MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Belal Muhammad Blasts Sean Strickland: “It’s All Talk, It’s All An Act”

    UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad isn’t a fan of Sean Strickland’s characteristics and persona in and out of the Octagon.

    Muhammad is set to face Vicente Luque in a rematch at an April 16 UFC Fight Night event. The winner will be one step closer to a chance to dethrone welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.

    Muhammad and Strickland have had a bit of history, stemming from when both of them were in the 170-pound division. Strickland began his UFC tenure as a welterweight before eventually moving up to middleweight, where he now stands potentially one fight away from a title shot.

    UFC betting: Sean Strickland faces Jack Hermansson
    Sean Strickland

    Muhammad started the banter by calling Strickland a “piece of trash” after offering to step in to fight Strickland at UFC 268. Strickland was supposed to face Luke Rockhold, who would pull out with an injury.

    After getting word of Muhammad’s comments, Strickland went off on Muhammad and hinted at living out a desert fantasy with Muhammad in Las Vegas. Strickland went on to fight and defeat Jack Hermansson last month to rise in the middleweight title picture.

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, Muhammad gave his honest opinions about Strickland and why he has a strong disdain for him.

    “That guy is a joke,” Muhammad said. “Like what I told you, we had a chance to fight each other, his opponent pulls out, I called him out. He said ‘No, it wasn’t worth it’ but this guy is the killer, the murderer that wants to kill everybody, that’ll fight anybody. But as we see in his last fight, it’s all talk. It’s all an act.

    “Sean Strickland, stop acting. Just come out with it, it’s cool. You watch Saturday night cartoons we know that you’re fake. You’re not this crazy psycho guy, you’re just a normal guy that’s trying to be crazy. Just be yourself.”

    Muhammad and Strickland could be on the verge of UFC title shots with wins in their next appearances. While it appears that the matchup may not happen at 170 pounds, that is not preventing Muhammad from weighing in on Strickland and his peculiar ways.

    What are your thoughts on Belal Muhammad’s perception of Sean Strickland?

  • Hooker: It’s Time To Let My Decade Of Hard Work Shine At UFC London

    Dan Hooker is ready to let people see how good he really is.

    Hooker is beginning a familiar new journey in the UFC after many years of fighting. Hooker is making a return to featherweight as he prepares to make a run at a UFC title. In the past few years, Hooker has experienced an up-and-down path. He was able to string a few wins in a row and get himself closer to a title shot than he had ever been in the past, but was then met with a few losses.

    These losses added up and led him to rethink his path. Now he is back at 145 pounds and ready to show the world that he is, in fact, one of the best in the world.

    Hooker will be fighting Arnold Allen at UFC London today. Recently, he spoke a bit about what he makes of this matchup and what he expects from the fight.

    “Nothing in particular,” Hooker told Submission Radio when asked if there was something he was looking to showcase. “I just think, go out there and let it all shine out. Let all this hard work that I’ve been putting in for the last decade just shine through. I’ve been doing this for so long, I’ve got so much experience. It’s time to let all that hard work shine.

    Dan Hooker
    Dan Hooker (Image Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

    “So that’s it. I’m not holding on to anything too tight. Wherever the fight goes, whether we’re striking or grappling, and mixing it up with the wrestling, I’m excited. I’m just excited to get out there and have a great contest with a pretty incredible martial artist.”

    Hooker began his UFC at featherweight before making the jump to lightweight. After losing to a few top-flight athletes, Hooker is hoping that this change will finally lead him to the UFC title shot he has been looking for. Allen is currently ranked seventh in the featherweight division and a win over him would certainly place Hooker solidly in the top ten.

    Do you think Dan Hooker will excel at featherweight?

  • Pimblett Names Jon Jones As The MMA GOAT

    Paddy Pimblett considers Jon “Bones” Jones to be the GOAT of mixed martial arts.

    Pimblett has made incredible strides in his MMA career. His outstanding UFC debut took place last September, and his abundance of followers get to see him in action again today at UFC London.

    Paddy Pimblett and Luigi Vendramini
    Paddy Pimblett and Luigi Vendramini, Photo Credit: Getty Images

    Having experience as a featherweight champion in Cage Warriors, Pimblett enters the UFC with the potential to become one of the greats in the lightweight division. He might eventually compare himself to his most revered fighter, Jon Jones.

    The English fighter considers Jones one of the greatest of all time and recently had nothing but good things to say about the former champion when asked who he considers to be the MMA GOAT.

    “Jon Jones. Just look at his record, his rĆ©sumĆ©, look at the people he’s beat,” Pimblett assessed. “He’s beat like three different generations of UFC light heavyweights. I think if he comes back and wins that heavyweight title, he’s cemented his place as [the greatest of all time] with ease.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    Agreeably, Jon Jones is one of the best to ever do it. Glover Teixeira, Daniel Cormier, and Thiago Santos are among the list of established fighters who felt the sting of Jones’s greatness.

    Jones is a longtime UFC veteran who suffered only one loss (via disqualification) in his career. Since then, he gained the light heavyweight belt three times on his dominant path of victories.

    Jon Jones
    Jon Jones holding the Light Heavyweight Championship belt

    Jones recorded some of the best highlights in the UFC, with guillotine chokes, keylock submissions, and a slew of TKOs.

    Currently, “Bones” is on a 17-fight win streak. He won his last match in 2020 when he defended the light heavyweight belt against Dominick Reyes.

    There are a few names such as Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou, but recent controversy circling Jones puts a shadow of uncertainty over his next appearance in the Octagon.

    In contrast, Paddy “The Baddy” faces “Kazula” Vargas today at UFC London. It is his second bout in the UFC and he enters as the fan-favorite at -490.

    What are your thoughts on Paddy Pimblett considering Jon Jones to be the MMA GOAT?

  • Gilbert Burns: Covington Needs To Fight A Real Contender Next

    Gilbert Burns believes Colby Covington should go after a “real” contender for his next opponent.

    Covington remains the #1 ranked contender for the welterweight title after defeating Masvidal in their grudge match. But since he has twice failed to dethrone the UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman, it leaves many wondering who will be in his next matchup.

    Masvidal Covington UFC 272
    Masvidal Covington UFC 272

    Colby Covington has continued to call out Dustin Poirier. However, Poirier is likely to fight Nate Diaz next, so there is much uncertainty surrounding that noise.

    Many of the ranked fighters of the welterweight division present strong challenges for Covington. For instance, the #2 ranked Gilbert Burns, who along with Kamaru Usman, has been devastating his welterweight competition.

    Potential Opponents For Covington

    Outside of a trilogy with Usman, Covington has called out Poirier, Nate Diaz, and even Israel Adesanyaā€”no one within the top 5 of his division.

    Gilbert Burns, who is right under Colby in the rankings, had this to say in an interview with Helen Yee Sports:

    “I think he should fight a real contender, 170. Very hard to call up Dustin Poirier. Dustin Poirier, he’s doing a good job at lightweight, but he’s in lightweight. I don’t think he’s going to move to 170, for sure, he’s open to fight Nate Diaz or do a couple fights, but I don’t think that’s he’s gonna change up.

    “And then, I think Colby should fight a real contender. Long time ago, he don’t fight real contenders on 170. I think he should face maybe the winner of me and Khamzat or maybe the winner of Luque and Belal or maybe a real contender like Sean Brady, I don’t know, one of these guys. You gotta face a real contender.”

    Belal Muhammad, Vincente Luque, Khamzat Chimaev, Sean Brady
    Belal Muhammad, Vincente Luque, Khamzat Chimaev, Sean Brady, Photo Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports / Jeff Bottari/Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC, Thomas Lakes, MMA Fighting

    A fight with Covington could potentially put Burns next in line for a title shot if a victory over Chimaev at UFC 273 isn’t enough to earn him that spot. And it will be a phenomenal year for Khamzat Chimaev if he remains undefeated after facing Burns and then gets a fight with the #1-ranked Covington.

    Vincente Luque faces Belal Muhammad next month. Both fighters have proven their tremendous power and head into their match with impressive win streaks.

    The undefeated Sean Brady is steadily approaching the top 5. Could Colby put an end to Brady’s unstoppable win streak?

    Covington has yet to call out anyone currently in the top 5 of the welterweight division. Now that he got Masvidal out of the way, a win against another top-ranked fighter could grant him his third title shot.

    Who do you think Colby Covington should fight next?

  • Usman Seeks ā€œFace Of The Fight Gameā€ Status With Win Over Canelo

    Kamaru Usman is looking to become the face of the fight game with a win over Canelo Ɓlvarez.

    Usman is currently the pound-for-pound best in the UFC and has called out Ɓlvarez for a boxing match. Although Usman is known as a wrestler, he is confident he would be able to defeat the Mexican. With that, promoter, Eddie Hearn said he would be open to making the match for his client Ɓlvarez.

    There’s no question if the two do end up boxing, Canelo would be a massive favorite, maybe the biggest in his career. However, Usman says his unusual boxing style would throw Ɓlvarez off and he would get the win.

    Kamaru Usman
    Kamaru Usman, Photo Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

    “Obviously, the bigger the dream, the bigger the manifestation,” Usman said to The Sun. “And the more it scares me, the more I’m willing to prepare and go through [hell] to achieve it. It’s no surprise. Canelo is a tall glass for anybodyā€”a tall pint.

    “And it scares me, it scares me to death. But the real reason [I want the fight] is: I wanted to be welterweight champion, I got it,” Usman added. “I wanted to be pound-for-pound, I got it.

    “I always thought this phrase was special, and the phrase that I’m after now is: ‘The Face of the Fight Game’. And Canelo, right now, can’t say [he’s the face of the fight game]. Yeah, he’s the face of boxing, but he can’t say he’s the face of the fight game.”

    Even though Kamaru Usman is calling for the boxing match with Canelo, he is likely to defend his welterweight title in July against Leon Edwards. The Mexican, meanwhile, is expected to face Dmitry Bivol in May and then will have the trilogy match against Gennady Golovkin after that, but perhaps after that, the Usman fight will happen if the Nigerian-American gets his wish.

    For now, however, both Usman and Ɓlvarez have to defend their own titles before any fight becomes to fruition.

    Would you like to see Kamaru Usman vs. Canelo Ɓlvarez ?

  • Archives: Francis Ngannou Wants Brock Lesnar Back In UFC (2018)

    What do Jon Jones, Tyson Fury, and Brock Lesnar all have in common? All three superstars, at one point or another, have been in the sights of “The Predator.”

    What’s that? You didn’t know current UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou once wanted to fight Brock Lesnar? No worries, the MMA News Archives is here to remind you.

    The following story was published on this day four years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 19, 2018, 3:21 PM]

    Title: Francis Ngannou Wants Brock Lesnar Back In UFC

    Author: Andrew Ravens

    Former title contender Francis Ngannou is in an interesting spot right now in his pro-MMA career.

    Ngannou has a few fight options in his future after his latest bout. As seen at the UFC 220 event at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts on pay-per-view, UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic successfully retained his title in the main event by scoring a dominant decision win over the title contender.

    During an appearance on The MMA Hour on Monday, Ngannou addressed a potential fight with former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.

    UFC President Dana White has teased the return of Lesnar to the promotion in the past. The speculation going around is that with Jon Jones being on the sidelines, Lesnar would only return to the UFC for big fights and one of those fights could be against Miocic.

    The current WWE Universal Championā€™s contract is up with the WWE in April after WrestleMania 34.

    Lesnar has competed just once inside of the cage since 2011. The former UFC champion holds notable wins over fighters such as Shane Carwin, Randy Couture, and Frank Mir.

    Hard-hitting heavyweight star Mark Hunt is the last man to have fought Lesnar in the Octagon at UFC 200 in 2016. This marked Lesnarā€™s return to MMA after an almost five-year retirement.

    As seen in the fight, Lesnar won a unanimous decision that night which was subsequently overturned when it was revealed he failed two USADA issued drug tests before the bout. This led to Hunt filing a civil suit against Lesnar and the UFC to settle his grievances.

    ā€œPlease Brock, come back, come back my friend. We need you here,ā€ Ngannou said. ā€œWe need you to put the fun in this division. I need you to give me that f*cking fight Iā€™ve been waiting for for a long time, Iā€™ve been dreaming for.ā€

    ā€œItā€™s up to what (the UFC) want to give me,ā€ Ngannou said. ā€œThere are a lot of people out there who want to fight me. I saw Mark Hunt, he would be a great one. By myself, I want Brock. Brock Lesnar.ā€

    Ngannou was gassed after the first round and lost in a lopsided fashion. Following the fight, Ngannou made it known that this fight was a major learning experience for him. Ngannou had moments of success in the opening two rounds but was unable to counter Miocicā€™s wrestling-heavy game plan.

    ā€œI like the fight,ā€ Ngannou said. ā€œHe look like ā€” I donā€™t know if you ever seen this guy, he looks very, very big and strong. And I really want to try that. Listen, there are the three ones who want me and me, I want Brock,ā€ Ngannou said.

    What are your thoughts on Lesnar potentially fighting Ngannou?

  • Dana White Touts Talent On UFC London Card As Best-Ever In The UK

    You’d be hard-pressed to find someone in the MMA fanbase not excited for today’s UFC London card, and that includes Dana White.

    Today, the UFC will return to England’s capital for the first time since 2019. After being deprived of action throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, UK fans are finally set to see top-draw Octagon scraps live in the flesh once again.

    Delivering a card worth of the occasion, the promotion has stacked the event, set to take place inside the renowned O2 Arena, with a host of exciting international and British names.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbFtqHPP8tP/

    During an appearance on BT Sport’s Fight Week Live on Thursday, the UFC President gave his thoughts on his organization returning across the Atlantic and the exciting lists of bouts slated to go down at UFC London.

    Despite the likes of Leon Edwards, Michael Bisping, Jorge Masvidal, Carlos Condit, Dan Hardy, Mirko Cro Cop, Anderson Silva, and Fabricio Werdum all taking to the cage in the UK in previous visits, White suggested no British event has been as stacked with talent as this weekend’s card.

    “I’m excited. We’re not gonna need a roof on Saturday night. Believe me, the roof is gonna blow off this place,” said the UFC president. “We haven’t been here in three years and, like I was just saying to Mike (Bisping), the talent on this card is probably the best we’ve ever had out of the UK, so I’m excited to see what these guys can do on Saturday night.”

    12 Fights Set For Stacked UFC London Card

    Headlining Saturday’s UFC London card will be home favorite Tom Aspinall. The surging heavyweight prospect has gone 4-0 in the promotion so far, a record that includes a second-round submission of former champion Andrei Arlovski and a first-round TKO against the ranked Sergey Spivak.

    In the Manchester native’s way of a rise into the title picture will be Alexander Volkov, a perennial UFC contender and former Bellator titleholder who’s featured in five main events on MMA’s biggest stage. He’ll be hoping to prove he’s a step above the rising names in his sixth headliner this weekend.

    Setting the stage for the heavyweight behemoths will be a co-main event clash between fan-favorite UFC mainstay Dan Hooker and England’s own Arnold Allen.

    While the Ipswich native, currently ranked #7 at 145 pounds, will be targeting a top-five slot and a step towards the gold at UFC London, “The Hangman” will be looking to make a successful return to featherweight following a 1-3 record across his last four lightweight bouts.

    The current bout order for Saturday’s UFC London card is as follows:

    Preliminary Card

    Muhammad Mokaev vs. Cody Durden (flyweight)

    Cory McKenna vs. Elise Reed (women’s strawweight)

    Jack Shore vs. Timur Valiev (bantamweight)

    Paul Craig vs. Nikita Krylov (light heavyweight)

    Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Sergei Pavlovich (heavyweight)

    Mike Grundy vs. Makwan Amirkhani (featherweight)

    Main Card

    Jai Herbert vs. Ilia Topuria (lightweight)

    Molly McCann vs. Luana Carolina (women’s flyweight)

    Gunnar Nelson vs. Takashi Sato (welterweight)

    Paddy Pimblett vs. Kazula Vargas (lightweight)

    Arnold Allen vs. Dan Hooker (featherweight co-main event)

    Tom Aspinall vs. Alexander Volkov (heavyweight main event)

    All fighters were successful on the scale at Friday’s weigh-ins.

    Which fight are you most looking forward to at UFC London?

  • Katlyn Chookagian vs. Amanda Ribas Targeted for May 14 Bout

    There is an interesting flyweight bout between Katlyn Chookagian and Amanda Ribas in the works.

    UFC events for the spring are beginning to fill up quickly. One event, in particular, that will not be a pay-per-view event is the one being held on May 14. The location and main event for this event are not yet known, but a few fights have been released.

    Originally, the bout between Miesha Tate and Lauren Murphy was to be the headliner, but that bout was moved to a later date. However, a very intriguing matchup between former title contender Katlyn Chookagian and rising star Amanda Ribas will be on this card. The news was first reported by Raphael Marinho of Combate.com.

    Chookagian is coming into this matchup having won her last three in a row. Since losing her title shot to champion Valentina Shevchenko, Chookagian has gone 4-1 in the division. She is still sitting in the number two spot of the flyweight rankings. Following her last fight against Jennifer Maia, Chookagian announced that the UFC had not offered her a new contract at that point and she would have gone to free agency. It seems she was able to rework the terms and is now back in the heart of the division.

    As for Ribas, this fight will be a return to flyweight after a stint at strawweight. She fought most recently at UFC 267 back in October of 2021 and has had a string of bad luck since then. Over the past few years, Ribas has had a number of fights canceled or changed due to opponents pulling out or illness. Most recently, she was slated to face off against Michelle Waterson but she was injured and the bout was pushed back and eventually scrapped.

    Ribas is currently sitting in the number nine spot of the strawweight rankings, but a with over Chookagian will no most likely place her in the top ten or five of the flyweight rankings.

    The entire fight card announced to this point for May 14 is as follows:

    • Women’s Flyweight bout:Ā Viviane AraĆŗjoĀ vs.Ā Andrea Lee
    • Welterweight bout:Ā Frank CamachoĀ vs. Manuel Torres
    • Featherweight bout:Ā Daniel PinedaĀ vs.Ā Jamall Emmers
    • Women’s Strawweight bout:Ā Angela HillĀ vs.Ā Virna Jandiroba
    • Middleweight bout: Nick Maximov vs. Andre Petroski
    • Women’s Flyweight bout: Katlyn Chookagian vs. Amanda Ribas

    Who do you think will win on May 14 Katlyn Chookagian or Amanda Ribas?

  • McGregor: The Fight Game Has Become “Very Forgetful” Of JosĆ© Aldo

    Former UFC double champion Conor McGregor thinks fans need to give veterans like JosƩ Aldo more credit and not forget their prowess.

    McGregor and Aldo have come a long way since their heated buildup to their featherweight title fight at UFC 194. The two former featherweight champions were once as hostile as it gets with one another but have become cordial in recent years.

    Aldo has experienced a new chapter in his MMA career down at bantamweight with recent impressive wins over Marlon Vera, Pedro Munhoz, and Rob Font at 135 pounds. He could be on the verge of another bantamweight title shot despite having lost to Petr Yan for the then-vacant belt at UFC 251.

    McGregor is hoping for a bounceback of his own later this year in his Octagon return. He’s targeting a welterweight title shot against Kamaru Usman for his next fight if Usman can successfully defend his belt against Leon Edwards.

    Like Aldo, some have downplayed the idea that McGregor can still compete for UFC championships. During a recent interview with TheMacLife, McGregor praised Aldo for his recent successes despite some writing him off in the past.

    “The game is very forgetful…” McGregor said. “The disrespect Aldo received, for example, and people saying people are done. If you look at Glover Teixeira, who’s now a UFC champion, it’s important to just block out that noise because it’s dribble. It’s never what it is, and I’m very happy for JosĆ© and seeing what he’s been doing, and I look forward to having the exact same thing myself.”

    McGregor lost back-to-back fights to Dustin Poirier in 2021 via stoppages, with the latest coming after he suffered a horrific leg break at UFC 264. He’s looking to recapture the magic he sustained after becoming a two-division UFC champion with wins over Aldo and Eddie Alvarez.

    Aldo has hinted at a potential matchup with TJ Dillashaw for his next UFC outing, although it’s unclear when Dillashaw will return from his knee injury. McGregor and Aldo were once the bitterest of rivals inside the Octagon, but have appeared to squash their beef as both look to reclaim UFC gold.

    Do you agree with Conor McGregor regarding JosƩ Aldo?

  • Darren Till Names UK Fighter Most Likely To Be Next UFC Champion

    UFC middleweight contender Darren Till has named who he believes the next UK fighter to claim UFC gold will be.

    Till is planning a UFC return for later this year after losing back-to-back fights at middleweight. He’s been seen training with rising star Khamzat Chimaev as he plans a potential rise back into the middleweight title picture.

    Till is in London ahead of the UFC’s Fight Night event this weekend, headlined by a heavyweight matchup between Tom Aspinall and Alexander Volkov. During a recent Fan Q+A session, he pointed to the next likely welterweight title challenger to Kamaru Usman as the next British UFC champion.

    “Probably Leon, probably Leon right now,” Till said.

    Edwards has won nine straight fights, including most recently against Nate Diaz at UFC 263. He was supposed to face Jorge Masvidal at UFC 269 before Masvidal pulled out with an injury.

    Till was the headliner of the last UFC London card in early 2019 but went on to lose to Masvidal in a vicious knockout. He and Edwards shared some trash talk ahead of the event before Edwards earned a unanimous decision win over Gunnar Nelson.

    But now, Till and Edwards seem to be cordial with one another and Till has long advocated for a title shot for Edwards. UFC President Dana White recently confirmed that Edwards will fight for the belt later this year.

    Till Names Another Future UFC Champion From The UK

    Paddy Pimblett
    Paddy Pimblett

    Till was also asked about his fellow countryman, Paddy Pimblett, ahead of his lightweight return against Kazula Vargas at UFC London. Till gave his thoughts on when he thinks Pimblett could earn a lightweight title shot.

    “Two years, give or take,” Till answered. “He’s rising fast, he’s only had two fights. He’s killing it!”

    Pimblett passed his first UFC test with flying colors, earning a first-round knockout of Luigi Vendramini in his debut last September. He was one of the biggest additions to the UFC roster in 2021 following a decorated tenure in Cage Warriors.

    While Till isn’t afraid to give credit to his fellow UK fighters, he’s looking to get back on track with his next UFC outing. He’s been a targeted matchup for middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and is looking to get on another streak to earn another title opportunity.

    Do you agree with Darren Till’s predictions?

  • Alexander Volkov: It Is A Dark Time For UFC Heavyweights

    UFC heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov isn’t sure what to make of the heavyweight title picture and the chances of another interim title bout.

    Volkov is set to face Tom Aspinall in the UFC London main event this weekend. He’s looking to get back in the thick of things in the heavyweight division following a win over Marcin Tybura at UFC 267. He’s won three of his last four with his lone defeat coming to former interim champion Ciryl Gane.

    The heavyweight division is at a bit of a standstill at the moment. UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou will miss nine months after undergoing knee surgery and has been at an impasse with the promotion over contract negotiations.

    This may open the door for Volkov and others to potentially compete in an interim title bout later this year.

    During his UFC London pre-fight press conference, Volkov spoke about the state of the heavyweight division.

    “I think an interim title would quite a logical decision now, because we frankly don’t know what will be,” Volkov said. “But the only question is, who will fight for this interim title? Gane lost, and Tuivasa only now entered, there’s a third… and right now it’s very dark times even for the UFC heavyweights.”

    One matchup that has been speculated is a fight between former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones for the interim belt. Rising contender Tai Tuivasa has also targeted a fight with Miocic, although it’s unclear if it’ll come to fruition.

    The UFC opted to go with an interim heavyweight title bout between Gane and Derrick Lewis at UFC 265, just months after Ngannou earned the title. Yet, Ngannou isn’t worried about the prospect of another interim title fight happening during his absence.

    Volkov has the opportunity to enter his name in the mix with an impressive performance this weekend against Aspinall. He’s looking to get back in the win column and potentially earn a top contender for his next fight.

    Do you agree with Alexander Volkov about the state of the UFC’s heavyweight division?

  • Pimblett Details Mental Health Struggles Following CW Title Loss

    Ahead of UFC London, Paddy Pimblett recalls his title-fight loss in Cage Warriors and what he learned from it.

    A loss can be devastating, especially to the most prominent fighters in the game. A slew of athletes have risen to the top and then came toppling down once they meet their first challenge.

    And as it seems, Pimblett is no different. Before his loss to Soren Bak at the Cage Warriors 96 main event for the vacant lightweight title, Pimblett was back in the winner’s circle.

    Pimblett defeated Alex Savvdis with an impressive flying triangle choke in the second round at CW90. Having won the featherweight title before, his towering confidence then skyrocketed, assuring himself he’d win his next match.

    Paddy Pimblett
    Paddy Pimblett with Cage Warriors featherweight belt, Photo Credit: Getty Images

    The fight against Bak took place that same year in 2018. The unanimous decision was given to Pimblett’s opponent, and that loss had an awakening effect on him.

    Here’s what he said in an interview with BT Sport:

    “Back then, I used to just take everything for granted. As you do when you’re a kid. Take everything for granted and don’t think about your future. After I lost the lightweight title fight in Cage Warriors, I hit a deep depression and realized what I needed to do with myself. I had crazy thoughts going through my head. I had bad mental health issues for a good couple of months. It took realizing who my real mates were, getting close friends back close, keeping the Mrs. close, obviously, everyone in the family.”

    Typically, when a fighter carries immense hype surrounding their name, losing comes with substantial consequences. Friends and family may feel differently and be prepared for the trolls of social media to have a field day.

    The knockout king Derrick Lewis knows the experience firsthand since losing twice in his hometown, as can Ronda Rousey, who admitted to being suicidal after her first MMA loss.

    Ronda Rousey
    Credit: Getty Images

    Indeed, it can all come crashing down. But sometimes that is what someone needs to dig themselves out of toxic habits or to realize their true gifts in life.

    “(I had to) realize what I’ve go,” Pimblett continued. “I was thinking to myself, ‘My mates are working on a roof, or doing joinery or bricklaying, and I’ve got this opportunity in front of me, and I’ve thrown it away by going out partying all the time, and not listening to my coaches.’ I had a mad realization. I just switched on. Ever since, Paul (Reed) and everyone here will tell you, I’m a much easier person to work with and I’m a much nicer character.”

    Pimblett has certainly come back better since the loss. In 2020 he returned to the cage and decimated his next three opponents inside the first round.

    This Saturday, he faces Kazula Vargas at UFC Fight Night 204 in London to try to increase his three-fight win streak.

    What are your thoughts on Paddy Pimblett’s reflection on his Cage Warriors title loss?

  • Aspinall: If I Look Past Volkov, I’m Waking Up Under The O2 Lights

    UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall knows that if he looks beyond upcoming opponent Alexander Volkov, their clash at UFC London won’t end well for him.

    This weekend, MMA’s premier promotion is set to return to England’s capital for the first time since before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. On that card in 2019, Darren Till, long thought to be the country’s most promising star, headlined alongside Jorge Masvidal.

    This time, a new Englishman making waves in the UFC is ready for his time to shine. Aspinall, a teammate of Till at Liverpool’s Team Kaobon, has made his name known in the heavyweight division since arriving in 2020.

    After an unbeaten 4-0 start, which includes a submission of former champion Andrei Arlovski and a brutal TKO of the ranked Sergey Spivak, the 28-year-old is ready for his opportunity to break into the elite.

    That chance comes this Saturday inside London’s famed O2 Arena, where he’ll stand toe-to-toe with perennial contender Alexander Volkov.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbFtqHPP8tP/

    Given his impressive form in the Octagon so far and rapid rise up the heavyweight ladder, Aspinall would be forgiven for looking ahead to what the future might hold with a victory over “Drago.” But for the #11-ranked Brit, the Russian behemoth is the only thing on his mind.

    Aspinall Fully Focused On The Task At Hand

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Aspinall assessed his upcoming rival. While he’s preparing for his first headline spot in the UFC, Volkov will be topping the card for an incredible sixth time tomorrow.

    That experience, along with the Russian’s abilities, has Aspinall acknowledging Volkov as his clear toughest test to date in professional MMA.

    “He’s by far the biggest, literally the biggest, and the biggest and best opponent that I’ve ever fought,” admitted Aspinall. “I know this is an absolutely enormous step up for me from my other opponents, I know that. Obviously, I feel like I’m ready for that. He brings so much to the table. He’s so good everywhere.”

    With that in mind, the 28-year-old knows he has to invest his complete attention on “Drago” if he’s to have his hand raised in front of his home crowd.

    When asked what a victory might do for his career moving forward, Aspinall claimed that if his sights stray beyond his immediate challenge, he’ll be waking up with the lights of the O2 above him.

    “Do you want a boring answer? I’m not looking too far forward. Because I know that if I take my eye off this guy, man, I’m fucking waking up under them lights with them smelling salts under my nose, you know what I mean?” Aspinall asserted. “I ain’t thinking past this guy. This guy is seriously dangerous, seriously skilled, and seriously experienced. He’s far beyond anyone that I’ve ever fought before, so I can’t think past this guy.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca-hZEssKnI/

    While the heavyweight title picture is unclear at the moment, with champion Francis Ngannou facing a lengthy time on the sidelines following surgery and the uncertain status of Jon Jones, a victory over Volkov would undoubtedly add Aspinall to the conversation.

    Who do you think will move closer to title contention at UFC London, Tom Aspinall or Alexander Volkov?

  • Usman Appears To React To McGregor Targeting Him For UFC Return

    UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has appeared to mock Conor McGregor’s recent comments that he’s eying a showdown with him.

    Usman is certain to face Leon Edwards next for his latest UFC welterweight title defense. UFC President Dana White has also confirmed that the Usman vs. Edwards rematch will take place later this year, with an official announcement appearing imminent.

    McGregor is planning his Octagon return after nearly a year away recovering from a nasty leg break he suffered at UFC 264. He’s hinted at a move to welterweight for his next fight and has appeared to rule out a move back to lightweight.

    McGregor is targeting a fight with Usman next and has called it the “fight to make at 170 pounds. He hasn’t fought at welterweight since he defeated Donald Cerrone at UFC 246.

    After getting word of McGregor’s plans, Usman appeared to mock the idea of a McGregor title shot on social media.

    “You guys want a murder scene in the octagon”

    “He said he’s gonna do what????” Usman tweeted.

    This isn’t the first time that Usman and McGregor have gone at it from afar. Usman has previously expressed interest in a fight with McGregor and predicted that he would earn a finish. McGregor has also accused Usman of stealing his material amidst a potential boxing match with Canelo Alvarez.

    McGregor has hinted at a title shot for his UFC return, and a fight with Usman could happen with White not ruling out McGregor getting another shot at gold next. In the meantime, Usman will look to keep his place atop the UFC’s pound-for-pound list after a flawless 2021.

    Do you think Kamaru Usman vs. Conor McGregor will happen this year?

  • Derek Brunson Appears To Walk Back Retirement Plans

    Derek Brunson seems to have a new fire lit inside of him.

    Derek Brunson is one of the top middleweights in the world. Prior to his UFC 271 bout, it seemed that Brunson was making a beeline for the title shot. He had won five in a row over the last three years and seemed unstoppable. Unfortunately for him, he was stopped.

    Brunson’s winning streak hit a wall named Jared Cannonier. Cannonier handed Brunson a loss at UFC 271 by KO in the second round. This loss will most likely put Brunson’s title aspirations on hold for a bit, but that hasn’t sent Brunson packing yet.

    Prior to the UFC 271 bout, Brunson took some time to lay out an optimal plan for the rest of his UFC career. He had called his shot to beat Cannonier, then go on to win the belt and then walk away. At 38 years old, he stated that he wanted to spend some time with his family. Now that the first leg of his plan was squashed, he isn’t just going to scrap the rest.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbL2j1HLBig/

    “I’m tired of seeing guys I fight go on to be World Champions & fight for the belt to be the best middleweight on the planet.” he wrote. “I’ve been in the top 10 for over a decade and currently in the top 5. I gotta do better. Not done!.”

    At the moment, Brunson is ranked fourth in the division and is still a force to be reckoned with. If he plans to continue his quest for a UFC title, he may not be that far off. Perhaps another fight or two within the top five could secure him his spot in line for Adesanya.

    Do you think Derek Brunson still has a shot at fighting for a title one day?

  • UFC London: Volkov vs. Aspinall Preview, Betting Odds, & Final Faceoffs

    The UFC London ceremonial weigh-in has wrapped up, and the event is now less than 24 hours away!

    All fighters made weight earlier today, so every bout will proceed as scheduled. Below, you can find the betting odds and final faceoffs of each competitor on the main card.

    Jai Herbert (+350) vs. Ilia Topuria (-475)

    Jai Herbert is 1-2 in the UFC but is coming off an impressive TKO victory over Kharma Worthy last October. His opponent, Ilia Topuria, is undefeated in the UFC at 11-0, most recently stopping grappling ace Ryan Hall via KO at UFC 264. Earlier this week, he was almost involved in another fight with none other than Paddy Pimblett, but now that he’s released some of that aggression, he can focus solely on Herbert tomorrow.

    You can catch the final faceoff between Herbert and Topuria below.

    Molly McCann (-130) vs. Luana Carolina (+110)

    Molly McCann took home Fight of the Night in her last bout against Ji Yeon Kim last September in a winning effort. Now, she will be returning home to England to face Luano Carolina, who is coming off of two consecutive victories.

    Check out the final faceoff of these two flyweights below.

    Gunnar Nelson (-450) vs. Takashi Sato (+340)

    Gunnar Nelson recently signed a new deal with the UFC, and first up for the veteran is Takashi Sato, who has lost two of his last three fights, including to Miguel Baeza last November via submission. Overall, Sato has a UFC record of 2-2. The veteran Nelson has also lost two of his last three fights, most recently defeating Alex Oliveira via submission at UFC 231.

    Peep the faceoff between these two welterweight competitors below.

    Paddy Pimblett (-490)Ā vs. Kazula Vargas (+360)

    Is Paddy Pimblett the next big star for the UFC? Or, as Kazula Vargas argues, is he overrated? We’ll get more answers about “The Baddy” in this bout after his scintillating UFC debut last year.

    Check out the final faceoff of these two lightweights below.

    Arnold Allen (-115)Ā vs. Dan Hooker (-105)

    In the co-main event, we have a fight pegged as nearly a pick-em when Arnold Allen faces Dan Hooker in Hooker’s return to featherweight. Allen is on an incredible 10-fight winning streak, with eight of those fights coming in the UFC. However, as far as Hooker is concerned, with a win here, he will have successfully snatched Allen’s win streak, thus having a nine-fight UFC winning streak of his own.

    You can view the final faceoff of tomorrow night’s co-headliners below.

    Alexander Volkov (EVEN) vs. Tom AspinallĀ (-120)

    In the main event, Alexander Volkov embraces his role as the “heel” against England’s Tom Aspinall. This bout will be the biggest test of Aspinall’s career, which has yet to witness a stumble inside the UFC Octagon. Instead, it’s just been one finish after another. Will that trend continue tomorrow night in Aspinall’s first UFC main event?

    Before we find out tomorrow night, you can catch the final faceoff of the two heavyweights below.

    You can view the full card and weigh-in results for UFC London right here.

    UFC LondonĀ comes to you from the O2 Arena Saturday, March 19, 2022. The entire card will be available on ESPN+ for US viewers and on UFC Fight Pass for viewers outside the United States. The preliminary card will begin at 1:00 PM ET, with the main card kicking off at 4:00 PM ET.

    Be sure to keep it locked right here on MMANews.com for all the UFC London coverage tomorrow!

  • Henry Cejudo Says He’ll Corner Petr Yan On One Condition, Yan Responds

    UFC interim bantamweight champion Petr Yan is allegedly in need of cornermen and Henry Cejudo might be willing to join Sean O’Malley in being up for the job if his terms are met.

    It was reported by multiple outlets earlier this week that members of Yan’s corner were denied visas to travel to the U.S. for UFC 273. Yan will face bantamweight titleholder Aljamain Sterling in a title rematch about a year in the making.

    After news broke of Yan’s situation, he reached out to retired former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo to help out.

    “Hey coach [Henry Cejudo] what are your plans on April 9th?” Yan asked.

    Just hours after Yan reached out to Cejudo on social media, O’Malley recorded a video in which he appeared to agree to help corner Yan for his upcoming fight.

    “One corner spot is taken by [Sean O’Malley],” Yan responded.

    Henry Cejudo would respond by laying out his one condition to corner the Russian.

    ā€œGet me a booster seat and Iā€™ll work your cornerā€¦you kneed meā€ #andnew“

    Yan, ever the tough negotiator, responded with firmness.

    “I have one condition as well, donā€™t try to give me your shitty advices, just bring the water and ice bag between the rounds and weā€™re good.”

    Yan earned the interim title over Cory Sandhagen at UFC 267 after Sterling withdrew from their originally scheduled rematch due to Sterling’s health issues. The rematch was postponed a second time for UFC 273 after the UFC 272 booking fell apart for conflicting reasons.

    Yan lost via disqualification to Sterling at UFC 259 after landing an illegal knee late in the fight. Before the infraction, Yan had taken control of the fight and had appeared to be on his way to a successful title defense.

    O’Malley and Yan share a bit of history from a distance. Among other interactions, O’Malley has predicted that a fight with Yan down the line would be the biggest fight in UFC bantamweight history.

    Despite Yan searching for help from Cejudo, the two have gone back-and-forth on social media over the past couple of years. Yan has questioned the timing of Cejudo’s retirement while Cejudo has previously teased coming out of retirement to fight him.

    Cejudo has recently teased a UFC comeback and threw his name into the conversation to fight Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 273. However, the UFC opted to go with Chan Sung Jung (aka The Korean Zombie) instead of Cejudo.

    Yan hasn’t had any visa issues ahead of UFC 273 and it appears that his cornermen are the only ones impacted by recent traveling challenges.

    Do you think we’ll actually see Sean O’Malley or Henry Cejudo corner Petr Yan at UFC 273?

  • Khamzat Chimaev Volunteers To Be Logan Paul’s First UFC Opponent

    UFC welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev is willing to welcome Logan Paul to the Octagon if he were to ever sign with the top MMA promotion.

    Chimaev is set to face Gilbert Burns in a potential No. 1 contender clash at UFC 273. He’s undefeated in his MMA career and is coming off of a first-round submission of Li Jingliang at UFC 267.

    Paul is a YouTuber turned boxer who competed in high school wrestling in Ohio. He’s flirted with the idea of potentially moving to MMA down the line, along with his brother Jake.

    Eyebrows were raised when UFC President Dana White didn’t rule out Paul fighting for him in the future. After asking about his past grappling experience, White didn’t shut down the idea of Paul competing in the Octagon at some point.

    “I’m not saying no,” White said.

    After getting word of Paul’s UFC interest, Chimaev reached out to Paul on Twitter and proposed a potential matchup.

    “I’m waiting for you in UFC [Logan Paul],” Chimaev tweeted.

    Paul has recently confirmed that he’s received MMA offers in recent months and expects to enter the cage at some point. He also remains focused on his boxing career and a potential matchup with fellow YouTube sensation Whindersson Nunes.

    While White seems to have a cordial relationship with Logan, it’s been the complete opposite with Jake. He and Jake have gone back-and-forth on social media for months and have accused one another of using drugs.

    Chimaev has proven to not be one to turn down a fight in the Octagon, and he could be a willing opponent for Paul if the UFC signs him. For now, Chimaev remains focused on a shot at welterweight gold and a potential showdown with Kamaru Usman in 2022.

    Do you think Logan Paul will eventually fight in the UFC?

  • McGregor Doesn’t See Himself Fighting At LW Again, Wants Usman Next

    Conor McGregor maintains that he is still expecting a title shot upon his return to the UFC Octagon, but he says it won’t be in the lightweight division.

    In fact, the former UFC lightweight champion says that he doesn’t expect to ever compete at 155 lbs. again. Those who have been keeping track of McGregor’s bulking-up efforts in recent months may not be surprised by this bombshell, but others, such as reigning champion Charles Oliveira, were expecting the Irishman to pursue a title shot at lightweight when he returns from his leg injury later this year.

    In an interview with TheMacLife, McGregor revealed that isn’t the case and that he doesn’t expect to compete at lightweight ever again.

    “I just donā€™t really see myself coming back to 155 again,” McGregor said. Iā€™m eating, Iā€™m lifting, Iā€™m training, and Iā€™m not cutting calories. So this is my natural state. I can go even bigger.ā€

    McGregor pointed to a pair of past performances at 170 as further support for his comfort level in making the welterweight division his new home.

    Conor McGregor vs Donald Cerrone LIVE reaction, post-fight press conference updates and more after Notorious defeats Cowboy at UFC 246 - Irish Mirror Online
    Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone, UFC 246

    ā€œI like myself at 170. Iā€™ve always had a great time when Iā€™ve had a full camp at 170ā€”with correct preparation: the Diaz 2 rematch and the [Donald Cerrone] fight in particularā€¦They were probably some of my best performances inside the UFC Octagon and without any calorie deficiency whatsoever,” McGregor said.

    McGregor is 2-1 in the welterweight division, with the aforementioned victories over Diaz at UFC 202 and Cerrone at UFC 246 being his last two outings at 170. To McGregor’s point, his bout against Diaz won Fight of the Night and his demolition of Cerrone earned him Performance of the Night.

    For his next welterweight walk to the Octagon, McGregor has set his sights on the very top of the division.

    McGregor: Me vs. Usman Is The Fight To Make

    Kamaru Usman Conor McGregor
    Kamaru Usman, Conor McGregor (Image Credits: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC & Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

    One thing McGregor has not walked back on at all is his insistence on returning to a title shot. Though it was originally believed to be Charles Oliveira who the Irishman preferred as his comeback opponent, as it turns out, it’s actually current UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman.

    McGregor and Usman have exchanged words over social media in the past, with McGregor accusing Usman of habitually stealing his material. “The Notorious” would again reference the Nigerian-American’s alleged creative infringement while also saying in no uncertain terms that he is who the former champ-champ wants next.

    ā€œIt is what it is. What do they say? Imitation and flattery and all this type of thing,” McGregor said of Usman’s verbal repertoire. “I donā€™t know. But I believe thatā€™s the fight to make.

    “I believe myself vs. Usman for the 170-pound title for my comeback fight is the one Iā€™m eyeballing at the minute.ā€

    Kamaru Usman is expected to defend his title against Leon Edwards this summer after he has finished healing from recent hand surgery. He has also been pounding the pavement lobbying for a boxing match against superstar Canelo Ɓlvarez.

    That said, Usman has also expressed interest in a fight against McGregor multiple times in the past. And it goes without saying that a fight against McGregor would be more than lucrative enough to steer Usman’s gaze away from the boxing ring and into the Irishman’s direction once he becomes privy to these latest comments from The Notorious One.

    Do you want to see Conor McGregor return to face Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight championship?

  • Costa Challenges “Rat” Sean Strickland, Strickland Says UFC Declined

    UFC middleweight Sean Strickland claims the UFC has rejected a fight between him and Paulo Costa.

    A fight between Strickland and Costa has some logic on paper. They are currently deadlocked at the #4 spot in the UFC rankings, and neither man is expected to receive a title shot at Israel Adesanya next, due to Jared Cannonier being most likely to fill that role.

    Additionally, Robert Whittaker (#1) and Marvin Vettori (#3) are unavailable after being targeted to fight one another. So with Strickland and Costa both available, what’s stopping the two of them from being paired together?

    According to Sean Strickland, the UFC itself is stopping it.

    This claim comes after Costa called out Strickland in a re-tweet of an article from last November where Strickland requested the same fight.

    “Letā€™s do it rat. Veremos se Ć© valentĆ£o mesmo,” Costa wrote.

    “I asked for Costa and the UFC didn’t seem so confident in his future.. Also i dont think they liked me punching down to get a title shot lol.. but worst case for you Costa there is always bellator.. Maybe 205? Idk…” Strickland responded.

    “@BorrachinhaMMA heres the thing man. The UFC said no. I asked multiple times….. But after your forced to move to light heavyweight I’ll catch you in Vegas and if you wanna run your mouth I’ll give it to you for free…” he wrote in a follow-up tweet directed at Costa himself.

    Although Paulo Costa insists that he will remain in the middleweight division, as Strickland alludes to, this is still unconfirmed after Dana White publicly stated the Brazilian will need to move up to light heavyweight following the weight-related debacle ahead of his fight against Marvin Vettori last October.

    Additionally, even though both fighters are tied at #4, Strickland’s “punching down” comment is likely in reference to the American being on a six-fight winning streak while Costa has lost two straight.

    In any event, Costa clearly isn’t buying what Strickland is pushing out based on the following response to Strickland’s revelation.

    “I knew you were a fuc*king pus*y but this show of insecurity surprised even me. just another fake macho,” Costa responded.

    When Strickland and Costa have their next fight booked, against one another or otherwise, or if the two simply decide to ramp up this new Twitter beef instead, MMA News will be here to keep you covered with all the latest.

    Do you think Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa is the fight to make right now?

  • Bisping Questions Dan Hooker’s FW Move: Looking For Smaller Guys?

    Michael Bisping isn’t sure what Dan Hooker’s motivations are for making the move to featherweight ahead of the UFC London card.

    Hooker will make his return to 145 pounds against the red-hot Arnold Allen at UFC London this weekend. He opted to make the move out of the lightweight division following losses in three of his last four fights.

    This will be Hooker’s first fight at featherweight since falling via a unanimous decision to Jason Knight in Nov. 2016. He went on to move to 155 pounds and win seven of his next eight fights.

    During the BT Sport UFC London live preview show, Bisping questioned why Hooker would opt to move back down to featherweight at this point in his career.

    “Well, I don’t know. I think he’s trying to find himself,” Bisping said of Hooker. “I mean, obviously he’s lost three out of his last four against very, very good opposition, so no shame in that. But he went up to 155, now he’s come back down to 145. He says that that’s his natural weight class. I don’t know if it is. I think maybe he’s looking for, not easier competition because it’s not easier, but maybe smaller guys? Maybe less wrestlers? I don’t know.”

    Hooker has also had to adapt to the wild past couple of years that his gym, City Kickboxing, has had to go through during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of his fight against Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266, Hooker had issues getting to the U.S. from New Zealand and showed up to fight week just days before the scheduled bout.

    Another interesting angle to Hooker’s move is a potential title fight down the line with his teammate and featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. While he is getting ready to face ‘The Korean Zombie’ at UFC 273, Volkanovski hasn’t ruled out a future matchup with Hooker if he moves into title contention.

    First thing’s first for Hooker, who faces a tough challenge in Allen who has won 10 bouts in a row. If he’s able to get past Allen at UFC London, Hooker could be well on his way to making his second stint at featherweight into a potential career-changer.

    How do you think Dan Hooker will perform in his featherweight return?

  • Covington Shares Evidence Of Masvidal Allegedly Attempting Eye Poke

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington has hit back at Jorge Masvidal after the latter accused him of an intentional eye poke at UFC 272.

    Covington defeated Masvidal via a unanimous decision in their UFC 272 grudge match. The two former American Top Team teammates turned bitter rivals had been on each other’s nerves for years ahead of their eventual showdown.

    Masvidal has stated that he wants revenge against Covington and shared the aftermath of an alleged eye poke that he suffered in their matchup. After getting word of Masvidal’s accusation of Covington being a “cheating f***” for the eye poke, Covington shared an image of Masvidal possibly attempting an eye poke of his own.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbNtvvluGOA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “At least you tried…” Covington posted.

    The banter between Covington and Masvidal has appeared to escalate since the fight. The two nearly brawled after the fight came to a close at UFC 272, and Masvidal has threatened to finish his beef with Covington on the streets of Miami.

    Covington has called for a fight with another former ATT teammate, Dustin Poirier, although it’s unclear whether or not Poirier will make the move to 170. Covington is looking to potentially get a third matchup with UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman with another win streak.

    Masvidal has lost three-straight bouts, with his last victory coming against Nate Diaz for the BMF title at UFC 244. Nevertheless, he’s squashed retirement speculation and appears ready to return to the Octagon later this year.

    Do you believe Jorge Masvidal attempted to eye poke Colby Covington in retaliation?

  • Dana White Sends Paddy Pimblett A Reminder Ahead Of UFC London

    UFC President Dana White knows lightweight Paddy Pimblett has a large following, but it may not matter without wins inside the Octagon.

    Pimblett will make his return to the Octagon this weekend at UFC London against Kazula Vargas. The former Cage Warriors featherweight champion earned a first-round knockout over Luigi Vendramini in his UFC debut last September.

    Pimblett has been known to up the ante when it comes to his trash talk and mental warfare. He’s also managed to get under the skin of fighters that aren’t his opponents, including most recently with Ilia Topuria.

    During an appearance on the BT Sport Live Preview Show for UFC London, White gave his thoughts on Pimblett and his potential but also hinted that the prospect should worry about his in-flight performances.

    “Yeah, he’s fun. He’s a fun guy. Smack talk’s fun, but you’ve gotta win,” White said of Pimblett. “So, you know, everybody keeps talking about the excitement of the walkout and all this stuff, you gotta win fights. Believe me, he comes in, has an incredible walkout and the crowd goes crazy, and he wins? Awesome… He’s one of those guys that has that thing and he has the potential to be a star. But, here, you gotta win fights. It’s not just about being popular (and) how many people like you. You’ve gotta get in there and win.”

    Paddy Pimblett
    Paddy Pimblett

    Pimblett was one of the biggest signings by the UFC in 2021 following back-to-back wins in Cage Warriors over Davide Martinez and Decky Dalton. He’s been tabbed by some as the ‘people’s main event’ against Vargas at UFC London.

    Pimblett has been tabbed by some as a potential future UFC box office star at the levels of Conor McGregor, Jorge Masvidal, and others. McGregor has recently called Pimblett a “great representation for the UK”.

    Pimblett has never been short of confidence, as evident by his recent claim that he’ll never get knocked out in the UFC. However, a loss to Vargas could erase the momentum and star power that he has already accumulated.

    Do you think Paddy Pimblett has what it takes to be a UFC champion?

  • Dana White On Jake Paul: “Why Isn’t He Calling Out Israel Adesanya?”

    UFC President Dana White is still wondering why Jake Paul is only challenging smaller fighters.

    Dana White’s vow to never speak about Jake Paul ever again lasted all of two months. But even that time span is perhaps longer than what most would have anticipated. In 2021, hardly a week went by without some jab thrown by Paul toward White or vice versa.

    According to White, however, that all ended after he felt Paul dodged his challenge of getting randomly steroid tested for two years with White agreeing to get cocaine tested for 10 years in return.

    During White’s period of silence, Paul has continued to chirp away, including on a Dana White Diss Track and with continuous challenges to fighters on the UFC roster. Only now, Paul claims he isn’t just open to boxing them, but he has begun to lay down challenges for MMA fights.

    The two specific names that Paul has challenged for a fight are Jorge Masvidal and Conor McGregor. In both cases, Paul made proposals directly to White to make the fights happen with high stakes at play, mostly connected to improving fighter pay and benefits.

    But even when Paul’s challenges were restricted to the boxing ring, White wondered why Paul was only challengingā€”and fightingā€”smaller opponents. And now that Paul has extended his challenges to MMA fights, White is still wondering the same thing.

    White: Call Out Somebody Your Own Size

    UFC 271: Israel Adesanya's 'lucrative' deal adds intrigue
    Israel Adesanya

    After White responded to Paul’s latest challenge to McGregor by pointing out the size difference between the two, he threw out a big name who is closer to the YouTuber’s weight that Paul has yet to mention.

    ā€œWhy isnā€™t he calling out Israel Adesanya? I know. I know, and you know, and everybody else knows, and he knows, too,” White said in an interview with ESPN.

    Jake Paul last competed in December in a viral KO win over former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. He currently does not have a fight booked but has continued teasing a potential move to MMA.

    Once Paul catches wind of these comments from White, perhaps he’ll extend his list of potential opponents for his potential MMA debut to “The Last Stylebender.” And if White’s rhetorical question also functions as a dare, perhaps White will decide to call Paul’s bluff.

    Do you think Jake Paul would be willing to fight Israel Adesanya in an MMA fight?

  • UFC London: Volkov vs. Aspinall Weigh-In Results, All Fighters On Target

    The UFC London weigh-ins are complete, and all fighters successfully made weight.

    The UFC returns to London tomorrow (March 19) for a full slate of exciting matchups. In the main event, Tom Aspinall will face the stiffest test of his UFC career when he takes on the #6-ranked Alexander Volkov. A win for Aspinall (#11) could see him storm into the division’s top 5.

    In the co-main event, Dan Hooker will return to featherweight when he faces the #7-ranked Arnold Allen, who is currently riding a 10-fight winning streak. Also on the main card, Paddy Pimblett will face Kazula Vargas, Gunnar Nelson takes on Takashi Sato, and Jai Herbert faces Ilia Topuria.

    UFC London comes to you from the O2 Arena Saturday, March 19, 2022. The entire card will be available on ESPN+ for US viewers and on UFC Fight Pass for viewers outside the United States. The preliminary card will begin at 1PM ET, with the main card kicking off at 4 PM ET.

    You can view the full lineup and weigh-in results for UFC London below and the live weigh-in show here.

    UFC LONDON MAIN CARD

    Main Event – Heavyweight Bout: Alexander Volkov (253) vs Tom Aspinall (252)

    Co-Main Event – Featherweight Bout: Arnold Allen (146) vs Dan Hooker (145)

    Lightweight Bout: Paddy Pimblett (155) vs Kazula Vargas (155)

    Welterweight Bout: Gunnar Nelson (171) vs Takashi Sato (170)

    Womenā€™s Flyweight Bout: Molly McCann (125) vs Luana Carolina (125)    

    Lightweight Bout: Jai Herbert (155) vs Ilia Topuria (156)

    UFC LONDON PRELIMINARY CARD

    Featherweight Bout: Mike Grundy (145) vs Makwan Amirkhani (146)

    Heavyweight Bout: Shamil Abdurakhimov (258) vs Sergei Pavlovich (254)

    Light Heavyweight Bout: Nikita Krylov (205) vs Paul Craig (206)

    Bantamweight Bout: Jack Shore (135) vs Timur Valiev (136)

    Womenā€™s Strawweight: Cory McKenna (115) vs Elise Reed (115)

    Flyweight Bout: Muhammad Mokaev (125) vs Cody Durden (126)

    Be sure to keep it locked right here on MMANews.com for all the UFC London coverage tomorrow!