MMA News

Author: Derek Hall

  • Manager Pleads With The World To Accept BMF Title Is No More

    Manager to the stars, Ali Abdelaziz, is tired of hearing people talk about fighting for the BMF title.

    The BMF title was a specially crafted belt designed for and awarded to the winner of the fight between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. Ultimately, it would be Masvidal who was awarded the novelty belt, with none other than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson putting it around his waist after their UFC 244 main event was stopped by the doctor.

    Since then, and despite the fact that Dana White has made it clear that this was a one-off situation, there have been countless fighters calling for their crack at the BMF title. Everyone ranging from Leon Edwards to Colby Covington and more has asked for their own opportunity to fight for it.

    One of the more recent people to call for the BMF title was Covington, who spoke in an interview about wanting to see it up for grabs if he is to fight Jorge Masvidal, like both men and many others want.

    “Put that fuckin’ wack-ass BMF belt back on the fuckin’ line. Everybody knows who the real baddest motherfucker in this sport is. It’s Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington. Bring that fuckin’ belt out and lets fuckin’ do this shit: do The Ultimate Fighter whatever, tape for four weeks, six weeks, eight weeks, and run this fight in Miami. It makes sense,” Covington said.

    “Let’s go to American Airlines Arena. We could sell out that arena in seconds. And if we don’t go to American Airlines, we can go right up the street to BB&T Center, which is 30 minutes up the street. I’ll beat his ass in both arenas. We’ll go beat BB&T Center, go up to Broward County; then, go down to Miami-Dade County and beat his ass in American Airlines Arena. Fuckin’ little bitch Jorge.”

    Stop Asking For A BMF Belt, Says Abdelaziz

    One person who is tired of hearing talks of a BMF title is one of the biggest managers in MMA, Ali Abdelaziz. In fact, he issued something of a response to the people who are asking for it, but seemingly Colby Covington in particular.

    Posting to Twitter, Abdelaziz explained that his client, welterweight champ Kamaru Usman, is the lineal BMF champ after knocking out Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261. Therefore, he demands that nobody else asks to fight for this title, as it is no longer relevant.

    “Please stop talking about this BMF belt @USMAN84kg won that belt and he throw it in the garbage already Win some fights and try to win the undisputed UFC title. Good luck with that,” Abdelaziz wrote.

    The fact is the only time that Dana White even showed interest in bringing the BMF title back into circulation was in the event of a rematch between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. So even though Kamaru Usman might be the lineal titleholder, it is all just talk, as the actual belt does not appear to be going up for grabs anytime soon.

    Do you still acknowledge the existence of the BMF title?

  • Darren Till Loves Covington’s ‘Act’ Because It ‘Upsets So Many People’

    While many do not like the schtick of Colby Covington, Darren Till does not feel the same.

    Till is known for having an off-kilter sense of humor, which has gotten him into trouble on more than one occasion. Covington is not too dissimilar to that, with his outlandish behavior dividing MMA fans around the world, leaving some to criticize his comments and others embracing the schtick.

    Speaking on Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast, Till explained that he fell into the latter category, enjoying the way Covington acts. Although, it is not just because he finds it funny. He also enjoys the way that the top welterweight contender is able to get under people’s skins and offend them in ways that he aspires to himself.

    “I mean, I love Colby, I love his act, I love his fighting style. Striker-wise, I don’t think he’s the best striker, but I think he’s a phenomenal fighter. I’m a fan… I see past all the act and everything and you know what, mate? I f*cking think it’s absolutely hilarious. You know why? Because it’s upsets so many people and I just think, ‘Wow,’” Till said (h/t LowKickMMA).

    It goes without saying that a lot of people do not share the same ideology as Darren Till when it comes to the schtick of Colby Covington. To be fair to those concerns, he has said some things that are, at best, a little risqué; and at worst, crossing lines that some feel should not be crossed in a competitive format.

    Love him like Till or hate him like Jorge Masvidal and many others, there is simply no denying the skills that Covington possesses. Considering the fact that he is the only person to come anywhere near beating welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the UFC, on two different occasions no less, makes him one of the best 170lb fighters in the world, regardless of the things he says.

    Check out the full video with Darren Till below:

    https://youtu.be/-JxiXQsHk-E

  • Jake Paul Opens Up About ‘Dark Thoughts’ After Logan Paul Controversy

    The infamous Logan Paul Japan incident had a massive effect on Jake Paul, too.

    Nowadays, there is argument that the younger Paul brother is the most notable one, at least in the realm of combat sports. However, when both Jake and Logan were massive on YouTube, it was Logan who was the notorious one, being known for going to suicide forests in Japan and filming a dead body for a video on his channel in 2017.

    While this incident and the subsequent backlash that came from it was directly in regards to Logan, Jake Paul recently explained in an interview that it also had a huge impact on his life too. In fact, he opened up about implied suicidal thoughts after feeling like his life was falling apart in the wake of multiple sponsors dropping him simply because he was Logan’s brother.

    “There was a point where everything went downhill for the Paul brothers. It was after my brother’s Japan incident, where no-one wanted to work with us,” Paul said (h/t Mirror UK).

    “Every brand I was affiliated with dropped me, I wasn’t even the one who filmed the video. It was just by way of association because my brother filmed in the suicide forest.

    Logan Paul
    Logan Paul (Photo: YouTube)

    “My life was pretty much ruined. YouTube demonetized me, every brand dropped me,” Paul continued. “I had a $10 million deal with Target that was going to live, they dropped me. I’m sitting there at 21, I lose basically all my income because of something my brother did, I’m blacklisted. Everything in my life was falling apart. Dark thoughts come into your head of like ‘I don’t wanna be here on earth anymore.’”

    As for how he was able to pull himself out of this depression, Jake Paul explained that he sought out religion to help him. Now, with a refocused mindset and determination, he does not plan on letting anything else stop his success.

    “At the time, I was just looking for hope, so I started going to church. Start talking to adults who would have any sort of advice,” Paul explained. “The media wants to see me fail, and I’m not gonna give them what they want. I made the decision to wake up every day and change my attitude. I started telling myself every single day when I woke up in my bed I’m happy and I’m gonna be happier next week than I am this week. I would just tell myself these things, and it helped. I just made that decision to not give up.”

    It is great to see that Jake Paul found help for his suicidal thoughts and that his methods ended up working for him. While every situation is different, it is important to remember that it is never too late to turn around any situation in life.

  • Jake Paul “100%” Confirmed To Train With Team Khabib For MMA Move

    It seems that Jake Paul is leaving the door wide open for a potential move to MMA.

    Love him or hate him, it is hard to deny the impact that the younger Paul brother has had on the world of combat sports, particularly in boxing. Although, by taking on and beating former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and relentlessly attacking UFC President Dana White, he has also had his hands into the world of MMA, at least to some degree. This has led some to wonder if we might see Jake Paul switch from the ring to the cage at some point down the line.

    Speaking at the press conference for his upcoming rematch with Woodley, Paul explained that he not only plans on competing in MMA, but he’ll be getting leadership from American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez as well as former UFC lightweight champ turned budding trainer, Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    “I’m gonna go get coached up by [Javier] Mendez, Team Khabib,” Paul said (h/t LowKickMMA). “That’s that. They’re down — 100 percent. I don’t see why if I can do boxing at this high of a level that I couldn’t do MMA at this high of a level.”

    “I’ve gotta go 10-0, 12-0 in boxing first, and then I’ll hit that MMA fight.”

    If he does decide to transition to MMA, it will be interesting to see where Paul ends up fighting, as White has made it clear that he has no interest in working with the YouTuber, co-promoting or otherwise. On the other hand, the UFC bossman has also expressed doubts in all kinds of other situations, which ultimately end up changing.

    First things first, Paul will have to get through Tyron Woodley a second time, on December 18th. Nevertheless, people will certainly be watching out for a potential move to MMA at some point down the line.

    Watch the full presser in this video below:

    https://youtu.be/ZLk6I64ZDk4

  • Tyron Woodley ‘Trolled The Troll’ with Vanishing Jake Paul Tattoo

    Pardon the pun, but Tyron Woodley has perfectly played his hand with Jake Paul.

    After losing to Paul in their first fight in August, Woodley agreed to follow through on a bet that saw him get an “I Love Jake Paul” tattoo in exchange for an immediate rematch. Regardless, it initially appeared that this would not happen, as the YouTuber was slated to fight Tommy Fury. However, the former welterweight champ stepped up on just a few weeks’ notice to replace Fury after a rib injury had him removed from the December 18th contest.

    Ahead of the rematch, Tyron Woodley made it clear that he was not worried about having a constant reminder of losing the first Jake Paul fight on his finger, and now we know why.

    Tyron Woodley Making “I Love Jake Paul” Tattoo Dissappear

    Speaking to Morning Kombat at the open workouts on Wednesday, T-Wood revealed that the tattoo has almost completely faded away, something that regularly happens to tattoos on hands that are not taken care of properly.

    Image via YouTube – Morning Kombat

    “I purposely did it to troll the troll,” Woodley said (h/t Mirror UK). “Anybody who has a tattoo on the inside of their hand, or a tattoo artist knows it fades. I got it on the finger that means the opposite of love, I put it on that finger but I knew it was going to wear down. Taking showers, washing your hands, boxing, battle ropes, turf – I didn’t want to walk around with his name on me for the rest of my life.

    “I agreed not to have it removed, I agreed to have it permanent, but I never felt I lost the fight anyway, so I wasn’t super psyched about getting it,” Woodley added. “It wasn’t something I mapped out and had all this work into it.”

    Well, there is no denying that what Tyron Woodley did ended up working out for him in the long run. Not only did he get the Jake Paul rematch that he wanted, but he also does not have to worry about having this embarrassing tattoo for the rest of his life.

    You can watch the full scrum in the video below:

  • Jake Paul Reflects On ‘Learning Experience’ From First Woodley Fight

    Jake Paul learned a lot from his first fight with Tyron Woodley.

    The YouTuber went to a split decision with the former UFC welterweight champion earlier this year, surviving eight rounds and even getting rocked hard in the fourth. Now, Paul and Woodley are set to face off in a rematch this weekend after Woodley replaced an injured Tommy Fury.

    Heading into this fight, Jake Paul told Morning Kombat that he was a completely different and better fighter than he was the first time he fought Woodley. He explained that going the distance in their first fight and getting hit hard for the first time in his still-young career gave him a new level of motivation in this training camp, which led to him getting better everywhere.

    “I don’t expect it to be more difficult, mainly based on my skills having improved so much since the last fight. I’ve sparred close to 200 rounds and gotten a lot better. I’m early in my career, so the amount that I can change in between fights is still massive. Going from my fourth fight to my fifth fight, I’ve gotten a lot better, and I went into camp with a chip on my shoulder because I wasn’t happy with my performance last time,” Paul said.

    Jake Paul
    Jake Paul, Image Credit: RYAN HATTAWAY

    “(The biggest thing I learned) was to just stay calm, stay focused, stick to the gameplan, don’t worry about what happens. It’s boxing, you’re gonna get hit, you’re gonna get tagged, keep going. Stay calm. That was the biggest thing. But having actually done it now, I have a lot more confidence going into this fight. I’d never even been hit with a ten ounce glove, in a professional fight. So Tyron was the first person to actually punch me. My first three opponents didn’t even land a punch, so that was my first time feeling what it was like to get hit with a ten ounce glove. Great learning experience. Got buzzed in the fourth round, no problem. Going 8 rounds, my cardio’s good but can be better.

    “It’s all improvements, and if I had went out there and knocked him out, I wouldn’t have gotten as good as I am now, because I wouldn’t have been as hungry between camps,” Paul added.

    Time will tell just what kind of improvements Jake Paul made during his time between fights and if it is as substantial as he seems to believe it will be. This will be the first time in his four-fight boxing career that the YouTuber will be having a rematch, so it will be interesting to see what his adjustments are this time around.

  • Woodley Says Jake Paul Tattoo Is Not A Motivator Ahead Of Rematch

    Tyron Woodley is not stressing about having “I Love Jake Paul” tattooed on his finger.

    After losing a split decision to Paul in August, Woodley agreed to and followed through on a bet that saw him get the YouTuber’s name tattooed on his middle finger in exchange for an immediate rematch.

    At first, it seemed that this was not going to happen, as Paul was slated to face Tommy Fury. But when Fury got injured, the former UFC welterweight champion was tapped in for the December 18th contest.

    Jake Paul Makes A Promise: Tyron Woodley Is Going To Lose - NY FIGHTS

    Some might think that this constant reminder of losing to Paul would motivate Woodley to train harder and be more aggressive, but that is not entirely the case. Speaking in a recent media scrum, he explained that the tattoo has nearly faded, and he plans to make up for it by knocking Paul out this weekend.

    “It’s not really a motivator, it’s a part of the story. I watch some of my peers walk around with some dumb ass shit tattooed on their face, that they gotta live with ‘till their 80 years old. It’s just a reminder what we did, what we created,” Woodley said.

    “I never looked at the (first) fight ‘till about a week ago when All Access was coming in to shoot the All Access shit, and I never saw how many people was there,” Woodley added. “I never saw how crazy and how electric the fucking arena was, and this is a part of the story… It’s almost gone by the way, so I don’t have to look at it too much longer, and when I go out there and knock his ass out on Saturday, I’m not even gonna trip about this tattoo.”

    Well, there is no denying that Tyron Woodley was able to properly game the system by getting this tattoo in a way that worked for him while still helping to get him the Jake Paul rematch that he wanted. The two will settle the score this weekend in a Showtime Boxing PPV main event taking place in Florida.

    Watch the full media scrum below:

  • Robert Whittaker Enters Skyrim As Fully Voiced Companion Character

    Your Skyrim journeys can now include former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker.

    If you know anything about Whittaker, other than the fact that he is one of the best fighters in the world today, it is that he loves playing video games. While he is sometimes hard to pin down for interviews, he is constantly seen doing live streams, getting to the point that he is even a brand ambassador for the Australia and New Zealand branch of Bethesda Game Studios. This has led to a pretty big moment for Whittaker.

    According to a recent report. Bethesda ANZ commissioned an NPC companion character of the former champ to be added as a companion character in Skyrim, which is the studio’s most popular RPG and one of the highest-selling video games of all time.

    There are plenty of celebrity mods that have been created for Skyrim over the years since its initial 2011 introduction to the world and many subsequent re-releases. However, what makes this mod of Robert Whittaker special is the fact that it is fully voiced by the top middleweight contender, himself.

    This is surely a massive honor for Whittaker, who has been a big fan of Skyrim for a long time and has been playing it for years. Now, fans can have him join them on missions as they traverse the wilderness, face dragons, and cast spells, all with the Oceanic accent of the former champ cheering them on.

    As a companion, Whittaker will have “scripted combat behaviour,” unique abilities, and a “unique fighting style” once fans complete a recruitment quest to acquire him as a companion. This unique fighting style will involve plenty of punching, namely a massive overhand right.

    Going alongside this announcement, Robert Whittaker announced that he’d be live-streaming a session of Skyrim Anniversary Edition at 10 AM AEDT today in support of the charity Game On Cancer. The free mod will be available for download soon.

  • Jorge Masvidal Roasts Nate Diaz For ‘Ironic’ Diss Of Dustin Poirier

    It seems that Jorge Masvidal is looking to reignite a rivalry with Nate Diaz.

    Masvidal and Diaz squared off in 2019, for the specially crafter BMF title. And while the belt ended with a win for “Gamebred” after a doctor’s stoppage, they have constantly flirted with the idea of fight each other again. Over the years, they have gone back and forth on a few occasions, with talks even developing of a rematch at various points.

    Now it seems that they are going at it once more, this time stemming from a tweet that Nate Diaz posted after Masvidal’s American Top Team teammate Dustin Poirier got submitted by Charles Oliveira at UFC 269. Diaz seemed to mock the lightweight title challenger for losing both of his championship attempts by rear-nake choke, implying that he did not learn anything.

    “These guys don’t get any better ?” Diaz wrote.

    This prompted a response from Jorge Masvidal a few days after this tweet. The BMF champ lambasted the Stockton native for criticizing a fighter for not improving while he has had his own notable defensive flaws for years.

    “Just came across this and it’s so ironic that the individual who can’t block low kicks high kicks or mid kicks is talking shit about fighters getting better #canyouevenspelldoubleleg” Masvidal quipped.

    With Jorge Masvidal opening this can of worms again, it is hard not to wonder if he is trying to secure a fight with Diaz after his attempted rebound against Leon Edwards fell apart due to injury. Whether it be this or “Gamebred” just defending his teammate, it is never boring to see these two squabble online.

  • Woodley Says Paul Is In His DMs, But ‘Disrespect Won’t Be Tolerated’

    This time around, Tyron Woodley is ready for all of the antics of Jake Paul.

    Woodley agreed to step up on short notice in replacing an injured Tommy Fury to have a rematch with Paul after their first fight resulted in a loss for the former UFC welterweight champion. It initially seemed that his decision to get Paul’s name tattooed on his finger in exchange for a rematch was for naught. However, the stars aligned and now he will have the opportunity for redemption.

    Heading into this bout, Woodley is approaching things with a completely different mindset than the first fight. Speaking in a recent interview with Submission Radio, he said that he is going into this rematch very aware of the antics that Jake Paul will try to use, saying that he is already getting DMs from the YouTuber.

    “I expect him to try to do something to ruffle my feathers. He’s a kid, you know what I mean? That’s what I’ve also gotta remember. There’s gonna be antics, he’s already started social media stuff, he’s sending me DMs,” Woodley said. “I’m already expecting that. But disrespect won’t be tolerated. So if they do that again, last time they got a warning, this time there’s gonna be action. So I don’t think that’s gonna happen. But I do expect shenanigans. I expect him to do some BS at the press conference.”

    It will be curious to see how this press conference goes between Tyron Woodley and Jake Paul, and if there are any sort of altercations that happen as a result of it. That said, it does seem unlikely that either man would do something to put this fight in serious jeopardy, no matter what antics are being used.

    Jake Paul vs Tyron Woodley 2 goes down this weekend, December 18th, and you can watch the full interview with the former champ in the video below:

  • Nate Diaz Praises Julianna Peña In Response To UFC 269 Homage

    They say that real recognize real, and if that is the case, then Nate Diaz certainly recognized the real upset that Julianna Peña got at UFC 269.

    In what is being considered arguably the biggest upset in MMA history, Peña was able to submit who many consider the greatest female fighter of all time by tapping Amanda Nunes out in the second round of their bantamweight title contest.

    Following this victory, while speaking to Joe Rogan in her post-fight interview inside the Octagon, the newly crowned champion said that she was not surprised, quoting the famous interview that the younger Diaz brother gave when he submitted Conor McGregor on short notice.

    It seems That Nate Diaz caught wind of this homage and decided to pay his respects back. Posting to Twitter, Stockton’s own praised Peña for being able to score this massive upset victory, while displaying both of their interviews side by side, noting the similarities between the two situations.

    “When you know you know…Congratulations to @VenezuelanVixen #beast ?” Diaz wrote.

    Nate Diaz is correct in noting that Julianna Peña was a beast in her title-winning fight against the highly revered Amanda Nunes. That being said, the biggest difference between her win and his is that while he took his fight on super short notice against a McGregor who was fresh off of a title victory at featherweight, she dethroned a long-standing champion who has been dominating two weight divisions for years.

    Nevertheless, it is great to see Diaz showing Peña some respect in return for the tip of the cap that she gave in his direction. The only thing that is certain in the sport of mixed martial arts is that absolutely nothing is certain, and it is hard to deny that they are both proof of that.

  • Sonnen Questions McGregor’s Physique Change: ‘You’re Not Training’

    Chael Sonnen is not convinced that the recent physique transformation of Conor McGregor is a good thing.

    McGregor has been on the sidelines since breaking his leg in the trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier, working to recover from this devastating injury. However, he recently showed that he has made some big gains in this downtime, showing off a massive frame for the former featherweight and lightweight champion.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CW-lAT3JoWC/

    While some people looked at this as a sign that McGregor is jacked and potentially looking to permanently move to welterweight, Sonnen is not so convinced. Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, the American Gangster said that this could actually be a bad thing and could potentially be a sign of the Irishman not training as much as he is trying to make people think.

    “Conor is chiseled, man. There’s clothing people that pay Conor to wear their stuff. He’s got this fantastic build. That picture of him at 190 [lbs], I can’t give those same compliments. He looked like he was extremely bloated,” Sonnen said (h/t MiddleEasy). And when somebody weighs 190 – that’s used to weighing 155, 175; what you have to wonder is how. How did you get this big? Why? The answer to me seems redundantly obvious.

    “You’re not training. You cannot train the way you need to prepare in MMA, which we’re well aware. We are well aware that Conor is not. He’s got the hurt leg and he’s not doing what he is used to. He’s not jumping rope. He’s not running. He’s not pulling the sled. He’s not sparring. We get it. He’s having to do other exercises. But that’s always important to know because that’s what Sean’s talking about.

    “If you’re not doing our sport, who gives a damn what you weigh? If your calorie deficit to intake got so far out of control, that you’re bigger than you’ve ever been, that’s not a good thing,” Sonnen added.

    The only way to know if Chael Sonnen is right is to wait and see how Conor McGregor looks when it comes time to get ready for a fight. That said, it certainly appears that the former champ-champ is actively training the best he can, at least according to his social media.

    Watch the full video with Chael Sonnen below:

  • Woodley: Paul ‘Put A Bag’ On His Own Head With $500,000 KO Bonus

    Tyron Woodley is willing and excited to take advantage of the knockout clause in his rematch with Jake Paul.

    On the back of losing a boxing match to Paul early this year, Woodley faced comments from people like Dillon Danis, who claimed that he had a clause stating that he was not allowed to knock out the YouTuber. This resulted in a different kind of clause ahead of their short notice rematch after the former UFC champion replaced Tommy Fury, this time with Paul offering a $500,000 bonus if T-Wood is able to knock him out.

    Speaking to media at a recent media scrum, Woodley was asked about this bonus, and whether or not it gave him added motivation for this December 18th pay-per-view main event. Here, he said that while he did not need the added reason to try scoring a knockout over Paul, having this half a million dollar potential tip attached is something he simply can not pass up.

    “At the end of the day, you put a bag on your own head, and shit, I’m completely all about taking that free money. So I had plans on doing that anyway, but if he wants to entice me a little bit more, you don’t offer a kid from Ferguson half a bag to go out there and do what he wanted to do anyway. So yeah, it does put motivation,” Woodley said.

    “You don’t put a bounty on your own fucking head and think I’m not going to take it. For sure, I’m motivated by money. I’m motivated by legacy. I’m motivated by greatness. I’m motivated by redemption. So when people say it’s not about the money for me, they’re fucking lying. Why would you be prizefighting if you didn’t want to get a prize?” Woodley added.

    “Definitely it’s additional motivation. You’ll see me walking away with another five hundred thousand.”

    Considering the fact that Tyron Woodley got a tattoo of Jake Paul’s name on his middle finger by following through with a bet stemming from their first fight, it is only fair that he has the potential for a positive addition in exchange for taking this short notice rematch. That said, considering that the former champ’s last knockout was when he won the UFC title in 2016, some might think it is a safe bet for Paul to make.

    Did Paul take an unnecessary risk by offering Woodley an extra $500,000 if he can knock him out?

  • Peña Looks To Be ‘A Serial Killer’ Against Nunes Over Getting ‘Cute’ Title

    Julianna Peña has some serious goals in her UFC 269 title fight with Amanda Nunes, and getting the belt is secondary.

    Peña is looking to accomplish what man believe to be an insurmountable task when she faces off against Nunes in the co-main event of this weekend’s UFC 269. She hopes to be the first person to get a win over the champ-champ since 2014, ending her 12-fight unbeaten streak.

    This is the first opportunity Peña has had at getting a UFC title, and while that may be intimidating to some, it is not even the primary focus that she has heading into the fight.

    Speaking to ESPN, she explained that she is more focused on performing at her best and doing the things that she believes will lead to her fighting her best fight, with the title being a secondary factor in her focus.

    “If I get a belt at the end of the night, that’s cute.  But at the end of the day, it’s about challenging myself, and taking this opportunity, and seizing the moment. And no one’s gonna hand you anything in this life. You gotta go out there and get it. And that’s my job, and it’s my opportunity. And I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. I feel like I got everything to gain, nothing to lose, and the pressure is mostly on her,“ Peña said.

    “But for the most part, I just have to stick to the task at hand, focus on the level of intensity that I’m bringing, and realize that I’m a serial killer. And on that night, my heart is black, I don’t have a heart, and I’m going in there to kill or be killed.”

    This is certainly an admirable mindset from Julianna Peña as she prepares for what is undoubtedly the biggest fight of her MMA career. Of course, she has a lofty test ahead of her and will be going up against one of the best to ever do it in Amanda Nunes, but it seems clear that the Venezuelan Vixen is prepared to give it her all.

    Watch her full interview in the video below:

  • Kevin Holland Calls Out Nick Diaz On The Heels Of Chael Sonnen’s Report

    Kevin Holland is ready to answer Chael Sonnen’s call and fight Nick Diaz.

    Sonnen recently spoke in a video on his YouTube channel, saying that he had heard rumors that the UFC was interested in booking a fight between Holland, who was forced out of his November rematch with Kyle Daukaus, and Diaz, who lost his return fight against Robbie Lawler. He also suggested that it could take place at welterweight, which is where Holland has decided to move.

    “‘Tommy from the Bronx’ just reached out to me, told me something. I said, ‘Is this public?’ And he said, ‘You can share it.’ It had something to do with Nick Diaz vs Kevin Holland. (I was) a little bit surprised by it, only because Nick Diaz is such a megastar, but what do you do with him?” Sonnen said.

    Now, it is unclear who Sonnen’s source was, but it seems that they might have been on to something. Holland posted to his Instagram shortly after Sonnen’s video. Holland shared a side-by-side photo of him and Diaz, as well as a clip of him slapping an opponent in a similar way to the slap that made the Diaz brothers famous, saying that he was down for the fight.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXOmP13J-dL/

    “Smack man smack man yeah that’s me!!!! Let’s Go BUCKO 
    #illdoit” Holland wrote.

    He spoke to MMAJunkie as well, saying that this was something that he has been wanting since before he was actually in the UFC. Moreover, he said that he and Nick Diaz had some sort of altercation, so he would like the opportunity to settle the score.

    “I been waiting to slap the slap man since I was on (Dana White’s) Contender Series,” Holland said, in a text. “We had a little run-in. I think it’s a fight the fans will want the commentators to just shut up and listen to the punches landing and our mouths flapping.”

    It is safe to say that Kevin Holland vs Nick Diaz would be an entertaining fight. It will be curious to see if this is a direction that the UFC chooses to go in or if they choose to make different matchups.

  • Cruz Mutes Cormier On Commentary: ‘He Doesn’t Do The Homework’

    Just because Dominick Cruz does commentary with Daniel Cormier does not mean he likes his broadcast partner’s style.

    In addition to his career inside the Octagon, Cruz has made a name for himself as a well-established commentator, albeit with a mixed review amongst fans. While some appreciate his extremely technical breakdowns, others feel that he can be a bit confrontational in the booth, oftentimes being seen having miniature arguments with the other commentators during events.

    One of the people that he seems to take regular issue with during broadcasts is fellow former champion Daniel Cormier. Speaking to media ahead of his return to action at UFC 269, in which Cormier will be commentating his fight with Pedro Munhoz, Cruz explained that while he loves DC as a person, he could do without his commentary.

    “I watch (Jon) Anik do so much homework leading up to a fight. Like, people have no idea how much homework he has to do to be prepared for that, and the most kudos, for me, goes to him. He leads us in the broadcast with how he talks. When it comes to DC, I usually mute it,” Cruz said with a chuckle.

    Dominick Cruz: Daniel Cormier doesn't do homework as UFC analyst
    Dominick Cruz, Daniel Cormier, Image Credit: USA TODAY Sports

    “I love DC, he’s my friend, but to me, from my experience, he doesn’t do the homework. He wants to get in and out, get the job done, make his money. I think he cares about us, but it’s just different. He doesn’t do the preparation from my experience. He might now. I’m hoping that he watches some film this time, on me, so he knows what I’m doing and why I’m doing it. But I’m not going to hold my breath on that, for sure.”

    That being said, Dominick Cruz knows that he is not perfect when it comes to his work as a commentator, even though he works hard to be. However, he says it all comes down to how each person looks at things, and he does not take things personally, whether other commentators and fighters agree with him or not.

    “Honestly, I’m never perfect. There’s a roster of, I don’t know, 400-600 fighters, and not everybody is going to agree with what I say either. It’s all perspective in there. And DC, he’s a gifted athlete. I think (Michael) Bisping does a lot of homework. I think he watches a lot of film. I think there are certain people that watch the film, and I count that because I do the film study. The reason I do the film study is it’s bigger than me,” Cruz said.

    “I really don’t call or text any of them, because they’re just doing their job. They’re seeing it how they see it, it’s their interpretation. It doesn’t make it fact, and I know they’re doing the best they can, honestly.”

    It certainly seems like Dominick Cruz is simply giving his honest assessment of how he thinks Daniel Cormier does as a commentator and is not coming from a place of a personal beef. That said, it will be interesting to see if Cormier gives his response to these comments while working commentary for UFC 269 .

    Watch the full presser with Dominick Cruz below:

  • Geoff Neal Says DWI Arrest Is ‘Not As Serious As They Make It Out To Be’

    Geoff Neal may have recently been arrested on a DWI and weapons charge, but he is not letting that distract him from his fight at UFC 269.

    It was recently reported that Neal had been arrested in the early hours of Thanksgiving Day and was facing misdemeanor charges of DWI and unlawful carrying of a weapon. While he was released on bail several hours later, this did cause a bit of concern about the future of his UFC 269 fight with Santiago Ponzinibbio, which was scheduled to take place just 16 days after his arrest.

    Now it has become clear that Neal will still fight at UFC 269 and was tasked with speaking to media ahead of this contest. Here, he opened up about what happened for the first time since his arrest. He did not want to comment much on the specifics but cleared the air on some issues.

    “No comments on what really went down,” Neal said during the UFC 269 media day (h/t MMAFighting). “I haven’t been charged with any crime yet.

    “Pretty much they had probable cause, and instead of doing the Breathalyzer, I chose to do the blood [test]. So I’m waiting on the results to come back on that and we’ll go from there.”

    Geoff Neal
    Photo courtesy of Collins County Sheriff’s Department

    As far as the weapons charges go, Geoff Neal explained the gun found with him was registered to him legally. He felt that the reports about the situation were somewhat misleading, and were blowing things out of proportion.

    “It was just a one-night thing,” Neal said. “Just decided to kick back and relax with my girlfriend. Had a few drinks and then there’s a situation that happened and then cops got involved. I did have my weapon on me. My weapon, it’s legal. It’s licensed in my name. They made it look like I had a MAC-10 in my lap, driving around drunk or something.

    “It’s not as serious as they make it out to be. It’s not like I was drunk off my ass, hungover, just running the streets. It was a one-time thing.”

    That said, there are fans of Geoff Neal, who may be concerned about his focus on training ahead of this fight, considering how far along he was in training camp when being arrested for a DWI. He assures that there is no reason to be concerned and that it was a one-time thing that was not indicative of how hard he trained.

    “Not really [a distraction],” Neal said. “It is what it is. I’m the dumbass that did that so I’ve got to deal with it.”

    Geoff Neal will be returning to action this weekend against Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC 269. Only then will fans be able to tell what impact, if any, this incident has had on him.

    Watch his full media scrum below:

  • Bisping Wants Nate Diaz To Rematch Clay Cuida After Declining Chimaev

    Michael Bisping has an idea of who Nate Diaz should fight if he is not interested in Khamzat Chimaev.

    Diaz has been vocal about his disinterest in fighting the red-hot prospect Chimaev in the last fight of his UFC contract, despite this being the thing that the UFC is pushing for. He has spoken outright about not wanting to take this fight because he feels that the Chechen is not experienced enough in the UFC and is undeserving of the hype that has been put on him.

    If this is not the fight that the younger Diaz brother wants, then former middleweight champion and UFC commentator Michael Bisping has an interesting alternative.

    Speaking on the Believe You Me podcast, he was empathetic to the reason given for turning down the Chimaev fight and said that it would be great to see 209’s own face off in a rematch against Clay Guida, following “The Carpenter’s” comeback win over Leonardo Santos at UFC Vegas 44.

    “Khamzat [Chimaev], whilst showing the potential and being a potential contender down the line, isn’t a contender right now. And isn’t ranked in the top five so I don’t blame him for saying that. Clay Guida, if I am Nate Diaz, I would take that fight. I’m not sure the UFC would wanna do that fight, who knows,” Bisping said (h/t LowKickMMA).

    “I mean, Clay Guida is a fan favorite. Every time he goes out there, his brother slaps him. Of course, we know he burps all over the effing place as well. He’s a great guy, He’s had a great career. As I said, he’s in the Hall of Fame for that fight that he had with Diego Sanchez. Yeah, off it. Nate Diaz-Clay Guida 2. Fucking Clay deserves it. That would be amazing to see.”

    Michael Bisping makes a good point about how much fun a rematch between Nate Diaz and Clay Guida would be, especially considering it has been 12 years since their first fight, which ended as a split decision for Guida. That said, like Bisping noted, the UFC may not be too keen on making this fight happen.

    You can watch the full podcast with Michael Bisping below:

    https://youtu.be/YGzEY2CCUGI

  • Holly Holm Reacts To Boxing Hall Of Fame Induction: ‘I Am Truly Humbled’

    Holly Holm is going to be a part of the 2022 class in the Boxing Hall of Fame.

    The former UFC bantamweight champion is known for her incredible striking ability that has led to her winning some of the biggest fights in the sport’s history. Because of this, it is easy for some fans to forget that prior to switching to MMA, Holm had incredible credentials in the world of boxing too. She was 33-2 overall, winning WBF, WBC, IBA, and WIBA belts during this time.

    However, the world of boxing has not forgotten about her accomplishments and has actually decided to induct her as part of the 2022 class for the Boxing Hall of Fame. She will be joining the likes of Roy Jones Jr., Miguel Cotto, Regina Halmich, and James Toney, among other non-boxer entires.

    This is a massive honor and something that Holm is proud to have. She took to her Instagram to react to the news, expressing how she was at a loss for words, being selected for induction into the Boxing Hall of Fame.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXM4ashPG0D/

    “I’m sure I’ll have more to say going forward as I am a little lost for words. I am truly humbled and so honored to be acknowledged with the greats of boxing,” Holm wrote. “I couldn’t chase my dreams without such a strong support system. From my coaches, family, friends, management, teammates and fans. I am forever grateful and also even more motivated to achieve so much more in my life. I love combat sports as it will always be a part of who I am. It’s in my blood and I love it! From the bottom of my heart-Thank you!!!!”

    It is great to see that Holly Holm being recognized for her time within the sport of boxing. She is more than deserving of this induction, and it shows the impact that she had in the ring.

  • UFC’s Zhalgas Zhumagulov Has 2 Wives: ‘At First, There Were Challenges’

    As crazy as it might sound, being a professional cage fighter may not be the most challenging thing in the life of Zhalgas Zhumagulov.

    Zhumagulov is a Kazakh flyweight who has gone 1-3 in his UFC run thus far, hampering the hype that was surrounding the former Fight Nights Global champion. His most recent fight saw him suffer a TKO at the hands of Manel Kape over the weekend, who is also a highly touted prospect at 125lb.

    However, it was his personal life that was the subject of conversation recently when he was speaking on the “Let Me Interrupt You” YouTube channel. Here, the 33-year old explained that, in addition to having 6 children, he is also married to two different women at the same time, a practice that he says is normal in part of the world.

    “Yes, I have two wives—two wives and six children,” Zhumagulov said (h/t Low Kick MMA). “In principle, it’s normal. At first, there were challenges but now everything is fine.”

    As far as how he divides up his time within his polyamorous relationship, Zhumagulov says that he goes back and forth between the two wives, spending one day with each before going to the next one. This helps to keep everyone happy and maintain his relationships with the pair of women.

    ”Well, where did I leave from? If I left, for example, from my second wife, I go to the first. If I left the first, I go to the second. A day here, a day there,” Zhumagulov said.

    While this is commonplace in the region of the world that Zhalgas Zhumagulov hails from, polygamous relationships are only starting to grow in popularity in the Western world. Perhaps his example will open the eyes to others about the benefits of this type of lifestyle.

  • Jake Paul Unsure If He’ll Ever Fight ‘National Embarrassment’ Tommy Fury

    Jake Paul is very disappointed in Tommy Fury.

    The two were expected to throw down in a boxing match on December 18th before it was revealed that Fury had been forced out due to a broken rib and a chest infection. This resulted in a rematch being booked between Paul and the last man he beat, a freshly tattooed Tyron Woodley, after their first fight ended with a split decision in August.

    Speaking on The MMA Hour, Paul expressed his disappointment in hearing the news that Fury withdrew from their fight. He explained that he thinks the reason this happened is that the Englishman knew that the fight was going to end with him on the canvas.

    Jake Paul
    (via Getty)

    “I’m a little upset. I don’t get how grown men can be such bitches, pulling out of fights like this. I really wanted to knock the Brit out and make him the laughing stock of the internet. But I think he saw that coming, and he cracked under pressure, and I’m a little bit disappointed,” Paul said.

    As far as the reasoning for Fury pulling out of the fight, Paul is not buying his excuses, noting that he had fought with various injuries in his short career. He also stated that at first, he was just told about the chest infection and the fact that the broken rib was added on means that things are not as straightforward as Fury would like them to seem.

    “So originally, it was just like a chest infection that we had known of, and then the broken rib thing they threw in there last minute. So I really don’t know. The whole entire thing seems shady,” Paul said.

    “He lied about—the press conference in Las Vegas, he said his mom was sick so that he had to fly home, which wasn’t true at all. Tyson Fury has a history of pulling out of fights. He’s pulled out of five fights. The family is just sketchy. I feel like something else is going on over there that they don’t want to say, or they’re not as confident, or he wasn’t having a good camp, or whatever it was.”

    Jake Paul Questions The Future Of A Tommy Fury Fight

    Tommy Fury Jake Paul
    (via BT Sport Box Office)

    While it may have made sense for Jake Paul to fight Tyron Woodley again, considering the short notice nature of the fight and the fact that he already won their first fight, there was still an interest in seeing the Tommy Fury fight happen. However, the YouTuber turned boxer has his doubts that the fight will ever happen.

    Paul says that “Tommy Fumbles” has fumbled the bag once again, and that he does not necessarily want to give him the chance to do it again. He would hate to have the fight scheduled again, only for Fury to withdraw again.

    “I don’t know. I don’t know how I feel about it. For me, I almost don’t want to give him the opportunity. And let’s say I do. Let’s say I get over the emotional part of it and I’m like, ‘OK, I’ll give him this opportunity.’ Who knows if he’s gonna back out or have some excuse then or have the chest infection or not show up at the press conference? So it’s looking bad for him. And part of me just wants to be cynical and not ever give him this payday or this opportunity ever again,” Paul said.

    “He’s just an embarrassment. You let your country down, you let your team down, and you let a lot of people who hate me down. And you missed out on the biggest opportunity of your life, I think, and I think you know that.”

    Time will tell if the fight with Tommy Fury happens again, but first things first, Jake Paul has to get past Tyron Woodley once again, on December 18th. It will be interesting to see what happens after that.

  • Geoff Neal Arrested On DWI, Weapons Charges Days Out From UFC 269

    Geoff Neal has experienced a bit of a rough patch ahead of his UFC 269 bout with Santiago Ponzinibbio.

    Neal is looking to get back on track after losing two in a row for the first time in his career, by facing Ponzinibbio in the UFC’s final pay-per-view event of the year. However, he will be doing so just days after having spent time in jail following an arrest in Texas.

    According to reports, Neal was picked up by the Texas Department of Public Safety at 3:47 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, November 25th, just 16 days before his upcoming bout at UFC 269. He was arrested on misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated and unlawful carrying a weapon.

    Geoff Neal was then taken to the Collin County Jail, in McKinney, where he was processed. After facing a bail amount of $1,000 for each charge, he was released from jail just after 8 p.m., that very same day.

    At the time of writing, it appears that Neal will still be facing Ponzinibbio on December 11th. Additionally, neither he nor the UFC has released an official statement regarding this incident.

    Geoff Neal is in need of a big win, after suffering back-to-back losses to Stephen Thompson and Neil Magny, which derailed his seven-fight winning streak. Prior to that, he was in the ICU for about a week dealing with septicemia, a blood infection that could have easily cost him his life.

    Time will tell if this incident in Texas will have any effect on Neal’s conditioning for the fight or is an indication of the way his training camp went.

  • Nate Diaz Denies Khamzat Chimaev Fight: ‘Don’t Disrespect Me Like That’

    Nate Diaz says that he is not going to be fighting Khamzat Chimaev.

    Diaz is on the last fight of his UFC contract and has been looking for a big fight to fill that position after having lost a decision to Leon Edwards in June. The UFC has had someone specific in mind, namely rising red hot prospect Khamzat Chimaev, which has caused mixed reactions from fans.

    However, Diaz has been outspoken about his lack of desire to take that fight and spoke out about it once again while speaking with TMZ. Here, he explained that he felt it disrespectful for the UFC to offer him a fight against someone who has only had four fights in the UFC and that he instead wants someone in the top ten of either lightweight or welterweight.

    “I’m trying to fight somebody in the UFC, like ASAP, but nobody don’t want to fight. I’ve been trying to get busy for a minute… Anybody in the top ten I’ve been trying to fight, you know, in any weight division, whoever want it. But they all want to keep their mouth shut, ’cause they’re all scared,” Diaz said.

    “They’re coming at me with (Chimaev), and I’m like, don’t disrespect me like that. You’re going to try to offer me a rookie? I’m cool. You got four fights in the UFC, don’t even talk my name. Definitely do not even talk. Fight the newer guys in the UFC… There’s levels to this, and I don’t even want to here his name.”

    That said, Nate Diaz did have someone in mind that Khamzat Chimaev could fight instead. He offered his teammate, undefeated Nick Maximov, who made his successful UFC debut at UFC 266 in September.

    “Hey Khamzat, if you’re in there, don’t be a bitch. My boy’s right here (Maximov), fight him. Quit talking my name. And anybody in the higher level, even playing along with this Khamzat shit, you’re a bitch, too. Taking that shit.

    “You’re a new rookie. Deal with new people. Don’t be talking my name.”

    Nate Diaz ended the interview by saying that he hopes to be back in action at UFC 270, which takes place in his home state of California. It will be interesting to see if that comes together since he does not appear interested in being a part of the Khamzat Chimaev hype train.

    Watch the full interview below:

  • Chimaev: MMA May Put Me In ‘A Mental Hospital’ Like Ferguson Or Tyson

    There are plenty of cautionary tales in combat sports, but Khamzat Chimaev is being careful not to be one of them.

    Chimaev has set the MMA world on fire with the utter dominance shown in his UFC career thus far. The undefeated Chechen prospect has burnt through his first four opponents in the promotion, only absorbing a combined total of two strikes across the bouts.

    However, Chimaev knows that this might not last forever and that combat sports is a fickle mistress that may deliver fame and fortune but can take your soul in the process.

    When asked in a recent interview with Hustle MMA about former boxing champion Mike Tyson, who has had notorious blotches on his life story, Chimaev said that he was a fan of Tyson, even through the different phases that “Iron” Mike went through in his life. He also knows that this situation could just as easily happen to him or anyone else.

    “As a fighter, an athlete, I really like him. But I don’t like what all happened with him: the violence, the pills, the marijuana, then muslims, it’s strange. But I still respect him, both as a fighter and as a person. He went through a lot of things and because of this, he broke down, did a lot of bad things,” Chimaev said.

    7 Times Mike Tyson's Physique was Absolutely Ferocious | Muscle & Fitness
    “Iron” Mike Tyson

    “No one knows what will happen to me, it can happen to anyone. A good, normal person, but something happens and you end up in a mental hospital. Like (Tony) Ferguson, right? Something like that happened to him.”

    It is good to see a fighter so early in his career, be so wary of the cautionary tales that combat sports so often provide. In addition to Mike Tyson, Khamzat Chimaev also referenced former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson, who notably went through something of a mental health crisis in 2019.

    While this could be written off as a diss, it instead seems as if he is just conscious of the possible risks that happen as one rises in status and popularity.

    Check out the full interview in the video below:

  • Dana White & Family Get COVID-19, Used Joe Rogan’s Treatment Plan

    The UFC bossman himself, Dana White, and his entire family have tested positive for COVID-19.

    White revealed the news on The Jim Rome Podcast, stating that he and his family were in isolation after testing positive for the virus despite at least him having the vaccine. He explained that they had gone to Maine to see family as a Thanksgiving tradition and contracted the virus there.

    White then explained that while isolating, shortly after finding out he was positive, he followed the advice of UFC commentator, podcaster, and comedian Joe Rogan. Rogan has been a hot topic of discussion in recent months for the way he handled his own COVID-19 diagnosis. Using the likes of Ivermectin, monoclonal antibodies, and more, the UFC president said that his mild symptoms of the virus had passed within a day.

    “We just went up to my place in Maine and for Thanksgiving. It’s tradition. We go up there, and somebody had it, and we get back, and we all tested positive for COVID. Literally, the whole family and my family up in Maine, too,” White said (h/t MMAJunkie).

    “We got back on Saturday. On Sunday, I cold plunge and steam every day,” White said. “So I get out of the cold plunge and steam, and I spray the eucalyptus and I was like, ‘What the hell?’ I couldn’t smell anything. So I opened the bottle and start sniffing the bottle of eucalyptus, and I couldn’t smell and I was like, ‘I know what this means.’ I literally got out of the steam and got on my phone and called Joe Rogan.

    “I get up, 9 o’clock Monday morning, and I get tested,” White continued. “He said get monoclonal antibodies in you as soon as possible, so I did. By noon, I had the monoclonal antibodies in me. Then he told me to do a NAD drip. I did that right after. The next day – so Sunday at 8 o’clock at night I have no taste or smell. I get up Tuesday getting ready to shave. Cleaning my razor, I could smell the alcohol. My taste and smell were back by the next day by 11 o’clock. Then I took a dose of ivermectin. Then yesterday I did a vitamin drip, and today I’m doing another NAD drip.

    “Never felt better. I’m feeling like a million bucks. I’m doing two-a-day workouts for the next 10 days while I have COVID and I’m in quarantine. I got my smell and taste back in less than 24 hours.”

    Of course, the primary concern is the health and safety of Dana White, and it is great to see that he is doing better and that the advice from Joe Rogan helped him. Whether you agree with those choices or not, everyone wants to see the same outcome, which is people recovering well if they do catch COVID-19.