MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Santos: I’ll Prove I’m Still In The Game By Stopping Ankalaev’s Rise

    UFC light heavyweight contender Thiago Santos is hoping to prove he’s still a player at 205 pounds by halting the rise of surging Dagestani Magomed Ankalaev.

    Having rebounded from a three-fight losing skid last time out by besting Johnny Walker in the UFC Vegas 38 main event, Santos will be hoping to open his 2022 account with success in what will be the Brazilian’s fourth headliner in his last five outings.

    In his way of a two-fight win streak will be Ankalaev, a rising contender widely considered a future champion. The Makhachkala-born 29-year-old will ride a seven-fight win streak into UFC Vegas 50, a run of form that includes dominant victories over Ion Cuțelaba, Nikita Krylov, and Volkan Oezdemir.

    Despite having his hand raised last October, Santos didn’t massively impress in what was undoubtedly a disappointing and lackluster five-round clash.

    With that in mind, and given his prior defeats to Aleksandar Rakić, Glover Teixeira, and Jon Jones, many have questioned whether “Marreta” still has what it takes to hang with the light heavyweight best.

    This Saturday, Santos’ mission will be to prove his detractors wrong.

    Santos Excited For “Good Opportunity” Versus Ankalaev

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura, Santos, who will be making the walk to the Octagon for the 23rd time this weekend, explained why he sees the UFC Vegas 50 headliner as a good opportunity.

    Despite the immense challenge in front of him, the Brazilian said he’s looking to show that he’s still “in this game” by adding a second blemish to Ankalaev’s 17-fight résumé.

    “He’s a big challenge for me. He’s a young guy, prospect, so I’m so excited for this fight… He’s doing a very good job. But it’s a good opportunity. I can show to everyone I’m still in this game.”

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

    With both men coming off wins and inside the light heavyweight top six, Saturday’s contest could have huge implications for the title picture. Now that Jiří Procházka is set to challenge for Teixeira’s gold at UFC 275, the race to ascend to the spot in the queue behind the Czech is underway.

    Given Rakić is likely to have his clash with Jan Blachowicz re-arranged for later in the year, it appears the victor in that matchup will lead the charge. Nevertheless, you’d expect this weekend’s winner to be just one more triumph away from a date with the champion.

    Who do you think will have their hand raised in this weekend’s main event, Thiago Santos or Magomed Ankalaev?

  • Kayla Harrison Believes GOAT Status Is Still Attainable With PFL Deal

    Newly re-signed PFL women’s lightweight champion Kayla Harrison feels she can accomplish her goals in the PFL without joining another promotion.

    After months of negotiating and hearing offers, Harrison elected to re-sign with the PFL after a lengthy free agency process. She signed a new multi-year deal with the league and is set to compete in the league’s upcoming 2022 season.

    A big talking point of Harrison’s free agency was her level of competition so far during her 12-0 professional career. She had once been linked to potential matchups with Bellator featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino and former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes.

    But Harrison feels that the league is ready to take the next step and add more talent to the roster amidst her new contract.

    During a recent interview on ESPN’s SportsCenter, Harrison reflected on her free agency and what led to her re-signing with the PFL.

    “I think there were a lot of contract negotiations, there were a lot of offers, many of them very lucrative,” Harrison said. “Ultimately, the PFL had the right to match any contract offer I received and they stepped up in a big way, and now I’m going to be staying with the PFL. I’m excited.

    Kayla Harrison
    Kayla Harrison (Image Credit: PFL MMA)

    “I talked to [PFL founder and chairman] Donn Davis last night, and he made it very clear to me that the goals I have for myself, the ways I want to challenge myself are still going to be accomplished and the PFL supports me in that 100%. And they’re not afraid to pay big money to get big-name fighters to try to challenge me.”

    Harrison’s re-signing with the PFL had reportedly hit a roadblock in recent weeks, but it appears the league turned things around after the brief ordeal. One of her American Top Team coaches, Mike Brown, has also said that he wants to see Harrison get a step up in competition going forward.

    Bellator had allegedly offered Harrison the most lucrative deal before the PFL came forward and matched it, securing her re-signing.

    Harrison won the 2021 PFL women’s lightweight championship in dismantling Taylor Guardado in the finals. She’s expected to face fierce competition in 2022, including former Bellator champion Julia Budd and potentially, up-and-coming MMA prospect Claressa Shields.

    What is your reaction to Kayla Harrison re-signing with the PFL?

  • Tai Tuivasa Calls Out Stipe Miocic: “I Think That’s The Fight”

    UFC heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa wants a shot against former UFC champion Stipe Miocic for his next Octagon appearance.

    Tuivasa is arguably the hottest name in the heavyweight division right now. He’s won five fights in a row, all of which ended in a knockout within the first two rounds.

    Tuivasa surged into the top 5 of the UFC heavyweight rankings following a violent knockout of Derrick Lewis at UFC 271. After back-and-forth exchanges, he landed a heavy elbow that sent the UFC knockout leader Lewis collapsing to the canvas.

    Tuivasa could be potentially one win away from a heavyweight title shot, which was unheard of at this point last year. But he wants bigger challenges to earn a shot at the belt in 2022.

    During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Tuivasa called out arguably the greatest heavyweight in UFC history.

    “I just think that that’s the fight,” Tuivasa said. “He’s in front of me. That’s who I’d like to fight just because he’s been around, he’s older and I don’t think he’ll have many more left. I’d like to have a crack at him before he goes. He’s the best heavyweight of all time, so why wouldn’t I want a crack against him? Just like the knockout king [Derrick Lewis].”

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has also alluded to a matchup with Miocic for his heavyweight debut. However, it remains to be seen when Jones will return to the cage in 2022.

    UFC President Dana White put Tuivasa into the heavyweight title picture following his latest win over Lewis. He has also earned big knockouts over the likes of Greg Hardy and Augusto Sakai.

    Do you want to see Tai Tuivasa vs. Stipe Miocic next?

  • Alex Pereira: Israel Adesanya Is Lying To His Fans

    Alex Pereira thinks UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya doesn’t want to face off with him in the Octagon despite what he tells the public.

    Pereira made his UFC debut last year following an impressive run in Glory Kickboxing. He’s also the only fighter in any sport to finish Adesanya, as he did at Glory of Heroes 7.

    Pereira is coming off of his win over Andreas Michailidis at UFC 268. He’s now set to face Bruno Silva in an exciting matchup at UFC Vegas 50 this weekend.

    Pereira has previously said that he made Adesanya break into tears following the knockout. Now that Pereira has made the full-time move to MMA, the third fight between them could happen sooner rather than later.

    Adesanya has expressed moderate intrigue in an eventual fight between him and Pereira in the UFC. He’s hinted that Pereira has some work to do before getting a middleweight title shot, at which point he would be more than happy to face Pereira in an MMA setting.

    During a recent appearance on the Trocacao Franca podcast, Pereira accused Adesanya of misleading his fans regarding his interest in a fight with him.

    “Man, have you seen me laughing before? It’s hard, right?” Pereira said through chortles. “How does this guy say he’s anxious to fight me? If I were in his shoes and I was crazy to fight someone, anxious, like he’s saying he is … as soon as I heard ‘Alex Pereira has signed with the UFC,’ [I would’ve said] f***, [book it] right away. The respect he has [within the company], I’d say, ‘Ask him if he wants to fight me now. Forget about Robert Whittaker, cancel this fight, reschedule it. I make the calls. If Alex wants it, I want it.’

    Adesanya Hopes To See Alex Pereira In 4-5 Fights: "It's Different Now"
    Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira

    “F***, man, that’s what you do is you’re anxious to fight [someone]. ‘Oh, I can’t wait to fight Alex, but I’ll fight him [after] 15 fights.’ F***, How is he anxious to do it? What does he want? Look, I’ll tell you this — it’s harder for me to get to him than beating him. He knows that. He knows how I beat him. He fought me twice. He won’t admit how difficult I am. He’s not anxious to fight me. He wants me to slip tomorrow so he can say, ‘Is this the guy you want me to fight? Are you crazy? Go back to the end of the line.’ He’ll run from me.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

    Pereira then went on to proclaim that the UFC middleweight champion may be intentionally avoiding him out of fear.

    “Someone crazy for a fight will say, ‘I want this guy, I want to prove I’m better than him,’” Pereira continued. “He’s fooling his fan base. People should pressure him. The least he could do is say, ‘F*ck, I’ll show my fans that I’m the best and that’s why they follow me,’ but that’s not what he’s doing. He’s scared s***. Like Glover [Teixeira] says, he’s scared s***.”

    Adesanya is coming off of his UFC 271 title rematch against Robert Whittaker, earning a unanimous decision win. He’s expected to face Jared Cannonier later this year for his next title defense.

    If Pereira is able to put on another impressive performance against Silva, calls for a fight with Adesanya will start to ramp up. This could give Adesanya the chance to get vengeance after losing twice to Pereira in the kickboxing ring.

    Do you think we’ll eventually see Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira in the UFC?

  • Makhachev Doubles Down On Title-Fight Plans Despite White’s Mandate

    UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev isn’t interested in anything other than a title shot for his next Octagon appearance.

    UFC President Dana White accused Makhachev of turning down a fight with Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 272. This resulted in White voicing his intentions to re-book the fight with Beneil Dariush for Makhachev’s next bout.

    Makhachev was supposed to face Dariush in a potential No. 1 contender bout at UFC Vegas 49. This was before Dariush pulled out with an injury and Makhachev ended up facing the unranked Bobby Green, earning a quick TKO victory.

    During a recent interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Makhachev responded to White’s recent comments regarding his next fight.

    “Now, Dana say ‘Islam have to fight versus Dariush,’” Makhachev said. “I have no problem (fighting) him, but we have to fight for the title next. I don’t know who we have. Poirier? He lose many times. Chandler? Hooker? Tony Ferguson? RDA have four fights (with) two wins. And Gillespie, he (fought) one time (in) two years. Who (will) fight for the title?”

    Makhachev has won 10 straight and seemed on the verge of a title shot before allegedly turning down a fight with dos Anjos on short notice at UFC 272. Despite White’s mandate that Makhachev has to face Dariush next before a potential title shot, Makhachev has no plans to comply.

    “I’m gonna take this belt and fight (Dariush). No problem.”

    Makhachev is still expecting to fight the winner of Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje in November in Abu Dhabi. White has hinted at the UFC’s potential return to Fight Island later this year.

    Oliveira will defend his lightweight title against Gaethje at UFC 274. While Dariush’s timetable for a return is uncertain, Makhachev is willing to wait for the next shot at the belt.

    Who do you predict Islam Makhachev’s next fight will be against?

  • Covington Again References Dustin Poirier’s Child In Latest Trash Talk

    Colby Covington is clearly willing to say and do whatever it takes to land a fight against Dustin Poirier despite Poirier’s insistence that the fight won’t happen.

    Colby Covington has been setting his sights on a Dustin Poirier fight for several months now, citing Poirier’s past remarks to fight Covington “on sight” as the primary motivation behind the callouts. Covington hasn’t merely floated the idea of a fight against Poirier; he’s taken extremely personal shots at his former American Top Team teammate in the process.

    Most notably, he has called Poirier’s wife Jolie a “Jezebel” and his daughter Parker a “prop.” In fact, he even went so far as to claim that if Poirier did not accept his challenge, then that would make him, not Poirier, the true father of his child.

    Speaking at the UFC 272 post-fight press conference following his victory over Jorge Masvidal, Covington would once again drag Poirier’s family into their beef, not unlike how he did with Masvidal ahead of their grudge match.

    Colby Covington Makes Wild Remark About Dustin Poirier’s Daughter

    Some have accused Covington of following Conor McGregor’s playbook in talking about Poirier’s wife and thus lacking originality. Coincidentally, Covington himself would invoke McGregor’s name in his latest round of personal shots at Poirier. 

    Now, when challenging Poirier to a fight, the irreverent welterweight stated that it is McGregor, not Poirier, who fathered Parker and later stated that McGregor is having sexual relations with Poirier’s wife.

    “So I figure I’ll get another tune-up fight with Dustin Poirier, who said it’s on sight,” Covington began. “He weighs more than me. He’s just a bully who cuts a lot of weight. I don’t cut any weight because I know I’m the best in the world and I don’t need to have a weight advantage over anybody. So Dustin, name the site, bring that Jezebel of a wife and bring Conor’s little kid Parker.”

    Colby Covington
    Colby Covington, Getty Images

    Though Covington’s comments are as baseless as they are tasteless, the reasoning behind them is likely in reference to Jolie allegedly sending McGregor a direct message request prior to UFC 264. McGregor made frequent references to the DM request before and after his trilogy against Poirier, notoriously taunting his rival and his wife with venom.

    Now, Covington isn’t just arguably stealing a page out of McGregor’s playbook but is now including the Irishman in his own when continuing to make crude and inflammatory remarks about Poirier’s family.

    Poirier has stated that he will never fight Colby Covington in the UFC. One likely reason for this is that he does not want to reward Covington and his vile remarks with a payday. Still, as evident by these latest remarks, Covington will insist on continuing to up the ante on his trash talk until Poirier joins him and the UFC brass at the negotiating table.

    Are these the most objectionable remarks publicly uttered by Colby Covington about another fighter?

  • Usman Reveals What Covington Must Do To Secure A 3rd Title Shot

    UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has revealed what longtime rival Colby Covington has to do in order to earn a third shot at his gold.

    Covington is widely considered to be the clear second-best 170lber in the UFC. He cemented that claim at UFC 272 last weekend, where he defeated former teammate Jorge Masvidal in the main event.

    Securing bragging rights after a heated build-up, “Chaos” walked away with a unanimous decision victory over his former ATT teammate. In doing so, he maintained the #1 spot in the rankings and moved closer towards a third clash with the champion.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca2s6lCOYmq/

    Unfortunately for Covington, he’s already fallen short of dethroning Kamaru Usman on two occasions. After being finished in the fifth round at UFC 245 in 2019, the former interim titleholder suffered a second loss to “The Nigerian Nightmare” at UFC 268 last November.

    But despite being outfought twice by the champ, many expect the pair to share the cage for a third time down the line. And Usman has now outlined a potential path for Covington to take in order to secure the trilogy.

    Usman Tells Covington To “Sell Yourself”

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, Usman, who was in attendance in Las Vegas for Covington’s rebound victory on March 5, dropped the names of some contenders “Chaos” must fight to stake his claim for yet another opportunity at snatching the belt.

    The welterweight king also encouraged his rival to ‘sell himself’ and ensure he can’t be leapfrogged or overlooked.

    “Colby’s doing the right thing right now. He’s selling himself. You’ve gotta sell yourself, and you actually have to go out there and deliver, and fight,” said Usman. “Right now, it (a trilogy fight) doesn’t make sense. Go out there and sell yourself. There’s a couple more fights you need to take on. You haven’t fought Gilbert Burns. You haven’t fought Vicente Luque. You haven’t fought (Khamzat) Chimaev. So, yeah, go out there and get a couple of wins. And then continue to sell yourself, and then you can stake that claim to where people won’t deny you anymore.

    “You’ve got Muhammad; Belal Muhammad is there as well,” Usman continued. “Beat a couple more guys. Shut those contenders down, because right now, somebody can leapfrog you. You shut them all down, like Francis Ngannou did, then there’ll be no talk about it. We’d have to fight for the third time.”

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

    Judging by Covington’s post-fight interview, it seems the 34-year-old may have other ideas. Rather than fellow welterweight contenders, the name on Covington’s lips was Dustin Poirier, another of his former ATT teammates.

    While it perhaps wouldn’t aid his desire to secure a trilogy with Usman, a clash with “The Diamond” would certainly draw eyes and attention, something Covington tends to heavily pursue.

    Who would you like to see Colby Covington face next?

  • Rob Font vs. Marlon Vera Targeted For April UFC Fight Night

    A UFC bantamweight matchup between rising contenders Rob Font and Marlon Vera is set to headline a UFC Fight Night event on April 30.

    ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was the first to report the booking.

    Font is coming off of his first setback in a while during his UFC career, losing to former UFC champion José Aldo last December. Before that, he earned four straight victories over the likes of Marlon Moraes and Cody Garbrandt.

    This will be Font’s third straight UFC main event after headlining Fight Nights in his win against Garbrandt and his unanimous decision loss to Aldo. Earlier in his career, he earned wins over current Bellator champion Sergio Pettis and Thomas Almeida in dominant performances.

    Font will face a tough task in Vera, who will fight in his first career UFC main event. He rebounded from a tough loss to Aldo in late 2020 by earning back-to-back victories over Frankie Edgar and Davey Grant.

    Vera’s knockout of Edgar at UFC 268 was arguably one of the most violent finishes in 2021.

    Vera began his rise in the bantamweight division by handing Sean O’Malley his first loss at UFC 252. He also earned wins over the likes of Andre Ewell and Brian Kelleher since making his UFC debut back at UFC 180.

    Font and Vera will compete for positioning in the stacked bantamweight division. Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan will finally fight in their title rematch at UFC 273, nearly a year after their first matchup ended in controversy.

    What is your prediction for Rob Font vs. Marlon Vera?

  • Cejudo: If UFC Won’t Give Me Volkanovski, Then Give Me Holloway

    Former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo has made yet another callout after having missed out on a title shot at UFC 273.

    This time, Cejudo has chosen to call out Max Holloway instead of UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski as he plans to return at 145lbs looking to become a three-division UFC champion. The first in history to do so.

    ‘Triple C’ had previously called out the UFC featherweight champion following Holloway’s withdrawal from his title shot due to an injury. Ultimately, Cejudo’s callout was ignored as Chan Sung Jung stepped up to replace Holloway at UFC 273, which goes down next month.

    Dana White stated Cejudo’s callout of Volkanovski ahead of UFC 272 was “not how it works” when the 35-year-old was looking to return with an instant title shot. The UFC president was adamant that the former UFC double champion was retired and would not be able to jump back in at any weight class to take on a titleholder.

    Cejudo On Holloway: “I Know I Can Beat Him”

    Henry Cejudo Dominick Cruz
    Image Credit: Getty Images

    It appears now that Cejudo has accepted White’s stance and is looking to earn his title shot with a win in the featherweight division first. The man Cejudo wants to return against? Max Holloway (h/t MiddleEasy).

    “If I do end up coming back, give me Max Holloway,” Cejudo said in an interview with The Underground. “If they’re not going to give me Alexander the average for a belt, then give me Holloway. If they want me to fight somebody to get into that title fight, then give me Holloway. I know I can beat him. Then, I get Alexander the average, but I want to get compensated for that.”

    With a win over the former UFC featherweight champion, Cejudo is envisioning a title shot as Holloway’s only recent defeats in the weight class has come to the champion Volkanovski.

    “I’m curious to see what Holloway wants to say about that fight. I respect Holloway, but I also know he’s very beatable, but also he’s very dangerous too. That’s the same reason why I like it. I do believe that Max Holloway would take me serious, but I think he would fight me more so than what Alexander Volkanovski would. That’s the route that I would want to go,” said Cejudo.

    Do you see Cejudo returning at featherweight and facing Holloway?

  • Manager: PFL Deal Makes Harrison Highest-Paid Female MMA Fighter

    According to Dominance MMA Management CEO Ali Abdelaziz, Kayla Harrison’s new PFL deal has made her the highest-paid female mixed martial artist in history.

    After months of speculation and uncertainty, the future of one of the most sought-after free agents in MMA was announced this week. Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and undefeated lightweight is set for some more years fighting under the promotional banner of the rising PFL organization.

    “I’m happy the free agency is over and I have a fight on the horizon,” Harrison told The New York Post via text. “I’m excited to continue to grow and challenge myself and be one of the highest-paid athletes in the sport.”

    And one of the highest-paid athletes she certainly is, if her manager is to be believed.

    Per journalist Aaron Bronsteter, Abdelaziz has said his client has shot to the top of the ladder in women’s MMA when it comes to financial gain following the signing of a new lucrative contract.

    “I spoke with Harrison’s manager @AliAbdelaziz00, who said ‘the PFL stepped up in a big way and Kayla is now the highest paid women’s mixed martial artist ever. I want to thank everyone who was involved in getting the deal done and in particular, Peter Murray and Ray Sefo.’”

    Given that she’s only 12 fights and four years deep into her career, if true, Harrison’s status as the highest-paid female MMA fighter ever is certainly an impressive achievement.

    Harrison Will Pursue A 3rd PFL Title In 2022

    While a return to the PFL seemed likely a number of weeks ago, a late offer from Bellator seemingly threw a spanner in the works. If that came to fruition, a long-awaited clash between Harrison and Cris Cyborg, who have been going back and forth on social media for months, would have been a possibility.

    Unfortunately for Bellator kingpin Scott Coker, his rival for her signature was able to match the offer, thus paving the way for this week’s confirmation.

    With her future finally laid out following five months of discussion and a tied-down place on the sport’s rumor mill, Harrison will now turn her attention to what she seemingly does best—destroying her competition inside the PFL cage and capturing gold.

    Having previously secured $1 million checks and championship glory in both 2019 and 2021, the Ohio native will be looking for a third successive dose of PFL glory when she returns for the 2022 season.

    With the addition of former Bellator featherweight champion Julia Budd to the equation, this year promises to provide the former Judoka with her stiffest tests to date.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CVkrTb8g47i/

    Do you think re-signing with PFL was the correct move for Kayla Harrison?

  • Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson Booked For UFC 274

    A lightweight showcase between former title challengers Tony Ferguson and Michael Chandler has been agreed on for UFC 274.

    Sports Illustrated was the first to report the fight’s booking.

    Chandler vs. Ferguson had been hinted at by UFC President Dana White during a recent Q+A on ESPN+ with Laura Sanko. The fight will take place the same night as the lightweight title matchup between Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira.

    Chandler last fought against Gaethje at UFC 268, losing via a unanimous decision in arguably the best fight of 2021. Before that, he had lost his first UFC title shot against Oliveira for the vacant belt at UFC 262. A win over Ferguson could get Chandler back into the lightweight title picture.

    Ferguson is looking to snap a three-fight losing skid and hasn’t won since defeating Donald Cerrone via doctor’s stoppage at UFC 238. He lost to Beneil Dariush in a lopsided bout at UFC 262 after dropping fights to Gaethje and Oliveira in 2020.

    Chandler made his UFC debut back at UFC 257 after a long, accomplished career in Bellator. He passed his first UFC test with flying colors, earning a first-round knockout of Dan Hooker.

    Ferguson has been a mainstay of the lightweight division and earned the interim title over Kevin Lee at UFC 216. He was slated to face Khabib Nurmagomedov on five different occasions during his career but the fight was canceled due to various circumstances.

    The Chandler vs. Ferguson winner will move one step closer to a title shot. UFC 274 takes place on May 7 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ.

    What is your prediction for Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson?

  • Bisping & RDA Say Moicano’s Corner Should Have Thrown In The Towel

    UFC lightweight Rafael dos Anjos and Hall of Famer Michael Bisping have shared the same sentiment surrounding the decision to allow Renato Moicano to keep fighting at UFC 272.

    After the late withdrawal of Rafael Fiziev, Moicano stepped up on just five days’ notice to meet compatriot dos Anjos in the co-main event of the March 5 pay-per-view.

    While he left the Octagon after 25 minutes with the respect and admiration of the masses, he also exited having suffered a loss and an immense amount of damage in the process; an unnecessary level of damage, according to many.

    While Moicano showed gratitude to the doctor for not stopping the fight, claiming he wouldn’t have known what he was made of had the clash been ended early, the victorious dos Anjos shared a different view.

    During a post-fight appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, the former UFC lightweight champion revealed his frustration at the hesitancy for MMA corners to throw in the towel.

    “It drives me nuts because I see guys in boxing, all the time people throw the towel, stop the fight, and we don’t see that in MMA,” dos Anjos said. 

    “I think because of the small gloves, coaches think, ‘He’s gonna get a lucky punch and finish the fight,’ but I think we should see that more. I think coaches should be more aware, to know their fighters,” he added. “They’re not reacting, they’re not connecting anything that really hurts the other guy, so let’s stop it because you’re killing your fighter. I think that’s something that the coaches in MMA should be more aware of.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

    Unsurprisingly, RDA is not alone with that opinion.

    Bisping Backs RDA’s Take

    Former UFC middleweight champion Bisping, who was on commentary duty at UFC 272 and had a front-row seat for dos Anjos vs. Moicano, admitted his concern at the damage that the younger Brazilian was taking inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena during a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel.

    “That fight should have been stopped. It’s as simple as that,” Bisping asserted. “It was, not one-way traffic, but it was three layers of traffic going (towards Moicano), and one lane of traffic (coming back)… After three rounds, his eye was absolutely messed up. It actually gave me cause for concern… When I was looking at the state of Moicano’s eye, I was like, ‘Well, this is done. It’s over.’ And to be honest, the offense he was giving back, dos Anjos was never in any danger.”

    Like RDA, “The Count” believes the ATT coaches in Moicano’s corner should have undoubtedly put a stop to the beating themselves by throwing in the towel. He suggested they should have been “man enough” to prevent their man from sustaining any more damage.

    “The corner should have threw in the towel. Because right there at the end of the third round, well he can’t possibly win on points, that’s for sure,” said Bisping. “He hasn’t got the power, and the pop and snap in his punches, to finish him right now, and he’s not gonna submit Rafael dos Anjos… Cornermen need to throw the towel in. The referee let it go, the doctor let it go; the corner should have (stopped it)… They’ve gotta be man enough to say. ‘You know what? I’m gonna save you from any further damage.’

    “This is somebody’s life we’re talking about. This is somebody’s long-term health, and their fight career,” the Englishman added. “When you go through that kind of fight, never mind the physical damage, never mind your eyes and the cuts and the nose and the bones and everything that might be broken, the psychological trauma—you might never be the same again.”

    UFC 272 results: Rafael dos Anjos turns Renato Moicano into a bloody zombie, wins wide decision - MMAmania.com
    Renato Moicano, Image: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

    But despite believing the fight shouldn’t have seen a fourth or fifth frame, Bisping praised the way veteran referee Marc Goddard handled the contest. He also admitted that in his fighting days, he’d have loved the lenient attitude of the cage-side doctor.

    “Marc Goddard, the referee, I thought did a great job. He brought in the doctor on two occasions. That doctor’s a savage. I love it. If I’m fighting, I always said to the referee when they would come into my room beforehand, I would always say, ‘Hey, listen ref, do not stop this fight…’ But that fight should have been stopped in round three. It was done.”

    Bisping went on to suggest that athletic commissions need to send a mass memo to teams and coaches, advising them to have more “compassion” for their fighters and more of a “practical” outlook when it comes to stopping fights.

    https://twitter.com/moicanoufc/status/1500412999298732037

    Given his positive post-fight attitude, it appears Moicano has taken the defeat well and remains in good spirits despite the brutal beating. When he returns to the Octagon, we’ll be able to see whether the damage has had an effect on his future performances inside the cage.

    Do you agree with Michael Bisping and RDA? Should Renato Moicano’s corner have thrown in the towel during the UFC 272 co-main event?

  • Sean Strickland, Jan Blachowicz Spar Over Russia-Ukraine Crisis

    UFC stars Sean Strickland and Jan Blachowicz recently went at it on social media regarding their stances on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

    Strickland is coming off of arguably the biggest win of his UFC career against Jack Hermansson earlier this year. He’s won six straight fights and appears to be on the verge of a potential middleweight title shot.

    Blachowicz is coming off his title loss to Glover Teixeira at UFC 267. He’s expected to face Aleksandar Rakic later this year.

    The debate between the two fighters started when Strickland questioned Ukraine fighting back against Russia and encouraged the country to surrender.

    “Ukraine should just bend the knee and become Russian,” Strickland said. “I understand it sucks and yes you could win….. but do you really want to be the new Afghanistan for the next 30 years??? Not saying it’s right but this hard pill to swallow will be better in the end.”

    Strickland’s thoughts on the crisis created quite the stir on social media. This prompted a response from Blachowicz, a Polish UFC star, and former light heavyweight champion.

    “Would you? It is easy to give away someone else’s independence,” Blachowicz said. “The history of the Eastern European region is full of struggle and suffering. Ukraine – as a country and as a people – has endured much. Their resistance is understandable and admirable. Freedom!”

    Strickland replied to Blachowicz’s tweet by doubling down on his original post regarding the conflict.

    “35 days for Germany to take control of Poland,” Strickland replied. “The only reason why there is a poland is ww2. Poland isn’t Ukraine. Their children’s children will be living in the rubble of Ukraine struggle under a Russian flag in 5 years. That is the cost. Russian sanctions are Ukraine sanctions.

    “That is the last thing I’ll say on this subject. Mark my words, what I say will come true, tell people to struggle, tell people to fight. There children’s children’s will live in poverty and destruction under a Russian flag. This is the reality.. Hard truths I know.”

    Strickland and Blachowicz aren’t the only notable UFC fighters to make their voices heard on the Ukraine-Russia crisis. UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell made headlines in the leadup to UFC 272 when he gave his thoughts on the conflict and stated that he wouldn’t fight overseas if the U.S. government mandated it.

    Additionally, Ukrainian fighter Maryna Moroz has shared how she has been personally impacted by the war, even losing some friends.

    Strickland is never afraid to speak his mind on various topics, even when he’s questioned by one of the biggest names in the sport. The Russia-Ukraine crisis continues to be a hot-button issue among professional athletes.

    Do you agree with Jan Blachowicz or Sean Strickland?

  • Junior dos Santos, Héctor Lombard, Thiago Silva Sign With Eagle FC

    Former UFC standouts Junior dos Santos, Héctor Lombard, and Thiago Silva have found a new MMA home at Eagle FC.

    ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was the first to break the news of dos Santos’ signing, while Silva and Lombard’s deals were announced at a recent Eagle FC news conference.

    dos Santos was supposed to face Kubrat Pulev in a boxing match at Triller Triad Combat before the fight was called off on short notice. dos Santos hasn’t competed in MMA since four-straight losses to end his UFC tenure.

    dos Santos’ last MMA win came against Derrick Lewis in March 2019. After winning three in a row, a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou would prove to be the beginning of the end to dos Santos’ time in the Octagon.

    dos Santos is tentatively scheduled to make his Eagle FC debut against another UFC veteran, Yorgan De Castro in May. De Castro won his promotional debut against Shaun Asher in January.

    dos Santos will be joined by Lombard and Silva in his next MMA venture. Lombard has competed in bare-knuckle boxing over his past four fights in BKFC and last competed in MMA in September 2018.

    Lombard is also looking to bounce back after six-straight losses to wrap up his time in the UFC. Lombard will compete in the Eagle FC light heavyweight division.

    Joining Lombard at 205 pounds will be Silva, who has competed in brief stints in KSW and ACB. He’s won five of his last nine MMA fights, with his most recent win coming against former The Ultimate Fighter standout James McSweeney.

    Eagle FC continues to make gains in the MMA landscape. The promotion landed former UFC interim title challenger Kevin Lee along with UFC pioneer Diego Sanchez, who will compete in the Eagle FC 46 main event this weekend.

    What are your thoughts on these additions, including Junior Dos Santos, by Eagle FC?

  • Kayla Harrison Reacts To Being Blocked By Cris Cyborg On Twitter

    The beef between Kayla Harrison and Cris Cyborg has led to the Bellator champion blocking Harrison on Twitter.

    For months, Kayla Harrison was going through the sometimes difficult ordeal of free agency. That all ended after it was confirmed earlier this week that Harrison has signed a multi-year deal with the PFL.

    However, Bellator had been interested in signing Harrison as well. When the prospect of Bellator as a landing spot arose, Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg began to perk up.

    Cyborg and Harrison have had many Twitter exchanges in recent months, with Harrison even inviting Cyborg to her gym to have a training/sparring session with her recently. That was not an overly friendly invitation, however, more like a “say this to my face” sort of thing.

    Now that Harrison has re-upped with PFL, it seems that Cyborg is done with the talk and blocked her on Twitter.

    Cyborg wrote a now-deleted tweet saying, “Tell me you only got 50K followers without telling me you only have 50K…engagement farming is so basic,” and then blocked her. Harrison reacted to this news by again welcoming a fight against the Bellator champion.

    “Dang it. I went too far,” she wrote. “Cris please fight me! I won’t use judo just wrestling.”

    Following the block, Cyborg explained why she did so, but simultaneously accused Harrison of running from her.

    “Nah. I blocked her cause she could have signed with @BellatorMMA and made the fight but didn’t,” Cyborg wrote.

    The details of Harrison’s PFL contract are not completely announced, but it is a multi-year contract. With her tied to PFL for the next few seasons, the likelihood that she will ever meet Cyborg in the cage is looking slim. Cyborg is 36 years old and could be nearing the end of a long career that began in 2005.

    What are your thoughts on Cris Cyborg blocking Kayla Harrison on Twitter?

  • Bryce Mitchell To Tucker Carlson: My Friends Think My Life Is At Risk

    UFC featherweight contender Bryce Mitchell says his political and societal views may be threatening his life.

    Mitchell is coming off arguably the biggest win of his MMA career at UFC 272, earning a unanimous decision over Edson Barboza. He dominated with his grappling and overwhelmed Barboza on the ground.

    In addition to his UFC successes, Mitchell has also been in the headlines for some of his controversial remarks on a variety of issues. Mitchell’s recently questioned the cause of mass shootings in the United States and has shared his opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

    During a recent interview with Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson, Mitchell explained why he feels his life may be in danger after sharing his thoughts on foreign and domestic issues. (h/t MMA Junkie)

    “I’m just not wanting to go waste my life fighting for some of these battles that I don’t even believe in,” Mitchell said. “I believe our leaders, a lot of these elites are guilty of treason. What they’ve done is just treasonous.

    https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1501394105632493570?s=20&t=krPZ3b9WwqD4xD4FCu19Mg

    “That’s how worried people are about the state of their country. My friends think my life could be at risk because I’m coming out here and speaking truth. I have people saying, ‘Hey, load your guns up, be ready.’ They are worried about my health because I’m coming out and speaking the truth. That’s the type of suppression and oppression that we’re living in, brother.”

    UFC 272 media day featured Mitchell discussing his views on the ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine. He believes that should the U.S. government require him to serve overseas in a global war, Mitchell plans on resisting any military mandate or draft.

    Not all of Mitchell’s views have caused controversy though. He’s also shared his plans to make a difference in his local community in Arkansas by donating a portion of each of his fight purses to help underprivileged youth and those with medical conditions.

    Mitchell is expected to return to the Octagon later this year as he looks to continue to climb the featherweight division. In the meantime, Mitchell appears unafraid to make his views known on various issues, whether you agree with him or not.

    What are your thoughts on Bryce Mitchell and his recent Fox News appearance?

  • Covington Uses Masvidal’s “Headline” Against Him In Post-Fight Gloat

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington isn’t afraid to rub it in against Jorge Masvidal after their grudge match at UFC 272.

    Covington used his superior wrestling combined with his activity on the feet to defeat Masvidal at UFC 272. Except for a few brief moments from Masvidal, Covington was able to out-work and out-pace Masvidal over five rounds of action.

    Covington and Masvidal shared quite the heated buildup to their fight. The former American Top Team teammates and friends turned bitter rivals got personal with their pre-fight trash talk.

    The pre-fight banter included a post-fight headline prediction that Masvidal made leading up to the event. He predicted that Covington would be in “critical condition, might not fully make it” after squaring off in the Octagon.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Cafm-xCp2QF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    After getting the better of Masvidal at UFC 272, Covington took to Instagram to throw Masvidal’s earlier ‘headline’ back at him.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca0zYNLO7Ho/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “Street Judas’ career in critical condition, might not make it,” Covington said in a post.

    Jorge Masvidal Squashes Retirement Talk Following Loss To Colby Covington

    As Covington alluded to, some fans opined that it may be time for Masvidal to begin to think about retiring from MMA altogether after his third-straight defeat. But in a recent Instagram post, he squashed the notion that he’s done competing inside the Octagon.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Caykk3OuAYF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “I will be back far from over!” Masvidal said.

    Before the loss to Covington, Masvidal had lost back-to-back welterweight title shots against Kamaru Usman. His second matchup with Usman resulted in a vicious knockout defeat.

    Masvidal is hoping to work his way back to the welterweight title picture and another potential fight with Covington down the line. He’ll look to earn his first win since 2019 later this year.

    Who do you want to see Colby Covington fight next?

  • Islam Makhachev Blasts Tim Elliott After “Dirty” Fight With Teammate

    UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev is not a fan of Tim Elliott’s “dirty” approach to his fight against Tagir Ulanbekov at UFC 272.

    Makhachev is arguably the best active Dagestan fighter following the retirement of Khabib Nurmagomedov. He’s on the verge of a lightweight title shot with a win later this year against potential opponent Beneil Dariush.

    Makhachev sat cageside to watch most of the UFC 272 event but also helped corner a few of his teammates. One of them was Ulanbekov, who faced a tough flyweight matchup against the veteran Elliott.

    Elliott put on arguably one of the best performances of his career against Ulanbekov, but not without controversy. He appeared to grab Elliott’s glove on multiple occasions during the fight and arguably landed an illegal knee as well on Ulanbekov.

    Elliott would win the fight via a unanimous decision.

    Makhachev took to Instagram to highlight some of the alleged missed fouls that Elliott committed during the fight against Ulanbekov.

    https://www.instagram.com/tv/Ca0t1aoprS9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “This fight clear example of so called. “dirty fighter,” Makhachev said. “To make so many intentional fouls in one fight, you don’t see that often.

    1. Clearly intentional eye poke in the clinch. (That affected the whole fight after)
    2. Twice knee to the grounded opponent
    3. Grabbing a glove multiple times during exchanges
    4. Very clearly Grabbing the glove during grappling (you can’t stick your fingers into opponent’s glove, it’s illegal)

    But I’m more surprised with the referee that let him do everything he wanted to. Still I’m very proud with my brother Tagir’s performance and he accepted this unfair L.”

    Makhachev wasn’t the only one who was upset with how the fight played out. Nurmagomedov was animated and furious while in Ulanbekov’s corner during the controversial moments.

    Referee Chris Tognoni did briefly stop the fight to address an eye poke from Elliott but missed the alleged penalties that Makhachev discussed above.

    https://twitter.com/wiseguyMMA/status/1500266512808128517?s=20&t=Rvbj174E0M9w613eZVreSg

    With the win, Tim Elliott moves to 18-12 while Ulanbekov’s record now sits at 14-2.

    Do you agree with Islam Makhachev’s take on Tim Elliott?

  • Israel Adesanya: I’m Glad I’m Not “Cop Car Headbutter” Jon Jones

    UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya has taken shots at Jon Jones’ 2021 arrest and suggested the former light heavyweight titleholder needs to fight himself and his demons.

    Jones, who is widely considered one of, if not the, leading contenders in the race for the status of greatest of all time, hasn’t entered the Octagon since a 2020 title defense against Dominick Reyes. Later in the year, he vacated the 205-pound gold and announced his intention to pursue heavyweight glory.

    But after a much-discussed clash with champion Francis Ngannou fell through last year, “Bones” sat out for all of 2021. Nevertheless, thanks to yet another run-in with the law, his name still remained firmly in the headlines despite his absence from active competition.

    After his induction into the UFC Hall of Fame at September’s Las Vegas-held ceremony, Jones was arrested and charged with battery domestic violence and injuring and tampering with a vehicle.

    In the latest update in regards to the incident, video footage of Jones’ arrest was released, showing the 34-year-old aggressively banging his head on a police car.

    During a recent interaction with TMZ Sports, Adesanya, who’s had his fair share of back and forth with Jones in recent years, appeared to jibe at his foe’s troubles, which represented the latest of many legal issues over the past decade.

    “The Last Stylebender” suggested he was glad to be on the TMZ channel for his accomplishments, rather than for head-butting a cop vehicle.

    “I’m glad I can be invited to TMZ; I’m not here, getting looked up for the wrong reasons, and being put on TMZ [impersonates TMZ intro], and some crazy video of me banging my head on a cop car or something crazy like that. I’m glad that’s not me,” said Adesanya.

    Having brought up the topic of Jones, Adesanya was asked about his own feud with the New York-born star. The Nigerian-New Zealander reminded fans that Jones was the initiator, something he believes proved that the two-time light heavyweight king saw him as a “threat.”

    While he reiterated a willingness to share the cage with Jones in the future, Adesanya asserted that the 34-year-old must fight himself and his demons first.

    “I remember it because he was the one that started it on TMZ. And everyone likes to say, ‘Ah, Izzy,’ no. He put my name in his mouth first,” reminded Adesanya. “So I’m like, ‘Well, he was a fan, and he realized there’s an opportunity there.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, for real? You’re supposed to be the GOAT and you wanna fight me? That shows me you think I’m a threat.’

    “I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m gonna get the other one.’ So I dealt with Silva, who was my favorite fighter at the time. So yeah, I’m like ‘F*ck this c*nt,’” added Adesanya. “But, hey, he needs to fight himself, or fight his demons. That’s the main things he needs to be fighting. Go back to church.”

    Adesanya Tells Jones To “Go Fight Francis”

    Adesanya also addressed Jones’ long-planned venture to the heavyweight division. Since 2020, the 205-pound great has consistently updated fans on his plans in the weight class and progress bulking up in the gym.

    However, now three months into 2022 and nearly two years beyond his decision to relinquish the light heavyweight title, and Jones doesn’t appear any closer to his divisional debut.

    Citing his own development from intention to action in terms of fighting at a second weight, Adesanya criticized Jones’ ongoing transition and constant statements of intent for a heavyweight switch.

    “First of all, go fight Francis. I said I was gonna move up in weight, I did it the next year. He’s said it since like 2013, ‘Ah, I still gotta do this first, and do that.’ I’m like, ‘Bro, this is martial arts. If you’re the best, go prove you’re the best. This is the game we’re in.’ It’s not just about size, and this and that,” concluded Adesanya.

    As most would have expected, Jones was vocal after Ngannou’s January triumph against Ciryl Gane. Nevertheless, with “The Predator” out of action following surgery and potentially on his way out of the promotion at the end of the year, Jones’ future is still uncertain.

    With Dana White previously suggesting a return to light heavyweight contention isn’t out of the question, perhaps a super fight between “Bones” and middleweight king Adesanya isn’t dead and buried just yet.

    How do you think a light heavyweight fight between Israel Adesanya and Jon Jones would play out?

  • Cyborg, Pettis & Horiguchi Return As Bellator Heads Back To Hawaii

    Bellator MMA is set to return to Hawaii next month and will be bringing some blockbuster matchups with it to the islands.

    The promotion hasn’t headed to the off-the-mainland state since it held Bellator 235 and 236 on consecutive nights in 2019. Now, with a pandemic that shut down travel, sport, and large gatherings across the world beginning to die down, the mixed martial arts spotlight is set to return to Hawaii.

    As first reported by KHON2, Bellator will once again be putting on two events on back-to-back dates. As well as hosting Bellator 278 on April 22, the Neal S. Blaisdell Center will see Bellator 279 go down the very next night.

    While there’s yet to be any fights added to the opening night, Bellator 279 is already shaping up to be a must-watch card. With multiple title fights set to go down, two of Bellator’s top champions will return to action.

    Cris Cyborg (25-2), a former Strikeforce, Invicta FC, and UFC featherweight titleholder, is set to make the fourth defense of her 145-pound Bellator gold. Her latest victory saw her overcome Sinead Kavanagh at UFC 271.

    Challenging her in Honolulu will be familiar foe Arlene Blencowe (15-8). Since falling short of dethroning Cyborg in 2020, the Australian 38-year-old has won back-to-back contests against Dayana Silva and Pam Sorensen, earning herself a second crack at the belt.

    Elsewhere, as part of the $1 million Bantamweight Grand Prix, Sergio Pettis (22-5) will put his 135-pound title on the line against Raufeon Stots (17-1). Since leaving the UFC for Bellator in 2019, “The Phenom” has built a four-fight win streak that includes a championship crowning versus Juan Archuleta and a successful defense and knockout of the year contender against the great Kyoji Horiguchi.

    Like Pettis, Stots has remained unbeaten on the Bellator stage. In five appearances, “Supa” has extended his MMA win streak to nine and defeated the likes of Magomed Magomedov and Josh Hill. In 18 career fights, Stots’ one defeat came at the hands of top-10 UFC bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili.

    In another notable bout, Horiguchi (29-4) will make his third appearance in the Bellator cage against Patchy Mix (15-1). That clash will mark another first-round Grand Prix context. Elsewhere, Hawaii’s Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (11-1) will square off against Justine Kish (7-5).

    The currently announced Bellator 279 card (main card set for 9:30 p.m. ET) is as follows:

    Sergio Pettis vs. Raufeon Stots – Bantamweight title bout

    Cris Cyborg vs. Arlene Blencowe – Featherweight title bout

    Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Patchy Mix – Bantamweight bout

    Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Justine Kish – Flyweight bout

    Fights for Bellator 278 (main card set for 9 p.m. ET) are yet to be announced.

    Are you excited for Bellator’s return to Hawaii next month?

  • Jorge Masvidal’s Manager Shoots Down “McGregor’s Too Small” Narrative

    A UFC showdown between Jorge Masvidal and Conor McGregor may not be far-fetched after all, according to Masvidal’s manager Malki Kawa.

    Masvidal most recently fell to Colby Covington in the UFC 272 main event. Except for a few big moments in the fight such as a round 4 knockdown, Masvidal was outgunned on the feet and the ground against Covington.

    Masvidal is looking to get back in the thick of things in the welterweight division with his next fight, while McGregor is anticipating a return to the cage later this year. A bout between the two pay-per-view superstars may make sense from a timing perspective.

    McGregor has also gained quite a bit of muscle mass, as he’s showed off in recent social media posts. This may deter the possibility of McGregor returning to lightweight and may force him to move up to welterweight to potentially face Masvidal.

    Masvidal’s management has previously claimed that a fight with the Irishman was offered at lightweight.

    In a recent tweet, Kawa downplayed UFC President Dana White’s earlier comments that McGregor is “too small” to take on Masvidal.

    “I saw McGregor in Dublin,” Kawa said. “He’s not small. He looked like he walks around 195-200lbs jacked.”

    McGregor was recently spotted in attendance at Bellator 275 in Dublin.

    If McGregor opts to move to welterweight for his UFC return, a fight with Masvidal may make sense for both sides. In contrast to White’s past comments on the matchup, it seems that Masvidal’s team sees a fight with McGregor as a legitimate possibility.

    Do you want to see Jorge Masvidal vs. Conor McGregor?

  • UFC 272 Prelim Viewership Highest Since Poirier-McGregor 3 In July

    UFC 272 had apparently caught the attention of a lot of people.

    Although the card was not headlined by a title fight, UFC 272 did see a welterweight grudge match between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal. The fight was hyped up as the two were former roommates and close friends who became bitter rivals.

    Ultimately, the UFC did a good job of promoting the event as the prelims on ESPN were the highest since UFC 264 in July, which saw Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor 3 in the main event.

    “Saturday’s #UFC272 prelims averaged 1.53 million total viewers on ESPN, per UFC officials. Also aired on ESPN+ and ESPNews, but those numbers are not reported. ESPN numbers are the highest since July 2021 and the prelims for Poirier-McGregor 3, which averaged 1.61 million,” MMA reporter John Morgan reported.

    The ESPN prelims did have some solid fights, as the final fight saw Jalin Turner TKO Jamie Mullarkey in the second round. Although neither were big names, it was hyped up that the winner could very well get a ranked opponent next. The prelims also saw a potential #1 contender fight in Marina Rodriguez vs. Yan Xioanan which Rodriguez won by split decision.

    The other two ESPN prelims saw Maryna Moroz submit her former training partner and rival, Mariya Agapova in the second round. Nicolae Negumereanu beat Kennedy Nzechukwu by split decision as well.

    After the event, UFC President Dana White said this was a massive success and all the trends showed this to be a big night. If the ESPN prelims show anything, it is that UFC 272 will be one of the biggest cards of the year.

    In the main event of the card, Colby Covington dominated Jorge Masvidal over five rounds to win a clear-cut decision.

    Are you surprised with the UFC 272 viewership?

  • Robert Whittaker Names The Only Fight That Makes Sense For Him Next

    Former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker has named the only contender who makes sense as his next opponent inside the Octagon.

    Whittaker has firmly cemented himself as one of the top-two 185lbers in the UFC. Unfortunately for him, the other man in that equation, reigning titleholder Israel Adesanya, has defeated him twice.

    At UFC 271 last month, “The Reaper,” who lost the gold to Adesanya in 2019, had his chance for redemption. He got there by rebounding with three straight victories over Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and Kelvin Gastelum.

    Despite going five rounds with “The Last Stylebender” and with some in the MMA community scoring the fight in his favor, Whittaker fell on the wrong side of a unanimous decision verdict inside Houston’s Toyota Center.

    While his first loss to Adesanya left him demotivated and considering calling quits on his in-cage career, Whittaker’s response to his second setback against the champ has been the opposite.

    Having maintained a positive attitude post-fight and in recent interviews, it’s clear Whittaker is eager to fight his way back to contention and secure an “inevitable” trilogy against his Nigerian-New Zealand middleweight counterpart.

    To do so, he’s got his sights set on a fellow top-five contender.

    Whittaker Has An Italian Dream

    During a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Whittaker named #3-ranked middleweight Marvin Vettori as “the only fight that makes sense,” not just for him, but for “The Italian Dream” as well.

    “I think my guys are talking. I think that’s the next fight. That’s really the only guy in the top five that I haven’t fought,” said Whittaker. “I think that’s on the agenda. Realistically, it’s the only fight that makes sense for both of us. It’s funny, me and him both have a lot in common, we’re both chasing the third fight with Adesanya. If I can get two fights this year, that would be great. That hits my quota quite well.” (h/t CBS Sports)

    Vettori was most recently in action in the UFC Vegas 41 headliner last October. Having fallen short of the 185-pound throne four months prior at UFC 263, where he suffered a second loss to Adesanya, the 28-year-old was hoping to rebound in style.

    Against Paulo Costa, who arrived to fight week overweight and forced a switch to light heavyweight, Vettori certainly did so. After a five-round war, the Trento native was awarded the unanimous decision verdict. In doing so, he remained in the title conversation and moved closer to a potential third scrap with the middleweight king.

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

    While the matchup makes sense in the context of the division, Whittaker and Vettori also have a number of things in common, like “The Reaper” said. Both have suffered two losses to Adesanya, took the champ to a five-round decision in their respective rematches, and thought they’d won.

    Sounds like a match made in middleweight heaven.

    Would you like to see Robert Whittaker face Marvin Vettori next?

  • Judge Presiding Over Cain Velasquez Case Concerned For Their Safety

    One of the judges working on the Cain Velasquez attempted murder case has requested extra security in light of recent alleged threats.

    The former UFC heavyweight champion Velasquez was arrested last week after allegedly attempting to murder a suspected child predator, Harry Eugene Goularte, who allegedly molested one of Velasquez’s young relatives. Velasquez ended up allegedly shooting Goularte’s stepfather instead of Goularte during a high-speed chase near San Jose, CA.

    Velasquez faces a minimum of 20 years in prison if convicted on the charges. He is being held at a Bay Area jail after a judge denied bail to Velasquez, prompting quite the response from Velasquez’s legal team.

    In a recent interview with NBC Bay Area, former sheriff’s lieutenant Mark Garcia addressed the reasoning behind one of the judges being concerned for their safety.

    “No, I’m not surprised at all,” Garcia said. “You look at each and every case and you also do a threat assessment. And you come up with an idea and the tools necessary to provide them safety.”

    The identity of the judge hasn’t been disclosed and extra patrols are expected to be utilized around the judge’s home in the coming weeks during the Velasquez investigation.

    Velasquez last competed in the UFC back in 2019, suffering a first-round knockout to Francis Ngannou. Many current and former UFC fighters, including Ronda Rousey and Derek Brunson, have spoken out in favor of Velasquez and his alleged actions.

    What are your thoughts on the Cain Velasquez situation?

  • White Thinks Covington Violated “Man Code” With Pre-UFC 272 Trash Talk

    UFC President Dana White believes welterweight contender Colby Covington violated “man code” with his pre-fight trash talk leading up to UFC 272.

    This past weekend, Covington bounced back from his second loss to reigning 170-pound champion Kamaru Usman in a fairly similar fashion to how he did the first time—a dominant main event victory.

    While 2020 saw him do so in a fight night headliner with Tyron Woodley, Saturday’s event saw him take his bitter rivalry with former teammate and friend Jorge Masvidal to the Octagon on the pay-per-view stage.

    Across 25 minutes, “Chaos” implemented a grueling game plan that saw him tire out “Gamebred” with constant takedown attempts and an imposing wrestling game.

    Following the win, Covington brought his usual antics to the microphone to call out another of his former teammates, Dustin Poirier.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CawKBwqs5yk/

    With that callout, the event ended with the same trash-talking tone that had been evident all week.

    While Covington’s random attacks on Brazil and the relatives of former opponent Usman showed he’s capable of creating controversy no matter the scenario, it was clear the build-up to UFC 272 would be more intense given the former interim champ’s history with Masvidal.

    The lead-up to March 5 saw Covington make comments referring to Masvidal’s ex-wife and kids, something “Gamebred” criticized during a sit-down interview with Michael Bisping for BT Sport during fight week.

    “He’s a coward. It just shows his character,” said Masvidal. “And then he’ll sit there after a fight and try and shake a hand, and tell them, ‘The UFC was gonna cut me so I had to talk about Brazil, I had to talk about your wife to drive up the pay-per-views,’ when in current history, (he’s had) some of the worst pay-per-view selling, period. He doesn’t sell pay-per-views.

    “I’m happy to stick it to him in that regard, and show for the future generations to see that like, you don’t have to talk about people’s wives, religion, and kids to sell pay-per-views,” Masvidal added. “This is the only way people talk about him. You hardly ever hear people talking about Colby’s performance.”

    While some love and cheer Covington’s persona on, Masvidal certainly isn’t alone in his assessment of the #1-ranked welterweight’s comments.

    White Agrees With Masvidal’s Criticism

    Having been a key figure at the top of the UFC tree since 2001, Dana White has seen his fair share of trash talk, controversial moments, and polarizing fighters. Despite that, even he thinks Covington often crosses the line.

    During the UFC 272 post-fight press conference, the UFC president was asked whether he agrees, like Masvidal, that family is off-limits when it comes to pre-fight back and forth.

    White responded by sharing the same sentiment as “Gamebred” did last week, suggesting Covington’s words had violated “man code.”

    “I agree with that, too,” said White. “It’s called man code. You either have it or you don’t.”

    It’s safe to say that no matter the opinion of many in the fanbase, Covington won’t be changing up his mindset anytime soon. That will especially be the case should he face long-time rival Poirier next.

    While “The Diamond” has previously suggested the bout will never come to fruition, “Chaos” is clearly not giving up hope.

    Do you agree with Dana White and Jorge Masvidal? Does some of Colby Covington’s trash talk cross the line?