Maryna Moroz will fight at UFC 272 despite Vladimir Putin’s advances on the country’s land and independence.
Born in Vilnohirsk, Ukraine, Moroz has family members to worry about during her grudge match with Kazakhstan’s Mariya Agapova on March 5.
The entire world is shaken up by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attacks against Ukraine. The act of war has and continues to take innocent Ukrainian lives.
But “The Iron Lady’s” spirit remains strong during the tragedy. And in an interview with TMZ Sports, she had a few choice words for the Russian President:
“F**k you, bitch! I love my country. Don’t touch Ukraine!”
A multitude of Russian and Ukrainian athletes have openly stated they disagree with Putin’s actions and are against war. It is a scary thought that while fighting for their country’s respect and honor, many athletes are without their families during this catastrophic time.
“It’s hard time for Ukraine. I want to support my country, my president, whole army in Ukraine, and I want to say we don’t want war. I worry about my family right now,” Moroz continued to say.
Of course, the pressure of the fight exists but it is much bigger than that now. Moroz carries Ukrainian pride and will do her best to prove the strength and resilience of her people.
“I will be fighting and I show that Ukraine people are strong, and my flag will be in the Octagon.”
Moroz joins a long list of European athletes, from soccer to MMA, competing in championships while reading the horrific news of the war on Ukraine. The UFC fighter is currently on a two-fight win streak and will look to stay in the winner’s circle despite the absence of peace in her home country.
Colby Covington has a bold prediction for his fight with Jorge Masvidal.
Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal will be facing off in the main event of the upcoming UFC 272 event this weekend. This non-title fight main event is sure to bring hard-hitting action and drama. Already in the lead-up to this event, Covington and Masvidal have been engaging in trash talk. The history between them makes for an added sense of interest from fans.
Because these two men used to train together, they know each other very well. They don’t like each other and have been promising harm on each other for years. Covington is now predicting not only damage to Masvidsal but the end of his career.
“I see a lot of pain. I’m gonna inflict so much pain on Jorge Masvidal he’s not gonna be the same person ever again,” Covington told TMZ Sports. “He keeps talking about a baptism. It’s not gonna be a baptism. It’s gonna be a funeral. It’s Jorge Masvidal’s career-ending funeral. It’s gonna be violent.”
There is a chance that this fight goes the distance, and it seems that would be just fine with Covington. However, Covington predicts that the main event is much more likely to contain a historic conclusion.
“And I’m not gonna finish it quick,” Covington said. “I could easily finish it quick because I do it all the time behind closed doors we used to train. But this one, I’m gonna drag it out, I’m gonna make him suffer, and it’ll probably be the first time in UFC history you see a guy in the main event just verbally tap out and say he can’t take no more of a beating.”
Who do you think will be taking home the win at UFC 272, Colby Covington or Jorge Masvidal?
Jorge Masvidal was warned about Colby Covington years ago.
Jorge Masvidal used to be friends with Colby Covington. The two were training partners and, at one time, even roommates. Now they will be facing each other in the main event of this weekend’s UFC 272 in a grudge match.
The fall of their friendship has long become public and both men are constantly trash-talking the other. Now, Masvidal is sharing some new information about how a former champion warned him about Covington and his ways.
“Jon Jones warned me numerous times. Me and Jon Jones weren’t even cool like that,” Masvidal told ESPN. “We hadn’t spoken too much. But he sent a couple messages to me via our manager at the time. Like, ‘Man, watch this guy. He stole my clothes. My clothes don’t even fit him. He robbed me of money before we left the room. I never talked to him again.’”
Masvidal believes that unlike with him and Covington, Covington’s beef with Jones would never be settled physically because one of the two would quickly exit that conversation.
“Do you know what would happen if he was to run into Jon Jones? He would sprint out of the room. He would run so fast. But if he’s on Twitter on his computer, man, he’s poppin’ off,” Masvidal said. “What would happen if they crossed at Whole Foods or somethin’? [Covington] would jet out of there. I can’t respect that. If you say something, commit to it. Do it. Whether it was on Twitter or it was in your face. Do it. And he’s such a coward, man. I can’t wait to put an end to this charlatan.”
Both Covington and Masvidal are hoping for another shot at the champion Kamaru Usman with a win at UFC 272. The bad blood between them makes this non-title fight main event a fan favorite and the history between them gives an added layer of fascination. Now that fight week is upon us, look out for even more secrets to be spilled and trash talk to be spoken.
Do you think the winner between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington deserves and title shot?
Although appreciative of the Brazilian fighter’s energy, Holland is not opposed to making this Oliveria’s last fight.
Coming into his next bout with 3 back-to-back losses–2 via submission—plus, the emotion he expressed walking into the Niko Price fight, Holland believes the 33-year-old is due to retire.
Niko Price and Alex Oliveira, Photo Credit: ESPN
“(He’s) pretty awesome. The dude has really, really good energy, so it’s going to be fun to go out there and scrap with him. But I think he’s a little older and a few steps behind, so I’m looking to go out there and exploit that. It looked like he was ready to retire in his last fight with all the crying, so if he wants a warm welcome out… I think my coach was the first person to beat him in like a jiu-jitsu match or something like that. If you look it up, Travis Lutter was like his first L on the record book thing. So I could be his last. From master to student; sounds good to me,” Holland told MMAFightingonSBN.
It will be another battle of redemption in the UFC. With the exception of Holland’s “clash of heads” no-contest against Kyle Daukaus back in October, both fighters enter the cage coming off losses and looking ahead into a brighter 2022.
In addition, their stats are nearly equal. Both fighters have 12 knockouts and 5 submission wins under their belts.
Both fighters carry big smiles and their energy is synonymous with confidence and entertainment. Indeed, the matchup is sure to cause a roar from the audience at the UFC APEX. And if things go as Holland envisions, it will be the final time Oliveira hears this response from a live crowd.
Are you excited for Holland vs Oliveira at UFC 272?
Dressed to the nines in a white tux, red tie, and shades, Jamahal Hill rocked up to the UFC Vegas 48 post-fight press conference in style to deliver a message. Having just achieved the biggest win of his career over Johnny Walker, Hill, with his similarly attired son sitting next to him, wanted the assembled press to know one thing—that they should start believing, because he’s the real deal.
“It’s time to start having a different kind of conversation, because you all are asking the wrong questions about me,” Hill told press. “‘Where’s he going next? How good am I for real?’ Stop doubting. Start believing, ‘cause it’s for real.”
Despite knocking out almost every opponent placed before him in his young career, Hill feels that he’s underappreciated—by the UFC and the press. The 30-year-old believes he’s been denied the fanfare lavished upon the UFC’s other top prospects.
Jamahal Hill, and his son, at the the UFC Vegas 48 post-fight press conference. PHOTO: MMA JUNKIE
“The spotlight isn’t shining on me like it is on other people,” Hill said in 2021. “Which is cool. You know what I mean? ‘Cause at the end of the day, what I can do, my abilities, you can’t ignore it.”
And ignore them you can’t. By knocking Johnny Walker out on his feet with an early frontrunner for KO of the year, Jamahal showed why he should be touted as a future title contender. Now in the light heavyweight top ten, he plans on doing the same to the division’s best.
“I feel like the division is a little tired,” Hill told the press after his victory over Walker. “Some guys need some naps.”
A Future champion or Another ‘Johnny Walker?’
Hill, the self-proclaimed “best boxer in the UFC”, isn’t short on confidence. But the Michigan native, who only made his professional MMA debut just over four years ago, has so far backed it up.Entering the UFC via the Contender Series in early 2020, Hill has earned five KOs in six fights (one, however, was later ruled a no-contest after he tested positive for marijuana).
Hill’s only loss, and perhaps the biggest asterisk against his future potential, was that to jiu-jitsu specialist Paul Craig, who submitted him within two minutes, dislocating his arm in the process. Humbled, Hill admitted to learning a powerful lesson, attributing the loss to his “flat-out arrogance” heading into the fight.
Jamahal Hill Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Clearly, much like Johnny Walker early in his UFC career, Hill has relied on his spectacular KO power to end fights early. But will ‘Sweet Dreams’ similarly stumble against the division’s best? Or can he become champ?
According to former UFC lightweight Kenny Florian, it all depends on whether Hill can shore up his ground game.
“I absolutely believe he can be champion,” said Florian on a recent episode of the Anik & Florian Podcast (h/t Sporskeeda). “You know with that Paul Craig loss, I think that’s the kind of loss that’s going to drive someone like Jamahal Hill. That’s the kind of thing that’s going to motivate him and get him to shore up those weaknesses that perhaps was exposed in that fight. So, does he need to improve his grappling based on what we saw? Yes. But I do think he has absolutely all the makings of the champion based on what I have seen, based on how he handles himself, based on how he has climbed back in that division with the adversity that he has experienced… I would not be surprised in the least to see him as a 205-pound champion at some point.”
“I’ve already said it, bro, as long as I got the say-so, he’s next,” Hill told TMZ. “Just for the simple fact that what I’m here to do, I can’t have people speaking out. If you gonna speak my name, you better be sure. You better be sure. And he spoke it, and I’m going to go out and make an example of him.”
Even without the beef between the duo, a matchup between newly-ranked #10 Hill and #8 Oezdemir makes a lot of sense. Oezdemir has lost five of his last seven fights, including his most recent to Procházka and Magomed Ankalaev. Derailing a surging prospect like Hill could give his UFC career the life-saving defibrillation it needs.
For Hill, facing a fellow knockout artist with little ground game like Oezdemir—and a seemingly faded one at that—will likely be easy work and propel him further up the top ten, where a true test of his skills may await.
However, many may no doubt be wondering: Would Hill’s one-punch knockout power, like Walker and Oezdemir before him, only carry him so far? Possibly. But if there’s one thing that drives ‘Sweet Dreams,’ it’s proving his doubters wrong.
What do you think? Does Jamahal Hill have the potential to be light heavyweight champ?
UFC welterweight Gilbert Burns says he will only be accepting a title fight if he conquers undefeated Khamzat Chimaev in his next fight.
Burns and Chimaev have both openly spoken of their intentions to fight each other in their next Octagon appearances with no official confirmation of a bout between the pair by the UFC as of yet. Meanwhile, the Brazilian has also requested that their fight be a five-rounder.
But now, Burns has gone one step further as he has emphasised he will only be looking to fight for the title with a victory over Chimaev.
Burns Wants Title Shot If He Derails Chimaev’s Hype Train
Gilbert Burns, Credit: Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty
Speaking to The Schmo, Burns said that he is preparing to face Chimaev on April 9th at UFC 273 but has yet to have had confirmation of the fight. He also spoke on what he expects from the UFC if he defeats the #11-ranked welterweight.
“Me, I want to fight for the title,” said Burns. “Why am I gonna fight Colby or Masvidal? I have nothing against these guys. I don’t want to push no one down. I don’t want to put myself up there (and) push anyone down. I respect everyone in that division. I think he’s one of the toughest in the division.
“But beating Chimaev, #11 in the rankings with all that hype—to be completely honest, I don’t have to fight this guy. But I’m a fighter, I’m a competitor. I want to fight. I want to stay active.”
Chimaev and many others have claimed that nobody is willing to face the rising star, with Burns along with Neil Magny as two of few that were eager to fight the Swede. Burns himself also claimed nobody was willing to face him, which led to his callout of Chimaev.
“(None) of these guys want to fight me. The only guy that’s willing is Chimaev. So why not? I’m gonna fight the guy. And beating this guy, taking that hype away, the only fight I’m doing (next) is the title shot. That’s the only fight that I’m taking.”
Do you see Gilbert Burns derailing the hype train of Khamzat Chimaev?
Jung has won three of his last four and has re-emerged in the featherweight title picture despite a recent loss to Brian Ortega. He most recently defeated Dan Ige via unanimous decision last June.
Jung is seen as a hero in South Korea. He has risen to prominence ever since he first challenged for the featherweight title against then-champion José Aldo at UFC 163.
But The Korean Zombie is looking to make an impact outside of the UFC Octagon in his home country.
“Go check out Zombie’s YouTube channel, he has over like 600 thousand subscribers,” Cha said of Jung. “Literally it’s gone viral, he’s got some cool stuff. His latest show right now that he’s doing, it’s kinda like a “Bully Beatdown.” They’re actually going from city to city to find who the best street fighters are and they kind of do a five-round scrap, they’ll give em five-grand. Not to win, but if they perform well. So he’s going from city to city [in Korea] to find the best fighters in the world.”
Jung has posted a variety of content on his YouTube channel, including food challenges and inside footage of his fight camps. He’s looking to pull off a shocking upset over Volkanovski and help promote the sport in South Korea in the process.
What is your prediction for Alexander Volkanovski vs. Chan Sung Jung?
Fans of UFC legend Georges St-Pierre have a chance to meet him at Dublin Comic Con: Summer Edition 2022.
GSP is easily one of the greatest MMA fighters in the history of the sport. While in the UFC, he dominated in two divisions and departed as the middleweight champ.
He has won several accolades attributed to his success, which include Fighter of the Year from Sports Illustrated, Inside MMA, and Black Belt Magazine. Also, Canada named him their Athlete of the Year three years in a row from 2008 to 2010.
Today, he remains one of the UFC’s most decorated fighters. “Rush” was an octagon sensation that put on stellar performances every time he entered the Octagon.
With 9 consecutive title defenses, you cannot discuss GOAT status in the promotion without hearing the name Georges St-Pierre.
In addition to his cage fights, St-Pierre fought on the big screen, as well. Marvel fans witnessed the elite fighter take on Captain America in The Winter Soldier, showcasing his skills in a completely different environment.
To shake the hand of the MMA legend is the dream of many. And soon, those people will have the opportunity to do just that.
At the Comic-Con in Dublin, GSP will reveal details about himself, his career, and his plans for the future during an event called “An Evening With Georges St-Pierre.” It will take place Saturday, August 6 at The Convention Centre Dublin in Ireland.
Don’t miss the chance to see the former UFC superstar in close range. Earlier today (February 28), general admission and VIP tickets went on sale.
Please visit TIXR for more information on the event and ticket purchasing.
Sam Alvey will be getting at least one more farewell fight in the UFC.
Sam Alvey has been on a bad losing streak of late. He has lost seven of his last eight fights, with one draw thrown in. For some time now, many people believed that he would be cut from the UFC; however, he has continued showing up and fighting in the organization. Now, it seems he will be getting one more shot despite rumors that he had been removed from the roster.
Following his last loss, reports that Alvey had been cut from the UFC were circulating. Now, Alvey has posted a video on his YouTube channel saying that he was not cut after all and he explain what went down in that conversation with the UFC over the phone.
“The UFC called and said ‘Sam, how’s it going, where are you living now? You’re not in California, you are in Tennesee right?’ Then there was kinda this deep breath on their end. ‘Your last couple of fights have been great but we have not won,” Alvey explains what the UFC said on the phone. “I said ‘Yeah, I realized.’ They said, ‘That being said, you won a few of those fights that the judges got wrong. And the fights you lost, they were entertaining fights.”
He went on to describe how the UFC was grateful for his long career with the company and they appreciated everything he had done and how he was a pleasure to work with. Alvey admitted that he was waiting to hear the bad news, but the conversation took a different turn.
“You say yes to every fight, you go out and fight your heart out,” Alvey explained the conversation. “You have taken some fights on short notice that you probably shouldn’t have, but you are always game, you have never said no. We have decided that we will let you fight out your contract.’ I’m not cut! I get at least one more fight with the UFC. On my contract there is one more fight, I’m not cut.”
Alvey has not given any details on when he will be getting back in the Octagon, just that he will continue to keep fighting whether it is with the UFC or elsewhere when his contract is up.
Do you believe Sam Alvey should still be on the UFC roster?
The UFC 272 co-main event between Rafael dos Anjos and Rafael Fiziev is now off after Fiziev contracted COVID-19.
MMAjournalist Ariel Helwani was the first to report the fight cancellation on The MMA Hour. There is currently no word on if dos Anjos will remain on the UFC 272 card.
Fiziev is currently on a strong run up the lightweight division. He has attained five consecutive wins in the weight class, including two victories from last year.
Previous victories saw him beat notable names like Marc Diakiese and Renato Moicano.
Fiziev joined the UFC roster in 2019. While he lost his UFC debut to Magomed Mustafaev, that bout continues to be his sole loss as a pro.
dos Anjos was looking to return for his first bout since late 2020. He snapped a two-fight skid in his last outing, defeating short-notice opponent Paul Felder via split decision. He was previously scheduled to face Islam Makhachev on that date, but an injury stopped the fight from happening.
MMA News will keep you updated on the status of Rafael dos Anjos for UFC 272 or if this fight will be re-booked for a third time.
Ostovich made her BKFC debut in July of 2021 and beat Paige VanZant at KnuckleMania 1. It served as a rematch, as the two fought in the UFC which VanZant won by submission in January of 2019.
Since the fight against VanZant, there has been no word about Ostovich’s fighting future. However, according to MMAJunkie’s Danny Segura, Ostovich has signed a new multi-fight deal with BKFC which means she will have her second fight soon.
After her BKFC debut against VanZant, Ostovich said she enjoyed it but she wasn’t certain if she would compete again in the sport. Well, seven months later, she has decided she wants to fight again.
“Bare-knuckle, totally different sport. Honestly, when you get in there, it’s fun,” Ostovich said at the post-fight press conference. “I was having fun. I was talking. I was bout it. I was down. It was great. It’s definitely up to my manager. I can say yeah [I’ll fight bare-knuckle again] all I want up there but when it comes down to it, it’s got to be on the paper and I’m sure they’ll have a good talk after this.”
Rachael Ostovich is 1-0 in BKFC and 4-6 in MMA. The Hawaiian was released from the promotion after losing three straight as she was submitted by Montana De La Rosa, VanZant and in her last MMA fight, suffered a TKO loss to Gina Mazany. She went 1-3 in the UFC with her lone victory coming over Karine Gevorgyan.
At this time, it’s uncertain when and who Ostovich will face in her BKFC return. She could very well earn a title fight or perhaps have a trilogy with VanZant as “12 Gauge” is also returning soon and they are 1-1 against one another in combat sports. Regardless, Ostovich will be back, which is good news for BKFC.
Who would you like to see Rachael Ostovich fight in her BKFC return?
Bellator MMA President Scott Coker has confirmed that his promotion is in talks with rising boxing sensation Jake Paul.
Paul, who made his name as a widely-followed YouTuber and Disney star, ventured into combat sports in 2020. After victories in the ring over fellow Internet personality AnEsonGib and former NBA athlete Nate Robinson, Paul’s competition increased to MMA veterans in 2021.
Having moved to 5-0 and begun to receive more respect for both his in-ring abilities and apparent pursuit for improved fighter pay outside it, Paul’s prominence on the combat sports circuit continues to rise.
While his next steps and opponent in the squared circle are unclear, Paul has seemed increasingly keen on trying his hand at MMA in the future, a desire that’s followed constant back and forth with UFC President Dana White.
That hat feud means an appearance in the Octagon is hard to envision. However, another promotional kingpin would be happy to welcome the Cleveland native in with open arms.
Coker Tells Paul “We’re Here”
While White has always refused to entertain the idea of getting the likes of Jake and Logan Paul onboard in the UFC, Bellator’s Coker has consistently displayed the opposite mindset.
“If Jake Paul is serious and wants to do it, we’re here. We’re already talking about (it). You know, when I say talking about it, he’s with Showtime boxing and he did the fight with T-Wood (Tyron Woodley). There’s dialogue… I think he wants to do 10 boxing fights and then come over to MMA,” Coker revealed. (h/t talkSPORT)
. @danawhite when I make my MMA debut, I could cut 20 pounds & do it at Welterweight / 170 pounds. That’s what all UFC fighters do and many have destroyed their bodies & minds doing it.
But I’m gonna do it at Middleweight (185). Health first.
With Coker referencing Paul’s boxing matches with Woodley, it is possible that Bellator is in talks with Paul about boxing a Bellator contracted-fighter as opposed to Paul making the move over to MMA, which would truly be a game-changer for the promotion.
Given Paul’s exchanges with Dana White, which even included a recent diss track, it would certainly not be surprising to see “The Problem Child” look to deal some damage to the 52-year-old’s promotion by joining one of its largest rivals.
Would you like to see Jake Paul take Scott Coker up on his offer and enter the Bellator cage?
Joanna Jędrzejczyk says welterweight star Jorge Masvidal will have the full support of American Top Team ahead of his fight at UFC 272.
Masvidal will square off against his former friend and former ATT teammate, Colby Covington in the UFC 272 headliner. It is arguably one of the most highly-anticipated grudge matches in UFC history.
Covington split from ATT amidst his rise in success in the UFC welterweight division. His trash talk combined with tense relationships with teammates such as Masvidal led to him moving to train at MMA Masters.
During a recent interview with The Schmo, Jędrzejczyk previewed the fight and why Masvidal is fighting for more than just bragging rights.
“Man, it’s a big fight,” Jędrzejczyk said. “It’s going to be one of the biggest fights of 2022. And Jorge Masvidal has (the) ATT nation behind his back, but Colby is hell of a fighter, very dedicated. I remember them both training here. They used to do training together for one and a half hours and do some extra training together after. So they both are very dedicated, very talented, but I feel like Jorge is going to surprise like he did in the fight with Ben Askren or Darren Till, for example.”
Masvidal has lost back-to-back fights to UFC Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who will be in attendance for the fight. He was originally slated to face Leon Edwards at UFC 269 before withdrawing from the fight due to an injury.
Covington and ATT have a very public and complicated history, and Masvidal will look to exact revenge for Jędrzejczyk, Dustin Poirier, and others who have been victims of Covington’s relentless banter.
What is your prediction for Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby Covington?
While the conversation was largely cordial, Helwani challenged Mitchell when the featherweight questioned the legitimacy of mass shootings and if the US government is responsible for them, along with claiming the 2020 US Presidential Election was rigged.
MMA journalist Luke Thomas, who is an award-winning journalist and a former host of The MMA Hour, touched on Mitchell’s viral interview with Helwani. During a recent segment on his Morning Kombat podcast, Thomas addressed the shockwave that Mitchell caused around the MMA community.
“So what I would say is in this day and age when we’re asked for our views and you’re doing it in a public way and you have a person who is young, very online, on social media, probably doesn’t have views anyway that are even in lockstep with the wider state to some degree, then you’re going to get these kinds of moments when people espouse views that are impossible to otherwise justify,” Thomas said of Mitchell.
Thomas went on to explain why he feels Mitchell’s controversial views may not be as uncommon in the MMA community as some are led to believe.
“I gotta tell you, people were like, ‘This is a shock to my conscience! I can’t believe that someone in the community would hold views such as these!’ I’m like, are you motherfuckers on Twitter for like five seconds? My mentions every day are, fuckin’, ‘Obama drinks the blood of young babies!’ And ‘COVID is a lie! It’s just the flu with a skirt on!’ Or whatever the fuck they say. I don’t even know what they say anymore.
Luke Thomas
“But my mentions—and not even that, just what I see on different places is filled to the brim with these very online radicalized views. Like, I would argue Bryce Mitchell’s views on this are far closer to what the average person in this community believes than mine. I guarantee that.”
Mitchell is slated to face Edson Barboza at UFC 272 on March 5. He’ll likely be questioned by media members about his views leading up to the fight, and this controversy may be far from over.
What was your reaction to the Bryce Mitchell/Ariel Helwani interview?
UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev may not have the lightweight throne yet, but he already has big ambitions for his next few fights.
Makhachev put on another grappling clinic against Bobby Green at UFC Vegas 49. He was originally supposed to face Beneil Dariush but made quick work of the short-notice replacement Green.
Makhachev and his team have long called for the lightweight title shot amidst his 10-fight winning streak. After the win over Green, he appears set to get the winner of Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje later this year.
But Makhachev doesn’t just want to pursue supremacy in the lightweight division. He also intends on cementing himself as one of the pound-for-pound best in the world by earning championships at multiple weight classes.
“First, I have to take this belt, 155 (pounds),” Makhachev said. “We’ll see, why not (go for the welterweight title)? I think in future—(I’m) thinking about this. We have to see with my team and talk about this because I want some challenge, you know? (Having) two belts, I (would) like this moment.”
Makhachev and current UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman share the same manager, Ali Abdelaziz. It’s unclear how much longer Usman will fight in the Octagon, as he has previously hinted at eventually leaving the sport on top.
Depending on what the landscape looks like if and when Makhachev earns the lightweight belt, a move to welterweight may not be too far-fetched. This would allow him to become one of the few UFC fighters to earn titles in multiple divisions, which was once unprecedented in the sport.
How do you think Islam Makhachev would perform at welterweight?
As far as Colby Covington is concerned, a title will be on the line at UFC 272 in the main event after all—four of them, in fact.
UFC 272 will feature a rare occasion where the main event will not be a championship bout. Instead, it will feature a grudge match between two former close friends turned sworn enemies, Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal.
However, contrary to what we’ve been told by the UFC and all MMA media members, there actually is a title fight on the docket this Saturday night when Covington and Masvidal meet.
No, it’s not an interim title as champion Kamaru Usman heals up from hand surgery. And no, it isn’t even the BMF title that Masvidal won by defeating Nate Diaz in 2019.
As it happens, there will be not one, not two, not three, but four titles that will be on the line when the grudge match goes down in the T-Mobile Arena. That, of course, is according to Covington himself.
“I have a real title; he has a fake title,” Covington said to TMZ Sports about the BMF title. “I could care less about his title. I have all the titles that matter: the people’s champion, America’s champion, Donald Trump’s favorite fighter, and Miami’s title. So I’m gonna put ’em all on the line (at UFC 272) to show you why I’m the king of Miami.”
Regarding Miami, Masvidal is born and raised in the city while Covington has been a proud resident for over 11 years. Covington has seemingly determined that he’s taken over the city that Masvidal has called home and, in his mind, he is aiming to represent the 305 better than Masvidal ever did this Saturday.
UFC 272 takes place Saturday, March 5, 2022, from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The highly-anticipated showdown between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal will close the show with no title needed—but one-half of the participants has manufactured four of them just in case.
What are your thoughts on Colby Covington’s comments?
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has had a rough past few months, but he still has a strong supporter in Khamzat Chimaev.
Jones recently announced that he and his longtime fiancée, Jessie Moses, have split following Jones’ latest arrest back in September. He was accused of battering Moses in a Las Vegas hotel room before headbutting a police vehicle during his arrest.
The battery domestic violence charges were dropped in exchange for Jones paying a small fine for the damage inflicted on the police vehicle. It’s still unclear what fully transpired between Jones and Moses leading up to when local authorities arrived at the scene.
Jones has a lot on his plate at the moment ahead of his anticipated UFC return in 2022. He’s expected to make his heavyweight debut and potentially challenge for the heavyweight title later this year.
“We are with you legend [Jon Jones],” Chimaev said.
Chimaev has risen to stardom following a dominant run in the UFC Octagon. He most recently dismantled Li Jingliang at UFC 267 and has allegedly been in talks to face former title challenger Gilbert Burns later this year.
Jones has been under fire from fans, pundits, and fighting colleagues following his most recent arrest in Las Vegas. UFC President Dana White went as far as saying that Jones has “a lot of demons” outside of competition.
It’s not yet clear how Jones’ recent transgressions could impact his return to the cage, but Chimaev appears to still have faith in the former UFC champion.
Jorge Masvidal claims that the origin of Colby Covington’s outspoken persona did not begin for the reasons his former teammate claims it did.
Prior to his 2017 fight against Demian Maia, Colby Covington was on a four-fight winning streak and had a UFC record of 7-1. Yet, according to Covington, that was not enough for the UFC. He claims the promotion said they were going to cut him despite the fact that he was winning because he was not entertaining enough.
As the story goes, it was this warning that led to the infamous “filthy animals” Octagon interview after he defeated Demian Maia in São Paulo, Brazil.
At the time of this promo, Covington and Masvidal were still teammates and close friends. And Masvidal claims to have direct knowledge that the reason for Covington’s promo had absolutely nothing to do with the UFC putting him on notice.
“The UFC didn’t say that. Colby said that,” Masvidal told ESPN in reference to the true origin of the “bad boy” side of Covington.
Masvidal went on to state that he, not unlike the Brazilian audience, was blindsided by the promo.
“I didn’t know that it was coming. I was like, ‘Man, I don’t know how I feel about that. Because for me to have to diss a whole nation to get my name out there, to me, is like—damn. Especially in Brazil. There’s a lot of kids suffering. There’s a lot of hungry people out there. You’re kinda going too far.”
Masvidal went on to say that he told Colby that what he said was wrong, and Covington did not take the criticism well.
Masvidal: Jędrzejczyk & Nunes Have Both Confronted Covington
During his fallout with American Top Team, Colby Covington did not only target Jorge Masvidal. He has also had words about Dustin Poirier and two female leaders of the gym: Joanna Jędrzejczyk and, allegedly, ex-teammate Amanda Nunes.
Masvidal questions why Covington would speak about Jędrzejczyk and Nunes at all if his aim was just to sell pay-per-views as he claims.
“Why’s he talking about Joanna? Why is he talking about Amanda? Is he gonna fight them? Is he gonna make pay-per-views with them? Because his whole thing is like, <whimpering> ‘UFC was gonna cut me. I need to sell pay-per-views,’” Masvidal said.
Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Colby Covington
“You’re gonna sell pay-per-views when you fight Amanda? Why are you insulting women? Why are you bringing up women and things that you would do to them, this and that? Like, you’re a [MUTED] coward. And then he would see Amanda like, ‘Hey, Amanda, it’s just businesses.’ I’ve seen him myself do that. Same thing with Joanna. Same thing with numerous guys.”
According to Jędrzejczyk, Jorge Masvidal has all of American Top Team on his back when he faces Colby Covington this Saturday at UFC 272. The night will present Masvidal with an opportunity to avenge all the teammates Covington trashed in the past. And no matter what was the origin of Covington’s decision to begin behaving in such an abrasive manner, Masvidal will look to put an end to it once and for all in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
What do you make of Jorge Masvidal’s remarks about Colby Covington’s persona?
After two years of build-up, the “former friends turned bitter rivals” story starring Colby “Chaos” Covington and Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal will reach its climax.
It’s fight week, and we now are limited to five more days of torrid trash talk between former chums Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal. Both fighters are coming off a loss to Kamaru Usman in their latest fight and will be looking to reroute back to the top of the division, beginning with this grudge match.
In the co-main event, Rafael dos Anjos will be competing against Renato Moicano. And in another featured bout, rising featherweight Bryce Mitchell will be tested against proven vet Edson Barboza.
“This isn’t gonna be a baptism. This is gonna be Street Judas’ funeral.” – Colby Covington
Colby Covington, Getty Images
At UFC 272, Colby Covington will look to put an end to Jorge Masvidal as we know him. The Countdown video captures the intensity and the “Chaos” that Covington plans to bring with him into the Octagon when he seeks to close out this dramatic chapter of his career.
“I’m gonna look at him. You know what the [BLEEP] I’m talkin’ about, man. I brought you in, and I’m gonna take your ass out.” – Jorge masvidal
At UFC 272, Jorge Masvidal finally gets the opportunity he’s been craving: to be the man to silence Colby Covington. The Countdown video captures Masvidal explaining why he feels it’s his responsibility to wipe Covington off the MMA map.
Overall, the Countdown video does a thorough job of telling both sides of the story of how the two became friends, when and why things went sour, and just how eager they are to finally settle matters.
“In my mind, I want to do this forever because I’m a fighter. – Edson Barboza
Edson Barboza, Credit: USA TODAY Sports
UFC iron man Edson Barboza will be entering year 12 of his UFC tenure at UFC 272 when he takes on Bryce Mitchell. The Countdown video captures what makes Barboza such a thrilling, must-see staple of the UFC roster.
“When the fight first starts, it’s basically gonna be like a little simmer. When I get him down, it’s a boil. And when I get him in certain spots, it’s a pressure cook. If I can get him in certain spots where I can pressure-cook him, then that meat’s gonna fall off the bone.” – Bryce Mitchell
Bryce Mitchell (Image Credit: Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
At UFC 272, 27-year-old grappling maestro Bryce Mitchell will try to add the biggest feather in his fresh cap by defeating Edson Barboza. The Countdown video captures the “grappling vs. striker” dynamic of this fight in large part by highlighting Mitchell’s impressive submission skills.
The co-main event between Rafael dos Anjos and Renato Moicano is not featured in the Countdown video due to the last-minute nature of that booking.
UFC 272 takes place this Saturday, March 5, 2022, from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Neva. You can find the full card and viewing information below followed by the UFC 272 Countdown video.
Main Card (Pay-Per-View, 8:00 PM ET)
Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby Covington
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Renato Moicano
Edson Barboza vs. Bryce Mitchell
Kevin Holland vs. Alex Oliveira
Sergey Spivak vs. Greg Hardy
Preliminary Card (ESPN/ESPN+, 6:00 PM ET)
Jamie Mullarkey vs. Jalin Turner
Yan Xiaonan vs. Marina Rodriguez
Nicolae Negumereanu vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu
Mariya Agapova vs. Maryna Moroz
Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass, 4:00 PM ET)
Brian Kelleher vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
Tim Elliott vs. Tagir Ulanbekov
Ludovit Klein vs. Devonte Smith
Dustin Jacoby vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
Without further ado, you can check out the UFC 272 Countdown video below!
The UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña admired some of the best female names in MMA during her come-up.
With a professional record of 11 wins and 4 losses and recently defeating one of the greatest women in MMA to obtain the UFC bantamweight title, Julianna Peña is becoming a star in her own right.
Peña took the MMA world by storm when she defeated Amanda Nunes at UFC 269. She started a fierce MMA career back in 2009 and is still going strong. So it is no surprise that the list of women MMA fighters she admires are/were strong competitors.
“There was, the girls that were fighting before me, while I was coming up. Miesha Tate, Cris Cyborg, and Gina Carano. I loved Gina Carano. Those were the ones that I remember too,” Peña told New York Post.
Tate is a former UFC bantamweight champion who owns impressive wins against the likes of Holly Holm and Jessica Eye. In May, the former champion will face Lauren Murphy for a shot back in the winner’s circle after losing the second fight of her 2021 comeback to Ketlen Vieira.
It is also not shocking that Cris Cyborg made the list. Her name goes hand-in-hand with women’s mixed martial arts. The current Bellator bantamweight champion was in the middle of dominating her opponents when Peña was entering the professional MMA scene.
Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg, Photo Credit: Strikeforce
Gina Carano was an unstoppable force until Cyborg put an end to her 7-fight win streak in 2009. It was the only loss and last fight of her MMA career.
“Shayna Baszler, too. I remember buying her shirt and getting her autograph and being a fan of hers. And then I had to fight her on “The Ultimate Fighter.” I was like, ‘I’m fighting someone that I look up to! Someone that I think is really great!’It was so weird to be fighting a legend. That definitely happened,” Peña continued.
Korean Zombie will be fighting for UFC gold for the second time in his career, but this time around, he has much more confidence.
Zombie fought José Aldo at UFC 163 in 2013 when the champ was 22-1 and hadn’t lost since 2005. He was viewed as unbeatable and many weren’t giving Zombie a chance as he was around a +600 underdog which was the biggest he was in his entire career.
Ultimately, it was Aldo winning by fourth-round TKO after Zombie dislocated his shoulder. Now, years later, the fan-favorite spoke about the fight and said it is a good learning experience for him.
“Nine years ago, nobody could beat José Aldo. Nobody even thought about beating him. Nobody entertained (it). And (I’m) so happy that (I’m) fortunate enough to fight him because (I) had the experience now to actually step up and win a title (fight),” Zombie said through his interpreter on The MMA Hour.”
Korean Zombie is set to return to fight Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title in the main event of UFC 273 on April 9. Volkanovski was originally supposed to fight Max Holloway but the Hawaiian was forced out of the bout due to an injury, which allowed Zombie to get the shot. The event also takes place in Jacksonville, Florida.
Korean Zombie (17-6) is currently ranked fourth at featherweight and returned to the win column last time out with a decision win over Dan Ige. In the fight before, he lost a decision to Brian Ortega which snapped his two-fight winning streak and had he won, he likely would’ve gotten a title shot. In his career, Jung holds notable wins over Dustin Poirier, Frankie Edgar, and Dennis Bermudez among others.
Do you think Korean Zombie will win the featherweight championship this time after coming up short against José Aldo 9 years ago?
Israel Adesanya reports he was down to his last few hundred dollars before making a deal with the UFC.
Now a four-time title defending champion and signed to a new major deal with the UFC, surely financial hardship isn’t on the course for Adesanya.
However, before he got his chance with The Ultimate Fighting Championship, Adesanya experienced less than desirable contracts with other fight promotions.
He claims there was only $300 in his bank account at the time. This was mostly due to a company in China breaching their contract with him.
“The company that I was working in China f***** me over cause I had seven fights left in my contract, each fight at that time was like $25,000. And they just stopped giving me fights. I was like ‘what about the contract I need fights’,” said Adesanya, according to Mirror.
He credits MMA clothing line and products site Engage for getting him through the rough patch.
Israel Adesanya
“So, I went to the UFC. Shout out to Engage though, they came in the clutch at that time. This was around my UFC debut at around November 2017. I wouldn’t have rent for either the next week or the week after,” Adesanya continued.
Friends and family also pulled through to help the future champ.
“This is one thing I loved about my parents, they always supported me. I hated going to them and asking ‘can you pay me this’ but I always did. And a friend like Corbin [close friend of Adesanya] as well, who was always in the clutch for me as well. People like that I keep around and I hold them dearly,” The champ explained.
Next Up For Adesanya
Israel Adesanya, Photo Credit: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
The middleweight champ signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC before his second battle against Robert Whittaker.
Whittaker thought he had the arsenal geared up to defeat Adesanya, but came up short in the decision. At such a close match, and “Bobby Knuckles” claiming to be the only fighter with the potential to take him down, a trilogy may be in store for the future.
Amosov, a native of Kyiv, has been outspoken regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military actions against Ukraine. After months of tension along the Ukraine-Russia border, Russia opted to invade Ukraine and targeting major cities around the country.
In a recent post on his Instagram page, Amosov updated his fans on the situation in Ukraine and his message to his fellow countrymen.
“Greetings, probably, many will think that I ran away, I’m hiding or something like that, but this is not so,” Amosov said. “I took my family to the safe zone. Now I have returned and will defend this country as best I can, with what I can.
“I love this country, our own. Russia came to our house and started a war here, many people are dying – innocents, women and children. We have to defend this country, and we succeed, friends. And we will succeed, because the truth is behind us.
“I would like to address those who subscribed to me from Russia. What is shown to you on TV, you may not watch – this is not true. If I were you, I wouldn’t even watch your news. We are in a real war. I cannot understand those people who do not believe that Russian troops entered Ukraine. I see it with my own eyes, I hear it. Terrible things are happening here. We can do this.” (h/t MMA Junkie)
Amosov isn’t the only notable combat sports star to join forces with the Ukrainian military. Former boxing champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko recently announced that they are willing to fight against the Russian attack.
Many MMA fighters have addressed the current situation in Ukraine, including non-Ukrainians. Amosov will look to fight and represent his home country later this year.
What is your reaction to Yaroslav Amosov defending Ukraine?
John McCarthy has come out and said why he understands Luke Rockhold’s callout of Paul Costa for his return fight in the UFC.
Rockhold was scheduled to return to competitive action against Sean Strickland at UFC 268 in November of last year. However, at that time, the former UFC middleweight champion was forced to withdraw as he herniated a disc in his back.
The 37-year-old is now eyeing a return to the Octagon at some point this year, as he chose to call out Costa as a potential opponent.
Photo via Instagram @lukerockhold
McCarthy recently spoke on his podcast with Josh Thomson, where he evaluated Rockhold’s potential return against Costa as being good a matchup for the veteran. (h/t SportsKeeda)
“Yes, Luke at times gets too much into being a standup guy,” McCarthy explained. “Cause he’s slick, he’s a technical fighter. He’s got beautiful kicks, he hides them well, he’s got power on them, but his ground game is what made Luke Rockhold who he was.”
“They don’t give him credit for being as good as he is, and Luke on the ground is good. That dude is phenomenal on the ground. And there’s a huge difference between his ground game and Paulo Costa’s ground game. So, if I look at this fight, I go, this is not a bad fight for him. I understand why he’s calling him out.”
Costa, like Rockhold, is now on a two-fight losing streak following his loss to Marvin Vettori in October of last year. This means a fight between the pair could make sense regarding the landscape of the middleweight division currently.
Both fighters could see themselves reentering the title picture with a victory. However, many are still left wondering whether there is fight left in Rockhold, who would be returning to 185lbs for the first time since his knockout loss to Yoel Romero in 2018. Yet a two-year break might be all that was required for the veteran to rest and recover for a special comeback.
Do you agree with John McCarthy that Paulo Costa is a good matchup for Luke Rockhold?
UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling has made a promise ahead of his unification showdown with rival Petr Yan at UFC 273.
Sterling’s reign atop the 135-pound mountain was forged in controversial fashion at UFC 259 last March. Against Yan, a Russian star who was predicted by many to rule the division for a long time, “Funk Master” emerged with the belt after eating an illegal knee to the head in the fourth round.
A subsequent disqualification jumped Sterling from likely defeat to champion status. While the illegal nature of the blow he sustained is undeniable, many doubted, and continue to criticize, Sterling’s reaction to it and failure to continue.
Some, including fellow UFC peers like Darren Till and Henry Cejudo, even mocked the new champ by suggesting he had delivered an acting performance worthy of an Academy Award.
Nominated for an Oscar this year are: Robert de niro Leonardo dicaprio Margot Robbie Aljamain Sterling #UFC259
Having missed out on the ‘Best Actor’ honor to Anthony Hopkins at last April’s Oscars, Sterling is hoping to go one better than public nominee this time around…
Sterling Vows To Outdo Denzel Washington At UFC 273
Once again embracing the jokes and de-legitimization of his championship status, as he often has, the New York native assured fans he’s been hard at work to reach a Denzel Washington-level of performance at UFC 273.
“Well, I’ve been training a lot, a lot of PT. They have these schools out here, these acting schools. I’ve been going to a lot of those, putting in a lot of extra time,” said Sterling. “So you guys are gonna see a much better [Academy-Award-winning] performance this time. And you guys are gonna be shocked, man. Denzel [Washington] really doesn’t have anything on me. I’m telling you right now. Denzel, Training Day, John Q—nothin’.”
Given the ongoing prominent fighter pay debate, there’s perhaps a comparison to be made between Washington’s John Q character and the UFC fighters pushing for better remuneration.
While he’s been more than happy to engage in memes and jokes surrounding his title crowning last year, Sterling will certainly be looking to focus on the task at hand come April 9.
He will no doubt acknowledge himself as the only true champion in the division, but some believe interim titleholder Yan holds that crown. UFC 273 will provide a chance for Sterling to legitimize his reign once and for all. Against a fighter like “No Mercy,” he’ll have a tough task on his hands.
Who do you think will leave UFC 273 as the undisputed bantamweight king, Aljamain Sterling or Petr Yan?
