MMA News

Author: Dion Williams

  • Usman To Covington: Don’t Expect To Cut The Line With A Poirier Win

    UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has informed Colby Covington not to expect a title shot with a win over Dustin Poirier.

    Following his win against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272, Covington took the chance to call out the former interim UFC lightweight champion in his post-fight interview, with ‘Chaos’ declaring that Poirier was next and that he will see him soon.

    Poirier previously stated that he will never face the #1 ranked UFC welterweight contender inside the Octagon, as he’s against Covington making money off of his name. The 33-year-old even went as far as to say that if he was to fight Covington that they both would be going to jail, implying the fight would only materialize outside of professional practice.

    Usman has now given his reaction to Covington’s callout of Poirier in an interview with Brett Okamoto of ESPN.

    “I respect and I appreciate it in a different sense,” said Usman. “Yeah, he’s building himself. So, yes, of course, I understand that. And, of course, you’re making money. I understand and respect that.

    Kamaru Usman Colby Covington
    Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington, Image Credit: UFC.com

    “But, on the flip side, don’t expect to cut the line when guys like Vicente Luque are in the division holding off everybody else; when Gilbert Burns is in the division beating up everyone else. So don’t expect to just jump the line because you built yourself outside, fighting guys that are not in the top of this weight division.”

    All in all, appears that Poirier being naturally lightweight would affect Covington’s merit for a title shot with a win in the eyes of the UFC welterweight champion.

    “So, yeah, I respect it. get your money, of course. We can only do this for a short time, so go ahead and get your money. But at the same time, don’t expect to cut these guys in the line,” said Usman.

    There are plenty waiting in line for a shot at Usman, with two of those expected to clash at UFC 273 in Gilbert Burns and Khamzat Chimaev. Burns himself declared he is expecting a title shot with a win over the undefeated Swede.

    Meanwhile, other welterweight contenders including Vicente Luque and Belal Muhammad have mounted their own respected runs for a title shot in the division. Leon Edwards is expected to be next in line for a title shot; however, with Usman’s next defense of his belt set to go down this summer when he returns from injury.

    Do you think Covington would be worthy of a third title shot with a win over Dustin Poirier?

  • Is Paddy Pimblett The UFC’s Next Cash Cow?

    Paddy Pimblett is set to grace the famous Octagon at UFC London with an intention to ramp up his value with another win.

    Ever since his victory at UFC Vegas 36, interest in ‘The Baddy’ has skyrocketed. Not only has his fighting ability caught the attention of fans worldwide, but also his unique personality.

    His post-fight interview that night caused waves across social media with audiences who are not even remotely interested in the sport finding appreciation for Pimblett’s extraordinary personality.

    Meanwhile, his own personal social media platforms’ followings went through the roof with fans purchasing a one-way ticket on the hype train. Pimblett’s Instagram rose from 28,000 followers to 700,000 on fight week alone.

    He blitzed his way through Luigi Vendramini that night, in the 1st round, just how he predicted it. The Scouser even declared “I’m the new cash cow” in his post-fight UFC octagon interview.

    All was not perfect in Vegas, however, as Pimblett had to deal with his fair share of adversity in the fight as Vendramini tested the chin of the former Cage Warriors champion early on. However, Pimblett did survive to score a memorable knockout victory in his UFC debut.

    One loss early on in his UFC career could damage all momentum and see UFC fans question whether he has what it takes to go far in the organization. At the age of 27, Pimblett is still young in comparison to the age of his peers.

    That said, ‘The Baddy’ has already had the experience of going through setbacks having lost three times in his career. Those could well be seen as learning curves for Pimblett to sharpen his tools, making him a more dangerous well-rounded prospect in the UFC.

    The UFC lightweight tends to also have the knack of getting himself into heat on social media however which may well damage his reputation. While Pimblett may well see any PR as good PR, he will need to be vigilant that he keeps the fans on his side if he is to build a fanbase that will profit him into the UFC’s next cash cow.

    Paddy Pimblett
    Paddy Pimblett

    The 27-year-old has already seen accounts of his banned on both Instagram and Twitter resulting in enormous amounts of followers lost in the process. Pimblett has since created new accounts, yet has struggled to gain the remarkable figures that were previously rolled in.

    Pimblett is expecting an iconic UFC walkout when he makes his entrance to the octagon on Saturday as he takes on Rodrigo Vargas on the main card of UFC London. It appears that the Scouser could follow in the footsteps of Darren Till in doing so, who has previously built his legacy off of his beloved British fanbase’s support.

    A successful first UFC appearance in front of fans could see Pimblett cause havoc. That will certainly be what ‘The Baddy’ is expecting to happen as he looks to steal the limelight once more with the hype train of Pimblett set to take center stage at UFC London.

    Do you think Paddy Pimblett could become the UFC’s next cash cow?

  • Cormier On Pereira’s Cannonier Callout: “What Are We Doing Here?”

    Former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier has laughed off Alex Pereira’s callout of Jared Cannonier telling the fighter to be realistic.

    Pereira took the opportunity in his post-fight press conference at UFC Vegas 50 to call out ‘The Killa Gorilla’ following his unanimous decision win over Bruno Silva.

    The UFC middleweight is now 2-0 in the UFC having already defeated Andreas Michailidis in his spectacular UFC debut where he pulled off a flying knee knockout.

    Since joining the UFC, it hasn’t taken long for Pereira to bring up his former foe Israel Adesanya with the Brazilian mentioning him often in the build-up to UFC Vegas 50.

    Their rivalry goes far back to Pereira’s early days competing in Glory where he is widely known as the only man to defeat Adesanya having done so twice. Once via unanimous decision, with the second time coming in even more convincing fashion scoring a KO/TKO victory.

    It now appears Pereira is looking for the quickest route possible to a title shot against the UFC middleweight champion. His latest callout of Cannonier seems ambitious in implying the former Glory kickboxing double-champion wants to fight Adesanya as soon as possible.

    UFC Vegas 50's Alex Pereira taking one fight at a time: 'I want to work and become champion' - MMAmania.com
    Alex Pereira

    Yet Cannonier looks set for the next title shot himself meaning the Brazilian’s callout seems unrealistic at this stage. Especially considering Pereira has only had two fights in the organization and is yet to face a ranked opponent.

    Cormier has now taken the opportunity to give his thoughts on Pereira’s callout on his ESPN show DC & RC. (h/t BJPenn.com)

    “He goes and calls out a guy in Jared Cannonier who’s obviously fighting for the championship,” said Cormier. “Like what are we doing here? I mean, fight someone in the top 15 [first], fight someone in the top 10. Like, I get shooting for the stars, but the stars is anyone with a number next to their name at this point.

    “Then again, it’s the wins over Izzy in kickboxing that gives him this sense of invincibility. He’s watching this guy that he knocked out run roughshod over the division, become a megastar and make tons of money. Ultimately, he’s trying to find the shortest path to get to where he feels he belongs. So, hats off to him. But, come on man! Let’s be realistic in the way that we approach our journey through the UFC’s rankings.”

    It’s clear Cormier wants to see Pereira face a ranked opponent before he is even mentioned amongst the top contenders at middleweight. We may well see Pereira modify his preferred opponent should Cannonier be confirmed to face Adesanya next any time soon.

    What do you make of Alex Pereira’s callout of Jared Cannonier?

  • Quote: Nobody Needs Covington As Much As Adesanya

    Chael Sonnen believes that Israel Adesanya needs Colby Covington to draw more eyeballs to a title fight involving the champion at middleweight.

    With Adesanya’s last two fights being rematches which had the champion as a clear favourite, the UFC middleweight division is starting to become less appealing with every title fight. Whittaker did challenge with the latest title shot but yet he ultimately still fell short with nobody seemingly having the answer to Adesanya’s dominance.

    Covington has spoken of his interest in going up to face the UFC middleweight champion. The #1 ranked UFC welterweight believes his wrestling could be a determining factor in how a fight may play out against Adesanya. (h/t MMA Fighting)

    “I think he needs to go up to 185,” Sonnen told The Chael Sonnen Show on ESPN+ show. “Look, Colby has called out three guys in the last two weeks: He, of course, called out Kamaru Usman; he called out Israel Adesanya; and he called out Dustin Poirier. Now you’ve got to understand, the one thing those three guys have in common is they all have world championship belts somewhere on the mantle at home. These are hard callouts by ‘Chaos,’ but ‘Chaos,’ who’s obviously a No. 1 contender, does not get a fight for a championship. It’s a tough spot.

    Colby Covington
    Colby Covington

    “So he’s saying, ‘Look, I’m even willing to leave the division. Let me take this golden ticket of No. 1 contender and let me cash it in at 185 pounds.’ And quite frankly, nobody needs Colby as bad as Izzy Adesanya. I don’t know if Israel is aware of that yet, but he’s starting to fight people that aren’t doing their job in the media, that aren’t bringing the attention, that aren’t helping the brand and making the marquee fight as big as it could be. I think if Izzy stood back and saw what Colby has to offer, that’s gonna be a partner that he would like to do business with.”

    Covington moving up to middleweight to face Adesanya may well be a possibility for the future. But for now, it appears that Jared Cannonier is next in line at 185lbs for a title shot. Meaning the former UFC interim welterweight champion may have to settle for a grudge match with Dustin Poirier instead or face another opponent at 170lbs.

    Should ‘The Killa Gorilla’ be tamed and dealt with convincingly by the middleweight champion then a new face at middleweight may emerge next. However, UFC President Dana White has stated that Covington would not receive an immediate title shot at Adesanya should he move up.

    For the most part, the current set of contenders at middleweight seem almost too respectful towards the champion that title fights in the division become less appealing for fans. While we all know the level of confidence Covington has that he will play down any possibility of the champion beating him.

    With what we have previously seen of the American’s trash talk we can for sure expect some heated back-and-forth exchanges should a fight ever emerge between the two.

    Do you think we ever see Covington fight Adesanya for the UFC middleweight belt?

  • Tim Elliott On UFC 272 Win: Cheating Or Not, I Got Paid

    UFC flyweight Tim Elliott has shrugged off accusations of him being a cheater following his controversial win at UFC 272 over Tagir Ulanbekov.

    Elliott scored the upset in his fight against the Dagestani fighter as he defeated Ulanbekov via unanimous decision. Yet the UFC veteran was hit with a blast of accusations in the aftermath with claims of him cheating.

    The 35-year-old appeared to grab the gloves of his opponent several times throughout the fight as well as having landed two knees that could be deemed illegal. Elliott was even warned by the referee at one instance regarding glove grabbing.

    This sparked outrage amongst Ulanbekov’s team who felt hard done by to say the very least. UFC lightweight Islam Makachev, who cornered the fighter, took to Instagram in fury to highlight the alleged cheating of Elliott.

    Makachev pointed out four separate incidents which occurred during the fight that he viewed as fouls and even went as far as to call Elliott a “dirty fighter”. It appeared that Khabib was also furious at the time the alleged cheating occurred as he was shown on the broadcast visibly furious with how the fight was playing out.

    Tim Elliott On Alleged Cheating: “It’s Not That Big Of A Deal”

    Tim Elliott
    Tim Elliott (Photo: Zuffa/Getty)

    Speaking on his controversial victory, Elliott told MMA Fighting that he thinks the only reason people are upset is because he won the fight.

    “At the end of the day, if Tagir would’ve beat me, nobody would’ve said s*** about the glove grab, nobody would’ve said anything about the cheating. The only reason why people are upset about the glove grab s*** is because they lost. His team lost and it just makes them look bad. They wouldn’t have said anything about anything had they won, so it’s just one of those things.

    “If you’ve ever been in a fight — and maybe I’m different — I’m trying to win, man. It’s the referee’s job to step in there if I’m doing something wrong. He was telling me all kinds of s***, he told me to let go of the glove and I let go of the glove. But for me, it’s not that big of a deal. I’m in there fist fighting. People are going on and on about the morality of the sport and the warrior spirit and all of that bulls***, but I don’t f****** care. I’m not a martial artist — I’m a fighter and this is my job. I’m trying to make money at this job, and that’s what I did [at UFC 272].”

    Elliott did admit to grabbing his opponent’s glove in the post-fight interview minutes after he collected his win at UFC 272. He claims that Dana White is unconcerned regarding the alleged cheating meaning Elliott sees no issue with it.

    “For me, it’s not an issue. The bosses don’t care, Dana White doesn’t care, Mick Maynard — I’m good with all those guys. They had no problem cutting my checks, cheating or not cheating. I sleep fine at night and a lot more comfortably now that I have money in the bank.

    About the glove grabs against Ulanbekov – sure, Tim Elliott admits it
    Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie

    “But it happens all the time and it’s going to happen. I was sparring today and I got poked in the eyes, I got my glove grabbed, I got head-butted, got scratched, and these are my friends, these are my teammates. It happens, and everybody knows that. I don’t know, even in basketball, if you slap the hand it’s part of the ball. You can’t tell me you’re not in there grabbing everything you can. I don’t want to get into any arguments about it, I’m just going out there trying to put on a show and trying to win.”

    Despite the controversy, Elliott’s win sees him bounce back into the winner’s column following his defeat to Matheus Nicolau. He also rises to #11 in the official UFC flyweight rankings as he will now be eyeing up a fight against a top-ten opponent.

    As for Ulanbekov, he is now 2-1 in the UFC with his loss to the American being the second of his career. He remains #15 in the UFC flyweight rankings while the Dagestani fighter’s loss at UFC 272 was only the second defeat Khabib has ever suffered as a coach.

    What do you make of Tim Elliott’s confession to glove grabbing in his win over Ulanbekov?

  • Aspinall Says Ngannou Should Avoid Boxing Fury: “Just Don’t Do It”

    UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall has given his say on Francis Ngannou looking to box Tyson Fury.

    Aspinall has trained with the Fury family throughout his career and even sparred with ‘The Gyspy King’ in the lead up to Fury’s historic win over Wladimir Klitschko. The UFC heavyweight has even drawn up comparisons to the two-time world heavyweight boxing champion due to his lightning-fast hand speed.

    Ngannou came out following his successful title defence at UFC 270 saying that he wants to face Fury in a boxing fight. With some uncertainty laying around his future within the UFC, a heavyweight clash in boxing could certainly be on the cards for ‘The Predator’.

    Speaking with TheMacLife ahead of his UFC London main event fight against Alexander Volkov, Aspinall was asked what he thought of Ngannou looking to box Fury.

    “Just don’t do it. Don’t do it man,” said Aspinall. ” I think a lot of people like MMA fighters they think they can box. They can box well for MMA but when you’re fighting actual boxers, they need to seriously do some like hard sparring with world-level boxers. Then they’ll be like, oh actually, I need some serious work here.”

    Francis Ngannou
    Francis Ngannou (Image Credit: Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

    The Englishman went on to draw comparisons between other contact sports that involve similar fundamentals but are completely different in their own right.

    “It’s like American football and rugby. They’re all contact sports, they both involve a ball where you are running at each other, but they’re completely different. There’s so much different like there’s a lot of aspects that are the same but them boxers, mate, they can really punch, they can seriously, seriously punch,” said Aspinall.

    Aspinall went on to say that if Fury was to enter the world of MMA that the scores would be completely different as Ngannou would school the boxing champion in one round. The Cameroonian is set to be out of fighting for the next eight months as he is set to undergo surgery on his knee after suffering a torn MCL and damaged ACL in the leadup to his fight at UFC 270.

    Do you think Francis Ngannou would stand a chance in a boxing fight against Tyson Fury?

  • Cejudo: If UFC Won’t Give Me Volkanovski, Then Give Me Holloway

    Former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo has made yet another callout after having missed out on a title shot at UFC 273.

    This time, Cejudo has chosen to call out Max Holloway instead of UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski as he plans to return at 145lbs looking to become a three-division UFC champion. The first in history to do so.

    ‘Triple C’ had previously called out the UFC featherweight champion following Holloway’s withdrawal from his title shot due to an injury. Ultimately, Cejudo’s callout was ignored as Chan Sung Jung stepped up to replace Holloway at UFC 273, which goes down next month.

    Dana White stated Cejudo’s callout of Volkanovski ahead of UFC 272 was “not how it works” when the 35-year-old was looking to return with an instant title shot. The UFC president was adamant that the former UFC double champion was retired and would not be able to jump back in at any weight class to take on a titleholder.

    Cejudo On Holloway: “I Know I Can Beat Him”

    Henry Cejudo Dominick Cruz
    Image Credit: Getty Images

    It appears now that Cejudo has accepted White’s stance and is looking to earn his title shot with a win in the featherweight division first. The man Cejudo wants to return against? Max Holloway (h/t MiddleEasy).

    “If I do end up coming back, give me Max Holloway,” Cejudo said in an interview with The Underground. “If they’re not going to give me Alexander the average for a belt, then give me Holloway. If they want me to fight somebody to get into that title fight, then give me Holloway. I know I can beat him. Then, I get Alexander the average, but I want to get compensated for that.”

    With a win over the former UFC featherweight champion, Cejudo is envisioning a title shot as Holloway’s only recent defeats in the weight class has come to the champion Volkanovski.

    “I’m curious to see what Holloway wants to say about that fight. I respect Holloway, but I also know he’s very beatable, but also he’s very dangerous too. That’s the same reason why I like it. I do believe that Max Holloway would take me serious, but I think he would fight me more so than what Alexander Volkanovski would. That’s the route that I would want to go,” said Cejudo.

    Do you see Cejudo returning at featherweight and facing Holloway?

  • Covington: Masvidal Will Be Hungrier For This Fight Than Any In Career

    Former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington is expecting a hungry Jorge Masvidal to enter the Octagon when they collide at UFC 272.

    Covington will be taking on another fight involving bad blood something he has become accustomed to at this point. Yet, it appears to be at a boiling point between the two in the build-up to this bout as comes with the pair being former best friends.

    With that, Covington is expecting Masvidal to be hungrier than ever when the two settle the score on March 5th. Speaking on the similarities between Masvidal and his last opponent Kamaru Usman to Yahoo Sports, Covington had the following to say.

    “It’s tough to draw comparisons because we fight differently,” said Covington. “I’m a southpaw. Usman’s an orthodox. So I can’t take fights from different fights from the past and think that that’s gonna be the same guy. I think Jorges is gonna be hungrier for this fight than he’s ever been for any fight in the history of his career. So I don’t take much from those fights.”

    The 34-year-old went toe-to-toe with Usman at UFC 268 in a competitive five-round fight. Where for the second time between the two, the UFC welterweight champion edged a decision victory over his foe. Despite the verdict, ‘Chaos’ still believes he had done enough on the night to earn the title.

    “I know I went neck and neck with the pound-for-pound (best) fighter in the world. A lot of people in the world thought I won that fight. I thought I won rounds 3, 4, and 5. The people in the arena at Madison Square Garden thought I won three, four, and five.

    Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington
    Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington. Image Credit:

    “It just sucks that the three stooges sitting cageside in the judges’ desk decided to score him winning by one (more) round against me, one little measly round. But he didn’t prove that he was some dominant pound-for-pound fighter, and I showed why I’m the #1 ranked fighter in the world,” said Covington.

    It appears Covington is uninterested in facing Usman for a third time. With the #1 ranked UFC welterweight openly speaking of his interest in going up a weight class to face Israel Adesanya instead.

    For now, Covington will have to remain focused if he is to get past the man labeled the ‘BMF’ in their grudge fight at UFC 272.

    Who do you see coming out on top between Jorge Mascvidal an Colby Covington?

  • Masvidal Signs New UFC Deal Making Him One Of Top Three Highest Paid

    UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal has put pen to paper on a new contract with the UFC that puts him in the top three highest earners in the organization.

    ‘Gamebred’ is taking on Colby Covington this weekend in the main event of UFC 272 as the two stars are set to settle their beef in the Octagon. Bad blood has boiled between the pair for a while now which has all come from the downfall of their friendship.

    Jorge Masvidal Colby Covington
    Courtesy of Jorge Masvidal’s Instagram (via Daily Mail)

    Masvidal is one of the biggest stars in the UFC, mainly because of his BMF status which he earned with his victory over Nate Diaz at UFC 244. He is however coming off a two-fight losing streak with both of those defeats coming to UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.

    Speaking on his new contract, Masvidal posted the following on his social media.

    “Thank you Hunter Campbell and @danawhite and my team @malkikawa @Abraham_kawa and @FirstRoundMgmt for making sure my kids will never go hungry again.”

    With the announcement of his new contract made official, Masvidal now sits only behind Conor McGregor and Israel Adesanya on the highest-paid athletes’ list in the UFC. Being one of the UFC’s biggest draws has seen him earn the rare opportunity of headling a PPV card despite not fighting for a title at UFC 272.

    Not to mention, Masvidal is a cover star for the organization’s video game ‘EA Sports UFC 4’ which was released in August 2020. The ‘BMF’ belt holder fronts the cover for the game alongside Adesanya.

    Fans were surprised to hear the news of a new UFC contract for Masvidal, considering the UFC middleweight could extend his losing run on Saturday. Yet, Masvidal will remain a draw past UFC 272 with PPV fights against McGregor as well as a rematch with Diaz a possibility to consider in the making of his new deal.

    What do you make of Masvidal’s new lucrative deal?

  • Kevin Holland: I’m Getting More Trolls Then Ever After Beating Them Up

    UFC welterweight Kevin Holland says he’s getting trolled harder than ever before after recent footage he published of himself beating up internet trolls.

    The #14 ranked middleweight has taken on two internet trolls in the past month who had messaged him on Instagram asking to spar the UFC middleweight. Both got what was coming to them, as Holland dismantled the trolls with little to no effort.

    The 29-year-old released the sparring footage onto his Instagram, showcasing him taking on the trolls in an attempt to ward off future haters who would be looking to potentially troll him. When Holland was asked at the UFC 272 media scrum whether he receives more or fewer trolls after the footage was released, he said.

    “More, so that was the wrong answer for me on my behalf to beat up trolls because they started trolling even more. So yes, I’ve got my work cut out for me,” said Holland.

    Kevin Holland, Derek Brunson
    Kevin Holland, Derek Brunson, Credit: UFC Twitter

    At UFC 272 Holland is making his welterweight debut, taking on Alex Oliveira in an attempt to rekindle the kind of form that saw him capture the attention of everyone in 2020. Speaking on taking on trolls in the training camp for his fight at UFC 272, Holland confirmed that waivers must be signed before the trolls are able to fight him with a special clause included…

    “Yes, you’ve got to sign a waiver before you come in the gym period,” said Holland. “And you know, there is a little special thing in the waiver to make sure I can put you on the Only Fans. Ye, I’ve got a Kevin waiver.”

    The ‘Trailblazer’ recently joined Only Fans where he exclusively revealed who his next opponent would be in Oliveira. Holland also made it free for fans to be able to subscribe to him on the platform in an interesting and unique move by the UFC fighter.

    What do you make of Kevin Holland taking on internet trolls? Should Holland make it a series?

  • Álvarez Refuses To Rule Out Fighting Usman: “Maybe, Why Not?”

    Canelo Álvarez seems open to the possibility of one day fighting UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman.

    Both fighters are arguably the #1 pound-for-pound best in their respective sports and a potential crossover between the two could see them bring in colossal pay-per-view figures. Usman previously proposed the idea when discussing his boxing ability and wanting to showcase why he’s the best in the world.

    Now, it appears Canelo’s certainly interested in what the fight would look like one day, as he was asked on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani whether he would entertain the fight.

    “Payday,” joked Canelo. “That’s the payday I know. Maybe, why not, you never say no, right?”

    However, it appears for now at least that Canelo remains tunnel-visioned on cementing his legacy amongst the greatest to grace the sport of boxing ahead of his fight against Dmitry Bivol.

    “It’s not really on my mind. I want a really good legacy for my career then we can talk about other things right later.”

    The 31-year-old’s aiming to retire by 37, meaning there’s still plenty of time for a crossover to occur. It still remains possible that we may see him take on Usman before then should the proposal for the super fight come his way.

    With both fighters in the primes of their career, now would be the time to make it happen. Usman appears to be becoming less interested in defending his UFC welterweight title with every fight having previously spoken about his interest in fighting for the light heavyweight title.

    One roadblock in the way of making the super fight happen would be Dana White’s stance on his #1 pound-for-pound fighting Canelo. Back in November, Usman again spoke of his interest in the fight. In response, White said “He doesn’t want to fight Canelo,” with the UFC president indirectly hinting at the boxing ability of Canelo being superior.

    Would you be interested in seeing Usman taking on Canelo in a boxing match?

  • Gilbert Burns: I’m Only Taking A Title Fight After I Beat Chimaev

    UFC welterweight Gilbert Burns says he will only be accepting a title fight if he conquers undefeated Khamzat Chimaev in his next fight.

    Burns and Chimaev have both openly spoken of their intentions to fight each other in their next Octagon appearances with no official confirmation of a bout between the pair by the UFC as of yet. Meanwhile, the Brazilian has also requested that their fight be a five-rounder.

    But now, Burns has gone one step further as he has emphasised he will only be looking to fight for the title with a victory over Chimaev.

    Burns Wants Title Shot If He Derails Chimaev’s Hype Train

    Gilbert Burns
    Gilbert Burns, Credit: Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty

    Speaking to The Schmo, Burns said that he is preparing to face Chimaev on April 9th at UFC 273 but has yet to have had confirmation of the fight. He also spoke on what he expects from the UFC if he defeats the #11-ranked welterweight.

    “Me, I want to fight for the title,” said Burns. “Why am I gonna fight Colby or Masvidal? I have nothing against these guys. I don’t want to push no one down. I don’t want to put myself up there (and) push anyone down. I respect everyone in that division. I think he’s one of the toughest in the division.

    “But beating Chimaev, #11 in the rankings with all that hype—to be completely honest, I don’t have to fight this guy. But I’m a fighter, I’m a competitor. I want to fight. I want to stay active.”

    Chimaev and many others have claimed that nobody is willing to face the rising star, with Burns along with Neil Magny as two of few that were eager to fight the Swede. Burns himself also claimed nobody was willing to face him, which led to his callout of Chimaev.

    “(None) of these guys want to fight me. The only guy that’s willing is Chimaev. So why not? I’m gonna fight the guy. And beating this guy, taking that hype away, the only fight I’m doing (next) is the title shot. That’s the only fight that I’m taking.”

    Do you see Gilbert Burns derailing the hype train of Khamzat Chimaev?

  • John McCarthy Believes Luke Rockhold Has A Chance Against Paulo Costa

    John McCarthy has come out and said why he understands Luke Rockhold’s callout of Paul Costa for his return fight in the UFC.

    Rockhold was scheduled to return to competitive action against Sean Strickland at UFC 268 in November of last year. However, at that time, the former UFC middleweight champion was forced to withdraw as he herniated a disc in his back.

    The 37-year-old is now eyeing a return to the Octagon at some point this year, as he chose to call out Costa as a potential opponent.

    Luke Rockhold Sean Strickland
    Photo via Instagram @lukerockhold

    McCarthy recently spoke on his podcast with Josh Thomson, where he evaluated Rockhold’s potential return against Costa as being good a matchup for the veteran. (h/t SportsKeeda)

    “Yes, Luke at times gets too much into being a standup guy,” McCarthy explained. “Cause he’s slick, he’s a technical fighter. He’s got beautiful kicks, he hides them well, he’s got power on them, but his ground game is what made Luke Rockhold who he was.”

    “They don’t give him credit for being as good as he is, and Luke on the ground is good. That dude is phenomenal on the ground. And there’s a huge difference between his ground game and Paulo Costa’s ground game. So, if I look at this fight, I go, this is not a bad fight for him. I understand why he’s calling him out.”

    Costa, like Rockhold, is now on a two-fight losing streak following his loss to Marvin Vettori in October of last year. This means a fight between the pair could make sense regarding the landscape of the middleweight division currently.

    Both fighters could see themselves reentering the title picture with a victory. However, many are still left wondering whether there is fight left in Rockhold, who would be returning to 185lbs for the first time since his knockout loss to Yoel Romero in 2018. Yet a two-year break might be all that was required for the veteran to rest and recover for a special comeback.

    Do you agree with John McCarthy that Paulo Costa is a good matchup for Luke Rockhold?

  • Joel Alvarez Eager To Win Friend’s Money At UFC Vegas 49 (Exclusive)

    UFC lightweight Joel Alvarez is certainly living up to his nickname ‘El Fenomeno’ in the UFC, and he now aims to enter the rankings with a win over Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Vegas 49.

    The 28-year-old is on a four-fight win streak inside the organization with all of his victories coming inside the bell. His last win over a ranked opponent in Thiago Moises was his best yet, as he bulldozed his way through the Brazilian.

    Criticism has been thrown at Alvarez for not making weight in his last two fights, with claims that the Spaniard is holding an unfair advantage over his opponents. Yet on the biggest occasion of his career, this time, Alvarez made weight.

    Speaking exclusively to MMA News, Alvarez revealed what went differently this camp that allowed him to make weight.

    “This Time It Was Easy”

    – Joel Alvarez on making weight

    Being 6’3 in the 155lbs division is sure to have its drawbacks with the weight cut. Alvarez has had to deal with that draining him in every training camp to ensure his significant height advantage stands on fight night.

    However, as he has gotten older, the tougher the weight cut has become. Many doubted that Alvarez would make weight ahead of UFC Vegas 49. Yet with the help of nutritionists, he was able to overcome the obstacle for the first time in two fights.

    “Always it’s hard, but this time the change was I put my attention in the hands of a professional nutritionist. They are all the time paying attention to me by phone, by video call. So this time it was easy, but always it’s really hard,” said Alvarez.

    Now, the focus will turn from the weight cut to his opponent as he looks to take down Tsarukyan to enter the lightweight rankings and make a statement at the Apex.

    ‘El Fenomeno’ Aims To Be In The Top Five At 155lbs

    Joel Alvarez
    Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

    ‘El Fenomeno’ has had his fair share of naysayers in the UFC. This fight is no different, as Alvarez enters as a +180 underdog. Although the Spaniard is now accustomed to being an underdog at this point, in fact, he thrives off of it.

    “I love being the underdog,” said Alvarez. “Because I like to make a surprise for everybody and make money for my friends.”

    His task as the underdog to take down a fellow prospect of the lightweight division appears his toughest yet. Tsarukyan is carrying a lot of hype and momentum entering UFC Vegas 49 with many claiming he has a significant advantage on his opponent in the wrestling department. Alvarez thinks otherwise.

    “We have enough weapons to fight Arman in that comfort zone we can say. It’s not important for me as we have enough weapons,” said Alvarez.

    Tsarukyan who sits at #13 in the UFC lightweight rankings has predicted he will submit the Spaniard via submission in the 2nd round. While Alvarez is so confident in his arsenal that he believes he can finish his opponent wherever the fight goes.

    “My prediction is we are here to fight and win. So if we win it is going to be a submission or a knockout,” emphasized Alvarez.

    It’s likely that Alvarez would replace Tsarukyan in the rankings with a victory, but the sky is the limit as he aims for the top five.

    “As always we are here to fight, we are here to do several things step by step, I’m not in a hurry. We are here to go up in the rankings and very soon with the possibility to be in the top five,” said Alvarez.

    Do you see Joel Alvarez extending his winning streak and entering the rankings?

  • Makhachev Delivers A Very Specific Prediction For Oliveira/Gaethje

    UFC lightweight Islam Makhachev has offered a specific prediction for the Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje title fight expected for UFC 274.

    Makhachev may well be next in line to fight for the title after Gaethje with a win this weekend. The Russian was scheduled to have been facing Beneil Dariush in a supposed title eliminator, but Dariush was forced to withdraw with an injury last week.

    Instead, Makhachev will face UFC veteran Bobby Green, who has stepped in as a late replacement. Yet, the 30-year-old will still be expecting a title shot with a win. Most questions towards Makhachev have turned from his main event this weekend to instead who he could be expecting to face for the title in the near future, Oliveira or Gaethje?

    Makhachev: I Think Oliveira Will Submit Gaethje

    Charles Oliveira
    Getty Images

    At the media day for UFC Vegas 49, Makhachev says he is expecting to face Oliveira in his next fight past this weekend. When asked for his prediction on how the Brazilian defends his title, the Russian went into specifics.

    “I think he’s gonna finish him. I think he gonna striking with him first round. And after, he gonna take him down. I think he’s gonna choke him,” said Makhachev.

    It appears that the #4-ranked lightweight is envisioning a path to victory similar to that of Oliveira’s last title defense against Dustin Poirier. Although, it is best believed Gaethje will have some choice words for Makhachev’s prediction once he is informed of the contender’s answer.

    Gaethje fell short to a submission loss the last time he fought for the title when he took on the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov. Khabib coaches and mentors Makhachev, so that may well have influenced his prediction.

    Do you agree with Islam Makhachev and see Charles Oliveira submitting Justin Gaethje?

  • Whittaker: I Thought I Had Won At Least Three Rounds Against Adesanya

    UFC middleweight Robert Whittaker says he feels he won a minimum of three rounds in his recent UFC 271 loss to Israel Adesanya.

    The former UFC middleweight champion lost the fight via unanimous decision after a competitive back-and-forth fight against the man who captured his belt back in 2019. Whittaker began the fight on the back foot but picked up the pace as the fight went on yet fell just short on the judges’ scorecards.

    Many believe the Australian had done enough to win the fight having mixed in takedowns and octagon control in a tactical approach many expected from Whittaker. The 31-year-old was visually disheartened to hear the verdict from Bruce Buffer after a grueling five-rounds against Adesanya.

    Whittaker: “I Thought I Had, At A Minimum, Won Three Rounds”

    Robert Whittaker
    Robert Whittaker, Image Credit: Getty Images

    Speaking to Submission Radio, Whittaker reflected on his disappointment of coming short in his battle against Adesanya.

    “There’s that underlying current of disappointment that I didn’t get the nod,” Whittaker explained. “That I didn’t get the W that I believe I should have. But in saying that, on the back of it though, I have that satisfying feeling of that I went in there and took it to him. I believe I made a great account of myself and I really really took it to him to the point where I’m satisfied with my performance I guess.”

    Whittaker was defeated in his first fight with Adesanya in the 2nd round and was motivated to at least showcase he is capable of defeating the champion at UFC 271. He did so in taking down ‘The Last Stylebender’ four times throughout the fight. He feels that those takedowns along with his striking edged him at least three rounds.

    “I thought I had, at a minimum, won three rounds. That’s why I wasn’t fighting with a sense of a guy with his back against the wall. But yeah, it is what it is. I think every time we threw hands, I got the better exchange of the strikes, as well as the introduction of the takedowns. So I was confident,” Whittaker said.

    Whittaker has recently opened up on his interest in facing Marvin Vettori in his next fight, meaning a return to the Octagon could soon be around the corner for the former champion.

    Do you agree with Whittaker that he won at least three rounds? Or do you feel as though Adesanya rightfully retained his title?

  • Alexis Davis Departs UFC Following Recent Victory

    UFC veteran Alexis Davis has not been offered a contract by the UFC following the expiration of her current deal and will now test free agency.

    UFC Roster Watch were first to reveal the news of Davis’ apparent exit from the UFC to the shock of the fans. Later, TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter revealed that the organization opted against renewing her contract rather than releasing the bantamweight.

    Davis is coming off a victory less than three weeks ago at UFC Vegas 47 where she defeated Julija Stoliarenko. This saw her achieve two victories out of her last three fights, yet this still wasn’t seen as enough to warrant her place in the organization as she is now a free agent.

    The Canadian had recently gone through a rough ride in the UFC which saw her lose three consecutive fights in a spell between 2018 and 2019. Before she rebounded with a win over Sabina Mazo more recently in 2021.

    Davis is well known for being a former challenger for the UFC bantamweight title against Ronda Rousey. On that night, the ‘Ally-Gator’ was unable to achieve her dream as Rousey finished her within 16 seconds following a slam and follow-up strikes.

    Before that loss, Davis had entered the UFC with some serious momentum winning her first three fights, defeating the likes of Jessica Eye in the process. Davis is also one of few to have defeated who many recognize as the ‘GOAT’ of women’s MMA, Amanda Nunes, having defeated the Brazilian outside of the UFC back in 2011 on Strikeforce.

    It is unknown what is the reasoning behind the UFC’s decision to go against offering the veteran a new deal. However, Davis will now be able to explore her options elsewhere as she becomes a free agent.

    What do you make of the UFC’s decision to opt against renewing Alexis Davis contract?

  • Green: I’m Gonna Be The First Person To Put Makhachev In A Fight

    UFC veteran Bobby Green has vowed to take the fight to Islam Makhachev in the main event of UFC Vegas 49.

    The UFC lightweight is set to take on Makhachev after having stepped up on ten days’ notice. Beneil Dariush was originally scheduled to face the #4 ranked UFC lightweight; however, he was forced to withdraw with an ankle injury.

    Green is coming off a dominant victory over Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 271 less than two weeks ago where he secured an impressive unanimous decision win. Despite having now 41 professional fights under his belt, Green continues to age like fine wine inside the octagon.

    Green: ‘I’m Ready For Everything Makachev Will Bring’

    Bobby Green, Nasrat Haqparast
    © Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

    Speaking on his latest matchup to MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani, Green spoke on how he feels he differs from other fighters.

    “It’s G shit. I do G shit. I do shit that motherfuckers don’t want to do. My whole thing is about standing in fires longer than most men could or doing things that most men wouldn’t do. That’s my whole life, and that’s my whole mindset,” said Green.

    If the 35-year-old were to pull off the upset he would snap his opponent’s nine-fight win streak while simultaneously hampering Makhachev’s title ambitions. Green affirmed he is ready for the challenge he faces in bringing down one of the UFC’s biggest talents.

    “So a lot of these guys have been watching and going to Islam, and going in there and fight with Islam,” Green continued. “They never bought the fight to him. I feel like he hasn’t been in a fight yet. I feel like it’s just been a match. It don’t even feel like a fight. It’s a match. It’s a wrestling match.

    “Oh, nah, nah, I’m gonna be the first person that puts him into a fight. He’s about to get into a fight. K? And yeah, he’s gonna try to shoot, and yeah, he’s gonna try to do those things. I’m ready for that. But it’s gonna be a fight. It’s not just no fuckin’ match.”

    Green hails the nickname ‘King’ inside the Octagon but has been labeling himself a gangster in the build-up to this bout. Having taken the fight on short notice, it will officially be a catchweight bout of 160lbs.

    No matter the outcome on Saturday, the veteran will most certainly deserve the spotlight that will come with the main event slot.

    Who do you see leaving victorious at UFC Vegas 49? Does Bobby Green spring an upset, or does Islam Makachev collect yet another win?

  • Chimaev: Usman Needs Two-Division Success To Catch GSP

    UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev has claimed that Kamaru Usman needs to become a two-division champion to compete with Georges St-Pierre‘s greatness.

    Chimaev is currently eyeing up the possibility of facing the champion in a fight or two, with the Swede scheduled to face top-ranked contender Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 on April 9th.

    It appears visa issues are delaying confirmation of the fight taking place, with Chimaev’s current visa expiring in late March.

    Chimaev: Usman Needs Two-Division Success To Be Considered GOAT

    Kamaru Usman
    Kamaru Usman, Image Credit: Buda Mendes/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images.

    Speaking to RT Sport MMA, Chimaev referenced St-Pierre’s success of becoming a double champion in the UFC when asked whether he considers the current welterweight champion the division’s greatest of all time.

    “Kamaru has been the champion at one weight,” Chimaev said. “Georges has done it at two or three weight classes, right? Two. So if Kamaru does what GSP did, then he will catch up with him. If he does more, he will surpass him.”

    St-Pierre defended his welterweight title nine times as a champion, cementing his place in the Hall of Fame and as arguably the greatest welterweight of all time. Meanwhile, Usman has defended his belt five times, entering the GOAT discussion himself. He also holds the record for most consecutive wins in the division.

    Potentially, Chimaev will be looking to spoil any chances of Usman achieving such fate as surpassing St-Pierre’s welterweight records by defeating ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ further down the line.

    The current #11-ranked welterweight had threatened to ‘smash’ Usman when the UFC welterweight champion spoke on proposed plans to jump to light heavyweight to take on Jan Blachowicz when he was the title holder.

    Leon Edwards is likely up next to try dethrone Usman, who recently undertook surgery on his right hand to repair a ligament. That bout is rumored to take place on international fight week, which will host UFC 276.

    Who do you see as the welterweight GOAT? Georges St-Pierre or Kamaru Usman?

  • Vanessa Demopoulos Names UFC Fighter Who Would Be A Good Stripper

    UFC strawweight Vanessa Demopoulos believes that Johnny Walker would make the best stripper out of current UFC fighters.

    Demopoulos is a former dancer herself and quit stripping just before her recent and first win inside the organization at UFC 270. The American had previously been performing pole dancing for a 13-year stint.

    Following that victory at UFC 270 where she submitted her opponent Silvana Gomez Juarez in the first round, she grabbed the attention of fans when the 33-year-old showcased her acrobatic ability. She performed the splits in the center of the Octagon before jumping into the arms of Joe Rogan in jubilation following her win.

    She has now spoken on who she believes would make the best stripper out of the current roster of fighters within the UFC.

    Demopoulos: Johnny Walker Has A “Stripper Vibe To Him”

    Johnny Walker
    Image Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    Speaking to Fansided MMA’s podcast ‘Jab, Cross, Hook‘, Demopoulos claimed Johnny Walker would make the most out of a career in the industry.

    “I feel like Johnny Walker has a little bit of a stripper vibe to him,” Demopoulos said. “He’s got the personality, he’s always dancing, he’s got the moves. Definitely Johnny Walker, he’s on the best stripper list.”

    Johnny Walker is set to make his UFC return this weekend coming off his main event loss last time out against fellow countryman Thiago Santos back in October.

    The Brazilian is taking on Jamahal Hill in the main event of this weekend’s UFC Vegas 48 card and will be looking to now gather some momentum inside the light heavyweight division. Walker has struggled for consistency as of late, but a win over rising prospect Hill would most definitely see the 29-year-old back on track.

    Meanwhile, Demopoulos herself will be looking to gather some momentum now off the back of her win as she establishes her name in the organization. Her jaw-dropping victory last time out was enough to earn the strawweight a ‘Performance of the Night’ bonus ensuring an extra $50,000 to her paycheck that night.

    Who do you think would make the best stripper out of the current crop of UFC talent?

  • Nunes Tells Peña To Enjoy Champion Status While It Lasts

    Amanda Nunes has warned UFC Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña to enjoy her title reign while it lasts.

    The war of words ahead of their highly anticipated rematch has already begun with Nunes giving some advice to her foe as well as a warning that she will regain her belt when the time comes.

    “That Belt’s Mine. I’m Coming For It”

    From Amanda Nunes’ Twitter

    The UFC recently announced the 30th season of its The Ultimate Fighter series, which will be starring the bantamweight stars. Both fighters will coach the season, which involves contestants of fighters from both heavyweight and women’s flyweight weight classes.

    During a recent media scrum ahead of UFC 271, Nunes spoke to reporters regarding the recent TUF announcement as well as reflecting on her loss at UFC 269.

    The current UFC featherweight champion is expecting Peña to exchange words with her on the series making for a more heated rivalry come the rematch.

    “Yeah. I always expect that she’s talking,” Nunes said. “Actually, she has changed a little bit. She wants to look like the nice champion now.

    “So, I give her a little bit of credit (for) slowing down a little bit. Because when you have that thing, it’s not like, a simple thing. You have to really be careful and think about what comes out your mouth. I’ve paid for that before.”

    She continued to go into detail on how different life is as a champion once the belt has been captured while also warning Peña that she will be coming for the belt when the time comes.


    “You have a lot of people who look up to you,” continued Nunes. “You’re in the public eyes now. I’ve been there before and I know how exciting it is, like TV shows; all those things. I know she’s very excited about all those things. But at the end of the day, you have to keep up with that, and I know in the rematch we’re gonna take that back. She’s having a good time right now.

    “Enjoy every single day with that belt because that belt’s mine. I’m coming for it”

    While having lost her bantamweight belt, Nunes still remains a champion at featherweight, meaning their rematch—which is set to happen sometime later this year—will be a head-to-head, champion vs champion clash in what will be one of the biggest women’s MMA fights in history.

    Do you agree with Amanda Nunes that Juliana Peña’s reign as champion will soon be over?