. After this bout, GSP walked away from the sport, and it appeared as though we had likely seen the welterweight great compete for the last time in MMA.

    As we later found out, St-Pierre would return four years later when he claimed the middleweight title from Michael Bisping. Prior to St-Pierre making the walk again, it was uncertain who he would be facing upon his return. If it were up to Johny Hendricks, there wouldn’t have been another opponent at all.

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

    On This Day Five Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 27, 2017, 6:21 PM]

    Headline: Johny Hendricks: ‘I Wish GSP Would’ve Stayed Out’ of MMA Competition

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    One person who isn’t very excited to see the return of Georges St-Pierre is Johny Hendricks.

    Hendricks is fresh off his unanimous decision victory over Hector Lombard last Sunday night (Feb. 19) inside the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was “Bigg Rigg’s” middleweight debut. Hendricks hasn’t made the top 15 in the official Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 185-pound rankings yet, but he may be one win away from changing that.

    Upon hearing the news of St-Pierre’s professional mixed martial arts (MMA) return, Hendricks didn’t sound too enthusiastic. Hendricks competed against “Rush” back in Nov. 2013 for the welterweight championship. St-Pierre retained his title by a controversial split decision win. He then went on a hiatus, vacating his title in the process.

    Since that time, Hendricks has won the 170-pound title. He has also gone 3-4 in his last seven fights, losing the title to Robbie Lawler in that time.

    On today’s (Feb. 27) edition of “The MMA Hour” (via MMAMania.com), Hendricks revealed he doesn’t necessarily agree with St-Pierre’s decision to come back:

    “I am (surprised to see him back), I wish he would’ve stayed out. But you know what, a competitor is always going to be a competitor and we’ll see how he comes back. I heard he might be coming to 185, so you know I do (want a piece of him). So like I went through my rough period, and I did something and was able to bounce back. Whenever he went through his rough period, he got out. Yeah, you can train, yeah you could do these things, but has he done enough to where he is going to be able to come back a different fighter?”

    An opponent, date, and venue have not been announced for “Rush’s” comeback fight. His coach, Firas Zahabi, hopes his fighter is eyeing big fights with UFC lightweight king Conor McGregor and middleweight title holder Michael Bisping.

  • Makhachev Expects Title Shot But Also Open To “Easy” McGregor Fight

    Islam Makhachev is expecting a title fight next, but he doesn’t mind a pit stop with one enticing pickup along his route.

    With 10 consecutive victories now under his belt after defeating Bobby Green at UFC Vegas 49, Islam Makhachev is done waiting. Just as he has been saying for several months now, Makhachev believes the only fight that makes sense for him at this juncture is a world title fight against the winner of the upcoming Charles Oliveira (c) vs. Justin Gaethje lightweight championship bout.

    However, Conor McGregor is not walking back his comments from earlier this year of expecting a lightweight title fight upon his return. Despite the fact that he is not yet cleared to return and him bulking up noticeably, the Irishman’s gaze remains fixed on Oliveira’s pounds of gold.

    Appearing at Bellator 275 this weekend, McGregor reiterated his interest in a championship match against Oliveira, even advising the Brazilian to wait an extra month or two so that they could scrap it up in July.

    At the UFC Vegas 49 post-fight presser, Makhachev was asked about where McGregor fits into the title picture. Although Makhachev finds McGregor to be irrelevant, the Dagestani did express interest in fighting The Notorious One to make him earn the title shot he’s been asking for.

    “Honestly, I don’t remember when this guy beat someone,” Makhachev said. “He have to come back, beat someone, and … let’s go, why not? I’m gonna smash him like easy. Bobby Green is gonna be hard for me more than for him (McGregor).”

    Makhachev is currently ranked #4 in the lightweight division. With Dustin Poirier (#2) just receiving a title shot at UFC 269, Justin Gaethje (#1) being up next, and Beneil Dariush (#3) being injured with no timetable to return, there is a clear path for Makhachev to get the next shot. Meanwhile, McGregor is unranked and, to Makhachev’s point, has not won a fight at 155 lbs. since 2016.

    Nevertheless, Makhachev does not appear to be exempt from the “Red Panty Night” guest list sign-up, where everyone seems to want an invite to the party. The fact that McGregor has a deep history with Makhachev’s mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, is probably just as much of an incentive for Makhachev to take this fight as the payday.

    You’ll want to stay tuned to see what lies in store for Makhachev, McGregor, and the rest of the lightweight division in 2022. And the best place to be for all the latest news and updates is right here at MMANews.com.

    Do you think a fight between Conor McGregor and Islam Makhachev would make sense right now?

  • Archives: De La Hoya: MayMac Is A Disrespect to Boxing (2017)

    If you want a timestamp for when UFC President Dana White began to loathe Oscar De La Hoya, it began with what De La Hoya said in this article five years ago, and it was still going strong when De La Hoya himself mixed the “two different sports” by later trying to fight MMA fighters.

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

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 26, 2017, 10:58 PM]

    Headline: Oscar De La Hoya: ‘Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather is a Disrespect to Boxing’

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Oscar De La Hoya is not a fan of the Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather talks.

    The boxing Hall of Famer and current promoter through Golden Boy Promotions has heard ramblings of a mega-fight between “Notorious” and “Money.” De La Hoya certainly knows a thing or two about the sweet science. He has won multiple world championships in the sport of boxing.

    De La Hoya doesn’t have much faith in McGregor’s chances in a boxing match with Mayweather. At the same time, he doesn’t believe Mayweather would fare any better in a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) contest against the current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight titleholder.

    Canelo Alvarez, who fights under Golden Boy Promotions, has had some beef with McGregor. He recently said a boxing match-up between McGregor and Mayweather is a “joke” for the sport of boxing.

    During a recent appearance on SiriusXM’s ATF radio show, De La Hoya shared the same opinion:

    “Well I do. It’s a disrespect to boxing because they’re two different sports. I mean look, put Floyd and McGregor in the ring and Floyd will box his ears off. Put Floyd in the Octagon and McGregor will submit him by twisting his toe or something. You know what I’m saying? It’s a whole different sport.”

  • Archives: Conor McGregor Speaks On Preparing For Life After UFC (2020)

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

    On This Day Two Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 26, 2020, 6:09 PM]

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Conor McGregor has spoken out on an athlete’s life following their careers in sports.

    McGregor has become the most popular figure in all of mixed martial arts. His reach has gone beyond fans of the sport and he has transitioned to the mainstream media. The “Notorious” one has taken advantage of the opportunity with his whiskey brand and his August McGregor lifestyle brand.

    Conor McGregor Discusses Life After UFC

    McGregor is still a viable competitor but he knows that the time on a fighter’s career doesn’t last forever. Speaking to The Mac Life, McGregor talked about the steps he’s taken to ensure he’s well off after he hangs up his gloves (h/t LowKickMMA.com).

    “Athletic life is short right? As cruel as it sounds no-one really cares about the athlete post-career. I mean it’s as simple as that and that’s not just fighting it’s in any sport. So, I have studied many athletes’ careers both in combat sport and in professional sport and just analyzed it. I saw the do’s and the don’t and things that can create an afterlife in the game. For, me I’ve just gone down things I’m passionate about. I went down the fight game because I’m passionate about it – I wouldn’t have reached the levels I’ve reached in the fight game without having passion for it. And the whiskey game, the fashion game you know.”

    McGregor went on to say that he’s fortunate enough to be able to explore options outside of fighting. McGregor has already made an impact with his Proper No. 12 Irish Whiskey brand. An ad for the whiskey was even placed on the canvas for the big heavyweight boxing rematch between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.

    But as long as McGregor is still fighting, fans will continue to speculate what’s next for him. ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reports that the UFC is having early talks of booking McGregor to compete this summer. The candidates for his opponent are said to be Justin Gaethje and Nate Diaz.

  • Archives: Shevchenko Says Nicco Montano “Cannot Escape” (2018)

    When it comes to facing Valentina Shevchenko, Nicco Montano did, in fact, “escape,” despite Shevchenko’s vow to the contrary that she wouldn’t. Her alleged ‘getaway’ cost her the flyweight championship, however, and inevitably led to the dominant reign of Shevchenko’s still going strong today.

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

    On This Day Four Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 26, 2018, 9:40 AM]

    Author: Ian Carey

    Valentina Shevchenko believes UFC flyweight champion, Nicco Montano, is all out of reasons not to fight her. She is coming for her title.

    29-year-old, Nicco Montano, won the 26th season of the Ultimate Fighter and the UFC women’s flyweight championship in December. She was scheduled to face Sijara Eubanks in the finals of the tournament but a harsh weight cut caused a last-minute opponent change. Loveable MMA veteran, Roxanne Modafferi, was given the opportunity but ultimately dropped a unanimous decision to Montano.

    UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Nicco Montano

    Montano is a Navajo Nation member from the community of Lukachukai. After winning the championship in December, she was honored by the Navajo Nation with a plaque and ceremony at the 23rd Navajo Nation ceremony.

    After winning the title, however, Montano stated that neither Shevchenko nor Paige VanZant (who has also been looking for a title shot at 125lbs) has earned a title fight.

    “I’m definitely not scared because it’s the name of the game. You want to fight the best so that you can prove to everybody else that you are the best, but right now the best is not Shevchenko at ‘25. She hasn’t fought at that weight. It’s not Paige VanZant, she hasn’t fought at that weight either. So I think it’s pretty silly and I’m a person who wants fair fights and so I just don’t think they are deserving of it right now.”

    Valentina Shevchenko

    At the time Montano made the above comments, Shevchenko had not fought at 125lbs in the UFC. That changed on February 3rd, 2018, when she submitted Priscila Cachoeira in her flyweight debut.

    “I did fight at 125, I did my job, I did everything. So she just doesn’t have a reason to decline the fight.” – Valentina Shevchenko

    Shevchenko appeared on the MMA Hour recently and went into further detail regarding a potential bout against Montano.

    “Let’s see how she will act, because no one has heard [anything] about her, she’s not saying [anything] until now,” Shevchenko said. “Let’s see how she responds. But my opinion, if she is holding the belt, she has to defend it. She cannot just escape, and she cannot just find another reason to not fight or fight with another opponent.”

    Originally it was believed Montano was targetting a fight with Sijara Eubanks for her first defence. Eubanks is now scheduled against Lauren Murphy for June 1st, however. It appears the UFC is looking at Shevchenko vs Montano to take place later this year.

    “She’s holding the belt,” Shevchenko said. “This is everything.”

  • Archives: McGregor Proves Popularity Not So Much About Winning (2019)

    The following article was published on this day three years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 26, 2019, 1:52 PM]

    Headline: Quote: Conor McGregor Proves Popularity “Not So Much About Winning”

    Conor McGregor is undoubtedly the most popular figure in mixed martial arts. None of the losses suffered to Nate Diaz, Khabib Nurmagomedov, or a boxing loss to Floyd Mayweather in 2017 have changed that fact.

    One fighter who has done nothing but win in recent years but historically struggled with popularity is Tyron Woodley. Woodley believes that Conor McGregor is living proof that, unlike other sports, MMA is not about statistics or your record, but about the spectacle: (via MMA Fighting)

    “This is a person that, I don’t give stats, he’s lost a few times and won a few times,” Woodley said of Conor McGregor at a media lunch scrum this week. “But look at his mystique he has. So it’s telling you it’s not so much about winning. It’s about the showmanship. It’s about what you bring to the table. It’s about making people give a f*ck. You gotta find a way to do both. You gotta find a way to do both of it. You’ve got to find a way to make people invested, want to see me lose, want to see me win.”

    Though Woodley believes Conor McGregor exemplifies this reality the most, he believes there are several other lower scale examples of how styles don’t just, as they say, “make” fights, but the right style ensures that there will be more fights to make for the athlete:

    “We saw with [Keith] Jardine, we saw with so many fighters forever that, subpar, .500 records that stayed around that, then you have a guy who lose maybe one fight and they’re gone,” Woodley said. “And I just think that, when you look at a sport? Think about basketball. It don’t matter if you wear a pimped out custom suit, talk the most sh*t as possible, if you can shoot a three, you can shoot a three. How many times you seen Steph Curry talking crap? You get paid the big bucks based on how you deliver out on the court.”

    “If you go out there and you punch and you bleed and you brawl and you go back and forth, you really can’t lose in that situation,” Woodley said. “You can get your ass whupped and knocked out, but if you fought to a point where everyone was like ‘oh my god, he’s so tough,’ not only with the fighters and the fans but the promotion, you’ve kind of almost put yourself in the mold where they’re going to keep you.”

    Do you agree with Tyron Woodley? Is popularity in MMA based more on fighting style and spectacle than wins and losses? And is Conor McGregor an example of this?

  • Archives: Woodley Reveals How He Lost $10,000 Waiting On USADA (2019)

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

    On This Day Three Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 26, 2019, 1:12 PM]

    Headline: Tyron Woodley Reveals How He Lost $10,000 Waiting On A Random USADA Drug Test

    Author: Damon Martin

    UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley has always been proud to compete as a clean athlete, which is why he fully supports the random drug testing done by USADA.

    As the enforcers of the UFC’s anti-doping policy, USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) is in charge of randomly testing fighters at any time, place or occasion without much notice before making an appearance to draw blood or urine.

    Woodley has always tested clean throughout his career while remaining one of the most tested athletes on the UFC roster. He was even given an award for a consecutive streak of clean tests under the UFC’s anti-doping policy.

    Unfortunately, Woodley found out just how random the testing can be earlier this year when he received a call to submit a sample while he was traveling to Atlanta to take part in the Super Bowl festivities ahead of the game between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams.

    “They tested me Super Bowl weekend, the lady came to me, bless her soul, cause I said a few unchoice words to her with respect. She came to test me at 12 a.m. on Super Bowl weekend knowing the reason I was in Atlanta was probably for Super Bowl and I had some appearances that I was supposed to be at,” Woodley revealed during a media luncheon ahead of UFC 235.

    “I had an event with Devonte Freeman and Meek Mill I was supposed to be at. An event with Ludacris and Snoop Dogg and I was in the hotel waiting on her to come in 45-minutes of traffic to test me. So she tested me around 1 a.m. and I missed those events.”

    According to Woodley, he asked the person sent to collect his sample if there was any way this could be done in the morning so he wouldn’t miss his appearances but that was not allowed.

    Woodley then revealed that the tester told him she couldn’t make it to collect his sample earlier because she had an event of her own that couldn’t be missed.

    “I said I have an event I have to go to that I’m missing money because I’m supposed to be there,” Woodley said. “She said ‘well I can meet you there’, I said ‘no, you can’t get in, you can’t be on the list’.

    “So I had to wait there and she tested me at 1 a.m. and I was not happy.”

    Because the person collecting his sample was stuck in traffic for 45 minutes, Woodley had to wait in his hotel for over an hour until she arrived to test him.

    Woodley ultimately missed his events that night and according to the reigning welterweight champion it cost him a hefty paycheck.

    “[I lost] about $10,000,” Woodley revealed. “So USADA I’m not happy right now.”

  • UFC Vegas 49: Makhachev vs. Green Weigh-In Results & Preview

    The UFC Vegas 49 weigh-in results are in, and we’ve got the scoop for you down below!

    At UFC Vegas 49, Bobby Green will have quite the first-time main event experience when he takes on Islam Makhachev. Both fighters made weight for their 160 lbs. catchweight bout. Ironically, although it was Green who is stepping in on short notice, he came in two pounds lighter (158) than Makhachev (160).

    Not unlike these two athletes, all but one fighter successfully made weight today. The lone exception being Rong Zhu, who came in four pounds over the lightweight limit ahead of his bout against Ignacio Bahamondes. As a result, Zhu was fined 40% of his fight purse and the bout will proceed as scheduled.

    The night’s co-main event will feature Wellington Turman taking on Misha Cirkunov. Another fight to watch will feature MMA News’ #71-ranked fighter of 2021, Arman Tsarukyan, who will be taking on the surging Joel Álvarez, who enters with a three-fight win streak with 16 of his 19 career wins by submission.

    Main Event Preview

    Bobby Green, Islam Makhachev
    Bobby Green, Islam Makhachev

    MMA fans thought they’d be witnessing a title eliminator between Beneil Dariush (#3) and Islam Makhachev (#4) tomorrow night. Instead, Makhachev will be taking on the last-minute replacement of Bobby Green. Green believes that no title eliminator is called for in his pursuit of being the lightweight BMF, for he has already earned that title.

    As for his lightweight peers, Green has instructed them to take notes on how a gangster approaches the fight game both inside and outside of the cage, even against someone as dominant as Islam Makhachev.

    For Green, he says the real test isn’t to get his hand raised tomorrow night against the dominant Makhachev but to make sure the fans go home happy. Tomorrow night, Green plans to become the first person to put Makhachev in a true fight. Indeed, the veteran says that a fight is what viewers can expect as opposed to a wrestling match.

    As one could imagine, Makhachev has other ideas. He believes that he will have no problems taking Green down and submitting him, as evident by his roasting of Green’s wrestling acumen.

    After Dariush’s withdrawal, Makhachev had tried to fight a list of names that he says went on ghost mode. But with the replacement, nothing has changed for Makhachev. His game plan is always the same: pressure, wrestle, and submit. And he now plans on sprinkling in some trash talk along the way, to which Green says he has no problem engaging in as well.

    But judging from today’s face-off, the two aren’t waiting until tomorrow night to begin their trash-talking.

    UFC Vegas 49 Weigh-In Results & Viewing Information

    UFC Vegas 49 takes place Saturday, February 26, 2022, from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. The entire card will stream on ESPN+, with the preliminary card kicking off at 4 PM ET and the main card starting at 7 PM ET.

    You can view the full card and weigh-in results below, courtesy of UFC.com.

    MAIN CARD

    Main Event – Catchweight Bout (160-lbs): Islam Makhachev (160)    Bobby Green (158)

    Co-Main Event – Middleweight Bout: Misha Cirkunov (185.5) vs Wellington Turman (185)

    Women’s Flyweight Bout: Ji Yeon Kim (126) vs Priscila Cachoeira (125)

    Lightweight Bout: Arman Tsarukyan (156) vs Joel Alvarez (156)

    Middleweight Bout: Armen Petrosyan (186) vs Gregory Rodrigues (186)

    PRELIMS

    Lightweight Bout: Rong Zhu (160)* vs Ignacio Bahamondes (154.5)

    Women’s Featherweight Bout: Josiane Nunes (145.5) vs Ramona Pascual (146)

    Lightweight Bout: Terrance McKinney (156) vs Fares Ziam (155)

    Featherweight Bout: Alejandro Perez (144.5) vs Jonathan Martinez (144)

    Welterweight Bout: Ramiz Brahimaj (170.5) vs Micheal Gillmore (170.5)

    Flyweight Bout: Victor Altamirano (123) vs Carlos Hernandez (125)

    *Rong Zhu weighed in above the lightweight limit as a result, he was fined 40% of his show money.

    Be sure to keep it locked right here on MMANews.com tomorrow night for full coverage of UFC Vegas 49: Makhachev vs. Green!

  • Tai Tuivasa Decides To Squeeze In Title-Chasing Between Parties & Shoeys

    UFC wildman Tai Tuivasa may just have a goal besides beer-swelling and indiscriminate banging after all.

    Tai Tuivasa isn’t your conventional fighter. In fact, the man just plain isn’t your conventional human being.

    Video: Tai Tuivasa does a shoey spiked with Dustin Poirier's hot sauce - MMAmania.com
    Tai “Bam Bam” Tuivasa, Ladies & Gentlemen, Image Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

    Indeed, there is only one “Bam Bam,” and he is the embodiment of the phrase, “I’m here for a good time, not a long time.”

    As someone who exudes such a lax outlook on life, he hasn’t been one to care much about things most fighters tend to, such as rankings or titles. Instead, his priorities have been on shoey drinking, walk-out-song mastery, and banging it out with whoever is placed in front of him, damn the results and torpedoes.

    After his latest KO, which came at the expense of the KO king Derrick Lewis at UC 271, Tuivasa reinforced his carefree attitude when it comes to the world title picture. Now weeks later, “Bam Bam” seems willing to squeeze in title-chasing to his list of high-level priorities.

    Our Andrew Starc posed the question if Tuivasa is a legitimate title contender or the UFC’s joker. Turns out, the answer may very well be both.

    “I’ll be walking around with it (the belt) on my waist like a clown. I’ll be that old clown at the pub telling everyone how great he was when I was young. It’s going to happen. It will happen,” Tuivasa told ABC News.

    “As long as you have a crack, what’s the worst that can happen? You might lose. That’s it.”

    As Tuivasa has always said, he’s willing to “bang on” with anyone, and yes, that includes the man often referred to as the scariest man in UFC history and current heavyweight titleholder, Francis Ngannou.

    Francis Ngannou
    © Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

    “That’s why I do this stuff, the challenge. Obviously, I do it to get paid, but I love the challenge, that aspect of fighting,” Tuivasa said. “It’s happened to me, I’ve lost as well, and the person you lose to always has that feather in their hat. It’s something you go after – or I do, anyway.”

    Dana White has confirmed that he considers Tai Tuivasa to be in the world title picture. It would be difficult not to when the Aussie now finds himself ranked #3 in the division.

    That said, Tuivasa might be one more win away from the banger of his life: a must-see scrap against Francis Ngannou or whoever the champion may be that’s standing in the way between “Bam Bam” and a championship shoey.

    Can you imagine Tai Tuivasa becoming YOUR UFC heavyweight champion of the world??

  • Covington Says Masvidal’s Ex-Wife Confirmed He Is A “Two-Pump Chump”

    As we approach fight week for UFC 272, the trash talk between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal is ramping up as expected.

    Since the grudge math between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal has been announced, all of the trash talk has been coming from Masvidal. In fact, “Gamebred” even released an exposé of Covington’s alleged secrets. Gamebred has had other choice things to say about his ex-buddy, and now Covington has begun to fire back now that his training camp has all but wrapped up.

    This is not to say that Covington hasn’t had plenty to say about Masvidal over the years since their falling out. As MMA fans are well aware, Covington has not been one to mince words or pull back on anything that might push the buttons of his intended target. Covington has even gone as far as taking shots at Masvidal as a father and has repeatedly referenced his ex-wife.

    In an interview with Yahoo Sports released Thursday, Covington would again mention Masvidal’s ex-wife, this time as an example of why he is convinced Masvidal won’t be able to keep up with his cardio at UFC 272.

    “I think people know what he’s widely known for,” Covington said when asked about Masvidal’s skill set. “He’s got some fast-twitch muscle fibers. He’s able to explode at any moment.

    “But he’s a two-pump chump, just like his ex-wife used to tell me. So he can’t last with me. He’s gonna gas out in that Octagon. I’m gonna make him quit in front of the world, and it’s gonna be the same time that happened every time we fought behind closed doors. The only difference is now it’s gonna be on pay-per-view and a live audience. So it’s a beautiful thing. I can’t wait.”

    For his part, Covington used the same evidence of bedroom performance to illustrate why he feels his endurance in the cage is second to none and why only one man has been able to push him to the brink.

    “Not too often,” Covington responded when asked about needing to dig into extra gas-tank reserves. “The most trouble I ever had was in the bedroom when I’m putting 10 rounds of four-star cardio together. Not very often there’s a fighter that can push me to that limit. Me and Usman, he was able to get me to that limit, and brought out the best in me, and I brought out the best in him. So I’m looking to do round 3.”

    Before Covington can get to round 3, he will need to get past Masvidal next Saturday. Even still, he might need at least one other victory if he is to earn a third opportunity against UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman.

    Masvidal is also on the same path, as he too wants a third shot at Usman. But as his racy comments reveal, Covington isn’t concerned about his ability to outpace and outlast Jorge Masvidal in the race back to title contention.

    What are your thoughts on these latest provocative comments from Colby Covington toward Jorge Masvidal?

  • Helwani Addresses Controversial Bryce Mitchell Segment’s Backlash

    MMA reporter Ariel Helwani has responded to the backlash he has received for his controversial interview with Bryce Mitchell earlier this week.

    On Monday’s installment of The MMA Hour, Bryce Mitchell came on the show two weeks out from his upcoming fight against Edson Barboza at UFC 272. Instead of talking about the fight or anything MMA-related, Mitchell shared his views on a wide range of topics.

    The underlying theme of each topic was that Mitchell is willing to fight to the death to defend his freedom and that of others from government tyranny, such as forced vaccines or any possibility of the government trying to take away the right to bear arms. Mitchell also made other claims in the segment, including stating that many mass shootings in the United States are inside jobs in an attempt to ban guns.

    The segment lasted for roughly half an hour and was the subject of some public criticism. As the host of the program and interviewer involved, Helwani took some flack for allowing the segment to continue for as long as it did.

    Ariel Helwani Reacts To Backlash From Mitchell Interview

    On his Substack page, Helwani addressed the fallout from the interview at length.

    “In short, I don’t regret the way I handled it,” Helwani began. “A very small amount of people said I should have ended it earlier, and I can see their point, but that thought never really crossed my mind, to be honest.

    “My main objective, once it was clear he didn’t want to talk MMA, was to show the audience that two people who don’t agree on any of this stuff can still shake hands (virtually) and walk away from the conversation with respect.

    UFC DC: Bryce Mitchell Talks Twisters - YouTube
    Bryce Mitchell

    “Again, to be clear, I don’t agree with the vast majority of what he said. But I am also not really offended or persuaded by anything he said, either. It was so out there, how could I be? Honestly, I felt like he was doing a good job of his discrediting his theories on his own. I mean, when a cab driver in Vegas is your best source ….”

    Helwani admitted that there were some things he wishes Mitchell had not said, though he did not specify which comments he was referring to. However, none of those things warranted silencing “Thug Nasty” from speaking unfiltered, which Helwani says his show is all about: providing a platform for the fighters to do and say as they please.

    Helwani also noted that today’s online climate is toxic and divided enough as it is, so he felt it was important to show that there still can be civil discourse, even if two sides are standing on opposite sides of the aisle.

    And even though the segment was far different from what was expected, he doesn’t hold any hard feelings toward Mitchell for going rogue.

    “Am I mad at Bryce because it was very clear that this was intent when he agreed to come on the show? Not really. (And it is important to note that I asked him to come on, not vice versa. Of course, I invited him on to talk about his fight at UFC 272 against Edson Barboza, but alas.) I always try to see the good in people. Maybe that’s naive but I prefer to view people through that lens than to immediately dismiss and hate, which happens too often these days,” Helwani continued.

    The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani returns to SB Nation's MMA Fighting - SBNation.com
    Ariel Helwani, Image Credit: Paige Bethmann, Vox Media

    “I also don’t think he hijacked the show. I didn’t let him grab the mic. I felt like I was in control throughout. I enjoy the challenge of trying to steer a ship because, let’s be real, that could have been worse, believe it or not.”

    Helwani went on to state that if he could go back and be placed in the same situation again, he wouldn’t handle it any differently. He also revealed that Mitchell texted him after the segment to show his gratitude.

    “Would I do the same thing again? Yes. I didn’t endorse any of it, and I wasn’t rude to the guest,” Helwani continued. “Bryce texted me this afterwards:

    ‘Thank you for participating. I have so much respect for you bro. And I mean it when I said I will fight side by side with you when the next war comes. My brother.’

    “I thought that was nice.”

    How do you think Ariel Helwani should have handled the controversial Bryce Mitchell segment? Do you think he handled it well? Or is this all much ado about nothing?

  • Update: 20-Minute Unedited Footage From Jon Jones’ Latest Arrest

    Extended, unedited footage of Jon Jones’ latest arrest has been released.

    Last September, hours after Jones was inducted into the fight wing of the UFC Hall of Fame for his 2012 classic against Alexander Gustafsson, he was arrested on charges of battery domestic violence and injuring/tampering with a vehicle. Tuesday, footage of the arrest became public.

    In the video, officers complete a body search of a handcuffed and visibly emotional Jon Jones.

    “This is so humiliating. I got the Hall of Fame tonight. And then you gonna put me on this by walking down the street,” Jones said.

    Moments later, Jones could be heard shouting with a quivering voice, “I hate you!” and calling the arresting officers “nerds.” He then demands to know the names of the officers, pleads with them not to hurt him, and accuses them of racial profiling.

    “I came from my Hall of Fame ceremony, and I’m black, and I have my friends, and I did nothing to you!” Jones said. “Hang me. Hurt me and kill me.”

    When asked if he’d been drinking, Jones snapped back, “A black man can’t drink?!”

    Moments later, Jones again proclaimed his hatred for the officers and violently headbutted the police vehicle. It is at this point that Jones was placed in the squad car as he begged the officers not to hurt him. While in the back of the vehicle, Jones can be heard saying that he has anxiety and asking for the officers to open the window.

    In December, Jones was ordered to pay a restitution fee of $750 for damages caused to the vehicle. The domestic violence charge brought against him was dismissed, with Jones being required to attend anger management counseling.

    After this arrest, Jones vowed to ‘remove alcohol from his life forever.’ Last November, he marked 60 days of sobriety.

    Jones is expected to make his heavyweight debut later this year, with rumors being that his first opponent in the division will be Stipe Miocic.

    You can view the full, 20-minute unedited footage below (h/t MMA Junkie)

  • Islam Makhachev Roasts Bobby Green’s Wrestling, Green Isn’t Amused

    Islam Makhachev got a good chuckle when the subject of Bobby Green’s wrestling skills was brought up in a recent interview.

    Fans who have been following Islam Makhachev’s UFC career can attest to just how much his English skills have improved over the years. Makhachev has gone from not speaking English, barely being able to put a sentence together, speaking a moderate amount of English, to now becoming a full-blown roastmaster, at least when it comes to Bobby Green’s wrestling skills.

    At UFC Vegas 49, Makhachev will be facing Green at a 160 lbs. catchweight bout, with Green serving as a replacement for the injured Beneil Dariush. Makhachev appeared on the ESPN program DC & RC, which is co-hosted by a mentor and teammate of Makhachev’s over at American Top Team, Daniel Cormier.

    Makhachev told Cormier and Ryan Clark that his game plan never changes, even when his opponent does. However, Bobby Green was an all-state wrestler at the high school level. With this in mind, Cormier tried to educate Makhachev about Green’s wrestling background that complements his striking, and Makhachev responded by laughing in his face.

    Their dialogue was as follows:

    Daniel Cormier: But with Bobby Green, he’s got a very different style, Islam. He’s very talented, he’s slick, and he’s good on the standup. But what many people miss is how good of a wrestler Bobby Green is. He’s really good at defending takedowns. He has a wrestling background.

    Islam Makhachev: Who said? <laughs>

    Daniel Cormier: Listen, I’m telling you. What do you mean, ‘Who said?’ <laughs> What do you mean?”

    Islam Makhachev: Brother, he got good boxing and that’s it, brother. <wide smile>

    Daniel Cormier: He has a wrestling background, Islam.

    Islam Makhachev: Maybe he watch some wrestling match. That’s it, brother.

    <Cormier & Ryan Clark break out laughing>

    Islam Makhachev: I wrestle, brother, all my life. Wrestling background? <takes swig of water>

    You can view the bulk of the exchange below.

    Bobby Green Isn’t Amused

    During a UFC Vegas 49 media day scrum, it seemed as though Bobby Green had caught wind of Makhachev’s remarks. Green did not directly reference the DC & RC segment, but he clearly has reason to believe that Makhachev is not taking him seriously as a competitor and that Daniel Cormier will continue trying to get through to him.

    “I feel like he doesn’t respect me. He doesn’t understand me, either,” Green said. “I don’t know if he’s been watching, but I know DC is one of his guys. And DC’s gonna let him know. ‘Hey, do this, and do this, and do this.’ DC’s been paying attention to me. We’ll see.”

    If Green has his way, he won’t need to prove his wrestling credentials to Islam because he’s made no secret that he wants the fight to be a standup battle. He has stated that he will be the first person to put Makhachev in a real fight and that it will not be a wrestling match on Saturday but a fight.

    Makhachev has other ideas. He has not hidden his game plan of wrestling with Green. And judging from his reaction to Cormier’s scouting report, he does not believe Green will be equipped to do anything to prevent being put on his back and submitted.

    Do you think Islam Makhachev is underestimating Bobby Green?

  • Jon Jones Says Fiancée Has Left Him, Calls For His Haters To Celebrate

    Jon Jones has revealed that he is no longer with ex-fiancée Jessie Moses after spending over 10 years together.

    Late last night, a video of Jon Jones’ latest arrest was made public. In the video, Jones can be seen in a very emotional state while evidently under the influence of alcohol. At one point, Jones even headbutted the police vehicle, an act that he later had to pay $750 in damages for.

    The arrest was made in connection to allegations of battery domestic violence against Jessie Moses. Jones has denied assaulting Moses, and this charge was dropped in December, with the former UFC champion being required to attend anger management counseling.

    After the arrest, all seemed to be repaired on the Jones home front. Jones posted a video of him and Moses doting on one another soon after the alleged domestic violence incident. He also posted a playful video of him, Moses, and their children celebrating Halloween together.

    However, according to a Wednesday tweet , Jones’ engagement to Moses is now off.

    “My fiancé left me about two months ago, today she finalized that she won’t be coming back. If you are a Jon Jones hater, have a toast, I feel like shit.”

    The timing of the post is certainly noteworthy, as it comes one day after the video of Jones’ Las Vegas arrest was made public.

    In any event, despite Jones’ recent legal woes and upended personal life, he is still expected to get his professional career back on track when he makes his anticipated heavyweight debut later this year. There is no word yet on who his opponent will be, but early signs point to a possible dream match against Stipe Miocic.

    MMA News will keep you updated if there are any additional comments from Jon Jones on this matter.

  • Islam Makhachev Provides A List Of Names Who May Have Rejected Fight

    UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev is naming names.

    This weekend at UFC Vegas 49, Makhachev will look to extend his winning streak to 10 when he takes on Bobby Green in the main event. While a 10th straight victory is always a great look on a fighter’s résumé, it carries much more weight when it comes against a top-3 fighter.

    That was the original plan for the surging Makhachev when his sights were set on Beneil Dariush for February 26. That is until Dariush had to pull out of the fight due to injury last week. This caused Makhachev and the UFC to frantically search for a replacement to step in.

    Bobby Green: UFC 258 fight cancellation was due to lung, kidney issues - MMA Fighting
    Bobby Green, Image Credit: Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

    That replacement would turn out to be Bobby Green. While Green is a proven UFC veteran who has displayed his high level in his last two strong outings. the fact remains that he is not ranked in the lightweight division. This begs the question: Who did the UFC turn to first before they landed on Green?

    Makhachev Provides List Of Names He Tried To Fight At UFC Vegas 49

    One person who knows something about accepting the daunting task of a short-notice Islam Makhachev fight assignment is Dan Hooker. Hooker accepted a fight against Islam Makhachev on a few weeks’ notice when he agreed to face the Dagestani at UFC 267.

    Both Hooker and Green came to the same conclusion that there had to be lightweights who rejected the Makhachev fight because they felt the risk did not match the reward.

    Makhachev has implied that he has first-hand knowledge that this is exactly what happened when he and the UFC brass came a-knockin’ and only one person arrived at the door.

    “When [Manager Ali Abdelaziz] say Beneil have injury, I tell him, ‘Hey, we have [Rafael dos Anjos]. He’s supposed to fight with [Rafael Fiziev], but [Fiziev] have some problem with visa. I say, ‘Hey, he’s ready, I think. Call him. And he say he don’t want.

    “I say, ‘Call Tony [Ferguson], call [Gregor] Gillespie, Michael Chandler, someone. And just Bobby. Just Bobby give me answer. And I think this guy need a little bit money, that’s why,” Makhachev said on ESPN’s DC & RC recently.

    Makhachev and dos Anjos were supposed to fight last year, but the fight fell through multiple times, with the Dagestani questioning the legitimacy of dos Anjos’ injury when he withdrew from their UFC 267 bout.

    As Makhachev alluded to, dos Anjos is currently scheduled to fight Rafael Fiziev only one week later at UFC 272. Fiziev has recently experienced visa issues, so Makhachev thought it to be a practical solution for dos Anjos to replace Dariush, especially since the two were supposed to fight last year anyway.

    Instead, we will see Makhachev face Bobby Green this weekend. For Makhachev, it doesn’t make a difference who his opponent is against. He stated that his game plan will remain the same: pressure, wrestle, and submit. If implemented successfully and he gets his hand raised for a 10th consecutive time, he will be expecting a world title shot next.

    “Who we have now for the title fight? Justin [Gaethje] and Charles [Oliveira] gonna fight. Who we have? Beneil (is injured) maybe five, six months. But other people, who we have?…

    “I really believe (I’m next) because I deserve. This is gonna be 10-fight win streak. And I think 10 fight, this is like key for the title.”

    Who would you have liked to see step up to replace Beneil Dariush against Islam Makhachev at UFC Vegas 49?

  • Diego Sanchez: Conor McGregor Is Not A Good Influence On Our Youth

    Diego Sanchez is hoping to use his position in the sport to be a positive influence on the next generation and believes some fighters with a larger platform have fallen short in doing so.

    Diego Sanchez is a 20-year veteran of the sport who the MMA community has witnessed grow right before their eyes, beginning with his time on The Ultimate Fighter series in 2005. Since then, we’ve witnessed all the highs and the lows of Sanchez’s MMA journey. But one thing that has always remained constant is his love for the sport and the connection he has with the fans.

    Speaking with MMA Junkie, Sanchez opened up on his desire to be a beacon of inspiration for the next generation with no strings attached. He also provided one notorious example of someone he feels has fallen short in that area.

    “Now, I wanna help the youth of the next generation. I wanna be a positive, motivating inspiration and just a good influence for these kids,” Sanchez said. “Because you got guys out there like Conor McGregor that are giants of influences. And drinking Proper Twelve and hitting old men is not really a good influence to be spreading for the youth of the next generation. 

    “So I’m doing my best to do my part. And that’s why I do free seminars with kids. Anybody wanna fly me out to anywhere in America in the world, wherever, I’ll do a free seminar for the kids. Anywhere, anytime. I’ll go make that time to work with the youth of the next generation because they’re the ones that need the most because they’re the ones that are gonna keep us going and eventually be taking care of us.”

    Sanchez has indeed been very charitable with his time and actions for his fans. In 2017, he even participated in an “exhibition” fight with a superfan who had Down syndrome to help make the fan’s dream.

    Diego Sanchez helps make UFC superfan's dream come true | theScore.com

    As for McGregor, Sanchez alluded to one specific incident in 2019 where the Irishman was fined for punching an elderly man in a pub. McGregor has also had other run-ins with the law during his tenure under the spotlight.

    Despite Sanchez not thinking highly of McGregor as a role model, there has always been a strong sense of mutual respect displayed between the two publicly. In fact, Sanchez once expressed that he wanted his retirement fight to be against McGregor, and much to the surprise of many, including UFC President Dana White, McGregor wanted the fight as well.

    McGregor also came to Sanchez’s defense when the TUF winner was involved with controversial manager Joshua Fabia. After a video was released last year of Sanchez taking blows from Fabia while hanging upside down, McGregor spoke up and advised Sanchez to take a different path.

    Diego Sanchez’s next professional venture features his first MMA fight outside of the UFC in 18 years and his first fight since 2020. He will be taking on Kevin Lee on March 11 in a 165 lbs. bout for the Eagle FC promotion.

    Do you agree with Diego Sanchez’s take on Conor McGregor?

  • Bryce Mitchell Is Prepared To Resist The US Government To His Death

    Fans tuning in to Monday’s installment of The MMA Hour were in for a surprise—and so was the host himself when Bryce Mitchell went rogue during his scheduled appearance.

    A week from Saturday, Bryce Mitchell will go one on one with top-10 featherweight Edson Barboza. Barboza is a tough task for any competitor, and he also happens to be one of the more established names in the UFC, with over a decade of promotional fights under his belt.

    Considering this is being viewed as the most high-profile bout of Mitchell’s MMA career, Ariel Helwani joined the list of MMA journalists who are interested in knowing about Mitchell’s thoughts and preparations leading up to such a big fight.

    However, during Mitchell’s appearance on The MMA Hour, there was no talk about the significance of the fight, what he expects from his opponent, or how well his training camp went. In fact, there was literally no talk about fighting whatsoever.

    Instead, Mitchell stated that he wanted to use the MMA Hour platform to help shine a light on injustices happening on land both foreign and domestic as it pertains to civil liberties, such as the right to own assault weapons like semi-automatic rifles and the right to refuse COVID-19 vaccinations.

    On the domestic front, Mitchell maintained that there is a reason why his home state of Arkansas has not enacted any vaccination mandates at the government level because they wouldn’t be able to enforce it anyway. That’s because, according to “Thug Nasty,” he and his local community are prepared to fight to the death to prevent such violations of their personal freedoms.

    “Before the Holocaust in 1938, Hitler banned Jews in Germany from having guns. There’s a reason he did that. He wanted to disarm the population before he rounded them up and killed them,” Mitchell said. “So when I talk about why these guns are important, you’ve got to know why we’ve got these guns. Of course, it’s to hunt. Of course, it’s to protect ourselves from people that break into our homes. But the reason that they’re really here is to protect ourselves from our own government. It’s to overthrow a tyrannical government.

    Bryce Mitchell
    Bryce Mitchell

    “And these guns on either side of me, that’s the reason that in Arkansas, they don’t have forced vaccines. They don’t have forced mandates. You can’t force ’em. They don’t have the power. If you go up and down my street, every single one of me and my neighbors is armed to the teeth, brother. I mean, I could sit here and—you’ve got the Underwoods, you’ve got the Mitchells, you’ve got the Palmers, you’ve got the Wests, the Browns, the Smiths, the Jameses, the Harrises, we’re armed to the teeth, brother. And we will not let this government inject what they say is medicine into our body without our consent.”

    During the segment, Mitchell went on to explicitly state that he would be willing to die in such a standoff with the government if it meant defending the freedoms of himself and his fellow man.

    This is just a small snapshot of what Mitchell had to say in this unconventional segment. He and Helwani were involved in a civil debate at times, with the segment being more of a conversation as opposed to an interview. Here were some of the other talking points from Mitchell during his brow-raising MMA Hour appearance:

    • 2017 Las Vegas shooting was an inside job. The government staged that shooting to try to justify banning guns. The same applies to most (if not all, he did not specify) mass shootings.
    • 2020 Presidential Election was rigged
    • Inflation is a form of control by the government
    • Ivermectin works much better against COVID than vaccines, but the vaccines make more money, which is why they are being pushed by the government
    • No such thing as a “gun problem” but just “mental health problems” that lead to shootings
    • Health care is not a right because you don’t have a right to someone else’s service

    MMA Fighting usually publishes each interview separately on its YouTube channel, but in this case, they have opted not to post Bryce Mitchell’s controversial segment. Thus, if you want to hear Mitchell’s words straight from the source, you can go to approximately 1:43:00 of the video below, which also contains a disclaimer from MMA Fighting in the timestamp attached to the segment.

    What are your thoughts on Bryce Mitchell’s comments?

  • Green Wants His Pu**y Peers To Watch How A Gangster Fights Makhachev

    Bobby Green hopes his lightweight peers can learn a thing or two from his actions leading into and during his UFC Vegas 49 main event against Islam Makhachev.

    This Saturday at UFC Vegas 49, Bobby Green will be competing in his first UFC main event when he takes on Islam Makhachev. A bout against the dominant Dagestani is a tall task for any fighter with any amount of preparation, so you can imagine what it must be like to accept this undertaking on less than two weeks’ notice.

    There are at least two men who can relate to accepting a short-notice bout against Makhachev. One of them is Green himself, who will do so in a 160 lb. catchweight bout this weekend. The other is Dan Hooker.

    Dan Hooker
    Dan Hooker

    Hooker recently theorized that the reason Green was picked to face Makhachev instead of someone ranked is because others turned the fight down. He went on to state that they made this decision most likely because they felt the risk did not match the reward.

    In an appearance on The MMA Hour, a very fired-up Bobby Green agreed with Hooker and took it a couple of steps further while throwing in some harsh namecalling.

    “I know already, those top-10 guys, Hooker said it best: All those motherfuckers got the call first. I guarantee you all those guys are pussies! All these guys are fuckin’ pussies. They want to wait and pick their turns. <whiny voice> ‘No, it’s not good enough. No, I need more time. No, I want to fight somebody that’s ahead of me, but then I want it to be the right camp, and I want it to be all the right situations.’

    Bobby Green claims to be lightweight 'BMF' after accepting Makhachev fight on short notice - MMAmania.com
    Bobby Green, Image Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

    “Like, all those guys play this weird game. I feel like they hold their cards in and they wait for the right time to, ‘Ah, pull out my ace.’ Like, no! Sometimes you gotta jump on it and you just gotta take it the way it is. And now, I’m jumpin’ over all of you guys. Because why? You’re too pussy to take the opportunity.” 

    Green was not done addressing his peers just yet. He would go on to make an expletive-laden public service announcement that they should all tune in this weekend to learn about the ways and walk of a gangster.

    “I’m not crazy. I’m fuckin’ nuts. I’m fuckin’ nuts,” Green continued with measured intensity. “I’ll show all you pussy motherfuckers, this is how I’mma do this shit, OK? Let me show you some real G shit: get in there and do this shit with the highest guy in our fuckin’ division. I’mma walk in there like a gangster and punch that guy right in his fuckin’ face, K? I’m gonna keep hitting him in his face until he go down. And all he’s gonna do is try to wrestle. And that’s cool. He’s gonna wrestle, he’s gonna wrestle, cool. Wrestle, and wrestle, and wrestle, so I can wrestle, too. That’s fine.

    “But at the end of the day, I just want to show my peers, or all my colleagues, or my opponents: This is how the fuck you do this shit. You don’t fuckin’ sit back and wait for the perfect opportunity.”

    Green is currently unranked but has two straight impressive wins and is a proven veteran of the sport. And to his point, a victory over someone with the hype and run of Makhachev, on short notice no less, might have him leapfrog the entire UFC lightweight division in terms of the world title picture.

    Thus, while the short notice might disqualify this from being a “perfect” opportunity for Green, it might only be about five pounds shy from it.

    How do you think the UFC’s lightweight division should receive Bobby Green’s message?

  • UFC Releases “Covington vs. Masvidal: From Friends To Foe” Trailer

    The UFC has released a new trailer previewing the upcoming UFC 272 grudge match between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington.

    On March 5, the grudge match between Covington and Masvidal that is two years in the making will go down inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Monday, the UFC released a video package to document the story behind the main event. The title of the video is “UFC 272 Look Ahead – Covington vs Masvidal: From Friends to Foes.”

    Weeks ago, Masvidal released his own video documenting the same “friends to foe” narrative, but unlike the UFC, Masvidal’s aim was to “expose” Covington in the video by showing, among other things, his former buddy’s duplicitousness over the years.

    Naturally, the UFC would take a much more balanced approach in their storytelling. The video captures how close Covington and Masvidal initially were and pulls the most biting quotes from both competitors to illustrate how far removed they are from those amicable days.

    You can view the full video of UFC 272 Look Ahead – Covington vs Masvidal: From Friends to Foes below.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_8X–XRSMc

    How do you see the “friends to foe” story between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal ending when the two collide next month?

  • Volkan Oezdemir To Jamahal Hill: I’m Still Doubting You

    Volkan Oezdemir wants Jamahal Hill to know that there is at least one person still doubting him.

    Heading into and following UFC Vegas 48, Jamahal Hill addressed the doubters he has had along his rise up the light heavyweight ranks. The 30-year-old has gone 4-1 during his UFC run thus far, with three of those wins coming by way of knockout. Nevertheless, he believes that he has been met with more doubt than praise, and he has been sure to tell everyone so, including in his Octagon interview at UFC Vegas 48.

    After knocking out Johnny Walker in the UFC Vegas 48 main event, Hill again got on the microphone to address these doubters.

    Hill’s light heavyweight peer Volkano Oezdemir seems to be among those who witnessed Hill’s victory and Octagon interview on Saturday, and he decided to inform the night’s big winner that he still has one notable doubter.

    “I’m still doubting,” Oezdemir said in response to a social media post quoting Hill as saying “Stop doubting.”

    Jamahal Hill Responds To Oezdemir’s Doubts

    Volkan Oezdemir’s message to Hill may very well be his way of letting the rising contender know that he’d be interested in a potential fight against one another. The fight does make sense for Hill rankings-wise since Oezdemir is ranked #8 while Hill is ranked at #12.

    After Hill’s victory over Walker (#10), Hill is expected to crack the top 10 this week. Even still, he would need to make a big jump if he is to surpass Oezdemir’s position. And even if he does, the pair will likely be close to one another in the rankings.

    Shortly after Oezdemir’s tweet, Hill issues the following response:

    “I mean that understandable with the brain damage you took in your last 2 fights!!! (1 against a guy making his debut) My hands will change your life think it’s a game and fuck around and find out!!!”

    As Hill alluded to in his response, one reason why he may not have an interest in this fight is because of the contrasting trajectories the fighters are on. Hill has won two straight fights by knockout and three wins out of his last four while Oezdemir has lost two straight fights.

    In fact, Hill has expressed that the only fight he is interested in next is against Jiří Procházka. However, Procházka is currently slated to challenge Glover Teixeira next for the light heavyweight championship.

    In any event, Hill’s closing line of “fuck around and find out” could certainly be interpreted as “Sweet Dreams” being willing to make time to try putting Volkan Oezdemir to sleep.

    Would you be interested in seeing a fight between Volkan Oezdemir and Jamahal Hill next?

  • Jędrzejczyk: Kayla Harrison Will Soon Be The Biggest Name In WMMA

    Joanna Jędrzejczyk is one of the biggest names in WMAA, but she believes there is one woman who will eclipse her and everyone else in terms of star power.

    Joanna Jędrzejczyk is the former strawweight queen, with five successful title defenses on her résumé. Along the way and beyond, she has amassed over two million social media followers and has become one of the most recognized faces in all of WMMA.

    Even still, Jędrzejczyk is giving credit to another woman as the biggest future name of WMMA. Often considered to have one of the healthiest egos in the sport, Jędrzejczyk humbly expressed that not only will there be another female fighter with a bigger name than herself, but that she won’t even be the biggest female star out of her own gym of American top Team.

    That’s because of the bright future she sees ahead for ATT teammate and current free agent Kayla Harrison.

    Marvin Vettori, Kayla Harrison, Michael Bisping
    Marvin Vettori, Kayla Harrison, Michael Bisping (Image Credit: @judokayla on Instagram)

    “I don’t know what’s good for her. I know she’s smart. She’s super-big inspiration to all of us,” Jędrzejczyk told Helen Yee Sports when discussing Harrison’s free agency. “This is what I love—when someone is focused on the prize. And she’s definitely one of the hardest-working athletes in the gym in general.

    “She’s (a two-time) Olympian. And she’s special, and it’s good to have her here. She’s tough physically, mentally, she doesn’t give up, and she deserve to get paid. She’s already, but soon, she’s going to be the name Of women’s MMA.”

    Kayla Harrison remains a free agent, and Jędrzejczyk is as much in the dark as the rest of the general public as to what Harrison’s next move will be. It had seemed as though a fourth year in the PFL was a lock for Harrison, but those talks recently hit a snag. Thus, all major promotions are on the table for the Olympian judoka, including Jędrzejczyk’s home of the UFC.

    “I would love to see her in the UFC, but like I said, she has to get paid,” Jędrzejczyk continued. “She won PFL two times. She won a million bucks a few times, you know? She doesnt’ have to fight for small money. She always brings the extra attention. She always perform very well. So she needs to get paid, and I feel the UFC should consider having Kayla Harrison.”

    Kayla Harrison is currently 12-0 in her MMA career, with every fight taking place in the Professional Fighters League. Both Bellator and the UFC have expressed interest in signing Harrison, and Harrison herself has stated that she is tired of the free-agency process. Therefore, it could be any day now when we find out where Harrison will take her services and star power as she helps lead WMMA into the future.

  • Dustin Poirier Hints At Renewed Sense Of Focus After Past Retirement Talk

    Dustin Poirier seems to have a renewed focus after publicly questioning how much longer he will be competing in the sport of MMA.

    Since the very first day of 2011, there is one thing in the UFC that has been a constant: A year would not go by without Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier fighting at least one time.

    When Poirier says he is “paid in full,” he is referring to the now 36 career fights that you see on paper and the bloodshed he’s spilled that leaves a permanent mark on it.

    But even someone as dedicated to the game as Poirier reaches a “breaking point,” where the mind and body has had enough. After a decade of hard toil in this sport, Poirier finally received a chance to become undisputed UFC champion when he faced Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242. That bout ended with Nurmagomedov temporarily strangling Poirier’s dreams with a rear-naked choke in the third round.

    In true Poirier fashion, “The Diamond” would hit the bounceback button and shine in his next three performances to earn another opportunity at undisputed UFC gold. But at UFC 269, Charles Oliveira, much like Khabib before him, showed Poirier that it was not his time. And he, too, took the air out of Poirier’s dreams via rear-naked choke.

    WOW! Jon Jones Khabib Nurmagomedov and Other UFC Stars React as Charles Oliveira Chokes Out Dustin Poirier at UFC 269 - EssentiallySports
    Charles Oliveira Submits Dustin Poirier At UFC 269

    What’s Next For Dustin Poirier?

    After a second championship heartbreak fresh on his mind and 12 years of wear and tear on his body, Poirier was uncertain if he would ever fight again. He did say that if he were to fight again, there was only one opponent that excited him: Nate Diaz.

    With those fight negotiations having stalled for the time being, where does that leave Poirier and his plans for 2022? Judging by the following Instagram post, it leaves him as a man who has once again rediscovered the fire within and all the optimism that comes with it.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CaKrVYCF8E2/

    “My next performance will be my best. Someone is getting clapped,” Poirier posted on Instagram.

    A short post indeed, but plenty to read there.

    Firstly, Poirier’s two-sentence post began with the phrase “My next performance,” which implies that there could be more fights to come afterward. While a “next” performance and a “last” performance is not necessarily mutually exclusive, if nothing else, his vow that it will be his “best” one reveals his confidence in how much he has left to give as a competitor.

    As for the second sentence, “Someone is getting clapped,” this line takes a reprieve from his competitive gaze being focused solely on Nate Diaz and appears to reveal a more open, flexible mindset about his next booking.

    Speculation aside, there is one thing that can be safely deduced from Poirier’s Instagram post: Much like each of the previous 12 years of his professional MMA career, you can expect 2022 to host a Dustin Poirier performance—as he once again takes to the bounceback trail.

    Who would you ideally like to see Dustin Poirier fight in 2022?

  • The Pulse of MMA: Fans React To Highlights From Feb.19’s Tripleheader

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

    In this installment of The Pulse of MMA, we dive into the raw, unfiltered reactions of MMA fans after the Feb. 19 tripleheader!

    UFC Vegas 48 Results & Highlights

    UFC Vegas 48 took place inside the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event saw Jamahal Hill knock out Johnny Walker in the first round. In the co-main event, Kyle Daukaus picked up the D’arce submission choke win over Jamie Pickett right at the first-round buzzer.

    You can catch the full results from UFC Vegs 48 here, and catch some of the raw reactions from The Pulse of MMA down below!

    https://twitter.com/MMAFanInAVan/status/1495200532243357700

    Bellator 274 Results & Highlights

    Bellator 274
    Bellator 274, Photo: Bellator MMA

    In round 2 of MMA’s February 19 tripleheader, we have Bellator 274. The main event saw Logan Storley def. Neiman Gracie via unanimous decision. In the co-main, Andrey Koreshkov defeated Chance Rencountre via TKO. You can peep the full results along with highlights from the main and co-main right here.  And you can peep the raw reactions from The Pulse of MMA down below!

    https://twitter.com/lander_theo/status/1495229029858914307

    BKFC KnuckleMania 2 Results & Highlights

    BKFC KnuckleMania 2 results - Order and Watch on FITE

    And last up, we have BKFC’s Knucklemania 2, featuring two former UFC vets Chad Mendes and Mike Perry, both of whom were victorious last night. You can check out the highlights of their bouts as well as the results from the entire card right here. And of course, you can peep the raw reactions from The Pulse of MMA right down below!

    https://twitter.com/khalabeeep4/status/1495250809302528002

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