MMA News

Author: Clyde Aidoo

  • UFC 270 Storylines & Final Comprehensive Preview

    We’ve got a full, comprehensive breakdown of all the storylines heading into tomorrow night’s UFC 270 event along with the final face-offs.

    UFC 270 goes down tomorrow night, January 22, 2022. The action kicks off at 6:15 PM ET on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass, followed by the ESPN2 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!

    Kay Hansen (7-4) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (6-1)

    Canada’s Jasmine Jasudavicius has called herself the female GSP due to her wrestling ability and top game. Her only career loss came against the UFC’s Sijara Eubanks. You can check out some of Jasudavicius’ highlights here.

    Kay Hansen’s boxing background makes this somewhat of a grappler vs. striker bout, but Hansen also has proven to have some strong takedown defense. In 2020, Hansen won performance of the night over Jinh Yu Frey at UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Hooker. Hansen will be entering this fight as the -240 favorite.

    You can view the face-off for this bout below.

    Matt Frevola (8-3) vs. Genaro Valdez (10-0)

    Matt Frevola is in need of a win here coming off back-to-back losses and he’s going to have to go through some serious heat that Genaro Valdez is known to throw in order to get it. Frevola has never shied away from a firefight, though, so fans should brace for impact in the second fight of the night.

    Undefeated Genaro Valdez makes his UFC debut after earning a contract last year on Dana White’s Contender Series. Every win by Valdez was a finish, seven of the three by TKO. Frevola enters the fight at -180, with the comeback on Valdez at +160.

    Check out the friendly face-offs between these competitors below.

    Vanessa Demopoulos (6-4) vs. Silvana Gomez Juarez (10-3)

    Vanessa Demopoulos and Silvana Gomez Juarez will also be competing on the early preliminary card. Demopoulos enters as the small favorite at -145. You can view some of her highlights here. Demopoulos lost in her UFC debut to JJ Aldrich and will now try to dance onto the victory stage in front of a pay-per-view audience.

    Silvana Gomez also was unsuccessful in her UFC debut, losing to Lupita Gomez via submission. Gomez is actually 0-3 against fighters who have competed in the UFC, also losing to Poliana Botelho and Ariana Lipski in other promotions. You can view her fight against Lipski here.

    Here are the face-offs between these two strawweights.

    Tony Gravely (21-7) vs. Saimon Oliveira (18-3)

    Kicking off the ESPN2 preliminary card is Tony Gravely facing the debuting Saimon Oliveira. Both of these fighters earned their UFC contracts through Dana White’s Contender Series. Since arriving in the UFC, Gravely has gone 2-2. An interesting factoid about Gravely is that four of his seven career losses have come by choke (three rear-naked choke, one guillotine). Most recently, Gravely lost to Nate Maness last September.

    Saimon Oliveira makes his UFC debut while on a five-fight winning streak. He earned a contract through the Contender Series last September, and you can view that full fight right here. The more experienced Gravely will enter the fight as -240 favorite, with the comeback on Oliveira at +200.

    You can view the face-offs between these two bantamweights down below.

    Jack Della Maddalena (10-2) vs. Pete Rodriguez (4-0)

    With only four professional fights under his belt, 25-year-old Pete Rodriguez has earned himself a UFC contract. For his first task, he’ll have to deal with a man whose 10 career victories have all come consecutively and all but one of those wins being stoppages. You can check out Maddalena’s Contender Series appearance right here.

    Each of Rodriguez’s four career wins came by KO/TKO, including his victory last year over Jose Luis Rios Nava, which you can view here. Maddalena is favored in this fight at -310, with the comeback on Rodriguez at +255.

    Check out the face-offs between these two finishers below.

    Raoni Barcelos (16-2) vs. Victor Henry (21-5)

    Raoni Barcelos is very well-rounded. He can strike, wrestle, and submit. The Brazilian is coming off a majority decision loss to Timur Valiev last June but has won 9 of his last 10 fights. He is also 5-1 in the UFC, including a win over prospect Said Nurmagomedov, who will also be competing on this card. You can check out some of Barcelos’ highlights here.

    Awaiting Barcelos is Victor Henry, who has won 8 of his last 9 fights. He also holds a victory over the UFC’s Kyler Phillips in another promotion. You can catch some of Henry’s career highlights right here. And here is his latest performance against Albert Morales.

    Barcelos is the largest favorite on the card, listed at -430. The comeback on Victor Henry is +350.

    You can peep the face-offs between these two bantamweights below.

    Trevin Giles (14-3) vs. Michael Morales (12-0)

    And now we move on to the main card! Kicking things off we have Trevin Giles making his welterweight debut against Michael Morales. Giles has won three of his last four fights prior to this move, but he most recently lost to Dricus Du Plessis via ground and pound last September.

    Morales will be putting his undefeated record on the line in this contest. 10 of Morales’ 12 victories have been stoppage. You can relive the moment he earned his UFC contract right here.

    Below, you can check out face-off of these two welterweights.

    Cody Stamann (19-4) vs. Said Nurmagomedov (14-2)

    UFC veteran Cody Stamann is in need of a win here after losing two consecutive fights. His last victory was an emotional one, when he defeated Brian Kelleher after the death of his brother in 2020. With a victory to kick off 2022, Stamann can show that his 2021 woes are a thing of the past as he begins to work his way back into the UFC rankings he is known to occupy throughout his career.

    He’ll be going up against Said Nurmagomedov, the winner of eight of his last nine contests. Nurmagomedov will be coming into this bout as a -190 favorite, and some of these highlights help explain why.

    You can check out the face-off between these two below.

    Michel Pereira (26-11) vs. Andre Fialho (14-3)

    Expect the unexpected in this one when showstopper Michel Pereira takes on KO artist Andre Fialho, who will be making his UFC debut in this bout. Pereira will enter the bout as a healthy -275 favorite, no doubt in large part due to him being on a three-fight winning streak. You can get a glimpse into why Pereira has developed a reputation for being one of the most unpredictable performers in the UFC by checking out some of his highlights here.

    Andre Fialho will enter the bout on a four-fight winning streak. 11 of his 14 wins have come by KO/TKO, so it’s no secret what he considers to be his path to victory here. To see how Fialho looked against UFC competition in a bout against Chris Curtis in 2019, you can view that full fight right here.

    You can catch the face-offs between these two welterweights below.

    Brandon Moreno (19-5-2) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (20-2-1)

    It’s the trilogy to end the competitive rivalry between two of the best flyweights on planet Earth. Moreno and Figueiredo took part in an instant classic at UFC 256 in 2020, but Moreno pulled away with a huge statement win over Figueiredo when he captured the championship via third-round rear-naked choke. The stage is now set for the trilogy fight Figueiredo pleaded for and that opened up after Alexandre Pantoja was unavailable to be booked against Moreno.

    As the first Mexican-born champion in UFC history, Dana White believes that Brandon Moreno is already a huge star. If that’s the case, this is not only Moreno’s first title defense but his first contest having gone from underdog to star. How far up would his star continue to rise with a win here? And how much would it dim if Figueiredo succeeds in his mission to take Moreno’s head in Anaheim, California to avenge his new mentor Henry Cejudo for Moreno’s alleged “betrayal?”

    With Figueiredo having cleaned up his weight-cutting issues of the past and looking shredded and ready to roll on the scales this morning, we may see the best version of the former champion tomorrow.

    For Moreno’s part, he is expecting to face a smarter version of the wilder Figueiredo fans have become accustomed to. But in the end, the “Assassin Baby” expects to kill Figueiredo’s time at flyweight and send him packing to the 135lb division.

    You can check out the face-off of tomorrow’s co-main eventers below along with their closing remarks.

    Francis Ngannou (16-3) vs. Ciryl Gane (10-0)

    This fight is arguably the most compelling if not the flat-out best heavyweight fight of all time in terms of stylistic clash, unpredictability, and overall competitive intrigue. Both men are completely in their primes, even Gane, who somehow managed to get there only 10 fights into his professional career. This right here is a perfect example of a fight where something has got to give.

    Before the two became opponents, they were once sparring partners with the same coach, Fernand Lopez. Lopez has placed himself right smack dab in the center of the pre-fight build-up, making several strong accusations and remarks towards Ngannou. One of the accusations is that if Ngannou had it his way, Gane wouldn’t have even been signed to the UFC in the first place and that the champion even advised the UFC not to bring him in. Ngannou called Lopez a “fucking liar” for making this claim.

    Lopez and Ngannou have also disagreed about the sparring history between Gane and Ngannou. Ngannou believed that leaked sparring footage was made to make Gane look superior, though Lopez believed it told the true story of how the sessions went. Even Gane himself admitted that the sessions made him look good, yet he also said that he learned that he can manage Ngannou’s power through these sessions.

    One of the most peculiar and unexpected moments in the build-up, however, took place when Ngannou walked right past Lopez and Gane backstage at UFC 268.

    Gane shared his thoughts on this incident, stating that he felt it was wrong, given that he and Ngannou used to train together. For Ngannou, it was more of a snub of Lopez after the many comments Lopez has made in the media about him more so than anything directed at Gane. In fact, Ngannou believed the UFC staged the entire incident to help promote the fight, a theory that Gane has publicly disagreed with.

    For Gane, the fact that Lopez is on his side has only boosted his confidence, seeing as how he considers Lopez to be the man “who made” Francis Ngannou. Still, the interim champion is very much aware of the challenge at hand, likening “The Predator” to the final boss of a video game. When the two meet, he says that what fans will witness is a clash that goes beyond power vs. technique but two well-rounded and elite fighters determining who is the best in the world.

    As noted, Gane expects to be able to “manage” the undeniable power that Ngannou does have, a prediction that Ngannou did not take seriously at all. He would later warn Gane about trying to point-fight his way to victory because of the many risks that approach would carry. Meanwhile, he teased viewers that he will have many surprises in store for the viewing audience come tomorrow night.

    Francis Ngannou has claimed that he knocked out Ciryl Gane in a sparring session. Whether that is true or not, he’ll have a chance to prove he can do it in a real fight tomorrow night. He will need to accomplish this as the underdog of the fight, a designation he believes was brought about by the UFC’s heavy promotion of Gane while underpromoting him.

    This leads us to the final and arguably biggest storyline heading into tomorrow night’s megafight, which is that it could be the last fight Ngannou ever has in the UFC if he and the promotion are unable to come to terms after the event. With a loss, Ngannou will be a free agent. With a win, he could theoretically sit out until an agreeable contract has been signed. If that does not happen, he will ultimately become free to sign with another promotion.

    With so many skills, storylines, and possibilities, the drama couldn’t be higher as we determine who is the baddest man on the planet tomorrow night. Below, you can check out the final face-off of the night, featuring the UFC 270 headliners, along with their closing remarks.

    To view the full UFC 270 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 270!

  • UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane Official Weigh-In Results, Two Cancellations

    The weigh-in results for UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane are complete, and we’ve got you covered with the intel below.

    Tomorrow night, UFC 270 takes place from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The main event will see the UFC world heavyweight championship unified when champion Francis Ngannou takes on interim champion Ciryl Gane. The co-main event will feature a trilogy bout for the flyweight championship when Brandon Moreno defends against Deiveson Figueiredo.

    You can check out our staff predictions for the main card right here.

    UFC 270 Weigh-In Results

    Before the weigh-ins even kicked off, there were two cancellations to the UFC 270 lineup, including one main card bout.

    Eurosport España broke the news that Ilia Topuria was out of his fight against Charles Jourdain after not being medically cleared to compete. This comes after Jourdain was selected to replace Movsar Evloev after Evlowev contracted COVID-19. 

    ESPN Deportes also reported that the main card bout between Rodolfo Vieira and Wellington Turman was canceled due to Vieira withdrawing due to undisclosed reasons.

    Outside of those two cancellations, every fighter who took to the scales successfully made weight, including Deiveson Figueiredo, who was second up to the scales with weight issues of the past seeming to be in the rearview.

    Prior to Figueiredo’s entrance, the first fighter up to the scales was the flyweight champion, Brandon Moreno.

    Also of note is the champion Francis Ngannou coming in 10 pounds heavier than Ciryl Gane ahead of their unification bout. Check out how the main eventers looked on the scales down below.

    The UFC hosted a live UFC 270 weigh-in show, which you can view right here. And you can catch the full card for UFC 270 as well as all the viewing information below, courtesy of UFC.com.

    MAIN CARD (ESPN+ PPV, 10:00 PM ET)

    Main Event – Heavyweight Title Bout: Francis Ngannou (257) vs Ciryl Gane (247)

    Co-Main Event – Flyweight Title Bout: Brandon Moreno (124) vs Deiveson Figueiredo (124)

    Welterweight Bout: Michel Pereira (170) vs Andre Fialho (169.5)

    Bantamweight Bout: Cody Stamann (135.5) vs Said Nurmagomedov (136)

    Welterweight Bout: Michael Morales (170) vs Trevin Giles (170)

    PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN 2/ESPN+, 8:00 PM ET)

    Bantamweight Bout: Raoni Barcelos (135) vs Victor Henry (135.5) 

    Welterweight Bout: Jack Della Maddalena (170.5) vs Pete Rodriguez (170.5)

    Bantamweight Bout: Tony Gravely (135.5) vs Saimon Oliveira (136)

    EARLY PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, UFC Fight Pass, 6:15 PM ET)

    Women’s Strawweight Bout: Silvana Gomez Juarez (115.5) vs Vanessa Demopoulos (115.5)

    Lightweight Bout: Matt Frevola (154.5) vs Genaro Valdez (155.5)

    Women’s Flyweight Bout: Kay Hansen (125) vs Jasmine Jasudavicius (125)

    Be sure to keep it locked on MMANews.com tomorrow for full coverage of tomorrow night’s UFC 270 event!

  • Jéssica Andrade Makes SW Return Against Amanda Lemos In April

    Former UFC strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade will be making her return to the division when she takes on Amanda Lemos on April 23.

    News of the bout was first reported by MMA journalist Guilherme Cruz on Friday. This will be Andrade’s first fight at 115lbs since her split-decision loss to Rose Namajunas in 2020.

    That bout against Namajunas took home Fight of the Night and was a rematch of Andrade’s UFC 237 title win in 2019. That bout also earned Fight of the Night, with Andrade winning Performance of the Night as well after KOing Namajunas with a vicious slam to the canvas.

    Jessica Andrade Talks About Her UFC 237 Slam Knockout Win Over Rose Namajunas

    With Rose Namajunas now back at the strawweight throne, Andrade may not be far away from a potential trilogy fight against “Thug Rose” now that she’s back down at 115.

    After Andrade dropped the title to Zhang Weili and came up short in the Namajunas trilogy, she tried her hand at flyweight, where she went 2-1, with both wins being finishes.

    First, she defeated Katlyn Chookagian via TKO in October 2020. Then, she defeated Cynthia Calvillo via TKO at UFC 266. Sandwiched between those bouts was a title shot against Valentina Shevchenko, a bout that saw Andrade on the wrong end of the TKO against the dominant champion.

    Amanda Lemos accepts two-year suspension from USADA for banned steroid

    Fellow Brazilian Amanda Lemos has a professional record of 11-1 and is 5-0 in the UFC. Her only loss came five years ago against MMA vet Leslie Smith. Upon entering the UFC, three of Lemos’ first four wins were stoppages. And in her most recent bout against Angela Hill, she earned a very tight split-decision victory over Angela Hill. Lemos is currently ranked #10 in the strawweight division.

    MMA News will continue to bring you additional updates on this April 23 UFC Fight Night card as they become available.

    Do you think Jéssica Andrade will be successful in her strawweight return against Amanda Lemos on April 23?

  • Dana White: You Will Never Hear Me Talk About Jake Paul Again

    Dana White is chucking up the deuces to his lengthy feud with YouTuber turned boxing star, Jake Paul.

    Over the past year, UFC President Dana White has been involved in a war of words with Jake Paul. After it was announced that Floyd Mayweather would be fighting Logan Paul, White trashed all the fans who had any interest in watching either of the Paul brothers compete in legitimate sports. It was at this time that White also stated Amanda Nunes would leave Jake Paul comatose.

    The feud didn’t really kick-off, however, until Paul vs. Askren was announced last year. In an appearance on the “Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson” podcast leading up to the April fight, White said he would be willing to bet $1 million on Askren. Paul then challenged White to double up the bet and make it $2 million.

    White claims he never actually bet any money on Askren, but that did not stop “The Problem Child” from rubbing his KO win over Askren in White’s face.

    Ben Askren's reaction post-match goes viral after getting knocked out by Jake Paul | Fox News

    Of course, this was only the beginning of this odd feud. White would again figuratively bet against Paul by predicting that his former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley would knock Paul out.

    Instead, it was Paul who would knock Woodley out last month after defeating him via split decision in August. Paul would then talk much more trash than he did after his Askren KO, telling White that he had just embarrassed his entire promotion.

    But of course, the biggest theme of the White/Paul feud has been the topic of UFC fighter pay. Paul has continued to criticize White and the UFC for the way the promotion compensates its fighters, and he hasn’t stopped at just talking. The YouTuber even took money out of his own pocket to help UFC women’s flyweight Sarah Alpar pay for her training-camp expenses.

    White/Paul Drama Reaches Its Climax

    Another subject that has risen multiple times during the White/Paul feud is Paul’s claim that White is a “cokehead.” In fact, the former Disney actor opted to dress up as a “coked-up Dana White” for Halloween accompanied by “his hookers.”

    After Paul made this accusation one time too many, the UFC boss decided to make Paul a little offer. He would allow Jake Paul to drug test him for cocaine for the next 10 years if he, in turn, could drug test Paul for performance-enhancing drugs for two. Paul would respond by agreeing to be tested by USADA in a UFC fight if White agreed to a list of terms regarding improving the pay and benefits of the UFC roster.

    White considers Paul’s counterproposal to be a non-response. And not only did it terminate his original offer, but it also killed any desire the UFC president had to address Paul ever again.

    During an appearance on The Full Send Podcast, White was asked what Paul would have to do to earn his respect. It was at this point White broke some news about his feud with the outspoken YouTuber.

    “It’s not that he doesn’t have my respect. I don’t even know the kid, at the end of the day,” White said. “I don’t even know the kid. And you know what? To be honest with you, I’ll tell you right here right now: This is the last time you’ll hear me talk about him. I’m done.

    “I put out the challenge, he said, ‘You do coke,’ I said, ‘I think you use performance-enhancing drugs. Let’s do it.’ He never responded to it, so fire away, kid. Do your thing.”

    White went on to say that his decision was made after he realized that his feud with Paul, with whom he has no professional ties with whatsoever, is going nowhere.

    “I’m sitting here, I’m arguing with this kid that doesn’t fight for me and is never gonna fight for me, so what’s the point of he and I going back and forth with each other?” White asked.

    White may be done addressing Paul, but it’s highly unlikely Paul is done talking about White, UFC fighters, or the subject of fighter pay. Therefore, it would seem inevitable that reporters will continue to ask White to chime in on Paul’s latest antics and statements. Therefore, White may become very well-acquainted with the phrase “no comment” heading into the future.

    On the other hand, he might get worked into breaking this promise by inquiring media members or directly by the king troll himself, “The Problem Child” Jake Paul.

    Do you believe Dana White when he says he will never talk about Jake Paul ever again?

  • UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane Staff Predictions

    UFC 270 is now one sleep away, and to get you even more hyped for the event than you already are, we’ve got some staff predictions locked and loaded for ya!

    UFC 270 will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view, with the main card beginning at 10:00 PM ET, the ESPN2 preliminary card kicking off at 8:00 PM, and the early preliminary card starting at 6:00 PM.

    The main event will see the heavyweights collide in a title unification bout between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane. Then, in the co-main event, we will see Brandon Moreno taking on Deiveson Figueiredo in an exciting conclusion to their flyweight trilogy.

    Also on the main card will be decorated submission artist Rodolfo Viera taking on Wellington Turman, veteran Cody Stamann facing touted prospect Said Nurmagomedov, and the always unpredictable Michel Pereira facing the debuting Andre Fialho.

    UFC 270 Staff Predictions

    MMA News is the place to be for all the latest UFC 270 updates. Andrew Ravens, Ed Carbajal, and I have provided predictions for the main card.

    Here is the full main card lineup for tomorrow night:

    UFC Heavyweight Championship Bout: Francis Ngannou (c) vs. Ciryl Gane (ic)

    UFC Flyweight Championship Bout: Brandon Moreno (c) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

    Welterweight: Michel Pereira vs. Andre Fialho

    Bantamweight: Cody Stamann vs. Said Nurmagomedov

    Middleweight: Rodolfo Vieira vs. Wellington Turman (Canceled)

    Rodolfo Vieira vs. Wellington Turman (Canceled)

    https://www.photojoiner.net/image/NNUo39gp
    Rodolfo Vieira, Wellington Turman

    Clyde Aidoo: After gassing out the likes of which UFC fans have rarely seen in his loss to Anthony Hernandez at UFC 258, Rodolfo Vieira was able to show that he’s not worth writing off yet and his hype train still has some steam in the engine. In fact, it had more than enough to earn him Performance of the Night in his last outing, featuring a submission victory over Dustin Stoltzfus. It’ll take a while for me to build back the confidence I had in picking Vieira heading into 2021, but I think that he’s still more dangerous and lethal than Turman, who has lost two of his last three. (Prediction: Rodolfo Vieira)

    Andrew Ravens: While this is a late addition to the main card, it should be a really fun fight. Turman is someone the hardcore fans know, and while he has struggled as of late, things won’t get easier against Vieira, who is a real prospect with an 8-1 record. Vieira has been submitting nearly everyone, and I see that happening here for the win. (Prediction: Rodolfo Vieira)

    Ed Carbajal: Viera is a heavy favorite here and considering his 8-1 record, it’s easy to see why. Seven of his eight wins came by way of submission, with his last win earning a Performance of the Night bonus for his third-round rear-naked choke win over Dustin Stoltzfus. Still, Turman brings more experience and while he has some losses on his record, he’s never lost by submission, the bread and butter of Vieira. I think Turman can pull off a win here. (Prediction: Wellington Turman)

    Consensus: 2-1 Vieira

    Cody Stamann vs. Said Nurmagomedov

    https://www.photojoiner.net/image/kN6AsRCG
    Cody Stamann, Said Nurmagomedov

    Clyde Aidoo: Cody Stamann presents the kind of style that will reveal his opponent’s ability to problem-solve and show his work. You can never expect an easy night at the office with Stamann’s grinding fight style standing in your way. Nurmagomedov has finished two of his last three fights, but I’m not convinced he’s a lethal enough finisher to put Stamann away, something only Alamain Sterling has done in the UFC.

    However, with Stamann losing two straight and Nurmagomedov being a bit hungrier, more versatile on the feet, and having good enough takedown defense to likely win the majority of the rounds, I’m going to give the very slight swing in his direction. (Prediction: Said Nurmagomedov)

    Andrew Ravens: Nurmagomedov is the real deal despite a bump in the road against Raoni Barcelos and with Stamann losing back-to-back fights, I think this is a perfect time for Nurmagomedov to make a statement against the always game Stamann. Nurmagomedov walks away with the decision win. (Prediction: Said Nurmagomedov)

    Ed Carbajal: Coming off two losses, Stamann has a lot of motivation to start the main card off with a win. However, with someone like Nurmagomedov in his path, that will be easier said than done. Most of Stamann’s wins come by way of decision, and Nurmagomedov’s only two losses are by decision, but that does not mean it can be done easily. That last name coming from Dagestan in MMA usually makes it hard to pick against. (Prediction: Said Nurmagomedov)

    Consensus: 3-0 Nurmagomedov

    Michel Pereira vs. Andre Fialho

    https://www.photojoiner.net/image/cD2FcXuC
    Michel Pereira, Andre Fialho

    Clyde Aidoo: Andre Fialho steps in on short notice in a main card bout on a big PPV to kick off the year. You have to wonder if the UFC jitters will get a hold of Fialho, especially when facing a showman like Pereira, who has gained valuable experience inside the Octagon.

    Stylistically, I believe Pereira presents more ways to win this fight. Fialho is a knockout artist, but he can be very flat-footed and could let Pereira dictate the pace and flow of the fight. Plus, Pereira has the ability to take the fight to the mat and win that way also if he wants to fight more conservatively here. (Prediction: Michel Pereira)

    Andrew Ravens: What a way to make your promotional debut for Fialho, who has won his last four fights. On the flip side, Pereira has won his last three. I’ll side with Pereira here with his experience getting it done by decision. (Prediction: Michel Pereira)

    Ed Carbajal: I expect a knockout here and I expect a possible Fight of the Night candidate as well. Both men are on win streaks and have on their résumés a hefty number of knockouts on their win records. This is Fialho’s UFC debut and enough fighters have talked about “UFC jitters” to make me think this is a big ask for the first fight in the UFC in the first pay-per-view of the year. (Prediction: Michel Pereira)

    Consensus: 3-0 Pereira

    Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

    Deiveson Figueiredo, Brandon Moreno
    Deiveson Figueiredo & Brandon Moreno

    Clyde Aidoo: It’s common for the sports world to have a short memory and only base predictions on the most recent outcome in terms of a rematch or trilogy. While it’s true that Moreno has continued to improve and has a tremendous career trajectory at the moment, let’s not forget that Figueiredo was one foul and point deduction away from holding a victory over him as well.

    This time around, I believe Figueiredo will come with a different, more balanced style after putting in time over at Fight Ready with Henry Cejudo. Provided the weight cut goes better this time and we get a healthy and fit God of War, I believe he’ll mix in the right amount of chaos with the cerebral to outgun Moreno this time out. (Prediction: Deiveson Figueiredo)

    Andrew Ravens: This is a must-win situation for Figueiredo, as he already lost to Moreno and with them already going to a draw, it would be hard to make the case as to why he should get another title shot as long as Moreno is champion. With that focus and Figueiredo correcting his mistakes in their last fight, I see that adding up to just enough for him to pull off the win. Figueiredo gets it done by split decision. (Prediction: Deiveson Figueiredo)

    Ed Carbajal: Nobody asked for this fight, but I’m 100% here for it. The first one was a draw; the second a finish that had Moreno crowned champion via submission. This one will take the cake, but I find it hard to pick against Moreno. As good as Figueiredo was as a champ, preparedness always seemed to be an issue for him in the past, and it never seemed like something he resolved in the last fight. I think Moreno puts a stamp on the flyweight title this time around (Prediction: Brandon Moreno)

    Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane

    Francis Ngannou, Ciryl Gane
    Francis Ngannou, Ciryl Gane

    Clyde Aidoo: Stylistically and also in terms of unpredictability, this has my vote for the best heavyweight fight ever. I also have a hunch that the fight can go more ways than people may think. We’ve never seen Ngannou in a drawn-out back-and-forth fight in the UFC. This could be the first time for that. Conventional wisdom says that if that were to happen, Gane would be the easy pick. After all, he moves around with cat feet and has a fight IQ far beyond his MMA years, even superior to most veterans of the game. Additionally, he is a superb technical striker with a cardio that doesn’t quit.

    Even still, what we learned from Ngannou in his dominant UFC 260 win over Stipe Miocic is that he doesn’t need just one shot. He can win a round against a great striker and competitor with intelligent shot selection and multiple striking attacks. And he also proved that he has continued to evolve and work on his overall game, as he demonstrated with his heavily improved takedown defense and grappling.

    So for me, there are two reasons to side with Ngannou. First, we still don’t know exactly what he’s capable of and how much he’s improved since losing to Miocic in 2018. Therefore, he may indeed be capable of defeating Gane in a prolonged battle. And even if that’s completely off, there’s still the proven truth that all he needs is one shot to close the show. And if this fight is won or lost on the feet, which I highly expect it to be, then that one shot is all he needs over the tactician. (Prediction: Francis Ngannou)

    Andrew Ravens: Gane seems like the right opponent to beat Francis if he can avoid being knocked out. Francis showed off his takedown defense improvement in his last fight with Stipe, and Gane is a much better wrestler than Ngannou. But I just don’t see Gane beating Francis. I think Francis has continued to improve his weaknesses, which he will have the world talking about come Saturday night. I have Francis knocking out Gane in the third round. (Prediction: Francis Ngannou)

    Ed Carbajal: There’s a lot to look at in this match-up, especially since the two men have a history of training with one another. Ngannou is a power puncher with the speed to make him just as dangerous, and Gane is a very technical striker that went undefeated in Muay Thai. Both men like to hit, so that might be the contest we see, or it could make one of these heavy hitters test their grappling against each other. That’s where I think Gane has the edge. He may also have the technical edge in striking, but Ngannou has more than a puncher’s chance in any fight. It’s a coin toss, but I think Gane can win this. (Prediction: Ciryl Gane)

    Consensus: 3-1 Ngannou

    That’ll do it for our UFC 270 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 270 undercard below.

    UFC 270 Preliminary Card

    • Bantamweight: Raoni Barcelos vs. Victor Henry
    • Welterweight: Jack Della Maddalena vs. Pete Rodriguez
    • Bantamweight: Tony Gravely vs. Saimon Oliveira
    • Strawweight: Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Silvana Gomez Juarez
    • Lightweight: Matt Frevola vs. Genaro Valdez
    • Women’s Flyweight: Kay Hansen vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius

    Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com tomorrow for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 270!

  • UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane Pre-Fight Press Conference Highlights

    The UFC 270 pre-fight press conference took place earlier tonight, and we’ve got the highlights for you right here!

    UFC 270 takes place this Saturday, January 22, from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. In the main event, Francis Ngannou will face Ciryl Gane in a heavyweight title unification showdown. The co-main event will see the trilogy bout between flyweight champion Brandon Moreno and his opponent, Deiveson “Deus Da Guerra” Figueiredo.

    Each of the above fighters was present during Thursday’s pre-fight press conference. Here were some of the most memorable moments and exchanges from the event.

    The Arrivals

    Memorable Moments

    Extended Highlights & Face-Offs

    You can find the extended highlights from the UFC 270 pre-fight press conference below along with the face-offs!

    Full Replay

    Finally, if you’d like to experience the full UFC 270 pre-fight press conference uncut, you can do so right below!

    Be sure to stick with MMA News for all your UFC 269 coverage leading up to, during, and after the event!

  • Paige VanZant Made A Sex Tape With Austin Vanderford

    Paige VanZant revealed some intimate information during a recent Q&A session with her fans, announcing that she’s made a sex tape with husband Austin Vanderford.

    Paige VanZant is one of the most recognized MMA stars in the world. Part of that is because of how much of herself she has exposed to the world: her creative side as a guest chef on Food Network’s Chopped, her artistic side as a performer on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars, and even her scholarly and personal side in penning her biography Rise: Surviving the Fight of My Life.

    VanZant has also become known for posting risque photos of herself on social media. In addition to her own collection, she also posed in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue in 2019.

    Recently, however, it was revealed that there is some X-rated material of VanZant that, at least for the time being, are for two people’s eyes only. When asked if herself and husband Austin Vanderford would ever make a sex tape, the former UFC star dropped a bombshell.

    “Would I? We definitely already have. Would I ever share it, sell it, promote it? Hmm, that’s a different story,” VanZant said.

    As VanZant fans keep their fingers crossed in eager anticipation, “12 Gauge” will be preparing for another go in the BKFC sometime in the spring if all goes according to plan. She is currently 0-2 in the promotion after dropping fights to Britain Hart and fellow UFC alum Rachel Ostovich.

    As for hubby Austin Vanderford, he is currently scheduled to challenge Gegard Mousasi for the Bellator middleweight championship on February 25.

    What is your reaction to learning that a Paige VanZant sex tape exists out in the world?

  • Julianna Peña Reacts To Amanda Nunes Leaving ATT: “What A Zoo”

    Julianna Peña has reacted to the news of Amanda Nunes leaving her long-time gym of American Top Team following UFC 269.

    At UFC 269, Julianna Peña left many jaws dropped when she upset Amanda Nunes to become the new UFC women’s bantamweight champion. Given the hubris Nunes’ backers had in their prediction that Peña would be another lamb for the GOAT’s slaughter, many were left seeking answers for what had transpired in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada after Peña broke Nunes in the second round.

    It's something that is not a regular rear-naked choke," Julianna Pena sheds light on her extraordinary rear-naked choke at UFC 269 » FirstSportz

    For Nunes’ part, she hasn’t said much about her post-fight reflections. She has expressed interest in an immediate rematch against Peña and let it be known that she just needed a little time to put everything back in order before returning “better than ever.”

    Monday, we learned that part of that process will be creating her own team down in Florida after exiting American Top Team. Nunes had been a part of ATT since 2014, with her loss to Peña being her only stumble in the ATT era of her career.

    While it is merely speculative without hearing it from Nunes herself, it stands to reason that her loss to Peña was at least one major reason behind this career-altering decision.

    Julianna Pena Reacts To Amanda Nunes Exiting American Top Team

    https://www.photojoiner.net/image/9lg0Kns8

    So how did Peña react to this news? As it turns out, it wasn’t much of a reaction at all when the topic was brought to her in a UFC 270 media day scrum.

    “Yeah, what a zoo, huh?” Peña said as she took a sip of her cold beverage.

    Peña was then asked if she had any additional thoughts on the matter, being that the post-ATT Nunes is expected to be her next opponent.

    “Best of luck, you know?” Peña said with sustained nonchalance. “I just hope everything goes according to her plans and that we can get our fight booked. That’s all I care about.”

    Peña is hopeful that the rematch between herself and Nunes takes place in the summer. When a reporter threw out the possibility of the fight taking place in Brazil in May, the new bantamweight champ hit him with the ol’ “No thanks.”

    In any event, as long as the fight takes place sometime in the summer, it sounds as though Peña is carefree about where else the fight may take place or where Nunes will be training in the meantime.

  • MMA Fighter Manas Erkul Uulu Commits Suicide In Kyrgyzstan

    MMA fighter and Kyrgyzstan grappling champion Manas Erkul Uulu committed suicide by hanging last Sunday in the city of Osh.

    Uulu was found dead in his sister’s house based on local reports. The Internal Affairs Department of Kyrgyzstan revealed that Uulu hung himself in the bathroom on January 16. After discovering Uulu’s body, his sister tried to resuscitate Uulu with artificial respiration, but too much time had passed since the hanging.

    A report from 24.kg news agency also revealed that Uulu had been wanted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for over two years.

    As an MMA fighter, Uulu had a perfect record of 3-0. All three bouts took place in 2019 for the World Ertaymash Federation.

    In his debut, he knocked out Azimjon Tojaliev by a first-round KO punch at WEF 72 – ProfFight 29. He followed up this performance by showcasing his grappling skills with a rear-naked choke submission victory over Usmonzhon Bazarov at WEF 78 two months later. Then in August, he earned another KO-punch victory when he defeated Mahmud Abdullaev at WEF 87.

    No further information is available about this tragic story at this time.

  • Amanda Nunes Exits American Top Team Following UFC 269 Loss

    Amanda Nunes is making a change following her upset loss to Julianna Peña at UFC 269 last month, as the former double-champion has decided to exit American Top Team.

    At UFC 269, Peña shocked the world when she submitted Nunes to become the new UFC women’s bantamweight champion. Following the loss, Nunes immediately expressed interest in running it back.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXbl4W_PS62/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=626c4c55-2d7a-4383-a4b0-9e47711c5d6f

    “You think I’m going to go out unbalanced. I undoubtedly accept the rematch. Give me a little time to get my shit together and I will be back better than ever,” Nunes wrote in an Instagram post.

    Now, according to a Combate report, part of that process of getting everything together will include Nunes exiting American Top Team.

    Nunes joined the gym in 2014 as a 9-4 professional. The following year, she began a run that saw her go undefeated for six years, with a 12-0 record, world championships in two weight classes, and multiple title defenses in both the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. That record under ATT remained unblemished up until UFC 269 last month when Nunes dropped her bantamweight title to Peña.

    Coincidentally, prior to the first cancellation between Nunes and Peña, Peña questioned whether Nunes really had COVID-19, partially because she heard that Nunes had not been training at ATT ahead of the fight. Her conversation with gym owner Dan Lambert only further convinced Peña that Nunes was MIA at ATT last summer. Ultimately, the fight would get rebooked for UFC 269, where Peña took home the bantamweight gold.

    Julianna Pena saw Zac Efron staring at her before UFC shocker
    Getty Images

    Now, as she did in 2014, Nunes will look to restart with another clean slate by creating her own team. There is currently no word on if any of the coaches at ATT will be working alongside her in this new project. It was also reported that Amanda’s wife Nina Nunes will be exiting ATT for this new gym as well.

    American Top Team is one of the most renowned MMA gyms in the world. Over the years, it has hosted former UFC champions Tyron Woodley, Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Junior dos Santos, and Andre Arlovski. Today, it is still the home to names like Dustin Poirier, Jorge Masvidal, Kayla Harrison, and reigning light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira.

    What do you make of Amanda Nunes’ decision to exit American Top Team after eight years?

  • Giga Chikadze: I Would Beat Calvin Kattar 9 Times Out of 10

    Giga Chikadze’s confidence remains intact after his brutal defeat to Calvin Kattar last Saturday at UFC Vegas 46.

    At UFC Vegas 46, Calvin Kattar showed his resilience by rebounding from the year-opening card of last year that saw him take a savage beating from Max Holloway. This time, it was him dishing out the beating across five rounds to kick off the year, with Chikadze’s face at the conclusion of the bout telling the tale of how the fight transpired.

    Giga Chikadze Suffers Gruesome Injuries in Fight Against Calvin Kattar, Sent to Hospital After UFC Vegas 46 - Sportsmanor
    Giga Chikadze

    Seeing as how, prior to UFC Vegas 46, Chikadze was vocal about fighting Alexander Volkanovski for the title next, including preemptively requesting to replace Max Holloway against him this spring, many people thought this was a humbling experience for Chikadze.

    One notable person to react to Chikadze’s loss was Chan Sung Jung, aka “The Korean Zombie,” who was ultimately chosen to replace Holloway for the featherweight title fight in a move that Chikadze criticized as Volkanovski selecting the easy fight. After Chikadze’s loss on Saturday, Jung hit him with the ol’ face-palm emoji on social media.

    Chikadze would issue the following statement in response to the criticism he received immediately following the fight and also addressed The Korean Zombie’s reaction to his defeat.

    Giga Chikadze’s Instagram

    Thank you my real supporters! I love you all and owe you speed comeback. Lot of fake people around, but it’s okay. Also fuck you Korean Zombie! Be happy with someone’s (loss) you cheap fuck,” Chikadze wrote.

    Chikadze Remains Confident Despite “Mistake,” Warns Future Opponents

    Giga Chikadze
    MMA Fighting

    Giga Chikadze would have much more to say later in a Facebook Live after the fight. The Georgian chalked the loss up to an error on his part and vowed to return after making the necessary adjustments.

    “It is what it is,” Chikadze said on Facebook Live. “It was not my day, but it’s okay. Sometimes it happens, shit. It was a good fight. My opponent showed up good. I made mistake…

    “I’m gonna recover a little bit, guys. I know you guys are following my journey, and this is a part of the journey. When I signed up for the sport, I knew this was a part (of it). I fucked up last night, but it’s all good. It’s a journey. I’m learning from this, and next time, I’m gonna come back so much stronger. I already feel bad for my future opponents. I’m gonna learn a lot from this one; trust me on that.”

    Chikadze also displayed the same confidence about a future matchup against Kattar that he had coming into their UFC Vegas 46 bout. In fact, the Georgian would imply that Kattar’s victory Saturday was tantamount to a fluke based on him chalking the loss up to a mistake and considering his assessment of how a 10-fight series between them would play out.

    “I feel like if I would fight with this guy 10 times, 9 I would win,” Chikadze said. “That would be the one I would lose and that was last night. It is what it is. I made mistake and I’m paying now with it. It’s all good. Guys, I’m unbreakable. Remember this shit, Georgians always unbreakable. This is how we fight, until the fucking end.”

    What are your thoughts on Giga Chikadze’s comments following UFC Vegas 46?

  • The Countdown To UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane Officially Begins

    The fight week of the first UFC pay-per-view of 2022 is upon us, as we are now days away from an epic heavyweight showdown for the ages at UFC 270.

    At UFC 270, the UFC heavyweight championship will be unified when undisputed champion Francis Ngannou and interim champ Ciryl Gane take center stage in Anaheim California’s Honda Center. “The Predator” will now experience what it feels like to be the hunted as he will look to make his first successful title defense. In order to do so, he’ll try to be the first man to reveal a chink in Bon Gamin’s armor and hand the Frenchman his first career loss.

    In the co-main event, we see a flyweight championship trilogy between champion Brandon Moreno and ex-champion Deiveson Figueiredo. The first fight was considered arguably the best flyweight bout of all time. The sequel, however, served as a coming-out party for Mexico’s Brandon Moreno. Will Figueiredo spoil this party, or will Tijuana rejoice once again?

    The UFC’s countdown video sets the stage for both title fights.

    UFC 270 Ngannou vs. Gane: Countdown

    “I know and he knows there’s only one thing that can happen if I connect with him: knock him out.” – Francis Ngannou

    Francis Ngannou
    Image Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    As Francis Ngannou seeks his 13th career knockout against a former sparring partner, the countdown episode tells the story of the Cameroonian’s history with Gane and the soured relationship Ngannou has with his ex-coach and Gane’s current coach, Fernand Lopez.

    “The footwork, the speed, precision, the cardio…every fight, I bring this in the cage.” – Ciryl Gane

    Ciryl Gane
    ESPN

    The post-modern MMA project that is Ciryl Gane has his toughest assignment to date in champion Francis Ngannou. In the countdown video, Gane’s unique skill set and familiarity with Ngannou are documented as well as the swollen confidence Fernand Lopez has in his fighter.

    “Sometimes I feel all the weight of my country on my shoulders.” – Brandon Moreno

    Brandon Moreno
    Brandon Moreno, Credit: AFP

    At UFC 263, Brandon Moreno became the first Mexican UFC champion. The countdown video takes you through his range of emotions and how his nation joined him in celebrating his historic achievement.

    “I’m going to be more technical, quicker, and more explosive, ready to finish him.” – Deiveson Figueiredo

    Midnight Mania! Deiveson Figueiredo considering Bantamweight move following title loss - MMAmania.com
    Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

    Deiveson Figueiredo has vengeance on his mind heading into UFC 270. In the countdown video, we get a glimpse into the measures the Brazilian have taken to ensure there is a different result come Saturday night, including enlisting the services of former flyweight champion, “Triple C” Henry Cejudo.

    UFC 270 takes place this Saturday, January 22, from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. You can find the full card and viewing information below.

    UFC 270 Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 10:00 PM ET)

    • UFC Heavyweight Championship Bout: Francis Ngannou (c) vs. Ciryl Gane (ic)
    • UFC Flyweight Championship Bout: Brandon Moreno (c) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
    • Welterweight: Michel Pereira vs. Andre Fialho
    • Bantamweight: Cody Stamann vs. Said Nurmagomedov
    • Middleweight: Rodolfo Vieira vs. Wellington Turman

    UFC 270 Preliminary Card (ESPN2, ESPN+, 8:00 PM ET)

    • Featherweight: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Jourdain
    • Bantamweight: Raoni Barcelos vs. Victor Henry
    • Welterweight: Trevin Giles vs. Michael Morales
    • Welterweight: Jack Della Maddalena vs. Pete Rodriguez

    UFC 270 Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+, UFC Fight Pass, 6:00 PM ET)

    • Bantamweight: Tony Gravely vs. Saimon Oliveira
    • Strawweight: Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Silvana Gomez Juarez
    • Lightweight: Matt Frevola vs. Genaro Valdez
    • Women’s Flyweight: Kay Hansen vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius

    And without further ado, you can view the official UFC 270 Countdown video below!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE7FYeUKU9g

  • Archives: White Says Khabib Has Temporarily Lifted Retirement (2021)

    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.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 16, 2021, 4:10 PM]

    Headline: Khabib Temporarily Lifts Retirement Pending UFC 257 Performances

    We finally know the outcome of Dana White’s meeting with Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov’s shocking MMA retirement may be over almost as abruptly as it was announced. Yesterday, Khabib and Dana White had their long-anticipated meeting to confirm whether or not he was retired. The idea to have the meeting was brought up by Dana White when he believed the retirement may have been an emotional decision.

    “Well, like I said, I thought that, in his last fight, his father had passed away, he’d been away from his family during that time, he got injured while he was training, and I thought that he made an emotional decision,” Dana White said on the UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar broadcast. “There was no reason to make a hasty decision like that then. We didn’t have to. I talked to him. I told him to take his time. We would get together later on. And last night, we did.”

    Dana White Reveals Khabib’s Decision

    White would go on to tell us the specifics of what was said in the meeting, but unfortunately, there still is no definitive answer on whether or not Khabib will fight again. But based on White’s paraphrasing of Khabib, it seems much more likely than not that we’ll see the champion defend the lightweight title again.

    “And basically, the way that he feels right now is he’s accomplished everything he’s set out to accomplish. He thought that Oliveira looked really good in his last fight against Tony Ferguson. So next Saturday, we got the McGregor/Poirier fight and Chandler/Hooker on there.

    “So his words to me were, ‘I’m gonna watch this fight.’ He said, ‘I would never tie up the division. I would never tie up the division, hold the belt, keep the belt away from anybody else. These guys do something spectacular, show me something spectacular, and make me want to come back and fight.’”

    Charles Oliveira defeated Tony Ferguson at UFC 256 and is currently ranked #3. Michael Chandler, of course, is unranked and may only able to make it up to #6 if he defeats Dan Hooker, who currently occupies that position.  As for the UFC 257 headliners, Conor McGregor is ranked #4, and Dustin Poirier is ranked #1, so those two names may be in the best position to get the next crack at Khabib in terms of rankings in case you needed any more reason to watch that epic rematch.

    UFC 257 takes place next Saturday, January 23, 2021 streaming live on ESPN+.

    What’s your take on the outcome of the Dana White/Khabib meeting?

  • Archives: Miocic Felt “Crapped On” With UFC 203 Contract (2017)

    Stipe Miocic has often lamented feeling disrespected by the UFC brass. This dates back to five years ago, regarding a contract offered to him for his UFC 203 title defense against Alistair Overeem in 2016.

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

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 16, 2017, 9:26 PM]

    Headline: Stipe Miocic Felt “Crapped On” With UFC 203 Contract

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Reigning UFC Heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic last saw action at UFC 203 when he successfully retained his gold against Alistair Overeem with a first round knockout. While Miocic was able to celebrate his victory in front of a frenetic hometown crowd, the champ isn’t all smiles.

    Stipe Miocic recently appeared on MMAFighting.com‘s “The MMA Hour.”  There, he expressed his frustration over making less money than the challenger:

    “I just felt like I was kinda crapped on a little bit. I try to do things right and work with them, and they just didn’t give me a great deal. That’s my own fault, but also they knew what they were doing. They took my kindness for weakness. They told me it was the best deal they could do, and I said, oh ‘okay, great.’ And then come to find out, it wasn’t.”

    Overeem’s base salary for the fight was $800,000. Miocic’s number sat at $600,000. The champion said he went to the UFC brass and told them how he felt about his payout. Their response didn’t sit well with the Croatian.

    “Blah, blah, blah, blah. They just made up some excuse, like ‘that’s the contract you signed.’ You’re making money off me in my hometown, and you’re giving the man that’s a challenger who’s never won the title in the UFC, you’re giving him more money? It definitely should change. But the fact that my challenger made more money than me in my last fight was just kind of a slap in the face.”

    While it appears the UFC is sticking to their guns on the contract, Miocic said he hopes going forward there will be some adjustments made. At the moment, he doesn’t feel things are on an even playing field.

    “[It’s] terrible. Things definitely need to be changed. Something’s gotta change. It’s not really fair.”

  • Archives: Why Kenny Florian’s Cover-Up Is Worse Than The Crime (2016)

    Kenny Florian was briefly suspended for the plagiarism documented in the below editorial published six years ago. Today, he works as a commentator for The Professional Fighters League and is also the co-host of the Anik and Florian podcast.

    On This Day Six Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 16, 2016, 8:31 PM]

    Headline: Kenny Florian & Why The Cover-Up Is Worse Than The Crime

    Author: David Bixenspan

    As noted earlier, former three-time UFC championship challenger turned UFC and Fox Sports analyst/color commentator has been suspended by the latter entity. His crime? He plagiarized large portions of his technical breakdown of T.J. Dillashaw vs. Dominick Cruz from boxing analyst Lee Wylie’s video breaking down 1040s boxer Willie Pep. Twitter personality The Naked Gambler deserves credit for pointing out exactly what Florian did:

    https://twitter.com/NakedGambling/status/687798251324571648
    https://twitter.com/NakedGambling/status/687800823146000384
    https://twitter.com/NakedGambling/status/687805927517515776
    https://twitter.com/NakedGambling/status/687810046932185088

    Florian then decided to have a chat with Naked Gambler via direct message, where he explained that it was all a simple misunderstanding…or at least in his head it was:

    https://twitter.com/NakedGambling/status/687811211296116736

    This introduced us to Florian’s defense, which he later used in his public “apology;” That he keeps a running list of notes on martial arts technique, has for years, and it’s very jumbled with little effort to keep track of what he got where or which thoughts were his own. In and of itself, that would be fine, and it’s totally believable that he keeps those kinds of notes. But…then he went on to say that he must have forgotten that the notes on footwork taken from Wylie weren’t his own.

    There are a few problems with this. The first is that even if he knew that even if he genuinely didn’t remember that the footwork notes weren’t his, since he did remember that not all of the notes were his, he’s still knowingly plagiarizing. Even if he didn’t know that those specific notes weren’t his, he knew there was a reasonable likelihood that it was the case.

    However, in this specific instance, that doesn’t pass the smell test, either. Why? Wylie’s breakdown only went up on December 3rd, just last month. In addition, being a video (with Wylie’s notes contained in the video as on-screen graphics) as opposed to text in an article, Florian couldn’t have just absent-mindedly copied and pasted it without giving much thought to it. He would have devoted a good bit of time to transcribing the text by hand in the weeks leading up to the article, where he says that he “forgot” that the words weren’t his own.

    Soon enough, the story hit Deadspin. At that point, it was probably just a matter of time that the story would really blow up (if it already happened), so Florian issued what he termed an apology:

    Note the wording: Florian said that he was ““referenc[ing] perspectives on [something], which were originally articulated by [someone else],” when he was outright lifting Wylie’s analysis word for word. He was deliberately mischaracterizing what he did to obfuscate as well as minimize what he did. Worse, according to two tweets from Naked Gambler, he had attempted to defuse the situation by promising to try to get Wylie a job at Fox Sports.

    Does this sound like someone who made a genuine mistake he was sorry for? Or does sound like someone who, for reasons known only to him, knowingly plagiarized large portions of an article and scrambled to cover it up when he got caught? He buried himself deeper every time he addressed the situation, and it’s a miracle that so far, he’s just suspended.

    As for Lee Wylie? The poor guy who donates his time to creating cool analysis videos, who had his work stolen by a well-compensated television personality, has been made to feel like a jerk for no good reason:

    https://twitter.com/LeeWylie1/status/688437881099124739

    Nice work, Kenny.

  • The Pulse of MMA: Fans React To Calvin Kattar’s Win Over Giga Chikadze

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

    In this installment of The Pulse of MMA, we look at the raw, unfiltered reactions from MMA fans to the result of Calvin Kattar’s unanimous decision victory over Giga Chikadze at UFC Vegas 46.

    Calvin Kattar def. Giga Chikadze via Unannimous Decision At UFC Vegas 46

    In the first UFC card of the year, the main event saw Calvin Kattar kick off the 2022 season with a victory in contrast to last year’s loss to Max Holloway that began 2021. It was Kattar’s pace, jabwork, and cage generalship that helped deliver the following official scorecards from the judges:

    Official Scorecards: Calvin Kattar defeats Giga Chikadze via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-44)

    If you missed any of the action, you can catch the results and highlights from UFC Vegas 46 here. You can also see how the fighters reacted to the Kattar/Chikadze main event here.

    What about the Pulse of MMA? How did they react to the main event results? You can peep the raw reactions down below!

    https://twitter.com/JOEEX0TIC/status/1482549397107916801
    https://twitter.com/PrimeIsacc/status/1482549398697435142

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

  • White Says Health Care System’s Reaction To Joe Rogan Is “Disgusting”

    UFC President Dana White made some strong accusations about the United States health care system’s response to Joe Rogan’s COVID-19 treatment advice.

    Last week, 270 doctors, scientists, professors, and nurses among others penned an open letter to Spotify calling on the streaming platform to create a misinformation policy. The letter was written as a reaction to a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience that had Dr. Robert Malone on as a guest.

    In the letter, the coalition accused Malone of spreading COVID-19 conspiracy theories. They also criticized Rogan for being a consistently negative influence on the public, particularly his younger audience members.

    At the UFC Vegas 46 post-fight press conference, White was asked about the letter and all the criticisms aimed at Rogan. Being that White has credited Rogan’s advice for helping him and his family’s speedy recoveries from COVID-19, he called on his own personal experience when defending the longtime UFC color man. And he also accused doctors of withholding valuable treatment options from the public.

    “Well, how about this? Ever since I came out and said what I did, it’s almost impossible now to get monoclonal antibodies,” White said. “They’re making it so you can’t get ’em. Medicine that absolutely works, they’re keeping from (us). I don’t want to get too political and start getting into all this shit, but ivermectin and monoclonal antibodies have been around for a long time. Now all of a sudden you can’t dig ’em up to save your life. Doctors won’t give ’em to ya. 

    “And even when I did it here in Vegas, which was, however many weeks ago that I had it…I made one phone call and was able to get it done. And that’s not like some fuckin’ rich, famous-guy shit. Like, anybody could’ve called….now, Rogan’s been talking about it, then I went crazy talking about it, you can’t get those things to save your life now, literally.”

    White was then asked if he’s surprised that people are not being allowed to even openly discuss alternative treatment options to COVID-19. The UFC boss provided the following strong response.

    “It’s disgusting. It’s disgusting,” White said. “Yeah, it’s one of the craziest things I’ve ever witnessed in my life. And we’re not talking about experimental drugs. This stuff’s been around.”

    At this point, someone in the audience shouted out, sarcastically asking White if he is a doctor.

    “No, but I took ’em, and they both worked for me, so why shouldn’t I be able to take ’em again—or other people?”

    After poking fun at the audience member’s outburst as another example of people trying to silence the conversation around this topic, White went on to use the prescription rate of pain relievers as an example of the health care system’s hypocrisy.

    “You want to know what’s scary? Bet I can get some fuckin’ pain pills quicker than I can get monoclonal antibodies,” White said. “No, not maybe. That’s a fact. That’s a fact. They fuckin’ hand out pain pills like they’re Tic Tacs….Monoclonal antibodies and ivermectin isn’t gonna do anything to ya. Pain pills kill ya. Fact. And I’m not a doctor, but that’s a fact,” White concluded with a light chuckle.

    What are your thoughts on Dana White’s comments?

  • Archives: Chikadze Blasts Rodriguez, FW Top 10, & UFC Rankings (2021)

    Seven months ago, a frustrated Giga Chikadze vented about Yair Rodriguez, his featherweight peers, and the UFC ranking system. Tonight at UFC Vegas 46, the #8-ranked Chikadze will have the type of opportunities he was fighting for last year when he takes on the #5-ranked Calvin Kattar.

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

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JUNE 25, 2021, 11:00 AM]

    Headline: Giga Chikadze Blasts Rodriguez, FW Top 10, & The UFC Rankings System

    You could say that Giga Chikadze is just a tiny bit miffed at his UFC featherweight peers.

    You could say that, but it would be more accurate to say that he has reached peak frustration at his inability to land an opponent inside the top 10. After winning his eighth consecutive fight at UFC Fight Night: Reyes vs. Procházka, Chikadze was eager to step back inside the Octagon for a high-profile fight.

    He offered to jump in for short-notice fights on multiple occasions, as this has been a proven path up the ladder for many UFC fighters in the past, with Kevin Holland perhaps being the best recent example of this. Nevertheless, whether it’s been a short-notice pitch, a public callout, or a proposal submitted through the appropriate channels, Chikadze has remained on the sidelines despite his best efforts.

    Failure To Land Yair Rodriguez Fight Sends Chikadze Over The Edge

    Most recently, Chikadze tried to step in as a short-notice replacement for the July 17 Fight Night main event against Yair Rodriguez after Rodriguez’s original opponent, Max Holloway, was forced to withdraw from the fight.

    Chikadze had already expressed his frustrations when Rodriguez was allegedly nonresponsive to the UFC’s offer, and now that Rodriguez has officially been removed from the card, the Georgian is letting out the rest of his anger through the media since he hasn’t been able to do so in the cage.

    “They called me to replace Max, and I was happy to step in,” Chikadze told MMA Fighting. “I don’t know how this guy is gonna stay ranked No. 3 if he don’t agree on the fight cause he hasn’t fought for a long time and look at me. I had like five, six fights in the same time. I don’t know what’s going to happen.

    UFC Vegas 13 video: Giga Chikadze blasts Jamey Simmons with devastating head kick to earn first-round knockout - MMA Fighting
    Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

    “It’s not surprising from (Rodriguez), because he’s been doing this for not only me but for other fighters. With Zabit [Magomedsharipov], he turned him down four times and after USADA violation and the UFC cut his contract, cut him from the UFC. I’m really upset on one thing. This guy is not ranked No. 3 [in the UFC rankings], that’s the only thing. I feel like my name should be higher.”

    There is a common argument that has been used against fighters who are in Chikdadze’s current position of a fighter looking to make a significant move up the rankings, which is that they haven’t beaten a big enough opponent to earn a marquee fight. During his diatribe, Chikadze was sure to point out the flaw in this logic.

    “Everyone is talking about my opponents, how I beat non-ranked opponents,” Chikadze said. “This and that and Cub Swanson was older age and stuff but how am I going to prove these guys wrong if nobody fights me from the top 10? Who should I fight?

    Giga Chikadze
    Giga Chikadze

    “I’ve been calling out pretty much everybody. Arnold Allen, Edson Barboza, Calvin Kattar, Max, Yair, whoever don’t have a fight, [The Korean Zombie] now, it would be great fights. But nobody really accepted. Now the champion [Alexander Volkanovski] has a fight with Brian Ortega and whoever is available, everybody is not picking up the phone.”

    Khabib Nurmagomedov & Kamaru Usman: Unwelcome Company?

    Giga Chikadze referenced other fighters who have gone through similar struggles to find big fights while climbing the rankings, notably Khabib Nurmagomedov and Kamaru Usman. Usually, having something in common with these UFC greats would be a high honor, but in this case, it’s a grave annoyance for the #10-ranked featherweight.

    Coincidentally, Chikadze shares the same manager as Usman and Nurmagomedov, Ali Abdelaziz. Eventually, Abdelaziz was able to land both eventual champions the fights that got them to the title, so he is definitely a good man to have on your side when faced with a booking crisis.

    When it comes to his featherweight peers, however, Chikadze has lost all faith in their commitment to being what he deems to be a true fighter.

    “I don’t have an answer how these guys are top-ranked fighters today,” Chikadze said. “Back in the day when a fighter was a real fighter and he was in the ranking, he was going to fight anybody. You would [fight] anybody, quality guys and I’m a quality guy. I’m top 10. I was last year the most busiest guy and I proved to anyone already. I want my main event fight.”

    What do you think? Does Giga Chikadze have a legitimate gripe?

  • Archives: McGregor and White Miles Apart On Pacquiao Fight (2021)

    Today, Francis Ngannou is pushing hard for a fight against Tyson Fury. In fact, the UFC heavyweight champion says he will not re-sign with the promotion unless he is allowed to explore such boxing opportunities.

    Thus far, the only time the UFC has allowed a contracted fighter to participate in such an endeavor was in 2017 when Conor McGregor boxed Floyd Mayweather. As recently as last year, White was open to the idea of allowing McGregor to crossover again, this time against boxing legend Manny Pacquiao. However, at the time, the two sides were far apart on when it could take place.

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

    On This Day One Year Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 15, 2021, 6:29 PM]

    Conor McGregor and Dana White are not in agreement on whether the Irishman will be boxing Pacquiao this year, if ever.

    Before Conor McGregor agreed to fight Dustin Poirier at UFC 257, his sights were originally set on a boxing match with Manny Pacquiao. And even when he agreed to fight Poirier, there was speculation that McGregor accepted the fight in part to help prepare for Pacquiao’s southpaw style. Speaking to The Mac Life recently, McGregor reaffirmed that his interest in boxing Pacquiao stands, and he even expects the match to take place this year (via The Sun).

    “I am excited for a Manny Pacquiao bout and it looks like it will happen this year. What time this year? I am not sure. “We’ll have to have some good discussions with Dana White and the UFC and see where it goes.”

    Dana White’s Short-Term Plans for McGregor Differ

    Conor McGregor assures that his interest in fighting Manny Pacquiao is not in conflict with his plans for an active MMA year. McGregor said in his MacLife interview that he plans to have a very active year in MMA for 2020. However, McGregor’s confidence in his abilities to multitask is not convincing enough for Dana White, who would love McGregor to focus on one thing while he is at his peak (via MMA Fighting).

    “The way that this kid is right now mentally, physically, emotionally, I mean this kid is on and ready to fight,” White told ESPN. “I would love to see him focused on what he can do here at the UFC. Whether it’s take another shot at that title against Khabib [Nurmagomedov] or fight for the title against somebody else if Khabib retires and defend that title.

    Dana White claims Mayweather vs. McGregor did 6.5 million buys - MMA Fighting
    Conor McGregor boxing Floyd Mayweather in 2017. Image Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

    “A boxing match with any of these guys, that stuff’s always going to be there. You are the absolute best in the world right now in MMA and the timing is right now. Not getting any younger. I’d love to see him go for it here over the next year. If he wants to fight one of these boxing guys, do that next year. That fight’s always going to be there.”

    Dana White chalks up McGregor’s previous boxing blockbuster against Floyd Mayweather as being a “perfect storm” that took on a life of its own. At least for the time being, White feels this 2017 boxing contest was a one-off, and there is currently substantial real estate between White’s vision for McGregor’s future and what McGregor has planned for himself in the world of boxing.

    Do you think we will ever see Conor McGregor box Manny Pacquiao?

  • Sherman: I’d Rather Be A UFC Washout Than A One-Hit Wonder (2017)

    After the comments featured in this archived article were made, Chase Sherman would lose his next three fights and be released from the UFC. However, that’s not where his story ends.

    He would return to the promotion in December 2018 and win his next four fights. Last year, however, he dropped two straight, first to Andrei Arlovski in April and then to Parker Porter in August, both via unanimous decision.

    Tonight, Sherman looks to avoid a third consecutive loss when he faces Jake Collier in the co-main event.

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

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JULY 24, 2017, 2:40 AM]

    Headline: Chase Sherman Would Rather Be A UFC Washout Than a One-Hit Wonder

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Chase Sherman’s nightmare is to be a flash in the pan.

    Sherman is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Damian Grabowski this past Saturday night (July 22). It was “The Vanilla Gorilla’s” second straight victory, which is much needed after losing his first two Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bouts.

    Speaking to the media, Sherman admitted there may have been more pressure on him this go-round because of his sudden popularity on social media (via MMAJunkie.com):

    “It almost seemed like I had a little more pressure this time than last time because I don’t want to let my fans down. They invest a lot in me, and they’re constantly watching.”

    The heavyweight is happy to turn things around, but if he wouldn’t have found any success in the UFC he would’ve been satisfied knowing that he wasn’t just lucky.

    “I always want to prove them right. I always want to make them proud, make my family proud, make my friends proud. So there’s a little more pressure there because I told myself I’d much rather just go 0-3 and completely fail at it than be a one-hit wonder – to get that little bit of fame and then fizzle out and no one remember who you are.”

  • (Archives) White On Jones’ Rehab Story: The Truth Will Come Out (2015)

    On This Day Seven Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 15, 2015, 1:16 PM]

    Headline: Dana White Says Jon Jones One Day Rehab Story Isn’t True, “The Truth Will Come Out Soon”

    Author: Matt Boone

    Although Jon Jones’ mother, Camille Jones, claimed that her son checked himself out of rehab after only one day, UFC President Dana White says that is “not necessarily the case.”

    White spoke with the Boston Herald this week about the highly publicized story of Jones’ positive test for cocaine and subsequent rehab stint, indicating that there’s more to the story than people might think.

    “When the whole story comes out, people will understand, it will be put into perspective,” said White. “When Jon Jones comes out and does his interview, the truth will come out, and everyone will understand. Or they won’t, you know. Jon is a very polarizing guy, people either love him or they hate him. Either way, the truth will come out soon.”

    White and the UFC have taken some pretty heavy criticism themselves regarding the matter, as many questioned how a failed drug test on December 4th did nothing to prevent a fight between Jones and Daniel Cormier taking place a month later at UFC 182, and how Jones has ultimately seen zero consequences despite the fact that he consumed illegal drugs.

    White was quick to point out that although it’s a serious situation, legally speaking, he and the UFC’s hands were tied.

    “You can bust guys, you can fine guys, but I can’t pull him out of a fight,” said White. “That thing will be in a lawsuit in 3.5 seconds and I’ll lose. So then we don’t have a fight and I’ve still got to pay the money.”

    The UFC boss continued, “When you start talking about cocaine and some of these other drugs, that’s hardcore stuff, man, and that’s when people need help. So I want to know that. I wish I could know what everybody was doing, but you can’t police 567 guys year-round.”

    Jones is rumored to be attending the NFL’s AFC Championship game on Sunday, as both of his brothers will be playing, however, whether or not he breaks his silence once he’s back in the public eye for the first time since all of this has gone down remains to be seen.

  • Flashback To White Worrying Kattar Would Die After Holloway Loss

    As we now know, Calvin Kattar did survive his fight against Max Holloway last year, but Dana White wasn’t so sure that would be the case while watching the fight.

    One year ago immediately following the Holloway/Kattar fight, UFC President Dana White said thought the main event between Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar should’ve been stopped after the fourth round.

    In a video the UFC uploaded, it showed White freaking out thinking Kattar might die due to all the damage he sustained.

    After the fourth round, White spoke to UFC executive Hunter Campbell and said he wanted Kattar to the hospital immediately after the fight.

    “He took so much f*cking punishment in this fight, I’m freaking out a little bit, man. I don’t know. I don’t like it. This reminds me of the kind of fight where the fight’s over, and he walks out back and f*cking dies. I think that f*cking Herb Dean should’ve stopped it before the (fifth) round. He was wobbling all over the f*cking place,” White said on the UFC’s Grand Stage video.

    “When we had him up against the cage, that’s when he had him,” Campbell said.

    “He should have stopped the fight right there,” White said.

    Kattar’s Manager Explains Non-Stoppage

    Max Holloway bloodies, batters Calvin Kattar to put on five-round clinic in UFC Fight Island 7 main event - MMA Fighting

    Weeks later, Kattar’s manager, Tyson Chartier, offered the following explanation for why the fight was not stopped:

    “It definitely did [get close to us stopping it],” Chartier stated to MMAFighting. “I’m sitting in the corner and every time things were getting really bad, Calvin’s back was to us, and we see Max, and we see Herb. There was a couple of times when we were like, ‘F*ck, is he gonna stop it?’ And I was hoping Herb would stop it. And then all of a sudden we saw he wasn’t going to stop it, we were like, ‘Should we throw in the towel?’ And then I’m thinking we’re gonna throw in the towel, and then Calvin would crack him. Then he would get off the fence and start landing shots. Like, damn it!”

    “It definitely did [get close to us stopping it],” Chartier stated to MMAFighting. “I’m sitting in the corner and every time things were getting really bad, Calvin’s back was to us, and we see Max, and we see Herb. There was a couple of times when we were like, ‘F*ck, is he gonna stop it?’ And I was hoping Herb would stop it. And then all of a sudden we saw he wasn’t going to stop it, we were like, ‘Should we throw in the towel?’ And then I’m thinking we’re gonna throw in the towel, and then Calvin would crack him. Then he would get off the fence and start landing shots. Like, damn it!”

    “There was one point in the fourth round where I looked at Jake [Mainini], the Muay Thai coach, and I was like, ‘Dude, Max is getting tired.’ It was crazy because he was beating us up, but you could see it in his eyes like, ‘Ughh,’ and then he tried to wrestle, tried to take us down, he was getting tired from beating us up and then Calvin landed a good shot again and the round ended.”

    The good news was that Calvin Kattar ended up healing up his injuries and there was no significant life-altering damage. However, “The Boston Finisher” did sustain a plethora of injuries.

    Tonight will be the first time he competes again since absorbing a record number of strikes from “Blessed.” He will be featured in the UFC Vegas 46 against another top-level striker, Giga Chikadze.

  • The MMA News Top 100 UFC Fighters of 2021 Part 10: #10-1

    Tonight, the UFC returns with UFC Vegas 46! As we embark on a new year full of great action, let’s first close out the MMA News Top 100 Fighters of 2021 list as voted on by our panel!

    This list is NOT solely based on fights and performances of 2021. Being active in 2021 is what QUALIFIES one to make the list. Instead of only considering performances of the year, we are taking a holistic look at who is the better overall fighter exiting 2021 based on our selected criteria. A full explanation of the criteria can be found below.


    1: Career Trajectory/Recent Performances (50%)

    Where are the fighters trending right now? How much evidence-backed momentum do they have?


    2: Career Success/Body of Work (25%)

    Championships, wins, résumé, etc.


    3: Likelihood To Be The Betting Favorite In Any Fight In 2021 (25%)

    This was determined using past betting history, betting lines during 2021, and the projected odds moving forward as determined by the panel. This category is being used to get a gauge of the talent level the public feels the fighter is/was at.

    Be sure to keep checking back right here at MMANews.com for frequent updates to this list throughout the month of January as we continue to update this list!

    You can view Part 1 here.

    You can view Part 2 here.

    You can view Part 3 here.

    You can view Part 4 here.

    You can view Part 5 here.

    You can view Part 6 here.

    You can view Part 7 here.

    You can view Part 8 here.

    You can view Part 9 here.

    And finally, you can view the conclusion of The MMA News Top 100 UFC Fighters of 2021 below!

    #10: Rose Namajunas

    UFC 268: Rose Namajunas vs Zhang Weili preview - Sports Illustrated
    Rose Namajunas, Credit: Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports

    Reasoning Behind Ranking: Rose Namajunas made one statement loud and clear with her mouth prior to the fight and with her foot during the fight on April 24, 2021, inside the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida: She’s the best.

    With Namajunas defeating arguably the two best strawweights the promotion has ever seen (herself excluded), Joanna Jędrzejczyk and Zhang Weili, and defeating both twice, she has established herself as the one and only best strawweight in the UFC.

    A case can be made that no champion on the entire roster has a higher career trajectory than Namajunas due to the fact that she has already beaten the very best the division has to offer, she continues to visibly get better and more advanced as a technical mixed martial artist, and the fact that she is still only 29 years old.

    Namajunas barely gets the edge over Robert Whittaker due to her advantage in career trajectory, the fact that she is a current titleholder, and the fact that she had a memorable finish in 2021 while Whittaker has only earned decision wins since 2017.

    Heading Into 2022: Rose Namajunas will look to keep her undefeated rematch record intact when she faces Carla Esparza if and when that expected bout becomes official.

    #9: Max Holloway

    Max Holloway withdraws from UFC 272 trilogy fight with Alexander Volkanovski due to injury - CBSSports.com
    Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar, UFC on ABC 1

    Reasoning Behind Ranking: Next up in our top 10 fighters of 2021 we have the current record-holder for most wins in the featherweight division, Max “Blessed” Holloway.

    On paper, Max Holloway is 2-2 in his last four fights. What’s more, he’s 3-3 in his last six fights. So how is he #9 on our list?

    For one thing, one of those three losses took place in the lightweight division, where Holloway had never competed before in the UFC. The bulk of our appraisal for each fighter is what they’ve achieved in their primary weight class. While any loss carries an impact on a fighter’s placement on this list, that impact is much lighter if the fighter lost outside of the division in which they are active, established, and familiar.

    And the most recent of those three losses happen to be one of the reasons Holloway is ranked so high. Due to how close and controversial his loss to Alexander Volkanovski was at UFC 251, this serves as evidence that Holloway is one round on one judges’ scorecard away from again reigning as champion. This acknowledgment helps Holloway in Category #3.

    In category #2, Holloway’s aforementioned status as the featherweight win record-holder earns him high credit, especially considering some of the names included on that record, especially and including two finishes over who many consider to be the featherweight GOAT, José Aldo.

    And in category #1, Holloway participated in back-to-back Fight of the Night-winning performances in 2021, with “Blessed” showing that setting more records via nonstop punches is standard for him.

    Heading Into 2022: Originally scheduled to face Alexander Volkanovski in a trilogy fight, Max Holloway will instead be recovering from injury. Only time will tell if a title shot will still await him when he makes his Octagon return and if he’ll compete this year.

    #8: Amanda Nunes

    30 Moments of Pride: Amanda Nunes becomes UFC double champion - Outsports
    Amanda Nunes, Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    Reasoning Behind Ranking: The next time you prepare to watch Amanda Nunes on TV, you can still feel safe putting your bets on her. Seeing as how she’s only lost one time since 2014, the odds are in your favor. And with her historic run during this stretch, despite her major setback against Julianna Peña at UFC 269, she will always be a champion.

    With dominant victories over Cris Cyborg, Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Holly Holm, and other legacy wins over Valentina Shevchenko, Germaine de Randamie among others, Nunes earns maximum credit and then some in Category #2.

    Additionally, the fact that she remains a comfortable betting favorite over Julianna Peña in their hypothetical rematch despite her second-round submission loss to her tells you that she is still considered most likely to win any fight in the bantamweight division.

    Had Amanda Nunes done to Julianna Peña what the overwhelming majority of fans were certain she would, she’d have a firm case for #1 on our list. Instead, the massive ding she suffered in her underperforming loss to “The Venezuelan Vixen” has her at #8.

    Heading Into 2022: Amanda Nunes has made her intentions for 2022 clear. Her next featherweight title defense, if it ever comes, will have to wait. First, “The Lioness” will look to regain her throne in a second confrontation with Julianna Peña.

    #7: Petr Yan

    UFC 251 Preview: Petr Yan Historical UFC Closing Odds
    Petr Yan, Image Credit: Zuffa LLC

    Reasoning Behind Ranking:

    As if drinking a vial of poison
    Something gets into his bones,
    Now, he keeps on tearing you up

    There may be no one in all of MMA who makes slow-starting look so dominant. Whether or not Yan drops a round in a fight, by the time it’s all she wrote, you can’t help but kick yourself for ever doubting this Russian terminator.

    Regardless of how a Petr Yan fight starts, both before and during the bout, he has earned the benefit of the doubt of pundits and oddsmakers to be expected to win any fight he’s in. His style is too efficient, too fundamentally sound, too crisp with his hands, too aware of his body-weight distribution.

    Had Petr Yan finished his UFC 259 title match against Aljamain Sterling the way it appeared he was on track to, he could be placed even higher on our list. Instead, the knee heard ’round the world dings the Russian a bit.

    Unbeaten in his last 12 fights, Yan remains a safe bet going into practically any fight. And his body of work and résumé should not be slept on, with wins over Jimmie Rivera, Douglas Silva de Andrade, and two names placed high on our list: Cory Sandhagen and the legendary José Aldo.

    Heading Into 2022: Petr Yan will have an opportunity to rectify his UFC 259 blunder when he rematches Aljamain Sterling at UFC 273 in April.

    #6: Charles Oliveira

    Charles Oliveira earns TKO win over Michael Chandler to claim UFC lightweight title
    Charles Oliveira, Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

    Reasoning Behind Ranking: When a man fights for 11 years in the same promotion before finally becoming champion, you can be certain that mistakes were made along the way and dues were paid time after time. Next thing you know, Charles Oliveira is on a 10-fight winning streak. And once considered a gatekeeper at lightweight, we may very well have seen “Do Bronx” lose for the last time.

    Charles Oliveira’s recent performances are nearly impossible to top. In 2021, he had two championship finishes. Prior to that, he dominated Tony Ferguson from bell to bell. And before that, he had strung together seven consecutive finishes. Therefore, beyond just recency, Oliveira isn’t just likely to perform well, but he’s become practically a lock to win.

    During this stretch, he’s also racked up massive points in Category #2, with wins over Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler, and Tony Ferguson, three fighters who appear on our list this year, including someone ranked within the top 15 in Poirier.

    Heading Into 2022: If “Do Bronx” is to pick up another finish, he’s going to have to go through hell to get it done. The warmonger that is Justin Gaethje now awaits him.

    #5: Israel Adesanya

    Israel Adesanya will '100 percent' fight Jon Jones — 'The song is not over yet' - MMAmania.com
    Israel Adesanya, Photo by Carmen Mandato/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    Reasoning Behind Ranking: Although it’s true that Israel Adesanya went 1-1 in 2021 while Charles Oliveira is unbeaten in 10 fights, it’s the fact that Israel Adesanya is 21-0 in his division that makes him extremely tough to top in the “likelihood to win a fight” category. And he earned this record through hard work, blood, sweat, and tears from the dirt.

    Additionally, in terms of name value, Adesanya may have the strongest résumé in middleweight history, with wins over Anderson Silva, Yoel Romero, Kelvin Gastelum, and three names on our list: Marvin Vettori (2), Paulo Costa, Derek Brunson, and the biggest reason for his placement: his dominant second-round KO of our 11th-ranked fighter, Robert Whittaker in 2019.

    Adesanya’s loss to Jan Blachowicz affects his points earned in category #1, but he mitigated some of the damage there with his unanimous decision victory over Vettori after the fact.

    Heading Into 2022: Israel Adesanya will now look to defeat Robert Whittaker for a second time when the two meet next month at UFC 271.

    #4: Alexander Volkanovski

    Alexander Volkanovski | UFC
    Alexander Volkanovski, Credit: UFC.com

    Reasoning Behind Ranking: There are two primary reasons behind Alexander Volkanovski’s placement as our #4th ranked fighter:

    1) He has defeated two names ranked very high on our list: José Aldo (#20) and two wins over our #9-ranked fighter, Max Holloway.

    2) The man has not lost a fight since 2013 and is on a nice, round, 20-fight winning streak. And if there was any doubt about this man’s will to win and his likelihood to survive anything put in front of him, there was this moment:

    In round 3 of his successful title defense over another fighter on our list, Brian Ortega (#39), Alexander Volkanovski showed what lies down under: the unyielding will of a champion. After witnessing that and considering that he is undefeated in the UFC and also undefeated as a featherweight, it’s clear that Volkanovski is one of the very best fighters on planet Earth.

    Heading Into 2022: Alexander Volkanovski will look to add yet another name to his résumé when he takes on The Korean Zombie at UFC 273 in April. If he gets through that, he could be looking at the trilogy fight against Max Holloway that was originally planned for “The Great.”

    #3: Francis Ngannou

    UFC 260 -- Chasing GOATs: Francis Ngannou may be on the verge of the greatest year in UFC history
    Francis Ngannou

    Reasoning Behind Ranking: People are so caught up in how “scary” Ngannou is as a knockout artist that they neglect to give full recognition to his body of work and résumé.

    At this moment, Ngannou has victories over Junior dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, Alistair Overeem, Andre Arlovski, and three names on our list this year: Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Curtis Blaydes, and of course, the primary reason for his placement: his redemptive and brutal KO of the consensus heavyweight GOAT, Stipe Miocic.

    And here’s the thing. Ngannou didn’t just use brute KO power to get it done. He outskilled Miocic on the feet throughout the fight and, what’s most frightening of all, he even outgrappled him.

    Perhaps what’s most taken for granted about Ngannou’s career is the fact that most of the legends he’s defeated, he’s done so within minutes. Whenever you can say you’ve knocked out Junior dos Santos, Curtis Blaydes, experienced kickboxer Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and the legendary Cain Velasquez all within a total combined time of approximately three minutes, you might just be a once-in-a-lifetime talent.

    Heading Into 2022: Another year, a fresh new batch of targets in his sights. Here comes The Predator.

    Francis Ngannou may have the toughest fight of his career from a pure skill standpoint when he takes on the magnificent Ciryl Gane next Saturday at UFC 270. With a dominant victory there, we may have to begin two conversations: potential heavyweight GOAT and pound-for-pound #1 status.

    #2: Valentina Shevchenko

    UFC 266: Valentina Shevchenko finishes Lauren Murphy with fourth-round flurry to retain flyweight title | South China Morning Post
    Valentina Shevchenko, Credit: AP

    Reasoning Behind Ranking: When you step into an arena with Valentina Shevchenko’s name on the marquee, there are three things you know for certain: you’re going to see a Lezginka, you’re going to be left mesmerized, and somebody’s gonna get their head kicked in tonight.

    When it comes to “likelihood to win a fight” and even career trajectory, Valentina Shevchenko is untouchable in points earned because there have been no signs whatsoever that she will stop doing what she’s doing. Since 2018, Shevchenko has proven to be the most dominant champion in the UFC with room to spare, truly finding her home at 125.

    One thing that’s holding her back is the fact that many of her opponents were overmatched. However, let’s not forget that she does hold victories over former UFC champions Jéssica Andrade and Joanna Jędrzejczyk. And even outside of flyweight, her body of work includes wins over former bantamweight champion Holly Holm and reigning bantamweight champion Julianna Peña, who placed #21 on her list. And in her only UFC losses to Amanda Nunes, both fights were competitive, especially the split-decision loss in 2017.

    Also, from a pure skill standpoint, she has shown no weaknesses and has continued to sharpen her toolset every year, arguably becoming the most fundamentally sound, technical, and well-rounded fighter on the UFC roster.

    Heading Into 2022: There’s likely more dominance to come in 2022, but The Bullet’s next victim has yet to be selected.

    #1: Kamaru Usman

    Kamaru Usman: Next Fight, Colby Covington rivalry, Wife, Height - MMA INDIA
    Kamaru Usman

    Reasoning Behind Ranking: The undisputed UFC welterweight champion, the record-holder for most consecutive wins in the welterweight division, the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC, Kamaru Usman has the juice, the sauce, and all them things.

    Adorable photo of UFC champion, Kamaru Usman and his daughter posing with his belt

    Let’s break down why Kamaru Usman is our #1-ranked fighter category by category.

    Category #1:

    • Recent Performances: In 2021 alone, Usman began the year by surviving arguably the most adversity he’s ever faced in the UFC after getting quasi-dropped by Gilbert Burns, only to put on an absolute clinic from that point forward.

    He then followed that up with what fans on UFC’s Twitter page voted as the Knockout of the Year at UFC 261 over Jorge Masvidal.

    Kamaru Usman Jorge Masvidal KO
    Kamaru Usman Jorge Masvidal KO, Image Credit: Getty Images

    He then defeated one of the best fighters on the UFC roster for the second time, our #17-ranked fighter, Colby Covington.

    • Career Trajectory: Having nearly cleaned out the division at 34 years old, Usman’s career is now trending towards potential GOAT status. In fact, out of everyone on the UFC roster, he is arguably the closest towards reaching this recognition.

    Category #2:

    • Body of Work/Résumé: As noted, Usman has practically cleaned out his division. And throughout his legendary career, he holds wins over Colby Covington (2), Gilbert Burns, Jorge Masvidal (2), Leon Edwards, Tyron Woodley, Rafael dos Anjos, Sean Strickland, and Demian Maia. Five of those names appear on our list this year, and a minimum of two of them are likely to be Hall of Famers. This murderer’s row is the primary reason Usman was placed over Shevchenko.
    • The other reason Usman was placed over Shevchenko is because of his flawless UFC winning percentage.

    Category #3:

    Kamaru Usman has the highest winning percentage in the entire history of the UFC. So when it comes to “likelihood to win a fight,” there’s that.

    Heading Into 2022: As of yesterday, Kamaru Usman’s next “lapee” in the welterweight division will potentially be Leon Edwards, as that is who UFC President Dana White confirmed is next in line for the champion.

    So there you have it! That concludes the inaugural MMA News Top 100 UFC Fighters list! How did we do?! Let us know what you think in the comments section, and you can expect to hear back! Happy debating!

  • Demetrious Johnson’s Mixed-Special-Rules Fight Now March 26

    Demetrious Johnson is set to make his return to competition in a very intriguing way when he takes on ONE Championship Flyweight Muay Thai Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon on March 26.

    CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced the fight last year on The MMA Hour after the original ONE X card planned for December 5 2021 was postponed.

    The mixed-special-rules fight will have alternating rounds between Muay Thai and MMA. The first and third rounds will be under Muay Thai rules, and the second and fourth rounds will be MMA. This will be a tall test for Johnson, as Jitmuangnon has competed in over 300 professional Muay Thai bouts with a total of 267 wins. The ONE Muay Thai champion is currently on a five-fight winning streak and has held the title since August 2, 2019.

    What makes this fight interesting, though, is that Jitmuangnon has never competed in MMA, just as Johnson has never competed in Muay Thai. After losing for the first time in ONE Championship in April to flyweight champion Adriano Moraes, Johnson did express interest in competing in a kickboxing bout, so this unique fight announcement should not come as a total surprise.

    Also announced for this card is atomweight champion Angela Lee defending her title against Stamp Fairtex, who has held championships in multiple combat sports. This bout will serve as the main event for the card. Additionally, Adriano Moraes will take on Yuya Wakamatsu in his first flyweight title defense since defeating Demetrious Johnson last year.

    Stick with MMA News for further updates on this event, including the broadcast information. Also, be sure to catch our coverage of ONE X on March 26!

    Are you excited to see the mixed rules bout between Demetrious Johnson and Rodtang Jitmuangnon on March 26?

  • Fallon Fox Shares ‘Proof’ Transgender Athletes Don’t Have An Advantage

    Fallon Fox has presented data in an attempt to debunk the claim that transgender female athletes have a physical advantage over cisgender female athletes.

    The topic of transgender women competing against cisgender women in sports has been a hot topic in recent months. This includes MMA, where transgender female Alana McLaughlin made her victorious debut last September.

    But before McLaughlin, there was Fallon Fox, who was the first transgender MMA athlete to gain media attention during her stint as an active fighter from 2011-2014. Fox went 5-1 in her career, with her sole loss coming to the UFC’s Ashlee Evans-Smith in 2013.

    Not unlike McLaughlin, Fox was subject to her fair share of criticism. She particularly had conflict with Joe Rogan and Ronda Rousey in 2014, which coincidentally is the last year she competed.

    Eight years later, Fox has taken it upon herself to again speak up on behalf of transgender female athletes competing against cisgender female athletes with a pair of social media posts that share medical information that Fox believes debunks any claims of advantages for transgender women over cisgender women. You can view the posts below.

    https://twitter.com/FallonFox/status/1480361534018572288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1480361534018572288%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mediareferee.com%2F2022%2F01%2F10%2Fmma-news-fallon-fox-on-trans-women-cisgender-women%2F

    “New research finds trans women that undergo HRT their hemoglobin levels reduce to the normal F range within just 3–4 months & their Vo2 Max in 4-6 months & their muscle reduces mass 9.4 % in just the first 12 months of T deprivation,” she posted along with an accompanying graph of medical data.

    https://twitter.com/FallonFox/status/1480297659625738241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1480297659625738241%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mediareferee.com%2F2022%2F01%2F10%2Fmma-news-fallon-fox-on-trans-women-cisgender-women%2F

    “Trans athlete Isaac Henig is a trans man who has never been on HRT (testosterone), & he just beat trans woman Lia Thomas who has been on HRT for over 2yrs. Also, some cisgender women had faster times than Lia Thomas this time around,” she posted along with an article sharing an anecdotal story to support her argument.

    Alana McLaughlin is yet to compete again since her debut victory. In the meantime, like Fox, she, too, is serving as an advocate for transgender individuals, including targeting right-wing politicians for what she considered to be anti-trans legislation.

    What are your thoughts on Fallon Fox’s supporting evidence that transgender female athletes are not at an advantage over cisgender female athletes?