MMA News

Author: Nicole Bosco

  • Kayla Harrison Open To Bantamweight Move For Peña Fight

    Kayla Harrison’s immediate future in MMA is uncertain at the moment, including what division she’ll be competing in moving forward.

    Kayla Harrison has been a rising star in the world of MMA for the last several years. As an accomplished judo Olympian, Harrison was a top prospect when she decided to make the switch to mixed martial arts. The anticipation was met with success when Harrison joined PFL and began winning. She has now won the PFL lightweight championship two years in a row and is perhaps looking to make a big move.

    Rumors have been circling that Harrison, although likely to re-sign with PFL, might be headed elsewhere. She has not been shy about wanting to join the UFC, but the timing has been the issue. Harrison has primarily fought at 155 pounds, with one successful bout at featherweight.

    The UFC’s highest weight class for females is 145 pounds, but if she takes a roster spot with the UFC, could a bantamweight title shot be an option? Harrison addressed that in an interview with ESPN.

    “I’m considering it,” Harrison said a potential move to bantamweight. “I heard that Julianna said she’d move up to 145 if they paid her enough, so that’s good news. That means I don’t have to chop off an arm. … I want to be the best. Everyone is talking about her. Why not? I have to conquer one mountain at a time, though. Whatever mountain comes next.”

    Julianna Pena, Kayla Harrison
    Julianna Pena, Kayla Harrison

    The reality of Harrison being able to make the cut to 135 pounds seems unlikely, but it could be a possibility down the road. If she were to join the UFC her home would be at featherweight. A matchup with Amanda Nunes would be one of the most exciting matchups for her at the weight, but Juliana Peña making a move up would most likely interest fans as well.

    After a round of trash talk between Harrison and Peña post-UFC 269, Peña expressed a willingness to fight Harrison if Harrison opted to sign with the UFC and can make the drop down to 135 lbs.

    Although the option is there, a deal with the UFC has not been announced. As the winner of the PFL season the last two years, Harrison took home $2 million and would stand to win another million with a three-peat, a heapy prize to leave behind should she sign elsewhere.

    “Three years ago, I would have said legacy,” Harrison said. “That’s all I give a s— about. My advisers, they care about security. Obviously, I have two kids now, so for me, as hard as it is, security comes first. I have to make sure. There’s no guarantees in this life. There’s no certainties. I could snap my neck tomorrow and never fight again. Security is important. But if I can find a way to have security and continue to build my legacy, I think that’s a winner.”

    Do you think Harrison should stay with PFL or pursue an opportunity with the UFC?

  • Arnold Allen Thinks He Should Be Tested By USADA More Often

    Arnold Allen admits that he believes USADA should come knocking more often.

    The English featherweight Arnold Allen is on a roll lately. He has won 10 fights in a row, including all eight he has had in the UFC. He is quickly rising up the featherweight rankings and proving that he has what it takes to fight some of the best at 145 pounds.

    Allen is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Sodiq Yusuff last April. Since then, he has been pretty quiet, until recently.

    Allen booked a fight against Dan Hooker for the upcoming London card in March. Allen spoke recently to The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani about the U.S Anti-Doping Agency testing and why he feels the testing should be happening more often.

    “I feel like I don’t get tested that much to be honest,” Allen said. “There was a lot of time before I hadn’t been tested once in England and then suddenly they start testing and then during COVID there wasn’t much testing. It’s been a bit quiet.”

    Allen’s father was a strongman who he admitted did take steroids during his lifting days. Having discussed this brought about the issue of his own drug testing in the UFC.

    Since the insertion of the USADA testing back in 2015, several fighters have been caught or suspended for failing to uphold the drug policy. Allen has not had any trouble himself but feels things could be run a little tighter in that department.

    “I don’t even remember maybe before Christmas (when asked about the last time he was tested), yeah I don’t know. I’m also traveling every other minute with these drives three times a week so I don’t know how it would work. I put it in the thing, in the app, telling them where I’m at, maybe they’ll come get me at the truck stop, in the showers.”

    According to the USADA website, Allen was tested once so far in 2022, unlike Israel Adesanya and Michael Chandler who have each been tested six times this year.

    Drug testing in the sport is always a hot-button issue. Recently, Sean Strickland suggested a lifetime ban for those who break the drug policy. Allen, although among the least tested, is open to more thorough protocols.

    Do you think the USADA should be testing fighters more often?

  • Rashad Evans Is Ready To Leave Competition On A “High Note”

    Rashad Evans could be calling it a career again.

    The 42-year-old former UFC champion Rashad Evans might be heading into another retirement. Evans made a quick comeback to MMA recently when he fought on the main card of the Eagle FC 44 card.

    Evans faced Gabriel Checco and walked away with the victory. It was the first win for Evans in quite a while. And now that he has gotten that win he was looking for, he may be ready to enjoy his retirement.

    Evans had a great run in the UFC during his time there. He came to the UFC back in 2005 when he won The Ultimate Fighter Season Two. He later went on to win the light heavyweight title. Towards the end of his career, Evans ran into some trouble. He finished his UFC career with five straight losses. He spoke recently in an interview with BJPenn.com about why he chose to return to fighting.

    “It was a few different things, ending my career the way I did, it didn’t sit well with me,” Evans said. “Just doing a lot of soul-searching over the past few years brought back that competitive edge and also some of the things, the pandemic put things into perspective. It made me want to compete. It felt like we were running out of time to do the things we truly love to do.”

    Evans made the decision to return from a three-year retirement and join Khabib Nurmagomedov’s promotion for one last shot at going out on a win. Now that Evans has gotten the win he was looking for, he doesn’t feel the need to do it again.

    “I don’t know, I keep asking myself if I’m going to compete again or leave it as it is. It feels good to be on this high note, a big part of me just says stay here,” Evans said. “At this point in my life, I feel as if I don’t have much to fight for. Fighting for me has always been about the personal journey and I feel like I have passed the test I needed to pass. I’m still in the gym, training and working, I’m sure maybe somewhere down the road something will pop up for me where I’m just like, let me get one more. I’m going to take my time with it. I’m 42-years-old, we’ll see. That is a big part of it, that is a huge part of it on if I will do it again. I got the win I have been so desperate to get. Now that I got the win, I don’t want to trade places and get a loss.”

    Evans was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2019. He also can be seen behind the desk for various ESPN commentary media duties.

    Do you think Evans is done fighting for real this time following the win?

  • Lewis: The Satisfaction Of A KO Is One Of The Best Feelings In The World

    Derrick Lewis is never happier than after delivering a fresh knockout.

    “The Black Beast” Derrick Lewis is one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC. His ability to end a fight with his fists is like no other. It’s not just that Lewis has great knockout power, it’s that he loves to use it.

    Lewis is getting ready for his next fight against another string striker in Tai Tuivasa at UFC 271, and although it might be smart to look for a submission in this bout, Lewis explains why that is unlikely.

    “I would [look for a submission]. But I get so much more satisfaction if I knock somebody out,” Lewis said at UFC 271 media day via MMA Junkie. “It’s way more (satisfying)… It’s like, one of the best feelings in the world. Submission is cool and all that, but the satisfaction is not there. There’s way more satisfaction whenever you knock a grown man out.”

    Derrick Lewis makes
    Image via UFC broadcast

    Lewis’ last four fights all finished in KO or TKO. Although he was on the losing side of one of those, it just goes to show how his fighting style is. He is a strong competitor on the feet and is constantly looking to win the fight with one shot.

    Tuivasa has that same trait. “Bam Bam” has four wins in a row by KO. At UFC 271, both men will likely be looking for the finish, and that’s what makes this fight so much fun.

    Lewis has had his shots at a UFC title and another one may not get granted. Being aware of this, Lewis is just looking to go in there and have fun. And if knocking people out is fun to him, he has had the time of his life inside the UFC Octagon.

    Do you think it would be smart for Lewis to try for a knockout against Tua Tuivasa?

  • Adesanya Says Strickland Fight Would “Make A Lot Of Money”

    Israel Adesanya admits that a fight against Sean Strickland interests him.

    Israel Adesanya is the UFC middleweight champion. Being the champion comes with having a target on your back. Although he is already matched up with Robert Whittaker for this weekend’s UFC 271, there are already people calling for the next shot. One of those people calling for their shot is Sean Strickland.

    Sean Strickland
    Sean Strickland (Image Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

    Strickland is coming off a split decision victory over Jack Hermansson just last week, and he’s been turning heads both inside the cage and out.

    Strickland has been vocal about wanting a shot at Adesanya in his next time out and could have the résumé to prove it. Strickland has won six fights in a row and has risen to the #6 spot in the rankings.

    In addition to his skills and win streak, Strickland has become more well-known around the MMA-sphere. Strickland has been making wild claims about his desire to cause harm to people and has been seen in sparring videos doing so.

    Strickland’s odd behavior has made him the target of headlines and the saying “all news is good news” might fit him perfectly. Because all the attention has gotten him on Adesanya’s radar.

    When asked about a possible matchup with Strickland, Adesanya had this to say:

    “I like fresh meat. I like fresh blood,” Adesanya said during a UFC 271 media day scrum. “And we’ll see. We’ll see after this weekend. I gotta see what Bumson and Cannonier do this weekend, and we’ll see.

    “That’s gonna make a lot of money if me and him actually get to fight. Trust. [LAUGHS] I’m a bit of a troll, but I keep it under wraps. But yeah, if that happens, it happens. But we’ll see after this weekend.”

    Although interest from both parties might be there, it seems unlikely that Strickland will be next in line. Adesanya was right when he mentioned Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier. Both men could be the logical next choice with a win at UFC 271.

    As for Strickland and Adesanya, they might get the chance to meet in the future—or if Adesanya loses on Saturday night.

    Would you like to see Sean Strickland step up to fight Israel Adesanya?

  • Izzy Glad Whittaker Came Out Of ‘Dark Place,’ Plans To Send Him Back

    Israel Adesanya is planning to send Robert Whittaker back to a dark place.

    Israel Adesanya is flying high coming into his next title fight. He is undefeated in the middleweight division, he is facing a fighter who he has already beaten, and he has just signed a new contract with the UFC. During media day for the upcoming rematch against Robert Whittaker, Adesanya seemed in high spirits, but when asked about Whittaker’s past, he got a bit dark.

    After their first meeting, Whittaker took some time away from the Octagon. He had just lost his championship title and needed some time to away from the sport.

    Since then, he has returned with a new sense of competitiveness. But during his time away, he was admittedly in a bad place. Whittaker has been vocal bout his struggles since his return and even Adesanya can relate.

    “I do empathize with what he said. Who brought this up to me? I can’t remember. I think I saw it on Instagram. He talked about his dark place he went to after the last time I beat him,” Adesanya said. “I (and everyone) has been there in their own personal way, so I understand, and I empathize when you don’t want to get up and all that stuff and you lose motivation.

    “So yeah, I’m glad he’s pulled himself out of it. I’m glad he’s feeling much better (and that) he’s a better man, better fighter….so yeah, (I’ll) take him to the dark place again.”

    Even though Adesanya understands where Whittaker was in those bad moments, he doesn’t hold back on wanting to send him there again.

    The first meeting at UFC 243 was over in just two rounds when Adesanya handed Whittaker the KO loss. Much has been put on Whittaker since that last bout and the improvements he has made in his fighting. Adesanya isn’t falling for the hype and plans on ending Whittaker once again at UFC 271.

    Do you think Israel Adesanya will accomplish his task against Whittaker at UFC 271?

  • Nunes Beating Peña Would Fuel Valentina Shevchenko For Trilogy Fight

    Valentina Shevchenko could be interested in another shot at Nunes if “The Lioness” beats Peña.

    Valentina Shevchenko is sitting back and watching the drama unfold between Amanda Nunes and Juliana Peña. The flyweight champ does not have a direct interest in the fight that went down at UFC 269 or the rematch, but in a roundabout way, it could pique her interest.

    Shevchenko has a history with Nunes. The two fought twice, with Nunes winning both times.

    Even though Shevchenko is now at flyweight, there have been rumblings of a possible third fight between these two. Nunes losing the belt, however, has stalled those talks. Shevchenko spoke with SunSport about her thoughts on the upcoming bantamweight rematch and how it impacts her own future.

    “I think Amanda will definitely want to take revenge next. There will be another fight [between Amanda and Julianna] again because it’s obvious,” she said. “If she prepares for the rematch, does everything right then she will probably regain her belt and it’ll be another reason why I have to move up to bantamweight for our trilogy.”

    Valentina Shevchenko
    Image via UFC’s YouTube channel

    For a bit, a potential third fight between Amanda Nunes and Shevchenko was the most interesting matchup the UFC could make in both divisions. Both have been so dominant in their respective title runs that it seemed inevitable. However, it was up to Shevchenko to make the move up in weight since Nunes would be unlikely to drop and she was not willing to do so.

    Shevchenko admitted that she was undersized when she fought at bantamweight and was grateful when the 125-pound division was made. When the UFC started allowing champions to hold two belts at the same time, that could have opened the door for the trilogy. But first, Nunes will have to get her bantamweight belt back.

    Do you think Valentina Shevchenko could beat Amanda Nunes if they fought at bantamweight today?

  • Yoel Romero Set To Return To Bellator Against Melvin Manhoef On May 6

    Yoel Romero will be getting back in the Bellator cage in Paris.

    After his promotional debut with Bellator didn’t go his way, Yoel Romero is scheduled to take another shot at a win. Romero will be taking on Melvin Manhoef at the upcoming Bellator Paris event set to take place on May 6. The news was first announced by the promotion in a press release. This matchup will serve as the co-main event.

    The news of Bellator holding an event in France was met with applause by fighters and fans. Mixed martial arts as a sport was not legal in France until 2020. With the difficulty of holding an event during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of professional events held in the country has been minimal. Bellator held an event in Paris back in October of 2020 and it was a great success, so much so that they are doing it again.

    Adding Romero to this card will bring the star power that fans want to see. His signing with the organization after leaving the UFC was met with high praise. Unfortunately, Romero didn’t start off the way he had planned. He lost his first Bellator fight back in September to Phil Davis. He will have the chance to right the ship against Manhoef.

    Manhoef will be coming into this fight having lost his last outing as well. He lost via KO against Corey Anderson in Nov. of 2020. Prior to that, however, he won two in a row, both in Europe. Perhaps fighting in Europe could be his lucky charm, as he will have the chance to see against the hype of Romero.

    Bellator Paris will take place at the Accor Arena in Paris, France on May. 6.

    The full fight card to date is as follows:

    Heavyweight World Title Main Event: #C-Ryan Bader (29-7, 1 NC) vs. #2-Cheick Kongo (31-11-2, 1 NC)

    Light Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Yoel Romero (13-6) vs. #10-Melvin Manhoef (32-15-1, 2 NC)

    Lightweight Bout: Søren Bak (15-1) vs. Saul Rogers (15-4)

    Lightweight Bout: Yves Landu (16-9) vs. Gavin Hughes (10-2)

    Who do you have winning this light heavyweight matchup?

  • Quote: Jon Jones Is Too Good For Stipe Miocic Right Now

    Jon Jones has teased a 2022 bout with Stipe Miocic, but one notable figure feels Jones is out of Miocic’s league.

    For over a year, Jon Jones has been hinting at a heavyweight move. A few things have been standing in his way, including some personal issues, business issues, and having to put on weight. Now, it seems he is closer than ever to making the jump feet first into the heavyweight division.

    Jones recently hinted at a bout with former champion Stipe Miocic. Although many are very excited about this potential matchup and the prospect of seeing two of the best fight each other, one man who has a vast knowledge of the sport thinks it may be a lopsided matchup.

    John McCarthy
    Image Credit: Kevin Jairaj for USA TODAY Sports

    John McCarthy is one of the most knowledgeable men when it comes to the sport of mixed martial arts. He was an MMA referee for over 20 years and has been right in the action for some of the biggest fights in history. He has since stepped down from refereeing and hosts a podcast where he speaks about the sport with his co-host Josh Thomson.

    Here is what McCarthy said about a potential Jones/Miocic encounter at this stage of their careers:

    “I think Jon knows it [the title shot] is coming and he’s just starting to wet the whistle on it and get people’s attention towards it and that’s okay that’s what he’s supposed to [do], ” McCarthy said on his “Weighing In” Podcast (via first sportz). “Jon is too good for Stipe at this time… I love Stipe, but Stipe’s getting older, and it’s the wrestling of Stipe that usually works for him.”

    Jones vacated the light heavyweight title back in May of 2020 with the intention of moving up a division. Prior to that, he had not lost a bout since 2009.

    Many people are interested in seeing what he can do at heavyweight, especially against the likes of Francis Ngannou. However, as for Miocic, he has lost two of his last four, including the title loss to Ngannou. McCarthy feels that Miocic’s skills would not translate well against Jones.

    “He’s got the ability to, you know, to have that and have in his back pocket where you can either use it or at least threaten it, and people have to you know to fight a certain way,” McCarthy said. “He’s not going to be able to threaten it in any fashion with Jon. That’s going to cause a problem and Jon can do it in reverse to him.”

    Jones has mentioned that he is only interested in a title shot when he is ready to return. However, the problem with that is the availability of Ngannou. Ngannou is fresh off his first title defense and needs some time off for surgery.

    Ngannou and the UFC have had a rocky relationship lately, and this could be leading to an interim title situation. If that is the case, perhaps Jones vs. Miocic could fit the mold.

    Do you think Jones’ skills are too much for Miocic at this point in time?

  • Brunson: Cannonier Has To Be Perfect & Lucky To Beat Me

    Derek Brunson says he isn’t going to lose to anything less than a lucky shot at UFC 271.

    UFC 271 is set for Saturday night, and one of the most anticipated middleweight fights of the year is slated between Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier.

    Brunson is coming into this fight with Cannonier riding high on confidence. He believes he has what it takes to get the victory and set his sights on a title shot. In the leadup to the fight, Brunson spoke to the media during fight week and laid out the one scenario that he could see losing to Cannonier.

    “Jared is a guy who’s opportunistic,” Brunson said. “He stings in there. But I don’t really put him as really great at any one thing. He’s just a solid, tough guy… I feel I matchup really well. He’s gotta come out and fight the perfect fight. He’s gotta like, have a little luck on his side, and catch me. Skill for skill, it’s not even close.”

    Blonde Brunson
    Blonde Brunson

    Brunson and Cannonier were originally set to face off at UFC 270 last month, but the fight was pushed back. Brunson expressed that he felt the reasoning behind the move was to allow himself to stand in as a potential backup to the title fight. He believes that he has the skills right now to fight champion Israel Adesanya for the title; he just has to get past Cannonier.

    Although Brunson is not giving Cannonier much of a chance to beat him, Cannonier is one of the best in the division. He is coming off a very impressive win over Kelvin Gastelum in the summer and is ranked in the #3 spot.

    Brunson has seemed unstoppable in his last five outings. He may be correct in guessing that the winner of this bout will go on to face the champion next, whoever that might be after Saturday night. Brunson will be trying his best to make sure that he will be the next title challenger since his fighting days may be numbered.

    Who do you have winning at UFC 271, Derek Brunson or Jared Cannonier?

  • Green Will Always Be Loyal To UFC For Paying Brother’s Funeral Costs

    Bobby Green was spitting motivation at UFC 271 media day.

    Bobby Green is one of the most entertaining fighters on the UFC 271 lineup. Many fighters will attest that you won’t find Green trash-talking or making a scene when interacting with his peers. Instead, most of the time, he is spilling words of wisdom and trying to help others out.

    This week at the UFC 271 fight week media day, Green was no different. He spent his time in front of the cameras trying to lift up anyone who might be feeling down. He was using his time to motivate those who might need help. He has often used his own life as a blueprint on who no matter how low you are, you can get out of it.

    “People think I’m just some dude who has money and cocky, but nah, I was like you, I was poor, I was homeless,” Green explained. “I dealt with death, I dealt with struggle, and that’s why I’m here for is to show people that I can be that same kind of person who was just like you, depressed, I can be that same person who was just like you and been through struggles and get up and change your whole life. And I really thank the UFC for doing that.”

    Green has been a part of the UFC lightweight division since 2013. He came to the UFC and won his debut and a performance bonus for his submission victory that night. Green has seen some ups and downs in his UFC career, but he will remain with the UFC for the foreseeable future. Green accounts his loyalty to the fact that the UFC helped him out in one of his darkest times.

    “My brother had died and I didn’t have enough money to pay for his funeral, the UFC paid for that,” Green said. “That’s why I’m so loyal to them. They were doing things for me that no company has ever did. They put the money in for my brother’s funeral and they took care of that so I will always be loyal to them and thankful, thank you, Dana, thank you, Sean, for everything you have done.”

    Green will be facing Nasrat Haqparast on the main card portion of UFC 271. Green is coming off a first-round TKO victory over Al Iaquinta at UFC 268 back in November. That win broke a two-fight losing streak for Green.

    What do you think of the UFC helping Bobby Green out when his brother passed away?

  • Joe Rogan Vows To Stay With Spotify Despite Lucrative Offer

    Joe Rogan is sticking with Spotify because they stuck with him.

    Joe Rogan has been in some hot water recently. The podcaster and UFC commentator found himself on the verge of being canceled when videos of him making controversial race-related remarks went viral. Rogan released an apology video but many were still calling for his streaming platform Spotify to release him.

    In the midst of all this, Rogan began to receive offers from other services. One, in particular, Rumble, a self-proclaimed “rights management video platform” offered Rogan $100 million to make the switch to them. Rumble is the home of UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal and his vlog.

    The CEO of Rumble offered this statement, “We stand with you, your guests, and your legion of fans in desire for real conversation,” he said via Hollywood Reporter. “How about you bring all your shows to Rumble, both new and old, with no censorship, for $100 million bucks over four years? This is our chance to save the world. And yes, this is totally legit.”

    Spotify came to Rogan’s defense saying that they would not silence him. His podcast remains on Spotify, although many past episodes were taken off the platform. The company also released a statement that they would give a $100 million investment into marginalized communities to empower other voices as well.

    In light of all this drama, Rogan has returned to stand-up comedy where he used himself as the punchline to his jokes. He spoke about the controversy and his loyalty to Spotify.

    “I talk sh-t for a living — that’s why this is so baffling to me,” he said. “If you’re taking vaccine advice from me, is that really my fault? What dumb sh-t were you about to do when my stupid idea sounded better? ‘You know that dude who made people eat animal d–ks on TV? How does he feel about medicine?’ If you want my advice, don’t take my advice.”

    “Spotify has hung in with me, inexplicably, let’s see what happens.”

    Rogan’s issues have not been addressed by his UFC employers publically. There is no reason to believe at this time that he will be released from his commentating duties. The last UFC event Rogan was a part of was UFC 270.

    Do you think Joe Rogan should stick with Spotify?

  • Israel Adesanya Knows The Moment He Will Take Whittaker’s Spirit Away

    Israel Adesanya thinks he knows Robert Whittaker’s breaking point.

    A middleweight title fight between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker is on tap for this Saturday night’s UFC 271. A rematch between these two has been a long time coming, and now they will finally meet again.

    Robert Whittaker feels he is at his best and has the game plan to beat Adesanya this time around, but Adesanya does not agree.

    Adesanya is certain that Whittaker will be quitting in their upcoming fight and is predicting exactly when that will happen. He spoke to ESPN about the precise moment he feels he’ll take away Whittaker’s spirit.

    “When he finds out he can’t grapple with me,” Adesanya said. “When he can’t outgrapple me. I want him to scramble with me. I really want to see. He’s a good scrambler. Even with the Romero fight, there’s certain positions in there where he was able to scramble. But man, you guys don’t understand. When I was young, I was the guy (who people said) ‘He’s got it. This guy’s gonna be great. And I always knew that about myself.”

    There wasn’t much grappling in the first meeting between these two, but Adesanya thinks that will be different this time out. He ended Whittaker’s night early by KO at UFC 243, but the New Zealand native has strung together three solid wins since then. In a day when many champions get an immediate rematch when they lose their title, Whittaker instead to the scenic route back to a title shot.

    Adesanya suffered his only loss recently when he fought Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight title. Whittaker thinks he can take some cues from Blachowicz and use his ground game over Adesanya. Adesanya is preparing for this and is ready to show that he can dominate on the ground as well.

    Do you think Adesanya will be victorious once again against a grappling Whittaker?

  • Peña Adopts ‘Don’t Start Nothing, Won’t Be Nothing’ Mindset For TUF 30

    Juliana Peña can’t be certain that there won’t be drama on TUF this season, but she knows that she won’t be the one starting it.

    A new season of The Ultimate Fighter is getting underway and the coaches have now been named. Bantamweight champion Juliana Peña will be opposing her former foe Amanda Nunes on the show.

    These two are fresh off their bout against each other where Peña dethroned Nunes. A rematch will be set for the conclusion of the season. After spending several weeks in close proximity to each other, the tension is bound to get heavy.

    The Ultimate Fighter show is known to have quite a bit of drama. The contestants are stuck in a house together for weeks with no contact with the outside world. Add on top of that weight cutting constantly and having to fight each other. All of these factors make for some loose cannons and drama starting at a moment’s notice.

    However, it is not only the cast that has beefed with each other. Many times it is the coaches who are at each other throats.

    In the case of TJ Dillashaw and Cody Grabrandt, they were literally at each other’s throats, as in grabbing each other by the throat. There has been some pushing and shoving between coaches since the very early days of TUF, but if any roughness starts this season, Peña claims it will not start it on her end.

    “Listen, it’s not gonna come from me on my side,” Peña told the media (via The Mac Life.) “I mean, if she wants to throw some ‘punches,’ we can do that. Trust me, nobody puts baby in a corner. I will be fighting back with everything that I have. I’m not gonna be pulling any shenanigans, and I don’t anticipate that I’m gonna be being that person. But if they come at me, then we’re gonna have a different story, obviously.”

    These two had their first faceoff since Peña won the belt from Nunes a few months ago. The face-off was very subdued and neither of them began trash-talking or shoving. All seems calm right now, but tempers could rise after the fights begin on the show and in the UFC APEX.

    Do you think there will be drama between Juliana Peña and Amanda Nunes on TUF?

  • Israel Adesanya Doesn’t Get All The Fuss About Whittaker’s ‘Improvement’

    Israel Adesanya isn’t feeling all the talk about Robert Whittaker and his improvements.

    Israel Adesanya is preparing for a rematch with Robert Whittaker this coming Saturday night at UFC 271. Adesanya holds the win from the first meeting but a lot is being put on the improvements that Whittaker has made since their last meeting. Whittaker is 3-0 since his loss to Adesanya at UFC 243, and Adesanya has been hearing the growing buzz.

    “Yes. Way too much,” Adesanya said of the weight being put on Whittaker’s improved skills (via MMA Fighting). “To the point where I’m like, did he invent a new move or something? Did he reinvent the jab or I don’t know what. He improved, yes, but not to the point where people have blown it up to be. The proportion. I think maybe people just have low standards, that’s all. I just have high standards.”

    Adesanya was made some improvements himself since their last face-to-face in the OCtagon. However, he did experience his first loss when he decided to make a jump to light heavyweight and face off against Jan Blachowicz. Adesanya is still undefeated at middleweight, and he believes he still has what it takes to beat Whittaker and defend his title.

    Israel Adesanya Robert Whittaker
    Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    Whittaker is on a three-fight winning streak since losing the belt. He has faced some of the very best at 185 pounds and looked very good doing it. His last three were all decision victories over Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and Kelvin Gastelum. Even though Whittaker’s wins proved he can battle out a tough win, Adesanya is less than impressed.

    “He played the game very well against all three opponents, I feel. At the same time, you put those three guys together, they don’t amount to me. The way they play the game, it’s not the same. So like I said, (Georges St-Pierre impression) ‘I was not impressed by your performance.’”

    If Whittaker’s skills have improved, then that will be on display at UFC 271. Whittaker has been eager to finally get his rematch and potentially win back his lost UFC belt on Feb. 12. As for Adesanya, he certainly has the confidence going into this fight, but will his own skills hold up?

    Who do you have winning the middleweight title at UFC 271, Adesanya or Whittaker?

  • Anthony Johnson Tells Buffer To “Stay Off The Crack” After Bellator Snub

    Anthony Johnson has put out a warning towards Bruce Buffer.

    Anthony Johnson is coming to the defense of himself and all other former UFC fighters who have taken other opportunities. Recently, Bruce Buffer has come out and spoke about how he feels UFC fighters are not better off when they leave the organization. Johnson, who left the UFC back in Dec. of 2020, decided to sign with Bellator. He has found happiness in his new fight home and wants people to know that the UFC is not the end-all, be-all in fighting.

    Buffer who was discussing the probability of Francis Ngnanou leaving the UFC in search of other fight opportunities, had this to say.

    “No offense to other organizations, but you become irrelevant when you leave the UFC after a while,” Buffer said on his podcast (via MMA Mania). “Instead of losing in the UFC your contract is being ended in the UFC and you fall from the Octagon down into the Bellators.”

    Johnson took offense to this since he is now one of the top light heavyweight fighters on the Bellator roster. Johnson has admitted to being happier with Bellator and having a better financial situation. Johnson took to Instagram to respond to Buffer.

    “Bruce needs to stay off crack,” Johnson commented on a post. “How’s anything irrelevant when providing food and shelter for family? Oh, by the way, I got paid way more for moving to another organization. Bruce has his guaranteed money so he can talk,” Johnson finished. “Fighters have to wait and actually entertain people when they get the chance to make some money.”

    More and more frequently, we are seeing former UFC fighters heading in a different direction when they become free agents. Some have decided to try their hand at boxing, like Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley. Others have proven that different MMA organizations could be a nice fit. Bellator is a common landing spot along with PFL and now Khabib Nurmagomedov’s MMA organization, Eagle FC.

    Johnson has also come to the defense of Nagnnou during his negotiation problems with the UFC. Johnson has been inactive in Bellator since he was forced out of the light heavyweight Grand Prix due to illness. He is still not back in action, and according to Scott Coker, could be out for several more months.

    Do you think there are better opportunities out there for former UFC fighters?

  • Watch: Juliana Peña And Amanda Nunes’ Have First TUF Faceoff

    Juliana Peña and Amanda Nunes had their first TUF faceoff earlier today.

    The rivalry between newly crowned bantamweight champion Juliana Peña and former champion Amanda Nunes is beginning to heat up. Fresh off her victory over Nunes, Peña was gunning for another chance at the GOAT. Peña wants to prove that she is the best at 135 pounds beyond a reasonable doubt, and if beating Nunes again will solidify that, then she is ready.

    To sweeten the deal of the rematch, the UFC has named these two as coaches of the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF).

    Peña and Nunes were announced as coaches for the 30th season of TUF just recently. They have not begun filming yet, but the two were involved in a media day to promote the show. During the media day in Las Vegas, Nunes had the chance to come face to face with the only woman to have beaten her in seven years.

    During the face-off, Peña was wearing a black TUF jersey, showing that her chosen team will be the black team. Nunes was wearing red. The man in the middle of the faceoff, standing in for Dana White, was TUF alum Forrest Griffin. No words were spoken between the two, but Nunes was holding her featherweight belt while Peña donned her new bantamweight strap.

    Peña’s UFC journey began when she was a member of the season 18 Ultimate Fighter cast. Peña won her season and now gets the chance to help others go down the path she has before.

    This 30th season will feature men’s heavyweights and women’s flyweights battling it out for a UFC contract while locked away from the outside world. Since the inception of The Ultimate Fighter, many fighters featured on the show went on to have great UFC careers, with a few becoming champions.

    The new season featuring Peña and Nunes begins Tuesday, May 3 on ESPN+.

    Do you think Julianna Peña will be able to make in 2-0 against Amanda Nunes after this season of TUF?

  • Al Iaquinta Doubts Jake Paul’s Sincerity On Fighter Pay

    Al Iaquinta has doubts about Jake Paul’s intentions regarding fighter pay.

    The topic of fighter pay has become a hot-button issue lately among fighters and media. Jake Paul is one man who is leading the way to help improve the pay structure with MMA. He has been vocal about wanting the UFC to pay their fighters more money and has targeted UFC President Dana White in this battle. However, some people are having doubts about Paul’s true intentions in this fight, including Al Iaquinta.

    Al Iaquinta
    Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    Paul has blown up in the boxing world over the last few years. He has made his way by fighting former UFC fighters such as Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley. In these bouts, the former UFC fighters are reported to have made much more than they did in their time with the MMA organization.

    This led Paul on his crusade against the UFC and White. He even released a “diss track” criticizing White and his low payment of fighters. Iaquinta feels that Paul’s whole charade is for self-promotion rather than helping the fighters in need.

    “I don’t know how sincere it is or not, but I don’t think it can be that sincere because it hasn’t really affected him,” Iaquinta said to MMA Fighting. “If it had affected him then it would be super sincere, see I think it works for him as he’s getting promotion out of it. That video got a lot of views. I think he’s young, smart, wealthy, and he’s not bound to anything. He’s gonna be successful.”

    Iaquinta was on a similar mission as Paul. He was one of the first UFC fighters to begin complaining about the payments in the UFC. Iaquinta was a perennial top ten fighter throughout most of his career. His shining moment was perhaps his UFC 223 title shot against Khabib Nurmagomedov. He later sat out two years due to contract negotiations problems and wanting more money.

    Iaquinta, who is also a licensed real estate agent along with being a fighter, once claimed that he would quit fighting and just sell houses if he was not paid well. It is claims such as this one that have led Paul to step in.

    Paul recently bought shares of the UFC’s parent company Endeavor in an effort to bring about change. It is unlikely that his purchase will give him and say in this kind of decision-making, but that is not stopping him from trying. As for Iaquinta, his last bout could have been his last and thus may not be affected by Paul’s change or lack thereof.

    Do you believe that Jake Paul is actually trying to raise fighter pay in MMA?

  • Connecticut Police Department Sets Up Youth Jiu-Jitsu Program

    A Connecticut police department is teaching children jiu-jitsu as a form of self-defense.

    The New Haven police department in New Haven, CT is hoping to stop crime from the ground up. The department has instituted a youth jiu-jitsu program designed to keep kids on a good path while instilling some self-defense practices.

    Police Lt. Elliot Rosa is the instructor of the program. He has trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for 12 years and works with the children three days a week for an hour each day. He hopes to instill discipline along with keeping the children physically fit. In addition, he prepares them for bullying-type situations and prepares them to handle these types of situations.

    “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is what we teach and it’s mostly holds–holds, pins–and it’s about controlling someone. It’s not so much about MMA where they’re going to be hitting and striking someone or karate. Those martial arts are good but for what we’re teaching, more of the bully prevention. They may be able to hold down the bully and just talk to them calmly and be able to take care of the situation without actually hurting someone,” Rosa told Fox61.com.

    The New Haven PD Assistant Chief Karl Jacobson told Fox 61 that this is the first Police Activity League Jiu-Jitsu in the state of Connecticut. The program allows for the children to gain skills while growing pride in themselves. It also allows for the students to become familiar with the officers involved and gets them comfortable with them in case there is ever a need for help.

    One child interview by Fox 61 told reporters that he was often bullied in school and being a part of the program has helped him. With just 28 children enrolled, the program is looking to grow and can at this time accept more students.

    If your children or anyone you know might be interested there is more information at The New Haven police website or email [email protected].

    Would you like these kinds of programs for the children in your area?

  • Max Holloway Cleared To Resume Training, Asks To Be UFC 273 Backup

    Max Holloway is ready to get himself back inside the UFC Octagon.

    The former featherweight champion Max Holloway is on the mend. After suffering an injury that forced him out of a title shot at UFC 272, Holloway is now healed up and ready to get back to training, sources revealed the news to ESPN on Friday. According to the report, Holloway will be ready to fight in just a few weeks and would like to serve as the backup for the title fight scheduled between champion Alexander Volkanovski and Chang Sung Jung.

    Holloway was originally the first choice to face off against Volkanovski for the title. The two were briefly linked to a fight at UFC 272 before Holloway was injured. “The Korean Zombie” was the man to step up and into the slot. The bout was then moved to UFC 273 after a welterweight matchup between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal was booked as the UFC 272 main event.

    Holloway and Volkanovski have quite a history together. The two fought two back to back in 2019 and 2020. Holloway suffered losses both times they met. He is still the #1 contender and the likely choice to stand in next against whoever takes home the belt on April 9.

    Volkanovski is undefeated in his UFC career and has not lost since 2013. He is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the 145-pound division. If he can get past Jung, a third go-around with Holloway should be on the docket. However, Jung is a tough opponent who is currently 3-1 in his last four.

    UFC 273 is set to take place on April 9 in Jacksonville, Florida. The featherweight title will serve as the main event with a bantamweight title fight between Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan as the co-main event.

    Do you think Max Holloway will regain the featherweight title in 2022?

  • Adesanya: Robert Whittaker Is In For A ‘Rude Awakening’ At UFC 271

    Israel Adesanya is preparing a surprise for Robert Whittaker.

    A middleweight title fight rematch is on the horizon for UFC 271. Champion Israel Adesanya will be taking on Robert Whittaker in the main event of UFC 271 next Saturday. These two men have some history together, as they fought once before when the belt originally changed hands.

    Now with the second fight set, Adesanya isn’t going to be coming in with the same tactics that caught Whittaker the first time. No, he has a whole new set of skills that he will be utilizing.

    “Rob’s going to be in shock,” Adesanya told Combat TV (via MMA Junkie.) “He’s going to be in for a rude awakening when he feels me because the first time we didn’t clinch. I hope to clinch with him this time because every time they do it and they realize, ‘Oh he’s a lot stronger than –’ they all say that. They think they know how strong I am until they feel me, then they’re like, ‘Oh sh*t.’”

    Since the loss to Adesanya, Whittaker has won three in a row. In fact, the only loss Whittaker has taken in the last seven years was the one to Adesanya. After taking some time off, Whittaker is ready to take the title shot handed to him and return to New Zealand as the king of the 185-pound division. Whittaker will be eager to regain his lost title, but Adesayna will not be so quick to back down.

    “I’m not going to fight him the way I fought him the first time, and I know he’s not going to fight me the way he fought me the first time,” Adesanya said. “He’s a silly boy. If he thinks he has someone else’s blueprint to beat me, he’s a silly man. But his team’s smart, so that’s why I take him seriously. It’s because of his team. He, himself, he’s a silly boy.”

    Adesanya is undefeated at middleweight in his professional MMA career. His only loss came when he tried to go up and take the light heavyweight belt from Jan Blachowicz unsuccessfully. As the #3 pound-for-pound fighter in the world and at 32 years old, Adesanya is just getting started in the UFC.

    Do you think Israel Adesanya will be able to defeat Robert Whittaker again at UFC 271?

  • Paul To Critics Who Doubt His Sincerity On Fighter Pay: “You’ll See”

    Jake Paul says he is genuine in his quest to improve fighter pay, despite what some think.

    Jake Paul is on a mission in trying to get other fighters more money. Since Paul jumped onto the boxing scene, he has been making headlines and money. He is already one of the most successful boxers in the world and wants to use his success to help out other fighters. He is often vocal about this cause, but that doesn’t stop others from doubting him.

    Paul spoke recently with MMA Fighting about his desire to help and to address those doubters who believe he is not actually trying to make a change.

    “You’ll see. Because I’m not letting off the gas anytime soon and I’ve spent a bunch of my own money on this matter and pushing for these things, and I wake up every day with it as a purpose on my mind,” Paul explained. “And I think I’ve done more than enough to show for women’s boxing, fighter pay, quality fighters, boxing promoters, I’ve done more than enough in terms of actions.

    “And even my cards previously, almost every fighter that’s been on it it’s their highest payday, always. So I’ve gotten Tyron Woodley his highest payday, Ben Askren his highest payday. So these fighters who are always mistreated—I’m taking action, and I’m backing it up, and I’m not letting up anytime soon, and I actually care. I actually give a fuck.”

    Paul has announced that he is already in talks with a lawyer about setting up a fighters union. His bouts against former UFC fighters Askren and Woodley did fetch them a giant payday, more than they received as UFC fighters. He has taken this as a personal mission, in which he has been targeting UFC president Dana White. Paul has been urging White to up paying for his fighters and even bought stock in the UFC’s parent company to try to insight change.

    “And it’s nothing to me. I like this. I enjoy this. I feel the responsibility to be a part of this movement, and it’s getting traction. And that’s exactly what I wanted. I’m excited to continue to be one of the leaders of this conversation. So for people that don’t think I’m serious about it: you’ll see.”

    Paul is helping to promote the upcoming boing match featuring Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano. In this bout, Paul claims that each fighter will be making one million dollars. If Paul’s words begin to turn to actions, he will be helping grow both the sport of boxing, for men and women and the sport of MMA. Only time will tell if he can get this all done.

    Do you think Jake Paul can help improve fighter pay in MMA and boxing?

  • Adesanya Thinks Whittaker Has The Wrong “Blueprint” To Beat Him

    Israel Adesanya is not worried about Robert Whittaker’s game plan.

    Israel Adesanya is preparing for a rematch with Robert Whittaker as the main event of the upcoming UFC 271 card. Adesanya holds a win over Whittaker from the first time these two met back in 2019. Now that Whittaker is finally getting his chance at revenge, Adesanya is urging him to come up with a new plan without trying to copy others’ homework.

    “My prediction is that I am going to f*ck Whittaker up, again,” Adesanya told MMA Fighting. “He can’t stand with me, so I know he will be forced to grapple. Last time he said Kevin Gastelum has given the blueprint on how to beat Adesanya,’ and now he’s saying ‘Jan has given the blueprint’…. he needs to write his own blueprint. If he wants to copy someone else’s work, then by all means try, because it went so well last time for him when we fought.

    Adesanya has never been defeated in the middleweight division throughout his MMA career. He did, however, suffer a loss when he decided to try his hand at light heavyweight against Jan Blachowicz. Adesanya does not feel Whittaker can take anything from that bout with Blachowicz and believes that he still has what it takes to beat “The Reaper.”

    “Whittaker may have learned from his mistakes from last time for maybe a round or so, but then trust me, he will revert back to those errors,” he said. “Once he feels what he felt last time, he won’t know where to turn. Also, he didn’t even grapple with me last time, he didn’t really feel me. You can ask any of my previous opponents, they will tell you. So once he feels me in a grapple, then he will get shook again.”

    Grappling may come into play during this fight as Adesanya predicted, but it would be a change for Whittaker. In his first eight professional fights, Whittaker finished six of them by way of submission. Since then, he has not claimed one submission victory. Also of note, Adesanya has never finished on the ground and instead holds 15 KO/TKO victories in his career.

    Do you think Robert Whittaker can take Adesanya down and win this fight at UFC 271?

  • Costa Only Interested In Vettori Rematch, ‘I Want To End His Life’

    Paulo Costa has a score to settle with Marvin Vettori.

    Paulo Costa is looking for a fight, and there is only one that interests him. Costa is coming off a loss to Marvin Vettori, and that is the man who he is targeting now.

    Costa desperately wants to run it back with Vettori and gain some revenge in the process. Costa is asking the big boss to allow him a rematch against the only man besides the champion Israel Adesanya to hand him a loss.

    “I just said to let [UFC President] Dana White know,” Costa told Ag. Fight via MMA Fighting. “I’ll fight him now. It’s the only fight that interests me. No one else interests me. Unless it’s for the title, but I’m no fool. I’m not stupid to consider [a title fight] now. I want to fight him. He’s the only viable guy that interests me. If it’s not him, I’m not even interested in fighting. I let Dana White know that.”

    There is no love lost between these two. Leading up to the fight, there was trash talk exchanged, and then Costa showed up to fight week overweight. During fight week, he asked the UFC to change the bout to light heavyweight, which was granted but not without some criticism from Vettori and his team. Now, Costa is the one calling out Vettori and threatening harm.

    “I don’t respect him,” Costa said of Vettori. “I want to end his life. He’s an a-hole, a fool. He had this win over me and thinks he’s the man, but he’s an a-hole, a child. We see he’s a goof, he can’t even wear shorts the right way. There’s a photo of him with his shorts backward, and he still thinks he’s the man. But I’ll fight him again. I mean, at least I plan to…

    Paulo Costa Marvin Vettori
    PHOTO: MMA JUNKIE

    “I’m not saying I want to fight Vettori because he took my place in the ranking,” he continued. “It’s not about that. It’s because he’s an a**hole. I have to fight him. I have to erase this loss. I want to leave him sidelined for at least a year after the beating I give him. I want to hurt him. I’m angry.”

    In the aftermath of the fight at UFC Vegas 41, Costa dropped to #5 in the rankings and was briefly condemned to fight at 205 pounds going forward. As a result of his win, Vettori now sits in the #2 spot and could be next for the winner of the title fight scheduled at UFC 271.

    It seems unlikely that Vettori will agree to face Costa again so quickly after everything that transpired leading up to the last bout. The only way could be if Robert Whittaker is victorious against Israel Adesanya and the UFC books an immediate rematch between the two.

    Do you think Marvin Vettori should agree to face Paulo Costa again?

  • Derek Brunson Shares His Theory For Why Cannonier Fight Was Pushed Back

    Derek Brunson is ready to step into the title fight at UFC 271.

    Derek Brunson has his next matchup all set to go, as he will be taking on Jared Cannonier at UFC 271 next weekend. That matchup could potentially decide the next title contender. However, Brunson may not need to wait that long.

    Brunson revealed to MMA Junkie that he will be serving as the unofficial backup to the title fight between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker who are headlining that card.

    The bout between Brunson and Cannonier was originally slated for UFC 270 that took place in January. The fight was switched to Feb 12. card at the last minute, and Brunson has now explained why he believes that is.

    “The UFC, I think they just wanted backups for the title fight in case someone went down, got injured, they have two guys, ’85-ers, #3- and #4-ranked guys that can jump in for a title shot,” Brunson said.

    Brunson is coming into this fight at UFC 271 having won his last five in the middleweight division. He is ranked fourth behind Cannonier, Marvin Vettori, and Whittaker. Even though he is ranked behind Cannonier, he could very well be the one to fill in since Cannonier recently lost to Whittaker. This is all subject to something going wrong with either Adesanya or Whittaker on that day. Either way, Brunson will be ready if his name is called.

    “For sure, I have been waiting for an opportunity, five in a row, I’ve been waiting for that title shot. So if the opportunity comes up, for sure,” he explained.

    Being able to jump right into a title fight situation would be ideal for Brunson. It would save him the trouble of having to beat Cannonier, which is a steep task. Cannonier is 3-1 in his last four, and since making his debut at middleweight, he has only lost to the former champ Whittaker. Cannonier holds wins over names like Anderson Silva and Kelvin Gastelum.

    How do you think Brunson would fare against either Adesanya or Whittaker in a fill-in situation?