MMA News

Category: MMA

  • 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?

  • Gunnar Nelson To Face Replacement Takashi Sato At UFC London

    UFC welterweight Gunnar Nelson finally has a new opponent for the upcoming UFC London card on March 19.

    News of the booking was first reported by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.

    Takashi Sato will fill in for the injured Claudio Silva on 11 days’ notice against Nelson. Sato hasn’t fought in the Octagon since his submission loss to Miguel Baeza in November 2020.

    Nelson has also spent a considerable amount of time away from MMA competition. He’s slated to make his first walk to the Octagon since his loss to former title challenger Gilbert Burns in September 2019. He’s lost back-to-back fights to Burns and Leon Edwards.

    Nelson’s last win came against Alex Oliveira at UFC 231, submitting Oliveira in the second round. He’s also picked up wins over Albert Tumenov and Alan Jouban over his recent stretch of fights.

    Nelson will get a tough assignment against the short-notice replacement Sato. While Sato has lost two of his last three UFC fights, he’s an accomplished striker and could give Nelson plenty of headaches on the feet.

    Nelson is mostly known for his grappling, as he’s demonstrated in past wins over Omari Akhmedov and DaMarques Johnson. Sato has earned gruesome knockouts over the likes of Jason Witt and Ben Saunders in the UFC.

    The UFC London card is set to be headlined by a heavyweight matchup between Tom Aspinall and Alexander Volkov, though it’s still unclear if the main event and the Russian Volkov will be impacted by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

    What are your thoughts on Takashi Sato vs. Gunnar Nelson at UFC London?

  • Jorge Masvidal Is “Surprised” He Didn’t Pounce On Covington In Round 4

    Jorge Masvidal feels he missed a big opportunity to turn the tide in his grudge match against Colby Covington at UFC 272.

    Masvidal fell via a unanimous decision to his former friend turned rival Covington. It was a war that lived up to the hype, but Covington got the better of a majority of the exchanges on the feet and ground.

    Masvidal nearly rallied in Round 4 after landing a massive right hook to Covington’s chin midway through the round. The punch dropped Covington immediately, and he appeared badly wobbled by the blow.

    However, instead of pushing forward with pressure and attempting to finish the fight, Masvidal appeared hesitant to pull the trigger and follow up the big punch.

    During his UFC 272 post-fight press conference, Masvidal talked about that moment and his regrets about not capitalizing on the opportunity.

    “Shit, and then I didn’t pounce on him after I dropped him,” Masvidal lamented. “I wasn’t surprised that he bounced up. I was surprised that I didn’t go and take his head off. I thought he was gonna shoot immediately on me, so I just (was) thinking of the wrong shit instead of just go and take his head off. I was tired; he was tired and hurt.

    “That was my chance right there. That was that window of five, six seconds to give it all I got, and make a sprint, and make a big change. Maybe I could’ve made that round 10-8, 10-7, who knows? But I didn’t take that opening.”

    Masvidal has now lost three fights in a row, including back-to-back defeats to welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. His last win came against Nate Diaz in their BMF title matchup at UFC 244.

    Masvidal signed a new deal with the UFC leading up to the fight with Covington and remains one of the promotion’s biggest stars. But he’ll need to get back in the win column in his next UFC outing to potentially earn a rematch against Covington down the line.

    What were your thoughts on Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal?

  • Petr Yan Trolls Aljamain Sterling Without Mercy With Edited Fight Poster

    UFC interim bantamweight champion Petr Yan is ramping up the mental warfare ahead of his rematch with official titleholder Aljamain Sterling.

    Yan and Sterling will unify the UFC bantamweight title at UFC 273 in Jacksonville, FL, nearly a year after the two top bantamweights squared off at UFC 259. Sterling won the bout via disqualification following an illegal knee from Yan in the fourth round.

    Tensions have continued to build between Sterling and Yan ahead of their highly-anticipated rematch. They were supposed to fight back at UFC 267, but Sterling pulled out with a lingering injury on short notice. Yan would go on to beat Cory Sandhagen for the interim title.

    In a recent tweet, Yan had a bit of fun at Sterling’s expense and showed that there’s still no love lost between the two 135 pounders.

    Check out Yan’s edited fight poster below.

    After seeing Yan’s tweet just hours later, Sterling issued a response of his own.

    “Bro, you lost!” Sterling tweeted.

    Sterling has yet to defend his bantamweight title since earning the belt controversially in his first matchup with Yan. The two fighters have accused each other of delaying the rematch and have gone back and forth on numerous occasions on social media.

    Despite Sterling being the current bantamweight titleholder, it’s Yan who holds a spot in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. Sterling will look to rewrite the script at UFC 273.

    What is your prediction for Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan 2?

  • Strickland Issues Surprising Apology After Making Fun Of Obese Women

    UFC middleweight contender Sean Strickland shocked some in the MMA community when he apologized after joking about overweight women.

    Strickland has been known for his out-of-the-Octagon endeavors arguably more than some of his successes inside of it. He is coming off an impressive main event victory over Jack Hermansson in his last fight.

    Strickland has been known to cross the line on separate occasions in the opinions of some fans, especially when it comes to giving his thoughts on topics like homosexuality and, in this case, overweight women.

    It’s unclear what Strickland originally said about overweight women, but he issued an apology on his social media.

    “I shouldn’t have made fun of the over weight woman.. not cool,” Strickland said. “Moment of weakness sponsor ads just piss me off.. heart disease is real and fucked up. We shouldn’t joke about it, I have fat family members. I’m sorry, I’ll be better from now on.”

    Strickland has been known to communicate without much of a filter in media interviews and on his various social media platforms. He has previously said that if he had a gay son, he would’ve felt he failed as a man.

    Strickland has also said that he would take pleasure in murdering someone inside of an Octagon. This was met with critics around the UFC, including Belal Muhammad.

    Strickland has also accused UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya of using steroids. He could be nearing a title shot against Adesanya after his recent wins inside the cage.

    Strickland has never been afraid to speak his mind, which isn’t surprising to most UFC fans. But the fact that he’s still able to admit when he feels he did something wrong could be seen as a surprise to many.

    What is your reaction to Sean Strickland apologizing?

  • Rafael dos Anjos Says Makhachev Is Paying The Price For Not Fighting Him

    Rafael dos Anjos is happy that Islam Makhachev must fight another bout before getting a title shot.

    Rafael dos Anjos is coming off a big win this past weekend at UFC 272. Although his road to get there was a bit rocky, dos Anjos is now on a two-fight winning streak and making his way back up the rankings. His original opponent Rafael Fiziev was forced out of the bout last minute, and Renato Moicano stood in on short notice.

    However, there was another man who dos Anjos was looking for. He was hoping Islam Makhachev would step in.

    Makhachev last fought two weekends ago at UFC Vegas 49. He was toying with the idea of stepping on on a one-week turnaround to face dos Anjos, but in the end, he did not. Makhachev also lost his original opponent for his fight last minute but still walked away with the win.

    Now, according to Dana White, it seems that Makhachev will have to fight one more time before receiving a title shot, much to dos Anjos’ satisfaction.

    “That’s the price (Makhachev) pays for playing politics, playing these little games,” he told The MMA Hour via The Score. “He had his title shot secured, now he’s going to fight another one.”

    Makhachev’s original opponent was Beneil Dariush. A win over him would have all but sealed a title shot. However, the win over Bobby Green may not hold as much weight. dos Anjos believes Makhachev’s offer to step in was not genuine and that he exposed this when he accepted Makhachev’s condition for the fight to take place at 170.

    “I called his bluff,” he said. “I think that’s what it was. His team probably thought that I wouldn’t take this fight at 170. But you know what? I was training, I didn’t want to waste a whole fight camp, I hadn’t fought for 16 months. I just wanted to go there and fight someone.”

    dos Anjos and Makhachev have been booked to fight one another on multiple occasions now. It seems that UFC 272 may have been the final chance to get it done, as they now appear to be on different courses.

    Do you think Rafael dos Anjos and Islam Makhachev will fight each other one day?

  • Colby Covington Demands To Be Paid More Than Jorge Masvidal Now

    Colby Covington wants to get paid more than his rival Jorge Masvidal following their grudge match at UFC 272.

    Covington put on arguably one of the best performances of his career against Masvidal in the main event. He outstruck Masvidal on the feet statistically and smothered him on the ground to control the fight and earn a unanimous decision victory.

    Before the grudge match, Masvidal and the UFC came to terms on a new deal that made him among the highest-paid fighters in the promotion. Now, Covington wants a bigger piece of the pie following his recent performances inside the Octagon.

    During his UFC 272 post-fight press conference, Covington stated that he feels he deserves more money from the promotion after his dominant win over Masvidal

    “I’d love it, I think I deserve it,” Covington said. “Jorge just signed his contract right before the right because he knew he was going to get his ass whooped. He wasn’t going to have any leverage or power to negotiate after I whoop his ass on Monday morning, so I want to be paid more than Jorge Masvidal now. He likes to rub that in this face that ‘oh I make more money, and this and that’. First off, no he doesn’t because he pays half of it to Maritza his ex-wife. So he doesn’t make more money than me. But secondly, I need to make more money than Jorge. He’s a flash in the pan, two-pump chump like his ex-wife Maritza said.

    Colby Covington
    Colby Covington

    “He’s 37 years old, I just turned 34 years old just before this fight. I’m in my prime, getting better every single day, and you haven’t seen the best of me. So I still got a long career ahead of me.”

    Covington called out another former American Top Team teammate, Dustin Poirier following his win over Masvidal. Poirier has said in the past that he intends to move up to 170 pounds for his next fights, but it’s unclear if that’ll come to fruition.

    Covington is expecting to return to the cage later this year and wants to be paid adequately for his efforts. This could potentially set up negotiations on a new deal between Covington and the UFC as soon as this week.

    Who do you want to see Colby Covington fight next?

  • Bellator’s Gegard Mousasi Considers Triple-Champ Status

    Bellator middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi wants a shot at the promotion’s light heavyweight title by the end of 2022.

    Mousasi is fresh off his dominant win over Austin Vanderford at Bellator 275. After a flurry of strikes from both men in the opening minute, Mousasi got the fight to the ground and finished Vanderford with a ground-and-pound barrage in the first round.

    Mousasi has now won four straight since falling to Rafael Lovato Jr. at Bellator 223. He earned the Bellator middleweight title by defeating Douglas Lima at Bellator 250.

    Mousasi went on to defend his title against John Salter at Bellator 264 before his recent dismantling of Vanderford. The former UFC standout has become a household name in Bellator despite being in the latter stages of his career.

    During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Mousasi teased his plans for 2022, including a move to light heavyweight and maybe even heavyweight after that.

    “I’m going to do a weight up in Bellator,” “Even heavyweight maybe. If I win the light heavyweight belt, maybe it’s nice also to fight for the heavyweight belt. Let me get the light heavyweight belt first, and dream even bigger. At the end of the year is what my manager thinks [for light heavyweight]. To achieve something no one else [has].”

    Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov will face off with former UFC contender Corey Anderson at Bellator 277. The fight will conclude the promotion’s Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix.

    Mousasi has previously competed at 205 pounds but hasn’t fought at light heavyweight since beating Ilir Latifi at a UFC Fight Night in 2013. He earned a light heavyweight title in Dream by defeating Tatsuya Mizuno at Dream 16.

    Bellator President Scott Coker has also hinted that he would like to see Mousasi compete at light heavyweight.

    Mousasi has previously hinted at retirement after a few more MMA fights. Before he calls it quits, he plans on attempting to mark a few goals off his MMA bucket list and cement his legacy as arguably an all-time great.

    Do you think Gegard Mousasi could beat Bellator light heavyweight champ Vadim Nemkov?

  • Masvidal Remains Eager To Finish Covington Beef On The Streets

    The beef between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington is not over just yet.

    On Saturday night, Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington faced off in the main event of UFC 272. This bout could have ended their ongoing feud once and for all, but it seems it has not.

    Covington came away with the victory by unanimous decision and could have made a case for the next title shot along the way. In the lead-up to the bout, both men were engaged in trash talk and taking personal shots at one another.

    Masvidal and Covington used to be friends and training partners. This closeness allowed for more personal insults to be thrown both ways. Covington took it a step further and mentioned Masvidal’s family in some of his trash talk. This kind of thing is not so easily forgotten by Masvidal.

    “Like I said, none of it is personal, but it just sucks because this idiot talked about my kids, you know?” he said during the UFC 272 post-fight press conference. “He’s still somebody, if I see him out on the streets, I’m gonna give him everything I got to break his fuckin’ jaw. It doesn’t matter if I lost wrestling scrambles tonight. I still think he’s a fuckin’ pussy.”

    This is not the first time Masvidal has threatened violence against Covington on the street. Prior to UFC 272, Masvidal told a story of wanting to brawl with Covington outside of a sushi restaurant. Covington has also stated in the past that he would dump Masvidal on his head if the two crossed paths on the streets of Miami.

    Instead, the two fought inside the Octagon last Saturday. This grudge match was an interesting one to fans, so much so that it warranted a non-title fight main event, which is rare for a PPV.

    Fans were invested in the friendship turned heated feud being settled. However, judging from Masvidal’s comments, their beef is still going strong and may still spill onto the streets.

    Would you be interested in a rematch between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington with or without the title on the line?

  • Kevin Holland Targets Six Fights In 2022

    Kevin Holland is hoping to be quite active in 2022.

    Holland had his first fight of the year on Saturday on the main card of UFC 272, which also marked his return to welterweight. On the regional scene, Holland fought at 170 but eventually moved up to middleweight where he had some success, including going 5-0 in 2020. Yet, after an 0-2 and one No Contest campaign in 2021, he made the drop down to 170lbs.

    In his return to welterweight, Holland took on Alex Oliveira, and in the first round, he struggled early on. However, he came out guns blazing in the second round and got the TKO win. Following the victory, he made it clear he wants to fight as often as possible and recapture the success he has in 2020.

    Kevin Holland

    “Everything is about timing,” Holland said on The MMA Hour. “I had fun at ‘85, still plan on having some more fun there, so I can’t complain. I have a pretty decent name at ‘85. I was ranked 14 going into this fight, at middleweight. … You’ve got some of these guys ranked ahead of me at middleweight on some losing skids.

    “If we’re just speaking here, just throwing out things, I feel like I could be ranked higher than those guys,” Holland continued. “And if we’re talking about 170, I would like to see where that goes. So no, [I don’t] wish that I did it sooner. I like where I’m sitting. I might be the only guy ranked at both weight classes, so it could be fun.”

    After the win, Holland called out Donald Cerrone who’s fighting Joe Lauzon on May 7. Yet, in his post-fight press conference, he walked back on it and said he has his eyes set on Daniel Rodriguez, who’s coming off a decision victory over Kevin Lee back in August.

    With Holland possibly being open to fighting at 185lbs again, he hopes he can get six fights in 2022.

    “Shoot, if they’ve got something available next month at 185 pounds — because I don’t feel like going on a diet right this second — then I’ll do that, too,” Holland said.

    “It would mess things up if I was shooting for something specifically. I’m just shooting to be an active guy. I’m just shooting to continue to grow and get experience and be a better fighter. So if I can fight five, six times this year, that’d be awesome. I like to fight a lot, so I can’t do every fight at 170 pounds if I’m gonna fight six times this year. There’s still some good fights at ‘85, so I’ll take whatever comes. I think an ‘85 fight sounds good right now if I want to go out and eat carne asada for the next few weeks.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

    With the win at UFC 272, Kevin Holland is now 22-7 and one No Contest and will likely get a big name next. The Rodriguez fight does make sense, as the two were scheduled to fight one another on May 30, 2020, just two weeks after Holland beat Anthony Hernandez at middleweight, but Holland was forced out of the bout due to an injury.

    Who would you like to see Kevin Holland fight next?

  • Terrance McKinney Provides Timeline For When He’ll Become LW Champ

    Terrance McKinney knows the day he becomes UFC champion is coming.

    Terrance McKinney is coming off a big win at UFC Vegas 49 over Fares Ziam. McKinney is a rising star in the UFC lightweight division. He finds himself outside the top fifteen at the moment, but that is not stopping him from envisioning his first title fight.

    McKinney is 12-3 in his professional MMA career, with two fights and two wins in the UFC. McKinney has his sights set on some big goals, but first, he says he will win the lightweight title.

    “2023, that’s the goal to have my title fight that year,” McKinney told TMZ Sports. “It don’t matter who has the belt, I’m taking that fight. If it’s Islam, Justin Gaethje, Michael Chandler, whoever has the belt that’s what I want.”

    At just 27 years old, McKinney is showing that he can be a force in the 155-pound division. He has never gone the distance in his career, and now has seven submission victories and five TKO or KO wins. Despite his immense talent, there could still be a long way to go. The UFC lightweight division is filled with superstars. The top is jammed packed with killers and it seems like there could be a long waitlist for a title shot. In the meantime, McKinney is ready for whatever the UFC throws at him.

    “I just take whoever they throw my way,” he said. “Whoever is brave enough to take it, let’s get it.”

    With such a great showing in his last fight, McKinney could be looking at ranked opponents soon. If he can string together a few big wins, he could be on his way to fulfilling his prophecy.

    Do you think Terrance McKinney is a future UFC champion at 155 pounds?

  • Donald Trump Jr & Candace Owens Show Support For Bryce Mitchell

    UFC featherweight contender Bryce Mitchell has a couple of notable fans in the political world in Donald Trump Jr. and Candace Owens.

    Mitchell put on arguably a career-best performance against Edson Barboza at UFC 272. He smothered Barboza on the ground with his wrestling and was able to eliminate Barboza’s advances on the feet.

    In the leadup to UFC 272, Mitchell made his voice heard on a variety of issues. He even gave an elaborate take on the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

    During his UFC 272 pre-fight press conference, Mitchell said that he hopes the conflict doesn’t escalate into a global war and that he doesn’t intend to fight overseas if the U.S. government were to ever require it. After getting word of Mitchell’s comments, Trump Jr. endorsed Mitchell’s views on the issue.

    “I’m with him!!!” Trump Jr. said of Mitchell.

    Trump Jr. wasn’t the only political figure who liked what Mitchell had to say. Owens, a well-known conservative political commentator, gave a glowing review of Mitchell’s stance.

    “Didn’t think I could love the UFC more but here we are—
    Finally, a foreign policy perspective that is infinitely more comprehensive than those presented by our war-mongering politicians, propagandist journals, and criminal Biden & Clinton families combined,” Owens said.

    While Mitchell’s views on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have been praised by many, some of his other views haven’t come without controversy. In a recent interview with MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, he said that recent mass shootings around the United States were an inside job.

    Nevertheless, Mitchell has also been praised for his intentions to donate half of his UFC 272 purse to youth in his native Arkansas. UFC President Dana White has since said that he intends to cover the amount that Mitchell previously intended on giving away to his local community.

    As Mitchell’s star power continues to rise, so will the audience he’ll garner to hear his views on societal issues. For now, he already appears to have two willing endorsers in Owens and Trump Jr.

    What are your thoughts on Bryce Mitchell’s views?

  • Jędrzejczyk: Moroz Deserves Double Respect For UFC 272 Performance

    Former strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk is giving credit to Maryna Moroz for her outstanding performanceat UFC 272.

    For over a year, Moroz and Agapova have argued over disputes that took place when they were training partners, similar to the grudge match between Covington and Masvidal.

    At UFC 272, Moroz did what she set out to do that night and left no room to talk. On Saturday, she shut down their rivalry by submitting the “Demonslayer” in the second round of their match.

    Maryna Moroz and Mariya Agapova
    Maryna Moroz and Mariya Agapova, Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

    Due to injuries, the Octagon has not seen the Ukrainian fighter for two years, yet she fought like she hasn’t missed a day.

    But what makes her victory worthy of standing ovation is that she conquered her opponent during a devastating time in her country.

    Born in Vil’nohirs’k, Ukraine, Moroz fights while her family is at home. The immense pressure to fight that night, for herself and for her country, is an inspiration to many.

    Fellow American Top Team member and decorated UFC fighter Joanna Jędrzejczyk showed nothing but respect for Moroz.

    “Maryna Moroz was sitting here a minute ago. Guys, she put on a hell of a performance. It’s been two years, she hasn’t fought because of so many injuries. But we all know what’s happening in Ukraine, in Europe, and I think she deserves double bravo or respect (for) how she’s handling all of this. It’s hard. Her family is there, in Ukraine, fighting for life. So this girl has done really big things tonight. So big congrats Maryna. We are very happy for you,” Jędrzejczyk stated in a media scrum following UFC 272.

    After the impressive win, Moroz was brought to tears in a post-fight interview when explaining the situation in Ukraine.

    Moroz fought hard on March 5, and as the only female fighter in the UFC from Ukraine, she has shown how remarkable she truly is.

    What are your thoughts on Maryna Moroz’s UFC 272 performance?

  • Makhachev Refutes ‘Fake News’ Put Forth By White & McGregor

    Making the most of his opportunity to address some recent comments, UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev has refuted claims made by both Dana White and Conor McGregor.

    Despite extending his win streak to 10 with a dominant performance over Bobby Green just two weeks ago, much of the current discussion about Makhachev surrounds his apparent decision to turn down a short-notice fight against longtime rival Rafael dos Anjos.

    After the withdrawal of Rafael Fiziev early in UFC 272 fight week, the former UFC lightweight champion was after a new opponent. While Makhachev appeared willing to step in on social media, RDA’s compatriot Renato Moicano was later revealed to be the chosen one.

    Shortly after, White claimed he’d gone to sleep assuming a deal had been agreed for the Dagestani to complete quick turnaround, only for him to discover the #3-ranked 155lber had turned it down.

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, Makhachev had the chance to provide his side of the story.

    Giving a different take, the 30-year-old claimed he’d called the UFC to try and make the fight happen, not the other way around. However, he cited an important condition not being met as the reason the fight fell through.

    “Dana said I turned down this fight, but Monday morning, when I wake up, I just saw some news, like ‘Fiziev have COVID. The fight is canceled.’ And I’ve been in California on vacation,” said Makhachev. “And I wake up and call my manager. ‘Hey, Ali [Abdelaziz], I saw some news. Please call UFC and say I’m ready (to) take this fight.’

    “And I ask about some condition, very small condition, nothing (too big). And (neither UFC nor Ali called me). I (woke) up and I called Ali, and I tell him, ‘Hey, come talk with the UFC, please. I want this fight,” Makhachev continued. “But the UFC (didn’t) do it. That’s why it (didn’t) happen, and that’s it. People think UFC call me and tried to make this fight, but I call UFC, and I ask about this fight.”

    While Makhachev didn’t delve further into details about the mentioned stipulation, his initial callout on social media included a request for it to be a welterweight bout. Perhaps the UFC or dos Anjos’ desire for a 160-pound catchweight, as the eventual UFC 272 co-main was fought at, led to negotiations collapsing.

    Makhachev: McGregor Will Never Agree To Fight Me

    Conor McGregor Islam Makhachev
    Conor McGregor, Islam Makhachev

    Elsewhere on his trail of calling out ‘fake news,’ Makhachev took aim at familiar foe McGregor. Given his friend and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov’s history with the Irishman, it’s not surprising to see the Dagestani going back and forth with McGregor as his rise to the top of the lightweight division continues.

    First addressing the idea of the former two-division champion returning from injury and a two-fight skid straight into a title fight, Makhachev suggested it’ll be hard for McGregor to make 155 pounds and be competitive given he’s “drunk all day.”

    “I think this is fake. For the fans, they make (something) interesting, but I think this fake. It’s gonna be hard for him to make 155 because he drunk all day, and a lot of people gonna smash him in this division,” asserted Makhachev. “He just gonna fight vs. Nate Diaz or some old people (to) make some money and that’s it. He’s never gonna be champion. He’s never gonna be (at championship level).”

    Moving on to his personal issues with McGregor, Makhachev suggested the former lightweight and featherweight titleholder was bluffing when he expressed a desire to fight the top-five contender.

    Having seen a decline in form since his defeat to Khabib in 2018, Makhachev doesn’t believe he’d have an issue dispatching McGregor. For that reason, he says McGregor would “never” accept the fight.

    “He just play game. He never gonna take this fight. He just play a little bit game. Because he knows (it’s) gonna be long night for him,” claimed Makhachev. “What Khabib did with him, I’m gonna—because he’s not same now. When he fight with Khabib, (he was) in good shape, not drunk too much. But now, he have to retire. This guy have money, everything. But if he wanna come back, let’s do it. I’ll be happy to smash him.”

    Having failed to book a rematch between Khabib and McGregor, whose first bout ended with a memorable brawl, perhaps the UFC and White will look for what may be the next best thing: ‘The Next Khabib’ Makhachev vs. the “Notorious” megastar.

    How do you think a fight between Islam Makhachev and Conor McGregor would play out?

  • Rogan: White Touted Islam/Dariush To Set Up “Crazy” McGregor Title Shot

    UFC color commentator Joe Rogan believes that Dana White and his promotion may have decided to re-book Islam Makhachev’s fight with Beneil Dariush in order to lay the groundwork for Conor McGregor to return into a title bout.

    At UFC Vegas 49, Makhachev added a 10th win to a lengthy win streak. After the withdrawal of Dariush, who suffered a broken fibula in training earlier in February, the Dagestani faced short-notice opponent Bobby Green, finishing him with ease in the first round.

    Despite Green being unranked, many expected the win to secure Makhachev the spot immediately behind Justin Gaethje in the queue for a title shot. Judging by the #3-ranked contender and his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov’s comments, they seemed to share that sentiment.

    However, after Makhachev apparently turned down a short-notice clash with Rafael dos Anjos for UFC 272, the UFC president announced that February 26’s original headliner will be re-booked for later this year.

    While the revelation came as a surprise to some, not least to fans of Makhachev, renowned UFC personality and podcast host Joe Rogan believes he’s identified the method behind the promotion’s decision.

    Talk of Conor McGregor, who’s been out of action since breaking his leg last July, returning to the Octagon straight into a title fight has increased in recent weeks, largely after White appeared to leave the door open to the idea.

    According to Rogan, the UFC likely re-booked Makhachev vs. Dariush in order to set up a championship opportunity for the Irishman when he makes his comeback.

    “When Dana said that Makhachev now has to fight Beneil Dariush before he can fight for the title, I think that sets up a Conor fight (for the title). I think that’s probably why he really did it,” Rogan said on his podcast, the Joe Rogan Experience, this past week. “It’s kind of crazy.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

    White Previously Slammed Those Criticizing A McGregor Title Shot

    “Crazy” is perhaps the adjective used by a large portion of the MMA community. While some have suggested McGregor’s past achievements, immense drawing ability, and superstardom mean an immediate title fight, despite his two-fight skid, is justified, others have used it as another example of the rankings being wrongly discarded.

    If you fall on the latter side of that debate, you’re an idiot, according to the UFC President.

    During an appearance on My Mom’s Basement with Robbie Fox, White responded to those who have criticized his willingness to have the former two-division champion return from injury straight into a title fight. He had some choice words for his detractors.

    “The problem is, every time I do a f*cking interview, all anybody wants to ask is, ‘You think Conor McGregor will get a f*cking title shot?’ That’s all they f*cking ask,” said White. “So, I’m gonna say, ‘Well Conor McGregor isn’t anywhere near coming back yet, so I don’t know, let’s see what happens..’ It’s a dumb f*cking question for the media to ask, but the media asks dumb f*cking sh*t all day, every day. That’s what happens.

    “And anybody who’s p*ssed off because Conor might f*cking get (a title shot), you’re a f*cking idiot too. If that p*sses you off, Jesus Christ. Calm down, buddy,” concluded White.

    What do you make of a potential Conor McGregor title shot when he returns to action later this year?

  • Campaign To Raise Money For Cain Velasquez Shut Down By GoFundMe

    The effort to help Cain Velasquez has been put to a stop.

    In light of the ongoing situation with Cain Velasquez and his criminal trial, fans and friends are trying to help. Velasquez was taken into custody by San Jose Police department and is being charged with several counts, including attempted murder. Velasquez is a popular figure in MMA and wrestling circles and has many people pulling for him.

    Two GoFundMe accounts were set up to help raise money for Velasquez’s family and legal fees. Unfortunately for the people who were involved in either fund, they were taken down by GoFundMe due to policy.

    “We can confirm that both fundraisers were removed, and all donors have been refunded,” a GoFundMe spokesperson told MMA Junkie. “GoFundMe prohibits raising money for the legal defense of a violent crime.”

    Velasquez is currently being held without bail. His bail was denied on the case of his “reckless” behavior. The list of charges for Velasquez is as follows: attempted murder (one count), shooting at a motor vehicle or aircraft (one count), assault with a firearm (three counts), assault with a deadly weapon (three counts), willfully discharging a firearm from a vehicle (one count), and carrying a loaded firearm with intent to commit a felony (one count).

    Bail will not be able to be requested again unless the list of charges changes somehow. Velasquez is a father and will remain in jail until his trial. The GoFundMe was set to help the family in this time as well.

    There are many supporters of Velasquez who have been trying to help out any way they can. Although GoFundMe is not an option at this time, there are other ways that people are raising money. A #FreeCain campaign has been trending on social media as a way for people who are looking to support him and his family to come together.

    What do you think of GoFundMe taking down these accounts?

  • Kayla Harrison Re-Signs With PFL On Multi-Year Deal

    The Kayla Harrison sweepstakes are over as the two-time Olympic gold medalist has re-signed with PFL.

    After Harrison won the 2021 PFL lightweight season, she was a free agent. And for the past couple of months, she has been talking with other promotions. Many were curious to see if she would leave PFL or sign somewhere else.

    On Tuesday, it was revealed she re-signed with PFL on a multi-year deal after the promotion matched the offer Bellator gave her.

    “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.”

    Harrison is 12-0 as a pro and 11 of her 12 pro fights have been in PFL with one fighting being Invicta in 2020 when PFL didn’t have a season. She is the two-time champ and is now looking to remain the only PFL lightweight champion.

    Kayla Harrison
    Kayla Harrison

    “I am also excited PFL is on board with helping me reach my goals of becoming the best and trying to acquire some of the biggest competition in the game to come and challenge me,” Harrison said. “I look forward to us making those fights happen and until then I have another belt to win.”

    In the 2022 season, Harrison could very well have the toughest test of her career as former Bellator featherweight champ, Julia Budd has joined the promotion.

    When and who Harrison will fight in the season opener is uncertain at this time. However, along with the season, PFL announced in a statement they are launching a new pay-per-view super-fight division.

    “I am also excited to announce the PFL is launching a new Pay-Per-View Super Fight Division where star MMA fighters will compete on a global stage against the best fighters in the sport,” PFL CEO Peter Murray said in a statement. “Two-time PFL Champion, Kayla Harrison, will be fighting in the PFL’s 2022 Season starting this April on ESPN networks and will also continue to build her legacy as a main event in the PFL’s PPV Super Fight Division.”

    Are you surprised Kayla Harrison re-signed with PFL?

  • Sean O’Malley Hopes To Return At UFC 274, Names Top-10 Opponent

    UFC bantamweight Sean O’Malley has revealed an event and opponent he’s targeting for his first Octagon appearance of 2022.

    After suffering his first defeat in 2020, O’Malley made a splash last year, finishing all three of his opponents and collecting a trio of $50,000 bonuses along the way. Having secured a place in the rankings with his first-round victory over Raulian Paiva in December, it appeared 2022 was set to be a big one for “Sugar.”

    But while he’d hoped to continue his form and surge up the 135-pound ladder this year, a thumb injury, coupled with a desire to fight at a Las Vegas-held pay-per-view, led fans to believe O’Malley wouldn’t be sighted inside the Octagon until the summer.

    Now, during a Monday stream on his Twitch channel, O’Malley has provided an update on his return timeline, and it’s perhaps earlier than most would’ve expected.

    Potentially giving up his nine-fight Las Vegas streak, the 26-year-old hinted that his first bout of 2022 could come at UFC 274, which is set to be held on May 7 in Phoenix, Arizona.

    Interestingly, the last time O’Malley fought outside of Nevada was five years ago in Phoenix. On that night, he knocked out David Luzzo at LFA 11. He’ll be hoping for a similar result on his return to the city, but if his hopes come to fruition, he’ll be facing his toughest opponent to date, by far.

    When asked if he has a name in mind for the event, O’Malley revealed he’s targeting a clash with veteran Brazilian Pedro Munhoz, who is currently ranked three places above the Montana native at #9.

    “I’m thinking Pedro (Munhoz) but we will see. I’m going to make sure I can f*****g train full time and my f*****g s**t feels good,” said O’Malley. (h/t BJPenn.com)

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CY4im9ZviMk/

    UFC 274 Set To Be Headlined By LW Title Fight

    If a bout between O’Malley and Munhoz is added to the May 7 event, the card will grow in strength.

    After a light heavyweight title matchup between Glover Teixeira and Jiří Procházka was pushed back to headline UFC 275, a blockbuster lightweight championship fight between reigning 155-pound king Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje is now set to main event in Arizona.

    Elsewhere, UFC mainstays Shogun Rua, Ovince Saint Preux, and Donald Cerrone are expected to be in action, along with exciting names like Brandon Royval, Khaos Williams, and Michael Johnson.

    While more fights will undoubtedly be announced over the coming weeks and months, fans will certainly now be keeping an eye out for the addition of “Sugar” Sean O’Malley to the PPV.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Cav4hTSs0Dt/

    Would you like to see Sean O’Malley vs. Pedro Munhoz added to the UFC 274 card?

  • Makhachev 100% Expects Move To 170 After Watching UFC 272 Headliner

    UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev is more convinced than ever to eventually move to welterweight after watching the UFC 272 main event.

    Makhachev has been on a roll as of late with 10 straight victories. He most recently dismantled short-notice replacement Bobby Green in his second-career UFC main event at UFC Vegas 49.

    Before the win over Green, Makhachev made quick work of top contenders such as Thiago Moisés and Dan Hooker.

    Makhachev will more than likely have to face Beneil Dariush next, as UFC President Dana White recently hinted. However, he’s already got his eyes set not just on the lightweight title but also a chance to add his name to UFC lore.

    During a recent interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Makhachev laid out what he plans to do once he gets the lightweight belt later this year.

    “I’m gonna take this belt, defend like three, five times, and I’m gonna come to welterweight division,” Makhachev proclaimed.

    UFC 272 featured a welterweight grudge match between top contenders Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal. Makhachev sat cageside to watch Covington earn a unanimous decision win over his former American Top Teammate and friend Masvidal.

    Despite Covington’s impressive performance, Makhachev garnered more motivation to eventually challenge the top welterweights in the UFC after watching the UFC 272 main event.

    UFC 272 results, highlights: Colby Covington grinds out decision win over Jorge Masvidal to end rivalry - CBSSports.com
    Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington

    “I saw this fight, I witnessed front row, when Masvidal fight versus Colby. Honestly, I really believe I can beat these guys one night, both these guys.

    “Because Colby, he have just wrestling. I can beat him easy….his striking is very (slow) and other guy, Masvidal, I think he’s so old now, he just makes some money, he have maybe couple more fights and he gonna retire.”

    Makhachev Doesn’t Expect Relationship With Usman To Be An Issue

    Following his latest win over Green at UFC Vegas 49, Makhachev hinted at a move up to welterweight, a division in which Kamaru Usman currently reigns as champion.

    While Makhachev and Usman have the same manager and seem to have a solid friendship, that hasn’t deterred Makhachev from pursuing multiple UFC belts. This is because Makhachev doesn’t expect Usman to still be competing if he gets the fight against Canelo Álvarez he’s been pushing for.

    Makhachev revealed a recent conversation with Usman and the welterweight champion’s future as the titleholder.

    “I told Usman. I told him, ‘Man, now you gonna beat Leon Edwards,” Makhachev said. “‘And after, you wanna fight vs. Canelo, make $100 million, and that’s it. Your motivation is finish.’ He say, ‘No, no, no, I’m gonna still compete.’

    “But I don’t believe when somebody have $100 million, it’s not possible (to) wake up early morning (and stay hungry). It’s not possible.”

    Usman recently underwent hand surgery and is expected to return later this year. He’s more than likely set to face Leon Edwards for his next title defense.

    Makhachev was reportedly the UFC’s top target to replace Rafael Fiziev against Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 272. However, according to Dana White, he turned down the fight and White says Makhachev will now have to face Dariush before earning a title shot.

    Makhachev has been referred to by many UFC fans as the heir apparent to Khabib Nurmagomedov, who is a mentor and coach of his. If Makhachev can earn the lightweight title, he could potentially accomplish something Nurmagomedov never did in earning multiple world titles after moving up a division.

    How do you think Islam Makhachev would do at welterweight?