MMA News

Author: Nicole Bosco

  • Javier Mendez Explains Jake Paul’s Claim Of Training With Khabib & AKA

    Jake Paul has been teasing a transition to MMA, which he recently stated would include training with AKA.

    Jake Paul has taken the world of boxing by storm. He burst onto the scene and began to dismantle former UFC fighters one by one. Now, he is teasing a transition to MMA to continue his rise in combat sports.

    Recently, he teased that he will be joining the top MMA gym American Kickboxing Academy (AKA). This is the home gym for UFC greats Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier, and Cain Velasquez. Head coach of AKA Javier Mendez addressed this rumor of Paul joining the team in an interview with The Schmo.

    “It could happen. But like anybody, we have to go through all the coaches and all the fighters that are here,” Mendez explained. “And anybody that’s a famous athlete like him, they would go through the routine that everybody does. So he would have to get voted by everybody—not everybody. If there’s one person in particular that doesn’t want him here for that particular reason, he can’t be here.”

    Although Mendez is impressed with what Paul has been able to do so far in the boxing world, that doesn’t mean he will have the same effect in MMA. AKA has been the home to many top-ranked UFC fighters over the years but the addition of Paul could make some new waves for the gym. Mendez likes the fire Paul has lit for himself so far but says there have yet to be any actual discussions of Paul joining the team.

    “First of all, he’s never asked. What he’s done is he’s marketed himself out there beautifully,” Mendez said. “I love the plug he gave us. I think it was a fantastic plug, and I think he is a fantastic person, and I think that he markets himself fantastic. I love what he does. He creates interest. How could you not like a guy who creates interest?”

    Although there seems to be some level of interest from both parties, the deal to have Paul join the likes of Nurmagmoedov is far from set. Paul was involved with a public spat with AKA alum Daniel Cormier last year. The animosity between these two could be one thing that prevents the YouTuber from joining the AKA ranks, as everyone at AKA would have to sign off on his membership.

    “I sent him a text of encouragement, a heartfelt message. I felt it was the right type of message to send because it was legit,” Mendez said. “And he, in turn, returned the favor by talking about training with us. But the reality is that no matter who you are, it could be the greatest fighter whatever you still have to go through the team to consent to train with us.”

    Would you like to see Paul join AKA and begin his MMA career under Mendez and Nurmagomedov?

  • Kevin Holland vs. Alex Oliveira Added To UFC 272 In March

    Kevin Holland has announced that he will be taking on Alex Oliveira at UFC 272.

    A clash of UFC stars will be added to the upcoming UFC 272 fight card when Kevin Holland takes on Alex Oliveira. News of the bout was first leaked by Holland himself on his OnlyFans page. He stated that he has signed a contract to take on Oliveira at the event that takes place on March 5 in Las Vegas.

    Holland followed up an amazing five-win 2020 with a less-than-stellar 2021. In his last three fights, he has lost two and had his most recent bout end in a no contest. That last outing was against Kyle Daukaus was the no contest that came from an accidental head clash. That bout was supposed to be run back, but Holland was forced out with an injury.

    Looking to turn his losing streak around and pick up where he left off in 2020, Holland will look to take down Oliveira, who is a veteran of the sport. Oliveira is a fan favorite and well known by his nickname “Cowboy.” He is also riding a losing streak and has only won two fights in the last three years.

    Holland will be moving down to welterweight for this bout after a tough go of it lately at 185 pounds. He is currently ranked 14 in the middleweight rankings, and Oliveira is unranked at this time. Both of these men are known for putting on exciting fights and both can end the fight at any point. This is a very fun matchup added to an already stacked card.

    Here is the updated UFC 272 lineup. UFC Featherweight Champion Alex Volkanovski may also be replacing a short-notice replacement for Max Holloway, with The Korean Zombie currently the frontrunner to step in.

    UFC Bantamweight Championship Bout: Aljamain Sterling (c) vs. Petr Yan

    Edson Barboza vs. Bryce Mitchell

    Kevin Holland vs. Alex Oliveira

    Jessica Eye vs. Manon Fiorot

    Mariya Agapova vs. Maryna Moroz

    Dustin Jacoby vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk

    Tim Elliott vs. Tagir Ulanbekov

    Marina Rodriguez vs. Yan Xiaonan

    Who do you think will win at UFC 272, Kevin Holland or Alex Oliveira?

  • Cheyanne Vlismas Currently In Hiding, Uncertain Of UFC Return

    Cheyenne Vlismas’s journey back to the UFC might be delayed.

    Cheyenne Vlismas is hoping to get herself back in the UFC Octagon soon, but she has hit some roadblocks in front of her. As a rising star in the UFC strawweight division, Vlismas is in a prime position to stay active and take on tougher opponents in the division. However, she is uncertain what lies ahead of her due to personal reasons. She recently sat down with MMA Fighting to discuss some of her hurdles.

    “Unfortunately, I would love to fight again [and] soon, but because of reasons beyond belief, I cannot fight, and I cannot make any more money until I finalize some things in my life, and I don’t know when that will be,” Vlismas told MMA Fighting. “I’m trying to make that soon, but I don’t have an answer. I’m hoping by summer. I’m praying by summer. That’s what I’m gonna shoot for.

    “As far as 2022, you’ll see me, but I have no answers. And honestly, it makes me want to cry how I have no answers for anything.”

    Cheyanne Vlismas bet on self in battling personal, health challenges
    Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

    Vlismas’ last outing in the UFC was in December. She defeated Mallory Martin in a Fight of the Night bout putting her at two wins in a row now. The road to get to that fight was a tough one for Vlismas. She came down with COVID during her training camp. Her positive diagnosis kept her out of one fight, but she eagerly decided to step on short notice to face Martin and came out victorious. Now, the rising contender is off the grid.

    “No one knows where I’m at, and I’m actually keeping it that way,” Vlismas added. “A lot of things happened before my fight – and even after my fight – and I decided what’s best is to just escape. I’ve been gone now for two weeks and I love it. I’m overseas and just living my life.”

    Vlismas burst onto the UFC scene as a winner on The Contender Series. She secured a win on episode 30 and fought her way into the UFC. She has only lost one bout so far since joining the organization and has hopes of moving up the rankings.

    Vlismas has been somewhat cryptic about her personal troubles along the way but did mention that she was having money issues leading up to her last fight. She has since dropped her married name of “Buys” and has gone back to using “Vlismas.”

    Now, she is explaining that the people closest to her would like to see her on the sidelines for a while.

    “If it was [up to] me, I would love to fight, but I am told I cannot,” Vlismas revealed. “I was actually not even supposed to fight in my last fight. I was asked not to by some high-up people. They told me, ‘Please do not take this fight.’ Even my family didn’t want me to fight, one, for being sick, and two, for other reasons I can’t speak about. No one wanted me to fight at all, so the fact I got to finish off 2021 with a fight, and winning, and proving to people just that little [more] like I did it, more for myself, it was a good feeling.”

    Do you think Cheyanne Vlismas will be a title contender at 115 pounds one day?

  • Sean O’Malley Shades Dana White On PPV Price Increase

    Sean O’Malley doesn’t think the PPV price increase is a good idea.

    Recently, the UFC announced that they will be raising the price of ordering a Pay-Per-View event in the new year. The prices will increase from $69.99 to $74.99 beginning with UFC 270 on Jan. 22. Expectedly, this news has been unwelcomed by fans. The displeasure now has trickled down to some athletes. Among those against the price bump is Sean O’Malley.

    “Dana White raises pay-per-view by five dollars,” O’Malley said on a recent episode of his podcast (via BJ Penn). “What the hell are we doing here, Dana?”

    The UFC has been putting out over 10 PPV events a year constantly for the last several years. However, there has also been a rise in the number of people who are watching these events on illegal streams. O’Malley thinks that the price hike will only perpetuate the amount of illegal streaming taking place.

    Also, when asked if he thought the increase will be reflected in the paychecks of fighters, O’Malley was not so sure.

    “No, I doubt it,” O’Malley said. “But, could be. It is just so easy to stream it illegally. Not talking from experience, but just saying it. Whoever is in control of legal streams at the UFC, they need someone that is good enough at hacking (them) right before the main event starts. Every single time that they just shut it right before the good stuff.”

    In recent years the UFC was been actively trying to stop the illegal streaming of their events. The crackdown of social media posts and streams began with White issuing a threat of police action to anyone caught streaming illegally. O’Malley thinks of himself as one of the top earners for the UFC, so it will be interesting to see if a potential rise in illegal streaming has any impact on O’Malley’s bottom line or that of his peers.

    Do you think the price increase is too much, or is it reasonable to expect a hike up each year?

  • Quote: Ngannou Will Never Get The Shine He Deserves During UFC Feud

    Francis Ngannou’s animosity towards the UFC could be keeping him from the UFC stardom he deserves according to Brendan Schaub.

    Francis Ngannou is the UFC heavyweight champion. He is considered to be the “Baddest Man on the Planet” and rightfully so. He is a hard hitter who can put people out with one strike. Now, Ngannou might have his toughest fight in front of him as he prepares for his UFC 270 fight against Ciryl Gane. However, leading up to this fight bigger news might have been the feud that has been brewing between Ngannou and the UFC.

    In the past year, Ngannou and UFC president Dana White have not seen eye to eye. Contract negotiations have been stalled, and the UFC even created an interim title just months after Ngannou won the belt over Stipe Miocic. Now, that interim champ Ciryl Gane will be looking to knock Ngannou right out of the championship picture and perhaps the UFC altogether.

    Brendan Schaub Thinks UFC Friction Will Continue To Hold Ngannou Back

    Dana White Francis Ngannou
    Dana White, Francis Ngannou (via Zuffa LLC)

    Rumors that Ngannou will leave the UFC with a loss have been circling. A former UFC heavyweight turned podcaster, Brendan Schaub, thinks that Ngannou’s relationship with the UFC brass will continue holding him back.

    “Francis Ngannou has been in a fight with the UFC brass. Which is, whenever you’re in a fight with the UFC brass you’re never going to get the shine you deserve,” Schaub said on his podcast, The Schaub Show. “Take a page out of [Tyron] Woodley’s book, even the Diaz brothers man, whenever you get into a dispute with the UFC they control the narrative, unfortunately. And it’s not like Francis Ngannou has a big podcast where he can go on and rip off what’s going on.” (h/t The Mirror)

    Ngannou has expressed interest in leaving the UFC to try his hand at boxing. If that is the road he is looking to follow, leaving the UFC might be the only way to do it. The UFC and Dana White in particular have been adamant about not letting fighters who are under contract do any crossover fights, aside from the Conor McGregor one-off with Mayweather in 2017.

    “He’ll do an interview with TMZ or an outlet or Marquel Martin, his agent at CAA, will do some interviews but those aren’t going mainstream,” Schaub said. “The UFC controls the narrative and it’s a bit of a shame.”

    Do you think Francis Ngannou is better off leaving the UFC after his next fight?

  • Lewis Explains Why Miocic Fight Would Be A Chance At Redemption

    Derrick Lewis is looking for a fight that means something both to himself and his fans.

    Derrick Lewis is one of the best fighters in the heavyweight division. Although he has never won a UFC title, Lewis has been a mainstay in the top five for many years. Now that his title aspirations might be dimming, Lewis is looking to make a different kind of impact in the division and in his career. Lewis has an idea that excited him for his next Octagon appearance, and he believed it will excite fight fans as well.

    “This last fight helped me,” Lewis told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour about his loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC 265. “It was a big experience difference and I just wanted to finally go into a fight week and not put pressure on myself, and it felt great. I plan on doing that for the rest of my career—just go out there and have fun.

    “I feel like I don’t have to prove anything and that’s one of the reasons why I want to fight Stipe next. I believe that would be a great matchup for the fans and for both of us. He’s more of a wrestler, and I’m more of a wrestler, too. So it would be a great, entertaining fight.”

    Lewis’s last time out was against Chris Daukaus in December. That matchup got Lewis back in the win column following his interim title shot loss to Gane. The loss to Gane was the only blemish on Lewis’s resume in that past six fights. Without the belt around his waist, Lewis is ready for a fresh face next.

    “I’ve fought just about everyone in the division in the top-10. It’d be a new face, new blood, and I believe I’d be a heavy underdog in this fight,” he said. “I can get my fans their money back from the Gane fight.”

    Lewis’s target of Miocic has not been reciprocated at this point. Miocic’s last outing was back in March when he lost his title to Francis Ngannou. Miocic has mentioned waiting on another shot at the belt, but he may be open to a fight in the meantime, and Lewis could be a good option.

    What do you think of the hypothetical matchup between Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis?

  • Nigerian MMA Promotion Influenced By Kamaru Usman to Hold Event In Lagos

    UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman is doing his part to help the rise of MMA in his native Africa.

    Kamaru Usman is arguably the most well-rounded fighter in the UFC at this time. He tops the UFC’s Pound-For-Pound list and has not lost a fight in eight years. Not only is he the total package inside the Octagon, but he is also a great advocate for the sport outside the Octagon. Since becoming UFC champion, Usman has been pushing for a surge of MMA in his native Africa. Now, he has inspired a new MMA promotion to be held in Lagos.

    According to The Cable, 54, a new mixed martial arts promotion, will be holding it’s first event. Usman will be involved in this event and has even begun promoting it on his social media.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYR8fPBK8fz/

    This event is being billed as the first of a series of “Premiere MMA” events. This event will feature five fighters from Nigeria and five athletes from other parts of Africa.

    “54 announces the first-ever face-off fight night in Africa’s most-populated city, Lagos as it brings mixed martial art fighters to slug it out in a bid to leave an impeccable MMA imprint in Nigeria and by extension, the African continent,” a press release stated.

    Usman and his other fellow African champions, Francis Ngannou, and Israel Adesanya have been campaigning hard for the growth of the sport within Africa as a whole. They have all been pushing to start promotions like this one, help with training, and give other resources to the people of Africa. Usman and Ngannou have also been pushing for the UFC to hold an event there in the future.

    The first “54” event will take place at 8 pm at the Lagos Continental Hotel on January 7, 2022. There is no information on how to watch the event at this time.

    What do you think of Kamaru Usman helping start this promotion in Nigeria?

  • Report: UFC Pay-Per-View Prices To Increase To $74.99

    UFC fans will have to shell out a little extra to enjoy pay-per-views (PPVs) this year.

    It isn’t cheap to be a UFC fan these days. Fans of the UFC have to pay more to watch the events than almost any other sport out there. And now, early reports indicate that the prices will be going up again. According to Mark La Monica of Newsday Sports, the ordering price of a UFC PPV will be increasing to $74.99 this year.

    The rise in price is not something new to fans. It seems that each new year has been met with rising PPV prices. Last year the price was increased by $5, from $64.99 up to $69.99. Now, the jump is once again $5 heading into the first big event of 2022.

    Not only did the price per PPV event rise, but the price of an ESPN+ subscription has gone up from $89.98 to $99.98 per year. The subscription will get you access to all Fight Night cards but not PPV events.

    In 2021 the UFC held 13 PPV events throughout the year. This year it will cost fans $975 to view all PPV events assuming there will be an equal number in 2022. The UFC caught some criticism when they originally decide to move their PPV model over to ESPN+. Fans were not happy about the increase in charges, but the UFC continues to break records left and right.

    Just recently, Conor McGregor was bragging about the number of PPV buys he has done in his career. Additionally, Dana White is notoriously boastful about the UFC’s ability to sell-out crowds and put up amazing numbers for their big events. Even with records being broken, the prices continue to rise while fighters complain about their pay.

    The increase will begin later this month when the first PPV event of 2022 takes place. UFC 270 goes down on Jan. 22 and features a heavyweight championship clash between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane live from Las Vegas, Nevada.

    Will you be willing to hand out $74.99 per PPV in the new year?

  • O’Malley Wonders If Garbrandt Has CTE, Rejects Fight Proposal

    Sean O’Malley is no longer interested in a fight with Cody Garbrandt.

    Sean O’Malley is one of the most talked-about fighters in the UFC bantamweight division. He has done a great job of taking charge of his career and has moved up the ranks at his own pace. Sometimes criticized by fans and fighters for not facing top-ranked opponents, that does not stop O’Malley from turning down fights that don’t make sense to him. Most recently, that means backing away from a potential fight with Cody Garbrandt.

    Recently, O’Malley spoke out about the call out he received from the former bantamweight champion and why now is not the right time for him to accept a bout with Garbrandt.

    “Dude, Cody (Garbrandt) wants–he’s not getting that fight (with me),” O’Malley said on his podcast, The TimboSugarShow. “When he said it, you could see in his voice (sic), ‘Oh, I want, uh’ – but that fight’s not happening. It doesn’t make sense for him to say that. I wonder if that’s CTE. He’s been knocked out five (four) times in the last two years (five years). That fights not happening, at least, not next. He needs to – it just doesn’t make sense, dude. It just literally doesn’t make sense.”

    Garbrandt expressed interest in O’Malley following his failed flyweight debut at UFC 269. Since bantamweight seems like the next logical option for Garbrandt, maybe O’Malley could be an interesting choice.

    Despite O’Malley saying he is no longer interested, he has been looking for a ranked opponent to face. His recent win over Raulian Paiva put him in the top fifteen for the first time in his career. Garbrandt is no longer ranked at bantamweight since he dropped to 125 pounds, but he could very well find himself back there with one fight at 135 pounds.

    O’Malley is very popular and has been called out by several fighters following his last win. If he is not interested in Garbrandt anymore, he should have no trouble finding a ranked fighter to face next.

    Who would you like to see Sean O’Malley face next?

  • Lopez Threatens To Release Sparring Footage Of Gane Dropping Ngannou

    The beef between Francis Ngannou and former coach Fernand Lopez continues to grow.

    The UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has a date set to defend his title against his old training partner Ciryl Gane. The matchup is arguably one of the most anticipated heavyweight title fights in a long time. Now, the growing animosity between Ngannou and Gane’s head coach Fernand Lopez is adding even more drama to this bout.

    Recently, Lopez set forth some heavy claims that accused Ngannou of trying to keep Gane out of the UFC. Ngannou was also the target of some released footage that showed Ngannou and Gane training together.

    The Cameroonian was unhappy with the clip that was released and called it misleading. According to Lopez, however, Ngannou could have been made to look much worse. And now, he is willing to release the entire length of training footage.

    “That footage didn’t tell the whole story of what happened in training,” Lopez told Low Kick MMA. “There were so many opportunities where they got the better of each other in sparring, so we couldn’t have manipulated the footage. He didn’t want me to release the whole footage because, in that specific training, Francis Ngannou ate a knee shot to the liver and got dropped. Stopped the whole training. These are facts. Francis was on his backside. If he’s saying this isn’t true, I’ll release the whole footage. But, my content manager didn’t want to release it because we have privacy in the gym. When guys train in your gym, they expect things to stay in the gym.”

    Ngannou and Gane trained together at MMA Factory in France before Ngannou left. Lopez, now the head coach of Gane, has expressed his problems with Nagnnou in a public capacity. In return, Ngannou publically ignored them while both were backstage at UFC 268 in New York.

    Everything will soon enough be settled inside the Octagon. The real fight will be taking place on Jan. 22 at UFC 270. At that time, all sparring footage will become obsolete and the truly better man and fighter will be crowned as the UFC heavyweight champion.

    Do you think Francis Ngannou has what it takes to defeat Ciryl Gane at UFC 270?

  • Anthony Pettis Confirms Another Season With PFL

    Anthony Pettis is getting ready to return to action for the 2022 season.

    With the new year upon us, the next season of PFL is right around the corner. The 2021 season was a great success for PFL. During the offseason, they added a number of well-known fighters to the roster, one of which was former UFC champion, Anthony Pettis.

    Pettis has now confirmed that he will be back again and joining PFL for the 2022 season. He spread the news on his personal Twitter page.

    Pettis is most well known for his tenure with the UFC. He was with the organization from 2011, and in his ten years there won the lightweight title. He successfully defended it once before losing it to Rafael dos Anjos. He decided to walk away from the UFC in 2021 following two consecutive wins. He then announced his move to PFL as one of the biggest signings.

    Pettis’s first season with PFL was filled with great expectations that he did not quite live up to. He lost both of his PFL bouts last season and did not make it to the playoffs. Pettis along with the rest of the lightweight division will be looking to battle it out for the big $1 million prize that awaits the winner of each division.

    Some believe that his career could be coming to an end, but he is not ready to walk away yet. In addition to his skills inside the cage, Pettis is also beginning a career outside the cage. Pettis has recently opened his own MMA fight promotion called Showtime FC. As he approaches this next season, Pettis has already achieved so much in the sport and is still gaining more success.

    How do you think Anthony Pettis will fair in the next season of PFL?

  • Francis Ngannou’s Coach Names The Biggest Threats From Ciryl Gane

    Francis Ngannou’s coach knows that Ciryl Gane is a tough opponent for the champ.

    A UFC heavyweight championship unification bout is on the horizon. Champion Francis Ngannou will be taking on interim champion Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 on Jan. 22. This is a very important fight for both men, but maybe more so for Ngannou. This will be his first title defense and could have a huge impact on his future with the UFC.

    His coach Eric Nicksick spoke to Morning Kombat to break down what he feels is Gane’s biggest threat.

    “I think his [Ciryl Gane’s] composure, I think his efficiency,” Nicksick said (via Sportskeeda). “I think efficiency comes to mind when I see him. I was more impressed with his [Alexander] Volkov fight than anything [else]. I thought Volkov was gonna pose the biggest challenge. I wanted to see what he did with Volkov and he answered all those questions. So, when I look at Gane, I see a very efficient striker, very fluid, light on his feet.”

    Ngannou and Gane are former teammates and training partners. They are very familiar with each other’s styles. Lately, there have been some extracurricular headlines between the two. That tension is making for a very interesting road to the fight. Gane believes he knows what it takes to beat Ngannou. However, in that same regard, Ngannou and his team think they know the key to taking out Gane as well.

    “Maybe try to get him out of his element in some regards,” Nicksick said. “Make it uncomfortable for him so he just doesn’t have that fluidity throughout his rounds. We’re gonna have to do some things to make him feel panicked and I think those are gonna be our biggest challenges to be quite honest with you.”

    Gane is coming into this bout undefeated. He only began his professional MMA career back in 2018. He has won 10 fights in a row and has now worked his way up to the UFC title shot. His rise in the division is reminiscent of Ngannou, who won his first six in the UFC as a prospect on the rise. Ngannou lost in his first UFC title shot; will the same fate come to Gane?

    Will Francis Nagnnou or Ciryl Gane walk away with the UFC heavyweight title around their waist at UFC 270?

  • Ngannou Denies Accusation Made By “Evil” Ex-Coach Fernand Lopez

    Francis Ngannou is disturbed by comments made by his former coach.

    Francis Ngannou is preparing for his UFC heavyweight title defense. This will be Ngannou’s 14th fight in the UFC, but this one is different. His opponent, Ciryl Gane, is his former training partner, and there is a whole lot of history there between them.

    Leading up to this fight, both sides have been commenting on the other. With so much background between the two France-based fighters, there is bound to be some secrets spilled.

    Gane’s head coach, Fernand Lopez, once trained Nagnnou as well. Recently, he made a public comment that implied that Ngannou had tried to keep Gane out of the UFC. Lopez stated that Ngannou told UFC matchmakers that Gane was not good enough for the UFC yet.

    Gane’s team thought Ngannou was trying to sabotage him because he was afraid of fighting Gane. To this end, Ngannou has now responded to these allegations from his former coach. (h/t Daily Mall)

    “And recently, I saw something about him, “Ngannou said on his YouTube channel. “They sent me something like, which his coach said about me – Fernand [Lopez] – He said I told [UFC matchmaker] Mick [Maynard] that Ciryl is good but not that good or something like that. I’m like, ‘Man. This, like; this nasty.’

    “You know this is not a fair game anymore. It’s not a fair game anymore. Like, I understand this position is not; you want to take everything, you want to destroy somebody. But to go after him like that, associate other people; I mean, I think this is evil. You know, but I know the man, and I know how it processed.”

    Ngannou came to the UFC in 2015. He had immediate success but eventually decided to leave his France-based gym, MMA Factory. Fast forward to Gane, the MMA Factory product came to the UFC in 2019.

    In addition to the story about Ngannou campaigning against Gane, Lopez has also claimed Ngannou didn’t pay his gym dues. Additionally, Ngannou recently walked right past Gane and his team backstage at UFC 268 without even a glance. All of this drama is making for a great lead-up to their huge fight that will go down on Jan. 22 at UFC 270.

    Who do you think will take home the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 270, Francis Ngannou or Ciryl Gane?

  • Darren Till Gives Reminders To Those Who Complain About Fighter Pay

    Darren Till is giving the other fighters of the UFC a little financial lesson.

    Darren Till is an outspoken guy. He is loud, and his candidness has earned him many fans. Till’s latest rant is about fighter pay.

    This topic has been trending lately after many fighters on the UFC roster have been asking for more bonuses and better pay. For Till, he thinks the fighters are getting plenty and stated a few facts he thinks compensates for the contracts fighters receive. (h/t Pundit Arena)

    “People seem to forget that we’ve got a 20 million dollar facility there open for all UFC fighters with food, with nutrition, with strength training, with anything you want,” Till told The MMA Hour. “If you want to sleep there I’m pretty sure you could and I stayed there for three months and I was treated like a god by the UFC team, Dana and Hunter.”

    Some former UFC fighters have been saying that they are making more money outside the UFC than there were while they were under contract with the organization. Other newer UFC fighters are begging for performance bonuses whenever they can.

    Even the biggest names such as Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou have been through contract negotiation disagreements with the UFC brass this year. Outsider Jake Paul has been one of the biggest advocates for MMA fighter pay discrepancies.

    “Obviously, there’s flaws in this game for fighters but before you get on and start criticizing the UFC or whatever, just remember what you’ve got at your feet,” Till explained.

    The UFC performance institutes are there in order to help the UFC fighters under contract live their best lives. The locations in Las Vegas and China are meant to help fighters negotiate weight cuts, receive bodywork, and nutrition. Till feels that the luxuries and accommodations at these institutes are making up for any perceived lack of pay per fight.

    What do you think of Darren Till’s stance on fighter pay?

  • Glover Teixeira Lays Out Detailed Plans For His First LHW Title Defense

    Glover Teixeira is already planning his first light heavyweight title defense.

    Glover Teixeira is coming off his extraordinary win over Jan Blachowicz at UFC 267. The 42-year-old shocked the world and became one of the oldest fighters to ever win their first UFC title. Now that he is the champion at 205 pounds, Teixiera isn’t ready to slow it down. In fact, he is already planning his first title defense and even has a name in mind.

    “For sure in Brazil,” Teixeira told Sherdog. “It’s meant to be. I (said) right after my fight with Blachowicz…in a perfect scenario would be May for myself because I want to relax, enjoy this moment, and that was a hard year for me—hardcore, focused 100% for the fight. I want a few months off, a couple months off, and I want to get back (training) beginning of January….I told everybody May would be perfect time. And May is the card in Brazil. Who knows? Maybe it’s a possibility, and it’d be fun.”

    Teixeira’s win over Blachowicz was the 33rd win of his career. Many thought Teixeira might be heading towards retirement back in 2018 when he suffered his third loss in five fights, but the longtime veteran of the sport battled back to win his next five and secure his title shot. Now, with the belt wrapped around his waist, Teixiera would like to bring it back home to Brazil.

    He has previously mentioned Jiří Procházka as a possible opponent. Procházka is the #2-ranked light heavyweight, right behind Blachowicz, so he is the most logical option. He has been waiting out for his title shot, even though he has been called out by other fighters in the division, namely Aleksandar Rakić.

    Although Teixeira wants to wait until spring, that does not mean he will be relaxing the whole time. He is very involved with his gym and training other fighters as well. He was in the corner of his teammate Alex Pereira for his UFC debut. And even after he hangs up his gloves for good, he’ll most likely still be seen around the Octagon as well.

    What do you think of Glover Teixeria’s plan for his first title defense?

  • Brendan Schaub Reflects On His UFC Departure

    Brendan Schaub is taking a walk down memory lane in reminiscing about his retirement from MMA.

    Brendan Schaub is known more now for talking about fights than actually being in them, but back in his days with the UFC, he was on top of his game. Now that it has been seven years since he retired from the sport of mixed martial arts, Schaub is giving some insight on his departure from the UFC and how it all went down.

    “I don’t know when these guys are gonna realise – this is a business. It is a cutthroat business. Professional sports? It is cut-f***ing-throat,” Schaub said on the Below the Belt podcast (via Sportskeeda). UFC, NBA, MLB, it’s all like this, man. A lot are like this, unless you’re a big time dude, tip of the spear guy that was winning a million fights for them and making them all this money. When I retired, and I’d say I did pretty well in the UFC, when I retired I got an email that said ‘cool, just so you know if you ever come back we still own your ass’. It’s like, cool man, yeah, that’s all I got.”

    Ex-UFC star Brendan Schaub saves three children from car crash
    Brendan Schaub, Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    This topic of the UFC parting ways with an email began most recently when longtime UFC fighter Kevin Lee was released from the organization. Lee stated that he was notified of his release by email. Schaub’s experience was years ago, but it seems the UFC is still practicing these impersonal procedures.

    Unlike Lee, Schaub had retired from the UFC, not been released. He fought in the promotion from 2009 to 2014. At that time, he was a staple of the heavyweight division and has faced some of the best fighters in that division, including Andrei Arlovski, Mirko Cro Cop, and Matt Mitrione. Schab has gone on to be very successful outside the Octagon and attributes these other skills as allowing him to be alright not returning to fighting.

    “In fighting, you can’t have one foot in and one foot out, or else you’re going to get really hurt,” Schaub said. “My heart wasn’t into it and I’d always wanted to do stand-up,” says Schaub. “It was never hard for me to walk away from fighting because it was very obvious what I should be doing. Most guys when they’re done, they don’t know where to put their energy, so I’m super fortunate.”

    It is seen more now that current fighters will begin finding another outlet and business opportunities while still actively fighting. Schaub and other fighters turned commentators/personalities show that there is a way to keep close to the sport after fighting is over.

    Are you surprised by the way Brendan Schaub’s relationship with the UFC ended?

  • Kara-France Happy To Spoil The Party UFC Had Planned For Garbrandt

    Kai Kara-France is still reeling over his UFC 269 win.

    Kai Kara-France is flying high following his win at UFC 269. He defeated former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt by TKO in the first round of their matchup. The win was probably the biggest of Kara-France’s career so far. The performance shot the 28-year-old to number six in the flyweight rankings. Now, two weeks removed from the event, Kara-France is still in disbelief of his performance. He spoke about his feelings on The Schmo Youtube channel.

    “Every morning I wake up and I’m like, ‘Did that really happen?” Kara-France explained. “It couldn’t have gone any better, from the lead-up to the actual fight, and then the finish and getting a bonus, and everyone really doubting me and kinda overlooking me. Especially Cody overlooking me, already telling Dana, ‘I’ll be the alternate for the next flyweight title fight.’

    Kara-France has been a staple in the UFC flyweight division since 2018 when he made his promotional debut. Since then, he has only lost two fights, one of which was against champion Brandon Moreno. Despite Kara-France’s résumé, most media attention was on Garbrandt and his move to 125 pounds. Kara-France thought the UFC had a plan to give Garbrandt a title shot off a win and was glad to put a stop to that.

    “So yeah, the whole lead-up was a weird one,” Kara-France said. “I knew that I’d been putting in the work, so when I turned up on fight week, I was focused. I only had one person in front of me and that’s all I was focused on, which was Cody. And he’s too busy trying to fight everyone else but me and won’t even acknowledge me. It was kinda like I was set up. He was getting set up for the title shot, and I was just a pawn and a stepping stone for him, to build him up for flyweight. So I was here to spoil the party, and that’s what I did.”

    The win over a former champion is sure to give Kara-France a boost in motivation and confidence. He will need this confidence when he takes on Askar Askarov on March 26, as announced yesterday. Because should he win this bout, a title shot will more than likely be waiting for him.

    Will Kai Kara-France become the UFC flyweight champion in 2022?

  • Henry Cejudo: Khamzat Chimaev Would Destroy Colby Covington

    Henry Cejudo thinks that Khamzat Chimeav would give Colby Covington a run for his money and then some.

    Henry Cejudo was one of the most successful fighters in the UFC when he was actively fighting. Having won two titles in two different divisions, Cejudo was a master of his craft. Now that he is retired, he is actively helping other fighters find the type of success he had during his reign.

    Taking a look now at the welterweight division, Cejudo had some assessments for the athletes at 170 pounds, in particular, Khamzat Chimeav.

    Henry Cejudo Heaps High Praise On Khamzat Chimaev

    Khamzat Chimaev
    Khamzat Chimaev

    Cejudo, like many people, is a big fan of Chimaev and what he has been able to do in his four fights with the UFC. Cejudo believes Chimaev would easily beat almost any man in the UFC welterweight division, and he spoke a bit about this on The Triple C & Schmo Show.

    “I am super high on that dude,” Cejudo said. “I believe that he would destroy Colby [Covington]. I believe that he would destroy the majority of the people at 170 pounds. The only one that can beat Chimaev is Kamaru Usman. But I think everybody else, I think he takes to school. No joke.”

    Chimaev has been calling for a fight with a ranked opponent. He had been turned down by a few people, including Nate Diaz. However, now it seems there is rising interest coming from a few top ten fighters. Most recently, Belal Muhammad expressed interest in stopping the hype train that is Chimaev. Also, Neil Magny has repeatedly challenged Chimaev.

    “I think Chimaev at 185 pounds, especially against a style like Stylebender, I think it’s an easy fight for him,” Cejudo said. “He’s big, he’s nasty, he’s ferocious. When people praise and talk about wrestling like he does, it just makes you dangerous. He’s gonna get on top of you, Khabib style, and he’s gonna hurt you. Chimaev is dangerous and I understand why nobody in the 170-pound weight division wants to fight the damn man.”

    Chimaev has four straight wins in the UFC so far. He has stopped each of these four opponents in less than two rounds. It is no wonder why many people, Cejudo included, think Chimaev has what it takes to make a run at the title.

    Cejudo has seen some great fighters up close during his career, including having taken down one of the greats Demetrious Johnson. Now, Cejudo gets to see greatness on a daily basis as he is helping to train some of the best in the sport, including Jon Jones and Weili Zhang.

    Do you think Khamzat Chimaev would defeat Colby Covington if they faced off now?

  • Aspen Ladd Chalks Up Miesha Tate’s Criticism as “Trying To Get Views”

    Aspen Ladd thinks Miesha Tate’s criticism of her was for personal gain.

    Aspen Ladd is still defending herself from the criticism thrown her way. Following her last outing at UFC Vegas 40, she took some judgment from fans and media because of the way her coach/boyfriend spoke to her during the fight.

    One of the loudest voices sending shade Ladd’s way was former UFC Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate.

    Miesha Tate
    Miesha Tate (Image Credit: Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

    Ladd and Tate have been involved in multiple occasions of beef over the last few months. Ladd has her theory on why Tate has been going in on her.

    “I think she looks at the world through the lens of her own experiences,” Ladd said to MMA Fighting. “I mean, we all do. I think she had a very, very negative experience with her past relationship and it became very public for a while. She was with a coach for a very long time and there was a lot of he said, she said going on there. And who knows? I don’t know.”

    Tate spoke out about Ladd and her missed weight for her UFC Vegas 38 bout. She called Ladd a cheater and then went off on her again following the incident at UFC Vegas 40. Tate cited having a similar situation with a coach as a significant other and that is why she spoke out about Ladd’s situation.

    “She tends to comment on when other people are a little bit down and I’m not a fan of that style of being a person,” Ladd explained. “She’s trying to get views. It’s the world that we’re living in now, and media, social media, all of it, it’s like, ‘Well look at me.’ She’s trying to do something to garner that, and that’s totally fine, especially when it’s someone you want to fight—as long as they back up what they’re saying.”

    This growing animosity between Ladd and Tate would make for a great fight. Ladd has been pushing to set up a bout with Tate ever since she returned from her retirement. However, Tate is not interested. She has stated that she does not want to face Ladd inside the Octagon until Ladd has proven she can get her weight-cutting issues under control.

    Would you like to see Aspen Ladd and Miesha Tate fight?

  • Masvidal Calls on Paul, McGregor, Covington or Edwards to “Sign The Contract”

    Jorge Masvidal is no longer holding back and is calling out some potential opponents.

    Jorge Masvidal is gearing up for a fight. Although he doesn’t have one name in mind, he is now calling for a bunch of fighters to answer his call.

    Masvidal has taken to his Instagram to make a few call-outs while filming a video of himself skiing. In the post, he expresses his feeling about a few of the most popular fighters today and asks for them to sign a contract.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXzQiVqII-J/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=6eed3bde-7f5e-4880-b089-9c23b7fbe793

    “I’m off the injury list and these little b—hes don’t want to sign the contract. The contracts have been handed,” Masvidal said (via Sportskeeda.) “It’s in their f—ing face, they know I’m off the injury list. I’m trying to get some paychecks, but in the meantime, since I can’t rip these b—hes up, I’m going to rip these mountains up.”

    Masvidal did have a fight lined up with Leon Edwards for Dec. 11; however, Masvidal was forced out of that fight after suffering from an injury. He claims he is healed up now and could entertain rescheduling with Edwards.

    Masvidal is one of the most wanted fighters on the UFC roster at this time. He seems to have his choice of multiple opponents. He named a few top prospects while on top of the mountain.

    “You little pu–ies got to blurt my name out, then actually sign the contract. From that little actress that works at Disney Channel [Jake Paul], forgot his name, he just fought. To the little b—h that sells cheap-a-s whiskey [Conor McGregor] to the fragile motherf—-er that’s always getting his face broken [Colby Covington] – all you little b—-hes can get it, man,” Masvidal said. “The one who’s in England that was talking s–t [Leon Edwards], you too, man. Come on, one of you sign the dotted line. Let’s go. Yes, I’m going to embarrass you and knock you the f–k out.”

    The most likely options from this bunch seem to be Covington and Edwards. As mentioned, Edwards had agreed to face Masvidal earlier this year and could very well agree to do so again, especially with champion Kamaru Usman asking for time off.

    Another possible scenario is Masvidal and Covington being paired together, perhaps even coaching opposite each other on a season of The Ultimate Fighter. This is something that they both have expressed interest in.

    Whichever option should come to light, fans will be happy to see Masvidal healed up and ready to get back to work.

    Who from this list would you like to see Jorge Masvidal face next?

  • Muhammad Thinks Beating Chimaev Is “Worth More” Than Any Ranked Win

    Belal Muhammad isn’t shying away from a possible fight with Khamzat Chimaev.

    Belal Muhammad is coming off what was arguably the biggest win of his career. He defeated former title challenger Stephen Thompson last weekend and now has his eyes set on a title shot.

    Muhammad believes he could be next for champion Kamaru Usman following the win and his most recent bump up the rankings. However, if that title shot doesn’t come right away, Muhammad has another plan to get him there.

    Khamzat Chimaev
    Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

    Muhammad thinks that a win over streaking Khamzat Chimaev would get him the momentum he needs to vie for the welterweight title. He explained his rationale to MMA Junkie.

    “He has the most hype in the division right now,” Muhammad said of Chimaev. “He has that (Conor) McGregor X-factor stardom right now, where the fans think he’s untouchable. The boss thinks he’s untouchable. They all think it’s just a matter of time before he becomes champion.

    “So for me, if I beat him, I steal all of his hype, and I think it’s worth more than beating anybody ranked in the division. Beating him is probably worth more than beating Colby Covington just because of all the hype he has right now.”

    It is true that Chimaev has a lot of hype surrounding him. He made a splash in the UFC when he won two fights back to back on Fight Island during the summer of 2020. He is now 4-0 in the UFC and undefeated as a professional. He is a fan favorite, and it seems like he is a favorite of Dana White as well. White has been high on Chimaev and has even expressed that no other fighter wants to fight him.

    “So in this game, it’s about momentum, it’s about hype, and it’s about who’s hot right now. He’s the hottest right now,” Muhammad said. “So beating him, I steal all that shine. I steal all that heat, so why wouldn’t I?”

    Muhammad isn’t the only man with this idea, Neil Magny has been asking for a shot at Chimaev as well. On the flip side, Chimaev has been asking for a shot at a ranked opponent. Muhammad is now sitting in the #5 spot in the rankings. If he wants to fight Chimaev, it seems likely that fight can be made.

    Do you think Belal Muhammad fighting Khamzat Chimaev is a good idea?

  • Charles Oliveira Doubles Down On McGregor Interest, Targets May Bout

    UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira is set on facing Conor McGregor and has issued a date to the former two-division champ.

    In many people’s eyes, the lightweight division is the deepest and most stacked in the UFC. Oliveira has proven that he is the best and has beaten some of the best already.

    However, for his next bout, he wants to take on a man who hasn’t won at 155 pounds since 2016. Oliveira and McGregor have been going back and forth about fighting each other. Oliveira has set out a timeframe for this targeted match with McGregor as told to Sherdog.

    “May would be a wonderful date,” Oliveira said. “Conor challenged me asking a date, and tweeted Ireland vs. Brazil 2. Not only him, but also myself and all the world wants to see that fight.

    “So let’s make it happen. I’m waiting for him in May. It may be in welterweight, lightweight, or middleweight, with my title on the line or not. Just choose and I´ll be ready.”

    Conor McGregor began asking for a fight with Oliveira right after he became champion. He once again began his hounding when Oliveira beat Poirier. Oliveira accepted McGregor’s challenge, but there might be one man standing in the way.

    Justin Gaethje
    Justin Gaethje, Image Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    The UFC and Dana White have already expressed that Justin Gaethje would be the next man in line for the title shot. If that is the case, Oliveira says he will agree.

    “Gaethje was knocked out by Poirier, who I just submitted. He was almost knocked out by Chandler, who I beat via TKO, but I’m a UFC employee,” Oliveira said. “If they choose that I should fight Gaethje next, I’ll be ready too.”

    It seems unlikely that McGregor will receive a title shot after two losses in a row and returning from a leg break. However, he is the most popular fighter on the roster and his fights do sell the most tickets and pay-per-views, and the UFC has given McGregor other opportunities that the rest of the roster doesn’t get.

    McGregor’s timeline for return is unclear, so he may very well have to wait for his shot at Oliveira and the belt until after Gaethje has his shot.

    Do you think the UFC would give Conor McGregor an immediate title shot against Charles Oliveira upon return?

  • Tony Ferguson Mocks Charles Oliveira For Not Being Able To Finish Him

    Tony Ferguson is looking to run things back with champion Charles Oliveira.

    Fresh off his UFC 269 win over Dustin Poirier, Oliveira was bound to get some call-outs from the rest of the lightweight division. With a successful title defense under his belt, Oliveira’s status as the champ is more solid than ever.

    Oliveira has been called out by the likes of Justin Gaethje and Conor McGregor, but one callout that may be surprising is that from Tony Ferguson. Ferguson had a reminder for the new champion after his UFC 269 submission victory.

    Ferguson isn’t exactly the most logical next choice for Oliveira. Ferguson is currently on a three-fight losing streak. He has dropped down to number seven in the official UFC lightweight rankings. His last win was against Donald Cerrone back in June of 2019.

    Oliveira defeated Ferguson at UFC 256 right before he went on to win the lightweight title. If Ferguson had won that bout, he could be the one holding the belt right now. Oliveira won by unanimous decision and that is the basis that Ferguson is running on when he claims Oliveira was unable to finish him.

    Tony Ferguson Hints At Looming Return

    Even though Ferguson probably won’t see Oliveira again anytime soon, it is a bit of a relief for Ferguson fans to see that he wants back in the Octagon. His last fight was in May, and he has been unclear of what his future plans were. He later sent out a tweet that could be an indicator of an incoming fight announcement.

    This message from Ferguson is a bit cryptic like most of his tweets, but he does have a trophy and number one medal in there, maybe insinuating a title shot. If he can string together a couple of wins over top-ranked opponents, then perhaps he will find his way to the lightweight title and a fight with Oliveira.

    Do you want to see Charles Oliveira and Tony Ferguson run it back?

  • Rose Namajunas vs. Carla Esparza 2 Is “100 Percent” Next Per Dana White

    According to Dana White, the next strawweight title bout is in the works.

    Rose Namajunas is quickly proving that she could be the long-term face of the UFC’s strawweight division. She has now defended her title and already has her next opponent lined up.

    According to UFC President Dana White, Namajunas’ next title challenger will be none other than the first strawweight champion, Carla Esparza.

    “Carla Esparza (is next),” White told ESPN. “100 percent.”

    This should not come as a shock since Namajunas has been asking for Esparza since her win and vice versa. Esparza is currently on a five-fight winning streak. Her last win came over Yan Xiaonan in May. Since then, Esparza has been waiting for her shot at the belt. Now, her time is coming, and the bout with Namajunas will be a familiar one.

    Carla Esparza, Rose Namajunas
    Carla Esparza, Rose Namajunas In 204

    Namajunas and Esparza were both members of The Ultimate Fighter Season 20. Both made it to the finale, and it was Esparza who walked away with the win over Namajunas and the belt wrapped around her waist. She later lost the belt to Joanna Jędrzejczyk.

    Namajunas’s skills have grown immensely in the years after her first fight with Esparza. Since this loss, she has had 11 fights in the UFC and has finished five of those opponents.

    Since Esparza lost her title, Namajunas has won it, lost it, and won it again. She is continuing to prove that she is one of the best in the world at 115 pounds. She now holds wins over every other former strawweight champion except Esparza. If she can beat Esparza, perhaps she can claim the title of UFC strawweight GOAT.

    Do you think Carla Esparza will have what it takes to dethrone Rose Namajunas when they meet for the second time?

  • Julianna Peña Says Bettor Won $2 Million Off Her UFC 269 Victory

    Julianna Peña won big at UFC 269, but many people lost big on their bets because of her.

    Julianna Peña is now the undisputed bantamweight champion. After winning the belt at UFC 269 with a submission victory over Amanda Nunes, Peña made history. Many believe that Peña’s win over Nunes was the biggest upset in UFC history.

    With big upsets come big betting losses and wins. Peña has some words of wisdom for the people who bet on Nunes to win, especially a person who lost $300,000 according to Yahoo Sports.

    “Sorry that that man lost so much money,” Peña said. “He should’ve bet on me. He should’ve took that $20,000 and made $2 million because I heard somebody else made that amount.”

    Coming into the bout at UFC 269, people were seriously doubting Peña. Perhaps this is because she was 2-2 in her last four fights. But the new champion has her own theory on why people may have bet against her.

    “I think probably the biggest thing is that I haven’t had these types of fights where you hit one punch and knock somebody out unconscious. So I think that my fights have kind of been grinding type of uglier fights that sometimes go the distance, sometimes end my way. Either way, it’s either kill or be killed. And you know that I’m gonna either kill or be killed in there.

    “And so I definitely think that they probably just haven’t seen a ton of highlights of me just one-KO punching people and that’s probably why they weren’t really on my side at all.”

    Peña might have a rematch with Nunes on her agenda following this win, and she is currently placed as the underdog again for the hypothetical matchup. This is perhaps due to Nunes’ résumé. But after watching how their UFC 269 bout played out, you can bet that Pena will have more backers than she did last time.

    Would you bet on Peña winning again in a potential rematch with Amanda Nunes?