UFC light heavyweight contender Jamahal Hill knows he has at least one more doubter to silence as he continues to rise in the rankings.
Hill earned arguably the most gruesome knockout of his career against Johnny Walker at UFC Vegas 48. After taking his time to find his rhythm on the feet, he landed a big right hand that sent Walker collapsing to the mat halfway through the first round.
Hill has rebounded in a big way since his first UFC loss to Paul Craig at UFC 263. Before his knockout win over Walker, he finished Jimmy Crute in just 48 seconds last December.
Hill used his UFC Vegas 48 post-fight interview to address the doubters of his skillset. After getting word of Hill’s comments, Oezdemir pointed out that he remains a doubter following Hill’s main event win.
During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Hill addressed Oezdemir’s tweet and whether or not he’ll be his next opponent in the cage.
“I’ve already said it, bro, as long as I got the say-so, he’s next,” Hill said. “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.”
Hill earned a spot amongst the top 10 UFC light heavyweights after his recent wins and could potentially face Oezdemir next. After back-to-back losses to Magomed Ankalaev and Jiří Procházka, Oezdemir has slipped to No. 8 in the latest light heavyweight rankings.
Hill has proven to not walk away from a challenge or a fight and seems intent on addressing Oezdemir’s questions. If a fight between them ends up happening next, fans can expect quite the hostility in the buildup.
Do you want to see Jamahal Hill vs. Volkan Oezdemir next?
Following the loss, haters began to chime in. Walker came into the UFC with such hype around him that many believed that he would have been a UFC champion one day. Although he still very well might be, his career has taken a turn for the worse lately.
This loss was the second in a row and the fourth in five fights. Walker addressed fans after the fight, but as he was still receiving terrible messages, his fiancée Tara Campbell decided to take matters into her own hands with a post of her own.
“And just a note in response to the onslaught of comments online. And the disgusting DMs I’ve received from fake or private accounts antagonising me, and/or ridiculing Johnny. How f–king dare you?” She wrote. “This is a sport. No one but the athletes and their inner circle know the sacrifices the athletes make. The effort and dedication that goes into a camp. The training. The early mornings. The late nights. The diet. The sleep. The recovery. The impact it has on those around them. The mentality.”
In the aftermath of the fight, Walker posted a video of himself with his coach John Kavanagh enjoying some food and drinks. This was received poorly by fans who claimed that he was not taking his training or the loss seriously. Campbell continues to scold those who claim Walker was slacking.
“But before you comment, ask yourself. When was the last time you pushed your body to its limits with training? With diet? With mentality?” she wrote. “I know these keyboard warriors probably haven’t broken a sweat in their life and live their pathetic existence through fake or private accounts. And they probably think their comments or posts won’t be seen. But I can tell you while Johnny was in the ER, and I was in the waiting room alone- I saw the comments. I got the messages. And on a good day, it’s water off a ducks back. But on days like Saturday- they were tough.”
Walker took his training to Ireland to fix holes in his game and work with some of the best out there. He will continue to train and work his way back. Despite the loss, he is still one of the best at 205 pounds.
Do you think Johnny Walker is catching too much heat for the loss at UFC Vegas 48?
Former UFC fighters Michael Bisping and Brendan Schaub think fans shouldn’t count out Bobby Green against Islam Makhachev.
Green will step up for his second fight in the same amount of weeks against Makhachev in the UFC Vegas 49 main event. He most recently defeated Nasrat Haqparast with his impressive boxing and movement at UFC 271.
Green got the call from the UFC to help save the UFC Vegas 49 card after Beneil Dariush suffered a significant injury in camp. While many have praised Green for being game for the short-notice challenge, few fans believe he has a legitimate shot at the elite grappler Makhachev.
But Bisping and Schaub are proud to be part of that minority. They not only believe that Green can surprise a lot of people against the -900 favorited Makhachev but could also leave Las Vegas with the upset win.
Michael Bisping Explains Why Bobby Green Has A Reasonable Chance To Pull Off An Upset
(Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Bisping alluded to Green’s underrated ground game as a reason to not rule out an upset at UFC Vegas 49.
“For Bobby Green to step up, I mean, what an opportunity,” Bisping said. “And by the way, let’s be honest, Bobby can win this fight. On the feet, Bobby is way better, simple as that. Islam can strike, of course. He’s not a one-trick pony. He’s not just a wrestler, right? But he’s nowhere near as fast as Bobby Green. He’s nowhere near as slick. He hasn’t got the footwork, either, that Bobby has. Now, when it comes to wrestling and jiu-jitsu, I’ll give Islam the edge there. He’s better. He’s better in that regard, but you’ve got to get (Green) down.
“One thing we know about Bobby Green is the sprawl. He has a beautiful sprawl. He also has really, really good takedowns. I doubt he’s going to use these. In this fight, it wouldn’t be smart to take down Islam. That’s just going into his world, giving him what he wants. So Bobby needs to stay on the feet, try and put Islam on the back foot, but be careful that when he goes forward, Islam doesn’t shoot underneath. Obviously he’s going to get taken down. Look at what Islam did against Dan Hooker.” (h/t MMA Junkie)
Makhachev is arguably one of the top grapplers in the UFC, as evidenced by his most recent first-round submission of Dan Hooker at UFC 267. He has won nine in a row and could be on the verge of a lightweight title shot.
Brendan Schaub Also Likes The Idea Of Picking An Upset At UFC Vegas 49
Image Credit: Desiree Navarro/WireImage via Getty Images
Schaub, like Bisping, also believes that picking Green may not be an unwise choice. He explained why in a recent episode of The Schaub Show.
“It’s not a bad idea taking a chance on Bobby Green if you have some extra cash to f*ck around with. It’s not a terrible bet. It’s hard to plan for, short notice, huge underdog, main event. He’s an experienced fighter, very explosive, hard, hard to train for. So we’ll see.
“I would assume Makhachev tries to take him down early on to take away and nullify that XFactor that is Bobby Green. He gets him down early on, tries to break him, wears him out, nullify that kind of XFactor. Makhachev is an absolute monster when it comes to that.” (h/t BJPenn)
If Green can shock the world and stop the Makhachev hype train, he’ll no doubt emerge as a top contender in the lightweight division. As for Makhachev, he’s looking to keep his winning streak intact and potentially earn the winner of Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje for the belt.
Do you think Bobby Green has a chance against Islam Makhachev on short notice?
One man who thinks Ngannou deserves more is Urijah Faber. He spoke a bit to The Schmo about what the UFC should do with Ngannou and his contract situation.
“I think the answer is money. Pay that man the money,” Faber said. “He’s the heavyweight champion of the world. I really think that when it really comes down to the really last minute, I feel that the UFC will pony up and hopefully they reach an agreement that works because we all want to see the best fighters in the world in the UFC. I know I do.”
Ngannou has just defended the UFC heavyweight title successfully at UFC 270. Leading up to the fight, there was plenty of talk about his contract status. After Ngannou won the heavyweight title, he wanted a fight against Jon Jones. Jones also wanted the fight, but they wanted to be paid more than what was offered.
This interim title being created just months after Ngannou won created a rift between him and the UFC. Over the next few months, Ngannou was vocal about wanting to be paid more. He also wanted to be able to box if he had the opportunity. After defeating Ciryl Gane at UFC 270, Ngannou now needs time off to heal from injury.
Faber has been with the UFC for many years and knows how the system works. He is hopeful that Ngannou and the promotion can come to an agreement and keep him on the roster.
Do you agree with Urijah Faber to think the UFC needs to give Ngannou what he wants?
Diego Sanchez is hoping to use his position in the sport to be a positive influence on the next generation and believes some fighters with a larger platform have fallen short in doing so.
Diego Sanchez is a 20-year veteran of the sport who the MMA community has witnessed grow right before their eyes, beginning with his time on The Ultimate Fighter series in 2005. Since then, we’ve witnessed all the highs and the lows of Sanchez’s MMA journey. But one thing that has always remained constant is his love for the sport and the connection he has with the fans.
Speaking with MMA Junkie, Sanchez opened up on his desire to be a beacon of inspiration for the next generation with no strings attached. He also provided one notorious example of someone he feels has fallen short in that area.
“Now, I wanna help the youth of the next generation. I wanna be a positive, motivating inspiration and just a good influence for these kids,” Sanchez said. “Because you got guys out there like Conor McGregor that are giants of influences. And drinking Proper Twelve and hitting old men is not really a good influence to be spreading for the youth of the next generation.
“So I’m doing my best to do my part. And that’s why I do free seminars with kids. Anybody wanna fly me out to anywhere in America in the world, wherever, I’ll do a free seminar for the kids. Anywhere, anytime. I’ll go make that time to work with the youth of the next generation because they’re the ones that need the most because they’re the ones that are gonna keep us going and eventually be taking care of us.”
Sanchez has indeed been very charitable with his time and actions for his fans. In 2017, he even participated in an “exhibition” fight with a superfan who had Down syndrome to help make the fan’s dream.
McGregor also came to Sanchez’s defense when the TUF winner was involved with controversial manager Joshua Fabia. After a video was released last year of Sanchez taking blows from Fabia while hanging upside down, McGregor spoke up and advised Sanchez to take a different path.
Diego Sanchez’s next professional venture features his first MMA fight outside of the UFC in 18 years and his first fight since 2020. He will be taking on Kevin Lee on March 11 in a 165 lbs. bout for the Eagle FC promotion.
Do you agree with Diego Sanchez’s take on Conor McGregor?
BMF Champion Jorge Masvidal won’t pull any punches if a rematch happens against Nate Diaz.
UFC 272 goes underway on March 5. Masvidal will face his former training partner and rival Colby Covington. The headlining event is sure to drop jaws as pre-fight tension is at an all-time high.
The two fighters are going back and forth with vicious verbal attacks on social media and interviews, setting up what could be the most hate-fueled fight in recent history. However, a recent uptick in Masvidal’s rivalry with Nate Diaz may bump the Covington fight down a few notches.
The conflict between Masividal and Diaz has been brewing since their first battle in 2019. The fight ended in a doctor stoppage at the end of round 3. And although Masvidal was the winner and claimed the BMF belt, of course, Nate Diaz would not let that be the end of it.
Jorge Masvidal, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Nate Diaz; Photo Credit: Getty Images
Social media would see a lot of tweets from Diaz expressing his honest disapproval of Masvidal as well as mocking him. Because of this, Masvidal feels disrespected by Diaz and would be willing to fight him before a rematch with Usman after the Covington fight.
“That little fu***** broomstick keeps talking, you’re going to have to go at some point, you know. [When] I take Colby’s a** out, if I gotta wait for Usman, it could be you that gets this a**whooping, bro… Let’s fu***** go, man, I’m gonna break your fu***** face, bro,” said Masvidal (h/t SportsKeeda),
Many fighters know the game of trash talk. With many fights, it is the foundation to get fans pumped to watch. For Masvidal, he would just love the opportunity to shut Diaz up.
Another title shot is still on “Gamebred’s” mind. However, it can be put on hold so long as he gets a rematch against Diaz.
“It’s not a call out. After handling business, I’m going for the title, and if I don’t have time to go for the title, I’m gonna break your fu***** face for all the s*** talking you’ve done,” Masvidal continued.
Only time will tell if Masvidal and Diaz will run it back. Clearly, though, it is a priority on Masvidal’s list. Fans will have to wait and see if Diaz will be on board.
What are your thoughts on the prospect of Masvidal vs. Diaz 2?
Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk thinks her former teammate Amanda Nunes won’t be a title challenger for long.
Nunes is without a second belt for the first time in a long time after losing to Julianna Peña at UFC 269. She still holds the women’s featherweight title, but it’s unclear if and when she’ll defend it this year.
During a recent interview with The Schmo, Jędrzejczyk was asked about Nunes’ chances in a rematch with Pena and if her departure from ATT may have anything to do with the result.
“I’m not looking (to make the story deeper than it is). And that’s it,” Jędrzejczyk said. “I made a similar decision a few years ago when I came (to American Top Team). It was her choice. She’s the champion, champion in two different divisions—in one now, but I really believe in her that she will be back to holding two belts in two different weight classes because she’s a beast.”
When asked to elaborate on Nunes’ decision to leave ATT, Jędrzejczyk expressed empathy and understanding behind Nunes’ decision-making process.
“And it was her choice. This level, you have to do what’s right for you and how you feel. And it’s not only about getting the best partners (and) training (in) the best facility. But it’s all about getting the good vibe and keep the balance. Because the mental preparation is as much important as the physical or even more important.”
Nunes will have the opportunity to get her belt back later this year in a rematch against Peña. As for Jędrzejczyk, she’s in a similar position as her former teammate as she works to return to the Octagon in 2022.
Do you think Amanda Nunes will get her bantamweight title back?
Fans tuning in to Monday’s installment of The MMA Hour were in for a surprise—and so was the host himself when Bryce Mitchell went rogue during his scheduled appearance.
A week from Saturday, Bryce Mitchell will go one on one with top-10 featherweight Edson Barboza. Barboza is a tough task for any competitor, and he also happens to be one of the more established names in the UFC, with over a decade of promotional fights under his belt.
Considering this is being viewed as the most high-profile bout of Mitchell’s MMA career, Ariel Helwani joined the list of MMA journalists who are interested in knowing about Mitchell’s thoughts and preparations leading up to such a big fight.
However, during Mitchell’s appearance on The MMA Hour, there was no talk about the significance of the fight, what he expects from his opponent, or how well his training camp went. In fact, there was literally no talk about fighting whatsoever.
Instead, Mitchell stated that he wanted to use the MMA Hour platform to help shine a light on injustices happening on land both foreign and domestic as it pertains to civil liberties, such as the right to own assault weapons like semi-automatic rifles and the right to refuse COVID-19 vaccinations.
On the domestic front, Mitchell maintained that there is a reason why his home state of Arkansas has not enacted any vaccination mandates at the government level because they wouldn’t be able to enforce it anyway. That’s because, according to “Thug Nasty,” he and his local community are prepared to fight to the death to prevent such violations of their personal freedoms.
“Before the Holocaust in 1938, Hitler banned Jews in Germany from having guns. There’s a reason he did that. He wanted to disarm the population before he rounded them up and killed them,” Mitchell said. “So when I talk about why these guns are important, you’ve got to know why we’ve got these guns. Of course, it’s to hunt. Of course, it’s to protect ourselves from people that break into our homes. But the reason that they’re really here is to protect ourselves from our own government. It’s to overthrow a tyrannical government.
Bryce Mitchell
“And these guns on either side of me, that’s the reason that in Arkansas, they don’t have forced vaccines. They don’t have forced mandates. You can’t force ’em. They don’t have the power. If you go up and down my street, every single one of me and my neighbors is armed to the teeth, brother. I mean, I could sit here and—you’ve got the Underwoods, you’ve got the Mitchells, you’ve got the Palmers, you’ve got the Wests, the Browns, the Smiths, the Jameses, the Harrises, we’re armed to the teeth, brother. And we will not let this government inject what they say is medicine into our body without our consent.”
During the segment, Mitchell went on to explicitly state that he would be willing to die in such a standoff with the government if it meant defending the freedoms of himself and his fellow man.
This is just a small snapshot of what Mitchell had to say in this unconventional segment. He and Helwani were involved in a civil debate at times, with the segment being more of a conversation as opposed to an interview. Here were some of the other talking points from Mitchell during his brow-raising MMA Hour appearance:
2017 Las Vegas shooting was an inside job. The government staged that shooting to try to justify banning guns. The same applies to most (if not all, he did not specify) mass shootings.
2020 Presidential Election was rigged
Inflation is a form of control by the government
Ivermectin works much better against COVID than vaccines, but the vaccines make more money, which is why they are being pushed by the government
No such thing as a “gun problem” but just “mental health problems” that lead to shootings
Health care is not a right because you don’t have a right to someone else’s service
MMA Fighting usually publishes each interview separately on its YouTube channel, but in this case, they have opted not to post Bryce Mitchell’s controversial segment. Thus, if you want to hear Mitchell’s words straight from the source, you can go to approximately 1:43:00 of the video below, which also contains a disclaimer from MMA Fighting in the timestamp attached to the segment.
What are your thoughts on Bryce Mitchell’s comments?
Bobby Green hopes his lightweight peers can learn a thing or two from his actions leading into and during his UFC Vegas 49 main event against Islam Makhachev.
This Saturday at UFC Vegas 49, Bobby Green will be competing in his first UFC main event when he takes on Islam Makhachev. A bout against the dominant Dagestani is a tall task for any fighter with any amount of preparation, so you can imagine what it must be like to accept this undertaking on less than two weeks’ notice.
There are at least two men who can relate to accepting a short-notice bout against Makhachev. One of them is Green himself, who will do so in a 160 lb. catchweight bout this weekend. The other is Dan Hooker.
Dan Hooker
Hooker recently theorized that the reason Green was picked to face Makhachev instead of someone ranked is because others turned the fight down. He went on to state that they made this decision most likely because they felt the risk did not match the reward.
In an appearance on The MMA Hour, a very fired-up Bobby Green agreed with Hooker and took it a couple of steps further while throwing in some harsh namecalling.
“I know already, those top-10 guys, Hooker said it best: All those motherfuckers got the call first. I guarantee you all those guys are pussies! All these guys are fuckin’ pussies. They want to wait and pick their turns. <whiny voice> ‘No, it’s not good enough. No, I need more time. No, I want to fight somebody that’s ahead of me, but then I want it to be the right camp, and I want it to be all the right situations.’
Bobby Green, Image Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
“Like, all those guys play this weird game. I feel like they hold their cards in and they wait for the right time to, ‘Ah, pull out my ace.’ Like, no! Sometimes you gotta jump on it and you just gotta take it the way it is. And now, I’m jumpin’ over all of you guys. Because why? You’re too pussy to take the opportunity.”
Green was not done addressing his peers just yet. He would go on to make an expletive-laden public service announcement that they should all tune in this weekend to learn about the ways and walk of a gangster.
“I’m not crazy. I’m fuckin’ nuts. I’m fuckin’ nuts,” Green continued with measured intensity. “I’ll show all you pussy motherfuckers, this is how I’mma do this shit, OK? Let me show you some real G shit: get in there and do this shit with the highest guy in our fuckin’ division. I’mma walk in there like a gangster and punch that guy right in his fuckin’ face, K? I’m gonna keep hitting him in his face until he go down. And all he’s gonna do is try to wrestle. And that’s cool. He’s gonna wrestle, he’s gonna wrestle, cool. Wrestle, and wrestle, and wrestle, so I can wrestle, too. That’s fine.
“But at the end of the day, I just want to show my peers, or all my colleagues, or my opponents: This is how the fuck you do this shit. You don’t fuckin’ sit back and wait for the perfect opportunity.”
Green is currently unranked but has two straight impressive wins and is a proven veteran of the sport. And to his point, a victory over someone with the hype and run of Makhachev, on short notice no less, might have him leapfrog the entire UFC lightweight division in terms of the world title picture.
Thus, while the short notice might disqualify this from being a “perfect” opportunity for Green, it might only be about five pounds shy from it.
How do you think the UFC’s lightweight division should receive Bobby Green’s message?
Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier saw a change in Colby Covington once “Chaos” started finding success in the UFC.
Covington is slated to face Jorge Masvidal in the main event of UFC 272 next month. It is a welterweight grudge match between two former friends and former American Top Team teammates and a fight that fans have wanted for a long time.
Covington and Masvidal are both looking to get back in the win column after losses to welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. A win could propel one of them back into the title picture at 170 pounds.
One of the biggest storylines of the Covington/Masvidal beef is when Covington split with ATT to join MMA Masters in south Florida. He was allegedly kicked out of the gym after several near-brawls broke out over time between Covington and multiple members of the team, including Masvidal.
“He was winning fights in the UFC, and he started getting that shtick,” Poirier said. “He was winning fights, but he wasn’t getting the attention. Then, he kinda started switching. And at the beginning of it, it was kinda funny, kinda cool. But there was a point where he started believing all that craziness and started being that person. And that’s when things started changing.”
Poirier and Covington used to be on friendly terms during their early days at ATT. When asked before about a potential fight against Covington, Poirier shut down the idea despite months of trash talk aimed at Poirier.
Poirier most recently fell to UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 and is pondering his next move. He has previously teased a potential move up to welterweight and a fight against his longtime adversary Nate Diaz.
The Covington/ATT beef doesn’t appear to be letting up anytime soon, and fans shouldn’t expect pleasantries between Covington and Poirier should they run into each other leading up to UFC 272 fight week.
What is your take on the way Colby Covington carries himself?
UFC middleweight contender Darren Till is hoping to avoid the main event spotlight when he returns to the Octagon later this year.
Since falling short of middleweight gold in 2018, Till has had a tough time in the UFC. In his last five fights, the Liverpudlian has gone 1-4, a record that includes a brutal knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal in his final appearance at welterweight.
After arriving at 185 pounds with a decision victory over former interim title challenger Kelvin Gastelum, Till was tipped by many to be a future tough test for middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. But after a main event defeat to #1-ranked contender Robert Whittaker, that push for gold was stalled.
At the age of 29, and with wins against Gastelum, Stephen Thompson, and Donald Cerrone, Till’s potential is clear. Despite his recent struggles, the Brit hasn’t lost his self-belief and still sees UFC gold in his future. To get that ball rolling again, however, he has to rebound in 2022.
“I’ve had like, eight or nine main events now, and we’ve got Tom (Aspinall) from Team Kaobon doing Team Kaobon’s 10th (at UFC London), it’s historical, it’s nice stuff,” said Till. “But I would love to just have a three-round fight, just open the main card, and just see what it’s like. Every fight I’ve had since Cowboy has just been main event. I understand the UFC, what they see in me is potential and style, but I would love to just get back in there and fight three rounds and get comfortable again, be Darren Till.
“I swear to God, years ago, you can speak to my coach, I thought I was fucking indestructible,” added Till. “I used to say I can’t be killed, I can’t be beaten. I know I’ve still got that deep down inside me. I just need to find it again and be comfortable again.”
The last time Till fought three rounds was in the UFC 244 co-main event in 2019, where he edged past Gastelum on the scorecards. He’ll certainly be looking to re-create that success when he returns to action.
With Till’s fiery response to Hall’s recent ducking claims on Twitter, the stage has been set nicely for these two middleweight contenders to settle their differences in the Octagon down the line.
@UriahHallMMA brother brother brother, you just did a interview saying I am scared of you? I jumped up to middleweight and straight off the bat fought 2 of the best middleweights there is in gastelum & Whittaker. I have never turned a fight down at WW or MW.
Jessica Eye has revealed that she wants to wrestle in All Elite Wrestling.
A little over a week until UFC 272 and Jessica already has her “Evil” eye on another athletic venture.
Eye will face Manon Fiorot on March 5 in an early preliminary bout. Her French opponent is currently on a dominant eight-fight win streak, suffering only one loss via split decision–at the start of her professional MMA career.
Jessica’s last bout was in 2021 against Jennifer Maia at UFC 264. After losing the match, Eye had an opportunity for redemption a few months later. However, the bout was canceled due to Eye being hospitalized for an illness.
It will be Eye’s 30th professional match at UFC 272. And after several back-to-back losses, it will be her chance to get back in the winner’s circle.
However, win or lose, she wants a slice of All Elite Wrestling.
Recently, on February 21, Jessica Eye made a statement in regards to AEW.
Short and sweet. And with a long list of other MMA fighters that have jumped on the AEW bandwagon, Eye would fit perfectly.
She will join Paige Vanzant, Junior Dos Santos, Kayla Harrison, and many others that made cameos on the professional wrestling show. Even the BMF champ Jorge Masvidal got the AEW audience riled up when he made an appearance.
With fighter pay still an ongoing issue within the UFC, many of the promotion’s fighters have branched out, or retired, to acquire money elsewhere. Eye, currently 15 wins, 10 losses, and 1 No Contest, maybe another addition to that growing list.
Her possible transition to AEW begs the question: face or heel? The nickname “Evil” may prompt fans to push for the latter.
What are your thoughts on Jessica Eye wanting to wrestle in AEW?
The UFC has released a new trailer previewing the upcoming UFC 272 grudge match between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington.
On March 5, the grudge match between Covington and Masvidal that is two years in the making will go down inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Monday, the UFC released a video package to document the story behind the main event. The title of the video is “UFC 272 Look Ahead – Covington vs Masvidal: From Friends to Foes.”
Weeks ago, Masvidalreleased his own video documenting the same “friends to foe” narrative, but unlike the UFC, Masvidal’s aim was to “expose” Covington in the video by showing, among other things, his former buddy’s duplicitousness over the years.
Naturally, the UFC would take a much more balanced approach in their storytelling. The video captures how close Covington and Masvidal initially were and pulls the most biting quotes from both competitors to illustrate how far removed they are from those amicable days.
You can view the full video of UFC 272 Look Ahead – Covington vs Masvidal: From Friends to Foes below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_8X–XRSMc
How do you see the “friends to foe” story between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal ending when the two collide next month?
Daley has recently said in an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour that he intends to retire after one more fight in the Bellator cage. He most recently lost to Jason Jackson at Bellator 260 after winning three in a row.
The Bellator London card is scheduled to take place at The SSE Arena on May 13.
Koreshkov is just days removed from his first-round knockout over Chance Rencountre at Bellator 274. He landed a heavy spinning back kick before finishing the fight with a flurry of ground-and-pound punches.
Daley looked to be back in the welterweight title picture in Bellator after back-to-back wins over Saad Awad and Erick Silva in 2019. He followed it up with an impressive knockout over Sabah Homasi before the loss to Jackson.
Daley made his Bellator debut back in 2015 at Bellator 134, earning a unanimous decision win over Andre Santos. This was after he received a lifetime ban from the UFC for sucker-punching Josh Koscheck at UFC 113.
The Bellator London card will be headlined by a welterweight title fight between the champion Yaroslav Amosov against Michael Venom Page. If Koreshkov can get past Daley, he may move one step closer to a potential title shot in 2022.
What is your prediction for Paul Daley vs. Andrey Koreshkov?
The reason behind the switch-up was not given at first and many theories began to pour in. Now, Bellator President Scott Coker is ready to shed some light on the situation.
“So basically Cat wanted to have one more fight before she fought Cris,” Coker told MMA Fighting. “I don’t even think she was the one that really made that call; it was her manager.”
Cyborg accepted Zingano’s challenge and seemed ready to fight—that is until the announcement of Zingano vs. Sorenson. After that news came out, Cyborg tweeted and deleted a message accusing Zinagno of running.
“So the manager said ‘we want one more fight.’ So we said ‘OK’ and we put together the fight for her. From there if she wins, she can fight Cris,” Coker explained.
Zingano has won two fights in the Bellator featherweight division since joining the organization following the end of her UFC run. If she wins this third fight Coker claims that she will get Cyborg next, however, if she loses it could be Sorenson who leapfrogs into the title shot.
At this time, Cyborg does not have another option in the works. She could just wait for the winner of this bout featuring Zingano and Sorenson.
Do you think Cat Zingano really wanted to face Cris Cyborg next?
BKFC President David Feldman assures fans that Paige VanZant will return to the promotion before the end of summer.
Although coming off back-to-back losses, VanZant will try to make a comeback in the BKFC ring.
She suffered her second loss in the promotion to fellow former UFC flyweight Rachel Ostovich. This would serve as a rematch to the win VanZant gained over Ostovich back in early 2019.
But VanZant did not hide away in a corner after experiencing the losses. In fact, she stays busy in the realm of combat sports.
Outside of her OnlyFans page, she has appeared on All Elite Wrestling, causing chaos with pro wrestler Brandi Rhodes.
Paige VanZant, Photo Credit: AEW
And, according to Feldman, fans will see a better version of VanZant fairly soon. The BKFC president has high regard for the young fighter and is excited to see her pull through in the promotion. (h/t Essentially Sports)
”She will definitely be back in spring or early summer. A 100% Paige will be back. We have some really good things planned for her. The thing about Paige VanZant is she could not win either of her fights. She came to fight and fought her ass off both times. She did really really well, never took a backward step and you know it’s a different sport. Like I keep saying it and she is learning it, so for her to wanna fight again in bare-knuckle. After taking two losses, you gotta take your hat off to her. You really do, I do, and looking forward to seeing her comeback,” Feldman told MMA Junkie.
There is no clear opponent for VanZant as of yet, but later this year, she will have the opportunity to get into the winner’s circle.
Hopefully for VanZant, she can join the other former UFC fighters Mike Perry and Chad Mendes, who both picked up BKFC wins last Saturday.
Do you anticipate Paige VanZant’s return to the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship?
“If he wanna come to Stockholm, he’s welcome,” Chimaev said during an interview with BT Sport last October. “I told him, ‘I can help with the wrestling or something. We can spar. We can train.’”
Now, we have extended footage made public, which you can view in its entirety below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52te8uUts5Y
Till Will Hope To Overcome Ground Deficiencies With The Help Of Chimaev
Chimaev’s initial offer came in the month after Till fell to his fourth defeat in five fights. In the UFC Vegas 36 main event last September, the Liverpudlian hoped to stake his claim for a title shot with a victory over divisional veteran Derek Brunson.
After being dominated throughout and comfortably controlled on the ground, Till was submitted in the third round. Having subsequently revealed he’d fought through a torn ACL, “The Gorilla” has been on the sidelines ever since, with his comeback expected for later this year.
If you’re on the hunt for an in-form fighter to train with, and one who’s dominated his opponents on the ground, there aren’t many better options than Chimaev.
In four UFC outings, “Borz” has ragdolled three of his foes around the cage, submitting two and finishing the other with ground strikes. The one man who was able to avoid Chimaev’s imposing pressure-wrestling game was Gerald Meerschaert. He did so by going to sleep after 17 seconds courtesy of a brutal punch.
Dan Hooker knows firsthand how difficult it is to face Islam Makhachev.
The UFC event coming up on Saturday night has gotten a facelift. The main event was originally scheduled between Beneil Dariush and Islam Makhachev, but unfortunately, Dariush was injured and removed from the fight. Makhachev was still an option but finding him a replacement could have been a difficult task. One man did step up, however: Bobby Green.
Bobby Green, Image Credit: Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
Makhachev is one of the most dangerous men in the lightweight division. He has been rising up the rankings for a while now and with nine wins in a row, he is a problem in the division.
“You can draw down the list of fighters that don’t really have a fight right now. I guarantee you that every single one of them was asked if they wanted to fight Islam and there’s a reason Bobby Green took the fight because none of these other guys stepped up to the plate,” Hooker told The AllStar. “To take on a guy like Islam on one or two weeks notice is a pretty tough call and [Dustin] Poirier and [Michael] Chandler and Tony Ferguson wouldn’t even be expected to make that kind of jump or sacrifice just because the risk is not worth the reward for a guy with a name like… The reward is not there for a fighter like Dustin Poirier to take on Islam on a weeks’, or two weeks’ notice. It just doesn’t make any sense for him.”
Makhachev is currently ranked fourth in the division and has been discussed as a possible title contender with a win over Dariush. Now that he is facing Green instead, the title contention discussion might not still be there.
Green is coming off two impressive wins, but he is not ranked. Makhachev has been calling for top ten opponents for a while now, and Dariush was the answer. Now, he might have to face another top-five opponent before receiving that title shot he has been searching for.
Do you think Islam Makhachev is the best fighter in the top five at lightweight?
Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jan Blachowicz has teased what made him get the better of Israel Adesanya at UFC 259.
Blachowicz earned a dominant win over Adesanya at UFC 259, which was Adesanya’s first and only defeat in the Octagon. He has risen to stardom at middleweight despite falling short of double-champion status against Blachowicz.
A lot has changed since Blachowicz and Adesanya went to battle last year. Blachowicz went on to lose the title stunningly to Glover Teixeira at UFC 267, while Adesanya has defended his belt against Marvin Vettori and most recently against Robert Whittaker.
Despite being the light heavyweight titleholder in their matchup, some fans saw Blachowicz as the underdog against Adesanya. During a recent interview with Sportsnaut, Blachowicz explained what made his approach to Adesanya different than his other opponents.
“It was because I’m Jan Blachowicz, they are not,” Blachowicz said. “This is the biggest difference. In this fight, I took my legendary Polish power with me. That’s it. This is the secret, legendary Polish power. If I don’t forget it in the hotel room I beat everybody. If I forget it, not.”
Adesanya hasn’t ruled out another attempt at light heavyweight after losing to Blachowicz. He’s also been at odds with another former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones after a series of social media banter.
Blachowicz was supposed to face Aleksandar Rakic next month but had to withdraw due to an injury. The matchup is expected to be rescheduled for later this year.
If Blachowicz is victorious against Rakic and reclaims the light heavyweight throne, a rematch against Adesanya could be on the table. This would allow Adesanya to get vengeance at 205 pounds.
What did you make of the Jan Blachowicz vs. Israel Adesanya matchup?
A battle between middleweight prospects Nick Maximov and Andre Petroski is in the works.
There is a very exciting battle being targeted between two men who could be the future of the UFC middleweight division. According to reports by Iridium Sports Agency, Nick Maximov is set to make his next walk to the Octagon in May when he will take on Andre Petroski.
Petroski is trying to make his way in a stacked UFC middleweight division. He has had two fights in the UFC so far following his stint on The Ultimate Fighter Season 28. He won his last fight over Yaozong Hu via third-round submission and turned some heads in the process. Fans may have grown to love Petroski during his time on TUF. He is a former heroin addict who made his way through addiction to the UFC. He is looking to make more of a name for himself, but his next test is a tough one.
Petroski will be taking on Nick Maximov. The young up-and-comer has a big backing behind him. He is a product of The Nick Diaz Academy and has both Nick and Nate Diaz on his side. He made his UFC debut in September with a win over Cody Brundage and followed it up with a second win just two weeks ago over Punahele Soriano.
Maximov is great on the ground and has been involved in a few submission events recently. Being a protégé of the Diaz brothers brings all eyes to Maximov. He will need to show that he can take on this next tough test in Petroski and continue his rise up the rankings.
This bout is targeted for the Fight Night event being held on May. 14. The entire fight card to date is as follows:
Volkan Oezdemir wants Jamahal Hill to know that there is at least one person still doubting him.
Heading into and following UFC Vegas 48, Jamahal Hill addressed the doubters he has had along his rise up the light heavyweight ranks. The 30-year-old has gone 4-1 during his UFC run thus far, with three of those wins coming by way of knockout. Nevertheless, he believes that he has been met with more doubt than praise, and he has been sure to tell everyone so, including in his Octagon interview at UFC Vegas 48.
After knocking out Johnny Walker in the UFC Vegas 48 main event, Hill again got on the microphone to address these doubters.
Hill’s light heavyweight peer Volkano Oezdemir seems to be among those who witnessed Hill’s victory and Octagon interview on Saturday, and he decided to inform the night’s big winner that he still has one notable doubter.
“I’m still doubting,” Oezdemir said in response to a social media post quoting Hill as saying “Stop doubting.”
Jamahal Hill Responds To Oezdemir’s Doubts
Volkan Oezdemir’s message to Hill may very well be his way of letting the rising contender know that he’d be interested in a potential fight against one another. The fight does make sense for Hill rankings-wise since Oezdemir is ranked #8 while Hill is ranked at #12.
After Hill’s victory over Walker (#10), Hill is expected to crack the top 10 this week. Even still, he would need to make a big jump if he is to surpass Oezdemir’s position. And even if he does, the pair will likely be close to one another in the rankings.
Shortly after Oezdemir’s tweet, Hill issues the following response:
I mean that understandable with the brain damage you took in your last 2 fights!!! (1 against a guy making his debut) My hands will change your life think it's a game and fuck around and find out!!! https://t.co/XgoWIkdIFj
“I mean that understandable with the brain damage you took in your last 2 fights!!! (1 against a guy making his debut) My hands will change your life think it’s a game and fuck around and find out!!!”
As Hill alluded to in his response, one reason why he may not have an interest in this fight is because of the contrasting trajectories the fighters are on. Hill has won two straight fights by knockout and three wins out of his last four while Oezdemir has lost two straight fights.
In any event, Hill’s closing line of “fuck around and find out” could certainly be interpreted as “Sweet Dreams” being willing to make time to try putting Volkan Oezdemir to sleep.
Would you be interested in seeing a fight between Volkan Oezdemir and Jamahal Hill next?
UFC analyst and former middleweight champion Michael Bisping has heard the critics of his fill-in for Joe Rogan at the desk at UFC 271.
Bisping was on the call with play-by-play broadcaster Jon Anik and color commentator Daniel Cormier for the recent UFC 271 pay-per-view in Houston, TX. One notable absence from the event was Rogan, who has been marred by controversy in recent weeks.
Fans were divided on Bisping’s performance at the commentary desk, with some accusing him of showing bias and not replacing Rogan adequately. Bisping has commentated UFC Fight Night events but has been rarely seen for pay-per-view broadcasts.
During a recent Q+A session on his YouTube channel, Bisping addressed his critics and whether or not he would return to work pay-per-views in the future should he be needed.
“Well, considering all the backlash from all the motherfuckers out there, probably not. They’re probably like, ‘Whoa, we gave him a try. He was fuking awful. He was biased.’ Nah. I don’t know. We’ll see. We’ll see because I was only filling in for Joe Rogan; so, probably not. Joe will more than likely be back on the next one. So, therefore, I will not. I don’t wanna take anyone’s job. And you know what? I like enjoying the pay-per-views as a fan. Now, don’t get me wrong. The best seat in the house is literally right there, working the shows.
“If nobody can make it and they need somebody to fill in, I would be absolutely over the moon to do so. But I don’t want to take anyone’s job.” (h/t SportsKeeda)
It was initially reported that Rogan would miss UFC 271 due to a “scheduling conflict”, which was later shut down by UFC president Dana White. After Rogan stepped away from his usual post just days before the event, Bisping filled in on short notice to help boost the commentary team.
While Rogan wasn’t present at the event, some fans chanted “We Want Rogan” throughout the fights. Bisping appears to be unbothered by the unwavering support for Rogan by his fans.
It’s not 100% clear whether or not Rogan’s absence will be long-term or short-term ahead of the UFC 272 pay-per-view next month. If Rogan opts to once again step aside, Bisping could get the call to fill once again.
What were your thoughts on Michael Bisping’s commentary at UFC 271?
UFC lightweight contender Bobby Green knows taking a short-notice fight against Islam Makhachev is risky, but he’s ready for the challenge.
Green was just days removed from his win over Nasrat Harparast at UFC 271 when he got the call to fill in against Makhachev at UFC Vegas 49. This was after Beneil Dariush had to withdraw from the Feb. 26 headliner due to an injury in camp.
Welterweight star Jorge Masvidal won the promotion’s first, and likely only, BMF title over Nate Diaz at UFC 244. Green thinks his name should be included in the discussion for the hypothetical BMF champion of the 155-pound division.
In a recent Instagram post, Green hinted that he deserves to be considered the BMF champion of the lightweight division after taking a tough fight against Makhachev in a quick turnaround.
“If they had one for the lightweight division,” Green said in the caption.
Green has won two in a row after back-to-back losses to Rafael Fiziev and Thiago Moises. He got back on track with a gruesome knockout over Al Iaquinta at UFC 268 before earning an impressive win over Haqparast.
Green will face a tough challenge in Makhachev, who is arguably a tough matchup for most lightweights even with a full camp. Makhachev has won nine in a row including most recently over Dan Hooker at UFC 267.
Many have commended Green for taking the short-notice bout against Makhachev, but some doubt he has what it takes to stop Makhachev’s streak. However, if he’s able to pull off the upset, there won’t be many critics who will doubt his rhetorical BMF lightweight status.
What is your prediction for Bobby Green vs. Islam Makhachev?
UFC welterweight prospect Shavkat Rakhmonov has admitted that comparisons between himself and fellow rising star Khamzat Chimaev frustrate him.
When Chimaev returned from a lengthy year-plus layoff at UFC 267 last October, most discussions about future champions, future stars, and the most promising prospects in the promotion were directed towards “Borz.” Given the way he choked out “The Leech,” that was understandable.
But at UFC Vegas 47, the first Kazakhstani citizen to compete in the Octagon entered the conversation and reminded fans, and the rest of the 170-pound crop, that he’s a name to keep an eye on.
Prior to his UFC debut in 2020, Rakhmonov was a highly-touted M-1 champion across the Atlantic. But while his name would have been solely on European and Asian lips a number of years ago, “Nomad” has broken through on MMA’s biggest stage with three finishes in three UFC outings.
Having submitted veteran Brazilians Alex Oliveira and Michel Prazeres, Rakhmonov maintained his undefeated record and 100% finishing rate in the promotion at UFC Vegas 47 by brutally knocking out the in-form Carlston Harris.
You're looking at a future contender at welterweight 😳
As far as gaining hype goes, there aren’t many better ways to do it than a spinning hook kick and a display of vicious ground-and-pound. Now, with his perfect résumé displaying 15 wins and 15 finishes, Rakhmonov is beginning to be spoken about in the same conversation as the ranked contenders in the welterweight division.
One of those names is Khamzat Chimaev. With both men displaying their suffocating wrestling and submission games, as well as knockout power, in their early UFC careers, many have begun to compare the two and question how a fight between the pair would play out.
That doesn’t please “Nomad.”
During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Rakhmonov was asked whether he gets frustrated at the increasing comparisons being made between himself and the Chechen-born Swede. The 27-year-old confirmed he gets annoyed at what he identified as the question he gets asked the most.
“Yeah, I get annoyed because I am not Khamzat, I am Shavkat,” Rakhmonov said through his translator. “This is a question I get asked the most; when are we going to fight? But time will show. Right now, I’m just being annoyed with these questions (about Chimaev).”
THE HYPE IS REAL!!!!!!!!@KChimaev is a baaaaaaad man 😤
It appears both men could be looking to further increase their stocks and rise up the welterweight ladder against two prominent Brazilians in their next outings. While talk of a Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns matchup has existed for months now, Rakhmonov has set his sights on the exciting and unpredictable Michel Pereira.
While they may be on parallel paths at the moment, it certainly wouldn’t be surprising to see “Nomad” and “Borz” share the Octagon down the line, perhaps even with gold on the line?
Do you see both Khamzat Chimaev and Shavkat Rakhmonov as future UFC welterweight champions?
It wasn’t long ago, on the night of 6 October 2019, that Tai Tuivasa looked to be on his way out of the UFC. Stretched out flat on the canvas, with his face bloodied to a pulp and the arm-triangle of Sergey Spivac pressing into his neck, ‘Bam Bam’ was at a low point of his fledgling MMA career.
Losing consciousness seconds later, it was the third straight loss for the Australian and a glaring example of what happens when a self-styled street brawler like Tuivasa enters the cage with a submission specialist like Spivac. Repeatedly taken down to the canvas with ease, and once there, not knowing what to do, Tai looked gravely out of his depth. Making it all the worse, the drubbing came in front of a home crowd in Melbourne, Australia.
Fast forward to 2022, and Tai Tuivasa is a different, revitalized fighter. At UFC 271 earlier this month, the Australian’s head displayed an otherworldly ability to absorb Derrick Lewis’ best shots, before his elbow sent the American slumping face-first to the canvas. ‘Bam Bam’ is now not only a potential future title contender, but thanks to his larger-than-life personality, fast becoming one of the UFC’s most popular stars.
The night it all went wrong for Tai Tuivasa against Sergey Spivac at UFC 243 in Melbourne, Australia. PHOTO: USA TODAY Sports
“I’m A Banger From Western Sydney”
A Tai Tuivasa fight reliably delivers all those ingredients that make for an entertaining spectacle; a blistering KO, quickly followed by the swilling of beer from shoe and a post-fight interview that evokes plenty of chuckles, typically punctuated by his catch cry of “Eshay” resounding through the arena.
Pig Latin for “sesh,” the phrase is a nod to Australian-lad subculture to which Tuivasa proudly belongs. And that along with his social housing upbringing in the gritty, working-class suburbs of Western Sydney, Australia, are partly what makes ‘Bam Bam’ the uncouth-yet-highly likable personality we see in the UFC.
“I said it before and I say it again, I’m a banger from Western Sydney,” declared Tuivasa after his victory over Lewis. “I’ll bang on with anyone and will bang on till the day I die.”
“I don’t mind being the guy who drinks piss out of shoes and this and that. I suppose everyone focuses on all that, but at the end of the day, I’m knocking the best in the world out.”
Tai Tuivasa dressed in the traditional ‘Eshay’ uniform of Nautica shirt, Nike sneakers, and a fanny pack. PHOTO: Instagram/bambamtuivasa
Evolving His Game in the United States
But behind Tuivasa’s larrikin persona lies a serious athlete who’s been putting in the work to evolve as a mixed martial artist.
Disillusioned with the sport following his loss to Spivac, Tai spent a soul-searching year on the sidelines, during which time he uprooted from Australia and joined the ranks of American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose, California. There, under the tutelage of Daniel Cormier and Javier Mendez, Tuivasa says he made significant improvements to his game, particularly with regard to wrestling.
“The wrestling side of things I haven’t stopped working on since I’ve been to America,” Tuivasa told 7News in Australia last year. “I feel I’m getting a lot better at wrestling and I haven’t even got to spend a lot of time in America.”
All that work seemed to have paid off, when in October 2020, Tai returned to the Octagon with a first-round KO of Stefan Struve. That win kicked off what is now a five-fight win-streak—all knockouts—culminating with that of Derrick Lewis earlier this month, which saw Tai’s heavyweight ranking catapult from #11 to #3.
Tuivasa now faces the prospect of fighting the division’s elite. But is he ready for it?
Tai Tuivasa with Daniel Cormier and UFC middleweight Deron Winn at AKA. PHOTO: Instagram/bambamtuivasa
Tai Tuivasa’s Title Prospects
According to Daniel Cormier, who mentored Tuivasa during his stint at AKA, there are plenty of questions to be answered in ‘Bam Bam’s’ next fight.
“So the question now becomes, is Tai Tuivasa ready for the level of competition that he’s going to fight?” said Cormier on ESPN. “Because Sergey Spivac wrestled him to death, but when you get into the top five, getting wrestled to death is not just getting taken down—it’s getting pummelled into the ground by a guy like Curtis Blaydes. It’s him standing in front of a former champion like Stipe Miocic. Now the competition level skyrockets.”
Cormier further points out that, of those five KO’s Tuivasa has amassed in his last five fights, none came against a wrestler.
“One of the things that Tai has had the luck of having over the course of his win-streak is; Stefan Struve’s a striker. Greg Hardy’s a striker. Augusto Sakai is a striker. Derek Lewis is a striker. So he’s had strikers. Ultimately, he’s going to have to prove that he can stand in front of these wrestlers and defend takedowns enough to make them fight his fight. It’s a daunting task for a guy that, when you look back to the Spivac fight, had a massive hole in his game, and no one’s been able to fight him and exploit that to this point. But trust me, the next guy will have that ability,” said Cormier.
So, has Tai sufficiently plastered up the holes in his ground game to take on the likes of Blaydes and Miocic? Given their wrestling nous and that a title fight against Ngannou is unlikely, perhaps the bout that makes the most sense from Tuivasa’s perspective is Ciryl Gane. Not only for the relatively lesser threat he poses on the ground, but for the spectacle it promises: that of a clean-cut, technically sound Frenchman with an Adonis-like physique against a beer-from-shoe-swilling, love-handled Australian brawler.
But for Tuivasa, it doesn’t seem like he even cares who comes next. He just wants to punch on.
“Brah, to be honest I don’t even know whothe fuck’s in the top five,” he toldpress after his victory over Lewis. “I don’t even watch fighting, brah. Like I said, I heard there’s the Stipe’s, the Cyril Gane’s and all of that and everyone up there. But this is my job. I rock up, I prepare with my team, and we fuckin’ punch on.”
How do you thinkTai Tuivasa will fare against the heavyweight elite?
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