MMA News

Author: Nicole Bosco

  • Kris Moutinho vs. Guido Cannetti In The Works For March

    A very exciting bantamweight matchup is in the works for March.

    The UFC is beginning to book their spring events already and a top matchup between an exciting newbie and a battle-tested vet is in the works. A bantamweight matchup between Kris Moutinho and Guido Cannetti has been confirmed by MMA Junkie. The bout is being discussed for the March 12 UFC Fight Night card.

    Moutinho made his UFC debut in July against Sean O’Malley. Although he lost that bout, he gained popularity due to his heart and fighting style along with his toughness. Moutinho is a product of Cage Fury Fighting Championship, a regional MMA organization out of the east coast that has produced many great UFC fighters over the years.

    Moutinho was linked to a possible bout against Aaron Phillips for October but was forced out of that fight with an injury. Now he will take on the 41-year-old Cannetti in March.

    Cannetti has been in the UFC since 2014. Cannetti fought twice for the promotion before being suspended for a failed USADA drug test. He returned in 2018 but has only won one fight since that time. He has lost his last three UFC bouts to Marlon Vera, Danaa Batgerel, and Mana Martinez. He will have his hands full with the young up-and-coming Moutinho.

    The rest of the fight card for this March 12 event is yet to be determined. The only other bout slated for the event is a light heavyweight matchup between Thiago Santos and Magomed Ankalaev. The location of the event has not been announced as of yet but should be in Las Vegas at the UFC Apex.

    How do you think will have their hand raised on March 12, Kris Moutinho or Guido Cannetti?

  • Felicia Spencer Announces Her Retirement From MMA

    Former Invicta featherweight champion Felicia Spencer is calling it a career.

    Felicia Spencer is getting ready to move on away from the fighting life. After six years as a professional fighter, Spencer has decided to announce her retirement from MMA. Spencer cited family and taking care of her mental health as some of the reasons when she spoke in an interview with Fight Bananas (h/t MMA Junkie).

    “I have decided to stop pursuing this opportunity and have no intention to continue fighting,” Spencer said. “I felt as good as I’ve ever been in my last fight and know I could have more great performances. But after 18 fights, including a few wars, I know in my heart for my future mental health that I shouldn’t be in more of those wars.

    “In the fight game, that isn’t guaranteed, and I’ve shown myself that I won’t give up in the cage, so I need to protect myself by just not stepping in there. I’m thinking about myself and family 25 years from now. Mental health is an important consideration in my family.”

    Spencer came to the UFC in 2019 and added some much-needed talent to the small featherweight division. After a loss to Cris Cyborg, she earned her way back up the ranks and eventually got a title shot against champ Amanda Nunes. That fight didn’t go Spencer’s way but she did take the Nunes to the distance. Spencer’s last bout in the UFC was a win over Leah Letson just a few weeks ago.

    Spencer was a staple of the featherweight division. The featherweight division is by far the smallest in the UFC, so much so that there are not even a top 15 listed in the rankings. With the departure of Spencer, this already minuscule division has shrunk and perhaps could be eliminated in the future. After the past few years, many of the ladies in the division have been released or moved down to bantamweight.

    What was your favorite moment of Felicia Spencer’s MMA career?

  • Dana White Has ‘Something’ In Mind For Leon Edwards

    Dana White reveals he might have an idea for Leon Edwards.

    The welterweight title picture seemed pretty clear for a bit. Kamaru Usman beat Colby Covington for the second time and Leon Edwards was going to fight Jorge Masvidal for the next contender spot. Although, now that Jorge Masvidal is injured, that could leave Edwards hanging in the balance. However, UFC president Dana White might have an idea up his sleeve.

    “JUST IN: Per Dana White, the UFC is currently ‘working on something’ for Leon Edwards following Jorge Masvidal’s withdrawal from their grudge match. Will be interesting to see what that is as White also said they won’t look to book champ Kamaru Usman until his hand is better.”

    According to MMA reporter Chisanga Malata, White has a plan for Edwards. However, with Usman out for an undisclosed amount of time, it could be interesting to see what is in store for him. He had been very adamant about only wanting a title shot even before he accepted the Masvidal fight. Now with Masvidal out, he has gone back to requiring the next title shot.

    Edwards has had ten fights in a row without a loss. He did have a no-contest thrown in there after an accidental eye poke on Belal Muhammad. Many believed his last win over Nate Diaz in June should have sealed the deal on a title shot.

    Possible opponents for Edwards could include Gilbert Burns, who has been asking for a shot at him but is reportedly in talks to fight Khamzat Chimaev. Vicente Luque has also been asking for a fight against Edwards. Or perhaps it could something completely out of the ballpark, like Nick Diaz. Either way, Edwards could refuse all offers and sit and wait for Usman after all.

    What do you want to see next for Leon Edwards?

  • Aspen Ladd Is Heading Back To Bantamweight, Wants Miesha Tate Next

    Aspen Ladd has her sights set on a return to bantamweight.

    The past few months have been a bit drama-filled for UFC’s Aspen Ladd. She missed weight, made weight in another division, made some enemies, and lost a fight. Now, she is in the process of getting herself back on track and she has a good idea of where she would like to head next, back to bantamweight and against Miesha Tate.

    Ladd confirmed to MMA Junkie that she will “definitely” be returning to the bantamweight division. Her last bout was a one-off at featherweight against Norma Dumont in October. She lost that bout just a week after she missed weight for her originally scheduled bout against Macy Chiasson.

    One of the loudest critics when she missed weight was the former champion, Miesha Tate. Tate also spoke on the harsh cornering Ladd received from her coach, Jim West. Tate stated that she knows from personal experience the problems that could arise from a fighter and coach dating.

    “I think she’s definitely stirred the pot quite a bit,” Ladd said of Tate. “We all have life experiences, right? But without knowing what’s happened to another person, you can’t just apply, like, your triggers and what’s wrong with you to them. She has a tendency to see the world through what’s happened to her in the past.”

    Tate spoke out on Ladd’s professionalism on the scale. Tate accused Ladd of cheating and began a Twitter feud with her and her coach. Even before the arguments, Ladd was persuing a bout against Tate. These comments have now just solidified her desire to take on Tate.

    “I don’t want to talk sh-t, but I definitely want that fight,” Ladd said. “You said some things; let’s go handle this like adults here.”

    Tate is coming off a loss to Ketlen Vieira on Nov. 20. This was the first loss suffered by Tate since returning to the UFC following the birth of her children and a brief retirement. Tate is currently sitting in the #7 spot of the official bantamweight rankings. With Ladd at number four, it could be a fight that Tate is willing to take.

    Do you want to see Ladd and Tate settle their beef inside the Octagon?

  • Anthony Smith Afraid Of Being ‘Left Out In The Cold’ In LW Division

    Anthony Smith has a few issues with the status of the light heavyweight division.

    There is a new champion at the top of the UFC light heavyweight division and that has shaken up the top five. With Glover Teixeira now holding the belt that frees up former champ Jan Blachowicz. There are a few possibilities for Blachowicz but he has mentioned wanting contender Aleksander Rakic next. With Jiri Prochazka most likely next for the champ, this might leave Anthony Smith on the outside looking in.

    Smith was a guest on The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast to talk about his concerns.

    “I’m afraid because I’m indifferent [about who I fight next], I’m going to get left out in the cold,” Smith said. “It would be a real sh*tty deal if Jiri Prochazka gets the title shot and then Rakic and Blachowicz fight each other and that kind of leaves me sitting out with my hands out.”

    Smith’s last time out in the UFC ended in a victory over Ryan Spann back in September. Smith has won his last three outings and is currently ranked fourth behind Blachowicz, Rakic, and Prochazka. The last time Smith lost was against Rakic, and that is one fight he would like to get back.

    “Listen, I’ve got a lot of respect for Aleksandar Rakic and what he’s done and I have a lot of respect for his skills and abilities, but he’s not that well-liked,” Smith explained. “He’s not the UFC’s favorite guy. Beating him is kind of its own reward, personally. Because I’m not sure how highly people, the powers-that-be, would look upon that win. Because he’s not super exciting for as big as an athlete as he is, and impressive as his physique is, he doesn’t fight like that. So he doesn’t have a fan appealing style.”

    Smith is getting call-outs as well, but maybe not the ones he wants. He is a former title challenger and with one more big win could be right back in line to challenge for the belt again.

    Who do you think Anthony Smith should face in his next UFC bout?

  • Zhang Weili Says Grief From First Namajunas Loss Was Almost Unbearable

    Zhang Weili is taking some time to reflect on her mindset.

    Zhang Weili is coming off her second consecutive loss to Rose Namajunas. Even though she lost twice to the champ, she feels as if she has grown from the experiences. Her first loss to Namajunas back in April seemed to have had a profound effect on her. She spoke a bit about how she felt following that first bout on her Instagram page.

    “After the first fight, when it ended that fast, the grief I felt inside was almost unbearable,” Zhang said. “Think about it, we went to a place that far and brought the whole team then the fight ended as soon as it started. It was agony. It was still painful after we got back. It felt then I could be alright at one moment, like, it is what it is. Then sometimes I’d think about it again and it still hurts, I still struggle to accept it.”

    After that first bout with Namajunas, Zhang did a lot to change up her game. She began training with former UFC champion Henry Cejudo and even began some mindest training. She incorporated boo simulation to help her cope with the hostile crowds. She seems to have grown as a fighter in the time between the two fights.

    “I gained a whole new understanding of the sport. That’s when I feel like my mindset and everything else changed for real. I find that if you don’t go through those failures, setbacks, and losses you will never be able to grow,” Zhang said. “After I finally experienced it then I think back on everything I’ve been through in the past it felt like I grew up all of a sudden. When you finally get it, you feel enlightened.”

    It is unclear where Zhang will go from here with these two losses so fresh. She is still one of the best in the strawweight division and could be matched up with anyone in the top five. Some are interested in seeing her rematch Joanna Jędrzejczyk next. Either way, Zhang should be a big part of the UFC 115 pound division for some time, and perhaps she can work her way back up to a trilogy fight with Namajunas.

    Do you think Zhang Weili can ever become UFC champion again?

  • Cris Cyborg Says She’s Grateful For Amanda Nunes Loss

    Cris Cyborg is grateful for the last fight she had in the UFC.

    Cris Cyborg is doing great things in Bellator. She is the reigning champ and is putting on amazing performances. For those who might think leaving the UFC was a bad idea, Cyborg disagrees. She has been reflecting back on her time with the UFC lately and seems to be happy with the direction her career has taken.

    Speaking with MMA Fighting’s Portuguese-language podcast Trocação Franca, Cyborg spoke about a few topics relating to her time with the UFC. Although she recently explained that she never really felt accepted there she felt blessed by the chance she had.

    Cyborg’s last fight in the organization was a loss to Amanda Nunes where she lost the featherweight belt. Looking at that fight it could be seen as a blemish on her record, but Cyborg sees it differently.

    “Everybody says, ‘Oh Cris, but the Amanda Nunes fight,’ and whatever. In fact, I’m not upset with that fight,” Cyborg said. “That fight happened the way it had to. After that fight happened, it opened a door for other things. I believe I would have stayed in the UFC if I had won that fight, or maybe I’d leave, maybe something would change, but I wouldn’t have what I have right now, and I really think I left [the UFC] to be blessed. I’m very happy.”

    Since joining Bellator, Cyborg has won the belt and defended it three times. She is on a roll and looks to stay on top for a while. Her last win was a few weeks ago over Sinead Kavanagh in Florida. She might have her next test set ahead of her already as she has accepted a call out from fellow former UFC fighter Cat Zingano. As for Nunes, she has is still holding the UFC featherweight belt.

    Do you think Cris Cyborg will ever face Amanda Nunes again?