MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Peña: Nunes Would Look Like Earth’s Biggest Coward Without Rematch

    Julianna Peña won’t be letting Amanda Nunes shy away from a rematch.

    The biggest upset of 2021 was when Julianna Peña took down bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes at UFC 269. Since that win, Peña has not let up on her former opponent. She is welcoming of a rematch and has no doubt that she can win once again.

    Although Peña has been very vocal since her win, Nunes has been on the quiet side. Peña, who spoke recently on The Joe Rogan Experience, has laid down the consequences for Nunes in the event she opts not to have the rematch.

    “Well, somebody suggested, ‘Well, what if [Nunes] doesn’t decide to take the fight with you and decides to take an easier fight at ’45 and retires into the sunset?’ I’m like, she can’t,” Peña said. “She can’t do that. She would look like the biggest coward on Earth.”

    Amanda Nunes
    © Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

    Since the loss, Nunes has not been making many statements publically. She did, however, decide to leave her longtime gym ATT to begin the process of starting her own team. Nunes, of course, still holds the featherweight belt and has a duty to defend that as well.

    The idea of Nunes retiring soon is not that far-fetched, either. She has been fighting in the UFC since 2013. She won the bantamweight title in 2016 and followed it up by winning the featherweight belt two years later. Nunes is currently the top female on many people’s GOAT lists.

    There have been some rumors that Peña and Nunes are frontrunners for coaching the next season of The Ultimate Fighter. Peña got her start in the UFC as a fighter on TUF in a season that was coached by Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey. This would be a full-circle situation for Peña, who would welcome the opportunity.

    Do you think Amanda Nunes will agree to an immediate rematch with Julianna Peña?

  • (Archives) Joanna: Rousey & I Paid The Price For Weight Cuts (2018)

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

    On This Day Four Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 29, 2018, 1:05 PM]

    Headline: Jędrzejczyk On Rousey: ‘We Paid The Price For Weight Cuts’

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Joanna Jędrzejczyk believes she suffered the consequences of a bad weight cut as did Ronda Rousey.

    Jędrzejczyk was last seen inside the Octagon back in November. She defended the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) strawweight title against Rose Namajunas. In a shocking upset, Namajunas finished Jędrzejczyk in the opening frame to capture the 115-pound gold.

    After the fight, the former strawweight titleholder dropped Perfecting Athletes and blamed them for a poor weight cut. She believes that newly minted WWE superstar Ronda Rousey has also been the victim of a weight cut gone wrong. Jędrzejczyk says it played a major factor in her performance against Holly Holm.

    During an appearance on MMAFighting.com‘s “The MMA Hour,” Jędrzejczyk explained the dangers of weight cutting:

    “The funny thing is, people don’t believe that your brain can be frozen, but the weight cut can change the game. It can and that’s the worse thing. It can (happen) and this is what happened to me and Ronda. We paid the price for the weight cuts and that’s the thing.”

    She also offered a response to the critics.

    “They didn’t go through the weight cut, so they don’t understand. They don’t understand what we had to go through, but one day I will explain to all of them.”

    Sound off in the comments below. Do you believe bad weight cuts are to blame for the fall of Ronda Rousey and Jędrzejczyk s first loss?

  • Archives: ‘Khabib May Retire After Ferguson/McGregor Bouts’ (2018)

    As we now know, Khabib Nurmagomedov never did fight Tony Ferguson, much to the chagrin of millions of MMA fans. He did, however, fight Conor McGregor in what turned out to be arguably the biggest win of his legendary career.

    Even though Khabib would later retire in 2020 after the sudden passing of his father Abdulmanap, two years earlier there were signs that the Eagle would glide off into an early retirement. This article published four years ago to this day was such a sign.

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Four Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 29, 2018, 12:05 PM]

    Headline: Manager: Khabib May Retire After Bouts With Ferguson & McGregor

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    It’s possible that Khabib Nurmagomedov won’t be competing for much longer.

    Nurmagomedov is set to clash with Tony Ferguson on April 7 for what Dana White claims to be the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight title. Conor McGregor will likely face the winner as he’s still recognized as the lightweight champion as well. Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson will headline UFC 223 inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.

    It’s no secret that injuries and illness have plagued “The Eagle.” Nurmagomedov is 25-0, but his inability to show up on fight night at times has cost him. Now, the dominant 155-pounder insists he is finally ready to seize the moment. So much so, that his manager Ali Abdelaziz told TMZ Sports that McGregor’s title is meaningless (via MMAFighting.com):

    “On fight night, Khabib will fight for the undisputed lightweight belt. My demands have been fulfilled. I can give a sh*t what everybody asks, what everybody’s saying. I don’t care if Conor’s stripped [or] not stripped. I know that April 7, Khabib will fight for the lightweight belt and Conor’s belt will go in the trash.”

    He went on to say that Nurmagomedov may decide to retire if he beats Ferguson and McGregor.

    “We’re gonna beat Tony. We’re gonna stop Tony in three rounds. Khabib’s probably gonna retire undefeated because he’s gonna beat Conor, he’s gonna beat Tony, and he’s probably gonna say ‘Bye-bye.’”

    Do you see Nurmagomedov walking away from MMA if he beats Ferguson and McGregor? Sound off in the comments below.

  • Report: Jon Jones’ Advisor To Meet With UFC This Weekend About Return

    The first step towards the return of Jon Jones could be this weekend.

    The former light heavyweight champion’s advisor recently revealed to The Sun that he will meet with the UFC this weekend to discuss his client’s potential return.

    Advisor Richard Schaefer said he will meet with the promotion in the coming days in Los Angeles.

    Schaefer will be discussing the options for Jones’ return. Jones has been out of the cage for nearly two years now, with his last fight dating back to February 2020.

    Schafer has big plans for Jones’ return, hoping to get him in the title picture when he comes back.

    “He is willing, ready, and able to fight whoever we can get for the heavyweight title,” said Schaefer.

    Jones’ advisor is open to many options for his first fight back. While he would prefer to get him a fight against Francis Ngannou, he thinks the current champion’s contractual issues and recent injury could stop that fight from happening.

    “I think Francis Ngannou has some issues. One side is contractual. How’s that going to play out?” said Schaefer. “But then he has, as I understand as well, possibly the need for an operation because of his torn ligaments.”

    Ngannou won last weekend, defending his heavyweight belt against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. Ngannou’s team has since stated that he is set to undergo a knee surgery due to injuries he sustained in training. They estimate he will be out of action for nine months.

    Jones is recognized as one of the greatest fighters in UFC history. He has only lost once through 27 pro fights, with that defeat coming through a controversial disqualification in 2009.

    Do you want to see Jon Jones in his return? If so, who would you want to see him face?

  • Donald Cerrone Returns April 30 To Meet Fellow UFC Vet Joe Lauzon

    After speculation about his fighting future circulated last year, the Cowboy will ride again when Donald Cerrone meets Joe Lauzon at a UFC Fight Night event on April 30.

    Following his TKO loss to Alex Morono at UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Waterson last May, many fans were wondering if Cerrone had fought in the Octagon for the last time. After all, that now made him winless in his last six fights, with four of those bouts ending via TKO.

    UFC President Dana White addressed Cerrone’s future last year, indicating that he would allow Cowboy to move back down to lightweight for another fight but that a loss would mean the end of his legendary run in the UFC. We now know that this crucial bout will be against Joe Lauzon on April 30 based on a report Friday from MMA Junkie.

    Like Cerrone, Joe Lauzon has also been competing in the UFC for over a decade. Making his Octagon debut in 2006, Lauzon has gone 15-12 during this run, with Fight of the Night performances against standouts like Jim Miller (twice), Michael Chiesa, and Kenny Florian. He also won a Performance of the Night over Diego Sanchez at the historic UFC 200 event in 2016.

    Donald Cerrone’s most recent victory came against Al Iaquinta in 2019. The last time he won Performance of the Night was with his sick armbar victory over Mike Perry in November 2018.

    Donald Cerrone says he felt Mike Perry's arm pop before submission - MMA Fighting
    Image Credit: MMA Fighting

    With this bout set, the updated lineup for the April 30 Fight Night card is as follows:

    • Donald Cerrone vs. Joe Lauzon
    • Cortney Casey vs. Antonina Shevchenko
    • Gina Mazany vs. Shanna Young
    • Francisco Figueiredo vs. Daniel da Silva
    • Mike Breeden vs. Natan Levy

    What is your prediction for this fight between UFC veterans Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon on April 30?

  • Ngannou: “I’m Willing To Do Whatever It Takes To Get What I Want”

    UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou says all options are on the table during his continued contract negotiations with the promotion.

    Ngannou successfully defended his heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. Leading up to the fight, Ngannou suffered a knee injury that nearly forced him to pull out.

    While he won the fight via unanimous decision, his battle with UFC president Dana White and the brass continue. The two sides have been at odds over contract negotiations as Ngannou’s current deal comes to a close.

    During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Ngannou was asked if he wants to remain with the MMA promotion that made his star power rise.

    “Good question, do the UFC still want me to fight there? … If they make things right, yes. That’s all I’ve been saying.”

    Ngannou went on to elaborate on whether or not he’s willing to walk away from the UFC if he and the brass can’t come to terms.

    “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get what I want. Listen, as I said, even before this fight, I walked into this fight knowing I could have lost this fight. But, I reviewed everything, in me, I’m like, if this is it, if this is the end, let it be on my way, it’s gonna be on my way; I’m gonna make the call how it ends. It won’t end on somebody (else’s) rules, it will end on my rules.”

    Ngannou has remained vocal in his demands for not only better pay, but fair terms in his contract. He wants to pursue potential opportunities in boxing including against heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

    Many fighters have come to Ngannou’s defense amidst his outspokenness towards the UFC, including former champions such as Tito Ortiz. The issue of UFC fighter pay has been a hot topic of discussion over the past few years.

    Ngannou is expected to miss at least nine months after he undergoes surgery on his knee. It’s unclear if he’ll return to the UFC later this year or pursue other avenues.

    Do you think Francis Ngannou will fight in the UFC again?

  • Blaydes: I’m The Worst Stylistic Matchup For Jones At Heavyweight

    UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes believes he’s the worst stylistic matchup in the division for former 205-pound king Jon Jones.

    Blaydes has long been a top name in the UFC’s heaviest weight class. Since his debut in 2016, “Razor” has built a 10-3 (one NC) record that includes victories over Aleksei Oleinik, Mark Hunt, Alistair Overeem, Alexander Volkov, Junior dos Santos, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

    In his 19-fight professional career, Blaydes has only fallen to defeat against two men, Francis Ngannou and Derrick Lewis, the two hardest hitters in the UFC, if not the entirety of MMA. With that in mind, it’s unsurprising that Blaydes is confident in his abilities, so much so that he feels he’d provide the toughest matchup for former UFC light heavyweight champion Jones at heavyweight.

    Speaking exclusively with MMA News, Blaydes discussed Jones’ impending arrival in the division, the power of Ngannou and Lewis, and his plans for 2022.

    After a second reign atop the light heavyweight mountain, which included defenses against Anthony Smith, Thiago Santos, and Dominick Reyes, Jones vacated the belt in order to pursue a fresh challenge: title success at heavyweight. But since his last fight at 205 pounds in February 2020, “Bones” has remained on the sidelines.

    Fans are hoping 2022 is the year Jones returns, and given his latest comments and his consistent heavyweight transformation updates on social media, it appears the veteran is still targeting a new dose of championship glory.

    With Jones potentially joining him on the heavyweight ladder this year, Blaydes has given his take on the potential matchups that could await the GOAT contender. “Razor” told James Lynch that he sees himself as the toughest stylistic matchup for Jones, simply because of the different looks he’ll bring to the Octagon.

    “Stylistically? Honestly, I think it’s me, because I’m gonna involve the grappling,” Blaydes told MMA News. “I’m not saying I’m the best matchup, but I think I’m offering more different looks. Like, when he goes against an (Francis) Ngannou, or a Stipe (Miocic), or a (Ciryl) Gane, or a Derrick Lewis, he knows they’re all just gonna strike with him. He knows that. He knows that if he stays on the outside, which he’s very good at, people, they don’t know how to get past the long reach of his. The best way to get past it is to get into the clinch. But these guys don’t want it.

    “Derrick Lewis doesn’t wanna clinch, Ngannou doesn’t wanna clinch; they’re looking for the knockout. He’s not gonna give you the opportunity from distance to knock him out,” added Blaydes. “So, I think if he went against those guys he’d just pick them apart from the outside. Me? He’s gonna have to worry about every time he throws a leg kick, am I gonna grab it? And he’s gonna be a little bit more hesitant. Everyone does that. Whenever I fight anyone, like Volkov, Junior (dos Santos), even Jairzinho; we always expect them to be a lot more aggressive, and they’re not. Because we always forget they don’t wanna get taken down.”

    Jones Targets Heavyweight Debut In 2022

    After Ngannou’s title crowing at UFC 260 last March, the biggest fight in the promotion seemed to be a clash between “The Predator” and Jones. But after a public pay dispute saw the matchup collapse, Jones spent the entirety of 2021 on the sidelines.

    At the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony in September, Jones provided an encouraging update, suggesting he was targeting his divisional debut for the second quarter of 2022. That led many to believe Jones would challenge the victor of the UFC 270 main event for the gold.

    With that pay-per-view taking place this past weekend and seeing Ngannou successfully defend his title against former teammate Gane, the stage seems once again set for the former light heavyweight kingpin to take on the Cameroonian powerhouse.

    For both men to reach the cage, it appears a number of things will need to happen. First and foremost is Ngannou’s contract. With his dispute with the UFC ongoing, it’s unclear what the future will hold for the champion, with some even suggesting he could sit out the remainder of his contract and pursue a move to boxing in 2023.

    Similarly, uncertainty still appears to surround Jones’ next appearance, with UFC President Dana White claiming he’s not confident in saying Jones will fight for the title next. He even suggested a return to the Octagon as a 205lber is a possibility.

    Nevertheless, Jones seems as eager as ever to pursue his goals, something that’s an enticing prospect for MMA fans, who haven’t seen Jones in action for nearly two years.

    Do you think Jon Jones has what it takes to win championship gold at heavyweight?

  • Cormier: We’re In Uncharted Waters With UFC/Ngannou Situation

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier believes the ongoing dispute between Francis Ngannou and the UFC has entered “uncharted waters,” in more ways than one.

    At UFC 270, much more was at stake than just a belt. As well as bragging rights in regard to his bitter feud with former coach Fernand Lopez, Ngannou’s future, standing in negotiations with the UFC, and hopes of a blockbuster boxing crossover were on the line.

    After the opening two rounds, it seemed “The Predator” had bet on himself and come up short. But one takedown represented an almighty shift in momentum, one that would see Ngannou wrestle his way to a unanimous decision victory.

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

    Cormier: Ngannou/UFC Dispute Is “Unprecedented”

    What would have been an intriguing post-fight period turned into an explosive and hotly-debated one after UFC President Dana White didn’t enter the Octagon to put the title around Ngannou’s waist and was absent from the post-fight press conference. That lack of attendance seemingly showed all is certainly not well between the promotion and its heavyweight titleholder.

    With there also being a suggestion the social media team were told not to share footage from the fight to the company’s feeds, something that’s hard to deny after a brief look at Twitter, the past few days have seen a lot criticism flung in the direction of White and the UFC. That criticism increased after revelations about a legal threat sent to Ngannou’s manager mere hours before the event also came out.

    According to UFC color commentator Daniel Cormier, the ongoing dispute has firmly drifted into “uncharted waters,” both in terms of White’s post-fight actions and contractually, a scenario he thinks could set the tone for future fighters and their negotiations.

    “When Mick Maynard got up to go and put the belt on, granted, we have seen this in heavyweights before. Do you remember when Stipe beat Francis? When Stipe was upset by the way Francis was getting promoted, he took the belt from Dana and his coach put it on him. So we’ve seen these types of things before. But it was the athlete being upset with the promotion, so he didn’t let him, this was, I don’t know,” Cormier said during a recent episode of DC & RC. “I mean, I’ve seen other guys strap the belts before, but generally at international events. This was the first time I’ve seen a champion win on US soil and not have Dana put the belt on them. I honestly don’t know the last time Dana has not been at a post-fight press conference.

    “So we are in uncharted waters here,” Cormier added. “But not only because of the reaction the UFC has given but also because of where Francis stands and his position. Francis is in a position that not many people get to, in regards to negotiations. It seems as though he’s more than willing to die on his sword. He took a chance on himself and it seemed as though he won… This is unprecedented. This is going to really tell you how people are going to go about their negotiations because we’ve never seen this before.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZND3j6v2vy/

    Despite the reaction of fans and pundits, Ngannou was clearly not fazed by White’s absence, and even suggested it was an “honor” to receive the belt from matchmaker Mick Maynard instead.

    And according to the UFC President, his absence during the main event and post-fight was simply due to other matters demanding his attention. It’s fair to say that explanation has split opinion in the MMA community.

    Do you agree with Daniel Cormier’s take on the situation between Francis Ngannou and the UFC?

  • Askren Believes Covington Fight Is Crucial For Masvidal’s Popularity

    Ben Askren doesn’t agree with Chael Sonnen that UFC 272 is a career-ending fight per se, but he knows Jorge Masvidal needs to defeat Colby Covington to regain his popularity.

    Masvidal became a massive star in 2019 after knocking out Darren Till in London. He followed that up with a five-second flying knee KO over Ben Askren and then TKO’d Nate Diaz to become the BMF champ. Since then, however, he has suffered two-straight losses to Kamaru Usman for the belt and will now headline UFC 272 opposite Covington.

    It’s a crucial fight, as the two are bitter rivals and Sonnen has said if “Gamebred” loses, it would be career-ending. Yet, for Askren, he doesn’t think it would end his career if he loses, but it would derail his hype and popularity a ton.

    “Well Chael understands the fight business better than almost anyone so generally when he says things, there’s a lot of validity to it,” Askren said to MMA Island about Masvidal. “And so I would not say it’s a career-ender, but unfortunately, people will take offense to this, but I made him a huge star, right? It was at my expense. I don’t want to say he was a nobody before that, but he was kind of like a moderately popular fighter who kind of had maybe a hardcore following but wasn’t known to a broader audience and then the event with me happened, unfortunately, and he became let’s say, one of the top-five stars in the sport and then obviously he parlayed that with the Nate Diaz fight. 

    Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington
    USA Today and Sports Illustrated

    “Nate Diaz is not the toughest opponent at welterweight but then once he got past that fight, the Usman fights were pretty non-competitive and he hasn’t really fought anyone else in the upper-echelon of that division,” Askren continued about Masvidal. “So Colby is another guy, the upper echelon of the division, and if he loses to him, I think it probably knocks his popularity a couple of levels and he’s got to go low. Now can he regain the popularity on some level? Possibly.”

    As both Askren and Sonnen say, UFC 272 will be a massive fight for Jorge Masvidal’s star power.

    Do you think UFC 272 is a career-ending fight for Jorge Masvidal if he loses?

  • Fernand Lopez: Gane Is Ready To Take Jones If Ngannou Isn’t

    Ciryl Gane is willing to welcome Jon Jones to the heavyweight division.

    Although the heavyweight championship belt did not change hands at UFC 270, challenger Ciryl Gane is not discouraged. He is still a force to be reckoned with in the division, and with some uncertainty looming with champion Francis Ngannou in both health and contract, Gane is willing to step into the big opportunities.

    Ngannou might be out of competition for an extended period of time. The champ needs surgery following his win over Gane. This fact, paired with the unstable relationship he has with the UFC, could put his future in the organization in jeopardy. This is where Gane can step up. He was the interim champion and still the number one contender. If the UFC needs a big fight while Ngannou is out it could be Gane vs. Jon Jones.

    Jones has been teasing a move to heavyweight for over a year. He too has been having some contract trouble along with some personal issues throughout his transition. However, Jones will most likely be making his heavyweight debut in the near future and Gane could be the man to welcome him according to his coach.

    “If they (the UFC) solve the problem with Francis, what they would like to do, what everyone would like to have, is Jon Jones vs. Francis,” Gane’s coach Fernand Lopez told MMA Fighting. “I’m realistic, Jon Jones is number one. This is how it works, it’s a business… If that does not happen, and they have any issues having Francis onboard in the company, then obviously, we are ready to take Jon Jones.”

    It may be unlikely to see Jones come to the heavyweight division and fight for anything less than a title fight. Ngannou may be out for a while and the UFC could easily strip him or create another interim title. If either of these options were to happen, Gane vs. Jones could be a perfect fit.

    Do you want to see Ciryl Gane vs. Jon Jones in the heavyweight division?

  • Atlas Doubts if White’s Criticizers Would Have Acted Different At UFC 270

    Renowned boxing trainer Teddy Atlas has questioned whether those slamming UFC President Dana White for not putting the title on Francis Ngannou at UFC 270 or attending the post-fight press conference would have acted differently if they were in his shoes.

    At the opening pay-per-view of 2022, Ngannou made a statement. Not only was “The Predator” regarded as the underdog heading into his unification showdown with Ciryl Gane, but he also carried a torn MCL and damaged ACL into the contest, as well as the cloud of his ongoing contractual dispute with the UFC looming overhead.

    After losing the opening two rounds and struggling to get close to “Bon Gamin” on the feet, it appeared Ngannou was set to lose multiple things, including his belt, a strong negotiating position with the UFC, and the hope of crossing over to boxing to face heavyweight stars like Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.

    But in the 15 minutes after the start of round three, Ngannou turned things around with a revitalized strategy. Incorporating a much-improved wrestling game into the main event, described by cornerman Kamaru Usman as the “evolution” of the heavyweights, the Cameroonian took frames three, four, and five to walk away with a unanimous decision verdict and, in the context of the clash, a whole lot more.

    The story after Ngannou’s victory was always going to surround what the result meant for his future in the UFC and the future of the heavyweight title. However, that story was majorly fueled by Dana White’s absence, both inside the Octagon at the culmination of the headliner and at the post-fight press conference.

    From fans to pundits, the UFC President has been widely criticized for his unique decision not to put the belt around the champ’s waist following the opening PPV main event of the year. However, one prominent combat sports personality sees things differently.

    Atlas: ‘Dana Runs A Business’

    During a recent episode of The Fight with Teddy Atlas, American boxing trainer and fight commentator Atlas came to the defense of the UFC kingpin.

    Ultimately, the 65-year-old reminded the criticizers that White runs a multibillion-dollar business. With that in mind, Atlas believes he has to be able to look beyond Ngannou and is smart enough to recognize when he’s being challenged.

    “Hey, Dana, he runs an operation, he runs a business,” said Atlas. “He sold that for like $4.2 billion. That’s not shabby. He did that because of his business acumen, he did that because he was the boss, he did that because he led the way. He’s still the boss there, he’s the guy that’s got to think different than someone else has to think. He’s gotta think about the next guy down the road, the next Francis.

    “Francis and his manager, I give them all the credit in the world, they pulled it off. They took a risk, they stood up against the boss in some ways, they made their position noted, and went out and did what they had to do,” added Atlas. “Dana knows, he didn’t sell something and build something up to $4.2 billion by being stupid. He understood where he was being challenged.”

    Nevertheless, Atlas did acknowledge that White’s post-fight actions weren’t a good look. But even so, the New York native doubts those slamming White’s absence after UFC 270 would have acted any differently if they were in the same position.

    “You have to respect both sides. Dana, at that point, a lot of people say that it’s a bad look, that it’s not professional, it wasn’t right, and I got it, I can understand you saying that, I can,” continued Atlas. “But please don’t tell me, even if you didn’t like it, if you were in the same position 100% you would’ve done different. Maybe you would’ve? But maybe you wouldn’t have when it comes down to the backdrop that you are the boss, you do have to be ready for what’s coming down the pipe after Francis Ngannou, and what you believe in and how you hold yourself; the position that you take and the strength of your position.”

    While he certainly sees both sides of the coin, Atlas concluded with a query: would Dana White have built a company with the size and success of the UFC if he was capable of always being a gentleman?

    “He’s got a little bit more going on than just the simplicity of just being a gentleman that we want him to be. I understand both sides… I’ll leave it with this, maybe if he was capable of doing that, which is a nice dimension, maybe he wouldn’t be capable of getting $4.2 billion for the company,” concluded Atlas.

    While the debate is ongoing, White sees it as a non-issue. During an ESPN+ fan Q&A on Wednesday, the 52-year-old addressed the criticism he’s received since last weekend’s main event.

    He said his absence was simply due to other factors demanding his attention backstage at the time and branded those who saw it as disrespectful to Ngannou as “idiots.”

    Do you think Dana White had a valid reason for not putting the belt on Francis Ngannou or attending the post-fight presser?

  • Said Nurmagomedov Claims O’Malley Hasn’t Responded To Fight Offers

    Said Nurmagomedov is looking to fight Sean O’Malley next.

    Nurmagomedov picked up the biggest win of his UFC career on Saturday night at UFC 270 as he submitted Cody Stamann in less than a minute. The win put him to 4-1 in the UFC and is now on a two-fight winning streak.

    After the win, Nurmagomedov said he wanted to return in April and had targeted O’Malley or Marlon Vera.

    “I want to fight before Ramadan,” Nurmagomedov said after UFC 270. “I’m ready to be back soon. I also heard that the (UFC) is going to be in Brooklyn on April 9, and I want to fight there… Any top opponent. I’ve talked about ‘Chito’ Vera before, but any top opponent.”

    Although he mentioned Vera, Nurmagomedov now took to social media to call out O’Malley and says he has been offered the fan-favorite twice.

    “Hey @SugaSeanMMA UFC offer you to me 2 times, your chicken ass never responded run. What we’re gonna do now? I wanna kill your hype,” Nurmagomedov wrote on social media.

    Although Nurmagomedov claims he has been offered to fight O’Malley, “Suga” has not responded so it’s uncertain if that is true. It also seems unlikely that O’Malley would take a step down to fight someone lesser-known after being ranked and calling out big names like Dominick Cruz, Cody Garbrandt, and Rob Font among others.

    If he doesn’t get the fight, Said Nurmagomedov hopes he can fight before Ramadan and face a big-name opponent. He could very well face a ranked opponent, as he likely deserves the chance to enter the top-15 after his last performance, but it probably won’t be against O’Malley. “Suga” also has a hand injury and has said he wants to fight in the summer in Las Vegas.

    Do you think the UFC will book Said Nurmagomedov vs. Sean O’Malley?

  • Kevin Lee Thinks He Was Scapegoated By UFC For Ngannou’s Dispute

    Former UFC interim title challenger Kevin Lee doesn’t think his release from the top MMA promotion was about his performance alone.

    Lee is set to make his Eagle FC debut at EFC 46 on March 11 against another former UFC standout, Diego Sanchez. Lee was let go by the UFC last year following a one-sided loss to Daniel Rodriguez at welterweight.

    Lee is managed by Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which is the same firm that manages UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. The UFC and Ngannou have gone back-and-forth for months regarding negotiations for a new contract.

    The relationship between CAA manager Marquel Martin and UFC president Dana White has been tense, to say the least. White has repeatedly taken shots at him in various interviews.

    Lee’s release from the UFC was a surprise to many. During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Lee reflected on his UFC release and whether or not it caught him off guard.

    “To say I was surprised – no, not really,” Lee said. “I know the back end and all the stuff that goes behind closed doors. They really showed me no respect toward the end. I feel like I ate a lot of the flak for guys like Francis Ngannou in his situation with them. They used me as kind of like a pawn and a scapegoat. And really, I hope other fighters kind of see that. That’s what they do to you.

    “They didn’t like the way negotiations was handled with Francis, so they took it out on me to kind of show (CAA) a lesson. But I think in the end, we’re going to show that you can’t necessarily treat people like this, and there’s many other ways to make money and kind of outshine them. So we’re going to beat them one way or the other.”

    Ngannou most recently defended his heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. He’s expected to undergo surgery on a knee injury he suffered leading up to the fight.

    At 29 years old, Lee still has the opportunity to live up to the massive expectations bestowed upon him just a few years ago. As he gets ready to make his EFC debut, he’s looking to prove that the UFC’s decision to cut him was a massive mistake.

    Do you think Kevin Lee could eventually work his way back to the UFC?

  • Quote: Ngannou/Fury Match Could Be First Fight On New UFC Deal

    Francis Ngannou’s new UFC contract could involve a boxing match against Tyson Fury after all according to Ali Abdelaziz.

    Francis Ngannou is fresh off his first UFC title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. He is in a place where he is comfortable at the top of the UFC heavyweight division and has proved he has what it takes to beat the best. Yet, with all of this clout, Ngannou is still not happy with the UFC. He was having negotiation trouble with them leading up to the fight and seems to be continuing in a strange place with Dana White.

    The strained relationship between White and Ngannou could be a breaking point for the heavyweight champion. Ngannou has mentioned a desire to break out of his contract, and “freedom” is a big concern for him. One of the most successful fight managers in MMA, Ali Abdelaziz, spoke out about his understanding of the feud between Ngannou and the UFC.

    “Dana White’s been waiting 20 years for someone like Francis to arrive, to be on the scene, to become the baddest heavyweight on the planet,” Abdelaziz said to MMA Junkie. “I think it’s a lot of ego involved, a lot of people involved that are not supposed to be involved… I think this thing could be solved. All they need to do, Dana take Francis out to dinner, and they sit down and talk. And I’m very confident, very confident, they will get a deal done.”

    Abdelaziz is not Ngannou’s manager but has represented some of the best in the sport. He has a very good relationship with Dana White and the UFC and is usually able to get his fighters what they want. Ngannou wants a chance to try out his boxing skills against Tyson Fury, a plan that Abdelaziz thinks the UFC should jump on.

    “Francis said it’s not about the money, it’s about freedom,” he said. “Maybe, Francis wants to box, right? That’s his dream. I think Dana White can make his dream become true because he’s the baddest promoter on this planet. If you want to promote a fight against Tyson Fury, he’s an ESPN guy, Dana’s an ESPN guy, you bring both of them and make this fight happen. But I think they need to kill all the noise, stop talking to the media, stop tweeting stuff, stop putting stuff on Instagram; both sides.

    There have been a few fighters under UFC contract that have expressed interest in a crossover to boxing. The UFC has only ever allowed one fighter to do so, that was Conor McGregor against Floyd Mayweather in 2017.

    “Can you imagine Dana White promoting Francis to fight Tyson Fury next? Forget about Jon Jones. That’s what I’d do. I’d be like, ‘Let’s make this fight.’ That’d be the first fight on a new deal, right. And I think it could happen… His main thing is he wanted to box. I think Dana White will let him box. But he has to be, ‘I’m gonna be a team player here and we’re gonna work together,’” Abdelaziz said.

    Some believed that if Ngannou had lost at UFC 270, he would have left the promotion and could have made the transition on his own. However, since his first title defense was successful, he will remain under contract with the UFC until at least the end of the year.

    Ngannou has already mentioned that he needs surgery and will be out for an extended period of time. If the UFC wants, they can strip him of his title and the Ngannou will be free to do what he wants.

    Do you think the UFC should allow Ngannou to fight Tyson Fury while still under contract?

  • Stephen Thompson Explains Why Henry Cejudo’s Size Impacts His Draw

    UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson has explained why Henry Cejudo’s size has impacted his global draw and ability to demand certain fights.

    Not many individuals boast combat sports accolades as impressive as Cejudo. As well as being an Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling, a feat he achieved in Beijing in 2008, “Triple C” is a former two-division UFC champion, having held gold at both flyweight and bantamweight. No other fighter has won an Olympic gold medal and a UFC title.

    But despite becoming only the second fighter to defend titles in two weight classes and defeating the likes of TJ Dillashaw, Dominick Cruz, and Demetrious Johnson, Cejudo is rarely talked about in the conversation for the greatest of all time and certainly isn’t looked at the same as many other former champs by a portion of the fanbase.

    That sentiment was on display recently when the Californian’s intention to return from retirement to challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title was laughed off by many, including UFC President Dana White.

    Thompson Believes ‘Size Matters’

    Having initially called out the 145-pound king last year in the hope of becoming the first three-division champ in UFC history, Cejudo had another crack at booking the matchup in recent days when Max Holloway withdrew from his scheduled trilogy clash with Volkanovski.

    “The Messenger” was met with a claim that it wouldn’t make sense and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung was granted the shot instead.

    In response, Cejudo pointed out that the great Georges St-Pierre was granted the luxury of returning from a long layoff to move up to a new division and challenge for another title. ‘What’s the difference?’ Cejudo exclaimed. According to two-time welterweight title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, it’s size.

    During a recent episode of his YouTube podcast, the #7-ranked 170lber suggested size matters when it comes to being a global draw and attraction, and being a fighter who’s in a position to make demands.

    “It’s the size. It’s the size that matters,” Thompson said. “Like, guys look at these 125ers, 135ers, and, no beef, probably a lot of these guys can beat me, but what I’m saying is, they (fans) don’t look at these guys… everybody knows the heavyweights, everyone looks at Francis Ngannou, but when they look at the smaller guys they’re just not appealing.

    “It’s like in Japan. The bigger, the more dramatic, the better,” added Thompson. “And when you look at the 135ers, they’re just not big and dramatic. You can try to be dramatic, but people aren’t gonna take you serious, like Cejudo, it comes off super cringe when you got somebody doing that. But you get somebody around 170 and up, especially at heavyweight, (it’s different)… That’s why in Japan there was only one weight class, that was it, heavyweight. When you fought K1, it was all heavyweight. It’s big, dramatic, flares, you know; people wanna see that.”

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

    While it’s seemingly unlikely we’ll see Cejudo challenging for featherweight gold in his first fight back, all signs point towards the 34-year-old targeting a return to the Octagon in 2022.

    If he can make a successful comeback and perhaps regain the bantamweight title he vacated in 2020, perhaps a super fight against whoever sits on the 145-pound throne at that time will be possible.

    Do you agree with Stephen Thompson? Is Henry Cejudo not a bigger draw because of his size?

  • Watch: Jake Paul Roasts White, McGregor, Diaz, & Masvidal In Diss Track

    Jake Paul’s diss track of Dana White has arrived.

    Today marks one week to the day since we ran a story about Dana White vowing to never speak about Jake Paul again. In contrast, “The Problem Child” has ramped up his side of the feud to new levels.

    Friday morning, Paul released a rap song where he relentlessly roasts Dana White for over two minutes, and a few UFC stars were targeted as well.

    The video begins with “Dana White” and UFC executives pressuring a fighter played by Cris Cyborg to sign a three-fight contract worth $12,000 a fight. When the fighter asks about long-term health care, “White” snaps, “Don’t worry about that right now! Just sign on the dotted line or no one’s gonna know who you are.”

    At this point, Paul and his entourage crash the signing, and the YouTuber cracks “White” with a baseball bat. The music video then commences.

    Jake Paul Targets White & Three Big UFC Stars In Diss Track

    The biggest themes of the video are the UFC’s mistreatment of fighters, Dana White’s greed, and a wide-scale roasting of the UFC president in general.

    There were also some shrapnel that fell on UFC stars Jorge Masvidal, Nate Diaz, and Conor McGregor, three names that Paul has lobbied for fights against in the past. Here what he had to say about each fighter.

    Jorge Masvidal

    Jorge Masvidal
    Jorge Masvidal, Credit: Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

    “First of all, Masvidal, you ain’t rich. 50 fights for 5 mill’ that ain’t shit.”

    Nate Diaz

    Morning Report: Beer-spilling fighter who flinched at Nate Diaz wants redemption: 'I'll fight his ass for free' - MMA Fighting

    “I like havin money conversations. All that little Stockton shit is cool, but that lisp got me thinking Diaz speak a different language.”

    Conor McGregor

    Conor McGregor
    (via John Locher/AP)

    “McGregor, I ain’t seen you win in five years. You rich little weirdo, ugly ass veneers. Took so many losses wounded up at VMAs, tryna fight with MGK, no surprise here.

    Lamborghini boat but your career is sinkin’. Really got me wondering what Dee is thinkin’. I ain’t even dissin now I’m really speaking.  Wounded up in jail too many times with all dat liquor drinkin’.”

    You can peep the full, uncut video of Jake Paul’s diss track below.

    What are your thoughts on Jake Paul’s Dana White diss track?

  • O’Malley To Ngannou: You Can’t Bash The UFC & Expect No Backlash

    “Suga” Sean O’Malley has inserted his two cents into the UFC’s contract negotiations with Francis Ngannou.

    The conflict between Ngannou and the UFC has been marinating for about a year. To put it simply, Ngannou has been asking for more money and more freedom.

    Sean O’Malley posted a new video on his YouTube channel where he talks about last weekend’s UFC 270 fight card and how Francis Ngannou spoke about his UFC status leading up to the event (h/t MiddleEasy).

    “Dude, if you’re gonna go out there and just talk [expletive] about the boss and the company you can’t just expect no backlash…And I don’t wanna say talking [expletive] in a bad way. I guess he’s just talking facts but it is talking [expletive] and you can’t do that to the UFC. You can’t do that to Dana. You can’t do that to your boss.”

    O’Malley also defended White not putting the belt around Ngannou’s waist after the fight. In all fairness, Dana has since claimed that he had urgent business in the back he had to deal with. What that business is? We do not know, as he did not explain further than that.

    White also indicated that he has no issue with Ngannou at all, contrary to the common perception that trailed the event.

    Francis Ngannou is now set to have surgery on his right knee, which was injured coming into his UFC 270 title defense against Ciryl Gane.

    As for Sean O’Malley, the outspoken bantamweight last competed at UFC 269 in a first-round TKO win over Raulian Paiva, which earned him Performance of the Night honors.

    Do you agree with Sean O’Malley’s take on Francis Ngannou’s comments about his UFC negotiations?

  • Paul Craig vs. Nikita Krylov Added To UFC London On March 19

    A clash of ranked light heavyweight contenders has been booked for the UFC’s return to England’s capital.

    The promotion has announced that a fight between the #9-ranked Nikita Krylov (26-8) and the #11-ranked Paul Craig (15-4-1) has been added to a stacked UFC London card, set to go down inside the city’s O2 Arena on March 19.

    Returning to fight in the UK for the first time since his 2018 triangle choke submission victory over Magomed Ankalaev, Scotland’s Craig will be hoping to continue his rise towards contention by extending his win streak to four at UFC London.

    Since a knockout loss to powerhouse Alonzo Menifield in 2019, “Bearjew” has found the form of his life. After returning to the win column against Vinicius Moreira, Craig fought to a split draw against Maurício Rua, before securing a wins against Gadzhimurad Antigulov, “Shogun,” and, most recently, Jamahal Hill.

    Craig jumped towards the top 10 last time out by brutally dislocating the elbow of the previously-unbeaten Hill at UFC 263 in June. After failed matchups with Alexander Gustafsson in September and Krylov in December prevented a second appearance in 2021, the Scot will look to continue his winning ways against the latter in their re-arranged bout in less than two months’ time.

    Joining the likes of Alexander Volkov, Dan Hooker, Timur Valiev, and Makwan Amirkhani as one of the international athletes hoping to spoil a homecoming at UFC London will be Ukraine’s Krylov. “The Minor” has exchanged wins and losses in his last five appearances.

    While he fell to defeats against former champion Jan Blachowicz, reigning light heavyweight king Glover Teixeira, and Ankalaev, the 29-year-old had his hand raised versus Ovince Saint Preux and Johnny Walker.

    While Krylov will be looking to rebound from his defeat to Ankalaev last February, Craig will need to find success at UFC London if he hopes to uphold his desire of a late push up the rankings and potential retirement by the end of the year.

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

    Listed below are the fights currently expected to go down on March 19 in London, England:

    Alexander Volkov vs. Tom Aspinall (heavyweight main event)

    Dan Hooker vs. Arnold Allen (featherweight)

    Paul Craig vs. Nikita Krylov (light heavyweight)

    Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Sergei Pavlovich (heavyweight)

    Jack Shore vs. Timur Valiev (bantamweight)

    Paddy Pimblett vs. Kazula Vargas (lightweight)

    Nathanial Wood vs. Liudvik Sholinian (bantamweight)

    Makwan Amirkhani vs. Mike Grundy (featherweight)

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

    Cody Durden vs. Muhammad Mokaev (flyweight)

    Jake Hadley vs. Allan Nascimento (flyweight)

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

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC London, Paul Craig or Nikita Krylov?

  • Brandon Moreno: Figueiredo Came For A Decision, Not My Head

    UFC flyweight contender Brandon Moreno believes Deiveson Figueiredo’s strategy at UFC 270 was to take the fight to the judges’ scorecards.

    At the opening pay-per-view of 2022, the two top flyweights stole the show with another entertaining and enthralling chapter to their rivalry. While Moreno, the first Mexican-born titleholder in UFC history, hoped to extend his reign with a second win against Figueiredo, the Brazilian targeted revenge and a second stint atop the 125-pound mountain.

    After five rounds of back-and-forth action, the judges were needed to decide who left Anaheim with the flyweight gold. With 48-47 scores across the board, “Deus Da Guerra” etched his name into the history books as the promotion’s first-ever two-time 125-pound king.

    Moreno: ‘He Never Tried To Finish The Fight’

    While Moreno performed admirably, even doing enough to win in the eyes of some, and kept the fight extremely close with his volume and speed, it was Figueiredo’s power that proved to be the difference, with knockdowns in the third and fifth frames seemingly edging him the co-main event contest.

    Prior to the trilogy clash, Figueiredo, who had his first reign at the top of the weight class ended via submission at UFC 263 last June, promised he was going to take Moreno’s head inside the Honda Center.

    But having gone the distance with the Brazilian, “The Assassin Baby” believes Figueiredo’s game plan actually involved doing the opposite to his pre-fight trash talk.

    “I was saying in interviews, ‘Man, I’m expecting a better Figueiredo, like, more motivated, hungry for success, trying to cut my head off.’ Everything was true, except he never wanted to (finish) me,” Moreno told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “His game plan was to go the decision and (he) won like that. He never tried to really finish the fight. He connected with me and got some knockdowns, but I feel like that wasn’t the real game plan.”

    That theory will no doubt be disputed by the newly crowned champ, who claims he would’ve only needed another 30 seconds to finish the Mexican in the third frame.

    While the trilogy contest brought a lot to the cage, one thing it didn’t do was provide closure for the rivalry. With the score now at 1-1-1 and with Moreno calling for a fourth clash later this year, it appears the pair could make history with a tetralogy.

    But with contenders like Askar Askarov, Alexandre Pantoja, and Kai Kara-France waiting in the wings, it remains to be seen whether the UFC will favor an immediate fourth fight or if it’ll choose to venture to new matchups first instead.

    Would you like to see Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo 4?

  • Peña: I’m The Star Power Nunes Needs To Be A Main Event Attraction

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña believes she is the partner former titleholder Amanda Nunes needs to be a main event attraction in the UFC.

    At the final pay-per-view of 2021, not only did Peña steal the upset of the year honor, but she also staked her claim to one of the biggest upsets of all time.

    After months of talk, ducking accusations, and a failed booking at UFC 265, “The Venezuelan Vixen” finally had the chance to put her money where her mouth was at UFC 269. In the co-main event, she did exactly what she said she would do. She dethroned Nunes, the then-double champ who hadn’t lost since 2014.

    After escaping the opening round, well-known to be the Brazilian’s strongest, Peña hit the gas. Having hurt a tired Nunes on the feet, she dragged the “Lioness” to the ground and submitted her.

    Peña Believes She’s The “Partner” Nunes Needs

    With the unlikely crowning of Glover Teixeira at UFC 267, 2021 had already seen its fair share of memorable title-winning performances, but not many saw this one coming. However, Peña certainly did and perhaps that’s why she is so open to the idea of granting Nunes an immediate rematch: she believes she has the reigning featherweight champion’s number.

    While she already brought a physical challenge strong enough to defeat Nunes, the newly crowned bantamweight queen believes she offers something else for the Brazilian’s presence at the top.

    While Nunes’ recent defenses and appearances had a built-in interest due to her dominance and lengthy win streak, they lacked a willing dance partner, one who would not only challenge the consensus female GOAT in the Octagon, but who would accentuate the interest, intrigue, and draw of the matchups outside of it.

    Discussing her inevitable rematch with Nunes this year during an interview with The Spokesman, Peña claimed she is the partner the 33-year-old Bahia native needs to become a main event attraction in the UFC.

    “[Nunes] has had several things happen to her where they wouldn’t put her as (the) main event because she couldn’t sell it or because she would pull out. She needs a partner; she needs the other side of the fight,” she said. “I am that other side. I am that star power. I am the one that is saying, ‘Hello, I’m here, let’s do this.’”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYUXXA4vEsJ/

    While a date is yet to be set in stone for Peña vs. Nunes 2, all three parties necessary in organizing it have given the green light. After UFC President Dana White confirmed a chance at redemption would be offered to Nunes, the former 135-pound champ was quick to accept. Peña has also revealed that talks have begun for the two to potentially coach the next season of The Ultimate Fighter opposite one another.

    While it may be unlikely the rematch will headline a pay-per-view given the host of exciting matchups already in store for 2022, it’s hard to deny the pair’s rivalry will have a headlining feel to it in the build-up.

    Do you think Julianna Peña can repeat her UFC 269 performance when she runs it back with Amanda Nunes this year?

  • Blachowicz vs. Rakić March Bout Scrapped, Potentially Moved To May

    MMA reporter Ariel Helwani revealed today via his substack page that Jan Blachowicz has withdrawn from his March 26 bout against Aleksandar Rakić.

    According to the Thursday report, the hope is to reschedule the bout for May. Former

    Blachowicz’s reign at the top of the 205-pound mountain came to a crashing halt at UFC 267 in October. Having won the vacant title in memorable fashion against Dominick Reyes, and successfully defended it once by handing middleweight king Israel Adesanya his first loss in MMA, the Polish star faced the test of Glover Teixeira in Abu Dhabi.

    At 42 years of age, it was the Brazilian’s final chance to have UFC gold wrapped around his waist. With a second-round rear-naked choke, Teixeira dethroned Blachowicz and did exactly that.

    Given his prior form, which had seen him build a five-fight winning streak that dated back to a loss against Thiago Santos in 2019, many had expected Blachowicz to send Teixeira into retirement and move onto a European clash with Jiří Procházka. Having seen those plans collapse, the 38-year-old will be looking to rebound back to the belt in 2022.

    During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Blachowicz discussed his plans for 2022, revealing his intentions of returning to the Octagon in the year’s first quarter and discussed a potential bout against Rakić.

    “Yeah, it’s good fight, you know. He’s good, he’s strong, you know, young fighter. All fighters in the UFC, top 10, top five, you know, they are amazing fighters and (it’s a) pleasure for me to fight against all of them. Rakić is good for the next fight, but we will see.”

    If this pivotal light heavyweight bout gets rescheduled or either fighter gets a new opponent, MMA News will bring you the scoop.

  • Ngannou To Fans Who Said He Could Only Win By KO: You Were Wrong

    Although UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou revealed that if he could have chosen his path to victory against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 it would have been via knockout, proving people wrong worked out well also.

    With the eyes of practically every fan on him and the talk in all circles surrounding his uncertain future and ongoing dispute with the UFC, Ngannou didn’t buckle under the pressure.

    In fact, much like his knee brace held up his torn MCL and damaged ACL through five rounds of action, Ngannou’s focus, perseverance, and the team around him held up his self-belief, something that would prove to be crucial on his path to victory.

    Having pushed through multiple areas of adversity, “The Predator” made it to the Octagon for the first pay-per-view main event of 2022 with a point to prove. After two rounds of comfortable control on the feet for Gane, that point looked to be fading.

    But after metaphorically catching that point and slamming it to the ground in the third round, the Cameroon native used his improved wrestling game to add the first blemish to his former teammate’s record.

    Having been unable to get close to “Bon Gamin” on the feet, it was undoubtedly the strategic adjustment to takedowns and ground control that turned the tide last Saturday. Having seen Gane’s reaction to it at the end of the third round, Ngannou said he knew it was to be smooth sailing for the remaining 10 minutes.

    Ngannou Happy To Prove Doubters Wrong Despite KO Preference

    Prior to UFC 270, the prevailing narrative was that the unification showdown was a case of power vs. technique on the feet. Very few even discussed the possibility of either party choosing to initiate a wrestling sequence, and even fewer believed Ngannou would be capable of engineering a victory with it.

    While he sees the opportunity to have proven his doubters wrong and show he can go five rounds, even when grappling is involved, as a good thing, Ngannou still admits he’d have chosen a KO if he could have.

    “I didn’t know, for sure, that it was gonna be a grappling match. But I have that as an option, that it could be a grappling match,” Ngannou said during his appearance at the post-fight press conference. “Basically, because I wasn’t very comfortable on my stand, I wasn’t very stable, so I was very concerned. I couldn’t move properly, and against a guy who moves as well as Ciryl, It was very tough for me, the standup part. But he kind of gave me the opportunity; came to me at first with those takedowns… My team recommended me to keep doing that, work on the wrestling and grapple because we were pretty confident about our skills.

    “Neither do I (expect to see me fight five rounds), I haven’t seen me fight for so long [LAUGHS]. The wrestling has been part of my game from the beginning. I’ve been working on (it), maybe it wasn’t good enough, but I never had a chance to prove it,” added Ngannou. “If I would’ve chose, it would’ve been a knockout man [LAUGHS]. This five rounds, it wasn’t my call. But meanwhile, it was a good thing because I finally had a chance to prove that I can do it. Everybody counts me out when it goes to five rounds, ‘Ah, Ciryl by decision! Only way Francis wins is by knockout,’ but you were wrong.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZISzJ7Prar/

    With another wrinkle added to his game, Ngannou has displayed his development from knockout artist to all-round mixed martial artist. That’s certainly a scary prospect for the rest of the division should he agree to a new deal with the UFC and continue his reign.

    What did you make of Francis Ngannou’s performance at UFC 270?

  • Uriah Hall vs. André Muniz Booked For April 16 UFC Card

    André Muniz will get his momentum at middleweight tested when he fights Uriah Hall.

    The new matchup has joined UFC’s April 16 event, per Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting. The bout has reportedly been verbally agreed upon and is in the process of being finalized.

    The matchup is joining a “Fight Night” card that doesn’t have a confirmed location yet.

    Muniz has yet to lose through four fights in the UFC. He has gained a reputation for being a submission specialist, stopping his past three opponents all in the first round. His most recent win came just last month, catching Eryk Anders with an armbar at UFC 269.

    Muniz beat a legend earlier in 2021, stopping Jacare Souza with an armbar in May. The fight would end up being Souza’s last fight, as he announced retirement later that year.

    When putting together the victories that Muniz has earned before and after joining the UFC, he is currently on an eight-fight winning streak. 

    A win against Hall could shoot Muniz up the rankings. He is currently placed #13 in the official UFC rankings, while Hall sits up at #9.

    Hall Fighting To Come Back From Strickland Loss

    Uriah Hall
    Uriah Hall (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

    Hall, a UFC veteran of 18 fights, will be attempting to return to the win column. He lost a main event fight in his most recent appearance, dropping a unanimous decision to Sean Strickland in July.

    Hall had some momentum before then, stringing together four wins from 2018 to 2021. The most recent of the victories was a brutal fight, as his bout against Chris Weidman was stopped in just 17 seconds due to Weidman’s leg visibly breaking.

    Earlier in the win streak, Hall had earned victories over Antonio Carlos Junior and former champ Anderson Silva.

    Welterweights Vicente Luque and Belal Muhammad are currently set to headline UFC’s April 16 show. Here is the updated lineup:

    Welterweight Main Event Bout: Vicente Luque vs. Belal Muhammad

    Middleweight Bout: André Muniz vs. Uriah Hall

    • Welterweight Bout: Miguel Baeza vs. Dhiego Lima
    • Heavyweight Bout: Chris Barnett vs. Martin Buday
    • Lightweight Bout: Drakkar Klose vs. Brandon Jenkins
    • Welterweight Bout: Rafa Garcia vs. Jesse Ronson
    • Middleweight Bout: Caio Borralho vs. Gadzhi Omargadzhiev
    • Bantamweight Bout: Lina Lansberg vs. Pannie Kianzad

    Do you see Uriah Hall stopping the momentum of André Muniz? Or will Muniz be able to keep his streak going?

  • Arnold Allen Fight Coincides With Dan Hooker’s Reason For FW Move

    UFC fan favorite Dan Hooker is ready to make a splash when he returns to featherweight, starting with an impressive performance against England’s Arnold Allen.

    Despite his recent run of form consisting of losses to some of the best lightweights in the world, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler, and Islam Makhachev, Hooker feels that to remain in contention for UFC gold, he has to make a change.

    Believing he doesn’t have a place among the 155-pound elite until the landscape of the division changes, “The Hangman” made the decision to move back to 145 pounds.

    While he initially targeted dream fights with “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung and Brian Ortega, Hooker has had to settle for a contender outside the top five. Nevertheless, a victory over Allen will certainly insert the New Zealander right into the title picture at featherweight.

    The pair are set to throw down on March 19, a date that will signal the promotion’s return to London, England. While “Almighty” Allen targets a triumph in front of his home crowd, Hooker will be looking to spoil the party for the Ipswich native.

    Hooker Hopes To Steal Allen’s Momentum

    Despite going 1-3 in his last four Octagon outings, Hooker isn’t returning to featherweight with the aim of taking easier matchups and rising the ranks slowly. He wants to get straight into the mix at 145 pounds and book dates with the top names in the division.

    With Allen, that is exactly what he’s getting. The Englishman is unbeaten in the UFC. Across his unblemished 8-0 promotional record, the 28-year-old has established himself as one of the fastest-rising contenders thanks to victories over Makwan Amirkhani, Nik Lentz, and Sodiq Yusuff.

    Discussing how the matchup came together in an interview with The AllStar, Hooker explained why Allen is the kind of opponent he usually accepts, while others tend to turn down.

    “He is really good, but not like, a big name. I can see why I got that fight because I generally get the fights that other people don’t wanna take,” said Hooker. “That’s generally how I wind up with opponents… I feel like this is the situation with Arnold Allen, where he’s a super-talented fighter, very technical, well-rounded, and not the biggest name. Those are the difficult fights.”

    While others have perhaps shied away from the challenge of defeating Allen, Hooker is excited by the prospect of becoming the first blemish on the #7-ranked contender’s résumé.

    “For sure, it excites me to get out there and get the opportunity to stop that run, stop a run like that, undefeated in the UFC, 8-0. That’s a huge accomplishment in itself, to reach that sort of achievement, so the opportunity to get out there and stop it, and to take all of that momentum that he’s carrying off those eight wins and take it for myself, that’s what excites me about this fight.”

    While he isn’t taking the task of handing Allen his first loss in MMA’s premier promotion lightly, Hooker is anticipating a place right in the mix among the featherweight elite if he is successful on March 19.

    “Without a doubt, he’s #7 and he’s got all that hype,” added Hooker. “I’m not looking past Arnold or anything like that, but yeah, that (victory over Allen) gets you one of those big-name guys in the division, and that’s really like, my main motivation for going down to featherweight and for making the cut, to put myself straight back in the mix.”

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

    Having previously gone 3-3 during his initial stint at featherweight in the UFC, Hooker will be after more consistency when he makes his return to the lighter weight class.

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC London, Dan Hooker or Arnold Allen?

  • Dominick Reyes Fires A Shot At Jon Jones After UFC 270 Comments

    Dominick Reyes took a shot at former champion Jon Jones on social media.

    It has been a while since Dominick Reyes has made any noise. Reyes is one of the more quiet fighters on the UFC roster. He doesn’t engage in a lot of trash-talking, but when he does, it is usually pointed at Jon Jones.

    Reyes and Jones have a history together. They fought back in Feb. of 2020 when Jones defeated him via a narrow split decision. Since then, Reyes has occasionally been commenting on Jones’ behavior. He did so recently again on a post made by ESPN.

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

    “Poor guy. At the end of the day, he’s home alone in the basement writing mean messages. Get better bro,” Reyes commented on a picture of Jones saying he would defeat both Ngannou and Gane following UFC 270.

    Jones has not fought in the UFC since his bout against Reyes. Since then he has relinquished his light heavyweight title and made the decision to move to heavyweight. Jones then was involved with some negotiation disputes with the UFC and some legal trouble as well.

    He has not set a date for his UFC heavyweight debut but has been increasingly present on social media calling out Ngannou. Most recently, Jones criticized the performances of Ngannou and Gane at UFC 270, which is what prompted these posts from Reyes.

    When Reyes was questioned by another commenter about his remarks, he responded.

    “Just pointing out literal facts,” he wrote (via Sportskeeda). “We all had a great time at the fights and homeboy is tweeting mean stuff before the belts wrapped around the winner… Don’t get it twisted, I do truly want to see him get better. I wish harm on no man.”

    Reyes has been unsuccessful in his last three UFC outings. He lost his title shot against Jones, then another title shot against Jan Blachowicz for the vacant title. Most recently he was defeated by title challenger Jiri Procházka. Reyes does not currently have a fight lined up at this time. He is still sitting in the #7 spot in the rankings. With a few wins, he could be right back at the top challenging for the title again.

    Do you think Dominick Reyes was right in his comments towards Jon Jones?