MMA News

Author: Nicole Bosco

  • Curtis Blaydes Calls For ‘Logical’ Fight Against Ciryl Gane

    Curtis Blaydes is looking for a dance partner in Ciryl Gane.

    The UFC heavyweight division is really heating up. Champion Francis Ngannou is coming off a big title defense win over Ciryl Gane. He has been in contract negotiations with the UFC and will now need surgery.

    These factors make his immediate future in the division unclear. If for some reason the UFC finds itself in need of another interim title or champion, it would be a good idea for the other top heavyweights to start marking their territory. That just might be what Curtis Blaydes is trying to do.

    Blaydes took to social media in hopes of securing himself a match with the former challenger and interim titleholder Ciryl Gane.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZZ754IpM6e/

    “This has to be the next logical matchup for the both of us @ufc #makessense #dancepartner #heavyweight #contenders,” Blaydes wrote.

    Blaydes last fought back in September. He defeated Jairzinho Rozenstruik by unanimous decision and slipped himself into the number four spot in the rankings. The only men ahead of him are Derrick Lewis, Stipe Miocic, and Gane.

    Blaydes suffered a loss by Lewis recently, and Miocic seems to be holding firm for a title shot. His calling for Gane is a great idea, especially while the division is in a sort of holding pattern.

    If Blaydes can get a win over Gane, he would put himself in a great position. However, there are a few curveballs that could be awaiting the division.

    If Ngannou sits out and the UFC does not do anything to strip him, then the top five might just have to fight amongst themselves to see who will be the contender when Ngannou returns. Also, Jon Jones is supposedly making his heavyweight debut soon but will most likely only do so for a title shot.

    Either way, a win over Gane puts Blaydes exactly where he needs to be in order to get a title shot when his number is called. He just needs Gane to accept first.

    Do you think Curtis Blaydes can beat Ciryl Gane?

  • Dan Hooker: Being A Dan Hooker Fan Is Not An Easy Run

    Dan Hooker knows that he is not everyone’s cup of tea.

    Dan Hooker is on a new journey in the UFC. After a successful run in the lightweight division, he is now heading down to featherweight. hooker has his first opportunity at 145 pounds as he was recently matched up with Arnold Allen for the UFC London event in March. Hooker’s journey at lightweight ended when he lost three of his last four in the division. Hooker fans may have been looking for an undisclosed reason for the slide, but Hooker has no excuses to give them.

    “Nah, it just sounds like excuses at this point,” Hooker told The AllStar. “Excuses, to me, are like, there’s a lot of people that when you lose, fall off the bandwagon, and there’s a lot of people that are half in and half out,” said Hooker. “I feel like your excuses are to try and convince, or not even excuses, but if you give a reason, you’re almost trying to convince the people that are teetering on the edge of whether to support you or not support you, you’re trying to get them back on the bandwagon. That’s not my intention. If you don’t wanna support me, don’t support me.”

    Hooker’s run in the 155-pound division wasn’t all bad. He put together a string of eight wins from 2017 to 2020 and put himself in line to fight some of the best in the UFC, including Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler. This change-up of weight classes will be new hope for Hooker’s title aspirations. However, he is being realistic with his fans.

    “I will admit, I will 100% admit, being a Dan Hooker fan is not an easy run, you know what I mean? It’s not like being a Khabib fan. That’s one guy in the history of this sport that has done that,” added Hooker. “Being a Dan Hooker fan is a tough road, and if you wanna be on that bandwagon, we take the bumpy road, we take the off-road; there’s cracks in our road, there’s bumps, there’s hills, but it’s fun. We’re here because we ride rollercoasters. We’re not here for smooth sailing. If you want smooth sailing, there are plenty of other fighters with nice, pretty records and 0s and this and that. That’s not what my story is about, that’s not why I do this, that’s not what I find fun.”

    His first test at featherweight since 2014 will be a tough one. Allen is on a ten-fight winning streak and has not yet lost since entering the UFC. He is ranked seventh in the division, and Hooker will be looking to replace him in the top ten with a win in London.

    Do you think Hooker will fair any better at featherweight than he did at lightweight?

  • Ben Askren Predicts Hypothetical Anderson Silva vs. Jake Paul Matchup

    Ben Askren is lending his thoughts on a potential bout between Jake Paul and Anderson Silva.

    Ben Askren has taken a step back from competing in combat sports. His short stint in boxing led to a loss at the hands of Jake Paul, now he is giving his thoughts on Paul’s most recent win and a potential matchup that could give Paul some trouble.

    Askren spent most of his MMA days fighting for Bellator and ONE Championship in Japan. When he finally got his chance in the UFC, unfortunately, it did not go his way. With one win in the UFC, followed by being made into a meme by Jorge Masvidal, Askren decided to try his hand at boxing.

    Askren was the first former MMA fighter to challenge Paul inside the squared circle and lost. Since then, Paul’s targeting of MMA fighters is becoming his signature move in boxing. He has been rumored to want a fight with former UFC champion Anderson Silva. Although this bout is far from confirmed, Askren is hoping that Silva can do what no other man has done yet, stop Paul in the ring.

    “I thought Tyron [Woodley] was going to. The first bout was obviously really competitive,” Askren told MMA Island. “Anderson Silva looked great in his one boxing match he did. It was against a guy who had a significant amount of boxing experience, so I would say yeah, I would think so. If Anderson can’t do it, then shit, Jake Paul is pretty damn good.”

    Silva has had four professional boxing fights since retiring from the UFC. He has won his last three bouts, including the win Askren referenced that came over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and most recently over fellow former UFC fighter Tito Ortiz. Silva has expressed interest in taking on Paul, but nothing has materialized on that fight being made as of this writing.

    Do you think Anderson Silva would be able to beat Jake Paul in the boxing ring?

  • Cody Garbrandt’s Uncle/Trainer Believes One More KO Could End Career

    Cody Garbrandt’s uncle is worried about his health and safety.

    Coming up in combat sports, Cody Garbrandt was under the tutelage of his uncle Robert Meese. Meese was his boxing and a striking coach. He was Garbrandt’s main coach in his early days and has stayed with him through his time at Team Alpha Male. Meese has seen Garbrandt through ups and downs and was there when he won his bantamweight title. But recently, Garbrandt has been having trouble finding a win in the UFC.

    Meese spoke presently to TalkSports about his nephews’ future and his health overall.

    “If Cody gets knocked out again, I am pretty sure his career is over,” Meese said. “But Cody can come back, George Foreman hit a bump in his career and came back and he had more fun and made more money and won the heavyweight title.”

    Garbrandt has lost two in a row and five of his last six. Of those five losses, four were via KO or TKO. After losing his bantamweight title, Garbrandt decided to try his hand at flyweight. He made his flyweight debut last year but lost to Kai Kara-France. Garbrandt’s uncle knows firsthand what a significant weight cut can do to a fighter.

    “In terms of cutting weight, I can only speak about what I know. I was preparing for a fight, and I had to cut extra weight at the last minute due to the opponent. So, I had to get down to a certain weight,” Meese said. “Then the night of the fight, I thought I was going to die. I cut so much weight it felt like Mike Tyson hit me. So, you’re really not going to know until the night of the fight how it feels to get hit at that weight. The real weight was 125 pounds but you’re not really doing any sparring at 125.”

    The future is unclear for Garbrandt right now. With the loss to Kara-France, his chances at getting a title shot at 125 pounds seem slim. His best bet might be to return to bantamweight and try again to regain his title. From 2015 up until he lost to TJ Dillashaw in 2017 he was unstoppable. He could fight a rematch that the fans could be interested in and work his way back up to the title fight.

    As for staying at flyweight, his uncle doesn’t seem to believe that is a good idea.

    “We all knew Cody wasn’t at his best going into that fight, me, Urijah Faber, Chris Holdsworth we all knew,” he said.

    Do you think Cody Garbrandt is nearing the end of his career or will he have a resurgence?

  • Ngannou Not Worried About Title Being Vacated: “It’s Just A Belt”

    Francis Ngannou knows that if the UFC takes his belt, he will be just fine.

    Francis Ngannou is sitting at the top of the UFC heavyweight division. Fresh off his first title defense win over Ciryl Gane should be putting him in a safe place in terms of his career. However, Ngannou has been having some contract disputes with the UFC over the past year. Now that he is still the champ, should he be worried about the UFC taking his title away?

    Ngannou beat Gane by unanimous decision at UFC 270. Inside the Octagon when the decision was read, UFC President Dana White was nowhere to be found. White is typically the one to wrap the belt around a champion’s waist, but he claims he was dealing with an issue backstage. Many believe that the strained relationship between White and Ngannou was the true reason White was MIA after UFC 270, and some have warned Ngannou to be wary.

    When Ngannou won his title, he began his quest for more money and opportunities. Unable to come to an agreement in a hypothetical bout against Jon Jones, the UFC created an interim title just months after Ngannou was crowned.

    Francis Ngannou Unworried About Potentially Being Stripped

    Francis Ngannou
    Francis Ngannou, Photo Credit: Getty Images

    Following UFC 270, Nagnnou is saying he will need an extended break in order to fix a lingering knee injury. If the UFC were to require him to vacate the belt, Ngannou thinks he’ll be just fine.

    “No, I’m not worried about that because at the end of the day, it’s just a belt, you know?” Ngannou told Ariel Helwani of The MMA Hour. “As soon as they take the belt away, I’m a free agent [LAUGHS]. But I earned the belt; it’s not the belt that will make me champion. With or without it, I’m still a champion. So, let’s be clear about that. Nothing will change my status of being the champion.”

    Ngannou has been looking for opportunities outside the UFC. He has mentioned wanting to box with Tyson Fury. He will not be able to seek this kind of boxing match while he is under the UFC contract. If he were to be forced out, he would most likely transition over to boxing.

    Do you think the UFC will try and strip Francis Ngannou if he is out too long?

  • Charity MMA Event To Be Held In Havre, MT To Fight Childhood Cancer

    KillEagle Promotions will be holding the “Brawl at the Mall” charity event to raise money to fight childhood cancer.

    There will be a charity MMA, kickboxing, boxing, and bare-knuckle boxing event held in Havre, Montana tonight to raise money to fight childhood cancer. The event is being put on by KillEagle Promotions based in the area. Part of the proceeds for this event will go directly to the Seattle Children’s Cancer Research Center.

    Wesley KillEagle is the organizer of this event and has been putting on similar types of events for several years. This cause is close to KillEagle’s heart since his  7-month-old daughter Payton was diagnosed with liver cancer, and they had to be treated in Seattle. Her surgery there was successful and she has been in remission ever since.

    “I just remember how scared I was,” KillEagle told Havre Daily News. “I was a single father at the time, I had two kids at home, I’d just bought a house, I’d just bought a vehicle and I was struggling and freaking out, trying to figure out how I was going to pay for everything.”

    The event will consist of 10 bouts: four amateur MMA bouts, a boxing match, two kickboxing title fight matches, professional bare-knuckle boxing, and a heavy-weight bare-knuckle MMA fight as the main event.

    This event will take place at the Holiday Village Mall tonight, Saturday, January 29, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.

    If you are in the area, will you come out and support this good cause?

  • Peña: Nunes Would Look Like Earth’s Biggest Coward Without Rematch

    Julianna Peña won’t be letting Amanda Nunes shy away from a rematch.

    The biggest upset of 2021 was when Julianna Peña took down bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes at UFC 269. Since that win, Peña has not let up on her former opponent. She is welcoming of a rematch and has no doubt that she can win once again.

    Although Peña has been very vocal since her win, Nunes has been on the quiet side. Peña, who spoke recently on The Joe Rogan Experience, has laid down the consequences for Nunes in the event she opts not to have the rematch.

    “Well, somebody suggested, ‘Well, what if [Nunes] doesn’t decide to take the fight with you and decides to take an easier fight at ’45 and retires into the sunset?’ I’m like, she can’t,” Peña said. “She can’t do that. She would look like the biggest coward on Earth.”

    Amanda Nunes
    © Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

    Since the loss, Nunes has not been making many statements publically. She did, however, decide to leave her longtime gym ATT to begin the process of starting her own team. Nunes, of course, still holds the featherweight belt and has a duty to defend that as well.

    The idea of Nunes retiring soon is not that far-fetched, either. She has been fighting in the UFC since 2013. She won the bantamweight title in 2016 and followed it up by winning the featherweight belt two years later. Nunes is currently the top female on many people’s GOAT lists.

    There have been some rumors that Peña and Nunes are frontrunners for coaching the next season of The Ultimate Fighter. Peña got her start in the UFC as a fighter on TUF in a season that was coached by Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey. This would be a full-circle situation for Peña, who would welcome the opportunity.

    Do you think Amanda Nunes will agree to an immediate rematch with Julianna Peña?

  • Fernand Lopez: Gane Is Ready To Take Jones If Ngannou Isn’t

    Ciryl Gane is willing to welcome Jon Jones to the heavyweight division.

    Although the heavyweight championship belt did not change hands at UFC 270, challenger Ciryl Gane is not discouraged. He is still a force to be reckoned with in the division, and with some uncertainty looming with champion Francis Ngannou in both health and contract, Gane is willing to step into the big opportunities.

    Ngannou might be out of competition for an extended period of time. The champ needs surgery following his win over Gane. This fact, paired with the unstable relationship he has with the UFC, could put his future in the organization in jeopardy. This is where Gane can step up. He was the interim champion and still the number one contender. If the UFC needs a big fight while Ngannou is out it could be Gane vs. Jon Jones.

    Jones has been teasing a move to heavyweight for over a year. He too has been having some contract trouble along with some personal issues throughout his transition. However, Jones will most likely be making his heavyweight debut in the near future and Gane could be the man to welcome him according to his coach.

    “If they (the UFC) solve the problem with Francis, what they would like to do, what everyone would like to have, is Jon Jones vs. Francis,” Gane’s coach Fernand Lopez told MMA Fighting. “I’m realistic, Jon Jones is number one. This is how it works, it’s a business… If that does not happen, and they have any issues having Francis onboard in the company, then obviously, we are ready to take Jon Jones.”

    It may be unlikely to see Jones come to the heavyweight division and fight for anything less than a title fight. Ngannou may be out for a while and the UFC could easily strip him or create another interim title. If either of these options were to happen, Gane vs. Jones could be a perfect fit.

    Do you want to see Ciryl Gane vs. Jon Jones in the heavyweight division?

  • Tyson Fury vs. Dillian Whyte In The Works For April 23 Event

    A heavyweight bout is set between undefeated WBC heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte.

    The news was first reported on Friday afternoon by Mauricio Sulaiman on Twitter. The date in mind for this event is April 23 in the United Kingdom. Frank Warren has won the rights to the fight after placing the winning bid of $41 million.

    This price will allow Fury to receive $29.5 million and Whyte to receive $7.4 million for this fight. Fury is coming off back-to-back wins over Deontay Wilder both by way of KO. “The Gypsy King” is currently undefeated in his 32 fights and is one of the most popular boxers in the world.

    Fury had been calling for a fight with UFC champion Francis Ngannou recently, but without the UFC’s permission, that fight could not be made. The amount of the purse Tyson will be receiving for this fight is exactly the reason Ngannou was looking to make a fight happen.

    Ngannou has been vocal about wanting more money, and as more and more former UFC fighters make the transition to boxing, the more the pay discrepancy is brought to light.

    Whyte will be coming into this bout having secured a vengeful win over Alexander Povetkin who knocked him out in the prior meeting. He took home the WBC interim heavyweight title with that win and secured his place across from Fury in the squared circle.

    The fight will be seen on ESPN+ PPV in America and BT Sport PPV in the UK.

    Are you interested in this fight between Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte?

  • Quote: Ngannou/Fury Match Could Be First Fight On New UFC Deal

    Francis Ngannou’s new UFC contract could involve a boxing match against Tyson Fury after all according to Ali Abdelaziz.

    Francis Ngannou is fresh off his first UFC title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. He is in a place where he is comfortable at the top of the UFC heavyweight division and has proved he has what it takes to beat the best. Yet, with all of this clout, Ngannou is still not happy with the UFC. He was having negotiation trouble with them leading up to the fight and seems to be continuing in a strange place with Dana White.

    The strained relationship between White and Ngannou could be a breaking point for the heavyweight champion. Ngannou has mentioned a desire to break out of his contract, and “freedom” is a big concern for him. One of the most successful fight managers in MMA, Ali Abdelaziz, spoke out about his understanding of the feud between Ngannou and the UFC.

    “Dana White’s been waiting 20 years for someone like Francis to arrive, to be on the scene, to become the baddest heavyweight on the planet,” Abdelaziz said to MMA Junkie. “I think it’s a lot of ego involved, a lot of people involved that are not supposed to be involved… I think this thing could be solved. All they need to do, Dana take Francis out to dinner, and they sit down and talk. And I’m very confident, very confident, they will get a deal done.”

    Abdelaziz is not Ngannou’s manager but has represented some of the best in the sport. He has a very good relationship with Dana White and the UFC and is usually able to get his fighters what they want. Ngannou wants a chance to try out his boxing skills against Tyson Fury, a plan that Abdelaziz thinks the UFC should jump on.

    “Francis said it’s not about the money, it’s about freedom,” he said. “Maybe, Francis wants to box, right? That’s his dream. I think Dana White can make his dream become true because he’s the baddest promoter on this planet. If you want to promote a fight against Tyson Fury, he’s an ESPN guy, Dana’s an ESPN guy, you bring both of them and make this fight happen. But I think they need to kill all the noise, stop talking to the media, stop tweeting stuff, stop putting stuff on Instagram; both sides.

    There have been a few fighters under UFC contract that have expressed interest in a crossover to boxing. The UFC has only ever allowed one fighter to do so, that was Conor McGregor against Floyd Mayweather in 2017.

    “Can you imagine Dana White promoting Francis to fight Tyson Fury next? Forget about Jon Jones. That’s what I’d do. I’d be like, ‘Let’s make this fight.’ That’d be the first fight on a new deal, right. And I think it could happen… His main thing is he wanted to box. I think Dana White will let him box. But he has to be, ‘I’m gonna be a team player here and we’re gonna work together,’” Abdelaziz said.

    Some believed that if Ngannou had lost at UFC 270, he would have left the promotion and could have made the transition on his own. However, since his first title defense was successful, he will remain under contract with the UFC until at least the end of the year.

    Ngannou has already mentioned that he needs surgery and will be out for an extended period of time. If the UFC wants, they can strip him of his title and the Ngannou will be free to do what he wants.

    Do you think the UFC should allow Ngannou to fight Tyson Fury while still under contract?

  • Dominick Reyes Fires A Shot At Jon Jones After UFC 270 Comments

    Dominick Reyes took a shot at former champion Jon Jones on social media.

    It has been a while since Dominick Reyes has made any noise. Reyes is one of the more quiet fighters on the UFC roster. He doesn’t engage in a lot of trash-talking, but when he does, it is usually pointed at Jon Jones.

    Reyes and Jones have a history together. They fought back in Feb. of 2020 when Jones defeated him via a narrow split decision. Since then, Reyes has occasionally been commenting on Jones’ behavior. He did so recently again on a post made by ESPN.

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

    “Poor guy. At the end of the day, he’s home alone in the basement writing mean messages. Get better bro,” Reyes commented on a picture of Jones saying he would defeat both Ngannou and Gane following UFC 270.

    Jones has not fought in the UFC since his bout against Reyes. Since then he has relinquished his light heavyweight title and made the decision to move to heavyweight. Jones then was involved with some negotiation disputes with the UFC and some legal trouble as well.

    He has not set a date for his UFC heavyweight debut but has been increasingly present on social media calling out Ngannou. Most recently, Jones criticized the performances of Ngannou and Gane at UFC 270, which is what prompted these posts from Reyes.

    When Reyes was questioned by another commenter about his remarks, he responded.

    “Just pointing out literal facts,” he wrote (via Sportskeeda). “We all had a great time at the fights and homeboy is tweeting mean stuff before the belts wrapped around the winner… Don’t get it twisted, I do truly want to see him get better. I wish harm on no man.”

    Reyes has been unsuccessful in his last three UFC outings. He lost his title shot against Jones, then another title shot against Jan Blachowicz for the vacant title. Most recently he was defeated by title challenger Jiri Procházka. Reyes does not currently have a fight lined up at this time. He is still sitting in the #7 spot in the rankings. With a few wins, he could be right back at the top challenging for the title again.

    Do you think Dominick Reyes was right in his comments towards Jon Jones?

  • Miesha Tate Will Be A Contestant On Celebrity Big Brother

    Miesha Tate will be a member of the Celebrity Big Brother cast for season 3.

    The former UFC champion will be joining other celebrities as a “house guest” on the upcoming season of Celebrity Big Brother. The show announced via social media their incoming cast for the third season. Tate joined ten other people as she tried to win the prize at the end of the season.

    Along with Tate, the other members of the season include, Lamar Odom, Chris Kirkpatrick from ‘NSYNC, Real Housewives of Atlanta star Cynthia Bailey, Chris Kattan, Olympian Mirai Nagasu, singer and dancer Todrick Hall, former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp, model Shanna Moakler, Diff’rent Strokes star Todd Bridges, and Queer Eye star Carson Kressley.

    The show will be airing through February on CBS and will be hosted by longtime Big Brother host Julie Chen-Moonves. The show will be filming over one month as opposed to the three that the other Big Brother show takes place. Tate, who has a fight lined up for May against Lauren Murphy, will be locked in that Big Brother House without contact with the outside world for one month.

    This is not the first time Miesha Tate has been on a reality show. She was a coach on season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter. Her appearance on that show and her growing rivalry with Ronda Rousey, the opposing coach, helped propel Tate into UFC stardom. She later was able to win the bantamweight title to secure her spot in the all-time female fighter ranks.

    Tate took a short time away from the sport to begin her family, but is now back and looking to continue her success in the flyweight division.

    Will you be tuning in to CBS’s Celebrity Big Brother to watch Miesha Tate?

  • Jeremy Stephens Parts Ways With The UFC, Ending 15-Year Run

    Longtime UFC featherweight Jeremy Stephens has left the organization.

    After 14 years with the UFC, Jeremy Stephens left the promotion. The news of his departure was first announced by UFC Roster Watch on Twitter. Stephens has not fought since July of 2021, which was his last bout on his contract. He was not released from the organization but instead has decided to test free agency.

    Stephens came to the UFC back in 2007 when he stepped in to face Din Thomas at UFC 71. He lost that first fight but was back again three months later and got his first UFC win over Diego Saraiva. Stephens’ UFC career was an up-and-down journey. The most wins he ever strung together in a row were three.

    Over his 14 years in the UFC, he has faced some of the best to have ever set foot in the Octagon, including José Aldo, Anthony Pettis, Donald Cerrone, and Charles Oliveira. The list of top opponents for Stephens goes on and on. Although he never fought for the title, throughout his career he faced six future or former champions.

    To end his UFC run, Stephens fell into a bit of a downward spiral. He lost five of his last six, with a no-contest thrown in. This may not be the end of Stephens’ run in MMA however, since he has not officially announced his retirement from the sport. These days, the free agency market is better than ever for fighters. A few options for him could be Bellator, PFL, BKFC, or even Khabib Nurmagomedov’s new promotion Eagle FC.

    Recently Eagle FC has signed a number of former UFC fighters for their upcoming United States shows. PFL as well is hosting some former UFC fighters on their 2022 roster. Stephens, at 35 years old, could be a welcome addition to either of these landing spots. However, if he decides to hang up his gloves for good, he will be remembered for his grit and knockout power.

    What was your favorite moment of Jeremy Stephens’ UFC career?

  • Cormier Expects Covington/Masvidal To Be Closer Than Many Think

    Daniel Cormier feels the upcoming fight between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal will be a close one.

    There is an exciting welterweight fight looming. Former title challengers Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal have agreed to meet in the main event of UFC 272. That fight is interesting on many levels: because of the history between these two, because they both last lost to the champ, and because it is a nontitle fight headliner. One man who believes that this fight might be closer than some people think is Daniel Cormier.

    “I think stylistically for Colby Covington, this is a great fight, yes, because he feels like he can go and ground Jorge Masvidal,” Cormier said on a recent episode of the DC & RC podcast (via Sportskeeda).

    “A lot of people from within the sport of mixed martial arts think that it’s going to look like Robbie Lawler vs. Colby Covington, where Colby is just trying to overwhelm him with this pressure, but what you don’t understand is the improvements that Jorge Masvidal has made in wrestling and his ability to counter a lot of the things that Covington may have been able to do to him in the past years.

    “The guy is a much better fighter today and he’s a much better fighter because of his interactions with Kamaru Usman, even though he lost those fights, he got better preparing for the champion.”

    Since Covington and Masvidal are both coming off losses to Kamaru Usman, this fight could be a path back to the title. Both men are still at the top of their game, and if Usman were to lose his next fight, the winner of this UFC 272 main event could very well receive another title opportunity.

    With that being said, Covington and Masvidal know each other well. Some people think this will be beneficial to them. They used to be friends and roommates back in their college days.

    A lot has changed since these two had a falling out. Both have improved greatly in their fighting skills. Masvidal has only lost to the champion in the last three years. The same goes for Covington, who has only lost to Usman in the last five years.

    Cormier is a former champion turned analyst. He now makes his living picking apart fights and making his opinions known. As a former Olympic wrestler, he thinks the ground game will play a big role in this bout.

    Who do you think will win Colby Covington or Jorge Masvidal?

  • PFL’s Peter Murray Claims Claressa Shields Remains Committed To MMA

    Claressa Shields will be back for the 2022 PFL season.

    Olympic gold medalist boxer Claressa Shields will be continuing her journey in the world of mixed martial arts. Shields got her start in professional MMA as a member of the 2021 Professional Fighters League 2021 season. Shields’ future in MMA was unclear following the season as she looked to return to boxing, but PFL’s chief executive Peter Murray has confirmed that she will be back to compete this year.

    “Yes, Claressa will be back [in the PFL] – she’s committed to becoming a two-sport athlete in both boxing and MMA,” Murray told BBC.com. “It’s an incredible story, Claressa is a superstar and fans will get to see how far she can go in two sports at the highest level.”

    Shields made her promotional debut in June of last year. She defeated Brittney Elkin by third-round TKO. She followed that up with another bout in October, this time she was beaten by Abigail Montes vis split division. Shields has the standup skills of a champion, but she needs to keep working on her ground skills. Despite this fact, Shields has high aspirations to keep competing at the highest level in both boxing and MMA.

    “She transcends combat sports, both boxing, and MMA,” said Murray. “Will she be a two-sport champion? That’s the story and it’s an opportunity to see her develop. That’s what the PFL is providing fans and Claressa is very humbly putting it all out there.”

    Shields is one of the most famous female boxers today. She has the support of many high-class fighters both in boxing and MMA. She recently had a high compliment from UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and has trained with Cris Cyborg in the past. She has also been on the radar of Jake Paul, the two have been feuding about a rumor that Shields asked to be placed on Paul’s undercard.

    The PFL 2022 season is set to kick off in April, with a Challenger series beginning in February. As of now, there is no confirmation on whether Shields will compete in a 2022 tournament or if she will compete in non-tournament bouts as she did in 2021.

    Do you think Claressa Sheilds has what it takes to become a champion in MMA?

  • TJ Dillashaw Claims Aljamain Sterling ‘Doesn’t Have That Fighting Spirit’

    TJ Dillashaw doesn’t have high expectations for Aljamain Sterling.

    TJ Dillashaw is currently out recovering from surgery. He is, however, planning his return and in doing so wants a shot at the title. Dillashaw has only had one fight in the last three years due to a suspension and injury, but he feels his résumé speaks for itself and he wants the next available title shot.

    The thing is, there is already a title fight scheduled. Finally, after a few rescheduled dates, champion Aljamain Sterling will be taking on interim champions Petr Yan at UFC 273 in April. Dillashaw took a moment to break down how he sees that fight playing out in a conversation with ESPN.

    “My money’s on Yan,” Dillashaw said (via MiddleEasy). “The way that fight went down and to kind of see Aljamain just break and give up… he really didn’t have much for him. I was kind of expecting Sterling to give him a lot more trouble in the grappling aspects and the takedowns. Yan just kind of shrugged them off. [Sterling] had no strength. I don’t know if there’s much, you can change with that.”

    The way the fight between Sterling and Yan ended, with a disqualification knee to a downed opponent, left a lot of questions unanswered. Sterling will have another opportunity to show the world that he is the rightful owner of that 135-pound belt. It is clear that Dillashaw believes that Yan is the one to beat in that matchup.

    “Yan’s a killer. You see the way he fights, he stays real tight, stays clean, and he’s got the mentality that he’s a fighter,” Dillashaw said. “You got those competitors, you got athletes, and then you got fighters. Guys like myself and guys like Yan are the full package, you do all of them.”

    Sterling has been taking quite a bit of heat from all sides since he won the belt in the way he did back in March. Dillashaw might have his chance at Sterling if “The Funk Master” is victorious at UFC 273. If that fight takes place, Dillashaw believes he has what it takes to defeat him.

    “I feel like Sterling is more of a competitor or an athlete. He doesn’t have that fighting spirit in him. He’s a little bit weak when it comes to that last thing.”

    Who do you think will bring him the belt at UFC 273, Sterling or Yan?

  • Procházka Plans To Train With Three Former UFC Champs For Title Fight

    Jiří Procházka is planning on getting some outside help in the lead-up to his title fight.

    Jiří Procházka has secured his first title shot in the UFC. He will be challenging newly crowned champion, Glover Teixeira, in May at UFC 274. The Czech Republic‎ native has been looking for this shot for some time now and he is willing to do what it takes to be successful when that big moment arrives, even if that means changing up his training situation.

    Procházka spoke to CBS Sports about what he is planning for this training camp.

    “In February, I am thinking about and working towards preparation in America. Especially with Henry Cejudo and Jon Jones there. I want to go there and work on my wrestling. I especially want to take my wrestling to the next level. I’m really looking forward to that,” Procházka said. “I’m a big fan of Figueiredo. His style is great. It’s an honor to go there and train with these guys.”

    It is not crazy that Procházka wants to be a part of this group. Jon Jones is the former light heavyweight champion, and one of the all-time greats. Cejudo was a two-division champion and has now shifted his focus to work with other fighters and make them champions. Recently, he helped Weili Zhang in her fight against Rose Namajunas and Deiveson Figueiredo in his training camp before reclaiming his belt against Brandon Moreno.

    Procházka came to the UFC in July of 2020 and after just two wins in the organization, he has reached the point of fighting for the title. His prior fights have been mostly in Rizin, and he is undefeated since 2016. Just because Procházka is a newcomer to the UFC light heavyweight division doesn’t mean he is new to this game.

    “I fought ‘King Mo’ two times. The second time, when I defeated him in the Rizin title fight, I was a different guy than the first time he won,” Procházka said. “From that Rizin title fight to now, I’m five levels up. He can talk with [Teixeira] and give him special tips for me, but I think I’m another person. I’m a different person in character. I changed myself completely since that time. It doesn’t matter. If ‘King Mo’ will help him to be a better fighter, I’ll be glad for that. I want to fight the best version of Glover’s style.”

    Procházka’s ten last fights have all ended in TKO or KO. He is a finishing machine and now looks to make Teixeira his next target. Teixeira will be making his first title defense at 42 years old after securing the title from Jan Blachowicz in October.

    Do you think Jiri Procházka has what it takes to beat Glover Teixeira and win the title on May 7?

  • Peña: A Conversation Has Taken Place About Coaching TUF With Nunes

    Julianna Peña is looking to have some fun before she takes on Nunes again.

    The new UFC Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña is already making plans for her next move in the division. Peña made headlines when she defeated two-division champ Amanda Nunes at UFC 269. The win by Peña shocked many, as Nunes was on a 12-fight winning streak and defeated some of the best names in women’s MMA along her way. Now that Peña is holding the belt, she has an idea of what could be next.

    Rumors have already been circling that the UFC is interested in a rematch between Peña and Nunes. Peña, who got her start in the UFC as a member of The Ultimate Fighter, would like to return to her roots and coach a season against Nunes.

    “A dream come true for me would be to coach The Ultimate Fighter and then go right into the rematch,” she told BT Sports. “So, that’s a perfect-world scenario. I know we don’t live in a perfect world, but that’s what I would like. As long as I can get the rematch at whatever time, that’s what’s gonna make me happiest.”

    At the moment, this is all a dream for Peña, but that doesn’t mean that it will never happen. Peña claims that this idea is already in the planning phase and talks have begun.

    “Yeah, it has,” Peña said of TUF talks. “So, I mean, we’ll see.

    The future is unclear for Nunes, who has a bit more freedom than Peña at this point. Nunes still holds the featherweight title and could very well defend that as her next fight.

    Also, Nunes is in the process of changing gyms and fight camps. This fact could delay her return. If Nunes is indeed looking for an immediate rematch, the idea of coaching on TUF could be a good way to have some training time before getting back in the Octagon.

  • Ngannou Says UFC Wanted To Sue Manager For Talks With Jake Paul

    Francis Ngannou claims he received a threat from the UFC right before UFC 270.

    Francis Ngannou has just successfully defended his UFC heavyweight title for the first time. In the leadup to the fight, a good portion of the attention he was getting was regarding the relationship between him and the UFC.

    Over the last several months, Ngannou was having a difficult time dealing with the UFC and negotiations. It seems the trouble continued right up until fight night.

    “I walked into the room waiting for my manager, my coach,” Ngannou explained on The MMA Hour (via ESPN). “And they were like, ‘Wow.’ I’m like, ‘What’s going on?’ They told me they just received an email from the UFC saying they’re going to sue [Marquel Martin] for talking with this guy, Nakisa. Yeah. I’m like, ‘Who is Nakisa?’ I wouldn’t recognize him if you put him in front of me.”

    Ngannou has been talking about his desire to box for a while now. When he was having trouble securing the purse he wanted from the UFC, he mentioned wanting to try out boxing because of the significant pay differential. A few former UFC fighters have made the switch over and made more than they ever have in the UFC. Ngannou wants to get in on that money but his contract prevents him from doing so.

    Now that Ngannou has beaten Ciryl Gane, he will not officially be a free agent until at least the end of the year. In the meantime, it is unlikely that he will be allowed to set up a fight with Tyson Fury as he had publically wanted. He also wanted more money from the UFC, and it is unclear if that will happen.

    “You can be free and fight for the UFC,” Ngannou said. “I just want to be free. We are supposedly independent contractors. [An] independent contractor is technically a free person. That’s the reason why they need some adjustments in that contract. That’s what I’ve been fighting for. It doesn’t look like they want to talk to me anymore.”

    Ngannou is not the only fighter on the UFC roster who has publically spoken about their unhappiness with payment and contracts. Dana White did not stay for the post-fight press conference at UFC 270, and there has been no word from his or the UFC’s side on this matter.

    Do you think Francis Ngannou deserves the freedom to try boxing if he wants to?

  • Jake Paul Has Purchased Stock In UFC Parent Company To ‘Help Fighters’

    Jake Paul is inserting himself in UFC affairs.

    Paul cannot help himself when it comes to rustling the UFC and Dana White’s feathers. Paul has made himself famous by beating former UFC fighters inside the boxing ring, but he might be equally as known for his hot takes on how the UFC conducts their business. He is constantly calling out Dana White on fighter pay and the treatment of fighters under the UFC banner. Now, Paul is actively trying to make some changes in that organization.

    He announced on Tuesday morning that he has decided to invest his money and purchase stocks of the UFC’s parent company called Endeavor (EDR).

    “I’ve invested in EDR (UFC) stock with my partner @geoffreywoo 2 focus on UFCs ESG standards relating to fighters,” he wrote on Twitter. “We believe EDR can drive long-term economic value by increasing UFC fighter pay & providing them healthcare. Reaching out to @EngineNo_1 to partner on this “endeavor.”

    Jake Paul’s Business Partner Comments

    Paul’s business partner, Geoffrey Woo, also released a series of tweets addressing the move.

    “Jake Paul, our partners, and I are excited to announce our latest @antifundvc investment — Endeavor (NYSE: EDR), the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (@UFC) — and our goals for the business as impact investors & venture capitalists.

    “My partner Jake has lead the way in changing the business of combat sports by not just talking about it, but being about it — fighter pay, healthcare, & championing women’s sport. And today is our next step in our vision of revolutionizing the industry.

    “UFC has faced a rising chorus of criticism for the exploitation of its athletes — the [heart] of biz. The ratio of revenue going to athletes vs. owners & leagues is well below industry standard. This disparity hurts long-term shareholder value & this is not going to magically change.

    “Jake is the archetype of the future, where individual transcends the machine. This is happening across all sectors — media, entertainment, & tech start ups where dynamic, innovative individuals & creators are bargaining toe-to-toe w the owners, the institutions, and the academy.

    “We believe the best way to accelerate this inevitable revolution is to lead it from within the UFC as co-owners & impact investors. We will use our investment stake to rally fans, athletes, fellow shareholders, and management to do the right thing.

    Who am I? I come from Silicon Valley & web3/crypto. Skin in the game, shared equity, and long-term alignment is the underlying incentive model that made Silicon Valley and crypto the most impactful business models of the last 20 years. We intend to apply these models to the UFC,” Woo wrote.

    Jake Paul & Fighter Pay

    Since his fight with Ben Askren, Jake Paul has made it clear that he wants his opponents to be paid well. He was vocal about his feelings that UFC fighters do not get paid sufficiently. Askren and Woodley both stated that their paydays for the Paul fights were their biggest to date. Woodley was a former UFC champion and still made more for his boxing match, according to him.

    Paul thinks the UFC can do better and has been calling out Dana White to make things right. He feels that by buying these shares of EDR, he can somehow make a change to the UFC pay structure and healthcare options.

    The amount of stock purchased was not revealed, and it seems unlikely that Paul will have voting rights on such issues. Endeavor is a publicly traded company that purchased the UFC back in 2016 for $4 billion.

    Do you think Jake Paul will have any success at changing the UFC pay structure as a shareholder?

  • Figueiredo Dismisses “Cry Baby” Moreno’s View On UFC 270 Decision

    Deiveson Figueiredo has dismissed Brandon Moreno’s post-fight comments following UFC 270.

    The co-main event of UFC 270 was supposed to put an end to the ongoing trilogy between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno; however, it might have done the opposite. In the third meeting between these two men, it was Figueiredo who walked away with the victory. Now, they are both 1-1-1 in the trilogy.

    Moreno believed that he won the last bout, but Figueiredo thinks he is just being dramatic, despite this fact he would entertain another matchup down the road.

    “It was 4-1, I mean, there were five knockdowns, it was 4-1,” Figueiredo said following UFC 270 (via MMAFighting.com). “They could have just gotten me every round… Okay cry baby, let’s take it up at the next one man, let’s take it up at the next one.”

    Figueiredo regained his lost flyweight title with this UFC 270 win over Moreno. Not only did he regain the belt, but he might have gained some confidence as well. The first time he faced Moreno, the result was a majority draw, the second was a loss. Now he is holding the belt and ready to defend and move forward.

    This three-fight set between Figueiredo and Moreno locked up the flyweight division for over a year. In that time, contenders such as Askar Askarov, Alexandre Pantoja, and Kai Kara France were making names for themselves. Figueiredo seems open to running it back a fourth time with Moreno, and Moreno is willing, but the UFC may decide to move on with the decision.

    Figueiredo became champion when he defeated Joseph Benavidez at UFC Fight Night 172. He could have been champ even before that had he not missed weight at UFC Fight Night 169. He defended his title once before the draw with Moreno. Now will be his chance to show he is a true champion at 125 pounds, which may include fighting some different contenders before a fourth Moreno fight.

    Do you think the UFC should book the fourth fight between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno right away?

  • Dillashaw Welcomes Future Fight With ‘Lower-Weight Godfather’ Aldo

    TJ Dillashaw would be open to a fight with José Aldo.

    TJ Dillashaw knows what it is like to be a UFC champion. He was on top of the bantamweight division for three years before having to serve a suspension for a failed drug test. Now that Dillashaw is back and ready to continue his UFC career, he has one goal in mind, which is to regain his lost title.

    “Let’s be honest, I left as a champion,” Dillashaw told ESPN. “I came back, fought a No. 1 contender after a 2.5-year layoff. I was able to beat him. What else is there for me? Nothing is going to get me up and excited except getting my belt back. That’s my goal. There’s nothing else for me to really set my eyes on.”

    Dillashaw is in a bit of a holding pattern right now. He suffered an injury that required him to undergo surgery. His last bout was back in July when he defeated interim title challenger Cory Sandhagen. Although the surgery went well, Dillashaw still has some healing to do. He spoke a bit about his timeline for return.

    “I wouldn’t say an exact timeframe, but I imagine halfway through the year,” he explained. “I’m able to hit mitts, strength, and conditioning. I haven’t done any grappling yet. That’s the last thing I’ll feel comfortable about again. And then I have to start thinking about getting into a camp.”

    TJ Dillashaw Open To Fighting José Aldo

    Jose Aldo
    Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    Dillashaw is currently sitting in the #2 spot in the division, right behind interim champion Petr Yan. With Yan already set to face the champion, Aljamain Sterling, in April, that could leave Dillashaw out of the loop. Fortunately, there has been someone calling his name for a while now. That man is none other than José Aldo.

    “I think he has called me out after every one of his fights recently which is amazing,” Dillashaw said. “I’ve looked up to Aldo, I think everyone has looked up to Aldo. Aldo’s been like one of the godfathers of the lower weight classes, but we’ll have our time, he keeps doing what he’s doing, I’m going to get my belt back, and then it would be really amazing.”

    Aldo recently won three in a row at bantamweight and could be in the title hunt himself. A possible #1-contender fight with Dillashaw could be an interesting one and a real possibility depending on what happens with Sterling vs. Yan at UFC 273.

    Do you think Dillashaw will get a title shot without fighting José Aldo first?

  • Jorge Masvidal Calls Out Colby Covington For Gambling Debts

    Things continue to heat up between former friends Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington.

    Now that Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington are set to face each other in the main event of UFC 272, the trash talk between them is beginning to ramp up again. There is a history between these two fighters, and anytime that is the case, some past skeletons are bound to come out.

    Masvidal is now spilling the tea on Covington and his past troubles with money. According to Masvidal, Covington has been in debt and unable to pay those he owes.

    “The list goes on and on: American Top Team, the current gym that he’s at now. They’re having trouble because he hasn’t paid,” Masvidal told The MMA Hour. “This guy owes numerous loan sharks in South Florida for his poker gambling debt. I just hope he makes it to the fight, bro. Because this guy is in all types of trouble and I’m going to be the nail to his mother***ing coffin. I just can’t wait.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    Masvidal and Covington used to train together and were close friends. Now they are opponents set to face off against each other. Over the last few months, they have been calling each other out for a fight. They were both interested in facing off as opposing coaches on a season of The Ultimate Fighter, but then this UFC 272 headlining opportunity came through and both accepted.

    Because of their shared history together, Masvidal and Covington learned a lot about one another. And since their falling out, Masvidal is not shy about telling the world exactly who he thinks Covington is.

    “He was living off my couch, he was eating my meal prep – food that they were giving me because I was already sponsored,” Masvidal said. “He was an amateur coming in. It just [puts] a lot of things in perspective. You come into this world alone and you probably come out of it alone as well. This guy is a legit snake so I can’t wait to [punch him]. Ask Jon Jones about it. Motherf***ing Jon Jones has nothing nice to say about him. How about [Tyron] Woodley? Woodley ain’t got nothing nice to say about him.”

    Covington isn’t just staying quiet, however. He is ready and willing to throw some heat right back at Masvidal. The next few weeks leading up to this fight are bound to be filled with trash-talking and animosity between both fighters.

    Who do you think will win the UFC 272 main event, Jorge Masvidal or Colby Covington?

  • Victor Henry: Those Counting Me Out Were UFC Fans, Not MMA Fans

    Victor Henry has won his UFC debut despite feeling overlooked by fans.

    Victor Henry is fresh off his first UFC win at UFC 270. After his first UFC booking against Raoni Barcelos was rescheduled twice in the last month, Henry finally was able to step into the UFC Octagon and show the fans what they had been missing.

    UFC News on Twitter: "#UFC270 Official Result: Victor Henry (@VictorHenryMMA 30-27, 30-27, 30-27) defeats Raoni Barcelos by Unanimous Decision" / Twitter
    Victor Henry takes the fight to Raoni Barcelos at UFC 270

    The California native was able to pick up the unanimous decision victory win over a tough Barcelos on the prelim portion of the card and then took his post-fight presser conference moment to call out the MMA media and some fight fans.

    “Initial thoughts is I told y’all. I mean, a lot of media outlets was counting me out, but that’s only because I feel, personally, a lot of people are UFC fans, not MMA fans,” Henry said during a media scrum following the win. “They don’t watch MMA from around the world. They know what they see in the UFC. And I’ve been traveling around the world fighting a lot of tough guys. And I knew Raoni was gonna be real tough. No doubts about it. But initial thoughts: I told y’all.”

    Although Henry just made his first walk to the Octagon on Saturday night, he is no stranger to the fight game. 22-5 now in MMA, Henry got his start. like most fighters, on the regional scene. His road to the UFC was long in comparison to some fighters’ journey but now that he is in, he is looking to be a tough test for anyone in the division.

    Henry’s claims that some fans are only watching UFC is a valid one. Henry is 34 years old and has racked up 22 professional wins now. He is the #1-ranked bantamweight in Japan, and he has a right to be upset that more people don’t know him just yet.

    The good thing is now Henry has the “I told you so” swagger and the eyes of the public after his first UFC win. He showed that he can compete on the highest level and could find himself in the top 15 soon. He spoke a bit about wanting a fast rise now that he is in the UFC and could be back in the cage very soon.

    Do you watch all MMA promotions of just the UFC?

  • Sterling: The UFC Didn’t Give Me The Same Opportunities As O’Malley Coming Up

    Aljamain Sterling is throwing some shade at Sean O’Malley.

    Aljamain Sterling is the bantamweight champion. He is the man all the other bantamweights need to beat if they want to be on top. There is, however, one man who is getting under the skin of the champ, and that man is Sean O’Malley.

    Sean O’Malley likes to trash talk. He has begun calling out several different fighters and creating some conflict with many in the division. And recently, he has gained the attention of the champion as well.

    Aljamain Sterling is looking at O’Malley as more of an inconvenience at this time than an immediate threat. O’Malley is now in the top 15 of the bantamweight rankings for the first time but has only faced one ranked opponent. That ranked opponent was Chito Vera, and O’Malley did not win that fight. Sterling believes O’Malley wasted that opportunity of fighting Vera when it came around and has since continued fighting handpicked opponents that he never got the chance to face on his way up.

    “You had your shot; you blew it,” Sterling told The MMA Hour. “We all get our opportunities. You had an opportunity, and you blew it. So if you wanna say Paiva is the guy that should give everyone more hype around him again, I don’t know, man. The UFC didn’t give me those opportunities to fight tailor-made matchups when I came up. My third UFC fight, I fought a guy who was ranked sixth in the world, Takeya Mizugaki. And ever since then, I have not left the UFC’s top 10 of ranked contenders and guys that were within the top 10 and top 5.”

    Sterling has had 15 fights in the UFC so far in his career and had 11 wins before he was granted a title shot, and he seized that moment. Although the fight with Petr Yan ended in a DQ for Yan, causing Sterling to walk away with the belt, Sterling is now champion nonetheless. Even as champion though, Sterling is not on the same level of fan favoritism as O’Malley is.

    O’Malley has had eight fights in the UFC with only one loss. He is a character outside the cage and puts on a show inside the cage. O’Malley has been criticized for not fighting ranked opponents on his rise up, but now that he sits at number 12, that should all be changing. If Sterling is unhappy with his fast start in the division, he should be happy now that he is the champ and will have the chance to create his own path going forward, starting with a rematch with Yan later this year.

    Do you think Sterling was rushed along his path faster than O’Malley is?