MMA News

Author: Harvey Leonard

  • Pimblett Expects To Fight “Another 3 Or 4” Unranked Opponents

    Rising UFC lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett says he’s being realistic about the speed with which he can rise up the ladder of a stacked 155-pound division.

    Of the debutants who arrived on MMA’s biggest stage in 2021, not many made a splash as big Pimblett did. After a much-discussed signing with the UFC, which came after he’d experienced championship success in the renowned Cage Warriors organization, “The Baddy” entered the Octagon for the first time last September.

    On the UFC Vegas 36 main card, Pimblett got off to a winning start by extending his overall MMA record to 17-3. He did so with a first-round knockout of Brazil’s Luigi Vendramini inside the UFC Apex.

    Now set for his sophomore outing, Pimblett will be hoping to lift the roof off London’s O2 Arena when he clashes with Kazula Vargas in front of a home crowd at this weekend’s UFC London event.

    But while his prominence and name value in the sport continue to increase way above the levels most achieve after one UFC appearance, Pimblett is under no illusions about the steady rise up the lightweight ranks he’s facing.

    Pimblett Claims To Be A “Realist” About UFC Climb

    During an interview with BT Sport’s Nick Peet, Pimblett was asked to provide a predicted timeline for his development from prospect to contender.

    While the Liverpool native believes he’s ultimately destined for greatness and stardom, for now, “The Baddy” understands it’ll take time to ascend the lightweight mountain.

    “I’m a realist lad. I’m not getting ahead of myself and thinking, ‘Ah, after this fight I’ll fight someone in the top 15,’ cause I won’t,” said Pimblett. “Lightweight is the most stacked division in the sport and the UFC. I know I’m gonna end up fighting another three or four non-ranked fighters, and I’m gonna have to get past them first. I’m taking everything one step at a time. But I’ll be back at least twice this year. I’m not doing two fights this year.”

    His quest for contention will next need to go through Vargas. The pair will collide in the fight prior to a co-main event clash between Dan Hooker and Arnold Allen this Saturday.

    If Pimblett’s potential and popularity weren’t already clear, his high placement on a stacked London-held card perhaps does it some justice.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbLE7CHsydU/

    Do you think Paddy Pimblett has what it takes to reach the top in the UFC?

  • Aspinall: Heavyweights Think They Know Me, They Don’t Know Sh*t

    Rising UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall has suggested he has a lot more to offer inside the Octagon than he’s shown so far.

    Since arriving on MMA’s biggest stage in 2020, Aspinall has not only established himself as one of the fastest up-and-coming British fighters in the UFC but one of the hottest prospects in the promotion, period.

    In four fights, the Englishman has recorded three first-round TKOs, including against fellow ranked contender Sergey Spivak and a second-round submission of former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski.

    Having placed himself within touching distance of the top 10, Aspinall is set for the biggest test of his career at UFC London this weekend. In the main event, he’ll face perennial contender and former Bellator titleholder Alexander Volkov.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbL6wRarT3j/

    While “Drago,” who’ll be appearing in a UFC headliner for the sixth time on Saturday, may think he knows what to expect when he shares the cage with Aspinall, the Manchester native begs to differ.

    Aspinall Teases Wider Skillset

    Despite earning his first main event spot and climbing the heavyweight ladder at a fast pace, Aspinall has accumulated just five minutes and 59 seconds inside the Octagon.

    With that said, Aspinall told the media on Wednesday that he’s only scratched the surface of his skillset.

    “A lot of these heavyweights and people who watch the sport, they think that I’m just good at certain things,” said Aspinall. “It’s not that I’m just good at certain things, I’ve just not had the opportunity to show what I am good at, because I’ve been in the Octagon for such a small amount of time… I’ve not had the opportunity to show—no wrestling, no grappling, no cardio, no kicks. I’ve not done any of this stuff just because I’ve not had the chance to.

    “I’d like to keep myself a secret for as long as possible,” added Aspinall. “These heavyweights think they know some stuff about me, they don’t know shit about me. They don’t know nothing about me. They’ve seen this (small gesture) much of my game. So anybody out there who thinks they know what my game is, they don’t know nothing.”

    With a victory over an established name like Volkov, Aspinall would certainly join the group of elites at heavyweight and add his name to the title conversation.

    With Tai Tuivasa emerging victorious in his big opportunity to climb the ranks last month, Aspinall will hope to follow in the footsteps of his Australian counterpart on March 19.

    Who do you think will have their hand raised in the UFC London main event, Tom Aspinall or Alexander Volkov?

  • Ilia Topuria: I’d Kill Paddy Pimblett If We Were Alone In A Room

    Ilia Topuria doesn’t expect tensions to have eased if he collides with lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett again in London this week.

    While they both have opponents of their own to focus on for this weekend, Kazula Vargas for the Englishman and Jai Herbert for the Georgian, Pimblett and Topuria have formed a more intense feud between themselves.

    They’d previously clashed online following distasteful tweets “The Baddy” posted about the Russo-Georgian War. But the animosity between the pair reached a boiling point at the fighter hotel on Tuesday.

    After Topuria approached Pimbett, objects and insults were exchanged, with the ranked UFC featherweight seemingly landing a punch to the Liverpudlian’s arm.

    At media day, Pimblett gave his side of the story, accusing “El Matador,” who he branded “hand sanitizer boy,” of trying to “act hard” and doing “nothing” despite a clear number advantage.

    During an appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Topuria responded. He claimed Pimblett initially tried to act friendly. According to the Georgian, while he tries to be a “gangster” online, the Englishman was “quiet like a bitch” in person.

    “He saw me and he was like, smiling at me, and he wanted me to shake his hand. I don’t know what he wanted for my part,” recalled Topuria. “And (when) I saw him, I threw a bottle to his face and then everything started. But he was quiet like a bitch. He didn’t say anything. Fuck him. He’s just a man on Twitter. This is not Twitter. This is real life. If you wanna play a gangster, be a gangster by the end. If not, just stay quiet, kid.”

    When asked what would happen if he comes across Pimblett again prior to Saturday’s fight night, Topuria revealed he’s expecting a similar situation. However, if he were to find himself alone with “The Baddy,” he expects things to end very differently for the Brit.

    “The same thing you saw in the video (will happen if I see him again). If I have the chance, I don’t know, if they give me the chance to be with him alone in a room, I’m gonna kill this motherfucker,” asserted Topuria.

    Topuria: Pimblett Should Be Thankful After Hotel Clash

    Ultimately, while footage of the incident has gone viral, the pair avoided a full-blown brawl, with members of Topuria’s entourage quickly separating their man from his fellow main-card competitor.

    When recalling the incident, Pimblett suggested he escaped a six-on-one clash unscathed. But further into his conversation with Helwani, Topuria noted that the members of his team mostly played peacekeeping roles.

    He believes Pimblett should be thankful for that, because if they didn’t, he would’ve ended up in hospital.

    “He saw me and he shit on his pants… I was trying to take his head off. He (posted) something like, ‘It was six versus me.’ You can see in the video, my coach was on his back making a coffee,” said Topuria. “(He was) calm. He didn’t even move.

    “No one touched him. My brother was separating me. Can you imagine if everyone go against him? He was alone. We will kill him,” added Topuria. “He should be thankful (to) all my teammates because they separated me. If not, he will be, I don’t know, in the hospital right now.”

    What did you make of Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett’s hotel altercation?

  • Dan Hooker: If I Beat Arnold Allen, I’m On A 9-Fight Win Streak

    UFC fan favorite Dan Hooker is looking forward to taking Arnold Allen’s featherweight momentum this weekend at UFC London.

    After falling to some of the top names at lightweight, leaving him 1-3 across his last four in the division, Hooker will return to 145 pounds for the first time since 2016 on Saturday.

    In his way of a successful return to the weight class will be Arnold Allen. The #7-ranked contender is unbeaten in the UFC at 8-0, a record that includes victories over Nik Lentz and Sodiq Yusuff. The “Almighty” Englishman will be hoping to surge into the title picture by adding the established name of Hooker to his résumé next.

    But while Allen’s goal is to take an unblemished 9-0 slate towards the top five, “The Hangman” is looking to nab that win streak from the 28-year-old’s grasp.

    Hooker: “I’m Taking That Win Streak”

    Despite recording wins over high-level names like Gilbert Burns, Al Iaquinta, and Paul Felder at lightweight, Hooker believes featherweight is the weight he can thrive at. He’s looking to show that, as well as a decade of hard work, when he shares the Octagon with Allen inside London’s O2 Arena on March 19.

    And while leaving with a victory over the Ipswich native is the aim, the New Zealander believes a triumph on Saturday will see him exit the Octagon with a whole lot more than a sole success.

    “Man, he’s on an eight-fight win streak. I saw one of those things (graphics) pop up, and there’s only Max Holloway ahead of him,” noted Hooker at UFC London media day on Wednesday. “I saw José Aldo’s win streak was only a six-fight win streak. So you have to say, an eight-fight win streak puts him up there. He’s the second-longest win streak in featherweight history. So, that is to be respected. He just hasn’t had that name. The guys that he’s beaten have obviously been world class and incredibly talented, but they just didn’t have that drawing power.

    “It’s a win-win situation for the UFC. Either they get a guy on a win streak that beats someone with some name value, or they get a guy with some name value who—I’m taking that win streak. After this, I’m gonna be on a nine-fight win streak. So I’m excited to move on to the future on my nine-fight win streak,” Hooker jested.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbK4xEDMyUe/

    Hooker’s pursuit of a return to title contention, which could see him match-up with City Kickboxing teammate Alexander Volkanovski down the line, begins this weekend.

    With the weight of travel restrictions lifted from his shoulders and an apparent “easy” cut back to featherweight, Hooker will be hoping to show the best version of himself to date when he enters the Octagon for the first time in 2022.

    Who are you backing this weekend, Arnold Allen or Dan Hooker?

  • Covington Explains Why He Deserves Adesanya Title Fight

    UFC welterweight star Colby Covington believes he’s clearly done enough to earn a shot at Israel Adesanya’s middleweight title.

    Since dropping a second championship shot against reigning 170-pound king Kamaru Usman at UFC 268 last November, Covington has mostly had three names on his lips: Adesanya, Jorge Masvidal, and Dustin Poirier.

    At UFC 272 earlier this month, “Chaos” dispatched Masvidal with relative ease, scoring a unanimous decision victory following five rounds of main event action. In his post-fight interview, Covington turned his attention to one of his remaining two targets, unloading his usual insults on former ATT teammate Poirier.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbImDJqO1bX/

    But with “The Diamond” suggesting he’ll never share the Octagon with Covington, it’s appearing unlikely that the grudge match will come to fruition. Rounding out his list is “The Last Stylebender,” but the recent remarks of UFC President Dana White seem to suggest that’s also off the table.

    During an interview with TMZ Sports, White suggested Covington would have to record wins over a top middleweight contender in order to book a date in the cage with Adesanya.

    “I mean, Colby would have to go up and beat [Jared] Cannonier or [Robert] Whittaker or somebody like that to even be in the discussion with a fight with Adesanya.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    Covington Disagrees With White’s Stance

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Covington, who’s targeting a summer return, discussed his options should Poirier maintain his current attitude towards a matchup with him.

    He re-affirmed that a championship clash with Adesanya makes sense. Noting the calls for Usman and the middleweight kingpin to forego their personal relationship to meet in a superfight, Covington claimed he’d be more deserving than “The Nigerian Nightmare” having ‘beaten Usman’ twice.

    “I think I could definitely go up to ’85 and fight Adesanya (in the summer),” said Covington. “But I don’t know if he’s gonna turn around like that. He doesn’t have a dance partner right now. I mean, some of the guys they’re trying to line him up with is unoriginal. Why could Usman fight him? All the fans want that…I beat Usman twice. Usman sucks, dude. Everybody knew, in Madison Square Garden, I won those last three rounds. It was an easy win for me. Easy decision victory, unanimous.

    “So why can’t I fight Adesanya? That guy can’t stop my wrestling,” claimed Covington. “I’ll pick him up and drop him on his fucking head. He’s a cardio kickboxer. They’ve got enough cardio kickboxers in women’s classes around the US. I can go join one of those. I decided to pick up hard, grueling American wrestling. I don’t think Adesanya can stop my American wrestling and I don’t think he’s that good of a fighter.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ7Mk2svC9Q/

    At middleweight, Adesanya is currently unbeaten in professional MMA and has defended the 185-pound UFC gold four times. His one blemish in the sport came in an effort to dethrone then-light heavyweight titleholder Jan Blachowicz last March. The Pole utilized a heavy wrestling approach to grind out a decision.

    Given his own wrestling credentials, “Chaos” believes he’d have no trouble dispatching Adesanya and securing his place on the middleweight throne.

    But with Jared Cannonier seemingly next in line following his brutal win against Derek Brunson last month, it seems unlikely the UFC will cave to Covington’s higher-weight ambitions anytime soon.

    Do you think Colby Covington has earned a shot at Israel Adesanya’s middleweight throne?

  • Pimblett: I Don’t Understand How People Can Put Down Conor McGregor

    Rising UFC lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett believes former two-division champion Conor McGregor deserves more respect for what he’s achieved in the sport of MMA.

    Pimblett is the latest fighter from across the Atlantic labeled the ‘next McGregor’. Through his entertaining fighting style, previous Cage Warriors championship success, and outspoken personality, many expect “The Baddy,” who made a successful UFC debut last September, to follow in the Irishman’s footsteps.

    Last November, Pimblett even got the nod of approval from the man himself. In a now-deleted tweet, McGregor admitted his excitement at the Liverpool native’s potential.

    “Very excited to see what he can do. A great representation for the UK and for Liverpool. Rooting for him!”

    Ahead of his latest appearance inside the Octagon, Pimblett has returned the favor by speaking incredibly highly of the UFC’s first simultaneous double champ.

    Pimblett Returns The Favor With McGregor Compliment

    Despite his accomplishments in MMA’s premier promotion, which includes title glory at both featherweight and lightweight, and wins over names like Dustin Poirier, Nate Diaz, Chad Mendes, Max Holloway, and José Aldo, McGregor’s achievements are often pushed behind his famed trash talk, outside-the-cage antics, and current losing skid in discussions.

    For Pimblett, that needs to change. During a recent interview with Combat Sports UK, “The Baddy” asserted that McGregor deserves more respect for changing the game in MMA, both in terms of ability and wealth.

    “He changed the game, simple as that. He’s changed the game for when it comes to fighter pay and stuff like that,” claimed Pimblett. “I don’t understand how people can put him down. He’s the first double champ. People need to put more respect on his name. Man, it’s easy to kick someone when he’s down but when he was at his highest, he was taking the sport to levels we’ve never seen.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    While he’s not necessarily targeting the same level as McGregor, Pimblett is hoping to rise up the lightweight ladder and reach stardom, something he believes he’s always been destined to achieve.

    To continue that pursuit, he’ll have to get past Rodrigo “Kazula” Vargas in his sophomore Octagon outing this weekend at UFC London.

    If he manages to secure a win in front of his home crowd, he’ll certainly increase the attention around his name and perhaps even prove that an Anfield headliner isn’t too far away…

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbIRLrSuhE0/

    Do you think Paddy Pimblett can get close to reaching the heights Conor McGregor has in the UFC?

  • Paul Craig Walks Back 2022 Retirement Plan: I’m Here For The Long Haul

    UFC light heavyweight contender Paul Craig no longer has one eye on a 2022 retirement, claiming he’s now “here for the long haul.”

    At the start of the year, Craig, who’s currently ranked #11 at 205 pounds and unbeaten in his last five fights, surprised fans and pundits by laying out a retirement plan that culminated at his 35th birthday in November.

    The Scotsman, who had a string of bad luck when it came to fights falling through late last year, cited his hopes to avoid unnecessary damage as the reason for his relatively early desired exit from the sport.

    However, as Craig gets set for his first appearance of 2022 and since a brutal victory over Jamahal Hill last June, he’s provided a positive update for those hoping to see a lot more of him inside the Octagon.

    Paul Craig Jamahal Hill
    (via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)

    Speaking to BT Sport’s Nick Peet ahead of this Saturday’s UFC London card, “Bearjew” agreed to extend his retirement plan by two years. He named the pursuit of light heavyweight gold as the reason for his change of heart.

    “Let’s do it. Let’s add two years,” said Craig. “You know what changes people’s minds? There’s a few things in life that will change people’s minds. One of them is a sniff of gold, a gold rush. So I’ve got a gold fever and I’m here for the long haul. The other thing is women. If a woman decides you’re not retiring, then you’re working. So there’s two factors that stop people from retiring. One of them is definitely in my mind at the moment.”

    Discussing the open landscape of the light heavyweight division, Craig suggested he’s got a newfound appetite for rising the ranks and joining the likes of Jan Blachowicz, Magomed Ankalaev, and Jiří Procházka in contention.

    “It’s getting that gold. The light heavyweight division is moving so quickly,” noted Craig. “We’ve got guys like Jan, who just lost the belt to Glover (Teixeira). Glover’s 42. People believe they can beat him. Jiří Procházka believes he can beat him. So we’ve got that fight happening, we’ve got Ankalaev, who won at the weekend, he’s looking for that gold.

    “This is one of the most exciting divisions because we’ve not got somebody like Kamaru Usman,” Craig continued. “You’ve got divisions where the champ stays there and it’s very, very hard to dethrone them. In this division, the champ can be there and he can be there for six months and he’s gone. I’m excited to be part of this.”

    Paul Craig’s Path To Gold Starts At UFC London

    Seemingly possessing a fresh motivation and sense of ambition, Craig’s targeted march towards Teixeira’s throne will begin this weekend at UFC London.

    The Airdrie, Scotland native has fond memories of England’s capital. In his last visit, he submitted Ankalaev with a final-second triangle choke, a victory he described this week as “life-changing.”

    He’ll hope for a similarly memorable result when he shares the Octagon with Nikita Krylov inside London’s O2 Arena on March 19.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZRl5qjszLK/

    He further told BT Sport that in order to break through into the group of elite, he must beat “The Minor” convincingly.

    “This fight with Krylov, I’m just outside the top 10, I believe I have put in my work, I believe I have done the hard work, I’ve done the unbeaten fighters, I’ve done the guys who the UFC expect to be pushed, like Jamahal Hill… I want to be that. I want to get that push. I want to get higher, into that top five. I want to beat Krylov convincingly.

    “I want to be in that top five and I want to be in that mention of, ‘Ankalaev’s close to the title, Procházka’s close to the title, what about Paul Craig? I’m excited to see what a jiu-jitsu practitioner can do in that top five.’ That’s what I want,” Craig concluded.

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC London this weekend, Paul Craig or Nikita Krylov?

  • Chandler Gives The Edge To “Confident” Oliveira Over Gaethje

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler has revealed he’s picking champion Charles Oliveira to emerge victorious over Justin Gaethje at UFC 274.

    Despite riding an eight-fight win streak this time last year, which included triumphs over Kevin Lee and Tony Ferguson, not many would have expected Oliveira to accomplish the feats he did in 2021.

    After Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement, “Do Bronx” found himself opposite relative newcomer Chandler in a battle for 155-pound gold at UFC 262. After five minutes of main event action, Oliveira had been knocked down, beaten, and almost finished. Less than 20 seconds into round two, though, and the Brazilian turned the tide and TKO’d the former Bellator champion.

    While the championship crowning was heart-warming and an incredible resurrection from his previous inconsistencies, it hadn’t done enough to earn favorite status for his opening defense against Dustin Poirier. But at UFC 269, Oliveira upset the odds yet again, submitting “The Diamond” in the third round.

    The reigning lightweight king will look to extend his reign this year by defeating dangerous top contender Gaethje. The pair are slated to meet at UFC 274 on May 7.

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

    Chandler: Oliveira Has Come Back From The Dead

    Gaethje secured his position as number one contender over the likes of Beneil Dariush and Islam Makhachev by getting the better of Chandler in a Fight of the Year-worthy contest last November at UFC 268. Having failed to reach the undisputed throne in a unification showdown against Khabib in 2019, “The Highlight” will hope it’s second-time lucky later this year.

    But in his way will be a veteran of the sport who has proven everyone wrong in his recent outings. During an episode of DC & RC, Chandler praised Oliveira’s resurgence from a 10-8-1 record in his first 19 Octagon appearances to 10-0 since his loss to Paul Felder in 2017.

    “I think a lot of people would agree with me when I say that I would not have given Charles Oliveira a chance at beating Justin Gaethje up until about the last 12 months,” said Chandler. “Charles Oliveira has come back, essentially from the dead; resurrected his career from the dead.

    Charles Oliveira
    Sports Illustrated

    “He was spotty up and down, could never be relied upon when it came to performances, and just, the way that he has turned into a deadly striker, as well as one of the greatest submission artists that the sport has ever seen, as well as going out there and finishing myself, going out there and finishing Dustin Poirier; that kind of stuff comes with a little bit of added extra confidence with each time he steps inside of the Octagon,” added Chandler.

    Having faced both men in 2021, the #5-ranked Chandler is in a unique position to provide a prediction for the next lightweight title clash. While he knows full well how dangerous Gaethje can be, “Iron” believes Oliveira has “too many tools.”

    “I think he’s gonna be the most confident Charles Oliveira that we have ever seen, after the year of 2021 that we just saw and him gaining that title and then defending that title, when he steps inside the Octagon against Justin Gaethje. But Justin Gaethje, we all know he’s a killer.

    “I think it’s an extremely exciting fight. I still think I give the edge to Charles Oliveira, to be honest. He just has too many tools. And we all know how Justin Gaethje can win. But Charles Oliveira has also proven a lot of us and a lot of the doubters wrong, that he can be in there in those wars. He’s a lot tougher and a lot more resilient than we thought he was,” concluded Chandler.

    While Oliveira’s reign advances towards a date with the #1-ranked lightweight on May 7, Chandler will be hoping to secure a potential rematch against either man in his own next appearance against Tony Ferguson on the same date.

    Should the 35-year-old’s prediction come true at UFC 274, perhaps he’ll have the chance to exact revenge on Oliveira for their UFC 262 clash before the year is out.

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 274, Charles Oliveira or Justin Gaethje?

  • Paddy Pimblett Details Altercation With “Hand Sanitizer Boy” Topuria

    Lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett has detailed his hotel altercation with fellow UFC London competitor Ilia Topuria, and even debuted a new nickname for the Georgian.

    This weekend sees the UFC return to England’s capital for the first time since 2019. In two notable main card lightweight scraps, Paddy Pimblett will be making his sophomore appearance in the Octagon, while #15-ranked featherweight Topuria will be competing at 155 pounds for the first time.

    Sharing the cage with Topuria in the main card opener will be Englishman Jai Herbert. Three fights later, “The Baddy,” who is expected to be showered with perhaps the loudest cheers of the night, will collide with Rodrigo “Kazula” Vargas.

    While they may be preparing for different opponents, Pimblett and Topuria nearly got into full-blown fight themselves at the fighter hotel on Tuesday, which was apparently over a tweet posted by the Brit in 2021.

    In a video recorded by a member of Topuria’s entourage, the Georgian can be seen approaching the Liverpudlian. The pair were split after a number of thrown items and insults were exchanged.

    During his appearance at media day on Wednesday, Pimblett gave his side of the story, channeling his inner-Colby Covington with a new nickname for Topuria.

    “Who’s that? Oh, hand sanitizer boy? Is that who you mean? Yeah, that’s his name from now on,” said Pimblett. “Don’t refer to him as his name lad, his name’s hand sanitizer. It got bounced off his head. But I don’t concern myself with none of that lad. He wanted to come at me and try to act hard, and he got put in his place.

    “I was stood there, on me own, and there was about six of them. And he done nothing,” Pimblett continued. “If he wanted to do something, he would’ve come around the table and tried to have a fight with me. But he didn’t. He stood on the other side of the table because he knows what’s good for him.”

    After confirming that Topuria approached him prior to the incident, Pimblett branded the Georgian’s actions as “little man syndrome.”

    “As soon as he come out of those double doors he snarled me. So I looked at him and said, ‘What?’” Pimblett recalled. “And then he walked towards me and I said, ‘What’s happening lad?’ And then as he got close to me, he like, swiped a slap at me. Obviously lad, if you raise your hand to me, I’m gonna do something.

    “I stepped back and picked the hand sanitizer up and bounced it off his head. He swung… I moved out of the way with a bit of ease. He’s just got a little bit of small man syndrome. He’s only 5’7″, isn’t he?”

    Pimblett Explains Why He Didn’t Let Topuria Clash Escalate

    Despite the launching of sanitary objects and a few loose swings from Topuria, the pair’s altercation didn’t quite reach the point where fists connected.

    Pimblett explained that, with an exciting appearance at UFC London looming, he couldn’t risk losing his spot on the card, either through injury or disciplinary actions.

    “I wasn’t punching him because I’m not breaking my hand and not being able to fight and earn my money on the weekend… I can’t let something like that happen lad. I can’t start throwing punches and get cut off the card… Especially (against) someone so meaningless. Who even is he? Seriously, who is Mr. Hand Sanitizer? He’s a no one.”

    https://twitter.com/theufcbaddy/status/1504024299224584195

    While the interaction remains a hot topic, both Pimblett and Topuria will be looking to turn their full attention to the task at hand this Saturday. if both are victorious, perhaps we’ll see them share the Octagon down the line.

    Would you like to see Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria settle their differences inside the Octagon?

  • Sonnen: Volkanovski Validated McGregor’s Return To The Title Picture

    Chael Sonnen has suggested reigning UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has validated an immediate return to title contention for Conor McGregor.

    McGregor hasn’t been in action since suffering a brutal leg break at UFC 264 last July. The injury, which resulted in a TKO loss, marked his second defeat to Dustin Poirier in 2021 and his third setback in four appearances.

    Despite that, as the Irishman edges closer towards a much-anticipated return, it’s appearing more and more likely that we may see the former two-division UFC champion competing for gold in his first fight back.

    That discussion picked up when UFC President Dana White slammed those criticizing the idea of a McGregor title shot and announced the promotion’s intention to re-book the Islam Makhachev vs. Beneil Dariush bout. According to many, including Joe Rogan, that announcement has left the door open for the Dublin native to return to the championship picture later this year.

    In a recent exclusive interview with MMA News, 145-pound king Volkanovski discussed McGregor, labeling him a dream opponent, not only due to his stardom and the money involved but for his quest to best every former featherweight champ.

    “Obviously, Conor’s always gonna get his name out there,” Volkanovski said. “You’ve gotta remember, he was a featherweight, he was a champion of my division. So, I’ve taken out the featherweight champs, so to take out, the only one left, isn’t he? Yeah, it’s just Conor. There was me, (José) Aldo, Max (Holloway), and Conor. So it makes a lot of sense. Obviously, it would be a dream. And then I’ve taken out all the other champs in my division. So that would be incredible.”

    While at first glance, the remarks perhaps appear harmless and to simply be a casual comment on a dream matchup, former middleweight and light heavyweight UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has suggested Volkanovski’s words could mean a lot in the context of McGregor’s return.

    Sonnen Suggests Volkanovski Co-Signed A McGregor Title Shot

    In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen discussed Volkanovski’s comments. He claimed that the Australian had, whether by intention or not, provided validation for a potential McGregor title shot.

    “There is an ongoing conversation of should Conor McGregor be able to return off of a loss, off of a previous loss, off of an injury, and fight for a world championship,” said Sonnen. “There seems to be a very meaningful discussion, which got supported when Islam Makhachev got re-booked against Dariush.

    “Many people are pushing back on it, saying Conor should not be able to come off a loss into a world championship fight… It doesn’t sound like Volkanovski agrees with you,” noted Sonnen. “Volkanovski, whether he meant to or not, just gave validation, as a sitting champion of the world, that Conor McGregor can, in fact, come right back into a world title fight.”

    Conor McGregor
    Conor McGregor (Photo: Sportsfile)

    Sonnen did, however, acknowledge Volkanovski’s words came from his own desire to meet McGregor, which, at featherweight at least, is unlikely. Nevertheless, the 44-year-old claimed that the Aussie’s quote, given his place at the champions’ table, means something, regardless of which title conversation McGregor is in.

    “Volkanovski, of course, was personalizing and talking about him(self), and I don’t think Conor’s gonna be making featherweight any time soon,” admitted Sonnen. “But set that aside, you now have a world champion, whether he intended to or not, that just co-signed the statement that Conor McGregor qualifies for a world title fight upon his return. One world champion, one sitting and reigning world champion, has got to speak for how many of us? What’s his opinion worth? He’s got skin in the game. He’s got credibility.

    “You’ve now got somebody with a seat at the head table, who is saying that Conor should qualify based on his laurels, based on the success that he has had before. I don’t disagree with that, I don’t disagree with that at all,” Sonnen concluded.

    Do you agree with Chael Sonnen? Did Alexander Volkanovski’s comments validate a title shot for Conor McGregor?

  • Renato Moicano Told Corner Not To Stop RDA Fight At UFC 272

    UFC lightweight Renato Moicano has revealed that he told his corner not to stop his UFC 272 co-main event fight against Rafael dos Anjos.

    At this month’s pay-per-view, Moicano earned the respect of the masses by going 25 minutes with former champion dos Anjos on just four days’ notice. The Brazilian’s opportunity arose when Rafael Fiziev tested positive for COVID-19 at the start of fight week.

    Despite having some luck on the feet, Moicano was ultimately heavily beaten, both on the scorecards and physically. The tole on his body appeared so bad that many, including ‘RDA’ himself, believe the fight shouldn’t have seen the later rounds.

    Despite making it to the judges’ scorecards, some believe the decision to allow Moicano to fight beyond the third frame was irresponsible on the part of referee Marc Goddard, the cageside doctor, and the Brazilian’s American Top Team corner.

    That sentiment certainly wasn’t shared by Moicano, who suggested the opportunity to continue allowed him to show what he’s made of.

    Nevertheless, Moicano admitted he wouldn’t have been annoyed had cornerman Marcos DaMatta thrown in the towel, as color commentator Michael Bisping suggested he should have.

    “The fifth round was my best round because I was already tired and the ref asked me if the fight kept going like that, he would stop it,” Moicano explained. “I knew I had to give everything I had and gave all my energy to knock him out and I showed a lot of heart. They could not take this from me. It was good for me because I took the fight on such short notice (that) if they stopped it, I would’ve been really upset.

    “The cornerman has to know their fighters and the corner asked me if I was in the fight, and I said yes, I still wanted to fight. They told me to go out there and try to win and that is what I did. If I said I wasn’t ready or I’m done, he would’ve stopped it, but I told him I’m still in the fight. But, if he decided to throw the towel, I’m not going to be mad because he cares about me.” (h/t BJPenn.com)

    Moicano: UFC Turned Down 3-Round Request

    With the clash between ‘RDA’ and Fiziev originally being slated for a UFC Fight Night headliner in February, it had been kept as five rounds after being delayed to UFC 272. Despite the late call-up for Moicano, the co-main remained set for 25 minutes.

    It turns out that was in spite of a request from Moicano’s team. The Brasilia native confirmed to BJPenn.com that a pursuit of a three-round bout failed during negotiations with the promotion.

    “I asked for it to be three rounds and that’s what we wanted, but at the end of the day, I knew they wanted it to be five rounds,” Moicano said. “With that, I was willing to take the chance because he is a big name, a former champion, and a top contender.”

    Having taken the fight with the five-round stipulation attached, Moicano says he knew his conditioning would prove to be an issue if dos Anjos managed to impose a wrestling attack.

    Once that happened, Moicano says he anticipated a long night.

    “I was a little bit worried as I knew I couldn’t wrestle as going into the fight, I was focused on striking all five rounds as I didn’t have the energy to take him down,” Moicano added about his cardio. “If I missed a shot, I would be exhausted. I did what I could with what I had. It was a mental game for me as I knew I couldn’t put a high pace or get takedowns or grapple.

    “After he got the first takedown, I thought, ‘Man, this is going to be a long night,’” Moicano said. “In the back of my head, I thought he would shoot for the takedown but I didn’t know for sure. When I hit him and he took me down, I thought this would be hard because I didn’t have enough training to prepare for his wrestling.”

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

    Do you think the UFC 272 co-main event should have been stopped?

  • Volkanovski On “Bullsh*t” Velasquez Arrest: “He’s Paying A Crazy Price”

    UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski believes the recently incarcerated Cain Velasquez is “paying a crazy price” following his arrest.

    While fights continue each weekend, trash talk flies, and signings and extensions hit the headlines, one story has gripped the entire MMA and combat sport community in recent weeks.

    Velasquez, a former two-time UFC heavyweight titleholder and widely-respected mixed martial artist, was arrested on February 28 for attempted, premeditated murder. The arrest and charge came after Velasquez allegedly pursued and intended on shooting a man named Henry Goularte, who’s accused of molesting one of Velasquez’s young relatives.

    After reportedly shooting and injuring the man’s stepfather, Velasquez was arrested, charged, and later denied bail by Judge Shelyna Brown, much to the fury of his attorney and supporters.

    In recent days and weeks, a host of fighters, pundits and personalities have flocked to support the former UFC star. Per ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, the likes of Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier, Scott Coker, Kamaru Usman, and Brandon Moreno have all penned letters of support for Velasquez to the Santa Clara County Superior Court.

    Now, the UFC’s 145-pound kingpin has given his thoughts on the tragic incident. Like many, Volkanovski has highlighted what he perceives to be an injustice.

    Volkanovski: Velasquez Case Shows The Law Can Be Pretty Messed Up

    During an exclusive interview with MMA News, Volkanovski, who holds gold in the promotion Velasquez twice ruled in, suggested the Californian is paying a “crazy” price for his actions, something that he believes shows a clear double standard in how these cases are handled.

    “Yeah, it is unfortunate. You see some people doing shit like that and they almost get (just) a slap on the wrist,” Volkanovski said during his conversation with James Lynch. “And then you see someone like that, who in the heat of the moment, you can see the emotions that would’ve been involved in something like that.

    “Then he’s gonna be paying a crazy price, when these other guys get a slap on the wrist, which is just complete bullshit. Obviously, someone’s not gonna be thinking completely straight when some shit like that happens.”

    While a host of names have spoken out against Velasquez’s detainment, perhaps the most prominent was the UFC President. Describing the incident as “horrible,” White claimed Velasquez simply did what everyone, especially parents, says they would in that situation.

    According to Volkanovski, a father himself, White’s take was exactly right.

    “This hits close to home. Anyone with a kid is gonna know. I think Dana hit the nail on the head,” Volkanovski further told MMA News. “He did exactly what everyone says that they would do if they were in that situation. That’s true. It’s ridiculous. Obviously, laws are laws, but, I mean, some things need to come into play.

    “You can’t treat this as just a crazy act of madness. Let’s be real. He would’ve been emotionally unstable in that situation. That has to come into play, especially when your kid is involved… I’m hoping he doesn’t get in too much trouble for it. I don’t know. The law can be pretty messed up sometimes,” concluded Volkanovski.

    If found guilty of the charges, Velasquez is facing 20 years in prison. His next court date is April 12, per court records.

    Do you agree with Alexander Volkanovski’s take on the arrest and imprisonment of Cain Velasquez?

  • Dan Hooker Details Big Weight Lifted Off His Shoulders For UFC London

    Ahead of UFC London, fan favorite Dan Hooker has revealed one heavy weight that’s been lifted off his shoulders since his last Octagon appearance.

    This weekend sees a host of returns. While the promotion is returning to England’s capital for the first time since 2019, Hooker will be heading back to the featherweight division for the first time since transitioning to lightweight in 2017.

    A 7-1 start at 155 pounds seemingly suggested “The Hangman” had found his ideal division and was set to make a run for gold. But three defeats in his last four fights have forced a change.

    Despite feeling he can still compete with the best at lightweight, Hooker acknowledged that he can’t contend there until the landscape at the top changes. With that in mind, he’s ready to return to a weight he believes he can thrive at.

    In the UFC London co-main event this Saturday, the New Zealander will jump straight into the mix against #7-ranked contender Arnold Allen.

    While a return to his old stomping ground is reason enough to be excited, on March 19, Hooker will be fighting for the first time without the cloud of travel uncertainty looming overhead.

    Hooker Excited To Embrace Post-Fight “Freedom”

    Fighters across the world have dealt with adversity throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. But not many have had the kind of struggles that have plagued Dan Hooker.

    Those issues were well publicized prior to UFC 266 last September. Hooker, who fought and defeated Haqparast at the US-held event, was forced to train away from his gym due to the lockdown in place at the time, even encountering the police when he attempted to use his facility.

    Coupled with that were visa issues. When the veteran made a social media appeal calling for the process to be completed in time for the event, it seemed his fight was in jeopardy. Eventually, he made it to America the day before the weigh-ins.

    As if that wasn’t hard enough, Hooker has also spent extended periods away from his family due to his inability to re-enter the country following his bouts. However, that is no longer the case.

    During an appearance on The MMA Hour on Monday, Hooker revealed his relief at the opening of borders in New Zealand for the country’s citizens.

    “Freedom. We’re like, we’re back. There’s (still) restrictions, but not to our training. Our training will never be shut down again. We’re through it. Our border is now open for New Zealand citizens, so I can go and fight, and I can come home, which is just unreal. It’s unreal the weight that that lifts off your shoulders.”

    While he often appeared calm and unfazed by his lengthy stays in the US and away from his wife and child, “The Hangman” admitted it played on his mind during his fights.

    “You play it pretty cool when people are like, ‘Oh, you’re gonna go over and fight and then you’re not gonna be home for four months,’ and you’re like, ‘Yeah, yeah. I’m not gonna think about that.’ Of course, that plays on your mind when you’re fighting, especially—I’m not saying it’s any kind of excuse, but with the kind of fights I get myself into take a certain amount of time to recover from, months.

    Dan Hooker says City Kickboxing will likely relocate from New Zealand due to lockdown rules: 'Our hand is forced' - Opera News
    Dan Hooker

    “And that’s the part of fighting that people don’t see. They see you on the television and a couple days after the fight, every now and then when you post something on social media, but I’ve had some fights in my career that have taken months to recover from. Being back home, being on your couch, being surrounded by your friends, your family, having my child there, my wife there; that is everything. That helps you heal.”

    Following his clash at UFC London, Hooker will be able to immediately fly out and reunite with his family, who he’s yet to see in 2022.

    “Of course, it would play on your mind when you’re going away to fight and you can’t do any of that, you can’t see any of those people, and you’re going to be stranded in a foreign country with no friendly faces for months on end. It definitely changes the ingredients. But now it’s all changed. We’re back to normal. I fly straight back home. It’s just like, a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca1hxwEBQ8c/

    With travel stress gone and the anticipation for a new venture at featherweight, we could well see a new Dan Hooker take to the cage on March 19. If he makes a successful return to the division, featherweight will have the addition of another top contender.

    Do you expect Dan Hooker to make a successful return to featherweight by defeating Arnold Allen this weekend?

  • White Explains Why McGregor/Paul Is An Unrealistic Fight, Paul Responds

    In among his first comments addressing Jake Paul since vowing to never speak of him again, UFC President Dana White has explained why a fight between Conor McGregor and the YouTuber is “probably not” going to happen.

    So far in his 5-0 boxing career, Paul has knocked out two former UFC welterweights, one of which held gold on MMA’s biggest stage between 2016 and 2019. But while his MMA foes have, to date, been retired or released following a losing skid, “The Problem Child” has often set his sights on bigger fish.

    As opponents have changed, rivalries developed, and his influence in combat sports has grown, one thing has remained a constant in Paul’s career: callouts to “The Notorious” McGregor.

    Paul’s interest and mentions of a potential clash are seemingly increasing with every step closer to a return the Irishman makes. The former two-division champion has been out of action since breaking his leg last July.

    One man who will need to give the go-ahead should the YouTuber-turned-boxer throw down with McGregor is Dana White. While the UFC President has previously co-promoted a crossover fight involving McGregor, he recently provided a negative assessment of the chances of Paul getting his wish down the line.

    White Not “Completely Closed Off” To Paul vs. McGregor

    Unsurprisingly, the topic came up during an appearance White made on the Impaulsive podcast, hosted by Jake’s brother, Logan Paul.

    When asked if he could see a McGregor vs. Paul event in the future, White suggested that while he won’t shut the door on anything, it’s unlikely.

    “Probably not (happening), no. I’m never completely closed off to anything. I used to say that about things, but I don’t say that anymore. Cause you never know, you never know what could happen,” said White.

    The crossover market has grown exponentially in recent years, with Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, and Frank Mir all representing former UFC stars who have dipped their toes into the boxing ring.

    Despite helping start the trend with the 2017 ‘Money Fight’ between McGregor and Floyd Mayweather, as well as bringing some notable professional wrestling stars to the Octagon, White says UFC bookings involving internet stars like the Pauls goes against his promotion’s main goal: pitting the best against the best.

    “Everything we do kills the bottom. I mean, we have the most successful combat sports business of all time. What we do here is completely different than what him (Logan Paul) and his brother are doing,” claimed White. “I’m looking for the absolute best in the world. These guys who have trained their whole lives, they fight at these smaller shows, and then they make it to the UFC, and we put the best against the best.

    Breaking Down Why Brock Lesnar vs. CM Punk Was Match of the Year | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights
    CM Punk, Brock Lesnar

    “It’s just not what you do. There’s a market for what you guys do and there’s money to be made in it. I’m not saying that I don’t do those types of thing,” White continued. “I brought Brock (Lesnar) in. But Brock won the heavyweight championship. I brought CM Punk in, that one didn’t work out as well as Brock [LAUGHS]. It’s not like I don’t try to do these—the Floyd/Conor fight, you know? The fans wanted to see it; everybody wanted to see it. That’s why it took on a life of its own. Floyd and I got together and figured it out, it made sense, and we did it.”

    Even if that level of interest was there for a McGregor vs. Paul bout, White explained why the pair’s size difference would make it an unrealistic matchup.

    “Well, he shouldn’t even be fighting Conor McGregor. These guys (Pauls) are fucking huge, he’s (Jake) fucking huge. What’s your brother, 6’1″? 210 (pounds)? Conor McGregor’s 155 pounds… There’s weight classes for a reason.”

    Paul Responds To White’s Comments On McGregor Fight

    White also went on to suggest that even fighting at welterweight is a stretch for McGregor, something Paul later disputed on Twitter. He called for a fight with the Dublin native at 175 pounds.

    Interestingly, during his conversation with White, Logan suggested his brother couldn’t make 170 pounds to meet McGregor for a welterweight bout. With that in mind, 175 would perhaps be a stretch for “The Problem Child,” who weighed in for his rematch with Woodley at 191.6 pounds.

    How do you think a fight between Conor McGregor and Jake Paul would play out?

  • Kayla Harrison Says UFC Made Her A Historic Offer During Free Agency

    Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison has detailed the negotiations that took place and the offer she received from the UFC during her time as a free agent.

    While the past six months have seen new stories and headlines develop, one constant point of discussion has been the future of Harrison.

    Following her victory over Taylor Guardado in October, a triumph that extended her unbeaten record to 12-0 and secured her second consecutive PFL lightweight championship, the Ohio native entered the uncertain waters of free agency.

    From the UFC to Bellator, the two-time Olympic gold medalist certainly wasn’t short of offers. According to her manager, the WWE even reached out over a potential signing.

    But after back and forth rumors, changes, and appearances at various promotions, it was announced last week that Harrison had signed a multi-year deal and would be staying put in the PFL cage.

    Despite the final weeks of her free agency suggesting either a signing with Bellator or another stint with PFL, Harrison recently revealed she had positive discussions with the UFC.

    Harrison Also Received ‘First-Of-Its-Kind’ Offer From UFC

    In the aftermath of her signing, both Harrison and her manager Ali Abdelaziz have boasted about the special nature of her contract, which Abdelaziz claims makes her the highest-paid female mixed martial artist of all time.

    As it turns out, that wasn’t the only special deal on her table.

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Marc Raimondi, Harrison detailed the negotiations that took place between her team and the UFC, revealing that the Dana White-led promotion also sent a ‘first-of-its-kind’ deal her way.

    “There were good interactions (with the UFC). It was a great deal (that they offered). And I think, again, I was very pleased to hear that it’s an offer that hasn’t really happened before,” said Harrison.

    Ultimately, the 31-year-old cited different guarantees and timing as the reasons why the UFC’s offer wasn’t further assessed.

    “But I think that the guarantee is a little bit different. I don’t really know how to say this. It was a great offer, but getting into all the moving parts, getting into behind the scenes, getting into all the little things that people may not understand or know about—it didn’t make sense and the timing wasn’t right. And also, it didn’t matter because PFL would’ve matched that one,” Harrison concluded.

    For now, at least, fans will continue seeing Harrison in the PFL. While she plans on making a run for her third straight championship in this year’s season, the former judoka is targeting big fights in 2023.

    If she continues running through her competition, it remains possible that the 31-year-old will eventually enter the Octagon or mix it up with rival Cris Cyborg over in Bellator.

    Who would you have liked to see Kayla Harrison put pen-to-paper with? Are you happy to see her back in the PFL?

  • Tai Tuivasa Sends “Idiot” Greg Hardy Some Employment Advice

    UFC heavyweight Tai Tuivasa recently offered his thoughts on the future of Greg Hardy following the former NFL defensive end’s third straight loss.

    After joining the UFC three fights into his MMA career, which came after a departure from the NFL, Hardy’s future in the cage looked promising. But since a victory over Juan Adams in 2019 extended his Octagon start to 2-0, it’s been largely downhill.

    2-4-1 in his last seven, Hardy has tasted defeat to names like Marcin Tybura and Alexander Volkov. His two victories in that period have come against Maurice Greene and Yorgan de Castro, both of whom have since been let go after losing streaks.

    It appears “Prince of War” has now met the same fate. At UFC 272 earlier this month, Hardy hoped to rebound against Sergey Spivak. Instead, the pay-per-view main card opened with another first-round stoppage loss for the 33-year-old.

    This past weekend, Hardy appeared to announce his release from MMA’s premier promotion, confirming a departure many had expected following UFC 272.

    But Hardy doesn’t need to fear because one man is already looking out for his future endeavors, although it’s probably not someone prepared to offer him a glittering reference…

    Tuivasa Plays Headhunter For Fast Food Chain

    Tai Tuivasa and Greg Hardy met inside the Octagon last July at UFC 264. In a crazy fight for as long as it lasted, the Tennessee native rocked the Australian, before being knocked out himself after rushing in to find the finish.

    “Bam Bam” drew headlines for not only the KO, but his walkout music and post-fight shoeys. His popularity has since increased, as has the speed with which he’s rising the heavyweight ladder.

    But despite being knocked out, Hardy continued his war of words with Tuivasa, claiming the now-#3-ranked heavyweight “cowarded” out of a brawl at UFC 264. Even as recently as UFC 272 fight week, “Prince of War” had Tuivasa’s name on his lips, this time to slam the Aussie for not wanting a rematch.

    While Hardy hasn’t shied away from insulting him, Tuivasa has still been generous enough to offer his foe some employment advice, which may come in handy given the latest developments.

    Prior to Hardy’s apparent release, Tuivasa encouraged his former opponent to swap the MMA gloves for a spatula, and the punching for some flipping…

    “How can he talk smack when he just got smacked again?” Tuivasa said of Hardy’s pre-UFC 272 trash talk during an appearance on The MMA Hour. “He’s an idiot. He should go bloody work at a McDonalds or something.”

    There we have it. Recently made redundant? Let go by your employers? In search of a new career path? Give Tuivasa a call.

    Perhaps if you’re not on the wrong side of “Bam Bam,” you may do better than McDonalds. If you buy one of his Shoeyvasas, maybe he’ll even line you up for a CEO position.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CY0vqf0NwT5/

    What’s next for Greg Hardy following his UFC release?

  • Volkanovski On Future Hooker Fight: If We Need To Do It, We’ll Do It

    UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has discussed City Kickboxing teammate Dan Hooker’s return to featherweight and the prospect of facing him down the line.

    Volkanovski has ruled over the 145-pound weight class since dethroning Max Holloway in late 2019. In defending his title twice, first in a rematch with “Blessed” and then in a grudge match with Brian Ortega, the Australian has extended his win streak in professional MMA to 20 and his unblemished UFC record to 10-0.

    While there remain a number of challenges for “The Great” to see off, including upcoming opponent “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung, Volkanovski will soon see a new name enter the shark tank at featherweight.

    After a struggle for form at lightweight, Hooker, who, like Volkanovski, fights under the City Kickboxing banner, will be returning to 145 pounds this weekend. Soon after his transition down a class became public knowledge, “The Hangman” gave his thoughts on a potential meeting with teammate Volkanovski, suggesting they’d cross that bridge when they get to it.

    Now, in an exclusive interview with MMA News, the champion has shared a similar sentiment to Hooker’s.

    He claimed that if necessary, the pair would throw down inside the cage, an admission that’s rare in this day and age, with the likes of Gilbert Burns and Vicente Luque, and Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya shutting the door on the possibility of facing each other due to personal relationships.

    “It doesn’t really cross your mind until people ask you about it, really. At the same time, this is a sport,” Volkanovski told MMA News’ James Lynch. “You can’t expect these guys not to be in your division. Now he’s chose that division and he thinks that’s the best decision for his career, and I support that.

    “Whatever happens, if further down the track we need to do it, then we’ll do it, you know. That’s just how it is. That’s fine. That’s all good. I wish nothing but the best for him and I’m sure he wishes nothing but the best for me. So, if our paths do cross, we’ll worry about that then,” concluded Volkanovski.

    Hooker’s First Step To Contention Takes Place This Weekend

    After a test weight cut appeared to confirm his departure from the lightweight division late last year, the announcement of a featherweight opponent hammered home Hooker’s return to 145 pounds.

    Despite his hopes to fight “The Korean Zombie” or Brian Ortega, the New Zealander has had to settle for a lesser name, but certainly not a decline in competition. In the co-main event at UFC London this weekend, Hooker will enter the cage with rising contender Arnold Allen.

    “Almighty” Allen is unbeaten at 8-0 in the UFC and has risen to #7 in the rankings following triumphs over Nik Lentz and Sodiq Yusuff in recent years. While he’ll look to further his stock with the addition of an established name to his résumé, Hooker will be targeting an immediate arrival into the title conversation.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbFtqHPP8tP/

    Would you like to see Alexander Volkanovski and Dan Hooker share the Octagon down the line?

  • Askren Slams Masvidal For UFC 272: You Had 25 Mins To Do Something

    Former UFC, Bellator, and ONE welterweight Ben Askren has criticized Jorge Masvidal’s conduct following his loss to Colby Covington at UFC 272.

    At last weekend’s pay-per-view, one of the promotion’s long-awaited grudge matches took center stage. As former teammates, roommates, and friends, and now bitter rivals, the lead-up to the Las Vegas held event was always going to be a fiery affair.

    That certainly turned out to be true, with a host of insults and jibes flying back and forth during fight week, at the press conference, and even during the five-round contest.

    After 25 minutes of action, Covington, who had dominated much of the contest, was awarded a comfortable unanimous decision victory.

    While “Chaos” had put his previous feud versus reigning welterweight king Kamaru Usman to bed following their fight last November with a show of respect, that certainly wasn’t the case at UFC 272.

    After the final horn, security had to swarm the cage as the pair continued their exchanges. That certainly confused Askren, a former opponent of Masvidal, who questioned why “Gamebred” searched for a scrap after having 25 minutes to do what he wanted to Covington.

    “It was kinda what we expected. The thing that I get annoyed about is Jorge wants to fight him after the fight, and it’s like, listen, you just had 25 minutes to do almost anything you want,” Askren pointed out during an appearance on The MMA Hour. “You can’t eye gauge and bite, you know, we’ve got a couple rules, but not a lot. So you could do whatever you wanted for 25 minutes, and now you’re gonna act like you want more? Hey, you had 25 minutes, freakin’ do it to him.”

    UFC 272 Wasn’t The Only Criticism Askren Sent Masvidal’s Way…

    While Masvidal’s defeat and post-fight antics drew the brunt of Askren’s criticism, “Funky” left some in the tank for later.

    This time, the focus was on a new piece of ink Masvidal debuted during fight week. The tattoo is of the Miami native’s infamous flying knee knockout of Askren back in 2019. The KO, which remains the fastest in UFC history, is arguably what truly shot Masvidal into stardom.

    Discussing the tattoo he had a part in laying the foundations for, Askren branded Masvidal’s latest ink as “terrible.”

    “Ha, it’s terrible. Like, oh, God. It just looks like crap,” said Askren. “That’s something a teenager gets and you’re like, ‘Oh shit, I thought that was gonna look a lot better. I thought this was gonna be really badass, but it looks kinda dopey.’ You’d think (because) he’s rich, he could go get the best tattoo artist in the place.”

    Askren also pointed out that Masvidal’s decision to immortalize the moment on his body perhaps signifies how important it was in taking his career to the next level.

    “I think it’s semi-telling how important that singular moment was to his career, and he knows it,” claimed Askren. “And he tattooed it on his body because it was that important to him.”

    Do you agree with Ben Askren’s takes on Jorge Masvidal’s post-fight attitude at UFC 272 and new piece of ink?

  • Casey O’Neill Pulled A Julianna Peña To Dana White Before UFC 271

    UFC women’s flyweight Casey O’Neill took a page out of bantamweight champion Julianna Peña’s book while speaking to Dana White prior to UFC 271.

    At UFC 271, O’Neill took another step towards title contention. She did so by sending veteran Roxanne Modafferi into retirement off the back of a loss.

    While she failed to maintain her 100% finishing record in the UFC, “King Casey” did extend her perfect professional résumé to 9-0 with victory on the scorecards. In doing so, she moved up three places to #12 on the 125-pound ladder.

    She also appeared to establish herself as the promotion’s newest villain with her Octagon interview and post-fight press conference remarks. if she’s believed, we can expect O’Neill to become “the best bad guy” we’ve ever seen in the coming months and years.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ-HNZ5vmlt/

    O’Neill Vowed To Capture Gold

    With another jump closer to dominant flyweight ruler Valentina Shevchenko, O’Neill is beginning to attract attention as a possible title contender. But while she’s targeting a steady rise through every ranked 125lber first, the Scottish-Australian has gold in her sights, something she let Dana White know prior to her win against “The Happy Warrior.”

    Discussing O’Neill’s performance during his appearance at the UFC 271 post-fight press conference, White revealed what the 24-year-old told him at the event’s ceremonial weigh-ins. She seemingly took the opportunity to make an ambitious promise to the UFC President.

    “The thing about Roxanne is she’s very unassuming. But she’s a very tough, durable, awkward fighter to fight, and Casey beat her tonight,” said White. “She walked up to me on stage during the weigh-ins and said, ‘I’m going to be your next world champion.’ So I like her attitude, I like the way she fights, she’s aggressive, she’s tough, we’ll see what she does.”

    O’Neill’s promise is reminiscent of the one given to the UFC President by reigning bantamweight queen Peña. After “The Venezuelan Vixen” upset the odds at UFC 269 by dethroning then-two-division champion Amanda Nunes, White revealed the newly-crowned titleholder had forecasted her own success to him before she’d joined the promotion.

    The question is, can O’Neill make good on her promise like Peña did?

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXmaaWsOw5r/?utm_source=ig_embed

    Do you think Casey O’Neill can replicate Julianna Peña’s bantamweight success at flyweight?

  • Usman To Edwards: You’re Right, I Won’t Strike With You, I’ll Only Wrestle

    UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has responded to Leon Edwards’ suggestion that he won’t be as willing to strike with the Englishman as he has been in recent fights.

    Since dethroning Tyron Woodley in 2019, Usman has successfully defended the title five times and established himself as a contender for GOAT status at 170 pounds. Having brushed aside two challenges apiece from Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal, as well as one from former teammate Gilbert Burns, the list of fresh contenders certainly thinning.

    And next up for the champ appears to be another rematch. Earlier this year, UFC President Dana White confirmed that Edwards is set to get his long-awaited title shot in the summer.

    The pair first collided in 2015, where Usman emerged victorious on the scorecards. Since that defeat, Edwards has gone unbeaten in 10 bouts, defeating the likes of Nate Diaz, Rafael dos Anjos, Donald Cerrone, and Vicente Luque.

    Given the Englishman’s development since their first meeting, many expect Usman to face a much tougher test when the two share the Octagon again.

    With that in mind, Edwards believes the champion will avoid exchanging on the feet and return to his wrestling roots for their rematch, which has been largely left in the back-pocket in his last three defenses.

    “He [Kamaru Usman] has definitely fell in love with his hands. He definitely believes in them,” Edwards told ESPN MMA. “He’s called out Canelo. He truly believes that he’s some sick striker so fair play to him, but I know that when we fight, I think he’ll be shooting for his takedowns. I don’t think it will be a striking match. I think it will be more wrestler versus striker match but I’m looking forward to it.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    Usman Gives Edwards Something To Think About

    In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Usman responded to his next challenger’s comments. “The Nigerian Nightmare” suggested that if wrestling is what Edwards expects, he’s happy to oblige and “beat his face” on the canvas.

    Given his tone, it’s safe to assume Usman is happy for “Rocky” to underrate his striking ahead of their clash.

    “He said if I step in there with him, I won’t be striking the way that I am now. So I’ll oblige,” said Usman. “I give it to you. I will not strike. I am coming in to wrestle. I’m going to take him down, I’m going to beat on his face until he quits. So don’t expect me to strike—at all. I’m going to wrestle.

    “Don’t expect me to strike, Leon. Since I’m not a good striker, don’t expect me to strike. I’m coming to take him down, and I’m gonna beat his face in.”

    At UFC 261 last April, Usman brutally knocked out Masvidal in their rematch. In their first clash, “The Nigerian Nightmare” employed a wrestling-heavy approach. With that in mind, many have pointed out that Masvidal’s focus on defending any takedown attempts in their rematch may have left him open for the fight-ending shot up top.

    Given how that played out, Edwards would certainly be wise to take Usman’s comments with a pinch of salt.

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

    While his work with Trevor Wittman and impressive striking development means we’ll likely see Usman willing to trade with the Englishman, Edwards is certainly a different beast on the feet to the champ’s latest opponent.

    With that said, we can expect to see Usman mixing up his attack more so than he did when he shared the Octagon with Covington last November. But after seeing Edwards dazed from a late punch against Diaz last June, he’ll certainly fancy his chances of finding the KO shot.

    Do you think Kamaru Usman could hang with Leon Edwards in a five-round striking battle?

  • Jake Paul Blasts “Dumb F**k” Din Thomas In Response To Doubts

    YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has provided a firm response to former UFC lightweight Din Thomas’ doubts over his desire to improve fighter pay.

    Since arriving in the ring in 2020, Paul has certainly made a splash in more ways than one. As well as knocking out former MMA champions Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley, and building an unblemished 5-0 record, “The Problem Child” has made an equally big impact outside the ropes.

    Along with his promotion of Unified Featherweight World Champion Amanda Serrano and female boxing as a whole, the 25-year-old has consistently called out Dana White for the UFC’s fighter pay structure and lack of healthcare benefits.

    While some, including heavyweight king Francis Ngannou and middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya, have given the nod of approval, others have suggested Paul is simply using a prominent topic in order to advance his own brand in combat sports.

    Joining the latter side at the weekend was former fighter-turned-analyst Din Thomas. Taking to Twitter, the 45-year-old claimed that if Paul really cared about improving remuneration for fighters, he’d be doing more.

    https://twitter.com/DinThomas/status/1503053938911678464

    “Not sure I understand Jake Paul. If he really cared about fighters why don’t he just continue to throw his own events, pay fighters what he wants, and offer them long term health care.”

    Interestingly, Paul has previously put his money where his mouth is. Ahead of his August 2021 clash with Woodley, the Ohio native announced he was spreading money from his own purse across the undercard.

    With that in mind, it’s unsurprising that Paul was quick to respond to Thomas’ claim. In a tweet of his own, the former Disney star unloaded on “Dinyero.”

    “I am doing that dumb fuck.

    “Made the biggest women’s boxing payday happen.

    “Will continue to do more Your bird brain probably doesn’t understand that the movement is bigger than just me tho.

    “Also what kind of parents name their son ‘Din’.”

    While some of Paul’s actions perhaps shows a genuine interest in pushing for improvements, his purchase of UFC stock and offers to the UFC president, which he likely knew would never be entertained, have left many questioning his true goal.

    Thomas Isn’t The First To Doubt Paul’s Intentions

    While the list of personalities supporting Paul’s focus on fighter pay is long, the tally of those criticizing it is equally so, from rising star Paddy Pimblett to veteran Al Iaquinta.

    UFC light heavyweight mainstay Sam Alvey even blasted Paul as a “clown” who’s using the fighter pay debate as a means to help himself.

    Ultimately, whether for attention and publicity or a genuine desire to help, it’s hard to argue that Paul has helped fighters financially. As well as promoting Serrano to what will apparently be a seven-figure fight against Katie Taylor, Paul has also helped fighters in need within the cage.

    After seeing an MMA News article on the financial struggles of Sarah Alpar, “The Problem Child” donated $5,000 to her GoFundMe. The attention he brings to the topic is also considered valuable by many fighters and pundits.

    While doubt still exists, we can expect to learn more about Paul’s true intentions with regards to fighter pay in the coming months and years. But Paul’s current message is simple: “You’ll see.”

    Do you agree with Din Thomas? Is Jake Paul’s push for better fighter pay insincere?

  • Dustin Poirier On Colby Covington: “It’s Still On Sight”

    Former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has reiterated his stance on a potential fight with welterweight star Colby Covington.

    At the start of the month, the former teammate on Covington’s mind was Jorge Masvidal. The pair’s long-term feud, which was fueled by animated stories and accusations from the duo’s time as friends and roommates, finally reached the cage at UFC 272.

    But after comfortably dispatching “Gamebred,” Covington wasn’t finished with his former gym. Once again calling out another of American Top Team’s well-known fighters, “Chaos” set his sights on Poirier, who, like Masvidal, he’s gone back and forth with in recent months and years.

    After using his time on the mic immediately following his victory on March 5 to target “The Diamond,” Covington stepped it up a notch at the post-fight press conference, where he brought out his trademark insults for the Louisianan.

    “So I figure I’ll get another tune-up fight with Dustin Poirier, who said it’s on sight,” Covington began. “He weighs more than me. He’s just a bully who cuts a lot of weight. I don’t cut any weight because I know I’m the best in the world and I don’t need to have a weight advantage over anybody. So Dustin, name the site, bring that Jezebel of a wife and bring Conor’s little kid Parker.”

    But while Covington ups the ante on his desire to share the Octagon with Poirier, the two-time undisputed lightweight title challenger’s stance has remained the same.

    Nothing Has Changed For Poirier

    According to Covington, the animosity between himself and Poirier was built by a statement made by the 33-year-old. In 2019, prior to Covington’s ATT departure, Poirier told “Chaos” it was “on sight” if he saw him at the Coconut Creek-based facility.

    Since then, the former interim welterweight titleholder has consistently brought up that remark, and reminded “The Diamond” of the claim. But even with the constant attacks on his family, Poirier has remained steady on his refusal to entertain the idea of entering the Octagon to face Covington.

    He reiterated the same in a recent tweet, claiming that while he won’t allow Covington to use his name for money, it’s still “on sight.”

    “He’s not making money off my name, it’s still on sight you f****** sheep,” Poirier wrote in a since-deleted tweet.

    While talk of a move to welterweight following his title defeat to Charles Oliveira appeared to open the door to a grudge match against Covington, it’s clear “The Diamond” has his sights aimed elsewhere—to be specific, Stockton.

    A fan-friendly clash between Poirier and Nate Diaz has been on the agenda since the start of the year. But while the 33-year-old continues to confirm his interest in the bout on social media, it doesn’t appear like it’s any closer to being booked.

    Nevertheless, Poirier is certainly following up on his pursuit of fun fights following his latest setback, something he seemingly doesn’t class a collision with Covington as.

    How do you think a fight between Dustin Poirier and Colby Covington would play out?

  • Moreno Reveals The Main Frustration He Had As Champion

    Former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno has revealed the main concern he had in the weeks following his title crowning last year.

    In a year filled with memorable gold-winning performances, including Glover Teixeira’s late ascent to the light heavyweight mountaintop at UFC 267 and Julianna Peña’s upset victory over former two-division queen Amanda Nunes at UFC 269, another heart-warming moment came in the form of Mexico’s first titleholder.

    Having fought to a draw in his first opportunity in 2020, Moreno was granted an immediate second crack at dethroning the previously-dominant Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 263 last June. After imposing his will in the opening two rounds, “The Assassin Baby” floored “Deus Da Guerra” in the third frame and submitted him with a tight rear-naked choke.

    From a release in 2018 to gold around his waist in 2021, Moreno’s journey has certainly been a special one.

    Moreno: I Was Concerned And Afraid After UFC 263

    While the moment will go down as one of the career-defining victories for Moreno and represented the start of a rise to stardom in the sport, championship status wasn’t without its hardships.

    During an appearance on The Fight with Teddy Atlas in the aftermath of his trilogy loss to Figueiredo at UFC 270, Moreno reflected on his experience with the belt.

    “So, I need to be very honest with you guys. I remember immediately after the fight (UFC 263), my manager told me, like, ‘Hey man, go to home and do a little bit with your family because you will be busy for a few weeks.’ I did a media tour in Mexico City, I had a media tour in Los Angeles, and a little one in San Diego I think,” said Moreno. “I did a lot of things and, you know, a lot of interviews. I meet a lot of people, a lot of famous people in Mexico; I meet the president of my country, so that’s crazy.”

    But while it allowed him to interact with the likes of Canelo Álvarez and the President of Mexico, the 28-year-old admitted the change in his routine and inability to maintain his training schedule caused him concern and frustration for the first month of his reign.

    “That was like, three weeks, one month (after winning the title). In that month, I was a little bit concerned and a little bit afraid because my rhythm of training is high, very high. I have to train like two to three times per day, every single day,” added Moreno.

    “In that moment, I was doing a lot of media and a lot of videos and, in my mind, I was a little bit frustrated because all the other contenders in my division, they’re training so hard and trying to get the title. Now, I have a little target on my back with all these guys (coming after it), and I was putting my pretty face in the cameras and everything. I was a little bit concerned and frustrated.”

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

    While the belt may no longer be in his possession, the goal remains the same for Moreno; grow the sport of MMA in his home country and achieve success, both for himself and his family.

    For “The Assassin Baby,” the way to do that is by regaining the title in a fourth clash with arch-rival Figueiredo.

    Would you like to see an immediate fourth fight between Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo? If not, who should “The Assassin Baby” face next?

  • Till: If Brunson Fight Was In The Gym, I’d Have Broken His Skull

    UFC middleweight Darren Till believes he wasn’t himself at UFC Vegas 36, and under different circumstances, he says he’d have laid a beating on Derek Brunson.

    Last September, Till was being pointed at as a potential challenger for reigning 185-pound champion Israel Adesanya down the line. A victory over Brunson in the UFC Vegas 36 headliner was expected to move him to within touching distance of a date with “The Last Stylebender.”

    But spoiling the Englishman’s plans and continuing the unbeaten streak of his blonde iteration, Brunson dominated throughout before securing a third-round submission. While he moved on to face Jared Cannonier in a title eliminator last month, Till has remained on the sidelines since his losing effort inside the UFC Apex.

    But despite appearing to be outclassed on the night, Till believes a clash with Brunson would go very differently under altered circumstances.

    Till: Brunson Felt “So Slow”

    Following the result, Till revealed he entered his fight with Brunson with a torn ACL. While that provided some context behind his lackluster performance, “The Gorilla” has gone into more detail about his mindset and motivation heading into the September event.

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, Till claimed he could barely recognize himself on fight night. Despite insisting the better man had his hand raised, the Liverpudlian believes in a different environment, he’d have left Brunson in a significantly worse state than the veteran left the Octagon in at UFC Vegas 36.

    “It was tough to take, it was real tough to take. I’m not disrespecting Derek in any way, shape, or form. Blonde Derek Brunson was doing the job,” said Till. “But when I was in there with him, I didn’t feel myself and I felt sloppy, but he just felt so slow, even his takedowns and his striking.

    “For me, if this was in the gym, I’d have [MUTED] broke his skull. I know he’s gonna see this and say, ‘No…’ But under different circumstances—I just couldn’t identify myself in there,” continued Till. “But at the same time, maybe, in my opinion, that night Derek was just the better fighter. I always say this, I never try and give excuses… I don’t wanna disrespect Derek. I still wanna give him his props. He beat me fair and square. The better man, the better fighter that night (won). But it was tough for me to take.”

    While Brunson fell short of securing a title shot and is now potentially looking towards retirement after one last Octagon outing, Till is working hard ahead of his comeback. To return to 100% and begin realizing his potential, “The Gorilla” has turned to the help of a fighter on the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to form.

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

    For the past few weeks, Till has been training alongside Khamzat Chimaev at the Allstar Training center in Stockholm, Sweden. Having found his positivity and motivation again, the 29-year-old is targeting an ascent up the middleweight ladder, starting with a successful rebound later this year.

    Who would you like to see Darren Till face when he returns to the Octagon?

  • Khabib Believes St-Pierre Lost His Hunger To Fight A Decade Ago

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov believes Georges St-Pierre had lost his hunger to compete even before he held middleweight gold.

    Khabib and GSP are two of the consensus frontrunners in the debate over who holds the crown as the greatest of all time. But while they have that in common, they also share another similarity: retiring on top.

    While “The Eagle” hung up his gloves from his place atop the lightweight mountain following his victory over Justin Gaethje in 2020, “Rush” called time on his career early in 2019 having not competed since his middleweight title win against Michael Bisping two years prior.

    St-Pierre retired with a 26-2 record, having not been beaten in 13 fights since his shock defeat to Matt Serra in 2007. Across the decade after his final blemish, he held titles in two weight classes, defeated the likes of BJ Penn, Thiago Alves, Carlos Condit, and Nick Diaz, and defended the 170-pound belt a record nine times.

    But despite reaching another throne as recently as 2017, Khabib believes St-Pierre lost his desire to fight long before his retirement.

    Khabib: “For This Sport, You Have To Be Hungry”

    During an appearance on the Full Send Podcast, Khabib discussed St-Pierre and his own failed matchup with the great Canadian. While a superfight between the pair was long-rumored and reportedly even offered to Khabib as recently as 2021, it never came to fruition.

    The Dagestani suggested that when he was in his own prime, GSP was long past his. And despite the fact “Rush” returned from a previous lengthy hiatus to win the middleweight strap in 2017, Khabib believes it was clear St-Pierre’s hunger was gone during his controversial 2013 victory over Johny Hendricks.

    “When I was on top, when it was my prime time, it was not his prime time. When did he finish? ’12, ’13? After four years he came back, fight only with Michael Bisping. Last, almost 10 years, I think his time is finished,” said Khabib. “My opinion is his prime time was like 2010, ’11, ’12, but ’13 it was not his time.

    “Even when he fight Johny Hendricks. On this time, I feel he’s not enjoying (being) inside the cage. He’s not hungry anymore. I don’t know about his feeling, this is what I feel. For this sport, you have to be hungry. If you’re not hungry, if you don’t want this, you have to finish,” Khabib concluded.

    While some of the UFC’s best continue their careers in spite of losing streaks and devastating skids, Khabib and St-Pierre ended their in-cage stints on top. While we’ll never know how much both men still had to give inside the Octagon, it’s safe to say the pair accomplished their goals and secured memorable legacies.

    Nevertheless, most would be lying if they denied harboring some disappointment at the fact we never got to see the two GOAT contenders share the cage…

    How do you think a fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Georges St-Pierre would have played out?