MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Michael Page Hopes To Start Wave Of UK Champions At Bellator London

    Bellator star Michael Page believes UK MMA is on fire right now, and he expects to see a number of champions emerging from the region soon.

    He’ll hope to set that tone when he returns to action in May. After avenging his sole MMA loss to Douglas Lima with a split decision victory over the Brazilian in London last October, “Venom” now has his sights set on welterweight gold.

    Page will have the chance to secure his place on the throne in his home country’s capital later this year. He’s set to challenge undefeated titleholder Yaroslav Amosov in the Bellator London headliner on May 13.

    As well as Page’s ongoing success, a host of new names and talents from the UK have broken through, both in Bellator and the UFC.

    While the likes of Darren Till and Leon Edwards remain well-known names in the world’s premier MMA organization, up-and-comers like Paddy Pimblett, Jack Shore, and Tom Aspinall have started to make a real splash on the global stage.

    Meanwhile, individuals such as Fabian Edwards, Leah McCourt, and Brett Johns have been flying the British flag in the Scott Coker-led promotion.

    During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Page praised the current state of UK MMA and the upcoming crop of future stars. The 34-year-old believes a number of his compatriots and fellow UK fighters will earn championship status soon enough, hopefully beginning with himself in four months’ time.

    “Definitely (UK MMA is on fire right now). I think there’s a buzz. I think we’ve got a big wave coming through, and we should see a lot of champions. I’m hoping to be one of them.”

    UFC Returns To London In March

    While Bellator prepares to thrill the UK audience in May, the UFC will have the first opportunity to showcase their roster of talent from across the Atlantic.

    Earlier today, the promotion confirmed rumors that the March 19 UFC Fight Night event will mark its return to London, England, a destination the company hasn’t been able to venture to since 2019.

    While the card is yet to be finalized, early indications suggest the batch of UK names in action will include Pimblett, Shore, and Aspinall, as well as Molly McCann, Mike Grundy, Jake Hadley, Cory McKenna, and the debuting Muhammad Mokaev.

    Do you agree with Michael Page? Will we see a host of UK-born MMA champions in the months and years to come?

  • Marina Rodriguez Was In Disbelief When ‘Nearly Submitting’ Dern

    UFC women’s strawweight Marina Rodriguez has looked back on her main event victory over Mackenzie Dern last year and described her disbelief when she almost submitted the Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert.

    Top-five contenders Dern and Rodriguez collided in the UFC Vegas 39 headliner last October at Las Vegas’ Apex facility.

    Heading into the contest, the Arizona-born grappling specialist was riding a four-fight win streak after submission victories over Hannah Cifers, Randa Markos, and Nina Nunes, and a decision triumph over Virna Jandiroba. A 2019 defeat to Amanda Ribas represented Dern’s only setback in 12 professional MMA fights.

    Rodriguez, meanwhile, had won back-to-back contests since falling to her first loss in the sport, a split decision disappointment at the hands of current #1 contender Carla Esparza.

    After five rounds of action, it was Dern who had a second defeat added to her record. Having survived some early exchanges and submission attempts on the ground, Rodriguez took control of the fight on the feet and recorded a comfortable unanimous decision.

    Heading into the contest, many had expected Dern to impose her will on the mat and add an eighth submission win to her résumé. The BJJ black belt boasts incredible grappling credentials, having previously been the #1-ranked IBJJF competitor.

    Despite that, Rodriguez held her own on the ground and managed to survive a heavy submission attack in the second round of their clash. Describing her game plan and ability to deal with her opponent’s offense, the 34-year-old told Drake Riggs she was “ready for everything.”

    “For that fight, we were perfectly ready. We knew what we were going against. We knew her ground game was really really good, but MMA isn’t just ground game, right? So I was calm I knew what was going to come up and when the fight happened I was ready for everything that came.”

    With Dern’s jiu-jitsu pedigree well known, and regarded as arguably the best in the promotion, Rodriguez understandably increased the amount of training she did for the discipline. The Brazilian acknowledged that identifying her opponent’s strong point and preparing for it was her best path to victory.

    “In all my fights, I train a little bit of jiu-jitsu and grappling. For this fight specifically, we already knew that Mackenzie Dern’s jiu-jitsu is really, really strong, so we prepared especially for this. I added a little bit more of grappling and jiu-jitsu to my training and that’s it. When I train, I think of my opponent, what are their strong points, and I get ready for that.”

    More than just surviving on the ground in the second round, Rodriguez actually got off some offense of her own in the form of a D’Arce choke attempt. While Dern managed to slip out of the hold, Rodriguez admitted she felt like she had a chance of submitting the grappling ace, a prospect that left her in disbelief.

    “I thought exactly, ‘I’m going to finish Mackenzie during—is this real? She’s so good on the ground she was able to get out of the position. And I thought afterwards, ‘Okay, I won’t be able to get the finish in this fight, but next fight I’ll get it.”

    Rodriguez Will Look To Secure A Title Shot With Win Over Xiaonan

    Rodriguez will now ride the momentum of her big win over Dern into her first outing of 2022. The #3-ranked contender is set to face Chinese star Yan Xiaonan at UFC 272 on March 5.

    Before coming up against the division’s inaugural champion Esparza last May, Xiaonan boasted a perfect 6-0 UFC record, which included wins against Angela Hill, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, and Cláudia Gadelha.

    With Esparza set to challenge for Rose Namajunas’ gold next, both Rodriguez and Xiaonan will be looking to stake their claim for a title shot on the pay-per-view stage.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYm6D8MJQ0h/

    Do you think Marina Rodriguez has what it takes to become the UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion?

  • Dana White ‘Doesn’t Fault’ Jake Paul For Making Money, Downplays Feud

    UFC President Dana White says he’d never fault YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul or anybody for that matter for trying to earn money.

    In a short space of time, Paul has grown from an internet celebrity trying his hand at boxing against other online stars to a professional pugilist knocking out former MMA champions.

    Whether you admire his presence and growth in the sport or see him as a disturbance, no one can deny the rapid rise “The Problem Child” has made into the combat sports mainstream.

    Having fought and finished fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib and former NBA star Nate Robinson, Paul turned his attention to mixed martial artists.

    In three 2021 bouts, he knocked out former ONE and Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren and defeated former 170-pound UFC titleholder Tyron Woodley twice, once on the scorecards and once with a brutal KO.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXp11JYOGY4/

    In his quest for more eyeballs, bigger paychecks, and, if you believe it to be genuine, better pay for fighters, Paul has consistently called out and berated Dana White, the leading man for the world’s premier MMA promotion.

    From sharing his disgust at the fact UFC women’s flyweight Sarah Alpar was forced to create a GoFundMe to finance her camp and expenses, to offering to enter the Octagon with Jorge Masvidal and retire from boxing if White increases fighter pay and provides a number of benefits for his roster, Paul hasn’t shied away from calling out the UFC President and his organization.

    Dana White: “I Don’t Hate The Guy”

    Dana White, Jake Paul

    Despite all that, and in spite of his responses and accusations of steroid usage directed at the Cleveland native, White maintains that he doesn’t actually hate Paul. Instead, the 52-year-old sees “The Problem Child” as a kid who is simply “doing his thing” and making money, something White says he’d never criticize.

    “He really hasn’t been a thorn in my side. I don’t hate the guy like people think I hate him,” White told Manouk Akopyan. “You know, he’s out there doing his thing. He’s a young guy who’s got a fanbase and is trying to make some money. I don’t ever fault anybody for that.”

    Nevertheless, White has appeared unlikely to ever consider doing business with the 25-year-old star.

    But citing the blockbuster ‘Money Fight’ between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor in 2017 as an example of fan demand pushing him into the crossover market, the UFC kingpin hinted he’d be open to joining the ongoing surge in crossover bouts if the desire for him to do so reaches a similar level to what it did four years ago.

    “It’s a tough one. Obviously, when there’s this underground swell from the fans and the media and the thing builds up into something like Mayweather vs. McGregor was, you know, you saw how that worked out, I ended up doing it,” added White. “But I haven’t seen anything that big and that crazy since… If there’s a fight that could be made with some of this other stuff that’s that big that my fans really wanna see it, I usually do it.”

    While White continues to put together and host weekly fight cards, Paul will seemingly continue his unbeaten venture into the squared circle, with UFC stars Nate Diaz and Masvidal on his radar.

    Should Paul continue to gain momentum and popularity in the combat sports realm, perhaps we’ll eventually see him enter the Octagon or do business in some way or another with White.

    Can you picture Dana White ever doing business with Jake Paul?

  • Tuivasa Responds To Hardy’s UFC 264 Take With Trolling Instagram Video

    UFC heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa has responded to Greg Hardy’s attempts to downplay his victory at UFC 264 last July.

    When heavyweights collide, we tend to either see big shots and brutal knockouts or, often, less-than entertaining decisions. When Tuivasa is in action, it’s almost always the former.

    That was the case on the undercard of Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier’s trilogy fight in 2021. After rebounding from three consecutive losses with back-to-back first-round KOs against Stefan Struve and Harry Hunsucker, Tuivasa was matched up with former NFL defensive end Hardy.

    After just over a minute, the fight was over, and “Bam Bam” was pouring beer into a dirty shoe. How did he get there? By knocking Hardy out.

    After “Prince of War” appeared to rock the Australian, he moved in for the finish, a decision that would prove to be his downfall. With a hard left as Hardy rushed in, Tuivasa sent his opponent to the canvas and quickly forced referee Mark Smith to step in.

    Tuivasa Mocks Hardy For Surprising Claims

    Despite what appeared to be a fairly clear cut and convincing finish, Hardy provided a surprising view in a recent interview with Combat Sports on Fanatics View. When discussing his latest setback, which represented his second consecutive defeat, Hardy suggested Tuivasa fought like a coward and claimed he “didn’t get rocked.”

    “Afterwards he turned into a clown. First of all, he talks all the trash about walking into the middle, and we all know what happened, right. He got slapped around and decided to run back to the cage,” said Hardy. “And I made a mistake… He cowarded out of the brawl that we agreed upon and started throwing little girl haymakers, and luckily lands one… But I didn’t get punched, didn’t get rocked, or anything; just did some stupid crap.”

    Unsurprisingly, it hasn’t taken long for Tuivasa to respond. While some would reply in interviews or with statements on social media, “Bam Bam” is different. From the man who brought us an image of the face of a viral self-defense trainer on the body of Daniel Cormier, we’ve now got an edited video of Hardy that mocks his recent claims.

    In a recent Instagram post, Tuivasa made one thing clear: ‘downplay my victory over you and you’ll have your talking face morphed onto yourself getting knocked out by me…’

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CY0vqf0NwT5/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=4cf004e5-ff36-4c47-9f14-ec8e0efe05cc

    “@greghardjr KEEEEFFFFFFEEEE I’ve fucked longer then our fight, like once! Go crawl back in your corner boy you all (cap)”

    With his ’90s pop walkouts, his constant shoeys and newly-created shoeyvasa, and social media presence, Tuivasa really is the gift that just keeps on giving.

    What do you make of Greg Hardy’s remarks about his loss to Tai Tuivasa at UFC 264?

  • Ian Garry Set To Return At UFC 273 Against Darian Weeks

    Former Cage Warriors champion Ian Garry will return for his second act in the UFC against Darian Weeks at UFC 273 on April 9.

    MMA journalist Marcel Dorff and Iridium Sports Agency were among the first to report the news of the booking.

    Garry passed his first UFC test with flying colors, getting the early knockout with one second left in the first round against Jordan Williams at UFC 268. He was arguably one of if not the biggest signing by the promotion in 2021.

    Garry will face a tough test against another welterweight prospect in Weeks. He most recently fell via unanimous decision to Bryan Barberena for the first loss of his professional career after successful stints in LFA and Midwest Fight League.

    Garry has been compared to another Irishman and former CW champion, Conor McGregor. After his debut win over Williams, he infamously alluded to a McGregor quote with his “We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over” declaration.

    Garry most recently earned the praise of former UFC title challenger Michael Chandler. The two of them train together down at the world-renowned Sanford MMA gym in Florida.

    Before signing with the UFC, Garry earned the CW welterweight championship over Jack Grant at CW 125. He would go on to garner the attention of the UFC brass just weeks later and made his promotional debut at the end of the year.

    At 24 years old, Garry is expected to be a welterweight to watch for years to come. If he can earn another impressive win over Weeks, he could move one step closer to a spot in the UFC rankings.

    Do you think Ian Garry is a future UFC champion?

  • Dana White: Brandon Moreno Is Already A Huge Star

    Dana White believes UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno has already established himself as a “huge star” on the global MMA stage.

    In 2018, Moreno was cut from the UFC following back-to-back losses to Sergio Pettis and Alexandre Pantoja. Fast forward three-and-a-half years and “The Assassin Baby” sits atop the flyweight mountain having etched his name in history as the promotion’s first Mexican-born titleholder.

    Moreno achieved that status at UFC 263 last June. After taking the seemingly-unstoppable Deiveson Figueiredo to a majority draw at UFC 256 six months prior, the Tijuana native earned an immediate rematch.

    In front of a sold-out Arizona crowd, Moreno achieved his dream of having UFC gold wrapped around his waist. He did so after securing a remarkable rear-naked choke submission in the third round.

    With his coveted status as Mexico’s first champ, his unique and likeable personality, and his immense ability in the Octagon, Moreno is quickly becoming one of the UFC’s top names and most popular champions.

    During a recent interview with Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole, UFC President Dana White was asked if he believes Moreno is on his way to becoming a star. He responded by suggesting “The Assassin Baby” already is one.

    “He already is (a star), he already is. I’ve been saying this to everybody,” White said. “Watch Saturday night when that kid comes into the arena. You don’t realize it until you do. We do some of these signings, and things like that with him, this kid’s a huge star and you’re really gonna see it and feel it on Saturday.”

    Moreno Is Gearing Up For A 3rd Consecutive Title Fight Against Figueiredo

    Having secured his spot on the 125-pound throne in 2021, Moreno’s attention will now turn towards defending the title and further cementing his place at the top of the division.

    To do that, he’ll have to get past Figueiredo again. In the pair’s third consecutive title fight, they’ll meet for a blockbuster trilogy showdown in this weekend’s UFC 270 co-main event.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CVY_1xfPR4y/

    While Moreno is being seen as the favorite by many, including oddsmakers like Draft Kings, the Brazilian appears to be in fine shape heading into his chance at redemption.

    If Figueiredo avoids the weight-cutting issues he claims hampered his UFC 263 outing, we may see “Deus Da Guerra” back to his best on Saturday. If that’s the case, he’ll be a tough man to beat.

    Who do you think will emerge victorious in the UFC 270 co-main event, Brandon Moreno or Deiveson Figueiredo?

  • Ngannou Warns Gane About Trying To “Win On Points” At UFC 270

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou has warned upcoming opponent Ciryl Gane that playing the long game for a decision at UFC 270 won’t end well for him.

    In one of the most intriguing and highly anticipated heavyweight matchups of all time, former teammates Ngannou and Gane will collide in this weekend’s main event for a blockbuster unification showdown.

    While “The Predator” secured his place on the throne at the second time of trying last March by knocking out Stipe Miocic, “Bon Gamin” continued his rapid and impressive rise to the top by having interim gold wrapped around his waist in August with a dominant display against Derrick Lewis.

    The pair will now share the Octagon this Saturday, with a number of compelling storylines making the opening pay-per-view headliner of 2022 one not to miss.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CY4baMPNZ1z/

    Ngannou Warns Gane Of “Big Risk”

    One of the biggest talking points heading into the January 22 event is the history between the two headliners. Ngannou and Gane used to be teammates over at Paris’ renowned MMA Factory gym. While the Cameroonian departed in 2018 and has since developed a bitter feud with Coach Fernand Lopez, France’s Gane remains a top name there.

    With recently released sparring footage showing the two elite heavyweights going at it in training, fans and pundits have discussed whether that experience facing one another will benefit either man. For Ngannou, a few sparring sessions years ago won’t play a part in this weekend’s result.

    “I am not actually very familiar with Gane – I have only trained with him less than eight times for a few weeks three years ago,” Ngannou told Stake. “That is not enough to know that much about it. Also, everyone has improved and worked on different things since then – so it doesn’t mean anything for me. But yes, he is an all-round good fighter whose abilities I am aware of.”

    While Ngannou acknowledges the talent and unique technical style Gane possesses, he believes his opponent’s strategy could be his downfall. “The Predator” suggested that if the interim champ attempts to outpoint him across 25 minutes, things won’t end well for “Bon Gamin.”

    “I heard Gane wants to go five rounds and win on points. That is definitely a big risk with my power to try and last that long,” added Ngannou. “It will have to be his very lucky day to survive the first round or two, let alone five. If he makes five rounds, it will be a big accomplishment for him.”

    With that in mind, Ngannou went on to predict another early knockout.

    “My prediction is that it will probably be a second-round knockout from me – or at least I will have knocked him out in under two rounds.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CY4QezAtFRQ/

    If Ngannou’s prediction comes to fruition, it will maintain his 100% finishing record, a stat that’s seen him end all of his victories before the fights saw a third round. But if Gane is able to avoid the champ’s power, like he managed against Lewis and Jairzinho Rozenstruik in 2021, he’ll extend his unbeaten record to 11-0.

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

  • Bisping: Michael Chandler Has A Right To Call Nate Diaz Out

    Michael Bisping is coming to the defense of Michael Chandler.

    Michael Chandler is in a strange place inside his division. He is a big name that many fans like to see compete. However, now he is on a two-fight losing streak and his next step is uncertain. Chandler has been asking for some big names to fight next, such as Tony Ferguson, Conor McGregor, and Nate Diaz. While some people might not think these are suitable options, Michael Bisping thinks Chandler should shoot his shot.

    “You know whаt I meаn when I sаy Michаel Chаndler deserves credit? Lаst yeаr, he hаd а fаntаstic yeаr; he didn’t win the belt, but he wаs involved in three incredible fight,” Bisping said on his Believe You Me podcast. “Agаinst Dаn Hooker, he got Debut of the Yeаr. He won Fight of the Yeаr аgаinst Justin Gаethje аnd then fought for the belt аgаinst Chаrles Oliveirа. In 2021, he pumped up the UFC with а lot of energy. When you mаke thаt kind of noise, live up to the hype, аnd put on those kinds of shows, f*k it. He hаs the right to cаll Nаte Diаz out.”

    Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor are two of the most called-out fighters on the UFC roster. A fight with either one of them means big money with a lot of eyes watching. Chandler is now sitting in the #5 spot of the lightweight rankings and just outside being able to get another title shot.

    Chandler has the idea of searching for a big-money fight while working his way back to a title shot. Bisping can’t blame him. It is not as if he is outside the top ten looking for Diaz or another money fight, which is a thing some fighters will try to make happen. He is top five.

    Now, Diaz has been fighting at welterweight recently. Chandler is willing to make the jump for a shot at Diaz. If this is his plan, it might not help his chances of getting closer to a lightweight title, but it will be a great opportunity.

    Bisping feels that just because Chandler has lost two now doesn’t mean he should be written off. He is still elite and has only lost to elite fighters. His last outing against Justin Gaethje shows that he can go through an all-out war and still come back for more. That is the type of fighter Nate Diaz looks to compete against, so maybe Chandler vs. Diaz could happen after all.

    Would you be interested in seeing Michael Chandler fight Nate Diaz?

  • White Walks Cejudo & Manager Through How To Properly Request A Fight

    Dana White has given some advice to Henry Cejudo and Ali Abdelaziz on how to get the former flyweight and bantamweight champion a fight.

    After it was revealed Max Holloway was out of his trilogy match against Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight belt, Cejudo was vocal about wanting the fight. However, the UFC showed no interest in the bout and decided to turn to the Korean Zombie instead. This was not the first time Cejudo has teased a comeback or called for a fight against Volkanovski. “Triple C” has been calling out Volkanovski frequently since his decision to retire.

    Now, White has given Cejudo and Abdelaziz some advice on what they should do if Triple C is really serious in wanting to return.

    “The thing is, Cejudo is retired,” White told Yahoo Sports (via MMAFighting). “There’s a way to go about it if you really want to fight, if that’s what you really want to do, you want the Volkanovski fight. What you don’t do is – I mean, you could. You could go online and start talking to Volkanovski and calling him names and all this stuff, but what you’d really have to do is pick up the phone and call and say, ‘Hey, what’s the procedure I need to follow to get back into a fight? I want to unretire and when can I get back into the USADA pool? How fast and what do I need to do?’ That’s how you get a fight.

    “His manager (Ali Abdelaziz) has 280,000 fighters under contract in the UFC, Cejudo’s been here forever,” White continued. “If you really want to fight, get down here and make some calls and say, ‘Hey, what do I need to do to get back in to fight? I want to jump back in.’ That’s how you do it. You don’t call people out and call them names on Twitter and then expect we’re gonna pick up the phone and go, ‘Hey, we’ve got a fight for you!’”

    Henry Cejudo
    Photo via Instagram @henrycejudo

    Henry Cejudo retired following a TKO win over Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 to defend his bantamweight title for the first and only time. Although he retired, he has continued to talk about returning. Yet, Dana White says he or his manager hasn’t made a serious effort to actually book a fight.

    For White, he makes it clear, if Cejudo is serious about returning, he needs to prove that and not demand a title fight on social media.

    “Then get it done,” White said. “You know how to do it. Have your manager call over here and get the deal done. That’s why I was saying the other night and the media is saying, ‘Well, Henry Cejudo said this and this guy said that,’ – it’s a silly conversation. This is ridiculous to even talk about. You’re asking me about a retired fighter that isn’t anywhere near coming back, to take on Alexander Volkanovski, who is in a different weight class, in a short notice fight. Why are we talking about this? How does this make sense?

    “If you really want to fight, get on the phone with your matchmaker and get the ball rolling.”

    Do you think we will see Henry Cejudo fight again?

  • Report: Chris Weidman Hopes To Return To Action This Summer

    Chris Weidman’s first appearance since a gruesome leg injury could come later this year.

    The former UFC Middleweight Champion wants to return to action in the summer, per a recent Substack article by Ariel Helwani. The return would mark his first appearance in over a year and would end his time dealing with one of the more graphic injuries in recent history.

    Weidman suffered a brutal leg injury in April 2021, causing his fight against Uriah Hall to end in just 17 seconds. The broken leg injury forced him to be stretchered out of the arena at UFC 261 and caused him to undergo two different surgeries later in the year.

    After his second surgery, which he says was three hours in total, Weidman told MMA Fighting that he was optimistic about the next steps.

    “I’m just happy. I feel like this is going to be a way quicker recovery and way less painful,” said Weidman in August. “I feel like I made the right decision.”

    The History Of Weidman In The UFC

    Chris Weidman Anderson Silva
    Image Credit: Donald Miralle/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    Weidman, 37, has now been on the UFC roster for over a decade. He first joined the promotion in 2011 as an undefeated fighter. His most notable fight was a knockout victory over Anderson Silva in 2013, which made him the UFC middleweight champion.

    In a rematch, Silva lost to Weidman due to a leg injury that was quite similar to the one Weidman suffered against Hall. He would defend the belt three times in total before losing it to Luke Rockhold in 2015.

    Weidman has struggled since losing his championship. In his last five fights, he has come up successful in two bouts. His last win was a unanimous decision victory over Omari Akhmedov in 2020.

    Are you surprised that Chris Weidman is already eyeing a return?

  • Volkanovski Still Hopeful Of Australia Defense Despite Djokovic Drama

    Despite the drama surrounding Novak Djokovic’s inability to play at this year’s Australian Open, UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski is still hoping to defend his title in his home country soon.

    Djokovic’s back and forth situation in Australia has been one of the biggest sports stories of 2022 so far. While the country requires individuals to be vaccinated prior to arriving, the tennis star traveled to the Oceanic nation believing he had a medical exemption that would allow him to play at the Australian Open without being vaccinated against COVID-19.

    The saga, which lasted over a week, has seen Djokovic denied the chance to defend his title and deported. The decision came despite a last-ditch appeal that the Serb’s camp hoped would reverse the visa cancelation struck on him by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke.

    Djokovic was initially granted a medical exemption to enter the country by two independent health panels after he tested positive for the virus in December, although it was later revealed he hadn’t observed self-isolation rules after contracting COVID-19.

    After Djokovic left Australia for Dubai at the weekend, the lengthy period of uncertainty was brought to an end but has left fans of the tennis star unhappy and the Australian government under scrutiny by some and supported by others.

    But despite the evident strict rules and guidelines for entering Australia, the country’s UFC champion doesn’t believe it’ll stop him from defending his gold in front of a home crowd soon.

    Discussing the globally-covered tennis drama during a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Volkanovski suggested Djokovic’s situation is a prime example of why the UFC hasn’t tried to organize a card in the country.

    Nevertheless, the New South Wales native expects the current rules and strictness surrounding the virus to die down in the coming months, paving the way for him to throw down in the Octagon with Australian cheers around him.

    “Obviously, I care. But I mean, we’re just in this situation just right now. I feel like that’s gonna change. I think things will move on. I’m still hopeful, obviously, of defending my belt, and I’m hoping that’s the one after this one (UFC 273) that we can do it. I think it’s gonna happen, I really do.

    “But yeah, (Djokovic) was a big story. I didn’t look too much into it but it was everywhere. But, that’s why, obviously, the UFC aren’t bringing it here. There’s a lot of hurdles to cross, so I think just time is what we need with all that.”

    Alexander Volkanovski
    USA Today Sports

    While he hopes for a home fight soon, Volkanovski will have to make do with the United States for his next outing.

    After Max Holloway was forced to withdraw from the pair’s scheduled trilogy clash for UFC 272 in March, the Aussie’s search for a new opponent landed him at the feet of featherweight veteran “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung. The pair are expected to collide at UFC 273 in April.

    While the location is yet to be made official, Volkanovski’s next defense is expected to go down at the VyStar Veterans’ Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.

    Do you think Alexander Volkanovski could still defend the UFC title in Australia in 2022 despite the result of Novak Djokovic’s situation?

  • Jon Jones Eager To Learn About Gane & Ngannou At UFC 270

    Jon Jones has his eyes on the top names at heavyweight this weekend.

    The former UFC light heavyweight champion mentioned that he will be watching UFC 270 this weekend when heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou faces interim titleholder Ciryl Gane. While he doesn’t have a prediction for this weekend’s fight, Jones says he is looking forward to learning about each fighter.

    Jones hopes to gain knowledge about the two top heavyweights before he debuts in the division later this year.

    “Really have no clue who’s going to win, I’m just excited to watch the fight,” he said in a Twitter post on Tuesday. “Going to learn so much about [them] both of them no matter how it goes down.”

    Jones Hopes For Move To Heavyweight

    Jon Jones
    Jon Jones (Image Credit: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

    Jones has long hoped to move up a division and fight at heavyweight in the UFC. He vacated his light heavyweight belt in 2020, citing his intentions to leave the division. Due to his longstanding success at light heavyweight and his level of notoriety in the sport, he would be likely to go straight into the title picture when moving to heavyweight.

    In a recent poll done by TSN reporter Aaron Bronsteter, 73 percent of respondents picked Jon Jones over Stipe Miocic or “Others” facing the winner of Ngannou vs. Gane.

    Jones is recognized by many as one of the most dominant fighters in UFC history. He was the promotion’s 205-pound champ for the better part of a decade, earning the belt in 2011 and holding it for years to come.

    Many recognize Jones as a fighter who has yet to truly be beaten. His sole pro loss came in 2009 when illegal elbows he landed against Matt Hamill caused a disqualification result.

    Would you want Jon Jones to join the title picture when moving up to heavyweight?

  • Gunnar Nelson Signs New Deal With The UFC, Teases Fight Announcement

    Gunnar Nelson will be coming back soon.

    Nelson, who last fought in September of 2019 where he lost to Gilbert Burns, has not been heard from for over two years. There has been little talk of his next fight, but the Icelandic fighter announced on social media he has inked a new multi-fight deal with the UFC. He also teased a fight announcement.

    “New multi-fight contract signed with the @ufc. Hopefully a fight announcement coming soon,” Nelson wrote on social media.

    Before the loss to decision loss to Burns at UFC Copenhagen, he suffered a split decision loss to Leon Edwards at UFC London in March of 2019. Before the back-to-back setbacks, he picked up a submission win over Alex Oliveira in a violent fight at UFC 231.

    Gunnar Nelson
    Image Credit: Dave Mandel of Sherdog.com

    Nelson has been in the UFC since 2012 and is 8-5 inside the Octagon, including headlining a card against Santiago Ponzinibbio, where he was knocked out in the first round. He does hold notable wins over Alan Jouban, Zak Cummings, Omari Akhmedov, and Albert Tumenov.

    Part of the reason why Nelson has not fought is due to injuries and back in December, he opened up about it to MMAFighting’s MMA Hour.

    “It takes a long time, and it can be so crippling,” Nelson said of the back-to-back rib injuries that have now kept him out of the cage for over two years. “They’re just terrible. It was at the top here, so the top ribs, so it affects the shoulder, it affects the breathing, it affects everything.”

    At this time, it’s uncertain the 33-year-old when he will fight again and who it will be against. However, the UFC London card serves as a likely date for Nelson to make his return back in Europe.

    Who would you like to see Gunnar Nelson fight in his return?

  • Gane Reveals What He Told Lewis Immediately After UFC 265 Fight

    Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane has revealed what he told Derrick Lewis after finishing him in the UFC 265 main event last August.

    2021 was a fantastic year for breakout star Gane. Despite only transitioning from Muay Thai to mixed martial arts in 2018, the Frenchman has built an unblemished 10-0 record, made it to the world’s premier MMA promotion, and had UFC gold wrapped around his waist in the space of just three years.

    After establishing his name with victories over Raphael Passoa, Don’Tale Mayers, and Tanner Boxer, Gane shot up the heavyweight ladder with three main event wins last year. At two UFC Fight Nights, “Bon Gamin” outpointed powerhouse Jairzinho Rozenstruik and veteran striker Alexander Volkov.

    When titleholder Francis Ngannou was unable to defend his championship at Houston’s UFC 265, Gane was drafted in to face Lewis for the interim belt. Making the most of his opportunity, the 31-year-old dominated “The Black Beast” for two-and-a-half rounds, before finishing him via TKO in the third frame.

    Gane Comforted Lewis In The Octagon

    As Gane set up a blockbuster unification showdown with “The Predator,” set for UFC 270 next weekend, Lewis was left wondering what could have been. The veteran knockout artist was visibly upset in the cage, something Gane acknowledged at the time.

    During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Gane revealed what he told Lewis when he went over to his defeated opponent in the Octagon inside the Toyota Center.

    “I said exactly what my feeling at this moment (was). Like, just, ‘I’m really confused, you’re in front of your fans, but it’s going to be okay, and I like you so much. You are really funny.’ I like this guy, really. Derrick Lewis is so (funny). I really like this guy,” said Gane. “And just good feeling, just good feelings. Like, ‘It’s going to be okay, you’re going to jump again into the cage and do very well,’ and he did it. So no, he’s really not finished and that’s why MMA and UFC is beautiful.”

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

    While Lewis rebounded in style last month by brutally knocking out rising contender Chris Daukaus in the UFC Vegas 45 main event, Gane has been training hard in preparation for his unification title fight against Ngannou.

    As well as being former teammates at Paris’ MMA Factory gym and the bitter feud between Ngannou and Gane’s coach Fernand Lopez, the champion’s current contractual uncertainty and boxing ambitions have provided a compelling story ahead of the opening UFC pay-per-view of 2022.

    Do you think Ciryl Gane has what it takes to survive Francis Ngannou’s power and leave UFC 270 as the undisputed champion?

  • Drew Dober Explains The “Deciding Factor” In Dariush/Makhachev Fight

    UFC lightweight Drew Dober has given a breakdown of the upcoming UFC Fight Night main event between top-five 155lbers Beneil Dariush and Islam Makhachev.

    Having shared the Octagon with both men, Dober is in a unique position to provide his thoughts on the highly anticipated matchup, which is expected to see the victor advance to challenge the champion later in the year.

    Dober faced Dariush back in March 2019. The Iranian-born American broke the Nebraska native’s three-fight win streak with a second-round triangle armbar submission.

    Almost two years to the day later, Dober faced surging Dagestani Makhachev at UFC 259. Like against Dariush, Dober was submitted, that time with a third-round arm-triangle choke. Those defeats represent two of only four submission losses in Dober’s 35-fight MMA career.

    In an exclusive interview with MMA News, Dober discussed what he expects to happen when the pair collide next month. The 33-year-old also spoke about his own return to action against Ricky Glenn in March, his current contract status, and how long he intends to continue fighting for.

    Dober: My Heart Says Dariush, My Head Says Makhachev

    Since a 2015 KO setback against Adriano Martins, Makhachev has looked unstoppable. During his active nine-fight win streak, the 30-year-old has defeated Nik Lentz, Arman Tsarukyan, Davi Ramos, and Thiago Moisés. Most recently, Makhachev brushed past the challenge of Dan Hooker with a brutal first-round kimura in Abu Dhabi.

    While he boasts more defeats on his record, Dariush’s recent form has been equally strong and his current seven-fight win streak is arguably more impressive than his upcoming opponent’s run of triumphs. Since defeats to Edson Barboza and Alexander Hernandez, Dariush has recorded highlight-reel KOs of Drakkar Klose and Scott Holtzman and shot into contention with decision wins against Diego Ferreira and Tony Ferguson.

    With that in mind, Dober believes Dariush will give Makhachev more problems than he’s ever faced in the UFC. The promotional veteran expects the February 26 main event to be decided by how well Dariush can implement his strategy against a patient Makhachev.

    “I think Beneil is going to give Islam the most problems,” Dober told MMA News. “It’s a super-tough fight for both guys. I think one of the cool things with Beneil is his strategy. He implements a good strategy and he’s able to adjust his strategy per round, and he’s a finisher. He can put you away with his hands or a submission.

    “I think the biggest takeaway is Beneil’s a risk-taker, and Islam is not. Islam will do everything he can to win the long game,” added Dober. “Beneil, he takes risks; sometimes it works out in his favor, and sometimes it doesn’t. I think that’s the deciding factor; Beneil’s strategy and his risk-taking ability… I feel like the determining factor is going to be Beneil’s strategy.”

    When asked for a prediction, Dober told MMA News that his heart and head are going different ways. While he would love to see Dariush have his hand raised, he acknowledges that the safer pick would be Makhachev.

    “It’s so hard. Like, my heart, here at home, my wife and I, we’re going for Beneil Dariush. We want him to win, man. I’m behind him wholeheartedly. But as far as being a betting man, I mean, you see less mistakes from Islam, and so Islam is the safest bet. But the heart’s pulling for Beneil,” concluded Dober.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXtKADJKVW-/

    While Makhachev might be the safer bet, that certainly won’t stop Dober and his wife from cheering Dariush on from home.

    Who do you think will have their hand raised on February 26, Beneil Dariush or Islam Makhachev?

  • Ngannou Names The Two Toughest Opponents He’s Faced In The UFC

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou has named the two toughest opponents of his 13-fight UFC career to date.

    Ngannou is currently preparing for a blockbuster unification showdown with his former teammate and current interim titleholder Ciryl Gane. After the pair’s respective championship-winning performances in 2021, they’ll meet in the main event of this weekend’s UFC 270 pay-per-view.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWo0AecBPon/

    “The Predator” will be riding a five-fight win streak into the opening PPV headliner of 2022. Since back-to-back losses to Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis in 2018, Ngannou has been on a brutal and destructive tear. In a total cage time of less than 10 minutes, he’s knocked out Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and Miocic.

    Given the number of opponents he’s slept in the first or second round in the UFC, it’s understandably not easy for the champion to discuss their skills and threats. Nevertheless, Ngannou believes there are two heavyweights that fit the bill as his toughest opposition inside the Octagon.

    Ngannou: Miocic Was By Far My Toughest Opponent

    In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, the heavyweight king, as expected, gave the title of toughest opponent to the consensus divisional GOAT Miocic. But despite his only other defeat in the promotion coming against fellow KO artist Derrick Lewis, Ngannou actually named Curtis Blaydes as his second toughest test, despite getting the better of “Razor” twice.

    “I didn’t have the chance to explore (many of) them, how tough they are. [LAUGHS] Except Stipe. He’s by far my toughest opponent. If I wanted to bring somebody in, he’ll be Curtis Blaydes. My second fight in the UFC, and I was very surprised how he was moving for a wrestler and how he was able to mix things up. Those were my two toughest opponents that I had to experience.”

    Ngannou first had his hand raised against Blaydes at UFC Fight Night 85 in 2016. After 10 minutes of action, the furthest “The Predator” has gone into a fight and won, the contest was stopped prior to the third frame and went down as a TKO (doctor stoppage) victory for the Cameroonian.

    The second contest, a 2018 main event in Beijing, China, was much less competitive. On that occasion, Ngannou’s hands were too much for Blaydes, getting the job done after just 45 seconds. Nevertheless, Ngannou recognized Blaydes’ ability in their first meeting.

    “He was pretty good. He was tough. He was able to absorb punches. He was moving pretty good for a wrestler, and he had a level change, like, way around a fighter.”

    While Blaydes’ inclusion may come as a surprise, Miocic’s position in the top spot certainly won’t. At UFC 220 in 2018, Ngannou challenged the Ohio native for the title. But after being controlled and dominated for 25 minutes, the powerhouse was handed a unanimous decision defeat.

    Discussing his opening loss on MMA’s biggest stage, Ngannou said he underprepared and undertrained for the clash. Simply put, he believes he underestimated the step-up in quality he’d experience when facing a world-class champion.

    “My first fight against Stipe I clearly underestimated him. I didn’t understand how tough he was. Obviously, I wasn’t ready for that fight. Let’s just be honest. I wasn’t ready. It wasn’t time for me to fight for a title because even though I was a top contender, I was just doing this for five years and been seriously into it for just two years. I didn’t understand anything in the sport… I didn’t really know how to basically prepare a fight for that level, for a world-class (fighter), for a championship. I get everything wrong in that fight.”

    Ngannou clearly learned a thing or two about Miocic in 2018. Three years later, he knocked the 39-year-old out to finally reach the top of the heavyweight mountain.

    He’ll hope to stay there this weekend when he faces Gane, a technical and unique heavyweight whom many believe will be in the toughest opposition conversation for Ngannou come January 22.

    Do you think Francis Ngannou will leave UFC 270 as the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion?

  • Jake Paul Hints At Announcement Related To Fighter Pay

    Jake Paul is teasing an announcement related to Dana White and fighter pay.

    Paul has taken shots at White for not paying his fighters enough money and not providing them health care or benefits. It has gotten the attention of the UFC president, who responded to Paul in a video on social media.

    Now, just recently, UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou said he wouldn’t fight for the UFC again on his current contract.

    “No, I will not fight for $500,000, $600,000 anymore,” Ngannou said to ESPN. “I mean, it’s over. It’s over. I just did this. I took this fight for a personal reason, and I want to make sure that regardless, even if it’s unfair, I have been wrongly treated, I can make my case to say I have completed the eight fights. But no.”

    To no surprise, that got the attention of Jake Paul who took to social media to let Dana White know he is working on something big.

    “give this man what he wants Dana. such a f****d company to be apart of… I got something coming soon,” Paul wrote on social media.

    Although many MMA fighters have criticized Jake Paul, he has been vocal in wanting to help fighters get paid more. He donated to former UFC fighter, Sarah Alpar’s GoFundMe to help with her training.

    Paul has also offered to retire from boxing and take an MMA fight in the UFC if White ups the minimum amount of pay to $50,000 a fight. However, that still has not happened, so by all outward appearances, the YouTuber-turned-boxer will continue to be an advocate for fighter pay in an attempt to get UFC fighters to make more money.

    Jake Paul is coming off a sixth-round KO win over Tyron Woodley back in December, which improved his record to 5-0.

    What do you make of Jake Paul being an advocate for fighter pay?

  • Khamzat Chimaev: I’m More Brazilian Than Gilbert Burns

    UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev is still waiting for his next booking in the Octagon, but the mental games have already begun with Gilbert Burns.

    Chimaev most recently defeated Li Jingliang at UFC 267, in arguably the most dominant performance of his career to date. He is undefeated in his professional career and has earned four-straight finishes in the UFC.

    Chimaev has remained active on social media as he awaits his next opponent. One name who has constantly been at the top of the discussion is Burns, a former title challenger who beat Stephen Thompson at UFC 264.

    Despite the two exciting welterweights not having any obvious bad blood between them, Chimaev is already making attempts to get into Burns’ head. During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Chimaev aimed at his next potential adversary.

    “Everybody is talking about me, but nobody wants to fight with me because we kill everybody,” Chimaev said. “For me, it doesn’t matter. Gilbert Burns talked about Brazil.

    “I’m more Brazilian than him because my coach is Brazilian. I’m a blue belt under Alan ‘Finfou’ (Nascimento). I know many times my coach smashed (Burns), too, on the mats. We are going to choke him out. A ‘Finfou’ blue belt against a black belt. “

    “I like this guy, actually. He’s a funny, nice guy. I want to fight with him. But in war, brother, I can’t be nice with somebody. I want to eat everybody. Take my money. Take my belt. I’m so hungry. When I talk about fighters, I’m hungry. I hope I will fight in Brazil, as well. Nice country. Nice people.” (h/t MiddleEasy)

    The two sides had verbally agreed to fight in April, but it’s unclear whether or not that’ll come to fruition. If Chimaev and Burns seek a fight in Brazil, they may get their opportunity as the promotion plans a return to the country at UFC 274 in May.

    Both Chimaev and Burns have title ambitions, with Chimaev seeking his first title shot and Burns wanting revenge against Kamaru Usman. A formal fight booking could come sooner rather than later.

    How do you think a Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns fight would play out?

  • Ciryl Gane Applauds Francis Ngannou’s Boxing Aspirations

    Ciryl Gane doesn’t mind UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou speaking about a possible crossover fight with boxer Tyson Fury.

    Ngannou and Gane have had quite the buildup to their showdown at UFC 270. While the two heavyweights haven’t gone at each other directly in the media, Ngannou’s issues with Gane’s coach Fernand Lopez are well-publicized.

    Ngannou and the UFC appear to still be at a crossroads regarding a new contract. His fight with Gane is the last bout on his deal if he loses his heavyweight title at UFC 270.

    Ngannou and Fury recently went at it on social media regarding a possible boxing match, but Gane doesn’t believe Ngannou is overlooking him. During a recent interview with Mirror and others, Gane reacted to Ngannou’s recent comments regarding a move to the boxing ring.

    “This is a smart move, this is a new move. Everybody knows you have more money in this game [boxing] for a long time, so yeah this is a smart move,” Gane said. “I think Francis is a smart guy, he talks about that and he talks about the future but he’s focused on the present. He knows he has a challenge with me, so I think he takes me serious.” (h/t Mirror)

    Gane is widely regarded as one of the most diverse strikers in the UFC, with incredible movement for a heavyweight. He could potentially give Ngannou all kinds of issues in their matchup.

    The two giants briefly trained together at MMA Factory in France before Ngannou was kicked out by Lopez due to allegedly being a bad teammate and not paying fees. Sparring footage of Gane and Ngannou has leaked during the pre-fight theatrics.

    If Ngannou is overlooking Gane, it’s clear that Gane would be the beneficiary. In what UFC president Dana White has called arguably the biggest heavyweight fight in years, both men look to cement themselves as potentially an all-time UFC great.

    What is your prediction for UFC 270?

  • Francis Ngannou Converting Half Of UFC 270 Purse To Bitcoin

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou intends to invest half of his purse from UFC 270 into Bitcoin and plans on giving a portion to fans.

    Ngannou is set to face interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane in the UFC 270 main event. This will be his first fight in the Octagon since earning the belt against Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 last year.

    MMA journalist Ariel Helwani was the first the report the news via his Instagram page.

    In addition to converting half of his purse into cryptocurrency, Ngannou will also partner up with Cash App to giveaway $300,000 worth of Bitcoin to fans through his Twitter and Instagram pages.

    Ngannou’s reported purse conversion comes just weeks after former UFC title challenger Kevin Lee announced that he would be paid exclusively in Bitcoin for his fights in Eagle FC. He signed with the promotion last month after being let go by the UFC.

    Ngannou joins a long list of current and former athletes who are dipping their toes into the world of cryptocurrency. Former UFC welterweight Ben Askren along with NFL stars Aaron Rodgers and Odell Beckham Jr. are just a few of the names involved in Bitcoin.

    Ngannou’s fight against Gane could be his last with the UFC, as he and the promotion are still working to come to terms on a new deal. While UFC President Dana White has remained optimistic that a deal can get done, Ngannou has voiced his displeasure with how he’s been treated by the promotion in recent months and years.

    It’s unclear if Ngannou’s partnership with Cash App and cryptocurrency will be a long-term deal or a short-term one, but it’s clear that Bitcoin is continuing to make waves in the world of sports.

    What is your reaction to Francis Ngannou converting a portion of his purse to Bitcoin?

  • Curtis Blaydes: I’m Still Better Than Derrick Lewis

    UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes believes that, despite his knockout loss last year, he’s still better than Derrick Lewis.

    Blaydes, a perennial name in the group of elites at heavyweight, had his title charge stalled in 2021 at the hands (or sole right bomb…) of Lewis. In the main event of UFC Vegas 19, the pair collided with a likely championship opportunity on the line.

    Heading into the contest, Blaydes carried the momentum of a four-fight win streak that included triumphs over former UFC champion Junior dos Santos and former Bellator titleholder Alexander Volkov. “The Black Beast,” meanwhile, had knocked out Alexei Oleinik in his prior outing.

    Despite starting well, Blaydes was rendered unconscious in the second frame after changing levels straight into a brutal uppercut. With the victory, Lewis joined Francis Ngannou as only the second man to beat Blaydes and went on to challenge for interim gold against Ciryl Gane.

    Now, in an exclusive interview with MMA News, Blaydes has looked back on his 2021 setback, his hopes for 2022, the heavyweight debut of Jon Jones, and revealed who hits harder out of Lewis and Ngannou.

    Blaydes Believes He Has “More Skills” Than Lewis

    While Lewis was dominated by Gane at UFC 265 last August, Blaydes got back on track a month later at UFC 266. Against another KO artist in Jairzinho Rozenstruik, “Razor” shut down the power opposite him, as he’d intended to do seven months earlier against Lewis, and secured a comfortable unanimous decision victory.

    With his position in the top five cemented and his name back in the title conversation, Blaydes is ready to make another surge to the top, one he believes shouldn’t have been stalled by “The Black Beast.”

    Speaking to MMA News’ James Lynch, Blaydes claimed he is “still better” than Lewis despite the result in February 2021. Ultimately, the 30-year-old believes he boasts more skill than the powerhouse, who Blaydes says defeated him the only way he could, a one-and-done KO blow.

    “I don’t lose to bums, and he ain’t a bum. I know that. I think, stylistically, I should have won that fight,” said Curtis Blaydes. “He won the one way he could win. I took a bad shot, he caught me, but otherwise, apart from that, because I’ve re-watched the fight, he lost that first round, he was on his way to losing that round, and I rushed it and paid the price. That’s always gonna annoy me because I do believe, I know I lost, but I do believe I’m still better than Derrick Lewis. I think I have more skills than him, more ways to win. I’m better athletically. He’s just really good at what he does, which is getting the knockout.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CUXx5GdAGE2/

    Having knocked out Chris Daukaus in December, Lewis will once again fight down the rankings in his next bout as his search for “fun” and pressure-free matchups continues. At UFC 271 next month, he’ll face fellow entertaining hard-hitter Tai Tuivasa.

    Meanwhile, Blaydes will seemingly need to wait for some other fights to play out before his next opponent is set. Targeting an April return, “Razor” believes he could face the loser of this weekend’s unification showdown between Ngannou and Gane.

    Who would you like to see Curtis Blaydes enter the Octagon with next?

  • Volkanovski: You Duck Zabit, Get Suspended, Lose & Want A Title Shot?

    UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has slammed top-five contender Yair Rodríguez for calling for a title shot despite his inactivity and recent defeat.

    Volkanovski was initially set to share the Octagon with Max Holloway for the third time. After dethroning “Blessed” in 2019 and immediately defending the title against him seven months later, “The Great” set the score at 2-0 in his rivalry against the 145-pound GOAT contender.

    After Holloway rebounded with mightily-impressive victories over Calvin Kattar and Rodríguez in 2021, he earned a chance at redemption and a third shot at adding the first blemish to Volkanovski’s record. However, just days after the fight was announced for UFC 272, Holloway was forced to withdraw after aggravating a previous injury.

    Following the news, it didn’t take long for a host of fighters to throw their names into the hat to replace the Hawaiian. Among them were former two-division UFC titleholder Henry Cejudo, Giga Chikadze, and Josh Emmett.

    Despite returning to the UFC after a lengthy layoff last November and falling to defeat Holloway, Rodríguez also called out the champ, and he did so in a particularly hostile manner.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYcvBcYJzHG/?utm_source=ig_embed

    “Do I really need to raise my hand @danawhite ? Heal up quick champ @blessedmma @alexvolkanovski I had respect for you before, but now, fuck you! You little bitch you know I’m next”

    Volkanovski: Yair Callout “Blows Me Away”

    Volkanovski’s mindset and attitude as featherweight king have always been clear to see: whoever is the best, the top contender, and deserving of a title shot, will get a title shot. Judging by that criteria, it’s understandable why the Australian was surprised at Rodríguez ‘s callout, especially the aggressive nature of it.

    During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Volkanovski listed all the reasons why the Mexican was never going to get the shot, including his 2020 USADA suspension, his failed matchups with Zabit Magomedsharipov, and his recent loss to Holloway.

    “One thing that surprises me and what annoys me, is the way he (Rodríguez) acted about it as if it was a no-brainer that he should be the next in line,” said Volkanovski. “And then starts carrying on and swearing and saying, ‘I had respect and fuck you,’ and all that. Are you serious? Let’s remember, let me bring you back, let’s be real for a second. Over two years you were pretty much running from Zabit? I didn’t wanna bring that up but you put me here. So, you’re running from Zabit, pulling out, you’re getting suspended from USADA, you’re being a diva and the UFC had so much hassle with you. It was a bunch of chaos.

    “The UFC ain’t gonna take that’s serious. And then, let’s remember, he just lost. I don’t get it, I really don’t get it. You haven’t fought for how long, then you’re coming off a loss, and then you get angry at me because I don’t sit there and call you out.”

    Rodríguez initially rejected a fight with Zabit in 2018, which led to his release, albeit a brief three-week one. The pair were then scheduled to clash multiple times, with “El Pantera” pulling out due to injuries.

    Shortly after his UFC Vegas 8 bout with the Russian fell through, Rodríguez was handed a six-month suspension for failing to notify USADA of his whereabouts and being unavailable for testing. After eventually returning at UFC Vegas 42 a couple of months ago, the Mexican fell on the wrong side of a unanimous decision verdict against Holloway.

    Given all those factors, Volkanovski is baffled by Rodríguez ‘s callout. He encouraged the #3-ranked contender to say it to his face if his remarks were truly how he feels and not just an attempt to hype up the matchup.

    “It just blows me away. The way that some of these people (act),” added Volkanovski. “I don’t mind the guy. Whether he just thought that was his way of getting the title shot, maybe, I don’t know. But if he’s being real… Mate, if you’re gonna carry on like that, say it to my face. Or was it just trying to get the shot and build a bit of hype, I don’t know. But if that’s really what you feel about it, bring that same energy person as well. I didn’t do anything wrong. You’re the one who didn’t fight for over two years and who is coming off a loss.”

    With Rodríguez and a host of other names failing to secure a shot at Volkanovski’s title, the champion now appears set to defend his gold against divisional veteran “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung at UFC 273 in April.

    Do you agree with Alexander Volkanovski? Was Yair Rodríguez wrong for calling the champ out like he did?

  • Tate Reflects On How Her Cornering Impacted Vieira Fight Outcome

    Miesha Tate has reflected on her recent UFC main event loss and has some thoughts on what could have been done differently.

    In 2021, Tate made her return from retirement to compete in MMA. The former UFC bantamweight champion won her first fight against Marion Reneau but later lost a main event fight to Ketlen Vieira in November 2021.

    Looking back on the fight, Tate feels she never showed urgency despite being down on scorecards against Vieira. Here’s what Tate said about the fight during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour:

    “I think what ended up happening is that the corner was very chill and I stayed very chill the whole fight. I kinda didn’t get that feedback of like, ‘Hey, now’s the time to go.’ And it’s just tough. It was a tough dynamic,” she said. “It was a learning situation. I look at that fight as a bit of a sophomore slump. If it was any fight that I was gonna lose in my comeback, that was the fight to lose.”

    Tate will get the chance to return to the win column later this year. She is set to move down to flyweight, meeting Lauren Murphy on May 14th.

    Tate is already a decorated MMA fighter that had a title reign in the UFC. She most notably earned UFC’s 135-pound belt in 2016, securing a fifth-round rear-naked choke submission win against Holly Holm.

    She lost the belt in her next appearance, dropping it to Amanda Nunes at UFC 200. Nunes would go on to hold the belt until late 2021.

    Do you agree with Miesha Tate’s assessment of her loss to Ketlen Vieira?

  • Sterling Throws O’Malley’s ‘Not Big Enough’ Remark Right Back At Him

    UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling has responded to Sean O’Malley’s claim that he and Petr Yan aren’t “big enough” to headline a pay-per-view.

    Sterling is finally set to defend the 135-pound strap for the first time since winning it via disqualification last March. He was initially scheduled to face interim titleholder and arch-rival Yan in a unification bout at UFC 272.

    After Max Holloway withdrew from his trilogy with Alexander Volkanovski and the featherweight champ’s next defense was pushed back to UFC 273 in April, the bantamweight grudge match went with it.

    Despite the bitter rivalry between the two elite 135lbers, which began with Sterling’s title crowning at UFC 259 and picked up when he withdrew from UFC 267 last October, the promotion was seemingly unwilling to have the two bantamweight titleholders main event the March PPV in the absence of Volkanovski’s 145-pound defense, something Yan believes Sterling is firmly at fault for.

    During a recent episode of his podcast, #12-ranked contender O’Malley commented on that, suggesting the occupiers of his weight class’ gold simply aren’t big enough to headline a pay-per-view, something he believes is a problem given that bantamweight is one of the most stacked divisions in the UFC.

    Sterling Tells O’Malley To “Fight Somebody, Bro”

    In a fashion similar to what we’ve come to expect at 135 pounds, Sterling has now responded to “Sugar,” and he certainly didn’t mince his word.

    During an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, “Funk Master” told O’Malley that if he wants to keep talking, he needs to fight a “real” contender, something he pointed out didn’t end well for the 27-year-old at UFC 252 in 2020.

    “O’Malley’s gonna do what O’Malley does, which is talk,” said Sterling. “He talks a big game, but we come to find out that he’s a lot of talk, a lot of bark, and no bite. The last time he tried to bite off more than he can chew, what happened? He did the broke-leg dance…

    Sean O'Malley
    Sean O’Malley (Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa)

    “So O’Malley, if you wanna keep talking like this, step up to the plate and fight somebody—I don’t want to say ‘good’—but fight somebody that’s a contender, a real contender so we can see how good he really is. Ricky Simon’s been calling him out, Merab’s [Dvalishvili] been calling him out, a lot of guys been calling him out—[Brian] Kelleher’s been calling him out. Fight somebody, bro. Fight somebody.”

    Despite later admitting that O’Malley’s point wasn’t wholly wrong, Sterling claimed it’s on the UFC to create a card with him and Yan at the top worthy of the price tag, rather than relying on one bout to sell it to the fans. The bantamweight champ concluded by suggesting nobody would pay top dollar for just an O’Malley headliner.

    “I do think O’Malley had a point in possibly saying that maybe we probably couldn’t headline a card by ourselves, but that’s not on us. That’s on the UFC to put together a fight card that’s worthy of customers to pay a $70 price tag to pay for,” added Sterling. “I think that’s pretty black and white. You can’t just rely on one fight to be the main fight for—I mean, I don’t know a lot of people who are gonna pay $70 just to watch one fight…

    “I’m pretty sure if it was just Sean O’Malley and a bunch of other guys that are up-and-coming, not really any type of notoriety, people aren’t paying $75 to watch Sean O’Malley fight, either. So I don’t know what the hell he’s talking about in that regard. So if the UFC puts together a great card with top-10 fights and matchups that mean something, people are gonna pay. So it doesn’t really matter who’s headlining. The UFC is the UFC. If it’s a good fight card, people are gonna pay to tune in to watch it.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYLfci5rx4x/

    While it may not be a main event, Sterling and Yan are still set to collide on the pay-per-view stage later this year and will look to settle their score for good.

    For the New York native, the rematch represents the opportunity for him to legitimize his reign and cement his place on the throne. For the Russian, UFC 273 offers the chance to regain the undisputed title he firmly believes he never should have lost. The build-up is certainly set to be a heated one.

    Do you agree with Aljamain Sterling’s response to Sean O’Malley’s comments?

  • Kattar Responds To Chikadze Saying He’d Beat Him 9 Times Out Of 10

    UFC featherweight contender Calvin Kattar has responded to Giga Chikadze’s claim that he’d beat “The Boston Finisher” nine times out of 10.

    For Chikadze, the one exception came in the opening UFC main event of 2022 this past weekend. “Ninja” faced top-five 145lber Kattar in what was the Methuen native’s first appearance since his brutal defeat to Max Holloway last January.

    Despite having a tough and proven name who represented the biggest challenge of his career to date in front of him, a lot of Chikadze’s focus and attention during fight week appeared to be elsewhere. After Alexander Volkanovski was left needing a challenger to his title after the withdrawal of Holloway, the Georgian threw his name into the hat and repeatedly accused the champion of running from him.

    But on Saturday night, Kattar made him pay for looking past him, something he warned Chikadze he’d do beforehand. Across five rounds, “The Boston Finisher” bruised and bloodied the #8-ranked contender’s face on his way to a dominant unanimous decision triumph.

    In the aftermath of the entertaining headliner, Chikadze turned heads on a Facebook Live when he suggested he’d be the one with his hand raised nine times out of 10 against Kattar.

    “I feel like if I would fight with this guy 10 times, 9 I would win,” Chikadze said. “That would be the one I would lose and that was last night. It is what it is. I made mistake and I’m paying now with it. It’s all good. Guys, I’m unbreakable. Remember this shit, Georgians always unbreakable. This is how we fight, until the fucking end.”

    Kattar Responds With Class

    Hearing those comments from a man you’ve just beaten the face off for 25 minutes would understandably elicit a strong response from most members of the UFC roster. But for Kattar, the only response was class.

    During an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Kattar said he hadn’t taken Chikadze’s comments personally. Instead, the #5-ranked featherweight wished his fallen opponent a quick recovery and encouraged the Georgian to handle the loss well.

    “No, no, it’s different when you hear people in person in interviews, but I don’t take it personal, man,” said Kattar. “It’s whatever, you know, wish him a speedy recovery, bounce back. I told him all you can do now is make the next guy pay. That’s exactly what I did. And hopefully, he responds to the loss well. It doesn’t sound like it’s going that way early, but hopefully  he just understand that—honestly he can understand whatever he wants. For me, it helped me to just focus on the things that I can control and focus on the comeback but not so much really the last one.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYrkHx7PerX/

    Having rebounded in style following a year away from the Octagon, Kattar will now look to continue his charge to the title, which was stalled by Holloway in 2021. Next up on his road to the top will likely be either Yair Rodriguez or Brian Ortega, who are coming off losses to the top-two featherweights in the division.

    What did you make of Giga Chikadze’s comments after his loss to Calvin Kattar?