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 as they await the heavily anticipated rematch between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker.
Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker II Takes Place At UFC 271
Image Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Tonight at UFC 271, Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker will have a rematch that is three years in the making.
Israel Adesanya was ranked #5 on The MMA News Top 100 Fighters of 2021 list while Robert Whittaker came in at #11. It is monumental fights like these that not only will make a difference in how our panel and the MMA pundits worldwide view these fighters today, but it will also impact their overall legacies.
For Adesanya, a victory tonight would be a fourth successful middleweight title defense and he will begin to follow buddy Kamaru Usman’s path of lapping his division.
For Whittaker, a win over Adesanya wouldn’t only mean getting back his only loss at middleweight, but he would add Izzy’s name to a victims list that boasts names like Yoel Romero, Jacare Souza, Kelvin Gastelum, and Derek Brunson among many others.
So how is The Pulse of MMA preparing for tonight’s big rematch? Peep out the raw, unfiltered reactions down below!
FACTS: Adesanya attended UFC 193 as fan and watched as Whittaker KOed Uriah infront of a UFC record attendance at that time(56,214). 4yrs Later: UFC 243 Adesanya KOed Whittaker infront of 57,127 fans(UFC record attendance to date) in the same Arena to win the MW title.#UFC271pic.twitter.com/MlqDEVakZf
These two are incredible and will both be at the top of the division for a long time. Rob probably has improved since their first match, but Izzy will always be better. His ability to course correct is marvelous. Whatever new wrinkle Rob brings, Izzy will counter.
I think Rob makes the necessary adjustments with better range control with utilizing Izzy feints to his own advantage, as well mixing in grappling over 5 rounds.
Izzy's confidence is through the fukin roof,hes on such a high being on top,aslong as he doesnt take him lightly he should be able to pull off the W but u never really know in the ufc.boxing can usually predict the winner at this high level but its gonna be a good one either way
The following article was published on this day one year ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
On This Day One Year Ago…
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 12, 2021, 6:47 PM]
Headline: Nate Diaz Curses Out Poirier & Points Out Rematch Double Standard
Nate Diaz was not happy to read the news about the trilogy fight between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor being targeted for this summer.
Earlier today, UFC President Dana White revealed that the UFC is targeting Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor 3 for the summer. One of the reasons behind this move is because White confirmed what the public already knew: both Poirier and McGregor are on board with fighting one another again. Nate Diaz got wind of the big news and laid into Dustin Poirier in vintage Diaz fashion:
“Don’t forget who started this G shit. The real uncrowned King. No rematches ever given. Dustin you do what your told by your daddy’s u lil bitch ??,” Diaz posted on Instagram.
Nate Diaz Points Out Double Standard In UFC Rematches
Dustin Poirier would reply to Nate Diaz’s remarks in the comments section, writing “You lost the rematch Nathan. 1 was given lol.”
Unbeknownst to Poirier, his response supports a point that Diaz made earlier this week in an interview with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani. Diaz argued that there is a double standard between himself and Conor McGregor, with the Stockton bad boy pointing out that McGregor is granted rematches seemingly upon request after suffering a loss while he has never received the same courtesy.
“What I’m trippin’ off of, too, is the rematch shit,” Diaz began. “Like, they always try to roast my record, too. I got 11 losses. And they want to talk about how I got all these losses, right? And I tried to rematch all those losses. Never would they even consider or talk about it. Like, ‘Don’t even ask. You lost.’ And 95% are all decision losses that were hard-way lost. Most of them I won. So why was it so out of the question for me to have a rematch with somebody?
McGregor vs. Diaz 2 At UFC 202. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
“But this guy gets finished by me, he gets a rematch. He gets finished by Khabib, they build up the whole fight (with) Dustin Poirier for a rematch for him and Khabib,” Diaz continued. “And then, he lost to him, and now they’re talking about rematch. This guy just gets rematches? That’s crazy.”
For his next fight, it wasn’t a rematch that Diaz was after. He called out Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira, only to get shunned by both. Diaz did receive a callout from Leon Edwards today, but Diaz claims not to know who he is.
Recently, Tai Tuivasa expressed his shock that Carlos Felipe got flagged for steroid use. To quote the bewildered Aussie, “How did he get done for steroids? He’s fat as shit!”
But when it came to Junior dos Santos four years ago, Tuivasa had no trouble believing that JDS was a cheater. And in response to some criticisms from dos Santos, Tuivasa decided to share that belief with the world.
The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED OCTOBER 25, 2018, 4:50 PM]
Headline: Tai Tuivasa Rips ‘Steroid-Injecting Muppet’ Junior dos Santos
Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.
Tai Tuivasa has fired back at Junior dos Santos.
Tuivasa and dos Santos will collide on Dec. 2 in the main event of UFC Adelaide. The action will take place inside the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in Adelaide, Australia. It’s a huge opportunity for Tuivasa, who is the 11th ranked UFC heavyweight, while dos Santos sits at the seventh spot.
Tai Tuivasa Slams JDS Over Recent Comments
In a recent interview, dos Santos made an odd remark about Tuivasa. He criticized “Bam Bam” for having UFC announcer Bruce Buffer say he represents street fighting. The harsh and bizarre critique prompted Tuivasa to blast dos Santos in a recent interview with Sporting News:
“I was giving him credit for being a great, but he can go f**k himself now, Just because of what Bruce Buffer said? As if I’m gonna say I’m a black belt or something. Calling someone a coward is a bit shallow from a steroid injecting little muppet like that. He can say whatever he wants to say, as long he brings it. It’s all gonna happen anyway, regardless of what any of us says. But to be calling someone a coward is shallow coming from a cheater. Make sure you’re not juiced up.”
UFC Adelaide will also see Mark Hunt look to rebound from his submission loss to Aleksei Oleinik last month. To do so, he’ll need to get past Justin Willis, who has gone 3-0 inside the Octagon.
Do you think Junior dos Santos is reaching with his criticism of Tai Tuivasa?
Tonight at UFC 271, Derrick Lewis will almost surely engage in a brawl when he faces Tai Tuivasa in the co-main event. But at UFC 229, he was happy just watching one.
The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED OCTOBER 7, 2018, 1:07 PM]
Headline: Derrick Lewis Says He Was Happy To See UFC 229 Brawl
Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.
Derrick Lewis says he didn’t mind watching the UFC 229 brawl and he actually enjoyed it.
Lewis competed on the main card of UFC 229 last night (Oct. 6). The action took place inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. “The Black Beast” took on Alexander Volkov. After being down in the fight and needing a Hail Mary, Lewis knocked out Volkov with just 11 seconds left in the fight.
Derrick Lewis Appreciates A Brawl
Lewis certainly isn’t fazed when a fight breaks loose. That’s what happened at the conclusion of UFC 229 as Nurmagomedov hopped into the crowd and attacked Dillon Danis. Members of Nurmagomedov’s team also brawled with McGregor inside the Octagon. During the FOX Sports 1 post-fight show, Lewis said he liked what he saw (via Bloody Elbow):
“I thought it was entertaining. I was happy to see it. I thought [Nurmagomedov and McGregor] were gonna get the bonus, so I’m sure Dana White is gonna take the bonus from Khabib for that. Hopefully they give it to me.”
Three years ago, the MMA world was concerned about a 48-year-old Chuck Liddell fighting after being knocked out by Tito Ortiz. Many of those concerns were also placed on then-43-year-old Anderson Silva in 2018 when he was scheduled to face a rising Israel Adesanya. However, Adesanya believed these concerns were misplaced for a reason as simple as it sounds:
Anderson Silva is not Chuck Liddell.
The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 30, 2018, 8:01 AM]
Headline: Israel Adesanya: Anderson Silva Is Not Chuck Liddell
Perhaps announcing the return of 43-year-old Anderson Silva to go against a young, lethal rising contender could have been timed better, with the MMA world still reeling from the knockout of 48-year-old Chuck Liddell last weekend at the hands of rival Tito Ortiz.
To be sure, Liddell’s brutal knockout serves as a precautionary tale for promoters, athletic commissions, and matchmakers on how to handle aging fighters. But if you ask Israel Adesanya, who will be sharing the Octagon with his hero Anderson Silva at UFC 234, any comparison between Anderson Silva and Chuck Liddell in 2018 are without grounds:
“Look, he’s not Chuck Liddell,” Adesanya said in an interview with Submission Radio. “Because of (Liddell/Ortiz 3), people are like, oh, how dare you? He’s 43! Look, the last time I remember he was finished was when he broke his leg. He hasn’t been losing badly. He beat Derek Brunson. It was a close fight, I guess, but yeah. I think he’s just been bored.”
It was Anderson Silva who was originally not on board with the bout, but when the green light for the bout was granted by “The Spider,” Adesanya’s disappointment swiftly turned to enthusiasm:
“Initially, I was disappointed because I was like, man, this was the guy who liked the big challenges…the ‘great show,” like he used to say. ‘I want a great show.’ And then, he said no to me. I’m like, man, maybe he doesn’t have it anymore.
“And then, he came back last Sunday, and I was like, yep, I want to do it. I’m like, they must have made him an offer he can’t refuse. Instantly, I knew it was like, title shot.
“I’m going to be the guy to bring the best out of him. You’re going to see a different Anderson, the Anderson of old, if you will.”
Do you agree with Israel Adesanya? Does Anderson Silva still have enough to pose a legitimate threat for him at UFC 234?
Joe Rogan will not be interviewing any fighters tonight at UFC 271 because he will not be on commentating duty. There were rumors that Rogan was replaced by ESPN due to his recent controversies, particularly viral race-related remarks from the past, but the UFC has reported that it is really due to a scheduling conflict. It should be noted that in recent years, Rogan has missed the occasional UFC pay-per-view due to such conflicts.
In the following article published on this day three years ago, Rogan opened up on interviewing UFC fighters after bouts. It is presented to you in its original, unfiltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
On This Day Three Years Ago…
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 12, 2019, 3:49 PM]
Headline: Joe Rogan Discusses Interviewing UFC Fighters After Bouts
Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) color commentator Joe Rogan has revealed the goal of interviewing fighters after their bouts.
Rogan has been with the UFC since 1997, so going in-depth on the background and styles of fighters is nothing new to him. Upon his transition as a color commentator, Rogan eventually found himself interviewing athletes inside the Octagon right after their bouts. It’s a task that Rogan has proved to be more than capable of handling for years.
Joe Rogan Talks Interviewing UFC Fighters
On an edition of “The Joe Rogan Experience,” the UFC color commentator spoke on his interviews (via BJPenn.com):
“One thing that I hope the fighters realize is that what I’m trying to do is only get them to express themselves. I want them to shine. I really genuinely want them — they won this big fight! I want them to express themselves. I want them to maybe maximize their marketing, their marketing ability, and just tell the world how they feel. That’s an incredibly unusual experience to win a big fight in the cage on pay-per-view in front of millions of people… My goal is only to try to get them communicate better and to let them know that I’m there to support them.”
The UFC recently posted a tribute video to Rogan for being a part of the promotion for 22 years. While Rogan has scaled back on his commentary duties, he has no plans to retire anytime soon.
Do you think Joe Rogan does a good job interviewing the fighters after their bouts?
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 as they await the upcoming clash between Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa.
Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa Set For UFC 271
Tai Tuivasa, Derrick Lewis
Tonight at UFC 271, Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa will face off, and conventional wisdom holds that one of the two men will not maintain consciousness when these powerhouses collide.
Derrick Lewis already holds the UFC knockout record, and he could begin to distance himself from future threats to his spot, such as perhaps Tai Tuivasa, by earning another KO here. Lewis has expressed that there is no greater satisfaction than knocking a grown man out. Will he experience it again tonight at the expense of “Bam Bam?”
For Tai Tuivasa, a victory over Lewis likely would mean a spot in the top 5 of the heavyweight division. Currently, Lewis is ranked at #3 while Tuivasa is ranked at #11. But this fight is more about putting on a show for the fans than about numbers and rankings. And the fans are more than ready for the action to begin.
As the hours close in on this fan-friendly banger, here is how The Pulse of MMA is bracing for the fight.
I need Derrick Lewis & Tai Tuivasa in the middle of the octagon right this second #UFC271
Tai Tuivasa vs Derrick Lewis prediction: 2 mins in, Derrick will throw an overhand and miss and comeback with a left hook which will initiate the brawl and Tai will welcome it and get caught…and get flatlined.
Derrick will proceed to smacking the ground and do his beast thing.
If Tuivasa knocks out Lewis I will do a shoey with my running shoes. Straight the fuck up! I’m fucking pumped for that fight! Ah it’s gonna be such a banger!
We’ve got a full, comprehensive breakdown of all the storylines heading into tomorrow night’s UFC 271 event along with the final face-offs.
UFC 271 goes down tomorrow night, February 12, 2022. The action kicks off at 6:00 PM ET on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass, followed by the ESPN prelims at 8:00 PM. The main card begins at 10:00 PM ET on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
We’ve got a preview of the entire card and the storylines attached to each fight below capped off with the face-offs. And be sure to check out our staff predictions for the event right here!
Jeremiah Wells (9-2) vs. Mike Mathetha (3-0)
Jeremiah Wells enters the fight on a three-fight winning streak after having KO’d Warrley Alves in his debut and showing no trace of UFC jitters in the process.
Douglas Silva de Andrade (27-4) vs. Sergey Morozov (17-5)
Silva de Andrade is a 15-year fight veteran who has alternated wins and losses since 2016. He won his first Performance of the Night in his last fight with a KO of Gaetano Pirrello in the first round. de Andrade holds a quietly amazing record of 27-4.
Sergey Morozov is 8-2 in his last 10 fights, with the only two losses coming to the highly touted Umar Nurmagomedov and Movsar Evloev outside of the UFC. Morozov most recently defeated Khalid Taha via decision in July. You can peep some of Morozov’s highlightsright here.
Below, you can catch the final faceoff between these two athletes.
A.J. Dobson earned his UFC contract with first-round submission on Dana White’s Contender Series. Five of his six wins came via first-round finish, with three KO/TKOs and three submissions. You can watch AJ Dobson Contender Series, Next Level here.
Jacob Malkoun is 1-1 in the UFC after defeating Abdul Razak Alhassan most recently last April via decision. Prior to that, he lost to Phil Hawes. Of note, Malkoun attempted 24 takedowns against Alhassan. So hard-hitter A.J. Dobson may need to pack in his wrestling shoes for this one.
You can catch the final face-off between these two below.
Talented MWs step into the Octagon tomorrow at #UFC271!
Fabio Cherant is off to a rocky 0-2 start in the UFC, first being submitted by Alonzo Menifeld and then being knocked out by William Knight. To help turn his UFC fortunes, Cherant has been putting in time training at Sanford MMA and Fight Ready. You can learn more about Cherant via his LFA Diaries here.
Ronnie Lawrence comes in as one of the biggest favorites on the card at -305, with the comeback on Leomana Martinez being +240. Lawrence is on a four-fight winning streak and made the UFC’s “Fighters You Should Know” list for this card. He won his UFC debut via TKO in February over Vince Cachero. You can expect Lawrence to carry with him his wrestling, relentless takedown attempts, and a gas tank that never goes on empty.
Leomana Martinez is on a three-fight winning streak after being submitted on Contender Series in 2020. At UFC 271, Martinez will be competing in his hometown of Houston. So you can be sure he’ll be looking to leave a memorable impression, such as a KO like this one over CaseyJones.
You can catch the final face-offs between these fighters below.
Closing out the early prelims with 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙞 and 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩 🔥
Maxim Grishin is 1-2 in the UFC and most recently lost to Dustin Jacoby via unanimous decision. Prior to his UFC debut, Grishin had not lost in his last nine fights and not since 2016. You can peep some of Grishin’s highlights here.
William Knight is 3-1 in the UFC after earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series.He knocked out Fabio Cherant to win Performance of the Night in August 2021 and most recently defeated Alonzo Menifeld via unanimous decision in December. He is coming into this fight on short notice.
You can catch the face-off between Knight and Grishin below.
In his last outing, Kyler Phillips lost to Raulian Paiva via unanimous decision in July 2021 in a Fight of the Night. Before that, he defeated prospect Song Yadong via unanimous decision. He is 3-1 in the UFC, including an impressive 2020 finish overCameron Else.
Marcelo Rojo is 0-1 in the UFC after being knocked out by Charles Jourdain in the third round. He’s 1-2 in his last three fights, with 14 of his 16 wins by stoppage. You can peep the best of Marcelo Rojo here.
At 43 years old, Andrei Arlovski still finds himself as the favorite (-145) going up against a younger opponent in 29-year-old Jared Vanderra. Arlovski has won his last two fights, first over Chase Sherman and then over Carlos Felipe. Here is a look back at some of Arlovski’s greatest moments as we await yet another Octagon walk for the legend tomorrow.
After earning a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020, Vanderaa has gone on to have a 1-2 record in the UFC. Most recently, he lost to Alexander Romanov via TKO in October 2021. Prior to that, he won Fight of the Night in a decision win over Justin Tafa.
You can catch the face-off of these two heavyweights below.
Bobby Green last won Performance of the Night in knocking out Al Iaquinta at UFC 268. This was his first stoppage since 2013. Prior to that win, he also won Fight of the Night in a loss to Rafael Fiziev at UFC 265.
We’ve seen Green compete in the UFC for nearly a full decade. After the UFC’s kind gesture of paying his brother’s funeral costs, Green maintains that he intends to remain loyal to the promotion throughout his career. Judging from his last performance against Iaquinta, that career may have many chapters to come.
The next one comes against Nasrat Haqparast, who most recently lost to Dan Hooker via unanimous decision at UFC 266. Haqparast is 5-3 in the UFC, with one of those wins being a vicious KO of Joaquim Silva in 2019.
You can catch the very fiesty face-off between these two fighters below.
Alexander Hernandez (13-4) vs. Renato Moicano (15-4)
Alexander Hernandez has alternated wins and losses since 2018. You couldn’t tell judging from his most recent performance, though, where he knocked out Mike Breeden last October. Hernandez owns two Performance of the Night wins and is 5-3 in the UFC. Hernandez was unhappy to be on the prelims, so now we’ll see what he does after being bumped up on the main card against Renato Moicano.
Renato Moicano is 2-1 at lightweight after once being ranked in the featherweight top 5. Most recently, Moicano submitted Jai Herbert in June 2021. His losses in the UFC have only come against killers: Brian Ortega, José Aldo, The Korean Zombie, and Rafael Fiziev.
Check out the face-off between these two competitors below, which includes Moicano leaving Hernandez hanging…
This weekend's must see matchup keeps the main card MOVING 💥
If Brunson gets the win that he is clearly anticipating, he will have completed one leg of his retirement tour, which would include one final fight against whoever is middleweight champion.
This bout will also feature two top-50 athletes on The MMA News Top 100 Fighters of 2021 list. Brunson was ranked four spots ahead of Cannonier, so “The Killa Gorilla” can show that our panel was a little bit off in this key middleweight clash tomorrow night.
Here is the final face-off between these two top-5ers:
Derrick Lewis (#3) has won five of his last six fights. The UFC’s KO king most recently slept Chris Daukaus last December after losing an interim title fight against Ciryl Gane at UFC 265 in his own backyard. Now, “The Black Beast” is back in Houston and ready for redemption.
For Tai Tuivasa (#11), this is a massive opportunity. He’s on a four-fight winning streak, with all coming by KO. Not only that, but only one of his career wins has not come by KO. If Tuivasa adds Lewis to the list, he may very well crack the heavyweight top 5 and enter the world-title conversation.
It should come as no surprise that Whittaker isn’t a fan of comments like these, and he’s gone as far as to say that he flat out doesn’t like Adesanay’s character and the way he conducts himself.
Adesanya has also pinpointed what he believes to be the precise moment he will break Robert Whittaker’s spirit during the bout, which is when Whittaker learns that he can’t outgrapple him. Whittaker has addressed this assumption that this is what he will try to do, even unloading on the “Just Take Adesanya Down” brigade leading up to the fight.
The champion’s main motivation heading into tomorrow is to not only overcome those nerves but outdo his performance against Whittaker at UFC 243—and in so doing, send Whittaker back to that dark place.
Check out the final face-off between these two rivals below along with their closing remarks.
To view the full UFC 271 Ceremonial Weigh-in, you can do so right here. And please be sure to keep it locked on MMANews.com tomorrow for full, live coverage of UFC 271!
The weigh-in results for UFC 271: Adesanya vs. Whittaker II have been logged, and we’ve got the details for you below.
At UFC 271, Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker will compete in a rematch of their 2019 battle inside Marvel Stadium. The co-main event will see heavy hitters Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa bang it out. All four men are cleared and ready to go after making weight for tomorrow night’s showcase.
Everyone else on the card has made weight also, save Alex Perez and William Knight. Perez missed weight by two pounds for his flyweight bout against Matt Schnell, and that fight has been canceled for the fourth time.
William Knight missed the light heavyweight limit by a whopping 12 pounds ahead of his bout against Maxim Grishin, and Knight will be fined 40% of his purse as the fight shifts over to heavyweight.
The UFC hosted a live UFC 271 weigh-in show, which you can view right here. And you can catch the full card for UFC 271 as well as all the viewing information below, courtesy of UFC.com.
UFC 271 Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 10:00 PM ET)
Main Event – Middleweight Title Bout: Israel Adesanya (184) vs Robert Whittaker (184)
Co-Main Event – Heavyweight Bout: Derrick Lewis (266) vs Tai Tuivasa (265)
Middleweight Bout: Jared Cannonier (185) vs Derek Brunson (185.5)
Lightweight Bout: Alexander Hernandez (156) vs Renato Moicano (156)
Lightweight Bout: Bobby Green (155.5) vs Nasrat Haqparast (156)
UFC 271 is now two sleeps away, and our staff is ready to get you even more amped up for the second pay-per-view event of 2022!
UFC 271 will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, February 12. The main card begins at 10:00 PM ET, and the ESPN2 preliminary card kicks off at 8:00 PM. The early preliminary card starts at 6:00 PM.
The main event will feature a rematch between two of the best middleweights to ever do it when Israel Adesanya faces Robert Whittaker again. Whittaker earned the rematch by winning three consecutive fights on his journey toward redemption. Will he get it? Our staff will dig into the predictions ahead.
The co-main event is quite the tricky bout to predict, as it will feature two men who can stop the show at any moment when KO king Derrick Lewis takes on Tai Tuivasa, who has won all but one of his 14 wins by KO, including every one of his four-fight winning streak.
Also on the main card, an unofficial title eliminator between Jared Cannonier and Derek Brunson is set to take place. We will also see Kyler Phillips try to bounce back from his first UFC loss against Marcelo Rojo and veteran Bobby Green return to the Octagon against Nasrat Haqparast.
UFC 271 Staff Predictions
MMA News is the place to be for all the latest UFC 271 updates. Harvey Leonard, Andrew Ravens, Ed Carbajal, and special guest Tyriece Simon have provided their picks for you.
Here is the full main card lineup for UFC 271:
UFC Middleweight Championship: Israel Adesanya (c) vs. Robert Whittaker
Heavyweight: Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa
Middleweight: Jared Cannonier vs. Derek Brunson
Bantamweight: Kyler Phillips vs. Marcelo Rojo* – NOTE: This fight has been moved to the ESPN preliminary card and has since been replaced with Alexander Hernandez vs. Renato Moicano.
Lightweight: Bobby Green vs. Nasrat Haqparast
Bobby Green vs. Nasrat Haqparast
Bobby Green, Nasrat Haqparast
Harvey Leonard: There is certainly more pressure on Haqparast in this one. The German’s striking speed is impressive, and if he can utilize his reach advantage and land at a high volume, he could edge a decision, like how Fiziev did against Green last year. However, Haqparast can often fall into the trap of becoming too predictable. Against an experienced campaigner like Green, it’s hard to picture that going unpunished.
The key for Haqparast will be variety and change-ups on the feet, something Green could look to stifle with takedowns and wrestling, similar to Hooker’s UFC 266 game plan, or a mixed striking approach himself. I give a narrow edge to “King.” (Prediction: Bobby Green)
Andrew Ravens: A tough fight for both guys as Green is always game and going to bring a fistfight to anyone who steps up to him, so it’s going to be a fun fight. Nasrat has a lot of upside and probably hasn’t even hit his prime yet. I’ll side with Hasrat by decision. (Prediction: Nasrat Haqparast)
Ed Carbajal: This opener should make for an exciting lightweight bout. Green’s experience could trump the youth and inexperience of Haqparast, but in today’s realm of combat sports, it’s never been more obvious that MMA is a young man’s game. Green certainly has the ingredients to put Haqparast away early, but if it goes longer than one and a half rounds, I’m going with the younger fighter. (Prediction: Nasrat Haqparast)
Tyriece Simon: This fight should be really entertaining. Bobby Green has good head movement and striking. He also has the wrestling that he can mix with his striking to create problems for Nasrat Haqparast. I think it will be a close fight, but Green gets the win. (Prediction: Bobby Green)
Final Scorecard: 2-2 Draw
Kyler Phillips vs. Marcelo Rojo
Kyler Phillips, Marcelo Rojo
Harvey Leonard: Phillips has impressed so far, and his win over Yadong should not be understated. He also shouldn’t have been handed a loss to Paiva. While he’ll be looking to get back on track, Rojo will hope to rebound from his debut defeat, with his place in the promotion likely on the line.
Unfortunately, I think it’s unlikely he’ll be able to outpoint the more well-rounded Phillips. And given that the 26-year-old has never been finished, it looks set to be a tough task for Rojo. If he can attack Phillips’ lead leg and slow his movement, and if Phillips pushes too hard for a battle on the feet and a KO, Rojo will have a chance, but I see it as a slim one. (Prediction: Kyler Phillips)
Andrew Ravens: This is going to be a real challenge for Rojo, who is making his second UFC appearance here. Kyler will likely never be a champion, but he is someone who is solid competition and everything I’ve seen makes it seem like this is going to be a one-sided beatdown with Kyler getting it done by submission. (Prediction: Kyler Phillips)
Ed Carbajal: Phillips is a bantamweight that came out of LFA, one of the places the UFC farms a lot of talent from that does very well once they’re signed. He is coming off a loss, but it was a decision loss, which means he was never out of the fight. Rojo came to the UFC from Combate Global and has had a few ups and downs. He’s coming off a loss, too, and while that should motivate both men for a finish, Phillips is more likely to get one. (Prediction: Kyler Phillips)
Tyriece Simon: Kyler Phillips wants to rebound from his majority decision loss against Raulian Paiva. Before his loss against Paiva, Phillips had won three fights straight, including a win over Song Yadong. Meanwhile, Rojo is looking to get his first win in the UFC. I think Phillips’ striking and speed will be too much for Rojo. (Prediction: Kyler Phillips)
Final Scorecard: 4-0 Phillips
Jared Cannonier vs. Derek Brunson
Derek Brunson Jared Cannonier
Harvey Leonard: There’s only so many times I can count Brunson out before I learn not to underestimate him. However, I’m going to try my luck one last time. Brunson’s game plan is clear. And if he executes it like he did against Till, he’ll win.
But against a middleweight as experienced and powerful as Cannonier, not to mention his strong takedown defense, I can’t see Brunson being able to turn this into a wrestling match, and anything but that favors “The Killa Gorilla.” (Prediction: Jared Cannonier)
Andrew Ravens: Brunson gets it done here. The longtime star has been on fire as of late and collected an impressive winning streak. Jared is a tough guy and one of the best in the division. His only loss since 2018 came against Robert Whittaker, and that should tell you all that you need to know. At 38-years-old, Brunson knows that if he wants to fight for a title, he needs to keep winning, so I think heart and focus will outperform Jared. (Prediction: Derek Brunson)
Ed Carbajal: This fight is pretty even despite the experience of Brunson over Cannonier in their MMA careers. Brunson has a slight height advantage but not enough to matter, and they’re pretty even in reach. Cannonier’s striking output seems to be greater than Brunson’s, so I would not be surprised if we see a lot of takedowns from Brunson, and that could get him a decision win. (Prediction: Derek Brunson)
Tyriece Simon: Derek Brunson has looked impressive, relying on his wrestling to win dominantly in his last four fights. However, Jared Cannonier has good takedown defense at middleweight (only been taken down once since moving to middleweight) and has power in his hands to knockout Brunson. I think Cannonier keeps the fight standing and beats Brunson. (Prediction: Jared Cannonier)
Final Scorecard: 2-2 Draw
Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa
Tai Tuivasa, Derrick Lewis
Harvey Leonard: It’s pretty unique to have a fight where a KO/TKO is effectively guaranteed, but the winner is so hard to predict. This could well come down to whoever gets a clean shot in first. My gut tells me the more patient Lewis will be able to catch the fast-starting Tuivasa as he rushes in.
However, Tuivasa’s recent admission that he’ll have to fight “smart” has encouraged me about his chances. I see this one as pretty much a coin flip, but I’m leaning 51/49 in favor of “The Black Beast.” (Prediction: Derrick Lewis)
Andrew Ravens: Tai has been on a roll as of late while Lewis is looking to continue the ball rolling forward in his hometown. Most will side with Lewis to win here, and I think he gets it done by decision. Although Tai is a tough dude and will test the gas tank of the fan-favorite, I don’t think he has the skills to outstrike Lewis. (Prediction: Derrick Lewis)
Ed Carbajal: Up until UFC 265, Lewis was undefeated in Texas. That loss was to Ciryl Gane and his fifth time being T/KO’d. Tuivasa has only been T/KO’d once in his professional career, so if the chins are going to be checked between these two fan favorites, I would not be surprised if the underdog, Tuivasa pays off in this matchup. I don’t think home-field advantage matters anymore in combat sports. (Prediction: Tai Tuivasa)
Tyriece Simon: The last time Lewis fought in Houston, Texas, he lost to Ciryl Gane. I think Lewis wants to win at home, and he has the power to knock out any heavyweight. I also believe that Tuivasa will want to fight in close distance to knock out Lewis, and he will get hurt instead. (Prediction: Derrick Lewis)
Final Scorecard: 3-1 Lewis
Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker
Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, Photo credit: Zuffa LLC
Harvey Leonard: Adesanya has grown into a unique position where I think he’s almost impossible to bet against, at least at middleweight. Having seen Vettori’s failed attempts to take the champ down last year, I can’t envision Whittaker being able to impose his will in the grappling department. Beyond that, how does he win? Can he outstrike Adesanya? Finish him? It’s tough to see.
But outside of his loss to Adesanya, “The Reaper” is unbeaten since 2014 and has looked unstoppable in his last three fights. If he’s at his best, and really is a “different beast” on the feet now, as his manager claims, there’s no one more likely to hand Adesanya his first blemish at 185 pounds. I expect a tight contest, but one “The Last Stylebender” edges. (Prediction: Israel Adesanya)
Andrew Ravens: Finally, the rematch that we’ve all been waiting for. The shine on Israel has started to fade compared to where he had been when he first won the title. On the flip side, Whittaker has done everything right to get back to this spot and fight for a title while also doing it in an interesting fashion.
Honestly, I wouldn’t be shocked if Whittaker wins here by split decision, as I think he’s going to give Israel a real challenge. However, I do think Israel is currently the best fighter in the division, so I’ll side with him getting it done by decision. (Prediction: Israel Adesanya )
Ed Carbajal: This main event doesn’t seem as hyped as the first time around. Probably because the first time went so well for Adesanya, it’s hard to think anything will go differently the second time around. But it’s fun to think it would, right? Whittaker did take some time off, so there’s always a chance, but not big enough for me to not go with the current champion. (Prediction: Israel Adesanya)
Tyriece Simon: This fight is tough to call because of how skilled both fighters are. In the first fight, Robert Whittaker returned after a year recovering from injuries against a very active Israel Adesanya. In his last three wins, Whittaker looked healthy and motivated to reclaim the UFC middleweight championship.
While Adesanya has looked sensational and unbeatable at middleweight, I think Whittaker has the skills to give him problems. He may be the underdog in the fight, but I believe Whittaker can pull off the upset. (Prediction: Robert Whittaker)
Final Scorecard: 3-1 Adesanya
That’ll do it for our UFC 271 staff picks! What do you think? Do your picks look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the UFC 271 undercard below.
UFC 271 takes place Saturday, February 12, 2022, from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The main event will feature a middleweight championship rematch between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker. In the co-main event, Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa will square up and bang it out in front of a worldwide audience and, for “The Black Beast”, a hometown crowd.
Each of the above fighters was in attendance during Thursday’s pre-fight press conference. Here were some of the most memorable moments from the event.
Here are a few notable moments not covered in the above highlights:
Adesanya says he still owns property in Robert Whittaker’s head
Adesanya vehemently defends Joe Rogan amid controversies, advises him to “Fuck the noise” and keep doing him.
Dana White agreed to do a shoey, never does
Ngannou Negotiations Update: Dana White says that he had dinner with Ngannou before he left to Cameroon following UFC 270 and plans to have dinner with him again when he returns to the States.
Full Replay
Finally, if you’d like to experience the full UFC 271 pre-fight press conference uncut, you can do so right below!
Not so fast: Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison may not be shooting for a three-peat as the PFL’s women’s lightweight champion after all.
Last month, MMA journalist Ariel Helwani reported that the PFL is the strong front-runner to re-sign Harrison. In a follow-up tweet to the report, he stated that the deal was as good as done.
“Talks between Kayla Harrison and the PFL have hit a snag at the 11th hour, I’m told. They aren’t dead but road blocks have materialized. She is now assessing her next move and nothing is being ruled out,” Helwani tweeted.
Harrison also sent out the following tweet shortly before Helwani’s report:
Kayla Harrison has been competing in MMA since 2018, with the entirety of her 12 professional fights taking place in the PFL. The Olympian has remained undefeated, with each victory being either a finish or a dominant unanimous decision. Most recently, Harrison won the PFL’s women’s lightweight season for the second time when she defeated Taylor Guardado at PFL 10.
This latest development will no doubt give hope to the many MMA fans who remain eager to see Harrison face a fresh batch of competition. It also will no doubt reinvigorate UFC’s and Bellator’s efforts to land Harrison.
Numerous people within the industry, including WMMA legend Miesha Tate, believe Harrison should join the UFC, with others arguing that she should join any larger promotion with a deeper talent pool.
MMA News will no doubt keep you abreast of all the latest updates on this developing story.
India Arie has softened her position on Joe Rogan.
Last week, multi-time Grammy-Award winner India Arie posted two videos on her Instagram page containing clips of Joe Rogan using controversial language tied to race. The clips were from past episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience, in some cases from several years ago.
In the first video, Rogan can be heard saying “ni**er” multiple times. In her Instagram post, Arie commented on this compilation by stating that she knows what it is like to be a victim of hand-picked clips being taken out of context for the sake of sensationalism. And though she conceded that Rogan could have been the victim of the same thing, that did not change her position that Rogan shouldn’t have said the word at all in any context.
In the second video containing a clip from over a decade ago, Rogan compares his arrival to an all-black neighborhood to being in “Planet of the Apes” as he was en route to watch the actual film Planet of the Apes.
After playing back this video, Arie shifted the conversation to Spotify, stating that if the platform insists on paying Rogan $100 million in spite of him saying such things, then they should remove her music if they will simultaneously pay working artists pennies.
India Arie Accepts Joe Rogan’s Apology
India Arie, Photo credit: Benedict Evans
Although Spotify has stood steadfast by Rogan’s side through this controversy as well as the “deadly misinformation” controversy, they did decide to invest $100 million to historically marginalized groups. This decision came after Arie had a conversation with Spotify on the issue. However, it is unclear if this conversation was the sole or even primary reason behind Spotify’s decision to make this investment.
While there are no reports of a change in Arie’s position of having her music removed from Spotify, she did take a different tone when discussing Rogan. The R&B legend had some complimentary words about Joe Rogan’s apology for the use of “the N-Word” in an appearance on CNN.
“I have to say, I do think he did a fine job with his apology,” Arie said. “He said a lot of the things I would want to hear someone say. The thing that stuck out for me most was when he said, ‘It’s not my word to use.’ And I think change behavior is what we’re really looking for. If it went all the way to allyship, that would be wonderful. But also, change behavior would be wonderful, too.”
Arie went on to reiterate that she had no issue with Joe Rogan’s podcast because she could simply opt not to listen to it. However, the issue became unavoidable for her when she considered the wide gap in pay Rogan is receiving from Spotify despite some of his past language on race.
But as far as the specific use of the N-Word goes, Arie does not believe that alone makes Rogan a racist.
(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
“I know why [black people] use [the “N-word”], but explaining that to everyone every time is not where I want to be or anybody should have to be. We should just be able to say, ‘Just don’t.’ And also, I don’t think that Joe Rogan is racist for using it. I think he’s insensitive for using it. So just don’t.”
While Arie has not met Rogan, other African-Americans who know Rogan more directly have also vouched for him not being a racist despite his N-word usage. This includes Rashad Evans and Terrence McKee among others. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was one notable figure who did pull his support, but it is unclear which of Rogan’s resurfaced videos prompted this denouncement from Johnson.
The BOAT is the Best of All Time. Unlike the GOAT, you aren’t bound by the laws of longevity. There’s no need to wait for a decade or more to begin a conversation that you can plainly see is going to happen anyway. Nope, you can strictly go by talent and the likelihood to win any given contest, no matter the circumstances.
This week in BOAT talk, Chael Sonnen tackles the debate of Anderson Silva vs. Israel Adesanya for middleweight supremacy.
Last week, Daniel Cormier gave his take on just who is the middleweight GOAT. Seeing as how the majority of people define a “GOAT” to be the man who has the most accomplishments in a given field, Cormier considered it an insult to rank anyone over Anderson Silva, who has the most successful title defenses in UFC middleweight history. Below, you can find Mr. Cormier’s argument.
“No. Dude, Anderson Silva existed. Anderson Silva existed. Like, I don’t get this recency bias that fans have,” Cormier said during a recent episode of DC&RC. “Honestly RC, I think the word ‘GOAT’ gets thrown around way too easy in fight sports. The only person that doesn’t get passed is Muhammad Ali and there have been some really impressive fighters, but people recognize what Muhammad Ali was. Anderson Silva was to MMA what Muhammad Ali was to boxing. No, [Israel Adesanya] has some work to do to catch Anderson.” (h/t SportsKeeda)
Chael Sonnen Takes Cormier To Task For MW GOAT Take
Chael Sonnen, Daniel Cormier
Chael Sonnen feels as strong about this debate as Cormier, only he is taking the opposite side. Both Sonnen and Cormier have competed against Anderson Silva before. Sonnen fell short twice while Cormier defeated Silva at UFC 200. Sonnen believes that victory is the most logical explanation for DC placing Silva over Adesanya despite the fact that he feels “The Last Style Bender” squashed The Spider’s place as MW GOAT.
“(Cormier) said that other people come up to him all the time and ask him about Adesanya. And then they, in their question about Adesanya, say to him, ‘Is he the greatest of all time?’ Daniel pushed back and said, ‘Time out. Recency bias aside, Anderson Silva existed. Anderson Silva is the greatest of all time.’ He then went on to talk about (how) we always do that. We always pass up somebody with somebody new, and the only sports figure in history that that hasn’t happened to is Muhammad Ali.’ What in the BLEEP is Daniel Cormier talking about?!” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel.
“There is nothing on that that is accurate. There is no way that Daniel believes it, except Daniel fought Anderson Silva and would like to pad his own résumé so he wants to have beaten the greatest of all time (is) all I can think. Or, he didn’t have enough time to think about the question. There is zero truth to it.”
Sonnen would also use Muhammad Ali as an example of erroneous usage of the “GOAT” label. Sonnen argued that if we were to poll trainers and boxers of 2022 who they watched film on to improve their technique and skillset, it wouldn’t be Muhammad Ali.
Sonnen would go on to shoot down common arguments found in GOAT debates where the losing fighter is granted an “out-of-prime” exception.
“Look, if we are at least down to Adesanya and Anderson, we’ve done a good and fair job as a community. Because those are the two. I will tell you this: they fought. And it was a good fight. Adesanya won two rounds to one. Everybody saw it the same as the judges. Adesanya won 1 and 3; Anderson won number 2. It was a valiant effort by Anderson. It was closer than any of us thought that it was gonna be. It was a great fight. But that still answers the question, if you’re being fair. If you want to be unfair and your side doesn’t win, you (say), ‘Well, he wasn’t in his prime.’ Shut up with all that. Just stop. Stop.”
Fabricio Werdum vs. Fedor Emelianenko, Image Credit: Associated Press
One person who is often granted an out-of-prime exemption is heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko. Those who argue he is the heavyweight or overall MMA GOAT dismiss losses to names like Dan Henderson, Fabricio Werdum, and Antonio Silva because Fedor (who was in his early-mid 30s at the time of those losses) was out of his prime. Sonnen appears to believe that Anderson Silva is being granted this same exemption when it comes to his loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 234.
There is just one problem with Sonnen’s take. For the most part, the vast majority of people do not define GOAT the way he seems to. It is clear that what Sonnen is arguing is that Israel Adesanya is the BOAT. He is arguing that Adesanya is a better, not more accomplished, fighter than Silva. He believes that Israel Adesanya is more likely to win any given fight, and that Adesanya further proved his superiority by defeating Silva head-to-head, thus closing the door on any credible debate on the matter.
If Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen had a face-to-face debate on this issue, I can assure you that they would talk in circles. The reason being that they are debating two different things. Daniel Cormier is having a GOAT debate while Chael Sonnen is having a BOAT debate.
Folks, there are over 500,000 words in the English language. That number changes every year, and each year brings new additions. It wasn’t too long ago that “GOAT” was added to the English and sports lexicon. When there are so many words in just one language, this can only be possible when there are several words that have very similar meanings but with the slightest of alterations.
It is undebatable that “BOAT” is one of those words; that it has a clear difference in meaning than GOAT; and most importantly, that we need to finally add it to the English and sports lexicon.
Julianna Peña has wrapped up her COVID-19 investigation.
During her recent appearance on The Joe RoganExperience podcast, Julianna Peña opened up on a wide range of issues, and she even brushed up on her informal career as an investigative reporter.
MMA News covered Peña’s initial dabbling into the journalism field when she was hot on the case of Amanda Nunes’ UFC 265 pull-out. She ultimately concluded that Nunes pulled out because she was ill-prepared for the original fight date of August 7, 2020. In fact, throughout the course of her investigation, Peña determined that Nunes was more than likely never stricken with the coronavirus at all, despite that being the reported reason for her withdrawal.
This would not be the end of Peña’s remarks connected to COVID-19. Peña would revert to her investigative ways on the JRE where she addressed many subjects and theories pertaining to the pandemic.
On Mask Efficacy
“For me, I don’t put on a mask unless somebody asks me. I’m like, “That’s over. Come on,” Peña said.
When asked what kind of mask she was referring to, she replied, “Gas masks. I don’t know. I’m sick of this. I’m seriously so sick of it.”
Peña would later point to a specific demonstration that she feels debunks the protection efficacy of masks.
“Have you seen that guy where he takes a pool from a vape pen on the outside and then just like clouds and plumes of smoke coming out? It’s like, what is it really protecting?”
On Her Experience With COVID-19
“Fine,” Peña said of her bout with the virus. “I mean, I had the chills. It started with the headache, and I had a massive headache for two days. I couldn’t understand what was going on…and I had the chills day three. It was freezing. I had sweatpants on, everything, and three blankets, and I was still shivering cold. I think day four or five, I lost taste and smell, and then I had a very mild cough, and then it was gone.”
Exposing The COVID-19 “Conspiracy”
“I’m a massive conspiracy theorist on this whole thing, and I have been since the very beginning. I’m like, ‘This is just a money grab. They’re trying to kill us, and this is ridiculous.”
After Rogan was taken aback by these remarks, Peña would swiftly present her supporting evidence.
“Well, remember [Dr. Peter] McCullough said that there’s a specific plant that’s growing somewhere and then one day they were all burned, gone. He said that there was like a field of this medicine somewhere else and then when they went to go back for it, it was all burned down.”
“Well, at this point, I don’t even think it’s a conspiracy anymore with all the other stuff that’s happening. It’s like, no, this is reality.”
Conclusions
After receiving backlash for her conspiracy theory, Peña took the time to clarify and apologize for her remarks during a recent media scrum, thus bringing a close to her COVID-19 investigation.
“My words were a little bit misconstrued,” Peña said. “I am tired. I am exhausted. We are going on this pandemic two years, going on three years now. I just want things to go back to normal. I realize that they probably won’t. I didn’t mean to come across as insensitive, especially for the fact that I had COVID. Everybody that I know had COVID. I lost my aunt in Venezuela. I lost many people that were near and dear to me. It absolutely is real.
“I’m just angry, and frustrated, and exhausted over the whole situation because I just am wanting things to go back to normal. And so if I offended anybody by my comments on COVID, please, I would like to apologize. That was not, by any means, what I meant to say. I just meant to say that I’m frustrated with the way that the world is right now.”
Peña’s stint as a rogue investigative reporter may be off to a rocky start yet, but her career as a professional cage fighter is going quite swimmingly. “The Venezuelan Vixen” sits as your reigning, defending UFC women’s bantamweight champion after pulling off arguably the biggest win of 2021 when she unseated Amanda Nunes from the throne at UFC 269.
A rematch between the two is set for later this year at the conclusion of TUF 30, a season where both women will serve as head coaches.
Now less than a month away from the long-anticipated clash between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington, “Gamebred” took a break from training to deliver a personal message to his former teammate.
At UFC 272, the talk between Covington and Masvidal will come to an end with the two ex-besties settling their differences with their fists and every functional limb. The pre-fight buildup for this contest had already been established long before the bout was announced, as the two outspoken personalities have been bickering back and forth since their falling out three years ago.
“At the homing temple, home to some real motherfuckers left and right. I’m not the only one here that’s a bad motherfucker. Many bad motherfuckers here. Bring out your bitch ass that got kicked out from here. Damn it. I know it hurts every time you see that shit. I know what a sensitive bitch you are and how you read comments and cry. I can’t imagine, every time you see this symbol (pans to ATT logo), it just hurts, man.
“Keep talking shit, though. I can’t wait, man. March 5 is getting closer, so is this knee to your temple. Not only am I gonna break your face in a very violent way, but the UFC’s gonna see you as such a liability that they’re gonna kick you out, bro. And you’re just gonna be back to Indian reservations where you can fight, maybe you can co-main event or some shit like that because I don’t even think you can main event after I’m done with you in any show.
“I’m gonna fuck you up, man. Keep talking that shit, though, man. March 5 can’t come close enough.”
Masvidal would then close with a remix of his buddy Yoel Romer’s famous “See you soon, boi” catchphrase:
“See you soon, bitch,” Masvidal concluded. “Never forget.”
Masvidal was sure to tag Covington to better ensure that his message arrives safely at his former roommate’s doorstep. Covington has been relatively quiet by his standards since this grudge match was announced, but you can expect that to change dramatically in the coming weeks.
While that has not been confirmed by Trump, one thing that has been confirmed is that this score between these two enemies will be settled on March 5. And there is one thing that Masvidal said that needs no confirmation and is a straight fact:
March 5 can’t come soon enough.
What are your thoughts on Jorge Masvidal’s message to Colby Covington?
45th President of the United States Donald Trump believes Joe Rogan should man up and stop apologizing.
Joe Rogan has come under fire for allegedly spreading and facilitating “deadly misinformation” on his Joe Rogan Experience podcast. These accusations have led to Rock & Roll Music Hall of Famers Neil Young and Joni Mitchell requesting to have their music pulled from Spotify as a response to the podcast remaining on the streaming platform.
In response, Rogan clarified the objective of the podcast is not to be controversial or intentionally present contrarian views. Instead, it is used as a platform for various voices to engage in an open exchange of ideas, opinions, and viewpoints, even when Rogan himself doesn’t agree with a guest. Rogan apologized if he made anyone angry, stating this was not and has never been his intention.
Over the weekend, Rogan found himself in hot water again. This time, past race-related remarks came back to haunt the versatile public figure when it was revealed that he has said “n***er” multiple times throughout the history of his podcast.
Another video resurfaced where he said he was in “Planet of the Apes” when he arrived in an all-black neighborhood. Rogan apologized for both videos and insisted that he did not and would not ever intentionally express anything racist for the sake of entertainment or for any other reason.
Donald Trump Has Heard Enough
Donald Trump, Getty Images
Former US President Donald J. Trump has heard enough. In a statement released Monday night, he issued the following response to Rogan’s trifecta of apologies:
“Joe Rogan is an interesting and popular guy, but he’s got to stop apologizing to the Fake News and Radical Left maniacs and lunatics.
“How many ways can you say you’re sorry? Joe, just go about what you do so well and don’t let them make you look weak and frightened. That’s not you and it never will be!”
Before and during his presidency, Trump was often praised for his ability to say what he feels without standing on ceremony and being politically correct like other politicians. However, even Trump has apologized on rare occasions.
Regarding the issues of COVID-19, while Rogan has spoken about alternative ways to combat the virus, Trump has come out and vouched for the efficacy of the vaccines. From a policy standpoint, you can learn more about his thoughts and actions connected to the COVID-19 pandemic here.
However, Trump has always scoffed at and denied this categorization. In fact, in addition to touting his notable African-American supporters, he has claimed that no one has done more for black people except for perhaps Abraham Lincoln. You can view a recap of Trump’s policies in connection to the African-Americans here.
Trump has attended UFC events in the past, so perhaps he will be there and reveal which of the two fighters has his backing. And should one of the two fighters get blatantly snubbed in the process, they shouldn’t hold their breath on an apology.
What are your thoughts on Donald Trump’s statement regarding the Joe Rogan controversy?
That brings us to today’s story, featuring Sean Strickland and an adult film actress. As you can imagine from such a combination, the readers should brace themselves for the content ahead and reader discretion is advised.
As demonstrated with some of the above-mentioned headlines, Strickland has been quite unpredictable and outspoken over the previous year. In doing so, not only has he garnered the attention of the entire MMA community, but he also caught the eyes and ears of adult film star Karma RX.
Adult Film Star Karma RX At the Adult Video News Awards
Karma RX is an award-winning adult film actress who has appeared in over 150 films. At present, she has over 3 million followers on social media and a reported net worth of at least $5 million. However, life wasn’t always flashy and lavish for Karma RX.
Before her rise to X-rated fame, she struggled with meth addiction. She has been very open about her road to recovery with her fans and has thus served as an inspiration for many.
Strickland Nips Romance With Karma RX In The Bud
During his UFC Vegas 43 Octagon interview last year, Strickland stated that if it were not for MMA, he’d probably be somewhere“cooking meth in a trailer.” While Strickland did not explicitly state that he has battled meth addiction, apparently, something about this MMA “Tarzan” made Karma RX identify with him on some level, and the two later began flirting on social media last month.
Do we get married now or do I have to catch a charge first when I jealousy snap and kill someone? It's been awhile since I've fell in love with a toxic whore. I'm like a month flying into a flame..
Following his victory over Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 47 on Saturday, Strickland suggested that this flirtatious romance will be restricted to social media—for now.
“No, one of these days, maybe when she retires and I retire, we’ll get it going,” Strickland told reporters at the UFC Vegas 47 post-fight press conference when asked about a potential relationship with Karma RX. “But I mean, how do you—girl fuckin’ sucks dick for a living, bro. What do you say? Like, she just got a bunch of dudes cummin’ in her and you’re like, ‘Hey, wanna go on a date, babe? Wanna go get a steak dinner? As she’s cleaning off her lip.”
Despite his usual unfiltered and NSFW take on the latest subject at his disposal, Strickland did express some quasi-wholesome praise for the adult film star for her rags-to-riches story.
“But I will say one thing. Let me compliment my girl fuckin’ Karma. I wanna give her a compliment,” Strickland continued. “That girl’s life was way fuckin’ harder than me. And yeah, she does suck a little dick, but at the end of the day, that fuckin’ bitch makes more money than me, you, and the man with the gay haircut. I mean, in all fairness, she should be a meth addict in a fuckin’ dumpster. So a lot of people hate on Karma, but at the end of the day, man, girl’s fuckin’ doing well for herself.”
What say you? Would YOU date Karma RX while she is an active adult film star?
This decision comes after Grammy-award-winning artist India Arie revealed that she had a private conversation with Spotify about the discrepancy between what Rogan is being paid while there are clips of him stating racially controversial remarks compared to what music artists and podcasters of colors are paid.
It is this perceived gap in pay and equity that prompted Arie to join Young and Mitchell in requesting her music be pulled from the platform.
India Arie, Credit: Getty Images
Over the weekend, two videos went viral, both of which Rogan has apologized for. The first video contained a compilation of Rogan saying “ni**er” without any full sentences or context included in the video. The second video had Rogan stating that it felt as though he and his friends were in “Planet of the Apes” when they unexpectedly arrived in an all-black neighborhood.
There was also a third video that has mostly flown under the radar, where Rogan implies that white people’s brains are superior to black people’s brains. The latter two videos were both very dated and over a decade old.
Following the snowstorm of criticism that came down on Rogan, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek released a memo to company employees. Here are the notes of what Ek wrote in the memo.
Expressed empathy for the Spotify team being stuck in the middle of Rogan’s controversies and stated that none of Rogan’s comments represent the values of the company.
Had conversations with Rogan and his team about past JRE episodes containing racially insensitive comments, with Rogan choosing to remove those episodes.
Stated that “silencing” Joe Rogan is not the answer
Clarified that Spotify is not the publisher of JRE but merely holds the exclusive license for the podcast.
$100 million investment into marginalized communities to broaden, not stifle, public discourse.
The remainder of the memo is used as a direct address to employees with the intention of boosting staff morale in the midst of the ongoing controversies and negative press.
As Joe Rogan apologized over the weekend for past controversial remarks found in two viral videos containing podcast clips dating back several years, a third video also resurfaced.
Joe Rogan has found himself to be one of the most controversial figures in 2022 thus far. First, over 200 individuals wrote an open letter to Spotify calling on the company to take action against The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. This came after the December 31, 2021 episode featuring Dr. Robert Malone, who is specifically being accused of spreading misinformation regarding COVID-19.
The authors of the letter were soon joined by music legends Neil Young and Joni Mitchell in the shared belief that Rogan’s podcast is using the Spotify platform to spread “deadly misinformation” that is causing real harm to the general public. Both Young and Mitchell requested to have their music removed from Spotify in protest of Rogan’s continued presence on the app.
Rogan addressed these concerns in a video last week, where he apologized if he made anyone angry but insisted that it was not his intention to be controversial. He reiterated that his podcast is a place for multiple perspectives to be heard, even if he does not agree with each guest. He also expressed an openness to making changes to the presentation of his content, specifically the order in which guests are scheduled so that opposing views could potentially be heard in consecutive episodes.
Many people praised Rogan for his apology, with Chael Sonnen calling it a “home run.” Even Trevor Noah of The Daily Showpraised Rogan for much of what he had to say in the video. Rogan also had the backing of his many loyal supports and those who resist any strain of the “cancel culture” virus many believe is infecting American society.
Rogan Hit With A Second Controversy Over The Weekend
As Neil Young and Joni Mitchell requested to have their music removed from Spotify in protest of Rogan, another multi-time Grammy-award-winning artist, India Arie, added her name to the Spotify protest. However, Arie’s reason had nothing to do with COVID-19 misinformation and was based on very dated remarks from Rogan’s podcast that were unearthed.
The first video is a compilation of Rogan repeatedly saying the word “ni**er” with a hard “er.” The second video features Rogan comparing his arrival in an all-black neighborhood to landing in The Planet of the Apes.
Below, you can view both videos as well as India Arie’s explanation for why Rogan remaining on Spotify on such a lucrative deal is unacceptable when, as she claims, podcasters of color and music artists are being underpaid (right arrow leads to next video). (h/t Hollywood Unlocked)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZhNdCzL94g/
Of note, UFC fighter Curtis Blaydes was among the 27,000-plus individuals who liked the above post.
Rogan Issues Apology, Swarmed With Support From MMA Community
Rogan would soon address both videos in an apology released on his Instagram page over the weekend.
Rogan began by calling this situation “the most regretful and shameful thing” he’s ever had to discuss publicly. Rogan says that his use of “the N-word” was taken out of context by the video creator, whom he accuses of using handpicked clips from over a decade of podcast content. However, he made sure to point out that this was no excuse and that he should have never used the word for any reason, to begin with.
Regarding the Planet of the Apes remarks, Rogan stated the following:
“And there’s another clip that I have to address. There’s a clip from 11 years ago. I was telling a story on the podcast about how me and my friend Tommy and his girlfriend, we got really high, we were in Philadelphia, and we went to go see Planet of the Apes. And we didn’t know where we were going, we just got dropped off by a cab, and we got dropped off in this all-black neighborhood. And I was trying to make the story entertaining. And I said, ‘We got out, and it was like we were in Africa. It’s like we were in Planet of the Apes.’
“I did not, nor would I ever, say that black people are apes, but it sure fuckin’ sounded like that. And I immediately afterwards said, ‘That’s a racist thing to say. Planet of the Apes wasn‘t even in Africa.’ I was just saying, ‘There’s a lot of black people there.’
“Then, I went on to talk about what a positive experience it was and how much fun it was to go to see this movie in a black neighborhood. It wasn’t a racist story, but it sounded terrible. And like I said, you can have clunky stories about anything, but not about race.”
You can view the full apology below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZlnH8MAb8L/
Rogan was again praised for the apology, with many in the MMA community, including fighters, showering him with support.
This world and nation are in a strange place right now and the people who bring dialogue in seek of the truth are not our enemies. @joerogan is a friend with a huge heart for everyone. 👊🏽🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/nGJSUQv21w
“This world and nation are in a strange place right now and the people who bring dialogue in seek of the truth are not our enemies. @joerogan is a friend with a huge heart for everyone,” wrote Josh Thompson.
“I don’t feel Joe Rogan is racist, and I don’t need white people telling me what he says is supposed to offend me,” said UFC newcomer Terrance McKinney.
This is just a snapshot of the overwhelming support Rogan received from people in the MMA community of various races, genders, and political affiliations.
There was, however, a very prominent public figure who revoked his support for Rogan.
Dwayne Johnson Revokes Support For Joe Rogan, Third Controversial Video Resurfaces
Recently, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson expressed a desire to appear on Joe Rogan’s podcast as a show of support for Rogan during the Spotify “misinformation” controversy.
However, after the two aforementioned viral videos hit the web, best-selling author Don Winslow pressed the Hollywood superstar to denounce that support. Johnson accommodated this request after being further “educated” on Rogan’s past content.
Dear @donwinslow Thank you so much for this I hear you as well as everyone here 100% I was not aware of his N word use prior to my comments, but now I've become educated to his complete narrative. Learning moment for me.
“Dear @donwinslow Thank you so much for this I hear you as well as everyone here 100% I was not aware of his N word use prior to my comments, but now I’ve become educated to his complete narrative. Learning moment for me. Mahalo, brother and have a great & productive weekend. DJ” Johnson wrote.
Mr. Winslow referenced “many racist statements” regarding black people from Rogan, but he did not enumerate which statements he was referring to. While it is possible he was only mentioning the two video clips that went viral over the weekend, it is also possible that both Winslow and Johnson were made aware of a third video that also recently resurfaced.
In the video, Rogan implies that white people are genetically more intelligent than black people after a guest told him he has a black father and white mother. You can view that clip below.
I noticed this old post of mine is suddenly getting retweeted all over the place today. https://t.co/rbQRjG8pMZ
“Powerful combination, genetic-wise, right? You get the body of the black man, and you get the mind of the white man altogether in some strange combination. It doesn’t, by the way, mean that black people don’t have brains. It’s a different brain. Don’t get me wrong,” Rogan said.
Again, it is unclear if this is part of the “complete narrative” that Johnson was referring to, but there is no doubt that these remarks are racially charged and highly questionable.
The subject of white intellectual superiority over blacks dates back centuries and continues to be linked to white supremacy to this day. In fairness to Rogan, the above clip, not unlike the Planet of the Apes clip, is from many moons ago. But unlike the two videos Rogan addressed over the weekend, this video has not yet been addressed as of this writing, thus it is unclear if his views have changed or if he feels he was taken out of context by the isolated selection of this video clip.
It is also unknown what Rogan said immediately following this clip. However, based solely on the audio evidence at hand, at best, Rogan spouted historical stereotypes considered harmful, especially by people of color who have testified that they struggle against such perceptions in their daily lives.
While some may consider such a dated clip irrelevant and yet another example of “cancel culture,” clearly, as demonstrated by Dwayne Johnson’s and even Curtis Blaydes’ response to past clips of Rogan, there are many individuals and groups who take an interest in being fully aware of past questionable remarks made by someone. This is especially the case when the remarks are regarding race and if the individual in question has a large platform.
That said, as UFC President Dana White recently articulated, it’s highly unlikely that Rogan will be “canceled” in any impactful way, regardless of any past remarks. Even if he were to be removed from Spotify, Rogan still has the #1 podcast in the country, over 20 million social media followers, and a very wide-reaching and loyal fanbase. In addition, as demonstrated by the support received in recent days, he remains one of the most beloved members of the MMA community.
What are your thoughts on this third resurfaced video from Joe Rogan?
Fight week for UFC 271 has arrived, and arguably the most significant rematch in middleweight history lurks in the shadows.
At UFC 271, Robert Whittaker will seek redemption when he faces the only man to defeat him in five years and who broke his undefeated middleweight record: Israel Adesanya.
Whittaker did not only lose to Adesanya, but he also suffered only the second knockout in his 13-year MMA career in the defeat. Whittaker has since rebounded with three straight wins, but full redemption will not be had until he returns the favor and hands Adesanya his first loss in the middleweight division as well.
In the co-main event, we have a party that is all but guaranteed to be a knockout. This primetime bash will feature KO king Derrick Lewis taking on notorious banger Tai Tuivasa. You won’t want to blink in this one to find out who will literally be the last man standing after these heavyweight powers collide.
“For me, it’s all about the feeling, the feeling that I give people when I fight.” – Israel Adesanya
Israel Adesanya, Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports
In the Countdown video, Israel Adesanya walks the viewers through his psychology and motivation heading into the rematch against Robert Whittaker. Viewers are left well assured that Adesanya’s fire remains bright and is truly equipped to burn down yet another house.
“This next fight will be the biggest box to tick.” – Robert Whittaker
Robert Whittaker
Robert Whittaker has defeated everyone placed in front of him during his illustrious UFC career—except but one man. The Countdown video takes viewers through the resurrection of The Reaper and how his evolution has rebuilt a man who let the pressure lead to his collapse in their initial clash.
“It’s cool to have the most knockouts in UFC history. All these greats that came here before me, and they didn’t achieve what I did.” – Derrick Lewis
Derrick Lewis, Credit: AP Photo/John Locher
In the Countdown video, the knockout king is praised for his record-setting ways, but not unlike Robert Whittaker, “The Black Beast” is also in hot pursuit of redemption. After losing badly in his hometown to Ciryl Gane last year in one of the biggest fights of his career, Lewis will hope to ring in a much happier ending in his second homecoming within the past six months.
“I got a lot of respect for Derrick. I was growing up watching him. I just think it’s the passing of the torch now. Hand it over to me.” – Tai Tuivasa
Tai Tuivasa, Image Credit: Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
The Countdown video highlights Tai Tuivasa’s growth as a well-rounded mixed martial artist, which has led to “Bam Bam” winning four straight fights. However, it is also acknowledged that this is one fight where “well-roundedness” likely won’t be required.
UFC 271 takes place this Saturday, February 12, 2022, from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. You can find the full card and viewing information below followed by the UFC 271 Countdown video.
UFC 271 Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 10:00 PM ET)
UFC Middleweight Championship Bout: Israel Adesanya (c) vs. Robert Whittaker
The following article was published on this day two years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 6, 2020, 5:26 PM]
Headline: Khabib Compares Conor McGregor vs. Cowboy Cerrone To ‘Well-Organized Circus’
Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.
Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t believe Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone was fixed but he does feel the UFC did its best to ensure McGregor was made to look unstoppable.
McGregor shared the Octagon with Cerrone on Jan. 18. The welterweight bout served as UFC 246’s headliner. McGregor vs. Cerrone was held inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The “Notorious” one stopped “Cowboy” in 40 seconds via TKO.
Khabib Not Impressed By McGregor’s Win Over Cerrone
Speaking to reporters, Nurmagomedov explained why he compares McGregor vs. Cerrone to a “well-organized circus” (via RT News).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8LrJeyfCB0
“A big organization with a lot of history won’t take such risks,” he explained. “If someone finds out that the fight was fixed, it would be a huge blow to the UFC’s reputation. They picked a good opponent though – an opponent that never won anything serious. He could have kept winning and winning and when it came time for a big fight, and just gave up because he’s mentally weak. It’s just a well-organized circus.”
Nurmagomedov has his next title defense scheduled. He’ll put his UFC lightweight championship on the line against Tony Ferguson on April 18. The title clash will be the main event for UFC 249 inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
As for McGregor, UFC president Dana White has made it clear that he wants “Mystic Mac” to challenge the winner of Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson. McGregor doesn’t appear to want to wait that long and has been mulling a quick return to action.
The bad blood between Nurmagomedov and McGregor still lingers. The two were engaged in a heated feud that involved a confrontation between Team Khabib and Artem Lobov in a hotel lobby and a bus attack involving McGregor and his entourage. Ultimately, Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor back in Oct. 2018 and it led to a brawl in the crowd between both camps.
The following article was published on this day two years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 6, 2020, 9:50 PM]
Headline: Dana White Weighs In On Disagreement Between Joe Rogan & Stephen A. Smith
Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.
UFC President Dana White has given his two cents on the disagreement between Joe Rogan and Stephen A. Smith.
Stephen A. got plenty of flak for his comments on Donald Cerrone’s performance against Conor McGregor at UFC 246. “Cowboy” was defeated in 40 seconds. During the post-UFC 246 edition of SportsCenter, Stephen A. said he felt Cerrone “gave up” and that his performance was “atrocious.”
MMAJunkie.com caught up with UFC boss Dana White, who gave his viewpoint on the situation. White said disagreements are simply bound to happen between two opinionated personalities.
“I’m not into it. Rogan is not into it. You don’t see that in the UFC. There will be times where I’m pissed off at a guy, and I’ll voice my opinion on what he did or whatever – or if a fight is really bad or somebody did something. What we don’t do is, when a fight is over and a guy loses, we don’t go in and rip them apart. It’s just not our style. We’re fans. We don’t do it. I think Rogan was reacting to that. That’s our philosophy here. For Stephen A. Smith, that’s his thing. That’s what he does. It’s going to happen. You’re always going to have people who have difference in opinions, especially when you have two very opinionated guys like Stephen A. Smith and Joe Rogan.”
Stephen A. has been discussing UFC bouts more since the promotion’s deal with ESPN. While Smith has covered MMA in the past, he doesn’t do so nearly as much as other sports such as basketball or football.
While many within the MMA community have been at odds with Stephen A., some have looked at the other side. There’s no doubting that Stephen A. is ESPN’s most popular personality and his reach to the casual sports fan is significant. If he talks about lesser-known MMA fighters, it could boost their stock. Of course, insinuating that a fighter quit can also have the opposite effect.
Even though he got his hand raised at UFC 47 last night, Sean Strickland did not live up to his own standards of bloodshed and violence, and he’s putting a portion of the blame on some fancypants folks in suits.
Sure, Sean Strickland was able to pick up his sixth consecutive victory, which at this level is always something to be proud of. However, Strickland didn’t feel much like celebrating after defeating Jack Hermansson in the UFC Vegas 47 main event.
Although Strickland did not shy away from taking the lion’s share of the blame for what he considered to be an underwhelming victory, he also thinks the pressure from outside sources played a role in his performance. Specifically, he cited anonymous folks in suits who got in his head.
“I mean, none of you guys wear suits, so I can’t say this to you guys. You guys all look like common folk,” Strickland said when addressing reporters in the post-fight press conference. “But I get a lot of fancy fuckers who wear suits, and they come up to me and they start talking about title fights and things of that nature. You hear that all the time and you start thinking, ‘Do I really want to risk getting knocked out when I could go for a title fight?’ So I let the fancy folk in the suits throw me off a little bit, but it won’t happen again.”
Strickland’s description of events sounds like something straight out of a Men in Black movie, with one of the suits flashing the neuralyzer in Strickland’s face, prompting him to forget his gory ways.
In any event, a W is a W, and it can’t be denied that “Tarzan” is now one step closer to a title shot and an opportunity at a bloody redemption in front of an even wider audience.
Do you believe Sean Strickland should be next in line for a welterweight title shot?
Paulie Malignaggi is all for being Jake Paul’s next opponent.
Jake Paul is currently 5-0 in his professional boxing career. He has been taking it nice and easy thus far with his opponent selection, only fighting a fellow YouTuber, a retired NBA player, and a pair of MMA fighters with zero pro boxing experience.
Many fans and sports pundits have called on Paul to begin testing himself againstprofessional boxers. However, as Paul himself has pointed out, he did attempt to do that against Tommy Fury last December fell apart through no fault of his own. Furthermore, recent interest in fights against Julio César Chávez Jr. and even Anderson Silva, who holds a victory over Chávez, have also demonstrated an openness from Paul to make that leap upwards in competition.
Now, a new name has entered the Jake Paul sweepstakes, and it is someone who the MMA community is very familiar with: former WBA welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi.
Paulie Malignaggi
Of course, while Paul usually jousts with MMA fighters in trash talk on social media, Malignaggi’s internet headbutting is known more for being with MMA fans.
This began after Malignaggi went back and forth with fans over leaked sparring footage between him and McGregor in 2017, with Malignaggi disputing whether or not he was dropped and continuing to brand McGregor fans as “groupies.”
Malignaggi once even took a moment to thank MMA fans for their “stupidity” in thinking that his bare-knuckle boxing match with Artem Lobov would be competitive so that he could profit off of the lopsided contest. Lobov would go on to win that fight via decision.
Since the loss to Lobov, Malignaggi has not competed in any other professional combat sports competition. But as he thought aloud about what attributes and characteristics would be required of Paul’s next opponent, he ultimately landed on himself as the most logical conclusion.
“If he’s gonna fight a real boxer, I think it’s gonna be an older guy, obviously, as they all have been a little older,” Malignaggi began on his YouTube channel. “Despite the non-boxers he fought, they’ve all been a little bit older. But he needs to fight a guy with some notoriety. It can’t just be an older guy who nobody’s ever heard of, right? So he’s always fought smaller guys, so the boxer would definitely have to be smaller if the other guys that he’s fought have been smaller, right?
“So a little bit older, a little bit smaller…you don’t want him to be too big of a puncher. Because let’s face it. Paul is the star here. You wanna make sure you groom the star the right way in fights where he’s at risk but he’s gonna be able to win the fight.
Getty Images
“So we’ve got a little bit older, a little bit smaller, gonna hit him so maybe not the biggest puncher, uhh…Paulie Malignaggi,” Malignaggi concluded with a dramatic pause while briefly staring into the camera.
Malignaggi is 41 years old. His most recent professional boxing match was in a 2017 KO loss to Sam Eggington. On the other side, Jake Paul is only 25, and he was on the giving end of a KO in his most recent bout, which took place last December against Tyron Woodley.
Last year, Malignaggi was critical of Ben Askren for his showing against Paul, stating that Askren fought with a lack of self-worth. Should he be selected as Paul’s next opponent, perhaps “The Magic Man” can show Askren and Paul’s other three victims how it’s done.
Would you be interested in watching a boxing match between Jake Paul & Paulie Malignaggi?
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