MMA News

Author: Nicole Bosco

  • Dana White Doesn’t Think Nick Diaz Should Fight Again

    Dana White has shared his thoughts on the possibility of Nick Diaz fighting again.

    The biggest comeback of the year belongs to Nick Diaz. After six years away from the UFC, Diaz made his return to the Octagon with a loss to Robbie Lawler at UFC 266. After the fight, Diaz seemed uncertain about his fighting future.

    UFC President Dana White does not believe that Diaz should fight again and has explained why he feels this way.

    “Regardless of how good [Nick Diaz] looked and what he did after such a huge layoff, I don’t think he should fight,” White told ESPN. “I don’t think Nick does it cause he loves it, I think Nick does it cause he has to do it. When I always talk about people sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic to go to a job they hate, that’s what I feel like when Nick Diaz is getting ready for a fight.”

    Diaz’s last win in the UFC has back in 2011. He was suspended for five years after testing positive for marijuana. His return was met with excitement from fans, but Diaz himself seemed less than thrilled. In his own interview with ESPN prior to his fight with Lawler, he claimed he never liked fighting.

    Following the loss to Lawler, Diaz appeared to have retired from MMA, but then quickly began asking for fights again. With the financial success of his brother Nate, perhaps Nick will be sticking around the UFC for a bit longer. Since his return, he has been looking for fights with both Leon Edwards and champion Kamaru Usman.

    Diaz is 38 years old and began fighting professionally back in 2001. He is one of the OG’s of the UFC and has fought some of the best in the history of the UFC, including BJ Penn, Anderson Silva, and Georges St-Pierre. If he is done, he might find himself a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame.

    If Nick Diaz has more fights ahead of him, he could have a shot at a few big names in his future. One fighter who recently expressed interest in fighting Diaz is welterweight Kevin Holland.

    Who would you want to see Nick Diaz fight next if he decides to fight again?

  • Stephen Thompson Releases Apologetic Statement Following Loss

    Stephen Thompson is sending a message to his fans following his recent loss to Belal Muhammad.

    The welterweight division might have a new contender in the mix. On Saturday night, Belal Muhammad defeated former title contender Stephen Thompson. Muhammad won by unanimous decision and solidified his place as a force in the division.

    As for Thompson, it is unclear where he will go following the loss. Sunday, he released a statement to his fans about his latest performance.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXsFZdFKKS4/

    “I want to apologize to my coaches, my family, and my fans for my performance,” Thompson wrote. “I’m motivated not broken.”

    This is the second loss in a row for Thompson and the fourth out of his last six fights. Prior to the loss, Thompson was sitting in the #5 spot of the rankings. He will most likely move further down the list and further away from another title shot.

    Thompson is 38 years old and has been fighting professionally since 2010. It seems retirement is far from his mind considering his “motivated” statement. Despite the setback, Thompson will continue to fight in the UFC as long as he can. He spoke recently in an interview about wanting to be the oldest fighter on the UFC roster.

    “I want to break records, man. I wanna be the oldest guy who ever fought in the UFC. They are going to have to bring out a senior division or something,” he said. “It’s the plan. I will do this as long as my body will let me or when my dad says I’m done.”

    When Thompson finally decides to hang up his gloves, he will have plenty of other opportunities. He is a martial arts teacher for children at his family gym and has recently been involved in the Netflix Cobra Kai series.

    Who do you want to see Stephen Thompson fight next after his UFC Vegas 45 loss?

  • Sean Strickland Targets Dillashaw In Call For USADA Lifetime Bans

    Sean Strickland is taking aim at all fighters who have failed USADA testing, especially TJ Dillashaw.

    Sean Stickland is a fighter who is constantly in the news for things he says. Whether he is calling out fighters or starting drama, he is not one to hold back. His latest target is on all fighters who have failed drug testing. Strickland went on a Twitter rampage on Thursday to call out for stricter punishments for U.S Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) violations.

    “Only thing @usantidoping is good at is catching broke fighters who can’t afford good shit lol! Steroids should be a lifetime ban,” Strickland wrote. “@TJDillashaw
    is the absolute scum of the earth and should never be allowed to compete I’m the UFC again. You ruined people’s careers you’re scum.”

    Strickland is mentioning TJ Dillashaw by name in his Tweet. Dillashaw has just returned from a two-year suspension after failing a USADA drug test back in 2019. Since the USADA program was instated by the UFC back in 2015, 127 fighters have been handed suspension due to violations, according to the USADA website. Of those 127 fighters, the length of suspensions can range from four months to two years. Some fighters have been simply given a warning.

    Nick Diaz was famously suspended for five years following his drug test failures but that was by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, not USADA. Strickland does not see these timeframes as sufficient enough punishments. He would like to see any fighter testing positive be banned for life. He even went in on Jon Jones as well. When asked about Jones specifically, Strickland responded.

    “Greatest fighter to ever step in the ufc completely erased by doping,” he wrote.

    Jones was suspended by USADA for the use of Clomiphen and Letrozole back 2016. His suspension lasted one year. He was then suspended for 15 months in 2018 for Chlorine-substituted Anabolic Steroid.

    Many fighters will just simply return to fighting following suspension. If it were up to Strickland, that would not be the case. Strickland has also recently targeted middleweight champion Israel Adesanya for what Strickland believes is physical evidence of drug use.

    Do you think UFC fighters should receive harsher punishments for USADA violations?

  • Askarov Calls On Adesanya To Convince “Son” Kara-France To Fight Him

    Askar Askarov is calling for a fight with Kai Kara-France.

    Fresh off his UFC 269 victory, Kai Kara-France is flying high in the UFC flyweight division. He just knocked out former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt and is now looking for a shot at the title. However, while Kara-France has title aspirations, there is someone else who would like to take a shot at him, and that man is Askar Askarov.

    Askarov took to Twitter on Wednesday to make a call out to Kara-France. However, the way that Askarov took his shot was to target middleweight champion and Kara-France’s friend, Israel Adesanya. Now, he is asking Adesanya to get him a shot at Kara-France.

    “@stylebender give your son some encouragement you’re a great champion show him how is done if he can beat me no one can deny him,” Askarov wrote. “@kaikarafrance don’t be chicken.”

    Askarov is currently ranked #2 in the flyweight division. He came into the UFC back in 2019 when he had a split-decision draw with now-champion Brandon Moreno. Since that fight, he has won three in a row and could be on the shortlist of possible title contenders.

    Following his big win at UFC 269, Kara-France is only looking at the title. He wants an immediate shot at Moreno and could be willing to sit out until he gets it. Before appealing to Adesanya for his assistance, Askarov tried to entice Kara-France into a fight directly.

    “@kaikarafrance I want to give you a chance to fight contender fight I am number 2 you are number 6 let’s see if anybody from your country can beat anyone from Dagestan we all know what happened last time,” Askarov wrote.

    It is yet to be seen if this method of matchmaking on the part of Askarov will work. At this time, Kara-France and his team have not responded. However, this fight makes sense for both and could be a possible Fight of the Night contender.

    Do you want to see Askar Askarov take on Kai Kara-France?

  • Dana White Walks Back Claim That No Welterweight Wants Chimaev Fight

    Dana White may have prematurely stated that nobody wants to fight Khamzat Chimaev.

    Dana White’s job is to be a promoter. He is maybe the best fight promoter on the planet, and the way he is able to hype fights and fighters is arguably second to none.

    Lately, he has been riding high on Khamzat Chimaev. The rising welterweight star is looking to be the next big thing in the UFC, and it seems White can get on board with this notion. In fact, White recently came out to claim that no other welterweight on the roster would take a fight with Chmiaev.

    “Khamzat Chimaev is one of the baddest dudes that I’ve ever come across. He is literally willing to fight anyone,” White said to MMA Junkie just a few weeks ago.“Nobody wants to fight this guy. Everybody wants to get out on social media and say this or that. But when it really comes down to it, nobody is trying to fight Khamzat Chimaev. I don’t blame them.”

    This is all well and good to hype up one of the most interesting and fastest-rising fighters on the roster, but his statement was not 100% true. Although many possible opponents have turned down Chimaev, like Nate Diaz, there is one man who has been shouting from the rooftops for a fight with the Swedish powerhouse.

    “And that’s unfair for me to say because that is true. Neil Magny would take that fight today,” White clarified to Daniel Cormier on his YouTube channel.

    Magny has been calling for Chimaev for months. He has been active on Twitter looking for a fight and even had the idea of matching up with him this month. Although that date is no longer possible, now that White has publicly admitted to being aware of Magny’s eagerness, perhaps the fight can finally be put on the books in 2022.

    Do you think Neil Magny would be able to beat Khamzat Chimaev if they are matched up?

  • Henry Cejudo Slams “Mr. King Of The Prelims” Dominick Cruz

    Henry Cejudo is still giving the bantamweight division a hard time, even from retirement.

    The self-proclaimed “King of Cringe” Henry Cejudo is no longer active in the UFC, but that hasn’t stopped him from actively calling out fighters. Cejudo decided to retire from MMA after winning two UFC titles. Now, even though he is on the sidelines, he is still bashing current fighters. His latest target is Dominick Cruz.

    Cejudo took to slamming Cruz following his UFC 269 win. Cruz has mentioned interest in facing Cejudo again after he lost via TKO to the champ back in 2020. Cejudo responded to this call-out on the “The Triple C & Schmo Show.” 

    “Dude, Dominic Cruz, man, take it in the chin just how my knee hit your damn chin,” Cejudo said. (h/t MMA Junkie. “Jesus, man, you absolutely make me sick. This is why we need referees. It’s not like, ‘Oh, let me get beat up, but let me see if these referees, you know, give me the benefit of the doubt.’ Like, no. You put yourself there, you put your face on my knee, and I made you bend the knee. There was 13 unanswered shots. Re-watch it, dude. I literally woke you up.”

    Since the loss to Cejudo, Cruz has won two in a row and is now ranked #7 at bantamweight. As a former champion at 135 pounds, Cruz still holds some clout in the division. He is a legend of the sport and someone fans love to watch.

    Cejudo also took aim at Cruz again on social media recently. He targeted the fact that Cruz’s last two fights were featured on the preliminary portion of the card.

    “Mr. King of the Prelims– Ya snooze, ya lose,” Cejudo wrote. “You had your chance, and you bent those surgically repaired knees. ?? If I decide to come back, I’m fighting @alexvolkanovski first. Triple C ain’t fighting on no damn prelims.”

    Cruz isn’t the only active fighter that Cejudo has been trolling. He is currently looking for a fight with current featherweight champion Alexsander Volkanovski. Cejudo is still training and has been working for two former champions of late, Jon Jones, and Weili Zhang.

    Would you like to see Henry Cejudo and Dominick Cruz face off again?

  • Francis Ngannou Thinks Undefeated Fighters Have A Disadvantage

    Francis Ngannou is not worried about Ciryl Gane’s undefeated status.

    Francis Ngannou is getting ready to face possibly the toughest challenge of his career so far. The UFC heavyweight championship will be unified in January when Ngannou looks to defend his undisputed title against the undefeated interim champion, Ciryl Gane.

    These two have a history between them, from being trained by the same coach to now some beef coming up lately. The one thing that Ngannou isn’t worried about is the fact that Gane has never lost in MMA. He spoke to this point with MMA Junkie recently.

    “Undefeated opponent doesn’t mean anything,” Ngannou said. “For me, I think undefeated just means he has a lack of experience because it’s not the full experience. Losing a fight is a learning process, as well, so if you haven’t (been) there, you can’t understand something. I think that’s the thing. I have fought undefeated fighters before, so it’s not my first time. I know how it is. You can be undefeated, but when you get in that cage it’s just you and your opponent, and nothing matters at that point.”

    Gane burst onto the UFC scene back in 2019 when he was just 3-0 as a professional MMA fighter. He had experience in Muay Thai before making the move to mixed martial arts. In fact, he was undefeated in Muay Thai as well. With seven straight wins in the UFC, Gane is now ready for his undisputed heavyweight title shot. He seems confident in himself and his skills coming into this fight.

    Ngannou was on the same track as Gane is now when he first began rising up the UFC heavyweight ranks. He came to the UFC and blazed a trail through every opponent he faced until he fought for the title in 2018. He lost his very first title shot to Stipe Miocic and then followed that up with a loss to Derrick Lewis. Since those two losses, Ngannou picked himself back up and strung together five wins in a row, including a rematch win over Miocic to win the belt at UFC 260.

    Now, these two will have the chance to settle the score and see who will be crowned the “Baddest Man on the Planet” at UFC 270 on Jan. 22.

    Who do you think will walk away with the heavyweight belt at UFC 270, Francis Ngannou or Ciryl Gane?

  • Dominick Cruz Says He Still Has Faith In Cody Garbrandt At 125lbs

    Dominick Cruz comes to the defense of his former foe Cody Garbrandt following UFC 269.

    UFC 269 was filled with amazing finishes and great performances from top to bottom. Two men who put on a show were Dominick Cruz and Kai Kara-France. Kara-France put a beating on former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt and could have ended his promising run in the flyweight division. Cruz, however, doesn’t believe that the KO should be the end of the road for Garbarandt.

    “I know that Cody is a champion,” Cruz said during UFC 269 post-fight press conference. “Obviously, in his heart and mind. I think he will get back on track. He is still very young. Cutting down to 125 is, I don’t even know how that’s possible for him, but he made it work and he said it was easy so I think he’ll be fine. Just give the guy some time and let him find his bearings with his team or whatever he needs to find. I got nothing but faith in the guy.”

    There is a history between these two. Back in 2016, it was Grabrandt that defeated Cruz and took away his bantamweight belt. There was quite a bit of animosity between the two of them leading up to the fight. During the fight, it was clear that Garbrandt was quite comfortable and began mocking Cruz with dance moves. Now, five years later, Cruz, coming off a win at 135 pounds, is coming to the defense of Garbrandt, who is now riding a two-fight losing streak.

    Garbrandt decided to make the move down to 125 pounds in order to try his hand at another title. Now with the loss to Kara-France, the future is unknown for Garbrandt. Curz believes that he could still continue at flyweight, but perhaps he will move back up and find himself face to face with Cruz once more.

    Do you think Cody Garbrandt should remain at flyweight desire his loss to Kai Kara-France?

  • Eagle FC’s US Debut Gets Main Event Replacement With Bigfoot Missing

    Khabib Nurmagomedov’s MMA promotion Eagle FC will debut in the U.S with a few former UFC fighters.

    Following his retirement from MMA competition in 2019, Khabib Nurmagomedov hasn’t strayed too far from the sport. He is still coaching the next wave of Dagestani fighters and has even opened his own MMA fight promotion. His Eagle FC is based out of Russia but is planning to begin holding shows in the United States next year. The very first event already has a location in Miami FL, and now has a headliner.

    As first reported by ESPN, former UFC heavyweight Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva was scheduled to take on Tyrone Spong in the main event. However, Silva will no longer be taking part in the event and has been replaced by Russian heavyweight Sergei Kharitonov (30-8) to face Spong.

    Silva, who is 42 years old, has not won an MMA bout of any kind since 2015. Although he has still been active he has now lost six in a row, five of which were by KO or TKO. Silva’s last fight was in June against Quentin Domingos for Megdan Fighting.

    Nurmagomedov promised that he would be bringing Eagle FC to the States and with it some former UFC and Bellator athletes. Former UFC lightweight champion Rashad Evans will also be competing on the card.

    Evans will be coming out of retirement for this Eagle FC card. He will be fighting at Lightheavyweight according to MMA Junkie. His opponent is not determined at this time.

    Towards the end of Evans’ UFC career, he was on a five-fight losing streak against top opponents.  His last bout was a 53-second knockout loss to Anthony Smith at UFC 225. Following his retirement, the former light heavyweight champ was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.

    This Eagle FC event will be taking place on Jan. 28 at FLX Arena in Miami, FL. The event will be shown on UFC Fight Pass.

    Will you be tuning in to watch Eagle FC on Jan. 28?

  • Sean O’Malley Says Fight With Yan Would Be The Biggest In BW History

    Sean O’Malley is already sure he will have a shot at the bantamweight title.

    Sean O’Malley might be the most popular man in the UFC bantamweight division. His personality and style have earned him a large fanbase. Although he is not yet ranked in the stacked division, he knows that he will fight for the title one day. If he has his way, that title fight will be against Petr Yan, the current interim champ.

    “I’m gonna fight for the title, 100%,” O’Malley told BT Sports. “I’m gonna beat the guys I need to beat to fight for the title, and it’s gonna be me vs. Petr. I truly believe that will be the biggest fight in bantamweight history.”

    O’Malley has been on a roll since coming to the UFC. His debut of the Dana White’s Contender Series immediately turned heads. He was awarded a contract and jumped into the difficult bantamweight division with both feet. He stacked up four wins in a row before suffering his first loss. Now with a two-fight win streak under him, O’Malley is looking to take on Raulian Paiva at UFC 269.

    O’Malley may not be fighting ranked opponents yet, but he is certainly ready to call them out. He has been calling for a rematch with the one man to hand him a loss, Marlon Vera. He has also recently beefed with former champion Cody Garbrandt. Although Garbrandt is now at flyweight, O’Malley is still looking for that fight and the two were involved in a near altercation at the UFC 269 media day.

    Talking will only get O’Malley so far in the UFC. He must show that he is ready for ranked opponents before looking for his ideal title fight against Yan. UFC president Dana White claims that O’Malley isn’t quite ready for the top fifteen just yet. Also, Yan will have to beat Aljamain Sterling to solidify his championship status. A lot must go right for O’Malley to get his wish, but down the road a bit it could be possible.

    Do you think O’Malley will ever fight for the bantamweight title?

  • Dana White: UFC Fighters Make More Than Most Boxers

    Dana White is defending the pay scale of his UFC fighters.

    Dana White is once again having to defend fighter pay. This topic has been at the forefront of many conversations lately. White and the UFC have been accused of not paying the fighters well enough. Many fighters have spoken out about wanting to be paid more or insinuating that boxers are in the higher pay bracket. White stated his case in a recent interview with Yahoo Sports.

    “Yeah, definitely. Listen, when you talk about the elite, I’m putting on 44 fights in a year, right? And people are buying these pay-per-views, you know. 13 or 14 a year, watching all the other ones building, whatever. Then, when you look at what most of these guys make, most UFC fighters make more than boxers, okay?” White told Yahoo Sports.

    “Most UFC fighters make more than boxers, especially at a lower level. Then, the guys, you know, the Khabibs, the Conors, the Rondas, you know, even the Jon Jones’, these guys make more than most of these guys that are fighting for big title fights. Don’t believe the bull***t. Don’t believe all the stuff you hear. These guys make a lot of money.”

    It is commonly the prelim or lesser-known athletes that have been asking for money. It isn’t unusual for a fighter to call out White after a fight for a performance bonus, or cite that they have a very low bank account balance leading up to a fight. However, it is not always the up-and-comers who are unhappy with pay. Jon Jones was pubically asking to be paid what the high-level boxers get paid.

    “You have these scumbags out there that know nothing about the business telling all the fighters, ‘Oh you are all being underpaid. You are not being paid enough money. You are not this.’ It goes on every f–king day. They literally know nothing about the business, or the pay, or how any of this st works. It’s all part of the game.”

    Jake Paul is one of the people advocating for MMA fighter’s pay raises. He claims he is paying former UFC fighters much more than they were making while with the company. Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley both have claimed top paydays when fighting Paul.

    Who do you think makes more money at the highest level, UFC fighters or boxers?

  • Amanda Nunes Knows She Has All The Answers For ‘Delusional’ Peña

    Amanda Nunes isn’t letting Julianna Peña’s trash talk get to her.

    Amanda Nunes is on the top of many people’s “Greatest of all Time” lists. She is the current two-division champ and has beaten some of the best the UFC has ever had to offer. She now is preparing for her sixth bantamweight title defense against Julianna Peña. Peña has been very confident heading into this match up but that doesn’t seem to be phasing Nunes at all.

    “She’s delusional,” Nunes told MMA Junkie. “What about her best friend, Miesha Tate? What about Sara McMann? Sara McMann almost beat her. Sara McMann give up in the fight. If she didn’t give up, she would’ve beat Julianna. I beat Sara McMann years ago. I feel like she can talk about whatever she wants. She has to do that to bring all the attention. I’m going to tell her she can have all the attention she wants because Saturday is my night. Nobody is going to take that belt from me.”

    Peña is 2-2 in her last four fights, whereas Nunes has won 12 in a row in two different divisions. Nunes believes she has the answers for Peña no matter where the fight goes. Peña has scored only one submission victory since coming to the UFC and has won two fights by TKO in that time.

    “She has all the holes, so I can finish her on the floor,” Nunes said. “Germaine (de Randamie) finished her. Germaine is a striker and finished Julianna Pena. My game is above all those girls she fought. I just need a mistake from her on the striking or on the floor.”

    Nunes vs. Peña will serve as the co-main event on the stacked UFC 269 card. If Peña can win it will be the first time the bantamweight title has changed hands since 2016. Peña believes she can be the one to finally dethrone “The Lioness”.

    Do you think Julianna Peña has what it takes to get past Amanda Nunes and win the belt at UFC 269?

  • Cody Garbrandt Is Willing To Be The Backup For Flyweight Title Fight

    Cody Garbrandt is willing to serve as a backup once his UFC 269 fight is finished.

    Cody Garbrandt knows what it is like to have that UFC belt wrapped around his waist. The former bantamweight champion is now looking to add another belt to his mantle. Garbrandt decided to make the drop-down to flyweight and will be making his divisional debut this Saturday at UFC 269. Even though this is s huge moment for him, he can’t help but be ready for another opportunity.

    During UFC 269 fight week Garbrandt was asked if he would be willing to be on hand and serve as the backup fighter for the upcoming title bout between champion Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo. This is what he told reporters during a media scrum.

    “Oh, 100%. That’s what I told Dana, well not Dana, but I was speaking to some media prior to coming here and I said, ‘Hey, we might, on Monday morning, walk in the office and do some business.’ So if that’s what they want me to do,” Garbrandt explained. “Like I said, first and foremost I’m focused on Kai Kara-France and mauling him on Saturday night, and letting the rest fall into place.”

    Garbrandt will be taking on #6-ranked Kai Kara-France at UFC 269. Kara-France has been making his way up the flyweight division since he joined the UFC back in 2018. If Garbrandt can pull out the win against the tough New Zealander, he could find himself in the top five and in a good position to fight for the title very soon. His resume as a former champ will help his case when asking for a title shot and being the backup is a good position to be in.

    In the past, Figueiredo has seemed to have trouble making the 125-pound flyweight championship weight limit. If he were to miss weight and Garbrandt was on hand he could get the shot he is looking for. Either way, Garbrandt needs a win on Saturday and to come out to the bout without injury. Moreno and Figueiredo are set to clash for the third time at UFC 270.

    Do you think Garbrandt has what it takes to win UFC gold in the flyweight division?

  • Jake Paul Says He Should Make Fury Fight To 25-0 For Same Payday

    Jake Paul is not giving any sympathy to Tommy Fury after their fight cancellation.

    The scheduled bout between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury has been canceled due to an injury suffered by Fury. Stepping in to take his spot is former UFC champion, Tyron Woodley. This fight between these two will be a rematch of last August’s bout. Paul is not happy with Fury or the way he handled himself throughout the fight preparation period.

    Paul was asked by MMA Junkie if Fury’s actions would affect Paul’s likelihood of fighting him again. Paul had this to say.

    “It does, it really does. He didn’t show up to the press conference and he pulled out of the fight. He’s done a terrible job at promoting the fight that we had,” he said. “He posted on social media like once every other week. He’s not as hype as everyone thought. I’m pissed off now.”

    Paul and his brother Logan are at the pinnacle of boxing fandom. They are making big money and a fight with them is very lucrative for their opponents. Paul is reluctant to offer this opportunity to Fury again after he pulled out two weeks before the fight. he names one condition he has to contemplate making the rescheduling of this fight.

    “I don’t like them, I don’t like anything to do with that family. I think they’re sketchy, I think they’re shady, I don’t see really a reason to come back next year and give him that big of an opportunity or that big of a payday,” he explained. “It would almost be more fun and more satisfying to leave him in the dust. Make him fight until he is 25-0 if he gets that far, to get the same payday that he was getting in his eighth fight.”

    Now that Woodley is back in the ring with Paul, he has the opportunity to make the big money. He mentioned in the leadup to their last fight that he was making more than he did in the UFC. Now, there is a clause that if he knocks out Paul he will receive an additional $500,000. Paul has not suffered a loss yet in his short professional career.

    Do you want to see Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury rescheduled at some point?

  • Oliveira On The Opinion Of Khabib, ‘I Don’t Really Care About What He Has To Say’

    Charles Oliveira isn’t listening to the haters coming into UFC 269.

    Charles Oliveira is heading into his first UFC title defense. He will be taking on Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 269 on Dec. 11. Heading into this bout many fans and fighters are picking Poirier.

    In the past few years, Poirier has proven himself as one of the best to have ever competed in the lightweight division. However, all this chatter doesn’t affect Oliveira, who at this time knows he is the best (h/t MiddleEasy).

    “I don’t really care about this talk,” Oliveira told The Schmo. “People can think whatever they want. Every time someone tells me I’m gonna lose I go there and prove them that they’re wrong and I get the W.”

    Of all the talk against him, one voice may be standing out the loudest. Former champ Khabib Nurmagomedov announced publically that he is picking Poirier to win on Saturday night. This kind of criticism is not going to keep Oliveira up at night. He spoke out about the statement made by his predecessor.

    “To be honest, I don’t care what Khabib says,” Oliveira explained. “He can say whatever he wants. He’s retired now so I don’t really care about what he has to say.”

    Oliveira’s confidence in himself is based on his recent skills inside the Octagon. He has not lost a bout since 2018. His current winning streak of nine is the longest in the division. He has faced some of the best the UFC has to offer during this run and has finished the likes of Michael Chandler and Kevin Lee.

    Who do you think will walk away with the belt around their waist on Saturday night, Charles Oliveira or Dustin Poirier?

  • Raulian Paiva Believes He Will Make O’Malley “Wimp Out” At UFC 269

    Raulian Paiva feels he knows the way to beat Sean O’Malley at UFC 269.

    There is an exciting bantamweight matchup on the card this weekend at UFC 269. Sean O’Malley will be taking on Raulian Paiva on the main card portion of the event. O’Malley has been successful at making himself known in the MMA world. He is a fan favorite both inside the cage and out. However, his opponent Paiva feels that he may be too much show and not enough fight.

    Paiva spoke to MMA Fighting a bit about his game plan coming into this bout against O’Malley, and how he feels he can be victorious.

    “He lost when he fought a top fighter. Marlon Vera is very experienced, has many fights in the UFC, he put pressure over him and that’s it,” Paiva said. “He wimped out, got desperate and that happened, he got TKO’d. … There are fighters that only know how to hit but drop in performance when they are under pressure, and that’s what I see in O’Malley.

    Paiva came to the UFC in 2019 after a win on The Dana White Contender Series. He has now won three in a row, most recently a decision victory over Kyler Phillips in July. O’Malley has had a similar journey as Paiva. He was awarded a contract on DWCS and has now only lost one fight in the UFC. Despite his stellar record, Paiva sees holes in O’Malley’s game and plans to expose them.

    “If you give him space he’ll do his thing, but he’ll start to get desperate and make mistakes more and more if you don’t give him space,” Paiva said. “That’s basically what I’ll do. I’ll make him make mistakes at his own game. I’m going there to pressure him from the first to the third round, if we get to the third round.”

    UFC 269 takes place on Dec. 11 live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

    Do you think Raulian Paiva’s game plan for defeating Sean O’Malley will work at UFc 269?

  • Julianna Peña: “I Don’t Give An F” About Your Predictions

    As Julianna Peña prepares for her upcoming UFC title bout she isn’t listening to the haters.

    Julianna Peña has a date set for her first shot at the UFC bantamweight title. She will be taking on Amanda Nunes this weekend at the UFC 269 event. Peña has come a long way since she first got her start in the UFC as a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter, but she believes that people are not giving her the credit she deserves.

    “Nobody is counting me in as far as winning the fight. Everybody’s against me. No one is rooting for me,” Peña told Ariel Helwani of The MMA Hour. “And literally, the whole world, it feels like, is against me. And that’s just kind of the way that it’s always been for me. It’s like everybody has always counted me out. They counted me out on The Ultimate Fighter. They’ve counted me out my entire career. No one ever takes me seriously. They’re willing to lose, but they don’t want to lose to me. And I just think that you cannot let what these people say get to you.”

    Peña has a lot to be proud of so far in her MMA career. She was the first female to win The Ultimate Fighter and has gone on to have a great UFC career. She is the #1 contender in the bantamweight division and after taking some time off to give birth to her daughter, has risen back up to secure a fight against Nunes. Peña is outspoken and isn’t one to hold back her feelings. She isn’t taking any hate in from the media of fans in the lead-up to this fight.

    “If I paid attention to every negative thing that somebody said, I would have needed to jump out of a window a long time ago,” Peña explained. “You gotta have thick skin in this business. And what you think or what this person thinks or Joe Blow or this guy and that, it’s none of my business. I know what I can do. I know what I’m capable of doing. And what you think about me is none of my business. I don’t give an F what other people think. It’s what I know and what’s in my heart. And in my heart and what I know is: I’m a champion, and I’m gonna be a champion, and I am the champion.”

    Peña has a tough test ahead of her as she looks to dethrone Nunes. Nunes hasn’t lost a bout in seven years. She currently holds the belt in two divisions and has taken out some of the best female fighters in history, including Cris Cyborg, Ronda Rousey, and Miesha Tate.

    Do you think Julianna Peña will have what it takes to defeat Amanda Nunes at UFC 269?

  • Kavanagh Says Potential McGregor/Diaz Trilogy Gives Him ‘Nightmares’

    John Kavanagh and Conor McGregor are planning a comeback but against who?

    Conor McGregor is currently sidelined with a leg injury. Although his timeline for return is not yet specified, he is still talking about his plan of attack. McGregor has stated that he would like to fight for the belt when he is ready to get back in the cage.

    However, his head coach John Kavanagh might have some more realistic ideas. Kavanagh sat down with Ariel Helwani of The MMA Hour to discuss options (h/t MMA Fighting).

    “I’ll be honest, the Nate Diaz trilogy is very, very tempting,” Kavanagh said. “It’s a fight that gives me nightmares. The man doesn’t stop coming forward, whether it’s three rounds or five rounds, but it’s an intriguing fight. So that one is definitely very interesting. But also the Tony Ferguson one — it never happened. It was talked about a lot. And Tony still has, I believe, a lot to offer the game. He’s a very unorthodox striker, grappler. I think the buildup would be fun for the fans. So any of those kind of legacy guys.”

    McGregor is the most wanted fighter on the UFc roster. He is constantly being called out by fighters, both in his division and out. He will most likely have his choice of who he wants to fight when he is ready. The only exception could be whoever is holding the belt when that time comes.

    Champion Charles Oliveira and Duston Poirier will be battling it out to see who is the king at 155 pounds on Dec. 11. Whoever wins would probably like to face McGregor next, but now McGregor has lost two in a row and the next shot was already promised to Justin Gaethje. That hasn’t stopped McGregor from dreaming about redemption.

    “We’re still chatting about fighting techniques, all day, every day. He’s still talking about getting that belt again, all day, every day. What can you conclude from this? He loves fighting. He loves mixed martial arts. He loves competition. So let’s get back healthy, let’s get back training, and let’s go on a run in ‘22, and I’m sure there’s some people there with steam coming out of their ears that he’s coming back for that belt, but I’m sorry to upset you — he’s coming back there for that belt, so give me your best shot on Twitter.”

    Who do you want to see Conor McGregor face in his return fight?

  • Amanda Nunes Wants The UFC To Freshen Up ‘Stale’ Division

    Amanda Nunes wants the UFC to shake things up.

    As the champion of both the bantamweight and featherweight divisions, Amanda Nunes has a lot on her plate. She must defend both belts and keep both divisions moving along at a good pace. However, although both belts rest on her shoulders, there is only so much she can do to keep things exciting. Nunes wants the UFC to do something to allow for a more mixed bag of possible opponents.

    “I think we should go out of the mix.” Nunes told Esporte Espetacular. “Some girls have been fighting for a while now, they’re not even top 10 or top 5. They need to have their shots, too. I don’t pick opponents. If I have to fight Germaine, Holly, or anyone, I will, but I think the fans want something new. You have to mix things up. Make some girls face each other, bring some girls who are the bottom of the division, so it doesn’t look so stale like it is.”

    In Nunes’ last 12 bouts she is undefeated at both weight classes. Many of the ladies she has fought are still in the top five of the division and have been working their way back up to title shots. Nunes is calling for the UFC to create more exciting matchups and give the bantamweight division a shakeup. As for the featherweight division, there still aren’t many options or fighters available.

    “I’m always ready to give the fans what they want.” Nunes continued. “A knockout or a submission, a high-paced fight. I think the UFC should shake things up in the division. Look for new talent and maybe bring more girls from other promotions. That’s what we’re waiting for.”

    Nunes is the #1 pound-for-pound female fighter on the planet. At the pace she is going, it looks like she will remain there until she decides to hang up her gloves for good.

    In the meantime, she is using her position at the top and her influence to help get both divisions up and running and allow for more fighters to have the shots they deserve. Nunes will keep doing her job of knocking them down one by one when they do receive that title shot, up next will be Julianna Pena at UFC 269.

    Do you think Nunes will lose again in her tenure as UFC champ?

  • Jake Paul Put Up 500K KO Bonus To Woodley To End Fraud Rumors

    Jake Paul is putting up some incentive to stop the rumors.

    Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley are officially running it back. Woodley is stepping back into the ring with Paul after Paul’s original opponent, Tommy Fury, was injured. Paul already beat Woodley in their first outing and vowed never to rematch him again.

    However, here they are getting ready to battle again. After the first fight, people accused Paul of fixing his fights, with one rumor stating that it was in Woodley’s contract that he couldn’t KO Paul. So instead, they believe Woodley held back after having Paul on the ropes.

    Tyron Woodley Jake Paul
    (via Amanda Wescott/Showtime)

    To put an end to these rumors, Paul has decided to sweeten Woodley’s deal.

    “You know, there’s rumors going around that everyone has come to believe that my fights are rigged or that I don’t allow my opponents to knock me out in the contracts, and it’s just not true,” Paul said on The MMA Hour. “It’s completely bullshit. Of course, all these people are gonna do is try to discredit me because when you’re at the top, that’s what happens. So I just want to nip the rumors in the (bud) and give my opponent contractual—contractually, I’m giving Tyron an extra $500,000 if he can knock me out.”

    Paul is a YouTuber turned boxer. He has been known as a joker but seems to be taking his boxing career very seriously. He has had high praise from some reputable fighters recently. He has now won four boxing matches and is looking for his fifth. Despite the doubts from fans, Paul is claiming everything is on the up and up, and the 500K bonus proves that.

    “So it just nips the rumors in the (bud) and shows that all of my fights have been real, all real, and will continue to be real. It’s illegal to rig a fight or to stage a fight. It’s illegal to have things like that because it’s fraud. You can’t change the outcome of a professionally sanctioned bout. It’s illegal. You’ll end up in jail. So the fact that people even say this, we just wanted to squash the rumors.”

    Woodley is, of course, a former UFC champion and not necessarily known as a boxer. Although he lost the first outing, he has been campaigning for the rematch ever since. He feels he can defeat Paul in a second go at it.

    Paul vs. Woodley will take place on Dec. 18 in Tampa Bay, FL.

    Do you think Woodley can pull off the win and the KO for the extra $500,000?

  • Sonnen: Shame On UFC Welterweights For Being Scared Of Chimaev

    Chael Sonnen has his opinion on the UFC welterweights who turn down a fight with Khamzat Chimaev.

    Up and coming star Khamzat Chimaev has been quickly rising up the UFC welterweight ranks. He is looking for a fight with any possible top opponent. He has been calling them out on social media but has not gotten much response. Chael Sonnen has his ideas about the nature of the fight business and feels that perhaps Chimaev’s reputation is what’s keeping opponents from running to the cage against him.

    “There’s a lot of ways to beat a guy, but if you can do it psychologically and you never have to get out there,” Sonnen explained on his Beyond the Fight show. “Dan Henderson had a great line one time, which is Dan was in a bar with somebody, and the guy said, ‘Hey, Dan. If I get in some trouble, you know, will you walk over there, beat this guy down for me?’ And Dan simply said, ‘Why do I need to beat him down when I can stare him down?’ And that rule of life doesn’t go away.”

    Sonnen may be implying that Chimaev’s last few performances have been scaring away his opponents. Since coming to the UFC he has had four fights, all of which were finishes, two KO’s, and two submissions. In just one year, he has risen to number 11 in the rankings. Now, he is trying to call out opponents in the top five, which may be why he is not getting a response, however, Sonnen thinks he is doing the right thing.

    “You can stare a guy down, and he backs down; it is the art of war because the great generals never fire a shot,” Sonnen said. “They don’t need to. They align their troops and make the other people retreat. And if Chimaev is successfully doing that – If less than 20 minutes of action, three double-legs, a rear-naked choke, and a left hook – If that’s going to scare an entire division away in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, then shame on them. Fair play by Chimaev.”

    Sonnen was a big trash talker in his fighting days. He could almost defeat opponents before even facing them by getting in their heads. If he feels Chimaev is planning a similar sort of game plan, then he could be sitting on the sidelines for some time. However, in this day and age, money talks, and maybe the UFC will have to pay up to get a top welterweight to step in against “Borz.”

    Who do you want to see take on Khamzat Chimaev next?

  • Georges St-Pierre Explains Why He Thinks Edwards Was Denied Title Shot

    Georges St-Pierre has given his thoughts on the landscape of the UFC welterweight division.

    The state of the UFC welterweight division is far from black and white at the moment. A few different scenarios have been going around lately and with a few fighters injured things could be up in the air for a while longer. One man who ruled the top of the division some time ago has his thoughts on how things should play out, that man is Georges St-Pierre.

    St-Pierre is currently retired and has a unique view of the division from the outside. He feels that number one contender Leon Edwards should be next for the title shot. he explained his reasoning behind these thoughts in an interview with BT Sports.

    “He deserves the shot. It’s unfortunate for him [that he hasn’t had it yet]. I think it’s because of the way that the Nate Diaz fight ended,” St-Pierre said. “But it happens to everybody, sometimes you get clipped. You don’t see a punch coming, you zig when you should have zagged. He did the perfect fight until that moment.”

    Champion Kamaru Usman recently defeated Colby Covington, and will need some time off with family and to heal up. In the meantime, Edwards was scheduled to face Jorge Masvidal, but that fight fell through when Masvidal suffered an injury. This leaves Edwards in a tough place. He could very well wait until Usman is ready and then get that title shot, or he could fight someone else and possibly lose out.

    “He deserves a shot, you know. You’re in the fight business, at one point you’re going to take a shot and you might get rocked. He showed incredible heart and I think he is ready for a title shot,” St-Pierre said. “But the UFC runs a business, they make money. Of course, there’s a story with Leon and [Jorge] Masvidal and as a fan, I’m curious to see what was going to happen between them as well.”

    Dana White has said that he and the UFC are looking to make something happen for Edwards. He wasn’t specific but it could be another matchup for a title eliminator matchup. The timeline for Usman’s return was not specified, but Edwards has been known to sit out for long periods of time.

    Do you agree with GSP, should Leon Edwards just get the next title shot without another fight?

  • Chandler: I Never Want To Fight Like At UFC 268 Ever Again

    Michael Chandler has learned his lesson following UFC 268.

    Michael Chandler and Justin Gaethje put on a Fight of the Year contender at UFC 268, but it was too much for Chandler. The main card opening bout went the entire three-round distance.

    Gaethje and Chandler went hard and took just as much damage as they gave. Both men were transported to the hospital following the fight. Now a month removed, Chandler is reflecting back on the war.

    “I don’t want to fight that way ever again, but 95% of the fight was just a good ol’ fashioned passionate scrap, you know?” Chandler explained on the Bussin’ With The Boys Youtube channel. “5% of it was a little bit of, ‘Dude, what are you doing, man?’ Of course, I’ve gotten criticism like, ‘Hey, if you would have been a little more tactical and not try to put on a show, you would have won the fight.”

    Following the loss, Chandler has been open about his performance and the damage he took in the fight. She shared a wholesome video of himself explaining to his son why he looked the way he did following the fight. Chandler has publically gone over details of the fight, and although it didn’t go his way, he is proud of his performance.

    “But truthfully, I’m not just saying this. This sounds like something a loser of a fight would say,” Chandler said. “But it’s very genuine when I say it was the first time in my career Mike Beltran, the referee, grabbed my wrist, and it was that moment when I was about to get my hand raised or keep it down while my opponent got his hand raised or kept it down. And at that moment, when he grabbed my wrist, I was like, ‘Oh, shoot. There’s gonna be a winner and a loser right now.’ First time in my life.’”

    Chandler is currently healing up and assessing his next move. He has been targeting a fight with Conor McGregor. Whatever his next move is, Chandler still holds Gaethje in high regard, and perhaps we will see these two fight again one day, however, it should be different the next time around.

    Do you think the UFC 268 bout between Michael Chandler and Justin Gaethje is the best fight of the year?

  • Michael Bisping Explains How Commentators Affect The Judges’ Decisions

    Michael Bisping is revealing some trade secrets from inside the UFC APEX.

    Since last year the UFC has held the majority of the events inside the small UFC APEX Center. The intimate location allowed the UFC to safely hold events throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. With no fans allowed, the first thing many noticed was how quiet it was during the live fights. The question that began to rise was did that quiet have an effect on the outcome of the fight?

    Michael Bisping has been cage side for many of these APEX fights and feels that the commentary, his included, could sway the decisions of the judges. He spoke about this on his Believe You Me Podcast.

    “So there is a potential for that. However, if the judge was good at his job and had his own opinion and if he had a strong mind, confidence in his pick, confidence in his opinion,” Bisping explained. “If he knew the sport and he was breaking it down then he should ignore us anyway. But I guess we are all human beings. You know what I mean.”

    Bisping became a color commentator for the UFC back in 2018 following a long fight career. He is outspoken on the mic and likes to air his opinions. Since the UFC Apex began to house these events some fighters claimed that they could hear the broadcast team and that they made some adjustments accordingly. If the fighters can hear then probably so can everyone else.

    “If you are torn between, ‘oh, I’m not sure, it was close, this guy, that guy’. And DC [Daniel Cormier] arguing the takedown and I’m like, ‘Well no, he got back to his feet’. And he hears that, hey listen, judges are human beings,” Bisping continued. “I don’t know, that’s a really interesting question. The judges are kind of far from us. But still I would assume in the early days, now I feel that that’s eradicated. There’s a bit of a crowd, there’s more atmosphere, it is louder.”

    Lately, a few fighters have been called out for biased commentary. Among those who were blamed were Daniel Cormier, Paul Felder, and Joe Rogan. As a former fighter, there are bound to be certain feelings towards the other fighters. Either they have fought one another or maybe trained together. In the end, commentators are there to give info during the fight. The judges should be making their own decisions without influence.

    Do you think the judges are being influenced by what the commentary team is saying?

  • Israel Adesanya Lends His Voice To A Netflix Anime Show

    Israel Adesanya is looking to branch out from fighting into anime.

    The UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya seems almost unstoppable inside the Octagon. He has not lost a fight in his own division since he began fighting professionally. His only MMA career blemish was to Jan Blachowicz at light heavyweight. With so much dominance, what could be left for Adesanya? Well, he is now looking for success outside the UFC, in voiceover work specifically.

    Adesanya will be lending his voice to a Netflix anime character from the series Baki Hanma. Adesanya is known for his interest in anime. He is constantly seen using the poses of his favorite characters and dressing in the styles from his favorite show. He spoke out a bit about how he feels about anime in general and how he feels he has brought the fanbase to the sport of MMA.

    “I feel like I’ve played a part in the rise of anime in sports over the last few years,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel (via MMA Junkie). “I feel like I have because I express myself authentically. …Those who knew about anime, they were like, ‘Damn, this a real ninja.’ It’s what every anime fan tries to emulate.”

    Adesanya is outspoken inside and outside of the cage. He isn’t shy on social media or standing up for a cause. He will now get a chance to use his voice for something that is special to him. He will be featured on the Netflix anime series Baki Hanma and will be the voice for a character named Chamomile Lessen.

    “I got offered to play a character in the series and I had to jump on it,” Adesanya said. “For me, voiceover work is my sh*t. I’m good at different accents, different tones, different languages, different vibes. I’m a man of the people. …This was my first dip. My foot in the door, if you will, in voiceover work, and yeah, I had fun.”

    It is important for UFC fighters to have a “side hustle.” Many other champions have been seen branching out and starting businesses in different fields. With an ever-growing discussion about fighter pay and longevity, Adesanya adding to his skills set outside of MMA is a plus.

    What do you think of Israel Adesanya’s foray into the world of anime voice acting?