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Category: MMA

  • Archives: Cejudo Doubles Down On Wanting To Fight Figueiredo (2020)

    Henry Cejudo has played a huge part in Deiveson Figueiredo’s preparation ahead of his trilogy fight against Brandon Moreno at UFC 270 tonight. But two years ago, Cejudo wanted to be the man standing across the cage from him, even though he had already vacated the flyweight title. This article from two years ago gives you the breakdown.

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

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 3, 2020, 8:21 PM]

    Headline: Henry Cejudo Doubles Down On Wanting To Fight Deiveson Figueiredo

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Henry Cejudo isn’t playing games when he says he wants to fight Deiveson Figueiredo.

    Cejudo, who holds the UFC bantamweight gold, was thought of to be done with the flyweight division. Cejudo also held the 125-pound title but vacated the gold. Following the conclusion of UFC Norfolk,
    “Triple C” claimed he’d fight the “ugly detached Siamese twins” Figueiredo and Joseph Benavidez on the same night.

    Cejudo Takes Further Aim At Figueiredo

    Figueiredo earned a TKO win over Benavidez this past Saturday night (Feb. 29). Had he made weight, he would’ve been the new flyweight champion. Since he did not, the title remains vacant. Speaking to TMZ Sports, Cejudo criticized Figueiredo for not hitting his target (via BJPenn.com).

    “I thought it was unfortunate I thought Figueiredo should have made the weight. It was a bit of a cheat against Joe but he did connect that punch,” he said. “Joe did lose, but Figueiredo did not win.”

    When asked if he truly wants to fight Figueiredo, Cejudo made it clear that he wasn’t kidding.

    “Oh absolutely [I want to fight Figueiredo]. I said it before, I would like to get him and Jose Baldo on the same night,” Cejudo said. “Co-main event and main event. Allow me to make history.”

    Cejudo is set to put his bantamweight championship on the line in two months’ time. He’ll collide with Jose Aldo in the main event of UFC 250 on May 9. Cejudo will be in hostile territory as the bout will be contested in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

    There was a lot of concern over the future of the flyweight division after UFC Norfolk. In the past, UFC president Dana White admitted he was contemplating what he should do with the men’s 125-pound division. Things are different this time as the UFC boss told reporters that he plans to book the rematch between Figueiredo and Benavidez. Obviously he hopes to avoid seeing another scale fail.

  • Tyron Woodley Does Not Believe In Quitting Despite What Naysayers Want

    Although the former UFC Welterweight champion, Tyron Woodley is on a six-fight losing streak, he is still determined to get back on the winner’s circle.

    2021 presented many challenges for Woodley. A loss to Vincent Luque at UFC 260 and towards the end, he lost twice to Jake Paul, in December by a vicious knockout.

    Social Media reacted negatively to the fighter’s shortcomings, but Tyron Woodley is not fazed, rejecting suggestions for him to hang it up after the abysmal run he’s been on.

    “And people want you to quit because it makes you their equal. They’re willing to quit. It’s something they always do. They quit jobs like a motherfucker. They quit on the treadmill, they quit. Even after they said 30, they quit after 10. They quit on their diet one week into January. (To) People and humans, it’s so much easier to quit. So when you can try to encourage somebody else to quit, it makes us feel equal. We’re not equal because I’m built different,” Woodley told Ariel Helwani in a recent interview with MMA Fighting.

    “The Chosen One” refuses to allow his last bout to signify his career.

    “I never thought that, and everything that I had before, all it did was basically, I was gonna fight three times this year anyway, maybe four,” answered Tyron Woodley when asked if he thought his recent loss shrouded his image permanently.

    The Comeback

    Tyron Woodley could shock the world in 2022.

    Tyron Woodley
    Tyron Woodley, Photo Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

    The former Welterweight Champion wants to get back out there and show MMA fans what he is capable of. Woodley’s KO loss on December 18 was a setback for his next match, but he still plans to fight this year.

    “But it’s just basically when I fought in December, it kinda took away a chance for me to fight in January. I was gonna fight in January, most likely. So all it did was replace that. I’m still gonna fight a couple more times this year, go out there and kick some ass, get back in the winning side, and just show people who I am and remember. Like, it’s so easy to quit,” Woodley continued. 

    Many incredible fighters have hit snags in their career. For example, MMA legend Anderson “The Spider” Silva has made a comeback through boxing after suffering several losses towards the end of his UFC career, not to mention, Robbie Lawler who got some redemption with his win against Nick Diaz at UFC 266.

    And 42-year-old Glover Teixeira fought for the belt and lost against Jon Jones in 2014, but became the UFC LightHeavyweight Champion last October at UFC 267.

    Anderson Silva, Robbie Lawler, and Glover Teixeira
    Top: Anderson Silva, Bottom: Robbie Lawler, Right: Glover Teixeira; Photo Credit: Manuel Velasquez / John Locher/Associated Press / Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC

    So, Woodley has a message for those who want to see his downfall:

    “Yeah, I just need people to know I’m not that dude. I’m not that dude. I’m not gonna quit because it’s easy for you.” 

    Having six losses back-to-back is enough to break many people, but Woodley’s strong fighting spirit may be the deciding factor in his next bout.

    Are you excited for a Tyron Woodley fight in 2022?

  • Archives: Moreno Declares Figueiredo Ugly, Dumb, & An A**hole (2021)

    Tonight at UFC 270, Brandon Moreno will look to retain the UFC flyweight championship against Deiveson Figueiredo to bring a close to their trilogy in his favor. As you’ll find in the following article from last year, there hasn’t been much love lost between these two competitors in quite some time.

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

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MAY 31, 2021, 8:13 PM]

    Headline: Brandon Moreno Declares Figueiredo To Be Ugly, Dumb, & An A**hole

    Author: Doug Murray

    There is no love lost between flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo and Mexican challenger Brandon Moreno ahead of their UFC 263 showdown.

    Last time, Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno met at UFC 256 last December where the fight became an instant candidate for “fight of the year” honors. Despite the fight between Figueiredo and Moreno not having a clear winner, there is an unsatiable appetite to see these two flyweights run it back. After all, since their last bout ended in a majority draw, it’s only right that these two fighters square up again to determine who is the rightful undisputed champion.

    Going toe-to-toe for twenty-five hard minutes, each fighter had big moments in the first fight. However, it was the champion’s right-hand piston that continued to stagger Moreno throughout the night. As the rematch approaches, Moreno had no kind words for the champion leading up to their rematch on June 13 in Phoenix Arizona in front of a sold-out crowd.

    “Man, I told you, the guy’s not really smart. He’s an asshole and it’s fine, I don’t care. He’s ugly. Man, the guy’s so ugly. My goodness. I can’t believe it,” Moreno said to TMZ Sports.

    It seems Brandon Moreno didn’t have anything nice to say when asked about fighting the champion in June. In fact, it seems some animosity is building between the two flyweights as we lead into their last few weeks of fight camp.

    Overall, the initial fight was closely contested and for the first time in many ways, fans got to see Figueiredo fight out of some bad positions. In particular, Moreno was able to time and score some effective takedowns. For the most part, “Deus Da Guerra” managed to get back to his feet pretty quickly, but the takedown pressure certainly wore on the Brazilian champion as the rounds progressed. Undoubtedly, it will be interesting to see how each fighter approaches the rematch since the first fight was razor close.

    Who is your pick in the flyweight title fight between Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo?

  • Covington Mocks Masvidal’s Trash Talk Comments With Ex-Wife Pic

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington isn’t holding back in his attempts at mental warfare against his UFC 272 opponent Jorge Masvidal.

    Covington is set to face his old American Top Team teammate and friend, Masvidal in the main event of UFC 272. It is one of the few times in recent UFC history that a pay-per-view main event will feature a non-title fight.

    Masvidal made headlines recently after opining on why fighters like Covington and former middleweight Chael Sonnen have to be brash and talk trash. He alluded to Covington and Sonnen’s wrestling-first style as a reason for them to overcompensate outside the Octagon.

    After getting word of Masvidal’s comments, Covington posted a photo of him and Masvidal’s ex on his Instagram page.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZAOICSOQmF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “Don’t worry [Jorge Masvidal], I got you,” Covington said.

    Covington and Masvidal have been on each other’s nerves for years, stemming from Covington’s dismissal from ATT. Masvidal has accused Covington of failing to pay his former coach following a win over Rafael dos Anjos for the interim welterweight title.

    In response, Covington has thrown decency out of the window, bringing family into the discussion. He’s accused Masvidal of cheating on his former wife and being a poor father to his children.

    Masvidal and Covington used to be great friends as the two of them were grinding their way into the UFC headlines. However, their friendship has soured and a grudge match between them is on the horizon.

    Masvidal isn’t one to promote trash talk too often, but it’s safe to say that his matchup with Covington may be another exception to that rule.

  • Archives: Gane Wants To Fight Jon Jones Because He’s “The GOAT” (2021)

    Last year, Ciryl Gane explained why he would love a fight against Jon Jones. If Jones makes his heavyweight debut on schedule and Gane is victorious tonight at UFC 270, then there is nothing theoretically preventing that fight from happening.

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

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JUNE 30, 2021, 11:00 AM]

    Headline: Ciryl Gane Wants To Fight Jon Jones Because He’s “The GOAT”

    Author: Cole Shelton

    Ciryl Gane says Jon Jones is the best MMA fighter of all time and wants to fight him down the line.

    Jones, the former longtime UFC light heavyweight champ, has been bulking up for a move to heavyweight. The plan was to face Francis Ngannou, but that hasn’t come to fruition yet. Nevertheless, he still plans to move up to heavyweight, and Gane says he would love for the chance to fight him down the line.

    “Yes of course, of course. A lot of people talk about this fight because I am a technical fighter and he is, too, a technical fighter, so the people like to say, ‘Yeah, this is a good matchup.’ So yes, I’m really excited about that because Jon Jones is the GOAT and everybody knows that. So wow,” Gane said to TMZ Sports (h/t BJPENN.com).

    “I think it’s a good move for him (going to heavyweight), of course. He can make a lot of money with it,” Gane continued. “He did a lot at light heavyweight, so I understand his move to the heavyweight division, he wants to prove something. But yes, of course, there are a lot of people in this division waiting for the title shot, so every time people say ‘Jon Jones, Jon Jones,’ but we are here, too.”

    Ciryl Gane
    Image Credit: UFC’s YouTube

    Although Gane says he wants to face Jones down the line, he will make a quick turnaround and face Derrick Lewis in the main event of UFC 265 for the interim heavyweight title. The 9-0 fighter is coming off a decision win over Alexander Volkov and just three years into his career gets to fight for UFC gold.

    Should Gane beat Lewis, he will get a title shot against Ngannou, and if he wins that, a scrap against Jones does make a ton of sense. Whether or not that will happen is to be seen.

    Would you like to see Ciryl Gane vs. Jon Jones?

  • Julianna Peña Is Down For Meisha Tate’s Plan to Both hold UFC Titles

    Julianna Peña likes Miesha Tate’s idea of them both holding UFC titles.

    Julianna Peña and Miesha Tate are good friends so wouldn’t them both holding UFC titles at the same time be great? That is the idea that Tate has for the future. She has decided to make the move down to flyweight in order to pursue a championship without attempting to dethrone her friend and former training partner. Upon hearing this idea, the bantamweight champ has to agree.

    “I think that that’s great,” Peña told MMA Fighting. “If Miesha, (who) I do believe will find a ton of success at 125 and can fight for the belt at 125, I think there would be nothing better, especially for the UFC and for the sport, and particularly for the state of Washington to have two Washington champions at 125 and 135. That’s the plan.”

    Tate decided to return to the UFC following a four-year retirement. As a former champion, Tate was looking to regain her belt in the bantamweight division. However, her path was stalled when she lost to Ketlen Vieira in November. At that time it was Peña who got the title shot. She defeated Amanda Nunes in December and will now be the one to beat at 135 pounds.

    Because of their close relationship, Tate would rather take her shot at cutting weight and fighting at 125 pounds instead of waiting around. She has her first test at flyweight when she takes on Lauren Murphy in May at UFC Fight Night 209.

    If she can get past Murphy, who is sitting in the #3 spot in the rankings, she might be next for champion Valentina Shevchenko. The only two fighters ahead of Murphy on the official rankings are Katlyn Chookagian who is no longer signed with the UFC and Jéssica Andrade, who is making a move back to strawweight.

    Do you think this plan for Tate and Peña to both hold UFC titles at the same time is feasible?

  • (Archives) Stephen A: Ngannou KO The Best Thing In UFC History (2021)

    Last March, Stephen A. Smith shared his belief that the best thing to ever happen in UFC history took place when Francis Ngannou knocked out Stipe Miocic to become the heavyweight champion.

    The following article published last year explains how he came to that conclusion. Tonight, Ngannou’s follow-up performance to this KO will come when he takes on Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 to unify the UFC undisputed heavyweight championship.

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

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 31, 2021, 10:00 AM]

    Headline: Stephen A: Ngannou’s KO The Greatest Thing To Ever Happen To UFC

    The First Take crew is showering new UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou with the ultimate praise.

    Francis Ngannou made history as the first man from Cameroon to become a UFC champion when he knocked out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260. In doing so, the continent of Africa now has three current champions on the UFC roster. The feeling of joy Ngannou had for achieving those two things has been articulated by Ngannou in the aftermath of the event, and he has already been commended far and wide for his improvements, his approach, and his achievement.

    In an appearance on ESPN’s First Take on Monday, host Stephen A. Smith threw one more massive heap of praise Ngannou’s way.

    “I caught your knockout on Saturday. I called it the greatest thing that’s ever happened to the UFC,” Smith told Ngannou. “Because when you’re the heavyweight champion of the world and you come into the Octagon with bad intentions like Mike Tyson did in boxing, like George Foreman did before him, that’s the greatest thing for a pugilistic sport.”

    There’s been some big things to happen in the nearly 30-year history of the UFC: becoming sanctioned by state athletic commissions after being viewed as a bloodsport, women finally being allowed to compete in the promotion after 20 years, Conor McGregor’s rise to fame, the partnership with ESPN, just to name a few. But Smith’s argument comes with the premise that nothing can match the impact of a mainstream heavyweight destroyer.

    As someone with a great amount of experience covering the pugilistic sport of boxing, Smith’s co-host Max Kellerman co-signed Smith’s statement to a degree but seemed to stop at the “potential” Ngannou’s win carries as opposed to proclaiming it the greatest thing in UFC history full stop.

    “I agree with Stephen A,” Kellerman began. “This has a chance to be, what you did now, a turning point in the history of the UFC in the sense that light heavy was always the glamor division. Brock Lesnar looked for a second, like, ‘Can he be that guy at heavyweight?’ But he couldn’t consistently stay at that level. You now have a fight maybe lined up with Jon Jones.

    Francis Ngannou knocks out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 to become heavyweight champion and set up Jon Jones fight
    New UFC Champion Francis Ngannou. Image Credit: Getty Images

    “Because the UFC champion would beat the heavyweight champion in boxing in an actual fight, that guy’s the baddest man on the planet, especially if he’s a guy that fights like you. So this could be a turning point in the history of your sport. That’s a tremendous achievement.”

    Ever the gracious giant, Ngannou took his praise in stride. During the interview, he noted the impact that Kamaru Usman had on his victory and discussed what it means to him to be a champion for his countrymen and his family. Ngannou’s story and UFC 260 achievement is certainly mainstream news now, and only time will tell if he will be able to carry the heavyweight torch to the places Smith and Kellerman believe he could.

    What are your thoughts on Stephen A. Smith’s and Max Kellerman’s level of praise for new UFC champion Francis Ngannou?

  • Dana White: You’re Not Canceling Joe Rogan

    Dana White believes Joe Rogan can not be canceled.

    Recently, a coalition of over 200 medical professionals and educators have written an open letter to Spotify to implement a “misinformation policy” as they claim Rogan is spewing lies on his podcast.

    “This is not only a scientific or medical concern; it is a sociological issue of devastating proportions and Spotify is responsible for allowing this activity to thrive on its platform,” the letter concludes.

    Now, UFC president, Dana White spoke to the Nelk Boys on their Full Send podcast and he says most of these people weren’t actually real doctors.

    “Well, I know they had come out and said it was 200, 250 doctors or whatever. I guess when they started researching these people, they weren’t really doctors,” White said.

    Dana White
    MMA Weekly

    With most of them not being doctors, Dana White proves that Joe Rogan should keep doing what he is doing. He also believes the UFC commentator will never be canceled.

    “You’re not canceling Rogan. And the thing is with Rogan, he’s a brilliant guy, he does his homework, and he knows what he’s talking about,” White said. “And guess what? This is fuckin’ America, and you can have your own opinion about these things, and you can voice ’em. That’s what this fuckin’ country was built on. And all these little whiny fuckin’ pussies that don’t like it, too fuckin’ bad, man. Too bad.”

    Joe Rogan has been vocal about COVID-19 on his podcast, but he has had some experts on his podcast to talk about it. However, given how many people listen to him, the coalition wanted Spotify to have a misinformation notice on his podcasts. Whether or not that will happen is uncertain.

    What do you make of Dana White saying Joe Rogan can’t be canceled after the coalition came out against him?

  • Archives: White: ‘I Think Ngannou Could Be The Next Big Thing’ (2017)

    In 2017, UFC President Dana White had a hunch that Francis Ngannou could be the next big thing in the UFC. Five years later, Ngannou is now the UFC heavyweight champion with an incredible résumé attached to his name on his way to a unification headliner against Ciryl Gane tonight at UFC 270.

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

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED OCTOBER 18, 2017, 9:35 AM]

    Headline: Dana White: ‘I Think Francis Ngannou Could be The Next Big Thing’

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White believes Francis Ngannou doesn’t need the “gift of gab” to be a star.

    Ngannou is a rising heavyweight known for his punching power. In his 10 victories, Ngannou has six knockouts and four submissions. His last win came against former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski via first-round TKO.

    On Dec. 2, Ngannou will take on Alistair Overeem inside Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The bout will be featured on the main card of UFC 218.

    Speaking to TSN, White explained why he feels “The Predator” can be a star without trash-talking (via BJPenn.com):

    “I like Francis Ngannou. I think Francis Ngannou could be the next big thing, literally and figuratively. Listen, when you’re a badass, language has nothing to do with it man. It’s all about how you – look at Anderson Silva. The list goes on and on. It’s about your performances. Listen, we think about the talking because Conor is so good. Conor is a great fighter and every time he opens his mouth it’s hilarious, you know? You find those guys once in a blue moon.”

    A win over “The Reem” could see Ngannou compete for the UFC heavyweight title sometime in 2018.

  • The Pulse of MMA: Fans Brace For The Impact of Ngannou vs. Gane

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

    MMA fans prepare for the heavyweight collision that awaits at UFC 270 when the UFC heavyweight title is unified between undisputed champion Francis Ngannou and interim champ Ciryl Gane.

    Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane Headline UFC 270

    Ciryl Gane Francis Ngannou
    (via USA TODAY Sports & Getty)

    Tonight at UFC 270, Ciryl Gane will put his undefeated record on the line when he attempts to decrown Francis Ngannou as the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion. We have offered our staff predictions for the bout and our comprehensive preview for the entire card. Now, let’s find out what The Pulse of MMA had to say about the main event below!

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

  • WATCH: UFC 270 Post-Fight Press Conference Live Stream

    The UFC 270 post-fight press conference will be live once the action concludes.

    In the headliner, Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane in a heavyweight title bout goes down. UFC 270’s co-main event will see Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo in a flyweight title bout. More action will also be featured on the main card as Michel Pereira shares the Octagon with Andre Fialho. 

    The fighters from both the main and co-main events are expected to attend the post-fight press conference barring any hospital visits. Of course, anyone else on the card who has a breakout performance could also attend the presser.

    MMA News will be providing live coverage of the UFC 270 card. Be sure to check back here for the post-fight presser with a tentative start time of 12:45 a.m. ET.

    Let us know your big takeaways once the UFC 270 post-fight press conference.

  • UFC 270 Bonuses: Brandon Moreno & Deiveson Figueiredo Earn FOTN Honors

    The UFC 270 bonuses have been released.

    The event took place in Anaheim, California at the Honda Center. Headlining the card was a clash between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane in a heavyweight title bout. Francis was wearing knee pads. In the first round, they did a lot of clinching and that made for a lackluster round. The second round was slow, but Gane did start letting his hands go and landing some kicks. 

    In the third round, Francis caught a kick and slammed him down hard right into side control. Ngannoudid get two more takedowns, but Gane kept getting up. The fourth round saw Ngannou get a few more takedowns, but Gane did a nice job of defending transitions and wrist control. 

    The final round saw Ngannou get 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 and revealed he tore his MCL in training and injured his ACL in training for this fight. 

    The co-main event saw more action between Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo in a flyweight title bout. This fight saw an action-packed pace. While Figueiredo did get a takedown and got his back, Moreno rolled through to his feet. Moreno did stun him with a right cross when Figueiredo landed a leg kick in the first round. 

    The second frame saw Figueiredo continue to go for takedowns, but was stuffed twice. The third round featured both of them hurting each other, but most notably, Figueiredo dropped him with a massive right hand then went for a guillotine choke, but the bell sounded. The fourth round was a close striking match. They had a wild exchange with 30 seconds left in the fifth round. Figueiredo got the decision to win the flyweight title. 

    Peep the full list of performance bonus winners below: 

    Performance of the Night: Said Nurmagomedov and Vanessa Demopoulos

    Fight of the Night:: Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

    Were the right choices made for the UFC 270 bonuses?

    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.

  • Check Out Last-Minute Betting Odds For UFC 270

    The final UFC 270 betting odds are in for as this event is quickly approaching for the Las Vegas-based promotion. 

    The event is here, and it goes down tonight (Saturday, January 22, 2022) from Anaheim, California at the Honda Center.

    Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane in a heavyweight title bout will headline the show. In the co-main event, Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo in a flyweight title bout will take place.

    Rounding out the main card is Michel Pereira vs. André Fialho in a welterweight fight, Cody Stamann vs. Said Nurmagomedov in a bantamweight bout, and Rodolfo Vieira vs. Wellington Turman in a welterweight bout. 

    According to oddsmakers, Gane is a -150 favorite over Ngannou, who is a +130 underdog. Other odds for the main card include Figueiredo being a +155 underdog against Moreno, who is a -180 favorite. Here are the full betting odds: 

    Cyril Gane (-150) vs. Francis Ngannou (+130)

    Brandon Moreno (-180) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (+155)

    Michel Pereira (-290) vs. Andre Fialho (+230)

    Said Nurmagomedov (-180) vs. Cody Stamann (+155)

    Michael Morales (-130) vs. Trevin Giles (+110)

    Raoni Barcelos (-450) vs. Victor Henry (+340)

    Jack Della Maddalena (-320) vs. Pete Rodriguez (+250)

    Tony Gravely (-240) vs. Saimon Oliveira (+195)

    Kay Hansen (-225) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (+185)

    Vanessa Demopoulos (-140) vs. Silvana Gomez Juarez (+120)

    Matt Frevola (-190) vs. Genaro Valdez (+160)

  • UFC 270 Storylines & Final Comprehensive Preview

    We’ve got a full, comprehensive breakdown of all the storylines heading into tomorrow night’s UFC 270 event along with the final face-offs.

    UFC 270 goes down tomorrow night, January 22, 2022. The action kicks off at 6:15 PM ET on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass, followed by the ESPN2 prelims at 8:00 PM. The main card begins at 10:00 PM ET on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

    We’ve got a preview of the entire card and the storylines attached to each fight below capped off with the face-offs. And be sure to check out our staff predictions for the event right here!

    Kay Hansen (7-4) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (6-1)

    Canada’s Jasmine Jasudavicius has called herself the female GSP due to her wrestling ability and top game. Her only career loss came against the UFC’s Sijara Eubanks. You can check out some of Jasudavicius’ highlights here.

    Kay Hansen’s boxing background makes this somewhat of a grappler vs. striker bout, but Hansen also has proven to have some strong takedown defense. In 2020, Hansen won performance of the night over Jinh Yu Frey at UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Hooker. Hansen will be entering this fight as the -240 favorite.

    You can view the face-off for this bout below.

    Matt Frevola (8-3) vs. Genaro Valdez (10-0)

    Matt Frevola is in need of a win here coming off back-to-back losses and he’s going to have to go through some serious heat that Genaro Valdez is known to throw in order to get it. Frevola has never shied away from a firefight, though, so fans should brace for impact in the second fight of the night.

    Undefeated Genaro Valdez makes his UFC debut after earning a contract last year on Dana White’s Contender Series. Every win by Valdez was a finish, seven of the three by TKO. Frevola enters the fight at -180, with the comeback on Valdez at +160.

    Check out the friendly face-offs between these competitors below.

    Vanessa Demopoulos (6-4) vs. Silvana Gomez Juarez (10-3)

    Vanessa Demopoulos and Silvana Gomez Juarez will also be competing on the early preliminary card. Demopoulos enters as the small favorite at -145. You can view some of her highlights here. Demopoulos lost in her UFC debut to JJ Aldrich and will now try to dance onto the victory stage in front of a pay-per-view audience.

    Silvana Gomez also was unsuccessful in her UFC debut, losing to Lupita Gomez via submission. Gomez is actually 0-3 against fighters who have competed in the UFC, also losing to Poliana Botelho and Ariana Lipski in other promotions. You can view her fight against Lipski here.

    Here are the face-offs between these two strawweights.

    Tony Gravely (21-7) vs. Saimon Oliveira (18-3)

    Kicking off the ESPN2 preliminary card is Tony Gravely facing the debuting Saimon Oliveira. Both of these fighters earned their UFC contracts through Dana White’s Contender Series. Since arriving in the UFC, Gravely has gone 2-2. An interesting factoid about Gravely is that four of his seven career losses have come by choke (three rear-naked choke, one guillotine). Most recently, Gravely lost to Nate Maness last September.

    Saimon Oliveira makes his UFC debut while on a five-fight winning streak. He earned a contract through the Contender Series last September, and you can view that full fight right here. The more experienced Gravely will enter the fight as -240 favorite, with the comeback on Oliveira at +200.

    You can view the face-offs between these two bantamweights down below.

    Jack Della Maddalena (10-2) vs. Pete Rodriguez (4-0)

    With only four professional fights under his belt, 25-year-old Pete Rodriguez has earned himself a UFC contract. For his first task, he’ll have to deal with a man whose 10 career victories have all come consecutively and all but one of those wins being stoppages. You can check out Maddalena’s Contender Series appearance right here.

    Each of Rodriguez’s four career wins came by KO/TKO, including his victory last year over Jose Luis Rios Nava, which you can view here. Maddalena is favored in this fight at -310, with the comeback on Rodriguez at +255.

    Check out the face-offs between these two finishers below.

    Raoni Barcelos (16-2) vs. Victor Henry (21-5)

    Raoni Barcelos is very well-rounded. He can strike, wrestle, and submit. The Brazilian is coming off a majority decision loss to Timur Valiev last June but has won 9 of his last 10 fights. He is also 5-1 in the UFC, including a win over prospect Said Nurmagomedov, who will also be competing on this card. You can check out some of Barcelos’ highlights here.

    Awaiting Barcelos is Victor Henry, who has won 8 of his last 9 fights. He also holds a victory over the UFC’s Kyler Phillips in another promotion. You can catch some of Henry’s career highlights right here. And here is his latest performance against Albert Morales.

    Barcelos is the largest favorite on the card, listed at -430. The comeback on Victor Henry is +350.

    You can peep the face-offs between these two bantamweights below.

    Trevin Giles (14-3) vs. Michael Morales (12-0)

    And now we move on to the main card! Kicking things off we have Trevin Giles making his welterweight debut against Michael Morales. Giles has won three of his last four fights prior to this move, but he most recently lost to Dricus Du Plessis via ground and pound last September.

    Morales will be putting his undefeated record on the line in this contest. 10 of Morales’ 12 victories have been stoppage. You can relive the moment he earned his UFC contract right here.

    Below, you can check out face-off of these two welterweights.

    Cody Stamann (19-4) vs. Said Nurmagomedov (14-2)

    UFC veteran Cody Stamann is in need of a win here after losing two consecutive fights. His last victory was an emotional one, when he defeated Brian Kelleher after the death of his brother in 2020. With a victory to kick off 2022, Stamann can show that his 2021 woes are a thing of the past as he begins to work his way back into the UFC rankings he is known to occupy throughout his career.

    He’ll be going up against Said Nurmagomedov, the winner of eight of his last nine contests. Nurmagomedov will be coming into this bout as a -190 favorite, and some of these highlights help explain why.

    You can check out the face-off between these two below.

    Michel Pereira (26-11) vs. Andre Fialho (14-3)

    Expect the unexpected in this one when showstopper Michel Pereira takes on KO artist Andre Fialho, who will be making his UFC debut in this bout. Pereira will enter the bout as a healthy -275 favorite, no doubt in large part due to him being on a three-fight winning streak. You can get a glimpse into why Pereira has developed a reputation for being one of the most unpredictable performers in the UFC by checking out some of his highlights here.

    Andre Fialho will enter the bout on a four-fight winning streak. 11 of his 14 wins have come by KO/TKO, so it’s no secret what he considers to be his path to victory here. To see how Fialho looked against UFC competition in a bout against Chris Curtis in 2019, you can view that full fight right here.

    You can catch the face-offs between these two welterweights below.

    Brandon Moreno (19-5-2) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (20-2-1)

    It’s the trilogy to end the competitive rivalry between two of the best flyweights on planet Earth. Moreno and Figueiredo took part in an instant classic at UFC 256 in 2020, but Moreno pulled away with a huge statement win over Figueiredo when he captured the championship via third-round rear-naked choke. The stage is now set for the trilogy fight Figueiredo pleaded for and that opened up after Alexandre Pantoja was unavailable to be booked against Moreno.

    As the first Mexican-born champion in UFC history, Dana White believes that Brandon Moreno is already a huge star. If that’s the case, this is not only Moreno’s first title defense but his first contest having gone from underdog to star. How far up would his star continue to rise with a win here? And how much would it dim if Figueiredo succeeds in his mission to take Moreno’s head in Anaheim, California to avenge his new mentor Henry Cejudo for Moreno’s alleged “betrayal?”

    With Figueiredo having cleaned up his weight-cutting issues of the past and looking shredded and ready to roll on the scales this morning, we may see the best version of the former champion tomorrow.

    For Moreno’s part, he is expecting to face a smarter version of the wilder Figueiredo fans have become accustomed to. But in the end, the “Assassin Baby” expects to kill Figueiredo’s time at flyweight and send him packing to the 135lb division.

    You can check out the face-off of tomorrow’s co-main eventers below along with their closing remarks.

    Francis Ngannou (16-3) vs. Ciryl Gane (10-0)

    This fight is arguably the most compelling if not the flat-out best heavyweight fight of all time in terms of stylistic clash, unpredictability, and overall competitive intrigue. Both men are completely in their primes, even Gane, who somehow managed to get there only 10 fights into his professional career. This right here is a perfect example of a fight where something has got to give.

    Before the two became opponents, they were once sparring partners with the same coach, Fernand Lopez. Lopez has placed himself right smack dab in the center of the pre-fight build-up, making several strong accusations and remarks towards Ngannou. One of the accusations is that if Ngannou had it his way, Gane wouldn’t have even been signed to the UFC in the first place and that the champion even advised the UFC not to bring him in. Ngannou called Lopez a “fucking liar” for making this claim.

    Lopez and Ngannou have also disagreed about the sparring history between Gane and Ngannou. Ngannou believed that leaked sparring footage was made to make Gane look superior, though Lopez believed it told the true story of how the sessions went. Even Gane himself admitted that the sessions made him look good, yet he also said that he learned that he can manage Ngannou’s power through these sessions.

    One of the most peculiar and unexpected moments in the build-up, however, took place when Ngannou walked right past Lopez and Gane backstage at UFC 268.

    Gane shared his thoughts on this incident, stating that he felt it was wrong, given that he and Ngannou used to train together. For Ngannou, it was more of a snub of Lopez after the many comments Lopez has made in the media about him more so than anything directed at Gane. In fact, Ngannou believed the UFC staged the entire incident to help promote the fight, a theory that Gane has publicly disagreed with.

    For Gane, the fact that Lopez is on his side has only boosted his confidence, seeing as how he considers Lopez to be the man “who made” Francis Ngannou. Still, the interim champion is very much aware of the challenge at hand, likening “The Predator” to the final boss of a video game. When the two meet, he says that what fans will witness is a clash that goes beyond power vs. technique but two well-rounded and elite fighters determining who is the best in the world.

    As noted, Gane expects to be able to “manage” the undeniable power that Ngannou does have, a prediction that Ngannou did not take seriously at all. He would later warn Gane about trying to point-fight his way to victory because of the many risks that approach would carry. Meanwhile, he teased viewers that he will have many surprises in store for the viewing audience come tomorrow night.

    Francis Ngannou has claimed that he knocked out Ciryl Gane in a sparring session. Whether that is true or not, he’ll have a chance to prove he can do it in a real fight tomorrow night. He will need to accomplish this as the underdog of the fight, a designation he believes was brought about by the UFC’s heavy promotion of Gane while underpromoting him.

    This leads us to the final and arguably biggest storyline heading into tomorrow night’s megafight, which is that it could be the last fight Ngannou ever has in the UFC if he and the promotion are unable to come to terms after the event. With a loss, Ngannou will be a free agent. With a win, he could theoretically sit out until an agreeable contract has been signed. If that does not happen, he will ultimately become free to sign with another promotion.

    With so many skills, storylines, and possibilities, the drama couldn’t be higher as we determine who is the baddest man on the planet tomorrow night. Below, you can check out the final face-off of the night, featuring the UFC 270 headliners, along with their closing remarks.

    To view the full UFC 270 Ceremonial Weigh-in, you can do so right here. And please be sure to keep it locked on MMANews.com tomorrow for full, live coverage of UFC 270!

  • Covington: There’s Nobody On The UFC Roster Masvidal Can Beat

    UFC welterweight Colby Covington has suggested there’s nobody on the roster his upcoming opponent and former teammate Jorge Masvidal is capable of beating.

    Last week, it was announced that a blockbuster grudge match would be headlining the UFC 272 pay-per-view in March. With Alexander Volkanovski’s next defense and Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan 2 moved back to April, Masvidal and Covington will settle their score in the March 5 main event.

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

    For both men, the clash will represent an opportunity to rebound from defeats to current welterweight king Kamaru Usman and shoot back into title contention.

    Masvidal will ride back-to-back losses against “The Nigerian Nightmare” into his first appearance of 2022. Having been beaten on the scorecards after traveling to Fight Island as a late-notice replacement in 2020, “Gamebred” had his chance to challenge for gold with a full camp last April. But in the UFC 261 main event, he was knocked out cold.

    Similar to Masvidal, Covington has also lost twice to Usman. In a memorable first fight in 2019, “Chaos” provided the toughest test to the champion’s throne to date but was finished in the fifth round. In their rematch at UFC 268 two-and-a-half months ago, the former interim titleholder threatened once more. But despite taking Usman the distance, Covington fell on the wrong side of a unanimous decision verdict.

    Covington Brands Masvidal “Fragile”

    Covington has never lost two fights in a row. Masvidal has never lost three contests in a row. At UFC 272, one of those stats will be broken. According to the #1-ranked contender, it’s obvious which it will be.

    Speaking prior to his second failed attempt at reaching the welterweight mountaintop, Covington discussed Masvidal’s chances of successfully rebounding from his latest setback in an interview with BT Sport.

    According to “Chaos,” who used to train with Masvidal at American Top Team, the Miami native isn’t capable of beating anybody on the UFC roster anymore.

    “I don’t think there’s anybody on the roster that Street Judas Masvidal can beat anymore. Whoever they put him in there with will get their hand raised. I’ve seen the lifestyle that Street Judas Masvidal lives. The guy’s fragile and he’s not disciplined, he’s not in the gym working hard every single day. So it doesn’t really matter who the UFC matches him up with, he’ll get beat by anybody.”

    Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington
    Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington

    Now that he’s set to enter the Octagon with Masvidal, Covington will have the chance to prove his theory right by sending his former friend further away from welterweight gold. On the other side of the coin, Masvidal will have the chance to “bash” Covington’s face in, something he’s long desired to do.

    Who do you think will win the grudge match at UFC 272, Colby Covington or Jorge Masvidal?

  • Neil Magny To Return Against Max Griffin At UFC Columbus

    UFC welterweight contenders Neil Magny and Max Griffin will square off at the upcoming Fight Night event in Columbus, OH on March 26.

    MMA journalist Marcel Dorff was among the first to report news of the booking.

    Magny was expected to face fast-rising welterweight Khamzat Chimaev next, but negotiations never materialized. Now, he’ll face a tough test in the form of Griffin as the UFC slowly returns to hosting fights outside of Las Vegas.

    Magny has won four of his last five inside the Octagon, including most recently against Geoff Neal at UFC Vegas 26. He’s been a mainstay in the welterweight division and has earned recent wins over the likes of Robbie Lawler and Li Jingliang.

    Griffin has managed to resurrect his UFC career with three-straight wins, including arguably the biggest win of his tenure against Carlos Condit at UFC 264. He put a beating on Condit, a former title challenger who announced his retirement shortly after the bout.

    The UFC is planning a big card for the promotion’s return to Ohio. The event will be headlined by a light heavyweight bloodbath between former champion Jan Blachowicz and Aleksandar Rakic. A flyweight matchup between Askar Askarov and Kai Kara-France will also be featured, along with the return of fan-favorite Matt Brown against Bryan Barberena.

    Magny has a legitimate opportunity to put on an impressive performance against a solid challenger in Griffin. With a win, he could earn a fight against a top-5 welterweight for his next Octagon appearance.

    As for the unranked Griffin, he’s looking to make a statement and continue his rise at 170 pounds. A win could put him right in the thick of things in the welterweight division.

    What is your prediction for Neil Magny vs. Max Griffin?

  • Dana White Teases Virtual Fights In The Metaverse

    UFC President Dana White has big plans for the UFC going forward, including an unorthodox way of hosting fights.

    White and the UFC are set to host their first string of pay-per-views to begin the 2022 calendar year. It all begins with UFC 270, featuring a heavyweight clash for the ages between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane.

    But White has always looked ahead to what’s next for the sport of MMA, more specifically his promotion. During a recent interview on the Full Send Podcast, White raised eyebrows when he iterated plans to combine MMA fights with virtual reality.

    “We’re looking to do a fight in the metaverse,” White said. “We’ve been working on it for a while. It’ll be a live fight, an actual fight that takes place inside the metaverse.”

    When further pushed on what that would look like, White described how it would play out.

    “It’d be kids at home, you put on your fuckin’ goggles and you can fuckin’ get up and go walk around. We’re still working it out, but yeah, it’ll be soon. We’ll be doing a fight in the metaverse. It’ll be a real fight.”

    White even stated that fans would be able to buy tickets and experience these events virtually.

    The metaverse is a network of virtual worlds of the internet, most prominently linked to the Oculus Quest virtual reality headset. Devices such as the Oculus have become more popular in recent months.

    As virtual reality becomes more prominent in the current technological evolution, White and the UFC are looking to adjust to the times. It’s unclear when this will all take place, but it sounds like it has been in the works for a while and could happen as soon as this year.

    What do you think of Dana White’s claims? Would you attend a fight virtually?

  • Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Announces Major Partnership With UFC

    Fighters at UFC 270 will pioneer representation of the UFC’s new official footwear: Project Rock.

    On January 21 the famous actor, former professional wrestler, and entrepreneur Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson announced via Twitter his athletic gear, Project Rock, will be the official footwear of the UFC.

    As a huge fan of the UFC, “The Rock” could not be more grateful for the opportunity.

    https://twitter.com/therock/status/1484567487203012610?s=21

    “Historic. I’m honored & proud, @ProjectRock is the official global footwear partner of the @ufc. Starting this weekend at #UFC Ngannou vs Gane, all athletes & teams will rep @ProjectRock footwear,” tweeted “The Rock”.

    In 2019, the former WWE wrestler helped promote UFC 244 at the weigh-ins and on the night of the event, wrapping the BMF belt around Jorge Masvidal‘s waist after he defeated Nate Diaz.

    Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Jorge Masvidal, and Nate Diaz
    Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jorge Masvidal, and Nate Diaz/ Photo Credit: Getty Images

    And now, he gets to witness MMA fighters wearing his design at the first UFC PPV of the year on January 22. Since the endorsement for Under Armour in 2016, this is another major accomplishment for “The Rock” and his athletic brand.

    You can view the entire Under Armour Project Rock collection here.

  • Francis Ngannou Expects Big Wrestling Advantage Over Ciryl Gane

    UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is teasing the use of his vastly improved grappling against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270.

    Ngannou earned the heavyweight title by knocking out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 last year. While he’s mainly known as an elite striker with knockout power, he showcased superb takedown defense and stifled Miocic’s advances in the grappling department.

    Ngannou will likely never be known as an elite wrestler as he is a striker, but he isn’t counting out the use of that toolbox in his matchup with Gane. During a recent interview with Michael Bisping on BT Sport, he explained why he feels he holds the advantage when it comes to grappling.

    “I’ve gotta admit that it’s gonna be a tough fight, regarding his style,” Ngannou said. “But (this is) one of the first times that I worked to a fight and like, I feel pretty confident about like, ‘Okay, let’s say this guy will attempt a takedown or wrestling,’ I’m like, ‘This is not a fight, this is not a game.’ It’s not like when I was preparing for the Stipe fight, I (was like), ‘You better don’t let him touch your legs,’ you know?

    “So, Ciryl has a good striking, but he kind of lacks in that area (wrestling), which is all in my favor because I have a little bit of experience there. When I look at him and his record, he hasn’t fought a wrestler, a good wrestler, yet. I was hoping sometime that he’d get Curtis Blaydes. Before you get past Curtis Blaydes, I don’t sign you off [LAUGHS].”

    Gane has arguably the most unique skillset out of all the heavyweight contenders. He’s able to use his movement on the feet like a welterweight to go with his power as a heavyweight.

    Ngannou and Gane used to train together briefly at MMA Factory in France before Ngannou parted ways with coach Fernand Lopez and moved to the United States. The two of them are familiar with one another’s strengths and weaknesses through their time under Lopez.

    The Ngannou vs. Gane matchup has been pinned as a prototypical ‘power vs. technique’ matchup, but Gane has played that down. While striking will be the main form of attack from both men, expect the unexpected in this heavyweight battle.

    What is your prediction for UFC 270?

  • Brandon Moreno Expects Smarter Version Of “Wild” Figueiredo In Trilogy

    UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno is expecting a completely different version of his rival Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 270.

    Moreno earned the title over Figueiredo at UFC 263 last year in a dominant performance that led to a submission victory. He and Figueiredo fought to a majority draw in their first matchup, with Figueiredo retaining the belt.

    UFC 256: Champ Figueiredo finally finds a rival in draw against Moreno - CGTN

    Now that Moreno is the flyweight champion, he appears extra focused ahead of his massive trilogy with Figueiredo. It’s arguably one of the biggest trilogies in UFC history and the first of its kind in the flyweight division.

    But Moreno’s game plan might change a bit entering UFC 270. During his UFC 270 pre-fight press conference, he alluded to expecting a different Figueiredo this time around.

    “I’m expecting, maybe a combination of both. You know, with Figueiredo trying to be a little bit more smart,” Moreno said. “But at the same time, trying to get that skill… I feel like the biggest ability of Figueiredo is he’s big, he punch hard, and he’s very intimidating, you know, he tried to intimidate all of his opponents in the Octagon. So I’m expecting the same wild fighter, but a little bit more smart, at the same time.”

    Brandon Moreno Had A Long Road To The Title

    After falling short of a championship on The Ultimate Fighter, Moreno had to take the long journey to the title shot in the UFC. He went on to win his first few UFC bouts, before back-to-back losses to Alexandre Pantoja and Sergio Pettis.

    This would prove to be a turning point in Moreno’s career. He would go on to earn dominant wins over the likes of former LFA champion Brandon Royval, Kai Kara-France, and Jussier Formiga in the Octagon.

    Moreno also used to train with former flyweight champion Henry Cejudo, before their alleged falling out. Figueiredo now trains with Cejudo and has called for revenge on behalf of the former flyweight king.

    Moreno’s journey to champion status has been unique, but arguably the toughest part of his quest looms ahead of his trilogy with Figueiredo. With another win over the former champion, he can cement himself as an all-time great flyweight.

    What is your prediction for Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo 3?

  • UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane Official Weigh-In Results, Two Cancellations

    The weigh-in results for UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane are complete, and we’ve got you covered with the intel below.

    Tomorrow night, UFC 270 takes place from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The main event will see the UFC world heavyweight championship unified when champion Francis Ngannou takes on interim champion Ciryl Gane. The co-main event will feature a trilogy bout for the flyweight championship when Brandon Moreno defends against Deiveson Figueiredo.

    You can check out our staff predictions for the main card right here.

    UFC 270 Weigh-In Results

    Before the weigh-ins even kicked off, there were two cancellations to the UFC 270 lineup, including one main card bout.

    Eurosport España broke the news that Ilia Topuria was out of his fight against Charles Jourdain after not being medically cleared to compete. This comes after Jourdain was selected to replace Movsar Evloev after Evlowev contracted COVID-19. 

    ESPN Deportes also reported that the main card bout between Rodolfo Vieira and Wellington Turman was canceled due to Vieira withdrawing due to undisclosed reasons.

    Outside of those two cancellations, every fighter who took to the scales successfully made weight, including Deiveson Figueiredo, who was second up to the scales with weight issues of the past seeming to be in the rearview.

    Prior to Figueiredo’s entrance, the first fighter up to the scales was the flyweight champion, Brandon Moreno.

    Also of note is the champion Francis Ngannou coming in 10 pounds heavier than Ciryl Gane ahead of their unification bout. Check out how the main eventers looked on the scales down below.

    The UFC hosted a live UFC 270 weigh-in show, which you can view right here. And you can catch the full card for UFC 270 as well as all the viewing information below, courtesy of UFC.com.

    MAIN CARD (ESPN+ PPV, 10:00 PM ET)

    Main Event – Heavyweight Title Bout: Francis Ngannou (257) vs Ciryl Gane (247)

    Co-Main Event – Flyweight Title Bout: Brandon Moreno (124) vs Deiveson Figueiredo (124)

    Welterweight Bout: Michel Pereira (170) vs Andre Fialho (169.5)

    Bantamweight Bout: Cody Stamann (135.5) vs Said Nurmagomedov (136)

    Welterweight Bout: Michael Morales (170) vs Trevin Giles (170)

    PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN 2/ESPN+, 8:00 PM ET)

    Bantamweight Bout: Raoni Barcelos (135) vs Victor Henry (135.5) 

    Welterweight Bout: Jack Della Maddalena (170.5) vs Pete Rodriguez (170.5)

    Bantamweight Bout: Tony Gravely (135.5) vs Saimon Oliveira (136)

    EARLY PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, UFC Fight Pass, 6:15 PM ET)

    Women’s Strawweight Bout: Silvana Gomez Juarez (115.5) vs Vanessa Demopoulos (115.5)

    Lightweight Bout: Matt Frevola (154.5) vs Genaro Valdez (155.5)

    Women’s Flyweight Bout: Kay Hansen (125) vs Jasmine Jasudavicius (125)

    Be sure to keep it locked on MMANews.com tomorrow for full coverage of tomorrow night’s UFC 270 event!

  • Gane: Ngannou Didn’t Follow The Game Plan In 2018 Miocic Defeat

    Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane has suggested Francis Ngannou lost to Stipe Miocic in 2018 because he didn’t follow the game plan.

    When Ngannou reached the mountaintop by brutally knocking Miocic out at UFC 260 last March, he wasn’t just building his legacy by becoming a champion, but he was also avenging the first UFC defeat of his career.

    Heading into the opening pay-per-view of 2018, Ngannou was 6-0 in the UFC and was expected to secure his place on the throne. In his run in the promotion up to that point, he’d finished all of his opponents inside the opening two rounds, five by KO or TKO.

    But at UFC 220, Ngannou faced a step-up in competition that he had perhaps not fully appreciated. Across five rounds against the consensus heavyweight GOAT Miocic, “The Predator” was taken down, controlled, and fatigued. After 25 minutes, Ngannou fell on the wrong side of a lopsided unanimous decision verdict.

    Gane Explains Why Ngannou Fell Short At UFC 220

    At UFC 260 last March, Ngannou had the chance for redemption. The big question heading into the pay-per-view was could the Cameroonian powerhouse keep the fight standing and defend against Miocic’s wrestling and takedown attempts? That query was answered emphatically.

    With the gold now around his waist, Ngannou will look to defend it for the first time in a unification showdown against interim titleholder Gane. Ahead of the UFC 270 main event this Saturday, “Bon Gamin” discussed the improvements Ngannou made between his two championship fights.

    Speaking to former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping for BT Sport, Gane suggested Ngannou failed in his first crack at dethroning Miocic because he didn’t follow the game plan, something the champ’s team at Xtreme Couture were able to rectify heading into the rematch.

    “He was really better (in the Miocic rematch). I think his coach did something good because the problem with Francis is about the game plan,” said Gane. “He don’t like to follow the game plan. So that’s why he was wrong in the first fight with Stipe. Now, he improved on that and that was really better.”

    With Ngannou’s wrestling visibly improved and developed last time out, and with his belief that he’ll have a firm advantage over Gane in that department, it certainly wouldn’t be surprising to see the much-talked-about battle between power and striking technique venture to the ground at some point at UFC 270.

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 270, Ciryl Gane or Francis Ngannou?

  • Ngannou Believes The UFC Is Responsible For Gane Being The Betting Favorite

    Francis Ngannou is blaming the UFC for the betting odds on his upcoming main event against Ciryl Gane.

    UFC 270 is just one day away and it will be headlined by a massive heavyweight title unification fight. Champion Francis Ngannou will be taking on his former training partner, interim champion Ciryl Gane. leading up to this fight the betting odds are swinging in favor of Gane, who is currently a very small betting favorite at around -120.

    Ngannou disagrees with this line and is blaming the UFC’s hard push on Gane as the reason.

    “Well, usually, I don’t look (at) those stuff, and I don’t care about it because the first time that I lost against Stipe, I was the favorite, by far the favorite,” Ngannou said in an interview with Max Kerllerman on ESPN’s This Just In. “And it didn’t go (my way). So those doesn’t matter much.

    “And honestly, I think right here, the reason is just because in the past month, they’ve been doing everything to promote him and technically, I would say dispromote me. And people cannot sleep on my performance and forget about me.”

    There has been a rough relationship between Ngannou and the UFC ever since he won the title. Just months after he was crowned that champion, the UFC set up an interim title fight.

    Following that, there have been some contract negotiation issues that have placed Ngannou’s post-UFC 270 status in question. Although Dana White has been doing his best to downplay the severity of the disagreement, Ngannou still seems unhappy and could possibly leave the UFC with a loss on Saturday night. If he were to win, however, the ball would be in his court and perhaps he could get what he wants.

    You can catch Ngannou’s full ESPN interview below.

    Do you think the UFC has been promoting Ciryl Gane more than Francis Ngannou?

  • Brandon Moreno: It’ll Be Nice To Send Figueiredo To The 135lb Division

    Brandon Moreno is looking to send Deiveson Figueiredo packing.

    A flyweight title fight is set for the co-main event of UFC 270 this Saturday night. Champion Brandon Moreno will be looking to defeat former champion Deiveson Figueiredo and hopefully put this feud behind him. This fight will be the third time these two have fought consecutively, and Moreno is hoping the third time is a charm and he can finally move past this opponent and continue defending his title against the rest of the 125 pound division.

    The first time these two fought each other the bout ended in a majority draw in which Figueiredo kept the title. The second time Moreno won decisively with a third-round submission. The UFC surprisingly decided to run this back for a third time immediately.

    The fight could have never been made at all because there were rumblings of Figueiredo moving to bantamweight after the loss and brutal weight cut prior to UFC 263. Moreno was surprised to learn this but remains willing to help Figueiredo with the move this Saturday.

    “Yes, at first I was a little bit surprised, but at the end of the day, the first fight was incredible, second fight was total domination, but maybe the trilogy can be nice to finish the job in the third fight and put Deiveson in the 135-pound division,” Moreno told MMA Fighting.

    Figueiredo has been teasing a move to bantamweight. He has historically had a difficult time making the 125-pound limit in his time at flyweight. For his first title fight against Joeseph Benavidez, Figueiredo missed weight and although he was victorious, he was unable to win the belt due to missing weight.

    If he loses to Moreno once again, he might have an easier time gaining another title shot if he does make the jump up ten pounds, at least as long as Moreno is on top.

    Do you think Deiveson Figueiredo will leave the flyweight division with a loss at UFC 270?

  • Jéssica Andrade Makes SW Return Against Amanda Lemos In April

    Former UFC strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade will be making her return to the division when she takes on Amanda Lemos on April 23.

    News of the bout was first reported by MMA journalist Guilherme Cruz on Friday. This will be Andrade’s first fight at 115lbs since her split-decision loss to Rose Namajunas in 2020.

    That bout against Namajunas took home Fight of the Night and was a rematch of Andrade’s UFC 237 title win in 2019. That bout also earned Fight of the Night, with Andrade winning Performance of the Night as well after KOing Namajunas with a vicious slam to the canvas.

    Jessica Andrade Talks About Her UFC 237 Slam Knockout Win Over Rose Namajunas

    With Rose Namajunas now back at the strawweight throne, Andrade may not be far away from a potential trilogy fight against “Thug Rose” now that she’s back down at 115.

    After Andrade dropped the title to Zhang Weili and came up short in the Namajunas trilogy, she tried her hand at flyweight, where she went 2-1, with both wins being finishes.

    First, she defeated Katlyn Chookagian via TKO in October 2020. Then, she defeated Cynthia Calvillo via TKO at UFC 266. Sandwiched between those bouts was a title shot against Valentina Shevchenko, a bout that saw Andrade on the wrong end of the TKO against the dominant champion.

    Amanda Lemos accepts two-year suspension from USADA for banned steroid

    Fellow Brazilian Amanda Lemos has a professional record of 11-1 and is 5-0 in the UFC. Her only loss came five years ago against MMA vet Leslie Smith. Upon entering the UFC, three of Lemos’ first four wins were stoppages. And in her most recent bout against Angela Hill, she earned a very tight split-decision victory over Angela Hill. Lemos is currently ranked #10 in the strawweight division.

    MMA News will continue to bring you additional updates on this April 23 UFC Fight Night card as they become available.

    Do you think Jéssica Andrade will be successful in her strawweight return against Amanda Lemos on April 23?