MMA News

Author: Nicole Bosco

  • Stephen Thompson: McGregor Will Get ‘Demolished’ If He Faces Usman

    Stephen Thompson is not sold on Conor McGregor moving up to face Kamaru Usman.

    There has been some talk lately about Conor McGregor wanting to move up to welterweight and challenge champion Kamaru Usman for the title, that talk is coming from McGregor himself.

    The former dual champion at 145 and 155 pounds is looking to make another jump when he is cleared to return to the UFC. McGregor has fought at 170 pounds before and although that might not be his natural weight class, he is confident he can hang with the best.

    There are some people who are doubters of McGregor and his skills, however. One man who believes that McGregor would have no shot at beating Usman is Stephen “Wonerboy” Thompson. Thompson spoke about this on his podcast.

    Stephen Thompson
    Stephen Thompson (Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa)

    “[McGregor’s] going to get demolished [by Usman]. Yeah, he’s going to be a big fight, a big payday but you’re going to get demolished,” Thompson said via Sportskeeda. “Dude, I love you Conor but you put on the weight like that and you’re fighting a dude at 170 [pounds]. I mean you got to try and put some weight on to become a real 170 [pounder]. I mean, look at Kamaru, look at the biceps and shoulders on that guy. [And] he’s got both attributes, he’s got cardio for days and he’s one of the top wrestlers in the welterweight division.”

    Thompson has fought some of the best the UFC welterweight division has to offer. He has been in some wars and has fought in two title fights. He knows as well as anyone what it takes to compete in the welterweight division. McGregor’s two fights at 170 pounds were a loss against Nate Diaz and a win against Donald Cerrone.

    Having three losses in a row at lightweight, this move could be a new beginning for McGregor. He is currently out dealing with the recovery of his leg injury he suffered his last time in the Octagon. At this point, a timetable for his return is unconfirmed, but he is expected to be back in action by early fall.

    How do you think Conor McGregor would fare against Kamaru Usman?

  • Dana White: Paddy Pimblett Could Headline A Fight Night

    Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett could be on to bigger and better fight opportunities ahead.

    UFC London was full of star power and great finishes. Many hometown fighters saw big wins, including Paddy Pimblett.

    Dana White believes Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett is the real deal following his UFC London win | MMA News | Sky Sports
    A victorious Paddy Pimblett

    Pimblett was coming into UFC London with high expectations. He is a rising star and has gained a huge number of fans since joining the UFC. With all eyes on him, he was able to get the impressive win and could have just sealed a bright future ahead of him in the UFC.

    Along with all the fans who were impressed, the performance also left a lasting impression of Dana White. White can see Pimblett’s star power and can also see him headlining a card in the future when asked at the UFC London post-fight press conference about this.

    “That was quick. I don’t know. I mean, his numbers say yes. His numbers say yes. He could headline a Fight Night,” White said.

    Pimblett made his second walk to the Octagon at UFC London. His first-round submission win over Kazula Vargas was his second win in the UFC and although he is still a newcomer people are calling his name.

    Pimblett was in the Cage Warriors organization before coming to the UFC. He did have the opportunity to headline two events when he was a champion in Cage Warriors, one at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, proving he can rise to the occasion.

    There is no doubt many fans in attendance were there to see Pimblett. The noise was booming when he was walking to the cage and when he won. Pimblett has shown he can handle the spotlight and the pressure of headlining an event, so perhaps the next time the UFC is in the UK, it could be Paddy “The Baddy” at the top of the card.

    Do you think Paddy Pimblett is ready to headline an event?

  • Leon Edwards Would Consider Giving Masvidal A Shot If He Wins The Belt

    Leon Edwards would still be open to fighting Jorge Masvidal, even under the current conditions.

    Leon Edwards is in a good position right now. He will likely be the next man to challenge UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman for the title later this year. Edwards has had a long road to this title shot and has made a few enemies along the way. One particular nemesis who had been calling his name in the past is Jorge Masvidal.

    Masvidal and Edwards are both welterweight top-ten staples. They have both been fighting their way up the rankings for around the same amount of time. Masvidal has had two shots at the title in the past few years while Edwards is awaiting his first.

    The two were scheduled to meet last year but an injury to Masvidal forced him out. When he was ready to fight again, it was Colby Covington, not Edwards, standing across from him.

    Masvidal lost to Covington and his title aspirations could be on hold for a bit unless perhaps Edwards gives him a shot. Edwards spoke a bit to MMA Junkie about whether he would still entertain a fight with Masvidal in the future.

    “No, I think our career, I’m going like this (pointing up) and he is going like that (pointing down) it’s going to be difficult to balance it out when if we can ever fight,” Edwards said. “I might just f–king win the belt and be like, ‘F–k it, let’s fight.’ So you never know, we’ll see.”

    Edwards has not lost a bout since 2015, although he did have a no-contest thrown in. He has arguably proven that he is the logical next opponent for Usman and he is hoping to cap off his amazing eight-year UFC career to this point. When and if he becomes the champ he will be able to call these kinds of shots.

    Do you think Leon Edwards will ever become the UFC welterweight champion?

  • Hooker: It’s Time To Let My Decade Of Hard Work Shine At UFC London

    Dan Hooker is ready to let people see how good he really is.

    Hooker is beginning a familiar new journey in the UFC after many years of fighting. Hooker is making a return to featherweight as he prepares to make a run at a UFC title. In the past few years, Hooker has experienced an up-and-down path. He was able to string a few wins in a row and get himself closer to a title shot than he had ever been in the past, but was then met with a few losses.

    These losses added up and led him to rethink his path. Now he is back at 145 pounds and ready to show the world that he is, in fact, one of the best in the world.

    Hooker will be fighting Arnold Allen at UFC London today. Recently, he spoke a bit about what he makes of this matchup and what he expects from the fight.

    “Nothing in particular,” Hooker told Submission Radio when asked if there was something he was looking to showcase. “I just think, go out there and let it all shine out. Let all this hard work that I’ve been putting in for the last decade just shine through. I’ve been doing this for so long, I’ve got so much experience. It’s time to let all that hard work shine.

    Dan Hooker
    Dan Hooker (Image Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

    “So that’s it. I’m not holding on to anything too tight. Wherever the fight goes, whether we’re striking or grappling, and mixing it up with the wrestling, I’m excited. I’m just excited to get out there and have a great contest with a pretty incredible martial artist.”

    Hooker began his UFC at featherweight before making the jump to lightweight. After losing to a few top-flight athletes, Hooker is hoping that this change will finally lead him to the UFC title shot he has been looking for. Allen is currently ranked seventh in the featherweight division and a win over him would certainly place Hooker solidly in the top ten.

    Do you think Dan Hooker will excel at featherweight?

  • Katlyn Chookagian vs. Amanda Ribas Targeted for May 14 Bout

    There is an interesting flyweight bout between Katlyn Chookagian and Amanda Ribas in the works.

    UFC events for the spring are beginning to fill up quickly. One event, in particular, that will not be a pay-per-view event is the one being held on May 14. The location and main event for this event are not yet known, but a few fights have been released.

    Originally, the bout between Miesha Tate and Lauren Murphy was to be the headliner, but that bout was moved to a later date. However, a very intriguing matchup between former title contender Katlyn Chookagian and rising star Amanda Ribas will be on this card. The news was first reported by Raphael Marinho of Combate.com.

    Chookagian is coming into this matchup having won her last three in a row. Since losing her title shot to champion Valentina Shevchenko, Chookagian has gone 4-1 in the division. She is still sitting in the number two spot of the flyweight rankings. Following her last fight against Jennifer Maia, Chookagian announced that the UFC had not offered her a new contract at that point and she would have gone to free agency. It seems she was able to rework the terms and is now back in the heart of the division.

    As for Ribas, this fight will be a return to flyweight after a stint at strawweight. She fought most recently at UFC 267 back in October of 2021 and has had a string of bad luck since then. Over the past few years, Ribas has had a number of fights canceled or changed due to opponents pulling out or illness. Most recently, she was slated to face off against Michelle Waterson but she was injured and the bout was pushed back and eventually scrapped.

    Ribas is currently sitting in the number nine spot of the strawweight rankings, but a with over Chookagian will no most likely place her in the top ten or five of the flyweight rankings.

    The entire fight card announced to this point for May 14 is as follows:

    • Women’s Flyweight bout: Viviane Araújo vs. Andrea Lee
    • Welterweight bout: Frank Camacho vs. Manuel Torres
    • Featherweight bout: Daniel Pineda vs. Jamall Emmers
    • Women’s Strawweight bout: Angela Hill vs. Virna Jandiroba
    • Middleweight bout: Nick Maximov vs. Andre Petroski
    • Women’s Flyweight bout: Katlyn Chookagian vs. Amanda Ribas

    Who do you think will win on May 14 Katlyn Chookagian or Amanda Ribas?

  • Derek Brunson Appears To Walk Back Retirement Plans

    Derek Brunson seems to have a new fire lit inside of him.

    Derek Brunson is one of the top middleweights in the world. Prior to his UFC 271 bout, it seemed that Brunson was making a beeline for the title shot. He had won five in a row over the last three years and seemed unstoppable. Unfortunately for him, he was stopped.

    Brunson’s winning streak hit a wall named Jared Cannonier. Cannonier handed Brunson a loss at UFC 271 by KO in the second round. This loss will most likely put Brunson’s title aspirations on hold for a bit, but that hasn’t sent Brunson packing yet.

    Prior to the UFC 271 bout, Brunson took some time to lay out an optimal plan for the rest of his UFC career. He had called his shot to beat Cannonier, then go on to win the belt and then walk away. At 38 years old, he stated that he wanted to spend some time with his family. Now that the first leg of his plan was squashed, he isn’t just going to scrap the rest.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbL2j1HLBig/

    “I’m tired of seeing guys I fight go on to be World Champions & fight for the belt to be the best middleweight on the planet.” he wrote. “I’ve been in the top 10 for over a decade and currently in the top 5. I gotta do better. Not done!.”

    At the moment, Brunson is ranked fourth in the division and is still a force to be reckoned with. If he plans to continue his quest for a UFC title, he may not be that far off. Perhaps another fight or two within the top five could secure him his spot in line for Adesanya.

    Do you think Derek Brunson still has a shot at fighting for a title one day?

  • Adesanya Compares His ‘Hype Train’ Competition To Pimblett’s: ‘There’s Levels’

    Israel Adesanya is a fan of Paddy Pimblett but wants to see him face harder competition.

    UFC London is coming up this weekend and many UK UFC stars will be on display. Paddy Pimblett is not headlining this event, but he is definitely one of the biggest draws on the card.

    Pimblett will be making his second appearance in the UFC Octagon, and the Liverpool native will be doing it in front of a near hometown crowd. The media and many fans have embraced Pimblett and have made him a quickly rising star. Even middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is a fan.

    Adesanya spoke a bit about Pimblett on his YouTube channel and how he feels he should be approaching his UFC career. First, he brought up the fact that Pimblett is not a fan of extravagant walkouts but then hit a little closer to home.

    “He should do that. I dare him to do a f–king whole entrance on the biggest fight of his life,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel (via MMA Fighting). “I’m not talking this fight — this ain’t the biggest fight of his life. He’s fighting a motherf–ker that’s 1-2 [in the UFC]. He’s getting fed a bum. I dare him to try something like that, and then fight, and do what I did.”

    Adesanya Compares His Rise To Pimblett’s

    UFC on FOX 29 results: Israel Adesanya survives late Vettori charge
    Israel Adesanya Faces Marvin Vettori In Second UFC Fight

    Adesanya is referring to Pimblett’s opponent for his homecoming bout at UFC London, Kazula Vargas. Vargas is not a newcomer to MMA. He has been fighting professionally since 2011. However, he has had a tough go of it in the UFC so far in going 1-2 but is coming off a win his last time out. This, Adesanya says, pales in comparison to the competition he faced during his own rise up the UFC ranks.

    “I like what he’s doing. I like the haircut, and I like how he’s owning everything and just telling it like it is. He’s speaking his truth,” Adesanya said of Pimblett. “They’re building him up. This is the thing: when I got to the UFC when I jumped in, I was ready to fight the [most] dangerous people of the division, and they threw me right in there against a grappler who was going to grapple me — at least, that’s what he tried to do. Second fight, I’m fighting blockhead [Marvin Vettori], third fight, I fight a top-ranked guy, top-10, f–k, third fight. Look, you can be a hype train but there’s levels.”

    Adesanya did indeed jump right into the deep section of the UFC middleweight division when he joined the organization. He makes a good case for hurrying up the ladder, but the UFC has a tendency of slowly bringing new fighters into fighting ranked opponents, especially ones who could become stars such as Pimblett.

    Adesanya fought Anderson Silva in his fifth UFC fight and fought for a title in his sixth. That may not be the right path for Pimblett, especially in such a stacked division at lightweight.

    Do you agree with Israel Adesanya about Paddy Pimblett?

  • Harrison Responds To “Can Crusher” Narrative With Impassioned Speech

    Kayla Harrison has come to the defense of fellow MMA fighters against trolls.

    Kayla Harrison is not going to sit back and let people bash her fellow MMA fighters. Harrison is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about female fighters in the world and having all that spotlight shining on her seems like a good opportunity to express her true feelings.

    In an interview with Sirius XM, Harrison spoke about her feelings towards people on the internet dissing the women she faces.

    “The internet is just full of all this noise,” Harrison said. “I used to get so upset by it, but I really just want to say to them, shame on you. Shame on you for calling these women—first of all, women’s MMA wasn’t even a real thing how many years ago. This has been built very quickly and it’s grown exponentially because of Miesha, because of Ronda, because of all these girls who are like, ‘I’m so good you can’t ignore me’ basically. Now we have women who are stepping into the cage who are working two jobs and who are single moms and are doing all this stuff and they are actually chasing their dreams and who are literally fighting for what they love.”

    Kayla Harrison
    Kayla Harrison (Photo: Instagram @JudoKayla)

    Harrison recently re-signed with PFL. PFL has been her home for MMA for the past three seasons. Leading up to this 2022 season, Harrison was toying with the idea of leaving the promotion and targeted a potential bout with Cris Cyborg in Bellator.

    Ultimately, that deal was not made and Harrison will once again compete for the PFL championship and one million dollars. There have been people who are critical of the competition that Harrison has faced or will face in PFL, to these people she has something to say.

    “And these a–holes on the internet have the balls to call them cans, like no, you’re a can,” Harrison said. “You’re a can, you’re a tomato can, you’re a POS, how dare you talk about these women like that? It’s so frustrating to me.”

    Harrison might be in PFL for this next year or more, but she is still open to facing tougher competition. She has expressed interest in facing both Cris Cyborg and Amanda Nunes in the future.

    What are your thoughts on Kayla Harrison’s passionate speech in response to the “can crusher” label placed upon her?

  • Pimblett Reveals How He Hopes To Give Back To Liverpool

    Paddy Pimblett wants to make a difference in his hometown.

    Paddy Pimblett is the new kid in the UFC. He burst onto the scene last year when he made his UFC debut. Pimbeltt is not new to MMA; however, he has had a big following from his time in the UK-based Cage Warriors promotion, and that following has stayed with him and is growing.

    Pimblett is one of the biggest personalities in MMA coming out of Liverpool. Now that he is in the “big show,” he wants to find a way to give back.

    “Investing is something I do need to start doing, and I am gonna start doing very soon. But what I wanna do first, to be honest, is I wanna get my own charity going first, a little foundation for the people of Liverpool, people that need help,” Pimblett told the UFC Unfiltered podcast. “There’s a lot of people in my city that are not well off and haven’t go the advantages I’ve got and they haven’t got the possibilities that I’ve got, especially the youth of today in my city. I wanna be able to give something back.”

    Paddy Pimblett
    Paddy Pimblett

    Pimblett has his next bout in the UFC already lined up. He will be making his UFC home debut when he fights Rodrigo Vargas at UFC London on March 19. Since joining the UFC, Pimblett has been called out by a few fighters. He is a fan favorite and a talented up and comer. His first-round KO over Luigi Vendramini showed he could stand toe to toe with the upper echelon of the MMA world.

    Because of his flare and fast-growing fanbase, Pimblett can easily be compared to Conor McGregor. McGregor was able to take his success in the UFC and make a name for himself outside of fighting.

    Taking a page out of McGregor’s book could be the future for Pimblett, but he has a long road ahead of him. If he keeps racking up wins, he will have the opportunities to do all the goodwill and business he wants to do.

    Are you excited to see Paddy Pimblett back in action at UFC London?

  • Kayla Harrison Reacts To Being Blocked By Cris Cyborg On Twitter

    The beef between Kayla Harrison and Cris Cyborg has led to the Bellator champion blocking Harrison on Twitter.

    For months, Kayla Harrison was going through the sometimes difficult ordeal of free agency. That all ended after it was confirmed earlier this week that Harrison has signed a multi-year deal with the PFL.

    However, Bellator had been interested in signing Harrison as well. When the prospect of Bellator as a landing spot arose, Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg began to perk up.

    Cyborg and Harrison have had many Twitter exchanges in recent months, with Harrison even inviting Cyborg to her gym to have a training/sparring session with her recently. That was not an overly friendly invitation, however, more like a “say this to my face” sort of thing.

    Now that Harrison has re-upped with PFL, it seems that Cyborg is done with the talk and blocked her on Twitter.

    Cyborg wrote a now-deleted tweet saying, “Tell me you only got 50K followers without telling me you only have 50K…engagement farming is so basic,” and then blocked her. Harrison reacted to this news by again welcoming a fight against the Bellator champion.

    “Dang it. I went too far,” she wrote. “Cris please fight me! I won’t use judo just wrestling.”

    Following the block, Cyborg explained why she did so, but simultaneously accused Harrison of running from her.

    “Nah. I blocked her cause she could have signed with @BellatorMMA and made the fight but didn’t,” Cyborg wrote.

    The details of Harrison’s PFL contract are not completely announced, but it is a multi-year contract. With her tied to PFL for the next few seasons, the likelihood that she will ever meet Cyborg in the cage is looking slim. Cyborg is 36 years old and could be nearing the end of a long career that began in 2005.

    What are your thoughts on Cris Cyborg blocking Kayla Harrison on Twitter?

  • Rafael dos Anjos Says Makhachev Is Paying The Price For Not Fighting Him

    Rafael dos Anjos is happy that Islam Makhachev must fight another bout before getting a title shot.

    Rafael dos Anjos is coming off a big win this past weekend at UFC 272. Although his road to get there was a bit rocky, dos Anjos is now on a two-fight winning streak and making his way back up the rankings. His original opponent Rafael Fiziev was forced out of the bout last minute, and Renato Moicano stood in on short notice.

    However, there was another man who dos Anjos was looking for. He was hoping Islam Makhachev would step in.

    Makhachev last fought two weekends ago at UFC Vegas 49. He was toying with the idea of stepping on on a one-week turnaround to face dos Anjos, but in the end, he did not. Makhachev also lost his original opponent for his fight last minute but still walked away with the win.

    Now, according to Dana White, it seems that Makhachev will have to fight one more time before receiving a title shot, much to dos Anjos’ satisfaction.

    “That’s the price (Makhachev) pays for playing politics, playing these little games,” he told The MMA Hour via The Score. “He had his title shot secured, now he’s going to fight another one.”

    Makhachev’s original opponent was Beneil Dariush. A win over him would have all but sealed a title shot. However, the win over Bobby Green may not hold as much weight. dos Anjos believes Makhachev’s offer to step in was not genuine and that he exposed this when he accepted Makhachev’s condition for the fight to take place at 170.

    “I called his bluff,” he said. “I think that’s what it was. His team probably thought that I wouldn’t take this fight at 170. But you know what? I was training, I didn’t want to waste a whole fight camp, I hadn’t fought for 16 months. I just wanted to go there and fight someone.”

    dos Anjos and Makhachev have been booked to fight one another on multiple occasions now. It seems that UFC 272 may have been the final chance to get it done, as they now appear to be on different courses.

    Do you think Rafael dos Anjos and Islam Makhachev will fight each other one day?

  • Masvidal Remains Eager To Finish Covington Beef On The Streets

    The beef between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington is not over just yet.

    On Saturday night, Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington faced off in the main event of UFC 272. This bout could have ended their ongoing feud once and for all, but it seems it has not.

    Covington came away with the victory by unanimous decision and could have made a case for the next title shot along the way. In the lead-up to the bout, both men were engaged in trash talk and taking personal shots at one another.

    Masvidal and Covington used to be friends and training partners. This closeness allowed for more personal insults to be thrown both ways. Covington took it a step further and mentioned Masvidal’s family in some of his trash talk. This kind of thing is not so easily forgotten by Masvidal.

    “Like I said, none of it is personal, but it just sucks because this idiot talked about my kids, you know?” he said during the UFC 272 post-fight press conference. “He’s still somebody, if I see him out on the streets, I’m gonna give him everything I got to break his fuckin’ jaw. It doesn’t matter if I lost wrestling scrambles tonight. I still think he’s a fuckin’ pussy.”

    This is not the first time Masvidal has threatened violence against Covington on the street. Prior to UFC 272, Masvidal told a story of wanting to brawl with Covington outside of a sushi restaurant. Covington has also stated in the past that he would dump Masvidal on his head if the two crossed paths on the streets of Miami.

    Instead, the two fought inside the Octagon last Saturday. This grudge match was an interesting one to fans, so much so that it warranted a non-title fight main event, which is rare for a PPV.

    Fans were invested in the friendship turned heated feud being settled. However, judging from Masvidal’s comments, their beef is still going strong and may still spill onto the streets.

    Would you be interested in a rematch between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington with or without the title on the line?

  • Terrance McKinney Provides Timeline For When He’ll Become LW Champ

    Terrance McKinney knows the day he becomes UFC champion is coming.

    Terrance McKinney is coming off a big win at UFC Vegas 49 over Fares Ziam. McKinney is a rising star in the UFC lightweight division. He finds himself outside the top fifteen at the moment, but that is not stopping him from envisioning his first title fight.

    McKinney is 12-3 in his professional MMA career, with two fights and two wins in the UFC. McKinney has his sights set on some big goals, but first, he says he will win the lightweight title.

    “2023, that’s the goal to have my title fight that year,” McKinney told TMZ Sports. “It don’t matter who has the belt, I’m taking that fight. If it’s Islam, Justin Gaethje, Michael Chandler, whoever has the belt that’s what I want.”

    At just 27 years old, McKinney is showing that he can be a force in the 155-pound division. He has never gone the distance in his career, and now has seven submission victories and five TKO or KO wins. Despite his immense talent, there could still be a long way to go. The UFC lightweight division is filled with superstars. The top is jammed packed with killers and it seems like there could be a long waitlist for a title shot. In the meantime, McKinney is ready for whatever the UFC throws at him.

    “I just take whoever they throw my way,” he said. “Whoever is brave enough to take it, let’s get it.”

    With such a great showing in his last fight, McKinney could be looking at ranked opponents soon. If he can string together a few big wins, he could be on his way to fulfilling his prophecy.

    Do you think Terrance McKinney is a future UFC champion at 155 pounds?

  • Campaign To Raise Money For Cain Velasquez Shut Down By GoFundMe

    The effort to help Cain Velasquez has been put to a stop.

    In light of the ongoing situation with Cain Velasquez and his criminal trial, fans and friends are trying to help. Velasquez was taken into custody by San Jose Police department and is being charged with several counts, including attempted murder. Velasquez is a popular figure in MMA and wrestling circles and has many people pulling for him.

    Two GoFundMe accounts were set up to help raise money for Velasquez’s family and legal fees. Unfortunately for the people who were involved in either fund, they were taken down by GoFundMe due to policy.

    “We can confirm that both fundraisers were removed, and all donors have been refunded,” a GoFundMe spokesperson told MMA Junkie. “GoFundMe prohibits raising money for the legal defense of a violent crime.”

    Velasquez is currently being held without bail. His bail was denied on the case of his “reckless” behavior. The list of charges for Velasquez is as follows: attempted murder (one count), shooting at a motor vehicle or aircraft (one count), assault with a firearm (three counts), assault with a deadly weapon (three counts), willfully discharging a firearm from a vehicle (one count), and carrying a loaded firearm with intent to commit a felony (one count).

    Bail will not be able to be requested again unless the list of charges changes somehow. Velasquez is a father and will remain in jail until his trial. The GoFundMe was set to help the family in this time as well.

    There are many supporters of Velasquez who have been trying to help out any way they can. Although GoFundMe is not an option at this time, there are other ways that people are raising money. A #FreeCain campaign has been trending on social media as a way for people who are looking to support him and his family to come together.

    What do you think of GoFundMe taking down these accounts?

  • Makhachev Claims Grappling With Jordan Burroughs Would Be ‘Easy’

    Islam Makhachev wants to test himself against the best.

    Islam Makhachev has just won a main event fight in the UFC. He is on the fast track for a UFC title, but he is still looking to take on the best competition he can. He was briefly linked to a short-notice fight against Rafael dos Anjos, but that fight did not manifest. In the few days between his win over Bobby Green and offering to step in against dos Anjos, Makhachev and his team were filmed for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s YouYube channel.

    In the most recent video, Makhachev is seen training with his team and helping his training partners get ready for their fights. At the end of the clip, Makhachev is wrestling with his manager, who is no match for him. He calls for some tougher competition. The name Jordan Burroughs is suggested, to which he laughs.

    “Easy, Jordan Burroughs, if you want, let’s grapple brother, let’s grapple,” he said.

    Jordan Burroughs Wants Makhachev To “Prove It”

    Burroughs is an Olympic gold medalist wrestler and is also a five-time world champion. Makhachev and his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov are known for their ground game as well. They are both proficient in Sambo wrestling, and Makhachev is a World Combat Sambo Champion.

    This is not the first time Makhachev has expressed interest in testing himself against Burroughs. He mentioned it once in an interview with Daniel Cormier. Burroughs caught wind of this and has accepted the invitation.

    Burroughs has been teasing interest in taking an MMA fight, although he has not committed to an MMA organization at this time.

    Makhachev does some of his training at AKA in California alongside some other great wrestlers like Cormier. If Burroughs does want to give it a try, he would apparently be welcome to hop in and do so.

    Who do you think would win a grappling match between Jordan Burroughs and Islam Makhachev?

  • Husson University To Hold Safe Boxing Classes For Parkinson’s Patients

    The students of Husson University are looking to make a difference in their community.

    For the fifth year, the students of the Husson University Fighting Eagles Boxing Club will be putting on wellness-centered classes for their community members suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

    These classes will be centered around non-contact style boxing and boxing drills. The goal is to help these people get fit, improve balance, strength, and coordination. In the years since this program has been around, their participants have stated that the classes “slow the progression of symptoms and make them feel more in control of the disease.”

    The boxing sessions are led by University physical therapy student Kara Casavant.

    “The relationships that form between the boxers and the student volunteers are incredible and often provide participants with another support system. The progress the participants have made has been amazing and there’s no better feeling than watching a boxer accomplish a new skill or movement that they’ve been struggling with!” Casavant said via a press release. “The Fighting Eagles Boxing Club allows the participants to work on functional movements, coordination, and strength which makes everyday activities easier, despite their disease.”

    This club got its start in 2017 when they realized that local residents with Parkinson’s disease had limited options of wellness classes devoted to them and their needs. The club is open to any student looking to pursue a career in healthcare or physical therapy. The participants will be punching heavy bags and mitts held by the coaches who are student volunteers.

    The classes are held every Monday afternoon from 3 – 4:15 p.m. at the Bangor Y at 17 Second Street in Bangor, ME. These classes are free to participants. To get involved in this class the Fighting Eagles Boxing Club can be reached on their Facebook page, Facebook.com/PunchOutParkinsons, at  [email protected] or contact Dr. Siegel at (207) 941-7049.

    It has been more commonplace lately for people to use combat sports as a way of bettering their communities. It is nice to see combat sports so accepted, from people holding charity MMA events to teaching children and people in need some form of combat sport. The community is growing.

    Would you like to see classes such as this one from the Fighting Eagles Boxing Club in your community?

  • Masvidal: I Was Hurt When I Was Kicked Out Of American Top Team

    Jorge Masvidal opens up on being thrown out of American Top Team years ago.

    Jorge Masvidal will be fighting his former teammate Colby Covington on Saturday night at UFC 272. These two have a long history together. At first, they were friends, and now they are enemies. At one time they were roommates and now they are promising harm to one another. When their relationship began to fall apart they were still both training at American Top Team in Florida.

    The owner of American Top Team, Dan Lambert recalled how the tension between Masvidal and Covington got so bad back then that he was forced to kick both men out of his gym. Covington was never allowed back in but Masvidal was.

    Masvidal doesn’t speak of that time in his life often, but he did in the lead up to UFC 272.

    “So I haven’t said anything in the media yet, and Dan puts this ultimatum. I don’t do well with ultimatums. So I immediately took to my first ‘insult’ in public of Colby, and that’s the first time I (really) attacked him,” Masvidal told ESPN. “And Dan kicked us both out. Colby didn’t even say nothing back or respond anything back. But Dan kicked us both out. And, man, I was hurt. Because I thought he was trolling me and joking me.”

    American Top Team is home to many high-level fighters. With so many fighters, there are bound to be some frustrations. Lambert said that throwing Masvidal and Covington was due to things getting out of control.

    “One week went by and that week turns into a month, and then two months, and then three months. This [MUTED] still not letting me in. I’m calling Dan every day because we’re still (very close),” Masvidal said. “He’s like my Uncle Dan. I’m like, ‘I’m gonna [MUTED] run you over, bro. I’m gonna take my car and take your knees out, bro, if you don’t let me back in the gym.’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, go do it, but you’re still not getting into the gym because I’ve told all our coaches not to let you in.’”

    Masvidal went on to say that he privately apologized to Lambert and the team and was eventually let back into the gym where he continues to train today. Lambert was getting pressure from his kids, who stopped talking to him, and his other coaches to let Masvidal back in. That was not the case with Covington, who never returned.

    Now, the grudge that started inside the gym will be settled inside the Octagon this weekend at UFC 272.

    Who do you have winning the main event of UFC 272, Jorge Masvidal or Colby Coviington?

  • Molly McCann Documentary Set To Debut On BT Sport

    Molly McCann is to be the subject of her own documentary film.

    One of the brightest rising stars in the UFC at this time is Molly McCann. “Meatball” as she is nicknamed has made her rise up the UFC flyweight in the last few years. Today, she is one of the most popular English fighters on the roster and just possibly a few fights away from breaking the top ten. McCann’s life outside of fighting has been a bit more private than some other fighters but now she will be letting fans in to see her struggles and successes in a whole new way.

    BT Sport will be putting out a feature documentary film on McCann’s rise to the UFC. It will show her life inside the cage and out, from her childhood in Liverpool to her most recent fight endeavors. The film was able to capture private moments with McCann as well as interviews with her closest family and friends.

    McCann has had highs and lows in her UFC career so far. She lost her debut in her hometown of Liverpool but came back to win three in a row. She won her last outing against Ji Yeon Kim and has her next fight set against Luana Carolina at UFC on ESPN+ 62 in London. McCann has also been an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights as this cause is very close to her.

    “Meatball Molly takes the viewer on an evocative journey of an incredibly strong and inspirational sportswoman, highlighting the passion, dedication, and commitment it requires to make it in professional sport,” BT Sport Films Executive Producer and Commissioning Editor, Sally Brown told Givemesports.com.

    ‘Meatball Molly’ will premiere exclusively on BT Sport on March 15th at 22.30 GMT.

    Will you be tuning in to watch this Molly McCann film?

  • Covington Predicts Masvidal Bout Will Hold A Historic UFC Moment

    Colby Covington has a bold prediction for his fight with Jorge Masvidal.

    Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal will be facing off in the main event of the upcoming UFC 272 event this weekend. This non-title fight main event is sure to bring hard-hitting action and drama. Already in the lead-up to this event, Covington and Masvidal have been engaging in trash talk. The history between them makes for an added sense of interest from fans.

    Because these two men used to train together, they know each other very well. They don’t like each other and have been promising harm on each other for years. Covington is now predicting not only damage to Masvidsal but the end of his career.

    “I see a lot of pain. I’m gonna inflict so much pain on Jorge Masvidal he’s not gonna be the same person ever again,” Covington told TMZ Sports. “He keeps talking about a baptism. It’s not gonna be a baptism. It’s gonna be a funeral. It’s Jorge Masvidal’s career-ending funeral. It’s gonna be violent.”

    Masvidal has mentioned that he wouldn’t mind taking some extra shots at Covington. Masvidal’s last three wins were all by KO or TKO, but Covington does not go down easy. He has only been knocked out once in his professional career.

    There is a chance that this fight goes the distance, and it seems that would be just fine with Covington. However, Covington predicts that the main event is much more likely to contain a historic conclusion.

    “And I’m not gonna finish it quick,” Covington said. “I could easily finish it quick because I do it all the time behind closed doors we used to train. But this one, I’m gonna drag it out, I’m gonna make him suffer, and it’ll probably be the first time in UFC history you see a guy in the main event just verbally tap out and say he can’t take no more of a beating.”

    Who do you think will be taking home the win at UFC 272, Colby Covington or Jorge Masvidal?

  • Jorge Masvidal Says Colby Covington Robbed Jon Jones In College

    Jorge Masvidal was warned about Colby Covington years ago.

    Jorge Masvidal used to be friends with Colby Covington. The two were training partners and, at one time, even roommates. Now they will be facing each other in the main event of this weekend’s UFC 272 in a grudge match.

    The fall of their friendship has long become public and both men are constantly trash-talking the other. Now, Masvidal is sharing some new information about how a former champion warned him about Covington and his ways.

    “Jon Jones warned me numerous times. Me and Jon Jones weren’t even cool like that,” Masvidal told ESPN. “We hadn’t spoken too much. But he sent a couple messages to me via our manager at the time. Like, ‘Man, watch this guy. He stole my clothes. My clothes don’t even fit him. He robbed me of money before we left the room. I never talked to him again.’”

    Masvidal and Covington have been saying some personal things about each other. Covington has been talking about Masvidal’s ex-wife, and Masvidal has been talking about Covington being kicked out of their gym. Now he is bringing Covington’s issues with Jones to the table.

    Masvidal believes that unlike with him and Covington, Covington’s beef with Jones would never be settled physically because one of the two would quickly exit that conversation.

    “Do you know what would happen if he was to run into Jon Jones? He would sprint out of the room. He would run so fast. But if he’s on Twitter on his computer, man, he’s poppin’ off,” Masvidal said. “What would happen if they crossed at Whole Foods or somethin’? [Covington] would jet out of there. I can’t respect that. If you say something, commit to it. Do it. Whether it was on Twitter or it was in your face. Do it. And he’s such a coward, man. I can’t wait to put an end to this charlatan.”

    Both Covington and Masvidal are hoping for another shot at the champion Kamaru Usman with a win at UFC 272. The bad blood between them makes this non-title fight main event a fan favorite and the history between them gives an added layer of fascination. Now that fight week is upon us, look out for even more secrets to be spilled and trash talk to be spoken.

    Do you think the winner between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington deserves and title shot?

  • Sam Alvey Promised At Least One More Fight In The UFC

    Sam Alvey will be getting at least one more farewell fight in the UFC.

    Sam Alvey has been on a bad losing streak of late. He has lost seven of his last eight fights, with one draw thrown in. For some time now, many people believed that he would be cut from the UFC; however, he has continued showing up and fighting in the organization. Now, it seems he will be getting one more shot despite rumors that he had been removed from the roster.

    Following his last loss, reports that Alvey had been cut from the UFC were circulating. Now, Alvey has posted a video on his YouTube channel saying that he was not cut after all and he explain what went down in that conversation with the UFC over the phone.

    “The UFC called and said ‘Sam, how’s it going, where are you living now? You’re not in California, you are in Tennesee right?’ Then there was kinda this deep breath on their end. ‘Your last couple of fights have been great but we have not won,” Alvey explains what the UFC said on the phone. “I said ‘Yeah, I realized.’ They said, ‘That being said, you won a few of those fights that the judges got wrong. And the fights you lost, they were entertaining fights.”

    He went on to describe how the UFC was grateful for his long career with the company and they appreciated everything he had done and how he was a pleasure to work with. Alvey admitted that he was waiting to hear the bad news, but the conversation took a different turn.

    “You say yes to every fight, you go out and fight your heart out,” Alvey explained the conversation. “You have taken some fights on short notice that you probably shouldn’t have, but you are always game, you have never said no. We have decided that we will let you fight out your contract.’ I’m not cut! I get at least one more fight with the UFC. On my contract there is one more fight, I’m not cut.”

    Alvey has not given any details on when he will be getting back in the Octagon, just that he will continue to keep fighting whether it is with the UFC or elsewhere when his contract is up.

    Do you believe Sam Alvey should still be on the UFC roster?

  • Francis Ngannou Thinks The UFC Protected Ciryl Gane In His Career

    Francis Ngannou thinks Ciryl Gane had a cherry-picked path to a title shot.

    Francis Ngannou is the UFC heavyweight champion. He defended his title successfully against one of the toughest opponents available in Ciryl Gane and has once again proven that he is the best. Ngannou had to prove his skills through a tough road to becoming UFC champ. He lost some, won some more, and worked his way to becoming the “baddest man on the planet.”

    Now that Ngannou and Gane have fought and Ngannou came out on top, he is being a little critical of Gane’s path to the title fight.

    “You don’t usually get into the UFC and get to fight for the title without fighting a wrestler. That’s the rule. In this case, he seems like he was protected. They were protecting him, and they were just hyping his striking style. This isn’t a striking game. This is a fighting game,” Ngannou said on his YouTube Channel (via MMAWeekly).

    Gane has just ten fights on his professional MMA résumé. His only loss so far was the fight with Ngannou. In his UFC career, Gane has faced seven opponents before facing Ngannou, those seven have a combined 171 professional fights, and only a combined 10 submission victories.

    As for Gane himself, he holds three submission victories in his career. Ngannou was making the point that the UFC was trying to shed a spotlight on Gane’s striking power, instead of testing him on the ground. However, Gane has proven that he can submit when needed. In fact, his first two wins in the UFC were by submission.

    In their fight, Ngannou was able to take Gane to the ground twice and control the action for a bit. Ngannou is best known as a striker himself but was able to use the ground game in his bout with Gane.

    Ngannou showcased a well-rounded game plan in the win. He will be out of competition for an undisclosed amount of time, however, now that he will need to heal up from a lingering knee injury. As for Gane, he could be back in action later this year.

    Do you think the UFC tried to steer Gane away from facing wrestlers?

  • Makhachev Still Expects To Fight Dariush Despite UFC Vegas 49 Withdrawal

    Islam Makhachev is still expecting to share the Octagon with Beneil Dariush at some point.

    Islam Makhachev is knocking on the door of a UFC title shot. The young up-and-coming fighter has been making waves in the UFC lightweight division for several years now. Coming up under the tutelage of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev is one of the most hyped fighters at 155 pounds at the moment. He will be fighting in the main event of tonight’s UFC Vegas 49 card against Bobby Green.

    Green is a last-minute stand-in; however, as Makhachev’s original opponent, Beneil Dariush was forced out of the bout with an injury recently. Dariush is sitting in the number three spot in the lightweight division rankings. Makhachev was hoping that defeating Dariush would put him even closer to a possible fight with champion Charles Oliveira. Now, with the unranked Green as his next opponent, Makhachev’s title aspirations could be in jeopardy.

    Makhachev is disappointed in Dariush’s withdrawal from the fight, but he expects this chapter to be finished at a later date.

    “I’m a little bit sad because Beneil injured,” Makhachev told Daniel Cormier and Ryan Clark on the DC & RC show. “I really believe we gonna fight again, maybe next year or maybe this year. I heard he have like very bad injuries. He broke his (leg). But Beneil is one of the best in the world. That’s why I really believe we’re gonna fight.”

    The extent of Dariush’s injuries will require him to be out of competition for a bit. He recently updated his condition to let fans know that he may not be requiring surgery, and his timetable for a return is unknown at this time.

    Do you think that Islam Makhachev can still receive a title shot with a victory over Bobby Green at UFC Vegas 49 on Saturday night?

  • Thiago Alves Shares Mike Perry’s Interest In BKFC Showdown

    Thiago Alves is looking for the biggest fight possible.

    Thiago Alves has been a professional fighter since 2001. He has been involved in some very exciting matchups over the years. Now that he has 38 professional MMA fights and two bare-knuckle fights on his résumé, he isn’t looking to slow down. In fact, Alves is looking for the biggest fight he can get. Right now, that might be a bout with Mike Perry.

    Alves spent fourteen years in the UFC. Following his release, Alves decided to sign a contract with BKFC. He has found success in BKFC and is now the middleweight champion. Bare-knuckle fighting has found its niche in combat sports and now has a real following.

    More former UFC fighters are heading that way, and maybe the most popular among them is Mike Perry. Perry just had his first fight with BKFC and Alves was watching.

    “He looked good. He’s not going to look that good against me though,” Alves told TMZ Sports via MiddleEasy. “I hope we can make this fight happen. It was supposed to happen in 2017. I’m looking forward to that knuckling up.”

    Alves is looking to take on Perry in his next fight. Perry was also interested in this matchup as well, so the odds of it happening seem pretty good. Alves believes that this could be the biggest fight in BKFC yet.

    “Without a doubt [it will be the biggest fight ever]. Mike Perry is like the new generation, you know, he has a lot of hype behind him. Didn’t do as much as I’ve done in the sport, you know, I’ve been a lot longer than he has, but as right now, I don’t see any bigger fight in the making for the organization,” Alves said. “So, Dave Feldman, let’s make it happen!”

    Perry got himself back in the win column with his BKFC win over former UFC fighter Julian Lane. Perry’s appearance in BKFC is a sort of reawakening for his career that didn’t end too well with the UFC. If this is the biggest fight to make going forward, it should be something on the horizon in 2022.

    Would you want to see this potential matchup between Thiago Alves and Mike Perry?

  • Darren Till and Khamzat Chimaev Help Feed The Homeless In Sweden

    Darren Till and Khamzat Chimaev are helping out the less fortunate.

    Darren Till is looking to improve his fight skills. He has been training in Stockholm, Sweden with Khamzat Chimaev. The two have been posting pictures of themselves together and have quickly become one of the most liked new UFC friendships. Till is known as a bit of a joker on social media and seems happy to be a part of Chimeav’s training crew.

    Recently, Till and Chimaev took their new friendship outside the gym to make a difference in the Stockholm community. The video was posted by FrontkickOnline that shows Till and Chimaev handing out meals to people in need. They handed out food and drinks alongside fellow Swedish fighter Reza Madadi to the people in Stockholm.

    This isn’t the first time Chimaev was seen doing something like this. He likes to help those in need when he can. He was seen giving food to a homeless man when he was in Vegas preparing for his fight against Gerald Meerschaert.

    Both men have been training together at Allstar Training Center in Stockholm. Neither man has a fight on the schedule at the moment, but there have been some talks.

    Chimaev has been rumored to be fighting Gilbert Burns in his next time out but nothing is official at the moment. Chimaev has been eagerly wanting a top-ranked opponent and if the deal with Burns can be done, he would put himself in a great position with a win.

    As for Till, he has had some trouble lately. He has lost two in a row and four of his last five. Till was at one time recently considered the top prospect in the welterweight division and fought for a title. He has since fallen off a bit and began trying his skills at middleweight. He is now ranked eighth at middleweight and could be looking to improve upon this position with the help of Chimaev and the team.

    What do you think of Darren Till and Khamzat Chimaev’s friendship?