MMA News

Author: Harvey Leonard

  • Julianna Peña Disputes Amanda Nunes’ “I’m Better” Claim: “Where At?”

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña has questioned which areas Amanda Nunes believes she has the edge over her in.

    At UFC 269, the final pay-per-view event of 2021, Nunes’ seemingly unstoppable two-division rule was brought to a crashing halt. Having remained unbeaten since 2014, had her hand raised in 12 consecutive Octagon outings, and won gold at both 135 and 145 pounds, the “Lioness” was expected by most to breeze past her final challenge of last year.

    Embracing the underdog role, Peña exuded immense confidence throughout fight week. Those who branded it as delusion were left with egg on their faces come fight night when “The Venezuelan Vixen” shocked the world with a second-round submission.

    While she handled the loss graciously inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, Nunes recently provided some context behind her loss, suggesting she’d entered the fight with injuries and off the back of a rough camp.

    With that in mind, the reigning featherweight titleholder has vowed to prove she’s better than Peña when they meet for the second time later this year.

    “Honestly, of course, the belt is something that all of us chase,” Nunes said in an interview with ESPN. “At this point in my life, I just want to show up 100 percent how I want to be. So with the belt, without the belt, I just want to really, really prove I’m better than her.” (h/t MMA Junkie)

    It’s safe to say “The Venezuelan Vixen” disagrees with that assessment.

    Peña: Nunes Got To See All My Strengths At UFC 269

    During her own interview with ESPN, Peña responded to her rival’s claims. The newly-crowned champ said Nunes felt all aspects of her well-rounded game at UFC 269, and with that in mind, questioned where the Brazilian could possibly expect to have an edge.

    “I think she got to see it all. We sparred on the feet, we grappled, you know, she was in dangerous positions when we were grappling,” said Peña. “She says that she wants to prove that she’s absolutely 100% better than me, but I’m like, ‘Where?’ We can grapple right here, right now if you want and I’ll show you that.

    “You wanna box? We can do that, too. I’ll show you that, too. So this, ‘I can’t wait to show how much better that I am than her,’ where at? Where do you think that? I don’t think that, I don’t agree with that,” added Peña. “The beauty of fighting is we’re gonna go find out and we’re gonna get to do it all over again.”

    Like Peña says, we’ll soon find out who is right. After a stint coaching this year’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter, the pair are set to run it back.

    While “The Venezuelan Vixen” will be hoping to record her first successful defense and firmly establish her superiority over the consensus female MMA GOAT, the “Lioness” will be out for redemption.

    Do you agree with Julianna Peña? Is she better than Amanda Nunes in all areas?

  • Darren Till Hopes To Avoid Main Event Booking For Octagon Return

    UFC middleweight contender Darren Till is hoping to avoid the main event spotlight when he returns to the Octagon later this year.

    Since falling short of middleweight gold in 2018, Till has had a tough time in the UFC. In his last five fights, the Liverpudlian has gone 1-4, a record that includes a brutal knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal in his final appearance at welterweight.

    After arriving at 185 pounds with a decision victory over former interim title challenger Kelvin Gastelum, Till was tipped by many to be a future tough test for middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. But after a main event defeat to #1-ranked contender Robert Whittaker, that push for gold was stalled.

    If the setback to “The Reaper” stopped his surge, his next Octagon outing sent him firmly into reverse. Against Derek Brunson in the UFC Vegas 36 headliner last September, “The Gorilla” was dominated throughout and submitted via rear-naked choke in the third round.

    Till Wants To “Get Comfortable Again”

    At the age of 29, and with wins against Gastelum, Stephen Thompson, and Donald Cerrone, Till’s potential is clear. Despite his recent struggles, the Brit hasn’t lost his self-belief and still sees UFC gold in his future. To get that ball rolling again, however, he has to rebound in 2022.

    During a recent appearance on Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast, Till spoke about his return, and admitted he’s looking to avoid another headlining spot when he makes his comeback.

    “I’ve had like, eight or nine main events now, and we’ve got Tom (Aspinall) from Team Kaobon doing Team Kaobon’s 10th (at UFC London), it’s historical, it’s nice stuff,” said Till. “But I would love to just have a three-round fight, just open the main card, and just see what it’s like. Every fight I’ve had since Cowboy has just been main event. I understand the UFC, what they see in me is potential and style, but I would love to just get back in there and fight three rounds and get comfortable again, be Darren Till.

    “I swear to God, years ago, you can speak to my coach, I thought I was fucking indestructible,” added Till. “I used to say I can’t be killed, I can’t be beaten. I know I’ve still got that deep down inside me. I just need to find it again and be comfortable again.”

    The last time Till fought three rounds was in the UFC 244 co-main event in 2019, where he edged past Gastelum on the scorecards. He’ll certainly be looking to re-create that success when he returns to action.

    While talk of a clash with Uriah Hall existed, the veteran’s booking with Andre Muniz means “The Gorilla” will need to look elsewhere for his next rival, or perhaps wait for the victor of that contest. Although according to “Prime Time,” Till isn’t all that keen on the idea of sharing the cage with him.

    With Till’s fiery response to Hall’s recent ducking claims on Twitter, the stage has been set nicely for these two middleweight contenders to settle their differences in the Octagon down the line.

    Who would you like to see Darren Till’s return to the Octagon come against?

  • Update: Extended Footage Of Darren Till Training With Khamzat Chimaev

    Extended footage is now available of UFC middleweight contender Darren Till training alongside rising welterweight star Khamzat Chimaev.

    Following Till’s latest setback in the Octagon, Chimaev, whose form and unbeaten UFC record have set him on the opposite trajectory to the Liverpudlian, invited “The Gorilla” to the Allstar Training Center in Stockholm.

    “If he wanna come to Stockholm, he’s welcome,” Chimaev said during an interview with BT Sport last October. “I told him, ‘I can help with the wrestling or something. We can spar. We can train.’”

    Having accepted the offer weeks later, Till has now made it a reality by journeying to Scandinavia. In a recent post uploaded to Instagram by the #8-ranked middleweight, the sweaty pair can be seen posing for a photo, likely having just completed a session together.

    Now, we have extended footage made public, which you can view in its entirety below.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52te8uUts5Y

    Till Will Hope To Overcome Ground Deficiencies With The Help Of Chimaev

    Chimaev’s initial offer came in the month after Till fell to his fourth defeat in five fights. In the UFC Vegas 36 main event last September, the Liverpudlian hoped to stake his claim for a title shot with a victory over divisional veteran Derek Brunson.

    After being dominated throughout and comfortably controlled on the ground, Till was submitted in the third round. Having subsequently revealed he’d fought through a torn ACL, “The Gorilla” has been on the sidelines ever since, with his comeback expected for later this year.

    If you’re on the hunt for an in-form fighter to train with, and one who’s dominated his opponents on the ground, there aren’t many better options than Chimaev.

    In four UFC outings, “Borz” has ragdolled three of his foes around the cage, submitting two and finishing the other with ground strikes. The one man who was able to avoid Chimaev’s imposing pressure-wrestling game was Gerald Meerschaert. He did so by going to sleep after 17 seconds courtesy of a brutal punch.

    With a rumored clash against Uriah Hall appearing unlikely to be next for Till given the veteran’s recent booking opposite Andre Muniz, we can expect to have some clarity regarding the Englishman’s future and next opponent in the coming months.

    When Till does return, we’ll be able to see if his work with Chimaev has paid off.

    Do you think training with Khamzat Chimaev will help Darren Till ahead of his return to the Octagon?

  • Shavkat Rakhmonov Gets “Annoyed” At Khamzat Chimaev Comparisons

    UFC welterweight prospect Shavkat Rakhmonov has admitted that comparisons between himself and fellow rising star Khamzat Chimaev frustrate him.

    When Chimaev returned from a lengthy year-plus layoff at UFC 267 last October, most discussions about future champions, future stars, and the most promising prospects in the promotion were directed towards “Borz.” Given the way he choked out “The Leech,” that was understandable.

    But at UFC Vegas 47, the first Kazakhstani citizen to compete in the Octagon entered the conversation and reminded fans, and the rest of the 170-pound crop, that he’s a name to keep an eye on.

    Prior to his UFC debut in 2020, Rakhmonov was a highly-touted M-1 champion across the Atlantic. But while his name would have been solely on European and Asian lips a number of years ago, “Nomad” has broken through on MMA’s biggest stage with three finishes in three UFC outings.

    Having submitted veteran Brazilians Alex Oliveira and Michel Prazeres, Rakhmonov maintained his undefeated record and 100% finishing rate in the promotion at UFC Vegas 47 by brutally knocking out the in-form Carlston Harris.

    Rakhmonov: “I Am Not Khamzat, I Am Shavkat”

    As far as gaining hype goes, there aren’t many better ways to do it than a spinning hook kick and a display of vicious ground-and-pound. Now, with his perfect résumé displaying 15 wins and 15 finishes, Rakhmonov is beginning to be spoken about in the same conversation as the ranked contenders in the welterweight division.

    One of those names is Khamzat Chimaev. With both men displaying their suffocating wrestling and submission games, as well as knockout power, in their early UFC careers, many have begun to compare the two and question how a fight between the pair would play out.

    That doesn’t please “Nomad.”

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Rakhmonov was asked whether he gets frustrated at the increasing comparisons being made between himself and the Chechen-born Swede. The 27-year-old confirmed he gets annoyed at what he identified as the question he gets asked the most.

    “Yeah, I get annoyed because I am not Khamzat, I am Shavkat,” Rakhmonov said through his translator. “This is a question I get asked the most; when are we going to fight? But time will show. Right now, I’m just being annoyed with these questions (about Chimaev).”

    It appears both men could be looking to further increase their stocks and rise up the welterweight ladder against two prominent Brazilians in their next outings. While talk of a Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns matchup has existed for months now, Rakhmonov has set his sights on the exciting and unpredictable Michel Pereira.

    While they may be on parallel paths at the moment, it certainly wouldn’t be surprising to see “Nomad” and “Borz” share the Octagon down the line, perhaps even with gold on the line?

    Do you see both Khamzat Chimaev and Shavkat Rakhmonov as future UFC welterweight champions?

  • Amanda Nunes: Losing The Belt Has Brought My Fire Back

    Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion and reigning featherweight titleholder Amanda Nunes says losing the 135-pound belt to Julianna Peña has brought her “fire” back.

    At UFC 269 in December, Nunes saw her 12-fight win streak and three-year two-division rule collapse at the hands of an unlikely character. Like many before her, Peña’s chances of dethroning the “Lioness’ were dismissed and her confidence branded delusional.

    But writing the story completely different to most fans and pundits expected, “The Venezuelan Vixen” created a chapter of UFC history that will long be remembered. In the second round of their co-main event clash, Peña rocked Nunes on the feet before dragging her down and submitting her.

    For the T-Mobile Arena crowd and the millions watching at home, the sound of “And New” was about as surprising a moment as any since the promotion’s inception.

    Nunes “Can’t Wait” To Start Over

    While Nunes would be forgiven for being distraught and disheartened after suffering her first setback since 2014, the Brazilian has remained as positive as ever.

    After a gracious post-fight interview, she promised to come back strong. If the featherweight champ’s recent comments are to be believed, her return this year will signify the arrival of a Nunes who is hungrier than ever.

    During a recent media scrum, the consensus female MMA GOAT suggested losing the bantamweight gold and now having something to “chase” has brought her fire back.

    “Honestly, after I lose that belt, the fire is like, built up again,” said Nunes. “I’m telling you, damn, I can’t wait to start over. I have something to chase. It’s not like, ‘Oh my god, I lost my belt,’ and staying home crying. That’s never gonna happen with me. Actually, UFC changed my life. How I’m living, whatever happens right now is like, amazing. UFC changed, literally, my life. I don’t have time to be sad.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZsPA1hPwsh/

    With her fire back and her physical condition hopefully at 100%, Nunes will get her chance for redemption later this year. After coaching this year’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter, Peña and Nunes will run it back, with the status of bantamweight queen on the line.

    Do you think Amanda Nunes will reclaim the bantamweight gold from Julianna Peña in their rematch?

  • Mitchell Details Facing “Drugged” Fighter In First MMA Gym Experience

    UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell has detailed facing a “drugged out” amateur fighter during his first experience inside an MMA gym at the age of 16.

    Mitchell is as tough as they come. From backyard boxing matches to professional fights, “Thug Nasty” has seen and faced it all on his journey to the Octagon. That journey has allowed him to enter the group of ranked contenders at 145 pounds.

    After going 9-0 on the regional scene, the Arkansas native had his chance to join the big leagues on The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated in 2018. Despite falling short in the semifinals, Mitchell had the opportunity to make a splash on MMA’s biggest stage at the finale event, where he defeated Tyler Diamond.

    Since his debut, the 27-year-old has grown from strength to strength. In four wins, he’s defeated established names like Charles Rosa and Andre Fili and recorded only the second twister submission in UFC history.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CRgt6kMCTEe/

    Like most in the volatile sport of MMA, the road towards the top wasn’t easy. In Mitchell’s case, it involved getting his first taste of a gym by sparring with some drug-using amateur fighters.

    During a recent interview with UFC play-by-play commentator Brendan Fitzgerald, “Thug Nasty” looked back on his early days in the sport and his earliest day in an MMA facility. It’s safe to say he and his friend received a shock to the system when they were welcomed to the gym by a “drugged out” fighter.

    “I quit basketball, wrestled, and then went to train in MMA. I went to this MMA gym. First, when I went in, the dude was a little bit drugged out,” said Mitchell. “And you know, he wasn’t like, crazy on it, but one of the dudes at the gym was a little bit on some shit. I tell you what, some of that shit that you can get like that, you don’t get tired, you know what I’m saying? This dude was whipping my ass when I was 16.

    “Me and my buddy Tyler went into this gym, where these guys, I mean, these are rough guys man. They’re on some heavy drug usage, okay, amateur fighters, pretty high ranked. Me and my buddy walked in this gym, my buddy gets kicked in the fucking head,” Mitchell added. “Tyler’s a tough dude, Tyler kicked my ass one time in training. He got kicked in the head and then I was up to spar that guy next, that kicked Tyler in the head; dropped him. And I was like, ‘Oh shit…’ I’m going up against this guy, and I didn’t know he was drugged out, but this motherfucker was all ripped up, muscles and shit, and he doesn’t get tired. He didn’t drop me, but he got me pretty good. I’m, telling ya, it was rough.”

    It’s certainly no mystery where Mitchell got his toughness from, and he’ll certainly need to have that on full display when he returns to action next month.

    Mitchell Will Return To Action At UFC 272

    Mitchell hasn’t entered the Octagon since his October 2020 victory over Fili. After well over a year on the sidelines, “Thug Nasty” will be looking to extend his unbeaten professional record in 2022 and climb closer towards the top of the featherweight ladder, starting with a victory over UFC veteran Edson Barboza.

    The #11-ranked Mitchell will face the Brazilian legend at UFC 272 on March 5. While he’s impressed on his way to the top 15, a win over Barboza would certainly be the biggest of Mitchell’s career to date and would firmly establish him as a top contender in a stacked 145-pound weight class.

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

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 272, Bryce Mitchell or Edson Barboza?

  • Julianna Peña Considers Trying Stand-Up Comedy, May Fight Hecklers

    While she certainly has undeniable talent inside the Octagon, UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña hopes to one day try her hand in the art of stand-up comedy.

    The past few months have seen Peña rise from an unlikely contender to one of the most prominent names in MMA. While her title-winning performance against Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 certainly played a key part in that, the champ’s charisma and confidence with a microphone in her hand have played an enhancing role.

    Before the final pay-per-view of 2021, Peña’s confidence and self-belief were branded as delusional by many, including then-two-division titleholder Nunes. But with a second-round submission, “The Venezuelan Vixen” silenced her critics and shot into the mainstream.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYHysQivvs7/

    Peña’s Aspirations Always Went Beyond Fighting

    While the result was surprising for many and was even branded the sport’s biggest shock by some, there was nothing untoward about it for Peña. For her whole life, she’s aspired to be great and to achieve her goals.

    While combat sports success has always been a target, the Washington native’s UFC triumph is just one of many ambitions she’s harbored throughout her life. The others? A dabble into rap music and a successful stand-up comedy show.

    During her appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience, Peña revealed she’d recently been approached about an opportunity to perform a comedy set. While that might seem like a left-field offer to some, the bantamweight queen said that becoming a comedian was one of three potential career paths she’d identified during her early years.

    “(Comedian Adam Hunter) just texted me the other day and asked me if I would be willing to do a five- or seven-minute set,” said Peña. “So when I was growing up, the three things I wanted to be: rapper, boxer, and comedian. Like, I remember growing up and being like, ‘I wanna be either of these three things.’ And so I love comedy. I’m a massive comedy fan… I told him I think I will.”

    In comedy, one thing is needed: tough skin. With heckling rife in the occupation, comedians have to be able to handle potential abuse and be able to dish it back.

    That is certainly one thing that wouldn’t phase Peña, although given how she tried to handle an abusive co-worker during her restaurant days, perhaps she’d attempt to deal with it too well…

    “And I think about that. I don’t think I could handle that, right? Get some heckler in the crowd I’d be like, ‘Let’s step outside, guy. You got something to say to me?’” 

    It was perhaps apt that she also discussed the need to avoid stepping over lines and causing offense, something Rogan has come to know a lot about since Peña’s appearance on his podcast.

    “And that’s the thing, too, like what’s offensive and what’s funny? Like, I think masks are hilarious. But you start talking about masks and people wearing masks, and then people are going to get offended because all these people have died and yadda, yadda, yadda,” said Peña.

    Given her remarks on motherhood and COVID-19, it’s safe to say Peña doesn’t have a knack for avoiding controversy…

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

    So, as well as an upcoming coaching stint on this year’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter and her first title defense against Nunes, perhaps we can expect a rap album and a comedy tour from “The Venezuelan Vixen” in the near future.

    Would you go to a Julianna Peña stand-up comedy show?

  • Kayla Harrison Admits Amanda Nunes’ ATT Departure “Sucks”

    Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison has given her thoughts on the departure of consensus female MMA GOAT Amanda Nunes from the American Top Team gym.

    At the start of 2022, Nunes made wholesale changes to her team, preparation, and future camps. With the goal of opening her own personal training space, the former two-division titleholder left ATT and longtime head coach Mike Brown.

    The move came after she fell to her first defeat in 13 fights and since a 2014 setback to Cat Zingano. The woman who’s appeared to make Nunes re-think her strategy and situation is Julianna Peña. At UFC 269 in December, “The Venezuelan Vixen” achieved what most believed to be virtually impossible: dethroning the “Lioness.”

    Joining a shocked sold-out crowd and fighters’ area inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, as well as millions watching at home, in disbelief was Harrison.

    While the likes of Michael Chiesa and Miesha Tate celebrated, Harrison was left with one word on her lips: “F*ck.”

    In a recent interview with ESPN MMA, Harrison discussed the feelings she went through after watching her teammate, who she’d helped prepare for the title defense, emphatically submitted in the UFC 269 co-main event.

    “I was shocked. Everyone was making assumptions about it, but to be honest with you, Amanda was a teammate of mine, she was someone that I helped train for this fight,” said Harrison. “When I said I bleed ATT, I meant it. I wanted her to win. I was shocked. I was as shocked as the rest of the world. I was heartbroken for her.”

    The two-time Olympic gold medalist and unbeaten MMA lightweight continues to bleed ATT and assured Nunes after the shock result that they’d go back to work in the gym and make things right.

    But with the Brazilian seeking fresh pastures, Harrison’s time going toe-to-toe with Nunes on the mats is over, something she says “sucks.”

    Harrison: I Got A Lot Better Training With Nunes

    Further into her interview with Marc Raimondi, Harrison gave her reaction to Nunes’ decision to part ways with ATT, the gym she’d been a part of throughout her development from defeat to Zingano in 2014 to dominant double champion in 2021.

    First and foremost, the sport’s most sought-after free agent wished her former teammate well for the future and suggested the Brazilian had to do whatever she felt was best for her and her family.

    “At this time, my thoughts (on her departure) are, you’ve gotta do what you think is best for you and your family. I wish her the best of luck. That’s it.”

    Despite understanding the reasons behind Nunes’ exit, Harrison admitted she was disappointed to no longer have the chance to develop and sharpen her tools by training alongside a woman most regard as the greatest of all time.

    “I mean, it sucks cause like, she’s still one of the best. That one loss doesn’t change that,” Harrison continued. “So to not be able to train with her does suck. I think that every time I went with her, it helped me. I think it helped her as well.

    “Whether you wanna admit or not, guys talk about Colby (Covington) and Jorge (Masvidal), the ego, I have it too, so I wanna win those exchanges, I wanna win those rounds, I wanna push her, she wants to push me. I got a lot better in the times that we trained together. So to miss out on that is a bummer, for sure,” concluded Harrison.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CX36ML5lINh/

    While Nunes focuses on a stint coaching this year’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter ahead of her rematch with Peña, Harrison’s future is still unclear.

    While most expected the undefeated star to be a future challenge for Nunes after UFC 269, the Brazilian’s defeat has perhaps delayed any chance of that and slightly hampered its appeal.

    Nevertheless, with Nunes still holding 145-pound gold and a move to the UFC seeming inevitable sooner or later for Harrison, perhaps sooner given the apparent breakdown in negotiations with the PFL, it appears likely another clash of former ATT teammates is going to go down in the future.

    Would you like to see former teammates Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes share the Octagon down the line?

  • Watch: O2 Arena Ripped Apart By Storm Weeks Before UFC London

    It appears the UFC’s long-awaited return to London, England may have hit another roadblock in the form of Britain’s worst storm in decades.

    On March 19, MMA’s premier promotion is set to host a card in England’s capital for the first time since 2019. After an attempt to cross the Atlantic proved unsuccessful last September, the UK audience has finally had an event officially confirmed, one that sold out in minutes.

    But an extreme weather event may be about to throw a spanner in the works. As Storm Eunice causes havoc across the British Isles and delivers record-breaking gusts, damage is inevitable. What most probably hadn’t banked on, though, was the roof of the O2 Arena being torn off…

    https://twitter.com/BJFHubbard/status/1494650273549201408

    While it’s uncertain how serious the damage is and what a potential repair timeline will look like, the storm continues to rage on. With that in mind, it’s unlikely the venue will remain in its current state, with further destruction expected.

    It’s impossible to tell at this stage whether UFC London will be affected. However, with WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Lawrence Okolie set to make his second defense against challenger Michel Cieslak next weekend at the O2, we can expect the status of the March 19 UFC Fight Night to become clearer towards the end of the month.

    The O2 Is Set To Host A Stacked British Showcase

    Having been kept to US-based events and Abu Dhabi-held cards since the COVID-19 pandemic caused havoc in 2020, the UFC has understandably pulled out all the stops ahead of its return to overseas events.

    As well as the presence of top UK names and prospects like Tom Aspinall, Arnold Allen, Paddy Pimblett, Paul Craig, and Molly McCann, well-known international fighters like Dan Hooker, Ilia Topuria, Nikita Krylov, Gunnar Nelson, and Alexander Volkov are also set to enter the cage inside London’s O2 Arena.

    With a host of exciting matchups set, fans will certainly be hoping any more damage to the host venue as a result of Storm Eunice is limited.

    Listed below are the fights currently expected to go down on March 19 in London, England:

    Alexander Volkov vs. Tom Aspinall (heavyweight main event)

    Dan Hooker vs. Arnold Allen (featherweight)

    Paul Craig vs. Nikita Krylov (light heavyweight)

    Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Sergei Pavlovich (heavyweight)

    Jack Shore vs. Timur Valiev (bantamweight)

    Paddy Pimblett vs. Kazula Vargas (lightweight)

    Gunnar Nelson vs. Claudio Silva (welterweight)

    Nathanial Wood vs. Liudvik Sholinian (bantamweight)

    Ilia Topuria vs. Jai Herbert (lightweight)

    Makwan Amirkhani vs. Mike Grundy (featherweight)

    Molly McCann vs. Luana Carolina (women’s flyweight)

    Cody Durden vs. Muhammad Mokaev (flyweight)

    Cory McKenna vs. Elise Reed (women’s strawweight)

    Which UFC London fight are you most looking forward to on March 19?

  • Adesanya Slams Abdelaziz For “Disgusting” Talk Of Usman Fight

    Israel Adesanya has slammed Ali Abdelaziz for comments he recently made about a superfight between the UFC Middleweight Champion and the reigning welterweight king, Kamaru Usman.

    Adesanya and Usman are currently two of the most dominant champions in MMA’s premier promotion. The pair have enjoyed a similar rise up the ladder of their respective divisions, culminating in championship glory and multiple defenses.

    “The Last Stylebender” has recorded two wins over top contender Robert Whittaker and defended his title against Paulo Costa, Yoel Romero, and Marvin Vettori. Meanwhile, “The Nigerian Nightmare” has seen off two challenges each from Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal, along with one from former teammate Gilbert Burns.

    With nine defenses between them and limited remaining challengers to their individual reigns, many have suggested the next logical step is a blockbuster showdown between the two Nigerian compatriots.

    (We also recently discussed another possible opponent for Israel Adesanya’s next fight).

    But owing to their national connection and both men’s desire to avoid dethroning a fellow African titleholder, the matchup seems unlikely. Usman even recently claimed it would take a $100 million offer to force him into the Octagon with Adesanya.

    Despite that, Usman’s manager, Dominance MMA Management CEO Abdelaziz, is still harboring hope of it coming together. He’s even suggested that if the pair are “real brothers,” they’d agree to make each other some money by sharing the cage.

    Adesanya To Abdelaziz: Are You My Brother?

    It’s safe to say Abdelaziz’s comments haven’t gone down well with the reigning middleweight king…

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Adesanya responded to the suggestion he and Usman should ditch their allegiance in the name of money-making.

    “The Last Stylebender” slammed Abdelaziz’s view as “disgusting,” and suggested Usman’s manager wouldn’t push for the superfight if he really was a fellow “African brother.”

    “The way [Abdelaziz] did it was just disgusting. I usually express that the way we do it in our gym and the code that we have,” said Adesanya. “And like I said, me and Kamaru definitely feel the same way. What’s the point? This is bigger than us. Kids are gonna look at us generations from now and be like, ‘Those guys from Nigeria, they did that. They ruled this whole thing till they left, and they left on top’—same with Francis as well.

    “[Abdelaziz] always comes up to me, ‘My brother, African brother!’ this and that. So I’m like, if you’re supposed to be a brother brother, why you trying to be selfish now and look at the dollar signs?” Adesanya concluded.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Q4wIyACBU/

    Given Adesanya’s reaction, it seems it would take a spectacular falling out in order to make him share the Octagon with Usman. With that said, it appears both men will have to look to light heavyweight if they’re to achieve two-division success.

    While the Nigerian-New Zealander has already failed in that quest once, his manager Eugene Bareman recently hinted that another attempt could be on the cards if his man can get past Jared Cannonier later this year.

    Meanwhile, “The Nigerian Nightmare” recently revealed he’d considered moving up to 205 pounds to challenge Jan Blachowicz when the Polish Powerhouse sat on the throne. It remains to be seen if the 170-pound titleholder will ever consider that jump again.

    How do you think a fight between Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman would play out?

  • Rockhold Open To Hunting For Costa’s ‘Wine-Affected Liver’ In June

    Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold is raring to go and targeting a return to the Octagon this summer.

    Rockhold hasn’t been in action since a brutal 2019 knockout loss to Jan Blachowicz at UFC 239. With consecutive devastating losses to the Polish powerhouse and Cuban destroyer Yoel Romero, it’s understandable why the 37-year-old has taken a hiatus from the sport.

    But last year, Rockhold committed to a return. He was set to share the cage with rising contender Sean Strickland last November at UFC 268. That clash fell through when the former 185-pound titleholder suffered a herniated disc.

    But with his recovery going well, the Californian recently teased a comeback. In a post uploaded to Instagram, Rockhold can be seen hard at work in the ring. In the accompanying caption, he seemingly hinted towards a potential showdown with #5-ranked contender Paulo Costa.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZu0J1lBAy9/

    “Wine night in June”

    The caption appears to be in reference to Costa’s infamous post-fight revelation following his loss to Israel Adesanya in 2020. The Brazilian put his defeat down to the fact he’d consumed an entire bottle of wine the night before UFC 253.

    While Rockhold was keeping his cards close to his chest regarding the post during a recent appearance on Submission Radio, he did confirm that a clash with “Borrachinha” is an option if the right terms are met.

    “It’s an option. It’s a very viable option. If terms are met, you know, we could have a dance.”

    But that dance certainly won’t be happening if Costa experiences more weight issues. Ahead of his last appearance, a unanimous decision defeat to Marvin Vettori last October, the Brazilian arrived at fight week massively overweight and unable to make the middleweight limit. As a result, the headlining fight was contested at 205 pounds.

    While “The Italian Dream” went through with the bout and ultimately had his hand raised, Rockhold has assured Costa and the UFC that he wouldn’t have the same attitude to a weight miss.

    “Yeah, I’m not here to fight f*cking cheaters,” Rockhold asserted. “If weight is met (the fight could happen) unless too much wine is consumed, you never know. Weight has to be made. Weight has to be met. There are too many weak-ass people trying to get advantages. I’ve killed myself to make weight and f*cking do things right. Can’t say the same for the rest of them. I ain’t gonna do that again. I ain’t gonna fight a guy who misses weight purposely to gain an advantage. F*ck no… It’s weak-minded. It’s a very similar thing to excusing a loss to drinking too much wine the night before a world title fight.”

    Rockhold Hopes To Show Costa & His Liver The Door

    Ultimately, if Costa can prove that he’s able to make the 186-pound limit for non-title middleweight bouts, Rockhold is open to sharing the Octagon with the former title challenger, suggesting it would be a “fun fight.”

    Admitting his dislike for Costa, the former champ claimed the Brazilian’s “disrespect” for the sport of MMA motivates him to dispatch “The Eraser” inside the cage. Channeling his inner Hannibal Lector, Rockhold revealed his desire to feast on Costa’s ‘wine-affected’ liver.

    “He’s a guy that I don’t like. I think (he) disrespects the sport,” said Rockhold. “That motivates me to f*cking correct it. It’s a guy who’s obviously, you know, top-ranked, somehow., someway; when he can’t even make weight. If anything, he should be ranked in the 205-pound division. I don’t care for the guy, I’ll tell you that. I think it’s a fun fight. I think I can go show him the door. I think you have a guy who f*cking wants to make excuses on wine and weight. His liver’s obviously affected, so let’s go munch on it,” concluded Rockhold.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CMGONO3gicc/

    Having seen a 42-year-old Glover Teixeira and 38-year-old Blachowicz deliver title-winning performances in recent years, it seems Rockhold is fancying his chances for another run for gold.

    With the veteran targeting a June return, perhaps he can share the card with Adesanya’s next title defense, expected to be against Jared Cannonier in the same month.

    If Rockhold can deliver an impressive performance against a powerhouse like Costa, maybe “The Last Stylebender” will have a new contender to deal with.

    How do you think a fight between Luke Rockhold and Paulo Costa would play out?

  • Gane: I Had A Better Striking & Ground Game Than Ngannou At UFC 270

    Despite falling to defeat against Francis Ngannou, Ciryl Gane believes he displayed better striking and groundwork than “The Predator” at UFC 270.

    In the opening pay-per-view main event of 2022, then-interim titleholder Gane and reigning heavyweight king Ngannou met for a blockbuster unification showdown.

    As well as their own brief history training together at Paris’ MMA Factory gym, narratives surrounding the champ’s feud with Fernand Lopez, his desire to meet Tyson Fury in the boxing ring, and his ongoing contractual dispute with the UFC loomed large over the event.

    Under that pressure, the Cameroonian held firm, delivering a comeback performance that meant a lot more than simply retaining his heavyweight gold.

    While Gane had started strong, taking the opening two rounds with his evasive and technical striking on the scorecards of most fans and pundits, it was Ngannou’s strength and imposing top game that saw the final three frames fall in his favor.

    But despite spending many minutes on his back in the later rounds and failing to overcome the champ’s wrestling, Gane believes he was “better” in all aspects beyond power.

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, “Bon Gamin” suggested he displayed better technique on the feet and on the ground, citing his ability to prevent Ngannou’s ground-and-pound and submission attempts as evidence.

    “I think I was better with my striking, and I was better on the ground game too,” said Gane. “Because if you see, he catch me and kick me. It was difficult for him to do some ground-and-pound or some submission because my technique is good, you see? And it was more about the power and the plan.

    “He used the power for the wrestling. Unfortunately, it was about two seconds when he catch me just on my ribs, behind my ribs,” added Gane. “After that, it’s more complicated to go out with the power of Francis, that’s why I went down. After that, he leave his body on me. He don’t do too much. This is respect for him still because he don’t need to do much… It was just a little mistake. For me, I was better on the striking (and) on the ground game. But, for me, I know this is a little bit strange to say, but I was better on my wrestling too; if you compare the technique. That’s why I’m okay (with the loss).”

    Gane: Herb Dean Should Have Stood The Fight Up In The 5th Round

    Despite his disappointment and belief that he edged most realms of the fight, Gane has consistently given credit to Ngannou for executing his game plan.

    While he continued to do that during his conversation with Ariel Helwani, the Frenchman did suggest referee Herb Dean perhaps should have stood the pair up during Ngannou’s lengthy period of low-activity top control in the fifth round.

    “When you have a big guy like Francis on your chest, if you want to go away, if you want to stand up, that’s not a good plan; to push the guy (up like a rep),” said Gane. “I don’t want to do that with Francis. So I was waiting for a good position to stand up. That’s what the regret is more like, the referee in the fifth round. The referee, for me, he take his time to stand up the fight a little bit.

    “I looked, I connect the eye with the referee like, ‘Okay, let’s go, let’s go, stand up please, look.’ So that’s why this is a little regret. But he (Ngannou) did very well. Congratulations to Francis,” concluded Gane.

    While it’s uncertain whether or not the pair will meet inside the Octagon again or if Ngannou will share the cage with anyone else in the UFC, it would certainly be interesting to see how Gane would go about adjusting to deal with the one area he believes led to him falling short at UFC 270: Ngannou’s strength and power.

    What did you make of Ciryl Gane’s performance against Francis Ngannou at UFC 270? Do you agree with the Frenchman’s assessment?

  • Korean Zombie: Max Holloway’s Recovery “Doesn’t Make Sense”

    UFC featherweight contender “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung has questioned Max Holloway’s fast recovery from injury, which has seen the former champion pursue backup status for UFC 273.

    In the pay-per-view’s main event, reigning 145-pound king Alexander Volkanovski will hope to successfully defend his gold for the third time. In his way of doing so will be a UFC veteran renowned for his exciting style and thrilling performances throughout over a decade in the promotion.

    Volkanovski was initially slated to share the Octagon with Holloway, who’d earned another shot at reclaiming the belt with 2021 victories over Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez, for a third time at next month’s UFC 272 event.

    When “Blessed” withdrew after aggravating a previous injury, the hunt for a replacement was on. Despite the pitches from Giga Chikadze, Henry Cejudo, Josh Emmett, and Rodriguez, it was “The Korean Zombie” who was granted the chance to dethrone “The Great” Volkanovski at the April 9 event.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZnhjU5tQNd/

    Despite withdrawing from his scheduled trilogy bout with Volkanovski, it was recently revealed that Holloway has returned to training and is even open to serving as a backup fighter for the UFC 273 headliner.

    Korean Zombie Joins The Sceptical Side

    While Volkanovski made his feelings about the fast recovery crystal clear in a post on Twitter, accusing his rival of faking an injury in order to avoid a potential third defeat to the Aussie, others, including former opponent Kattar, have suggested it’s wrong to question Holloway’s withdrawal.

    Now, with opinion largely split, the new next challenger for the featherweight strap has given his take on the latest revelations. During an interview with The Schmo, “The Korean Zombie” suggested Holloway’s ability to make the UFC 273 event “doesn’t make sense.”

    Nevertheless, Jung claimed that while he won’t be pulling out himself, he’s open to an interim title clash with “Blessed” should Volkanovski be forced out of the PPV for whatever reason.

    “It doesn’t make sense that he’s gonna be ready to go in a month,” Jung said via Coach Eddie Cha. “It’s pretty crazy. (I) won’t be getting injured. (I’ll) be making April 9th. So, if Volkanovski gets injured, (I’m) down to fight Holloway.”

    If Holloway is not required on April 9, it’s likely the UFC 273 main event victor will be standing opposite him in the cage later this year for what will either be Volkanovski’s third clash with “Blessed” and fourth title defense, or Zombie’s first defense and first meeting with Holloway.

    What do you make of Alexander Volkanovski and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung’s comments about Max Holloway’s fast recovery?

  • Ilia Topuria vs. Jai Herbert Added To March 19 UFC London Card

    A lightweight scrap between Ilia Topuria and Jai Herbert has reportedly been added to the UFC’s return to London on March 19.

    In one of many matchups featuring British fighters, Herbert (11-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) will have a huge opportunity in front of a home crowd when he welcomes Topuria (11-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) to 155 pounds inside the O2 Arena. The bout was first reported by Eurosport’s Gonzalo Campos.

    Topuria initially rose up the featherweight ladder with a trio of impressive victories on MMA’s biggest stage. After arriving with a unanimous decision win against Youssef Zalal and a knockout of Damon Jackson, the Georgian established himself as one of the promotion’s hottest prospects with a memorable KO of veteran grappler Ryan Hall at UFC 264 last July.

    Having moved inches away from a place in the featherweight rankings, “El Matador” was set to have his chance to enter the top 15 last month against Movsar Evloev, the current #13 contender. After the Russian withdrew, Charles Jordain stepped in, only for Topuria to be forced out days later. He’ll hope to return to regular activity in the coming months, starting with a win on his lightweight debut in England’s capital.

    In the way of the 25-year-old making an impression at 155 pounds will be Herbert, a former lightweight champion in the renowned Cage Warriors promotion. While the Wolverhampton native fell to consecutive losses in his first two UFC outings, he was faced with the tough challenges of Renato Moicano and veteran Francisco Trinaldo.

    Having entered the win column in the UFC for the first time last October, a triumph that came in the form of a first-round TKO victory over Khama Worthy, Herbert will hope to continue his momentum by adding the first blemish to Topuria’s record in front of a home crowd.

    Herbert initially appeared set to meet Mike Davis on the March 19 card. However, with the 29-year-old’s reluctance to fight overseas, “The Black Country Banger” was left searching for a new foe, one that’s come in the form of an unbeaten divisional newcomer.

    With Herbert’s place on the card set, he’ll join fellow Brits like Tom Aspinall, Arnold Allen, Paddy Pimblett, Paul Craig, and Molly McCann in London, as well as prominent international fighters like Dan Hooker, Gunnar Nelson, and Nikita Krylov.

    Listed below are the fights currently expected to go down on March 19 in London, England:

    Alexander Volkov vs. Tom Aspinall (heavyweight main event)

    Dan Hooker vs. Arnold Allen (featherweight)

    Paul Craig vs. Nikita Krylov (light heavyweight)

    Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Sergei Pavlovich (heavyweight)

    Jack Shore vs. Timur Valiev (bantamweight)

    Paddy Pimblett vs. Kazula Vargas (lightweight)

    Gunnar Nelson vs. Claudio Silva (welterweight)

    Nathanial Wood vs. Liudvik Sholinian (bantamweight)

    Ilia Topuria vs. Jai Herbert (lightweight)

    Makwan Amirkhani vs. Mike Grundy (featherweight)

    Molly McCann vs. Luana Carolina (women’s flyweight)

    Cody Durden vs. Muhammad Mokaev (flyweight)

    Cory McKenna vs. Elise Reed (women’s strawweight)

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC London, Ilia Topuria or Jai Herbert?

  • Khamzat Chimaev Tells Daniel Cormier Why He’s Better Than Him

    Khamzat Chimaev has fired back after former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier doubted the welterweight’s chances of defeating middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya.

    In last weekend’s pay-per-view main event, Adesanya extended his rule over the 185-pound weight class with a unanimous decision victory over Robert Whittaker. With the triumph, “The Last Stylebender” improved his unbeaten middleweight record and added a fourth title defense to his immaculate résumé.

    But despite the win, not everyone was impressed. In the aftermath, former flyweight and bantamweight king Henry Cejudo touted Chimaev as the man who can stop Adesanya’s dominance.

    “Borz,” who has expressed a desire to achieve success at both welterweight and middleweight in the past, responded to Cejudo’s prediction by suggesting Adesanya “is not ready to die.”

    While Chimaev’s dominance in the UFC to date has seen him dismantle and finish four opponents, including Gerald Meerschaert at 185 pounds, and gain widespread acclaim as a future welterweight champion, Daniel Cormier believes his success will be limited to 170 pounds for as long as Adesanya is on the middleweight throne.

    During a recent episode of ESPN MMA’s DC & RC, the former heavyweight and light heavyweight titleholder suggested Chimaev’s downfall in a fight against Adesanya would be his nature to “rush” and search for an early finish.

    “I’ve been hearing Chimaev from a lot of people. Cejudo said it this morning. My problem with Chimaev is: Chimaev’s going to rush, and because he’ll rush to get Izzy out of there, he’s gonna get himself into trouble,” said Cormier. “I don’t know if Chimaev is the guy because he’s obviously smaller (than Adesanya). But his style won’t allow for him to sit back with Adesanya.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    If there’s one man you have to expect a response from when discussing a future defeat for him, it’s Chimaev…

    Chimaev To Cormier: “I’m Not You”

    Before he even responded directly to Cormier, Chimaev has previously discussed one of the last remaining questions about his ability and potential: his conditioning.

    Having never fought beyond the second minute of the second round in the UFC, and having finished three of his foes in the opening frame, many have questioned whether Chimaev can maintain his level of dominance and intense output across three or five rounds.

    “Borz” recently answered those questions in an interview with RT Sport MMA by claiming he actually improves in the later rounds. Acknowledging Cormier’s “rush” theory, the Chechen-born Swede suggested he becomes more technical and calculated when he enters deeper waters because he’s too explosive and energetic at the start of fights.

    With that belief in mind, it’s no surprise to see Chimaev shut Cormier’s prediction down emphatically. In a post on Twitter, the #11-ranked welterweight contender had a simple response: “I’m not you.”

    “@dc_mma for you and your team, it may be a problem, but not for me. If you think he might be a problem for me let him try to stop me. Do you know why I am better than you? because I’m not you, I’m different”

    As it stands, with compatriot Kamaru Usman on the welterweight throne, Adesanya is safe from below. But if Chimaev dispatches Gilbert Burns, a matchup that’s long been rumored and is expected for the coming months, and continues his unbeaten form all the way to one belt, “The Last Stylebender” may well be met with a puzzle unsolved by anyone during Borz’s pursuit of another.

    Although with their latest exchange, perhaps that previously discussed Cormier vs. Chimaev wrestling match will come first…

    How do you think a fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Israel Adesanya would play out?

  • Kevin Holland On Sean Strickland: “I Think I Got The Bigger C**k”

    Kevin Holland has fired back after middleweight contender Sean Strickland detailed an altercation they had at the UFC Performance Institute earlier this month.

    If there’s one man who doesn’t struggle to ruffle feathers and form feuds outside the Octagon, it’s Strickland. If there’s a second, it’s Holland. With that in mind and with both men’s vocal presence on social media, an exchange and rivalry were always likely.

    In an interview ahead of Strickland’s latest outing, a five-round victory over Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 47, “Trailblazer” made his negative feelings about “Tarzan” common knowledge. That led to an interaction at the PI during fight week.

    According to the #6-ranked middleweight, Holland confronted him with a “popped out” chest and was looking for a fight but shied away after Strickland invited him to the parking lot for a “man dance.”

    While speaking to the media at UFC 271 this past weekend, Holland gave his side of the story. Explaining his reluctance to scrap Strickland in the parking lot, “Big Mouth” suggested they could have made the most of the PI’s facilities for an animosity-fueled sparring session.

    “I seen him at the PI, and he had said some stuff online about murdering me or something like that if we ever have a fight,” recounted Holland. “So, when I see him, I was just checking his energy. He said I had my chest poked out, but as you guys see me on camera all the time, I have a bird chest. It’s kind of hard to poke this thing out. So, (I) walked up to the man, and I wasn’t trying to say nothing to him. He was speaking to me like we were friends or something. I was just looking at him like he was fucking crazy.

    “He said something stupid, so I probably said something stupid back,” added Holland. “Little words got exchanged. He said something about going to the parking lot. But if I’m not mistaken, there’s a full-blown Octagon and a boxing ring upstairs, and we could easily make it a sparring session. That way the UFC doesn’t lose money by somebody getting their head bashed in in the parking lot.”

    While Holland no doubt thinks he can match Strickland’s in-fight trash talk and go toe-to-toe with him on the mic, there’s one area he says he boasts a size advantage…

    “I think I got the bigger cock.”

    Holland Ready To Offer Strickland A Rebound Opportunity

    While their back and forth and in-person exchange would have set the stage nicely for a grudge match inside the cage, the pair are currently at very different points on the UFC ladder.

    On a six-fight win streak and coming off his second consecutive main event triumph, Strickland has risen into title contention and is perhaps just one victory away from a date with champion Israel Adesanya.

    Holland, meanwhile, is winless in his last three and set to move down to welterweight to face “Cowboy” Alex Oliveira at UFC 272 next month.

    But despite their opposite paths in the promotion right now, Holland is harboring hope of a clash down the line. He even offered to be waiting with a rebound opportunity for Strickland if the Anaheim native earns a title shot and is beaten by “The Last Stylebender.”

    “Yeah, I would love to do that fight,” Holland further told the media. “Sean’s on a really good winning streak right now, and Sean’s making really good waves in the middleweight division. I’m no dummy, we all know Sean’s probably close to a title shot. There’s not very many people for Izzy to fight at 185. Once Izzy knocks him the fuck out and he needs a rebound fight, here I am baby. Another tall, lanky guy ready to take that ass.”

    If Holland can resurrect his career at 170 pounds and return to middleweight in the future, it certainly wouldn’t be surprising to see him throw down with Strickland.

    Would you like to see Kevin Holland and Sean Strickland settle their differences inside the Octagon down the line?

  • Amanda Nunes Shares More Details Behind Decision To Leave ATT

    UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion Amanda Nunes has further explained her decision to part ways with the American Top Team gym.

    Before December 2021, it was perhaps difficult to imagine Nunes, the then-two-division champion, being in a position to make changes to her preparation outside the Octagon in order to rebound from a crushing loss.

    The woman who made that unlikely scenario a reality was Julianna Peña.

    At UFC 269, the final pay-per-view of last year, “The Venezuelan Vixen” defied the odds to end Nunes’ 12-fight win streak, hand the Brazilian her first taste of defeat since 2014, and take home the bantamweight gold.

    Following the result, which was branded by many as the greatest upset in UFC history, it was revealed that Nunes had decided to leave the renowned American Top Team gym, which had been her training home since 2014 and for the duration of her remarkable reign over both the 145 and 135-pound weight classes.

    During a media scrum earlier this month, Nunes explained her departure, which came as a surprise to many given the immense success she achieved at the Coconut Creek, Florida-based facility.

    The “Lioness” revealed that, regardless of her recent setback, opening her own private training space was always the target.

    “I always wanted to open a private spot, you know. I never said I’m gonna open a gym to compete against (ATT), that never came out my mouth,” said Nunes. “But I’ve always wanted to have like, a private space for me. Because, even at American Top Team, I always did my thing separately. I had my time to go and have the coach there waiting for me to help me with my camp. So, it was always like that.

    “It was always in my head that one day, I want to have (my own) space,” added Nunes. “I wanna see all my victories on the wall, putting my logo (up). Honestly, I feel like a lot of fighters wanna do that at some point in their career. This is the moment for me. I wanna go on my own for a little bit.”

    Nunes Says The Door Is Still Open For Her At ATT

    With that in mind, Nunes confirmed that there has been no break or souring in relations between herself and the coaching, ownership, and team over at ATT. Instead, the reigning featherweight queen suggested the door is still open for her to enter the gym to train at any time.

    “American Top Team, together we did amazing things. All the coaches, the gym, the owner Dan Lambert; I feel like we did everything for each other. But now, for me, for my head, for now I feel like I should go do what I really want. I feel like I deserve to do what I want to do. It’s nothing to do with the gym. Actually, we’re still good. I can still walk in the gym and train whenever I want. I didn’t close the door because (nothing) happened. I did it my way, but we did a lot of things together. We made history together,” Nunes concluded.

    Despite maintaining a good relationship with individuals at ATT, including longtime head coach Mike Brown, Nunes will be employing the help of some former ATT mentors for her upcoming stint as a coach on this year’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter, namely wrestling coach Kami Barzini and Roger Krahl.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZkxe7fPyiM/

    As well as entering the fight at 100% and injury free, something she says wasn’t the case prior to UFC 269, Nunes will be hoping that some fresh faces in her camp will help her rebound immediately in 2022 and secure redemption against Peña.

    Do you think Amanda Nunes can exact revenge on Julianna Peña in their rematch later this year?

  • Johnny Walker Promises Return Of “Explosive” & “Unpredictable” Walker

    UFC light heavyweight contender Johnny Walker is expecting to deliver an “explosive” and “unpredictable” performance against Jamahal Hill this weekend.

    Throughout his UFC career so far, we’ve pretty much come to expect those words to be incorporated into Walker’s game plan. From his brutal elbows against Khalil Rountree to his flying knee against Misha Cirkunov, not many fighters on the promotion’s roster, barring his compatriot Michel Pereira, have fans waiting for something crazy quite like the #10-ranked 205lber.

    However, that was far from the case in his last outing. In the UFC Vegas 38 main event last October, Walker had his chance to break through into the elite of the division against former title challenger Thiago Santos. What was billed as a five-round thriller turned out to be the opposite, and saw the 29-year-old fall on the wrong side of a unanimous decision verdict.

    Now set for another main event chance this Saturday thanks to the postponement of Rafael dos Anjos vs. Rafael Fiziev, Walker will be hoping to return to the win column, and to his unique and enthralling approach, against fellow rising contender Hill.

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Walker suggested sharing the Octagon with a fellow Brazilian last time out may have played a part in his toned-down performance.

    With that not being an issue this time around, the Rio de Janeiro native is targeting a return to his “explosive” style on February 19.

    “I’ve trained so much. I’m gonna put everything on the edge of my glove this Saturday,” said Walker. “And I’m gonna do my best. I’m gonna be very professional. I’m gonna use all my level, all my experience. I’m gonna be explosive, I’m gonna be unpredictable, I’m gonna use all my weapons, and I’m gonna take my time as well. I’m just gonna be another level.”

    Walker Expects An Early Finish

    Despite suggesting he’ll be taking his time and not going too crazy inside the Apex on Saturday, Walker did still predict an early finish, especially if Hill decides to throw everything at him from the get-go.

    “I have no idea (how many rounds), I don’t ask, I just wanna fight. I don’t care if it’s three, five; I can fight 20 rounds,” claimed Walker. “I don’t need that much (five). If this guy (Hill) wants to come with everything then I will as well, so I’m gonna finish the fight early.”

    While Walker certainly presents a unique challenge to anyone when he’s at his best and most bizarre self, Hill told MMA News he’s preparing for everything.

    Fresh off a knockout against Jimmy Crute, and having seen his rival be finished by Corey Anderson and heavily rocked by Ryan Spann, “Sweet Dreams” will have plans of his own for a quick night at UFC Vegas 48.

    Who do you think will have their hand raised in this weekend’s main event, Johnny Walker or Jamahal Hill?

  • Kayla Harrison Admits Sadness At Estranged Relationship With Rousey

    Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison has admitted she’s saddened by her broken relationship with former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.

    While Rousey has left the sport after holding gold on its biggest stage and pioneering the rise of female MMA into the mainstream, Harrison is currently forging her own legacy inside the cage.

    After transitioning to MMA following two gold medal triumphs at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, Harrison made a splash in the rising PFL promotion. Now approaching her fourth year in the sport, the 31-year-old sits as the most sought-after free agent in the game after back-to-back championships in 2019 and 2021.

    But while Harrison continues to pummel her competition and perhaps gets set for a move to the UFC or Bellator, she’s creating her success in the sport without former friend Rousey by her side.

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Marc Raimondi, Harrison discussed her current relationship with Rousey, whom she was roommates and good friends with when the pair were part of the US judo team together over a decade ago, long before “Rowdy” gained celebrity status.

    After admitting that they aren’t friends anymore, Harrison suggested the turn of events is saddening, especially given how Rousey helped her during the Ohio native’s teen years.

    “No, I think we kinda are like, I don’t think we’re friends anymore. I don’t know. We’re estranged, that’s the perfect word,” Harrison said. “We were roommates, you know. We traveled the world together at one point. She was buying me groceries cause I was a poor 16-year-old with like, five bucks in my account. So, at one point I really looked up to her and we were close. So, it is sad.”

    Harrison Comments On Rousey’s WWE Return

    Since her invincibility inside the Octagon was crushed by a Holly Holm head kick in 2015 and an Amanda Nunes onslaught in 2016, Rousey has pursued ventures outside of MMA. That’s included a transition to the art of professional wrestling.

    She made her first WWE appearance early in 2018 before debuting at the company’s showcase event, WrestleMania, later in the year. After winning the Raw Women’s Championship and holding it for 231 days, the 35-year-old’s contract expired.

    After taking time away, a period that included the birth of her first child, Rousey returned to the ring last month.

    During her interaction with ESPN, Harrison reacted to her former roommate’s return to her “fake thing.” She also shut the door on a potential reunion with “Rowdy” on the pro wrestling circuit.

    “I heard she’s back to, ‘Be nice Kayla…’ She’s back to doing her thing, her fake thing [LAUGHS]… Can you imagine if I joined her (in WWE)? … We’d beat the men. Like, legit. It’s never gonna happen,” Harrison stated.

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

    While Rousey begins another stint with WWE, Harrison will be hoping to confirm her immediate future and next destination soon as she gears up for a targeted spring return to the cage.

    It initially appeared another season with the PFL was leading the charge. But an apparent breakdown in negotiations has left the door wide open. Having met with UFC officials in previous months, perhaps we’ll see Harrison pursue similar success to Rousey on MMA’s biggest stage soon enough.

    Do you think Kayla Harrison can surpass Ronda Rousey’s achievements and legacy in the sport of MMA?

  • White Puts Tuivasa Into HW Picture Alongside Ngannou, Miocic, & Jones

    UFC President Dana White has assessed where heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa sits in the division following his knockout victory over Derrick Lewis.

    At UFC 271 this past weekend, two of the UFC’s hardest hitters and most prolific KO artists collided. On one side was “The Black Beast” Lewis, the promotion’s KO record holder, who was coming off a main event finish against Chris Daukaus in December. Opposite him was the rising “Bam Bam” Tuivasa, who was coming off four consecutive stoppage wins.

    Inside Houston’s Toyota Center, it was the younger and more durable Tuivasa who had his hand raised. After surviving an onslaught against the cage and firing back with his own bombs, the Australian hurt Lewis in the second round before knocking him out with a brutal elbow.

    White Expects Tuivasa To Be “Mixing It Up” With The Best

    Entering 2020, Tuivasa was on a three-fight losing skid following consecutive defeats to Junior dos Santos, Blagoy Ivanov, and Sergey Spivak, and his place in the promotion looked insecure.

    Having rebounded with victories over Stefan Struve and Harry Hunsucker, re-entered the rankings with memorable 2021 KO’s of Greg Hardy and Augusto Sakai, and now joined the elite conversation with a thunderous stoppage against two-time heavyweight title challenger Lewis, the sky appears to be the limit for “Bam Bam.”

    That’s a sentiment that was shared by Dana White at the UFC 271 press conference. When asked where the Aussie’s latest win puts him in the division, the UFC President said he expects Tuivasa to experience a heavy rise up the heavyweight ladder come the next rankings update.

    “Well, you guys are gonna rank him. But yeah, I mean, he should be top three, top five,” said White. “So wherever he shakes out in the rankings, yeah, he’ll be mixing it up with those guys.”

    Indeed, yesterday it was confirmed that Tuivasa is ranked #3 in the heavyweight division. When assessing how the title picture now shapes up, White placed Tuivasa alongside reigning champion Francis Ngannou, consensus heavyweight GOAT Stipe Miocic, and former two-time light heavyweight king Jon Jones.

    “We’ll see here pretty soon how this all plays out: Jones, Stipe, Francis, and Tai now, too.”

    Not bad company is it?

    From his pop classic walkouts to his post-fight shoeys to his brutal KO power, Tuivasa has captured the attention of just about every MMA fan and has grown to be perhaps the only universally loved fighter in the UFC.

    But if his latest win shows the rest of the division anything, it’s that he’s not just an entertainer who likes a beer, he’s a bona fide title contender on the hunt for gold.

    Who would you like to see Tai Tuivasa share the Octagon with next?

  • Casey O’Neill Is Ready To Be “The Best Bad Guy You’ve Ever Seen”

    UFC women’s flyweight Casey O’Neill doubled down on her “bad guy” affirmation following her victory over Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 271.

    At Saturday’s pay-per-view in Houston, Texas, O’Neill extended her unbeaten professional record to 9-0, added an established name to her résumé, and climbed three spots to #12 on the 125-pound ladder.

    She accomplished those feats by securing a split-decision victory over the retiring Modafferi on the February 12 prelims, although you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone other than judge Robert Alexander who scored the fight in favor of “The Happy Warrior.”

    While the pre-fight and immediate post-fight narrative centered around the final hurrah of one of the pioneers of women’s MMA, “King Casey” carved her own storyline during her Octagon interview with Daniel Cormier. When telling the crowd to not boo her failed to do the trick, the Scottish-Australian prospect embraced her villainy and flipped the bird to the sold-out Toyota Center.

    During her appearance at the post-fight press conference, O’Neill re-affirmed her willingness to play the ‘heel’ role, claiming she’ll be the “best bad guy” fans have ever seen.

    “I’m not an American and I’m in America. I have to expect some boos,” admitted O’Neill. “When you’re fighting a fan favorite, it’s to be expected as well. Everybody loves Roxanne. If they want me to be the bad guy, I’ll be the best bad guy you’ve ever seen.”

    O’Neill To UFC 271 Crowd: You’re Drinking Beers While I’m Getting Sh*t Done

    As O’Neill admitted, a frosty reception was to be expected at UFC 271. A young rising contender from outside the US sent a veteran American fighter into retirement with a defeat in Houston; you’d be worried about the crowd if there weren’t boos.

    However, the 24-year-old believes she deserved a little more respect from those in attendance. That, coupled with her frustration at the lack of attention on her own game and progress prior to the event, perhaps led to O’Neill’s explosive post-fight remarks.

    She further told the press following the contest that while it wasn’t a good feeling, those booing her were doing so with a beverage in their hands while she went to work and got “shit done.”

    “That was kinda shit. But it is what it is, you know,” said O’Neill. “At the end of the day, they’re buying tickets and they’re watching me, so, you’re paying me whether you like me or you don’t.

    “Whatever you wanna do, I don’t care… If they wanna boo me, you know, they’re sitting on their seats, watching me, drinking beers, and I’m out there getting shit done. That’s the difference.”

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

    While she perhaps hadn’t reached fan-favorite status prior to UFC 271, O’Neill has certainly had a Macbeth-esque moment with her Octagon interview and subsequent comments. But if there’s one person ready to embrace the ‘heel’ role, it’s “King Casey” O’Neill.

    What did you make of Casey O’Neill’s reaction to the crowd’s boos at UFC 271?

  • Masvidal Reveals Why He Never Considered Covington His Best Friend

    Two-time UFC welterweight title challenger Jorge Masvidal has revealed why he never considered upcoming opponent and bitter rival Colby Covington his best friend.

    Next month is set to play host to one of the biggest grudge matches possible in the UFC right now. While Covington’s failed championship charge against reigning 170-pound king Kamaru Usman last November included animosity and trash talk, it didn’t have the history “Chaos” shares with Masvidal.

    In the UFC 272 main event, former American Top Team teammates, roommates, and friends Covington and Masvidal will share the Octagon. While a fiery affair inside the cage is expected, a hate-fueled fight week and press conference is almost a certainty.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ7lN9FIHpU/

    Covington and Masvidal’s friendship collapsed a number of years ago. Ever since, we’ve seen both take jabs at each other on social media and through interviews. However, “Gamebred” has now expanded on the relationship he shared with the former interim titleholder.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura, Masvidal, who still trains at ATT, suggested he never considered Covington his “best friend.” According to the Miami native, his former training partner’s attitude towards his family was a big reason behind that.

    “There’s numerous interviews of him calling me his best friend. I really wouldn’t do that because I would see signs—the way he treated his family, the way he’d talk about his sister, the way he talked about his mom,” said Masvidal. “I was like, ‘Mmm…’

    “There’s three sides to every story: yours, theirs, and the truth. So I was like, ‘Eh, this guy’s interesting.’”

    Masvidal: Covington’s Treatment Of Woodley Revealed His True Character

    I Was Like a Mentor to Him" - Tyron Woodley Opens Up On His Past Relationship With Colby Covington - Sportsmanor

    But Masvidal says Covington’s family remarks weren’t the only red flag. He went on to cite the #1-ranked welterweight’s treatment of former champion Tyron Woodley as another sign he perceived to be a warning of Covington’s true nature.

    While Covington has previously claimed “The Chosen One” hired him for his UFC 174 clash with Rory MacDonald simply to tee off on him as a sparring partner, Masvidal has a different side to the story.

    According to “Gamebred,” Woodley did a lot to help Covington while he was an amateur, yet Covington still opted to trash his former teammate anyway.

    “Woodley, I was there for the whole thing. The Jon Jones (fallout), I wasn’t there in college with them. But the whole Woodley thing, I was,” claimed Masvidal. “Woodley brought him out, he was giving him like $1,000 a week, something crazy like that when this guy was an amateur just to train with him for four weeks—sponsors, food—and then he came back just talking shit about Woodley in a negative way.

    “Negative. Not (saying), ‘Man, I got more cardio than him. I got better technical—I’d do against Woodley. I can beat him.’ No, no, no, just talking bad, saying what a piece of crap he was, how many this and how many that and all this nonsense that didn’t need to be said,” Masvidal continued. “So I was like, ‘Man, if this guy’s going around talking about everybody like that, that’s just who he is.’ There’s nobody that he respects whatsoever.”

    With those factors combined, Masvidal says he made the decision to begin distancing himself from Covington. In the end, it was a pay dispute between the Californian and his coach that signaled the end of Masvidal and Covington’s friendship.

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

    Given Masvidal’s interview and Covington’s recent posts on social media, it’s clear the pair won’t be waiting for UFC 272 fight week to begin trading barbs.

    If this is a taste of things to come, which it likely is, fans are set for an explosive pre-fight back and forth and, hopefully, an entertaining PPV main event.

    Who do you think will emerge victorious in the UFC 272 grudge match, Jorge Masvidal or Colby Covington?

  • Fury Sets A Location And Estimated Date For Ngannou Superfight

    Tyson Fury has revealed a potential date and location for a blockbuster crossover boxing clash with UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou.

    Fury and Ngannou have both reached the heavyweight peaks of their respective mountains. While “The Gypsy King” became a two-time world champion by capturing the WBC and The Ring titles with a crushing 2020 victory over Deontay Wilder, “The Predator” reigns over the largest weight class on MMA’s biggest stage after tearing through the division en route to a KO against former titleholder Stipe Miocic.

    While their rises have been parallel in the sports of boxing and MMA, it’s seemed for a while that their paths are likely to cross. Ahead of Ngannou’s latest title defense, a five-round triumph over Ciryl Gane, the Cameroonian made his desire to venture to the squared circle clear.

    After some back and forth on social media and in interviews, Fury appears more than willing to welcome his Octagon counterpart to the ring. That seems even more true given his latest comments.

    During an interview with iFL TV, the Manchester, England native revealed a likely timeframe for the highly-anticipated collision. He suggested the ‘Fight Capital of the World’ could be set to host the clash as early as the first quarter of 2023.

    “I am going to fight Francis Ngannou in Las Vegas next year – in March or February,” said Fury. “There’s been no talks this year, because I have got some boxing to do, But next year we can have some crazy fights.” (h/t DAZN News)

    Given the current situation for both men, Fury’s prediction essentially represents the earliest they could share the ring. While Ngannou is tied to the UFC until December, providing he doesn’t sign a new deal, “The Gypsy King” has matters of his own to tend to.

    The Englishman is set to face mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte in a few months’ time. Beyond that, a unification clash with either Oleksandr Usyk or Anthony Joshua is likely to close out his 2022.

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

    Fury: Ngannou Fight Will Break PPV Records

    The most memorable and well-known fight between an MMA superstar and an undefeated boxer came in 2017 when Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather fought. Aptly named ‘The Money Fight’, the match attracted 4.3 million pay-per-view buys and saw both men collect $100 million-plus paychecks.

    While it would do well to reach those heights, Fury believes a potential fight with Ngannou would attract similar attention and break PPV records of its own.

    “It’s a massive fight – I believe it breaks all pay-per-view records in the United States. Two heavyweight champions going head to head,” predicted Fury.

    Ngannou’s future is far from clear. However, what appears certain is that boxing is in it. If Dana White and the UFC choose not to be involved, we can expect “The Predator” to say farewell to the promotion and hello to “The Gypsy King” in 2023.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZaACJ9vD-5/

    How do you think Francis Ngannou will fare in the ring against Tyson Fury if this matchup comes to fruition?

  • Peña On Nunes’ UFC 269 Injury Claim: No One Had A Gun To Your Head

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña has reacted to Amanda Nunes’ claim that she was injured and shouldn’t have fought at UFC 269.

    At the final pay-per-view of 2021, Peña proved herself right and a whole lot of people across the MMA community wrong. Not only did she surprise fans and pundits with her pre-fight confidence, which came despite what many perceived to be an insurmountable task, but she provided one of the most shocking moments in the promotion’s history on fight night.

    In the second round of the co-main event, “The Venezuelan Vixen” forced Nunes, the then-double champ who was unbeaten since 2014, to tap. According to the newly-crowned 135-pound queen, the “Lioness” was exposed on December 11.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXmaaWsOw5r/

    Now three months gone from the memorable result, the former bantamweight titleholder has attempted to provide some context behind her disappointing, lackluster, and defeated performance at UFC 269.

    According to the Brazilian, her pre-fight camp was a “mess,” not only due to the initial summer delay after she contracted COVID-19 but because of injuries she carried during preparation and into the event itself.

    Peña: If You’re Injured, Don’t Fight

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, Peña responded to Nunes’ claims and take on her first setback in 13 outings.

    Having experienced two serious knee injuries herself across her career, the champ admitted she has sympathy for her rival and understands what she’s been going through.

    But while she sees it as a “legitimate excuse,” Peña reminded Nunes that nobody was forcing her to compete. “The Venezuelan Vixen” said that if the consensus female GOAT’s injury was bad enough to have a doctor encourage her to withdraw, she simply should have delayed the fight.

    “It’s a tough situation for me to hear that because I’ve torn both my knees out. I have come back from two devastating knee injuries,” said Peña. “So, in one regard, I hear you, girl. I feel ya. I 100% know exactly what you are feeling like, you know. I have had that time off to reconstruct my knees, and to build them back, and to still be competing at the highest level that there is.

    “So, my knees are not an excuse to say I shouldn’t have shown up to the fight. If your knees are bad, don’t fight,” added Peña. “Nobody’s forcing a gun up to your head. Nobody’s making you do this. So, if you want to say that it was because you were injured, don’t take the fight, that’s fine. I’m sure we can find somebody else more than willing to step into that spot instead. I agree, fighters don’t like excuses, but then I also agree that that is a legitimate excuse. But then I also say, then fix it and let’s figure out how we can keep this party rolling,” Peña concluded.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZuoTe9vIpY/

    From the latest injury claim and discussion about the UFC 269 contest to controversial motherhood statements, the back and forth between Nunes and Peña has certainly not slowed since their December clash.

    Now, with the pair set to coach this year’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter ahead of their rematch, it stands to reason we’re set for many more exchanges in the coming months.

    Do you think Julianna Peña will upset the odds again when she shares the Octagon with Amanda Nunes for the second time later this year?

  • Calvin Kattar: It’s Crazy To Question Holloway For Volk Trilogy Withdrawal

    UFC featherweight contender Calvin Kattar has given his take on champion Alexander Volkanovski accusing Max Holloway of faking an injury to avoid their trilogy fight.

    Last month it was announced that Holloway, coming off a pair of memorable victories over Kattar and Yair Rodriguez in 2021, would be the next challenger to Volkanovski’s 145-pound reign. Since the Australian dethroned “Blessed” in December 2020 and subsequently defended the belt against him six months later, he’s retained the belt with a five-round win against Brian Ortega.

    But just days after the trilogy was announced, it was off. Holloway withdrew after aggravating a previous injury. In his place, “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung stepped up, and Volkanovski’s first appearance of 2022 got pushed back a month to UFC 273.

    But in a surprising turn of events, ESPN recently reported that Holloway was back in training and eager to serve as a backup option for the April pay-per-view main event.

    After hearing the news, the champion took to Twitter to accuse his rival of faking an injury in order to avoid another loss to him. Prior to the booking and recent revelations, “The Great” had already suggested Holloway may look to avoid a third clash with him because another defeat would be damaging to the former titleholder’s legacy.

    Kattar: Holloway Doesn’t Dodge Anybody

    While others have also questioned the quick development from withdrawal to full training, #5-ranked featherweight contender Kattar believes it is “crazy” to suggest Holloway would dodge an opponent.

    During a media scrum at UFC 271 this past weekend, “The Boston Finisher” was asked for his take on the matter. Having felt Holloway’s toughness first hand last January, Kattar doesn’t believe Holloway would fake an injury or avoid a fight, especially considering his willingness to face the returning Rodriguez last November.

    “I’m not reading too much into it. I mean, as a fight fan, that would’ve been a good matchup, watching him and the champ go back at it, third time running it, especially after the last two,” Kattar said. “As far as what got him ready (to be backup) and whatnot, I’m not reading too far into that.

    “I feel like to question Max, man, it’s kind of crazy. He took the Yair fight when he didn’t really need to,” Kattar continued. “He was next in line for the champ anyway, but he took it. The champ and Max, I think, are two guys that don’t really dodge anybody and wanna fight the best guys in the world, so I got a lot of respect for them.”

    With Holloway’s recovery and availability for April, it stands to reason “Blessed” will get another chance to reclaim the 145-pound gold later this year. But for now, it’s the turn of UFC veteran “The Korean Zombie.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZnhjU5tQNd/

    Do you agree with Calvin Kattar’s take on Max Holloway’s withdrawal and recovery?