MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Jorge Masvidal Calls Out Colby Covington For Gambling Debts

    Things continue to heat up between former friends Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington.

    Now that Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington are set to face each other in the main event of UFC 272, the trash talk between them is beginning to ramp up again. There is a history between these two fighters, and anytime that is the case, some past skeletons are bound to come out.

    Masvidal is now spilling the tea on Covington and his past troubles with money. According to Masvidal, Covington has been in debt and unable to pay those he owes.

    “The list goes on and on: American Top Team, the current gym that he’s at now. They’re having trouble because he hasn’t paid,” Masvidal told The MMA Hour. “This guy owes numerous loan sharks in South Florida for his poker gambling debt. I just hope he makes it to the fight, bro. Because this guy is in all types of trouble and I’m going to be the nail to his mother***ing coffin. I just can’t wait.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    Masvidal and Covington used to train together and were close friends. Now they are opponents set to face off against each other. Over the last few months, they have been calling each other out for a fight. They were both interested in facing off as opposing coaches on a season of The Ultimate Fighter, but then this UFC 272 headlining opportunity came through and both accepted.

    Because of their shared history together, Masvidal and Covington learned a lot about one another. And since their falling out, Masvidal is not shy about telling the world exactly who he thinks Covington is.

    “He was living off my couch, he was eating my meal prep – food that they were giving me because I was already sponsored,” Masvidal said. “He was an amateur coming in. It just [puts] a lot of things in perspective. You come into this world alone and you probably come out of it alone as well. This guy is a legit snake so I can’t wait to [punch him]. Ask Jon Jones about it. Motherf***ing Jon Jones has nothing nice to say about him. How about [Tyron] Woodley? Woodley ain’t got nothing nice to say about him.”

    Covington isn’t just staying quiet, however. He is ready and willing to throw some heat right back at Masvidal. The next few weeks leading up to this fight are bound to be filled with trash-talking and animosity between both fighters.

    Who do you think will win the UFC 272 main event, Jorge Masvidal or Colby Covington?

  • Gunnar Nelson Returns At UFC London Against Cláudio Silva

    Gunnar Nelson is back.

    Nelson, who has not fought since September of 2019, is set to return at UFC London on March 19 against Cláudio Silva. The news was first reported by MMA journalist Alfredo Zullino. Several outlets have since confirmed the news. The main event of the UFC London card at the 02 Arena sees Tom Aspinall take on Alexander Volkov.

    Gunnar Nelson (17-5-1) last fought at UFC Copenhagen in 2019 where he suffered a decision loss to Gilbert Burns. It was his second loss in a row after dropping a split decision to Leon Edwards at UFC London in Mach of 2019. The Icelandic fighter just recently signed a new multi-fight deal with the promotion and hinted at a fight being announced soon.

    Nelson has been in the UFC since 2012 and is 8-5 inside the Octagon. He holds notable wins over Alex Oliveira, Zak Cummings, Omari Akhmedov, and Alan Jouban among others. He has headlined a UFC event as well but lost by first-round KO to Santiago Ponzinibbio.

    UFC London: Catch up with Claudio Silva before fight vs. Danny Roberts
    Cláudio Silva

    Cláudio Silva (14-3) is also riding a two-fight losing streak as he is coming off a loss to Court McGee by decision in May of 2021. His other loss came at the hands of James Krause in October of 2020.

    Prior to the setbacks, Silva was on a 14-fight winning streak and was 5-0 in the UFC, including wins over Leon Edwards, Nordine Taleb, and Danny Roberts among others.

    With the addition of Nelson vs. Silva at UFC London, the card is as follows:

    • Alexander Volkov vs. Tom Aspinall
    • Arnold Allen vs. Dan Hooker
    • Gunnar Nelson vs. Cláudio Silva
    • Jake Hadley vs. Allan Nascimento
    • Luana Carolina vs. Molly McCann
    • Cody Durden vs. Muhammad Mokaev
    • Makwan Amirkhani vs. Mike Grundy
    • Jack Shore vs. Timur Valiev
    • Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Sergei Pavlovich

    Who do you think will win, Gunnar Nelson or Cláudio Silva?

  • Victor Henry: Those Counting Me Out Were UFC Fans, Not MMA Fans

    Victor Henry has won his UFC debut despite feeling overlooked by fans.

    Victor Henry is fresh off his first UFC win at UFC 270. After his first UFC booking against Raoni Barcelos was rescheduled twice in the last month, Henry finally was able to step into the UFC Octagon and show the fans what they had been missing.

    UFC News on Twitter: "#UFC270 Official Result: Victor Henry (@VictorHenryMMA 30-27, 30-27, 30-27) defeats Raoni Barcelos by Unanimous Decision" / Twitter
    Victor Henry takes the fight to Raoni Barcelos at UFC 270

    The California native was able to pick up the unanimous decision victory win over a tough Barcelos on the prelim portion of the card and then took his post-fight presser conference moment to call out the MMA media and some fight fans.

    “Initial thoughts is I told y’all. I mean, a lot of media outlets was counting me out, but that’s only because I feel, personally, a lot of people are UFC fans, not MMA fans,” Henry said during a media scrum following the win. “They don’t watch MMA from around the world. They know what they see in the UFC. And I’ve been traveling around the world fighting a lot of tough guys. And I knew Raoni was gonna be real tough. No doubts about it. But initial thoughts: I told y’all.”

    Although Henry just made his first walk to the Octagon on Saturday night, he is no stranger to the fight game. 22-5 now in MMA, Henry got his start. like most fighters, on the regional scene. His road to the UFC was long in comparison to some fighters’ journey but now that he is in, he is looking to be a tough test for anyone in the division.

    Henry’s claims that some fans are only watching UFC is a valid one. Henry is 34 years old and has racked up 22 professional wins now. He is the #1-ranked bantamweight in Japan, and he has a right to be upset that more people don’t know him just yet.

    The good thing is now Henry has the “I told you so” swagger and the eyes of the public after his first UFC win. He showed that he can compete on the highest level and could find himself in the top 15 soon. He spoke a bit about wanting a fast rise now that he is in the UFC and could be back in the cage very soon.

    Do you watch all MMA promotions of just the UFC?

  • Helwani & Activist Shaun King Blast White For Ngannou ‘Disrespect’

    UFC President Dana White’s abrupt exit from the Honda Center following Francis Ngannou’s UFC 270 title retention did not go unnoticed by the spectating public.

    Among the various observers of White leaving the arena without customarily wrapping the world title around Ngannou’s waist or taking part in the post-fight press conference were renowned MMA journalist Ariel Helwani and civil rights activist, journalist, and New York Times best-selling author Shaun King.

    While MMA fans have grown accustomed to Helwani criticizing White and the UFC on various issues over the years, it is not every day that a social justice activist shares a strong commentary about the current happenings of the UFC.

    However, after White conspicuously took no part in any post-fight festivities, King shared the following to his 3 million-plus social media followers.

    https://twitter.com/shaunking/status/1485269719359889412

    “Something wildly disrespectful happened last night for the @UFC. 1. The @UFC account was ordered not to tweet a single highlight during the fight as they did every other fight. 2. Then @DanaWhite refused to put the belt on Ngannou and refused to attend the press conference,” King wrote.

    King later embedded the above tweet in a follow-up post on Facebook, where he wrote: “It’s so ugly to see @danawhite and the @UFC treat the HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP OF THE WORLD this way. And @francisngannou is a GREAT guy. A hero all over the world.”

    To King’s point, if one were to visit the UFC’s Twitter page, they would not find a single highlight from Ngannou’s victory over Gane. This is indeed a very strange, if not historic occurrence for a pay-per-view main event ever since the promotion began posting highlights to the page.

    The running theory is that White’s behavior is due to the very tense contract negotiations between the UFC and Ngannou. Ngannou and his management have been quite public about their unhappiness with how the champion has been paid and promoted by the company.

    Ariel Helwani Stunned By White’s Exit, Tyron Woodley Chimes In

    Back around to MMA circles, Ariel Helwani also had something to add about one of the biggest talking points following the UFC 270 event.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZEz02yLZ6n/

    “After all that, didn’t put the belt on and didn’t show up to the press conference. Remarkable. Respect to Francis for handling it all with class and grace,” Helwani wrote.

    Among those to chime in under the post was none other than former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley.

    “seen this before,” Woodley wrote.

    Woodley is referring to White’s post-fight reaction when Woodley retained the welterweight title over Darren Till at UFC 228, a reaction that gave us the following timeless meme.

    Dana White Even More Upset Than First Thought, Cage Side Reaction Photo To Woodley-Till Revealed - MMA Imports

    Many took notice of the similarities between White’s reaction to Ngannou’s win and Woodley’s 2018 victory over Till. In both cases, White declined to attend the post-fight press conference.

    Several other notable figures had something to add in the comments section of Helwani’s Instagram post, including Quinton “Rampage Jackson” and Mark Hunt.

    You can also view how some of the fans reacted to White’s sudden exit in an installment of The Pulse of MMA published earlier today.

    What are your thoughts on Dana White leaving the Honda Center without wrapping the world title around Francis Ngannou’s waist or taking part in the post-fight press conference?

    This article was published on MMANews.com on January 24, 2022, at 12:00 PM ET.

  • Cannonier: Chimaev Looks Like The Second Coming Of McGregor

    UFC middleweight contender Jared Cannonier has described surging welterweight star Khamzat Chimaev as “the second coming of Conor McGregor.”

    In just four appearances in the Octagon, Chimaev has established himself as one of the hottest rising prospects in the UFC and a likely future champion. Not many have had as big an impact in as few outings as the Chechen-born Swede has.

    After three wins in a modern-UFC record space of just 66 days in 2020, Chimaev firmly cemented his status as a name to watch. Those victories bought such prominence and attention that he was even matched up with top contender Leon Edwards multiple times.

    After that matchup fell through and Chimaev was sent to the sidelines with a nasty bout of COVID-19, the 27-year-old’s charge was briefly stalled. But despite over a year away from the cage, “Borz” picked up where he left off last October at UFC 267.

    Against ranked-contender Li Jingliang, Chimaev showcased his dominance with a fourth UFC finish in as many fights. Inside the opening round, the Allstars Training Center product rag-dolled “The Leech” to the mat and choked him unconscious.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXMv0dRopmj/

    From fans and pundits to UFC President Dana White and play-by-play commentator Jon Anik, many in the MMA community are extremely high on Chimaev. That includes current #3-ranked middleweight contender Cannonier.

    During an interview with LowKick MMA, “The Killa Gorilla” praised Chimaev’s perfect start on MMA’s biggest stage. The veteran even suggested he could be the “second coming” of the sport’s biggest superstar, former two-division UFC champion McGregor.

    “You know, (he’s a) hot prospect right now. Dana’s pretty hot on him, and from what he’s shown in the Octagon, the dude looks like the second coming of Conor McGregor,” said Cannonier. “But I don’t even like to make that comparison because he is his own self, he is his own man, and he’s doing his own thing. I tip my hat to the man. He’s doing a good job… If he comes up to ’85 that’d be cool too. The more the merrier as far as I’m concerned.”

    Chimaev Could Face A Former Title Challenger Next

    If Chimaev is to come close to reaching the heights of the “Notorious” irishman in the UFC, he’ll have to get past some top contenders on his way to 170-pound gold. The first of those challenges looks set to come against the #2-ranked Gilbert Burns.

    A matchup between “Borz” and “Durinho” was initially rumored for this month. After talk of it appeared to die down, a recent report and subsequent social media posts from both seemingly hint towards a meeting in the Octagon later this year.

    Chimaev, currently ranked #11 in the division, could secure a shot at Kamaru Usman’s welterweight title with a victory over Burns, who fell short of reaching the mountaintop at UFC 258 last February.

    Would you like to see Khamzat Chimaev face Gilbert Burns next?

  • Sterling: The UFC Didn’t Give Me The Same Opportunities As O’Malley Coming Up

    Aljamain Sterling is throwing some shade at Sean O’Malley.

    Aljamain Sterling is the bantamweight champion. He is the man all the other bantamweights need to beat if they want to be on top. There is, however, one man who is getting under the skin of the champ, and that man is Sean O’Malley.

    Sean O’Malley likes to trash talk. He has begun calling out several different fighters and creating some conflict with many in the division. And recently, he has gained the attention of the champion as well.

    Aljamain Sterling is looking at O’Malley as more of an inconvenience at this time than an immediate threat. O’Malley is now in the top 15 of the bantamweight rankings for the first time but has only faced one ranked opponent. That ranked opponent was Chito Vera, and O’Malley did not win that fight. Sterling believes O’Malley wasted that opportunity of fighting Vera when it came around and has since continued fighting handpicked opponents that he never got the chance to face on his way up.

    “You had your shot; you blew it,” Sterling told The MMA Hour. “We all get our opportunities. You had an opportunity, and you blew it. So if you wanna say Paiva is the guy that should give everyone more hype around him again, I don’t know, man. The UFC didn’t give me those opportunities to fight tailor-made matchups when I came up. My third UFC fight, I fought a guy who was ranked sixth in the world, Takeya Mizugaki. And ever since then, I have not left the UFC’s top 10 of ranked contenders and guys that were within the top 10 and top 5.”

    Sterling has had 15 fights in the UFC so far in his career and had 11 wins before he was granted a title shot, and he seized that moment. Although the fight with Petr Yan ended in a DQ for Yan, causing Sterling to walk away with the belt, Sterling is now champion nonetheless. Even as champion though, Sterling is not on the same level of fan favoritism as O’Malley is.

    O’Malley has had eight fights in the UFC with only one loss. He is a character outside the cage and puts on a show inside the cage. O’Malley has been criticized for not fighting ranked opponents on his rise up, but now that he sits at number 12, that should all be changing. If Sterling is unhappy with his fast start in the division, he should be happy now that he is the champ and will have the chance to create his own path going forward, starting with a rematch with Yan later this year.

    Do you think Sterling was rushed along his path faster than O’Malley is?

  • The Pulse of MMA: Fans React To White Going MIA After Ngannou Win

    The Pulse of MMA: Fan Reactions To The Sport’s Biggest Stories

    In this installment of The Pulse of MMA, we dive into the raw, unfiltered reactions of MMA fans after Dana White bounced after Francis Ngannou retained the UFC heavyweight championship over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270.

    Dana White Abruptly Exits After Francis Ngannou Tops Ciryl Gane At UFC 270

    Dana White
    Dana White (Image Credit: Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC)

    All things considered, Dana White kept a pretty solid poker face heading into UFC 270 if his post-fight reaction is any indication of how he felt about the prospect of Francis Ngannou retaining the heavyweight title.

    By now, it’s no secret that Ngannou and the UFC are in the middle of very tense, if not historic contract negotiations that could potentially see a sitting champion exit the promotion with the title if a new deal is not met.

    Nonetheless, White downplayed any drama during in the days leading up to the fight and seemed to be an impartial yet passionate promoter when discussing the magnitude of the Ngannou vs. Gane clash.

    Yet, after Ngannou was declared the victor via unanimous decision, White was conspicuous in his absence both in wrapping the title around Ngannou’s waist and also at the post-fight press conference. Just how conspicuous was his absence? Well, let’s allow The Pulse of MMA to fill you in on that…

    https://twitter.com/melly74kg/status/1485176165434339332
    https://twitter.com/Full_Violence/status/1485172254107308032

    Want to weigh in on the sport’s biggest stories? Be sure to follow us on Twitter and let your voice be heard!

  • Jake Paul Reveals MMA Weight Class, Ignores White’s Cease-Fire

    The often polarizing YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul isn’t letting UFC President Dana White off the hook for his previous remarks.

    White has recently alluded to being done with his back-and-forths with Paul on social media and in interviews. However, Paul doesn’t appear to be done with White just yet.

    Paul has hinted at a future move to MMA after a few more boxing fights and has allegedly contacted American Kickboxing Academy to train there. Promotions such as Bellator and the PFL have reportedly been interested in Paul’s services.

    Despite White’s calls of a cease-fire between him and Paul, “The Problem Child” isn’t willing to oblige as evidenced in a recent tweet.

    “[Dana White] when I make my MMA debut, I could cut 20 pounds and do it at welterweight/170 pounds,” Paul said. “That’s what all UFC fighters do and many have destroyed their bodies and minds doing it. But I’m gonna do it at Middleweight (185). Health first. PS Conor [McGregor] walking around at 190.”

    Paul wrapped up his stellar 2021 boxing calendar year with back-to-back wins over former UFC champion Tyron Woodley. He also knocked out former UFC welterweight Ben Askren in seconds last spring.

    Paul has criticized White and the UFC for their treatment of fighters. He has specifically targeted the issue of fighter pay as a primary focus of his outside of the ring.

    It had appeared that the White/Paul drama had briefly died down, but it didn’t take long for Paul to take shots at his combat sports adversary.

    Do you think the Jake Paul/Dana White drama will ever end?

  • Dan Hooker vs. Arnold Allen Set For UFC London On March 19

    Dan Hooker will make his return to featherweight when he takes on 145-pound contender Arnold Allen at UFC London on March 19.

    The event, expected to take place at the O2 Arena, will mark the UFC’s first trip to England’s capital since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The promotion confirmed the addition of Hooker vs. Allen to the card on Monday.

    While the March 19 card will represent the UFC’s return to across the Atlantic, it will mark an even bigger homecoming for Hooker (22-11), who will be returning to featherweight for the first time since 2016.

    After a 3-3 start in the UFC at 145 pounds, “The Hangman” made the move to lightweight. There, he initially went 7-1 and defeated the likes of Gilbert Burns, Jim Miller, Al Iaquinta, and Paul Felder. But since a main event victory over “The Irish Dragon,” Hooker has seen his form plummet.

    In his last four outings, the New Zealander has gone 1-3, falling to defeats against Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler, and Islam Makhachev. Despite those names representing three of the toughest tests in the weight class, Hooker acknowledged that returning to contention will be difficult in the current lightweight landscape.

    After a successful trial weight cut to 145 pounds late last year, Hooker made it clear he was pursuing a return to featherweight. Now, with his desired matchups against “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung and Brian Ortega not coming to fruition, “The Hangman” will be welcomed back to the division by a surging Englishman.

    At UFC London, Hooker will be looking to score one for the internationals when he faces Ipswich native “Almighty” Allen (17-1). The 28-year-old is widely considered the hottest prospect at 145 pounds and has found himself at #7 in the rankings after a perfect 8-0 start in the UFC.

    Allen’s record on MMA’s biggest stage includes triumphs over Makwan Amirkhani, Gilbert Melendez, and Nik Lentz. Most recently, he established himself as the top rising contender in the division by getting past Sodiq Yusuff in April 2021.

    Allen and Hooker will join a stacked UFC Fight Night card with a host of exciting names. The event will be headlined by an intriguing heavyweight contest between perennial contender Alexander Volkov and England’s best hope for a UFC heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall.

    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)

    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, Dan Hooker or Arnold Allen?

  • Francis Ngannou Is Stumped About Dana White’s Post-Fight Absence

    UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is just as confused as anyone about why company president Dana White didn’t put the belt around him at UFC 270.

    Ngannou grinded out a hard-fought victory against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. While it wasn’t quite the showcase that everyone expected, he used his vastly improved wrestling and patience on the feet to stifle Gane’s attack.

    After earning a unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards, UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard was the one who put the belt around Ngannou and not White. This surprised many around the MMA community since Dana White is usually the one to perform these honors. This has caused some to wonder whether or not Ngannou requested not to have White be involved.

    During his UFC 270 post-fight press conference, Ngannou gave his side of the story.

    “I don’t know, you’ll have to ask him,” Ngannou said about the reason for White’s absence. “I had nothing to do about that. I think that was their decision, I’m about to ask about that, too.”

    Ngannou was later told by a reporter that White also didn’t attend post-fight media availability, which was apparently news to the champ. He was then asked if White’s cryptic post-fight absence makes him wonder about his future with the promotion with his contract negotiations still at a standstill.

    “It’s been a long time that I’ve been wondering about my future in the company,” Ngannou said, shrugging off that notion. “So, nothing has changed. I’m still in the same position.”

    Ngannou and White have had their fair share of tense moments leading up to UFC 270. Since Ngannou first earned the belt at UFC 260, he and the UFC brass haven’t been on the same page in regard to contract negotiations.

    White has previously claimed that with a win at UFC 270, Ngannou has one more fight on his deal. However, White’s absence during Ngannou’s post-fight celebration could be telling with what lies ahead between the two of them.

    Why do you think Dana White wasn’t present after Francis Ngannou’s win at UFC 270?

  • Maycee Barber To Return Against Montana De La Rosa At April Fight Night

    UFC women’s flyweight prospect Maycee Barber will make her return to the Octagon at a UFC Fight Night event in April vs. Montana De La Rosa.

    MMA journalists Nolan King and Marcel Dorff were amongst the first to report the booking.

    Barber most recently defeated Miranda Maverick in a split decision win at UFC Vegas 32. Before that, she had lost back-to-back lopsided Octagon appearances against Alexa Grasso and Roxanne Modafferi.

    Barber will face a tough test in De La Rosa, who knocked out Ariane Lipski at UFC Vegas 28 and holds previous wins over Rachael Ostovich and Nadia Kassem. She is another solid flyweight prospect who, like Barber, is looking to make a name for herself in the division.

    The Barber/De La Rosa matchup will be joined by several intriguing matchups on April 23, including Jessica Andrade vs. Amanda Lemos and Clay Guida vs. Claudio Puelles. The venue for the event has yet to be announced as well as the official main event.

    Barber began her professional MMA career with a perfect 8-0 record, including three-straight wins to begin her UFC tenure. After earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, she showcased elite power for a flyweight and earned the praise of the UFC brass.

    Despite her back-to-back losses to Modafferi and Grasso, UFC president Dana White remained confident that Barber could turn it around. After a controversial win over Maverick in his last outing, she’ll look to make a statement against De La Rosa.

    How do you think Maycee Barber will fare in her return against Montana De La Rosa?

  • Derrick Lewis Reveals His Personal Business Aspiration

    UFC heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis has revealed the business aspiration he’s looking to pursue in the near future.

    Like many athletes on the UFC roster, Lewis wants to balance his Octagon activity with ventures outside of fighting. In terms of his performances inside the cage, “The Black Beast” had a mixed bag in 2021 but added two brutal knockouts to his collection and ended the year in style.

    In his first appearance, Lewis took out top contender Curtis Blaydes, who was rendered unconscious by a vicious uppercut as he changed levels. That performance cemented the 36-year-old’s championship opportunity, which came in the form of an interim title bout against Ciryl Gane after Francis Ngannou’s inability to make the UFC 265 date.

    In front of his hometown Houston crowd, Lewis was picked apart and finished in the third round by “Bon Gamin.” But despite the disappointment of that result, Lewis was quick to bounce back, closing out the UFC’s account for 2021 by sleeping Chris Daukaus in the final main event of the year.

    Lewis: From KO Artist To Businessman

    While Lewis’ record-breaking KO on December 18 provided an impressive and immediate rebound from his August setback, it also provided the New Orleans-born powerhouse the type of matchup he’s targeting for the rest of his Octagon career: fun and pressure-free contests.

    With that in mind, it seems like the perfect time for Lewis to balance his fighting career with his ambitions outside the cage, especially with his title aspirations seemingly in the past.

    Fighter-owned businesses are nothing new. Perhaps the best example of an athlete harnessing their name, popularity, and wealth to create success in the business world is Conor McGregor. As well as his lucrative Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey brand, which he, along with his co-founders, sold the majority stake in for $600,000 last year, the Irishman has dipped his feet in the clothing business with August McGregor and the fitness industry with McGregor Fast.

    Elsewhere, McGregor’s arch-rival Dustin Poirier boasts a successful hot sauce brand, while rising bantamweight star Sean O’Malley is looking to break into the marijuana business. Lewis has now revealed his own ambitions, and it’s perhaps not what most would expect.

    During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, “The Black Beast” announced his intention to explore the business world, naming the creation of a vintage clothing line as his ultimate aim.

    “I’m just trying to open up more businesses,” said Lewis. “Also, I wanna do like, a clothing line store, as well. Like, sell vintage clothing and stuff like that. We’ll see how that goes.

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

    While he still has knockouts on his mind and is hoping to send Stipe Miocic to dreamland at some point in 2022, Lewis appears to have a clear plan for the future.

    In an era where the discrepancies between fighter pay and the remuneration of other athletes is being increasingly highlighted, we’ll likely see a number of UFC stars testing the waters of various businesses moving forward.

    Would you buy from a Derrick Lewis-owned vintage clothing store?

  • Bryce Mitchell’s Mom Hated His Rap Music Without Knowing It Was Him

    UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell is finding out the hard way that there will always be music critics, even if they’re in your own family.

    Mitchell, an undefeated prospect who has emerged as a UFC fan favorite, recently put out his first rap mixtape Pasture Fire on social media. Fans gave “Thug Nasty” mostly rave reviews for his first musical endeavor.

    But not everyone is a fan of Mitchell’s music, including his own mother. During a recent interview with MMA journalist Helen Yee, Mitchell revealed an awkward moment he had when his mom commented on his rap mixtape.

    “I was playing my music in the car and rolled up to my mom’s house. Was going to say hi, eat and everything. I pulled up and I didn’t know she was out in the yard,” Mitchell said. “She hates rap music. I had my mixtape playing, practicing the words. My song’s playing as I park, and she yells ‘Turn that nasty s**t off, I don’t like all that rap stuff!’ I just couldn’t help but laugh because she was talking about my music.

    “I turned the music right off, I know better than to tell my mom. I just laughed it off. She don’t like it, but that’s alright. It’s not for everyone.”

    Mitchell is set to return to the Octagon at UFC 272 against Edson Barboza. He has been sidelined since late 2020 due to a variety of circumstances, including injury issues.

    Mitchell has called for fights against any willing challenger, including grappling specialist Ryan Hall. He’ll get the opportunity to move up in the featherweight division against a tough out in Barboza.

    Meanwhile, Mitchell isn’t just focused on his MMA ambitions. He wants to prove that his recent musical journey isn’t just an antic and that he’s here to stay on the mic.

    Do you like Bryce Mitchell’s rap music?

  • UFC 269: Oliveira Vs. Poirier Estimated Domestic PPV Buys Revealed

    The UFC’s final pay-per-view event of 2021, UFC 269, was reportedly another great night of business for the promotion overall.

    UFC 269 featured plenty of exciting fights and wild finishes inside the Octagon. Arguably the most shocking moment of the event came courtesy of Julianna Peña’s upset over Amanda Nunes in the co-main.

    The event was capped off by UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira’s successful title defense against Dustin Poirier. After surviving an early barrage, Oliveira utilized his grappling and secured a third-round submission with a standing rear-naked choke.

    T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas was raucous from start to finish as the fights went on, with the athletes competing in front of another sold-out crowd. Sports Business Journal’s Adam Stern recently reported the PPV statistics for UFC 269.

    While the UFC managed to exceed a half-million PPV buys on ESPN+, the event didn’t outsell UFC 268. The card held at Madison Square Garden in New York City recorded around 700,000 PPV purchases.

    It’s unclear how UFC 270 did in terms of PPV purchases, as president Dana White wasn’t present at the post-fight press conference to talk about the promotion’s business trends. Nevertheless, the recent bump in PPV price to $74.99 may have an impact on their business going forward in 2022.

    Did you purchase the UFC 269 pay-per-view?

  • Ciryl Gane Hopeful Francis Ngannou Stays In UFC: “I Want My Rematch”

    Ciryl Gane wants the UFC to come to terms with heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou on a new deal so he can eventually get a rematch.

    Gane fell short via a unanimous decision against Ngannou at UFC 270. After finding his range on the feet early in the fight, Ngannou’s improved wrestling gave Gane fits as the fight went on.

    Ngannou and the UFC have been at odds for months over negotiations of a new contract. A new deal didn’t come to fruition leading up to UFC 270, and Ngannou’s future with the promotion remains uncertain.

    But Gane wants Ngannou to stay in the UFC so they can run it back at some point. During his UFC 270 post-fight press conference, Gane opined on Ngannou possibly leaving the promotion and transitioning to boxing.

    “If he leave like that, I don’t want that,” Gane said. “I want my rematch. I want to do this fight a second time. I want this fight. I want this rematch.”

    Gane was then asked by a reporter whether or not it’ll be a relief to not deal with the Ngannou pre-fight drama in a potential rematch.

    “No, I was ready for this one….All the (stories) around this fight was just stories. It was not important for me. I was just focused on my target. And no, no, no, if we have a rematch, I’m gonna be focused, but I’m gonna improve on my weakness.”

    Ngannou and Gane never seemed to have bad blood with one another, but Ngannou’s issues with coach Fernand Lopez have been widely publicized. In addition to promoting Gane, Lopez had taken shots at Ngannou throughout the pre-fight buildup.

    Ngannou is widely expected to face former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones next, although Jones didn’t seem impressed with Ngannou’s performance. As for Gane, he’ll look to rebound from the first defeat of his career and get back to the heavyweight title shot at some point.

    What do you think is next for Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane in the UFC?

  • Archives: Tyron Woodley Talks Racism In MMA (2017)

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

    On This Day Five Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 23, 2017, 4:56 PM]

    Headline: Tyron Woodley Talks Racism and Conor McGregor on The MMA Hour

    Conor McGregor was among the topics in which Tyron Woodley vented his frustrations on Monday’s MMA Hour.

    Author: Adam Haynes

    Woodley has been vocal in recent times regarding what he deems to be a racial agenda in the UFC and sport as a whole. UFC’s welterweight champion has openly discussed what he feels is disrespect aimed at him by fans and the franchise.

    ‘T-Wood’ has recently declared himself “the worst treated champion in the history of the promotion” and further reinforced his opinion that skin color is a major factor in why he has not enjoyed the same spoils of fame and recognition that lighter-skinned fighters have had in the UFC:

    “Certain things are subliminally embraced that are racist. When you say to me ‘Tyron, you are well spoken’, what does that mean? Does that mean I’m well-spoken comparable to all the mixed martial artists, the 500 UFC fighters on the roster? Or does that mean as a black male in America?”

    The champion, who is preparing for a rematch with Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson at UFC 209 in March, also disapproves of those who use terms he feels are disrespectful to his skill-set:

    “When you say I’m a freak athlete, does that mean I don’t work hard, that I’m going to fade in the later rounds? That I don’t have great cardio, that I don’t have a great skill set? It comes off to me…it almost sounds barbaric, like ‘hey, you’re strong, you knock people out, but if it gets to the later rounds you might get tired, you might fade and all those muscles come at a cost’.”

    Woodley has made no secret in targeting Conor McGregor in the past, and touches upon his own podcast ‘The Champ Life’ which may be similar in format to that of ‘The Notorious’, but is in contrast when it comes to the message and material:

    “I do my own podcast series. I go out and make my own opportunities but, if the person that’s promoting me and networks are talking about picking up my ‘Champ Life’ series and major companies want to endorse it and get behind it because they see value in it, I’m going to need for my promoter to not be the last one to take notice.”

    “if it was [Mcgregor’s ‘the maclife’], that thing immediately took fire. And it’s same stuff every episode, flashy cars, money, talking crap, got this, got that; that’s all it is. I’m not seeing him giving back to the community and shelters. I’m not seeing him giving back to the people or networking with others. This one [The Champ Life] has an impact that can go far.”

  • Moreno On UFC 270 Loss: I Felt Like I Won, But It Is What It Is

    Brandon Moreno admits he was surprised when Deiveson Figueiredo was declared the winner in their trilogy fight.

    In the co-main event for UFC 270, Moreno fought a five-round war against Figueiredo. The fight, which was the third consecutive meeting between the fighters, was Moreno’s chance to defend his UFC Flyweight Championship for the first time.

    After a battle that saw both fighters have strong moments, Moreno believed he was about to get his arm raised. When reflecting on the fight, Moreno felt that performance didn’t feel like previous losses he took in his career.

    “It’s a weird feeling because it’s the first time in my life when I lost a decision but I felt like I won, you know?” said Moreno during the UFC 270 post-fight press conference. “I remember my last two losses, against Alexandre Pantoja or against Sergio Pettis, I mean, I knew in that moment I lost. I was like ‘Okay, this feels like sh*t,’ but I knew I lost. But this time I felt like I won.”

    Moreno Isn’t Upset By Result

    Brandon Moreno, Deiveson Figueiredo
    © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

    While Moreno thought he was the winner, he isn’t mad about the outcome of the fight. He knows the performance was a back-and-forth fight between him and Figueiredo, and that it was a close fight in the end.

    “It is what it is because I was in a really hard fight. He had his own moments too and I have to recognize that,” Moreno said. “I don’t want to be that kind of guy who starts to put excuses. Because I felt like Deiveson did an amazing job, put a better game plan. I just want to go to the gym, spend time with my family, and watch the fight again and be back stronger.”

    Were you surprised when Deiveson Figueiredo was announced as the winner?

  • The Pulse of MMA: Fans React To Francis Ngannou Besting Ciryl Gane

    The Pulse of MMA: Fan Reactions To The Sport’s Biggest Stories

    In this installment of The Pulse of MMA, we dive into the raw, unfiltered reactions of MMA fans after Francis Ngannou turned in his first successful title defense over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270.

    Francis Ngannou def. Ciryl Gane via Unanimous Decision

    UFC 270 -- Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane: Five biggest storylines to watch on a loaded fight card - CBSSports.com
    Francis Ngannou, Image Credit: 2021 Chris Unger

    Nobody really knew what to expect at UFC 270. It was truly one of the most unpredictable heavyweight fights of all time. It featured the scary power of Francis Ngannou with the eloquent technique of Ciryl Gane. Which attribute and style would reign supreme?

    As it turns out, Ngannou won via unanimous decision. The odds of that happening according to the books? About +1200. That means that if you beat $100 for Ngannou to win this fight via decision, you netted a profit of $1,200. Surely, some gutsy folks took that bet and went home with lots to celebrate—and plenty of fuel to celebrate with.

    How exactly did the fight play out according to the judges? The official scorecards below give us a glimpse.

    All three judges saw the fight the same way. The champion, Francis Ngannou, came up big in the clutch championship rounds to retain the title.

    In his post-fight interview, the champ stated that he entered the fight with an MCL tear, which would explain the kneepads he competed with. That makes his victory over the previously undefeated Gane all the more impressive.

    During and after the bout, fighters reacted to the results of the main event. But what about The Pulse of MMA? Let’s take a look down below, shall we?!

    https://twitter.com/OAgbama/status/1485168919572881409
    https://twitter.com/OAgbama/status/1485167468247195648
    https://twitter.com/Maahi_Veh/status/1485165234092482562
    https://twitter.com/barny706/status/1485134338589089793

    Want to weigh in on the sport’s biggest stories? Be sure to follow us on Twitter and let your voice be heard!

  • Figueiredo Explains Coaching Advice That Helped Him In UFC 270 Win

    Deiveson Figueiredo believes a big piece of advice that his team was stressing helped him pull off a win over Brandon Moreno at UFC 270.

    Figueiredo reclaimed the UFC Flyweight Championship on Saturday night, defeating Moreno in their trilogy bout. The win kicked off his second reign as champ and avenged one of the two losses he has taken as a pro.

    Figueiredo credits this success to a certain piece of advice he was given: be calm. Figueiredo mentions a more relaxed game plan for his fight helped him against Moreno on Saturday night.

    “We focused a lot on being calm because I used to come into the Octagon so full of energy trying to finish people off right in the first minutes,” said Figueiredo during the UFC 270 post-fight press conference. “And it was very important to us to keep calm and become even more dangerous, because then my strikes would come as a surprise to him. He would not know because I had that power kind of bottling up. And I became more dangerous because my strikes surprised him.”

    Figueiredo’s Change In Fighting Style

    Brandon Moreno, Deiveson Figueiredo
    © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

    Figueiredo certainly showed a more patient game plan on Saturday night, working at a more methodical pace than before. He certainly had more of a reputation to be a finisher earlier in his title run, stopping fighters like Joseph Benavidez and Alex Perez within a round each.

    Figueiredo’s explosive style butted heads with Moreno in their first and second appearances. He struggled in their first fight, working towards a majority draw in late 2020. Then in 2021, Moreno was able to stop him in the third round via submission.

    What’s next for Figueiredo now is unknown. On Saturday night he teased a fourth fight against Moreno, throwing out the idea of hosting it in Mexico.

    Did you notice a change at UFC 270 in how Deiveson Figueiredo fights?

  • Archives: Vanzant On Herrig: We’re Fighting Because We’re Hot (2015)

    In 2015, Paige VanZant shared her thoughts on why a fight against Felice Herrig was inevitable. Before we get to that, here’s a quick glimpse back to the two coming face to face prior to their bout at UFC on FOX 15.

    Vanzant would win the fight via unanimous decision to advance to 5-1 at the time. As for her theory on why the two were bound to fight? You can revisit that in the article below that we ran seven years ago to this day.

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

    On This Day Seven Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 23, 2015, 1:16 PM]

    Headline: Paige VanZant On Felice Herrig: “We’re Fighting Because We’re The Hot Girls In The Sport”

    Author: Matt Boone

    Rising UFC Women’s Strawweight contender Paige VanZant recently appeared on “The MMA Hour” at MMAFighting.com to discuss her upcoming UFC On FOX 15 bout with Felice Herrig.

    “I always had on the back of my mind that me and Felice would fight, because we’re the hot girls in the sport,” said VanZant. “So I kind of got myself ready for that.”

    VanZant, who is one of a handful of Women’s MMA fighters who uses her sexuality to her advantage when it comes to marketing also spoke about how she looks up to Herrig.

    “She’s been around for a long time, and she’s been somewhat of a veteran in the sport,” said VanZant. “Just to be fighting her, and to be at her level in as honor. I looked up to her when I first started the sport. She was someone who I wanted to follow in her footsteps.”

    VanZant concluded, “Now to be on the same playing field and the same level as her, it’s exciting. I’m really excited about this fight.”

    Headlined by Lyoto Machida vs. Luke Rockhold, UFC On FOX 15 is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 18th from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

    Related Link:
    – Check out a full Paige VanZant photo gallery by clicking here.

    Talk about this on our official FACEBOOK page, or on our official TWITTER page. You can also talk about it in our popular FORUMS.

  • The Pulse of MMA: Fans React To Figueiredo Edging Moreno In Trilogy

    The Pulse of MMA: Fan Reactions To The Sport’s Biggest Stories

    In this installment of The Pulse of MMA, we dive into the raw, unfiltered reactions of MMA fans after Deiveson Figueiredo defeated Brandon Moreno in their trilogy at UFC 270 to become a two-time UFC flyweight champion.

    Deiveson Figueiredo def. Brandon Moreno via unanimous decision

    Deiveson Figueiredo wins back flyweight title at UFC 270
    Credit: Gary Vasquez, USA TODAY SPORTS

    In what was an extremely competitive trilogy fight that could have gone either way, Deiveson Figueiredo earned his redemption with a unanimous decision nod from the judges. Before we go any further, let’s take a look at the judges’ scorecards to get a glimpse at which rounds were the deciding factors.

    All three judges scored the first and third rounds for Figueiredo, and two of the three judges’ gave the fourth to him as well, with one judge giving him the fifth. You can check out the highlights from the trilogy fight right here if you missed the action, and you can also peep the fighters’ reactions to the bout right here.

    But what about The Pulse of MMA? How did they react? Did they agree with the judges’ decision or were they just as irate as the partisan Anaheim audience? You can catch a quick snapshot of the overall reaction down below!

    Want to weigh in on the sport’s biggest stories? Be sure to follow us on Twitter and let your voice be heard!

  • Post-UFC 270, Jon Jones More Confident Than Ever About His 2022 Goal

    Jon Jones is teeming with confidence after taking in the UFC 270 main event between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane.

    For months, Jon Jones has not wavered about his decision to finally make the move up to heavyweight and vie for the division’s world title. After an inactive 2021 with another arrest controversy, Jones’ future in the sport was once again subject to speculation.

    Heading into 2022, however, Jones let it be known that his professional focus remained steady despite his ever-turbulent personal life.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXhOaYSvHgQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=312b1750-7a3b-413c-9a1a-fe0d2bae16c6

    “I said I’ll be the champion in 2022, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I feel like I’m jumping up three weight classes, going from competing at 205 pounds to 265 pounds is no easy task. Nothing great happened overnight, I’m patient and I’m working my ass off every day towards my goals,” Jones posted last month.

    Of course, heading into this past weekend, the entire world was waiting with bated breath to see what would happen when the Ford Escort power of Francis Ngannou crossed paths with the new-wave heavyweight that is Ciryl Gane at UFC 270.

    Jones was expectedly chief among those interested. In fact, Jones himself took to social media to express just how closely he’d be watching the highly anticipated heavyweight clash.

    “Really have no clue who’s going to win, I’m just excited to watch the fight. Going to learn so much about the both of them no matter how it goes down,” Jones responded when asked to give his official prediction for the UFC 270 main event.

    Jon Jones Shares Post-Fight Reaction To UFC 270 Main Event

    The main event went down at UFC 270, and as Ngannou hinted, it was indeed a surprising one for many fans. The outcome was so surprising that the oddsmakers had it listed as +1200, meaning that those who bet $100 on a Ngannou decision victory took home $1,200.

    As for Jon Jones, he derived something even more valuable from the main event than cash: a new level of confidence ahead of his anticipated heavyweight debut later this year.

    “If this is the Apex of heavyweight fighting, I’m excited about it. Got some more records to break,” Jones posted.

    “I love how everyone gets so impressed with the new guy lol,” Jones’ main event commentary began in an apparent reference to Ciryl Gane.

    “Lol Shit I may just enjoy retirement,” Jones posted in a cryptic tweet before letting his confidence be known in his follow-up tweets:

    “Lol stay humble? Sure I’ll stay humble, sleeping like a baby tonight. People talk so much shit, have no clue what it takes.”

    “At the end of the day, I’m fucking them both up,” Jones concluded in a since-deleted tweet.

    As of now, it is still unconfirmed if Jones will be next in line for Francis Ngannou or even if he will compete at all this year. Not unlike Ngannou, Jones has been in sterile contract negotiations with the UFC, thus his future in the promotion remains uncertain.

    In fact, White himself stated as recently as last week that he was uncomfortable to say with certainty that Jones is next in line for a title shot due to him not being sure of what Jones will decide to do. All things considered, 2022 may be the one year where the heavyweight drama outside of the cage is more impactful than the heavy blows dealt on the inside.

    MMA News will keep you posted on the latest developments of what is next for the biggest players of the division and the landscape of the world title picture.

    After watching UFC 270, who do you think would win between Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones?

  • Francis Ngannou Following UFC 270: “I Don’t Feel Like A Free Man”

    Francis Ngannou feels like he deserves better treatment from the UFC.

    The UFC Heavyweight Champion voiced his displeasure with the promotion on Saturday night after defeating Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 270.

    Amid chatter of Ngannou possibly leaving the UFC following his recent win, the champ was asked what his main problems with the promotion are. While not going through the nitty-gritty details of things, he mentioned that his qualms certainly go further than just being paid more.

    “It’s not simply money. Obviously, money is a part of it. But also the terms of the contract, I don’t agree with it,” said Ngannou during his UFC 270 post-fight press conference. “I don’t feel like it’s fair. I don’t feel like a free man. I don’t feel like I have [been] treated good. It’s unfortunate that I have to be in this position to be able to say that, but I think […] that everybody should have the right to claim what’s best for them. Because at the end of the day, we put a lot of work in this job. We take a lot in our body to make it happen, so at least we can have a fair and square deal.”

    Ngannou Has Been Outspoken In The Past

    Francis Ngannou
    Francis Ngannou (Image Credit: Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

    Ngannou has been outspoken for a long time about how he wants better treatment from the UFC.

    The champion recently said he would only continue fighting for the UFC if they can pay him more. The California State Athletic Commission reported that Ngannou was paid a flat fee of $600,000 for his fight on Saturday night at UFC 270.

    Ngannou has entertained doing things outside of the promotion before as well. In recent months, he started to discuss a hypothetical fight against boxing prizefighter Tyson Fury. The boxing champ responded to the call out, mentioning that he would take the challenge.

    Do you agree with Francis Ngannou’s opinion on how he is treated?

  • 7 Takeaways from UFC 270: Ngannou vs Gane

    UFC 270 was the first pay-per-view event of the new year and came in with two title fights for UFC fans. A fight for the undisputed UFC heavyweight title and a third flyweight title fight to settle who the “King of the flies” is once and for all. 

    There was a lot to take away from UFC 270, here are some things that stood out.

    COVID Protocols 

    The UFC has new protocols in place for 2022. MMA Junkie obtained a copy of the memo sent to fighters on the UFC roster to let them know how they have to roll if they want to rock on fight week. In short, fighters and their corners have to take three pre-fight tests for the fight week of their scheduled events. One at-home test before showing up, one upon arrival, and one after weighing in. That’s three chances to lose fights for future events so, fans should keep their fingers crossed for fighters on cards being announced this year.

    Lost Some

    Speaking of losing fights, the UFC had to scratch quite a few bouts from UFC 270. Whittled down to 11 bouts the first pay per view of the year, as well as the previous weekend’s event lost fights for various reasons, including the above protocols. When thinking about that, the pay-per-view price increase for this year is really hard to swallow. 

    Night of Something Strange

    UFC press conferences in the past have usually been about the fighters, their antics, and trash talk to get fans riled up for a fight. Lately, not just this last one for UFC 270 it seems to be becoming a platform for members of the media to try and get their 15 minutes of fame. Questions obviously aimed at antagonizing fighters seem to keep happening more and more, but it seems any attention is good attention for the UFC— but is it good for MMA?

    Victor Henry

    What are the ingredients to make a “fight of the night” candidate? An underdog and a favorite, a high pace, and the fight going the distance. This fight featured all three and with Henry a +375 underdog, him winning and pushing the pace made this fight one that put Victor Henry’s name on the radar for UFC fans. Raoni Barcelos fought well and was a -510 favorite, but after watching this fight, you’d wonder who’s making odds over at Draftkings? 

    Four Times The Charm?

    Usually, a trilogy settles a rivalry in combat sports. However, when one is a draw, Brandon Moreno wins the second match, and Deiveson Figueiredo wins the third. These great flyweights are 1-1 against each other. Another one has to happen to truly close the book on who the true flyweight king is. For now, it is Figueiredo but you’d be hard-pressed to find someone against seeing them fight for the title again. This was the official “Fight of the Night.”

    And Still

    UFC 270 -- Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane: Fight card, odds, date, rumors, location, complete guide - CBSSports.com

    Francis Ngannou cemented his position as the most dangerous man in MMA by defeating the Interim Champion Cyril Gane. So, where does he go from here? He is still the champion but when asked in his post-fight interview by Joe Rogan, he clearly seems to want to try boxing. However, he also said he hurt his ACL and MCL in training which is likely why he wrapped both knees for this match with compression wraps. 

    You Put it On Him

    Dana White covid
    Photo via MMAJunkie

    For winners of title fights, it is usually Dana White that wraps the belt around the champion when the announcement is made in the cage. However, when Ngannou won the decision in the main event, it was UFC Matchmaker Mick Maynard who put the belt on him. 

    There’s obviously more to take away from this event than what is listed here. Especially when it comes to the heavyweight division. Ngannou’s injuries obviously need time and the business between him and the UFC needs to be discussed. Dana White did not attend the post-fight press conference, which is usually something he does come to. Could be telling of the future.

    What did you take away from UFC 270?

  • Fighters React To Francis Ngannou Outlasting Ciryl Gane At UFC 270

    Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane was everything that was advertised as Gane stepped up to challenge for the heavyweight title. 

    The two fighters met in a bout on Saturday night (January 22, 2022) at the UFC 270 pay-per-view event from Anaheim, California at the Honda Center. Francis was wearing knee pads. Not a ton happened in the first frame aside from clinch work. 

    Gane started letting his hands go in the second round and was landing some kicks. Another lackluster round as Francis is swinging, but not connecting. In the third round, Francis caught a kick and slammed him down hard right into side control. 

    This happened another time with Gane continuously getting back up. Ngannou was tired at this point. Ngannou got a few more takedowns in the fourth round, but Gane did a nice job of defending transitions and wrist control. 

    Ngannou got a takedown to open the fifth round, but Gane went for a leg submission only for Ngannou to get out and got on top in half guard. Francis was awarded the decision win. Ngannou revealed he tore his MCL in training and injured his ACL in training for this fight. 

    Peep the highlights of the fight courtesy of the UFC’s official Twitter account:

    https://twitter.com/UFC_CA/status/1485127605867225090

    Ngannou entered this fight on a five-bout winning streak. He scored three straight first-round KO wins over the likes of Curtis Blaydes in November 2018, Cain Velasquez in February 2019, and Junior Dos Santos in June 2019. He previously knocked out Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC 249 before knocking out Stipe Miocic to win the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 260. 

    Gane picked up a few wins under the TKO banner where he finished all of his fights before going to the UFC. He beat Raphael Pessoa by submission in his promotional debut with the UFC. He got decision, submission and KO victories. He beat Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC Vegas 20 by decision and then over Alexander Volkov at UFC Vegas 30th by decision. He won the interim title with a TKO win over Derrick Lewis at UFC 265. 

    Let’s see how the fighters reacted to the outcome of this fight: 

    https://twitter.com/JalinTurner/status/1485131816793255938
    https://twitter.com/GroovyLando/status/1485132074948251649

    UFC 270 Results & Highlights: Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane 

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC 270. We’ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.