MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Sean O’Malley’s 2023 Plans: Fat Contract & Killing Spree

    UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley has revealed his ambitions for the near future, which sees focus on a massive 12 months in 2023.

    2021 was a big year for O’Malley. Heading into it, “Sugar’ was riding his first professional loss, a TKO defeat at the hands of Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 252 in August 2020. In the 17 months since that setback, O’Malley has built a three-fight win streak, recorded three finishes, earned three post-fight $50,000 bonuses, and entered the bantamweight rankings.

    After rebounding at UFC 260 last March with a brutal third-round knockout against Thomas Almeida, O’Malley began another streak four months later by stopping promotional newcomer Kris Moutinho at UFC 264.

    Closing out his successful and lucrative 2021, the 27-year-old knocked out formerly-ranked Brazilian Raulian Paiva at UFC 269 last month.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXuGuo5Dtff/

    O’Malley Forecasts A Big Year

    After a triumphant 2021 and securing his place at #12 on the 135-pound ladder, most have been eagerly anticipating O’Malley’s first appearance of what looked set to be a big 12 months for “Sugar.” However, due to a thumb injury and his desire to fight at a Las Vegas pay-per-view, O’Malley believes he could be on the sidelines until the summer.

    With that lesser level of activity, which O’Malley believes could see him fight twice in 2022, the Montana native has targeted 2023 as his big year.

    During a recent episode of his YouTube podcast, the rising bantamweight star outlined his goals for the next two years: two fights in 2022, then a lucrative new contract, and a “killing spree” at 135 pounds the following year.

    “Ideally, I get three fights in a year. That’s kind of where my head’s at. I don’t know if it’s (because I want) more money, I think it’s competition. I love competing. But I just want to get back in the game and improve. So if I only get two–if I get one in July and November, December… I might only get two this year, fight out the contract, then boom: 2023, fat f**king contract and go on a killing spree.” (h/t Essentially Sports)

    While O’Malley is targeting big things in 2023, there’s no doubt he can still accomplish a lot in two fights across the next 12 months. While his next opponent is seemingly far from being decided, O’Malley has consistently expressed his desire to face fellow surging striker Adrian Yanez.

    What do you make of Sean O’Malley’s 2023 goals?

  • Watch: Amanda Nunes Takes A Spill While Holding Baby Raegan

    The Nunes family had a brief scare recently when Amanda Nunes fell while holding her toddler daughter Reagan.

    Fortunately, no one was injured in the fall. In fact, Amanda’s wife Nina got a good laugh out of the entire episode. You can watch the video and see Nina Nunes’ written reaction below.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYh1XvyJZOM/

    “Raegan was not injured in the making of this video. Amanda’s ass may hurt a little.
    Also, I have probably watched this 1000 times. ???,” Nina Nunes wrote.

    The Nunes family welcomed baby Reagan into their household last September, thus making Amanda Nunes the first mother champion in the UFC. That topic was briefly disputed by new bantamweight champion Julianna Peña, who called herself the first “mom champ” after submitting Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 last month.

    Peña would then walk back these remarks, stating they were taken out of context and that she was referring to being the first woman to become UFC champion who had given birth. She also acknowledged that Amanda is a true mom champ. Nevertheless, both Amanda and Nina Nunes still took issue with Peña’s remarks when they addressed her comments.

    Amanda Nunes and Julianna Peña will more than likely have another opportunity to express themselves in a way that leaves no room for misunderstanding: the ultimate proving ground of the UFC Octagon. Dana White and both mom champs have already signed off on the idea. If and when that rematch does take place, you can expect a happy and healthy Reagan to be in the warm grasp of Nina Nunes as part of the jam-packed audience.

  • Medical Coalition Writes Letter To Spotify About Rogan Misinformation

    A coalition of over 200 medical professionals and educators have written an open letter to Spotify to implement a “misinformation policy” in response to content disseminated on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

    The impetus behind the letter was the December 31, 2021 episode featuring Dr. Robert Malone. In the letter, the authors accuse Spotify of failing to “mitigate the spread of misinformation” by allowing such episodes to stream to an estimated audience of over 11 million people.

    The letter accuses Malone of “promoting baseless conspiracy theories” and claims “the JRE has a concerning history of broadcasting misinformation, particularly regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.”

    The letter would also accuse Rogan of repeatedly spreading “misleading and false claims on his podcast, provoking distrust in science and medicine.” The authors argue that Rogan has “discouraged vaccination in young people and children, incorrectly claimed that mRNA vaccines are ‘gene therapy,’ promoted off-label use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 (contrary to FDA warnings), and spread a number of unsubstantiated conspiracy theories.”

    The authors proceed to argue that such information is particularly harmful due to the demographic of the podcast. They state that the average age of JRE listeners is 24 years old and that this is concerning because “unvaccinated 12-34-year-olds are 12 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID than those who are fully vaccinated.”

    The impassioned letter continues by stating that medical professionals are directly impacted by the content shared on the JRE podcast, as they have to work overtime to repair “the public’s damaged understanding of science and medicine.”

    “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.

    You can view the full letter here.

    What is your reaction to this letter about The Joe Rogan Experience podcast?

  • UFC Vegas 46 Down Two Bouts, Sees One Replaced

    UFC’s January 15th card has suffered a few changes just a few days before it is set to happen.

    The upcoming “Fight Night” card lost two matchups Wednesday, although one of them has already been accounted for with a new short-notice opponent.

    Undisclosed reasons have forced former CFFC Bantamweight Champion Saidyokub Kakhramonov out of his fight against Brian Kelleher, per a report from MyMMANews.com.

    UFC is currently in talks to replace Kakhramonov with Kevin Croom. News of the new matchup was first reported by Damon Martin of MMA Fighting, saying it has not been finalized but is near completion.

    The potential matchup gives Croom a chance to score his first UFC win. His last appearance was a loss to Alex Caceres in February 2021. Croom is going from one veteran opponent to another with this matchup of him against Kelleher.

    Kelleher returned to the win column in his last showing, going three rounds against Domingo Pilarte for a unanimous decision win in August.

    Juarez vs. Demopoulos Moved To UFC 270

    Saturday’s card also lost a fight between strawweights Silvana Gomez Juarez and Vanessa Demopoulos, per MMA Fighting. The matchup is now expected to happen a week later, taking place at UFC 270 on January 22nd.

    Both fighters will be competing for their first UFC win. Demopoulos, a former LFA Strawweight Champion, lost her promotional debut to JJ Aldrich in August. Two months later, Juarez lost her respective UFC debut against Loopy Godinez.

    The recent changes bring Saturday’s UFC card down to 10 bouts in total. It has suffered numerous changes throughout the week, including the departure of a co-main event fight between Michel Pereira and Muslim Salikhov. Pereira has since been matched against UFC newcomer Andre Fialho for the pay-per-view card later this month.

    UFC’s January 15th card is currently set to be headlined by featherweights Giga Chikadze and Calvin Kattar.

    What do you think about these recent changes? Do you like the new bantamweight matchup?

  • Kelvin Gastelum vs. Nassourdine Imavov Targeted For UFC 273 On April 9

    Middleweight contenders Kelvin Gastelum and Nassourdine Imavov are set to collide at UFC 273 on April 9.

    In the latest of a string of additions to 2022’s fourth pay-per-view card, former interim title challenger Gastelum and rising Frenchman Imavov will clash with a place in the 185-pound top 10 on the line, per ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto.

    In his first appearance of 2022, Gastelum will be in desperate need of a rebound win. Since a Fight of the Year interim championship fight with Israel Adesanya in 2019, The Ultimate Fighter 17 winner has struggled for form and consistency.

    Defeats to Darren Till, Jack Hermansson, Robert Whittaker, and Jared Cannonier since UFC 236 have left Gastelum with a 1-5 record in his last six Octagon outings. His sole victory in that period came against the unranked Ian Heinisch last February.

    Imavov, meanwhile, is going in the opposite direction on the middleweight ladder. Whilst his upcoming opponent has slipped to #10 in the rankings, the Dagestan-born French fighter has risen into the top 15 thanks to back-to-back wins against Heinisch and Edmen Shahbzayan.

    Against “The Golden Boy” at UFC 268 last November, the “Russian Sniper” established himself as a contender with a brutal TKO from the crucifix position.

    On April 9, Gastelum will be looking to return the win column and begin his ascent back to the top. Despite his veteran status in the promotion, the Californian is still only 30 and has plenty of time to resurrect his ambitions in the UFC.

    For Imavov, who is five years Gastelum’s younger, this matchup represents the chance for him to break into the middleweight top 10 and take a big step further towards title contention, something the MMA Factory product will hope to welcome in with open arms at UFC 273.

    Listed below are the fights expected to take place at UFC 273:

    Alexander Volkanovski (C) vs. The Korean Zombie (featherweight title fight)

    Aljamain Sterling (C) vs. Petr Yan (IC) (bantamweight unification title fight)

    Kelvin Gastelum vs. Nassourdine Imavov (middleweight)

    Mackenzie Dern vs. Tecia Torres (women’s strawweight)

    Mickey Gall vs. Mike Malott (welterweight)

    Irene Aldana vs. Aspen Ladd (women’s bantamweight)

    Pat Sabatini vs. Gavin Tucker (featherweight)

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 273, Kelvin Gastelum or Nassourdine Imavov?

  • Peña Details Fight With Male Co-Worker That Left Her With 11 Stitches

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña has detailed the alley fight she had with a co-worker that helped shape the confidence she boasts today.

    That self-belief was on full display in the build-up to her latest appearance inside the Octagon. After getting her wish of a meeting in the cage with Amanda Nunes, a wish that confused some given the Brazilian’s utter dominance in the years prior, Peña had her chance to shock the world at UFC 269 last month.

    While most doubted her chances, “The Venezuelan Vixen” was sure of her abilities. She made good on her pre-fight prediction in the final pay-per-view co-main event of the year. Executing her game plan to perfection, she tired out the then-double champion on the feet, dragged her to the mat, and submitted her in the second round.

    Peña Reveals The Source Of Her Confidence

    While fans, fighters, and pundits in attendance at the T-Mobile Arena and in their homes were left blown away by arguably the greatest upset in UFC history, the newly crowned champ wasn’t surprised. Throughout fight week, Peña’s message was simple: I know something everyone else doesn’t.

    While some, including Nunes, put that high level of confidence down to delusion, “The Venezuelan Vixen” proved herself right on December 11. Now, over a month beyond her memorable title-winning performance, the 32-year-old has explained where her immense self-belief derives from.

    During an interview with the New York Post, the 135-pound queen narrated the story of a wild alley fight she had with a male colleague while she was working as a food expediter at a local eatery called The Onion. Far from her performances nowadays, Peña was left on the wrong side of the result on that occasion.

    “I fought a dude in an alley and got my left eye swollen shut for three days. It needed 11 stitches,” she explained.

    At The Onion, Peña worked alongside an individual she’d previously encountered while employed as a supervisor at a pizza restaurant in Spokane. As far as friendly co-workers go, the man certainly didn’t fit into that category.

    “He was just a nuisance. I constantly had to tell him what to do. I had to cut people from their shifts depending on how busy they were, and the second I could let anybody go, it would be him. I’d be like, ‘Get out of here.’”

    Like in many workplaces, banter and back and forth between colleagues was a mainstay at The Onion. That was the case with Peña despite the fact she was still in training. But when her troublesome co-worker boasted of a fighting superiority, Peña, who was evidently gritty and tough from a young age, wasn’t about to back down.

    “The management staff would always egg him on, being like, ‘Don’t mess with her. She’ll kick your ass,’ instead of telling him to knock it off or you’ll get fired,” Peña said.

    “I had just started training at that point. We would banter back and forth. He would literally be like, ‘I would lay you out and I won’t even feel bad about it.’ I’d respond, ‘Bring it the fuck on.’

    “We went out back and he knocked me down three times,” she recalled. “He punched me right in the eye. I dropped. I say this because I remember it like it was yesterday. I popped right back up. I swear to God I popped right back up. I went to attack again. Boom! He dropped me right again. Same spot in the eye. I popped right back up again and went to attack him. Boom! Right in the eye, and I dropped, and was like, ‘Fuck you!’ and I walked away.”

    Despite taking a beating on that day, Peña says her perseverance and her ability to continue bouncing right back to her feet shaped the confidence she carries with her today; the confidence that has helped mold her into a UFC champion.

    “Being able to pop back up like I did, and fight through that adversity, knowing that guy wasn’t gonna put me down, to me gave me confidence,” she said. “And, on top of that, getting the shit kicked out of me from my brothers and sisters my whole life.”

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

    So while she has her family, coaches, and team to thank for her ongoing success in the sport of MMA, Peña also appears to have a trouble-making former colleague to show gratitude to for aiding her journey to the top.

    How do you think the colleague would fare now inside the Octagon with UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña?

  • Conor McGregor’s Black Forge Inn Pub Hit With Two Petrol Bombs

    A police investigation is ongoing after two petrol bombs were thrown at Conor McGregor’s Black Forge Inn Pub overnight.

    According to an initial report from The Sun, the two bombs were found on the premises following the criminal incident. Fortunately, there was no damage caused, but local police are encouraging any potential witnesses to come forward with information to assist with the investigation. They are also seeking dashcam footage to help identify the perpetrators.

    McGregor purchased the pub for £2million last year. This also happens to be the same pub where McGregor assaulted an older patron, an incident for which he was later fined 1,000 euros. Soon after making this purchase, McGregor provided a video tour of the rebranded and remodeled establishment.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CRetei6JwVz/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=004bb3f1-a1dc-4f8c-9d52-a217f5752ff6

    McGregor’s business savvy has earned him the #1 spot on Forbes’ 2021 Highest-Paid Athletes List after he sold the majority stake of his Proper No. Twelve whiskey company.

    McGregor is universally regarded as the biggest superstar in UFC history. His most recent bout saw him lose to Dustin Poirier via doctor’s stoppage after breaking his leg. He is expected to make his Octagon return later this year.

    MMA News will keep you updated as more information becomes available on this developing story.

  • Paddy Pimblett Would Choose Anfield Main Event Over UFC Title Win

    UFC lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett has revealed he’d choose a main event fight at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium over a championship.

    Pimblett burst onto the scene as a highly-touted prospect last year with an impressive debut performance. After signing with MMA’s premier organization following a successful career in the renowned Cage Warriors promotion, where he held the featherweight title, “The Baddy” made his first appearance in the UFC Vegas 36 main card opener last September.

    Despite facing early adversity against Luigi Vendramini, which saw him appear to be rocked by a clean right hand, the Liverpool native recovered well to make good on his pre-fight promise of a first-round finish. With an onslaught of punches late in the opening frame, Pimblett slumped his Brazilian opponent against the cage.

    As well as a memorable first performance in the Octagon, Pimblett made his presence in the 155-pound weight class further known shortly after with an entertaining post-fight interview.

    Pimblett Boasts Hometown Aspirations

    For Pimblett, the success he’s beginning to realize is no surprise. He’s always believed it was his destiny to find glory on the regional scene, make his way to the UFC, and surge up the promotion’s ladder.

    While he’s certainly still early into his UFC tenure, Pimblett is not shy about making his visions and ambitions clear. As well as a 3-0 record in 2022, “The Baddy” has his sights set on main-eventing a UFC card at the home of Liverpool Football Club, Anfield Stadium.

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA, Pimblett discussed his ultimate aspiration on MMA’s biggest stage, suggesting it’s likely to take place in two or three years’ time. While he acknowledges he’s not yet in a position to make demands, the Liverpudlian expects to be walking out in front of up to 80,000 of his own people after making his way towards the lightweight rankings.

    “I’ll be honest with you, that’s (Anfield main event) not gonna be until like ’24, ’25 that. I’m gonna win three fights in ’22, and then I can start demanding it when I’m 4-0 in the UFC and I’m working towards a ranking. That’s when I can start saying it. But they’re not gonna give me it until I’m in like, the top 10 or if I can have one contender fight, or something like that; I know they’re not. Cause it’s going to be like 70,000 people, lad, 80,000 people. It’s gonna be sick.

    “That’s happening. I’ve said it. People were asking me on me Twitch last night, people kept saying, ‘It’s gonna be like a UFC Liverpool (like in) London, why don’t they just do it in the Echo Arena?’ And I’m like, ‘Because it’s too small.’ I filled the Echo Arena out on me own, for Cage Warriors, never-mind with the UFC name attached to it and all the high-profile fights fighting on it, like (Darren) Till, Molly (McCann), and (Tom) Aspinall. It’s gonna need a football stadium.”

    To give some context to how much he wants the Anfield main event to happen, Pimblett was asked whether he’d choose that or a title-winning performance in the UFC. For the 27-year-old, the answer was simple: the option that creates the biggest legacy for himself in the city of Liverpool.

    “I’d probably pick Anfield (over a UFC title). Because that’s for my people. That’ll be my people there watching me… Obviously, I’m in this to become a UFC world champion. I’m in this sport for the legacy; the name you leave behind. I’m not really in it for the money. I’m in it for the legacy and what I leave behind. But I think I’d leave a better legacy in my city if I headlined at Anfield and won a fight, rather than winning a title abroad. So I’d rather do that for my own people.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CTwe7L0sDbm/

    While he’s certainly a few wins and a few jumps up the lightweight ladder away from main event status, not least in a stadium the size of Anfield, Pimblett will be hoping to take the next step towards it when he enters the Octagon for the second time and the first time in 2022.

    While an opponent is yet to be announced, Pimblett expects to fight on the March 19 UFC Fight Night card, an event expected to mark the promotion’s return to London, England. A recent back and forth on Twitter suggested the Englishman may be matched up with Jared Gordon.

    Do you think Paddy Pimblett’s dream of headlining a UFC event at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool can come to fruition?

  • Giga Chikadze Says He’s Lost Respect For Volkanovski For “Cheap Move”

    UFC featherweight contender Giga Chikadze is no longer a fan of Alexander Volkanovski after recent tensions between the two top 145 pounders.

    Chikadze had called for the next title shot against Volkanovski after the champion’s original UFC 272 opponent, Max Holloway, pulled out with an injury. Volkanovski and the UFC opted to go with Chan Sung Jung, otherwise known as ‘The Korean Zombie’, as a replacement.

    Chikadze volunteered to make a quick turnaround from his upcoming fight to fill in against Volkanovski, but the UFC had other plans.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Chikadze was asked about whether or not he had lost respect for Volkanovski.

    “Absolutely, yeah,” Chikadze said. “Before that, I kind of messaged him after his last fight, I congratulated him,” said Chikadze. “Brother, this (Volkanovski’s response to me on Twitter) is a cheap move for me to see. He messages me, he tweeted that I’m fighting a top five or something, and like, I lost a lot of respect for him. And plus, bro, I’m not here for respect and all this stuff. No friends for me. These guys, I’m here to take over everybody, smash, you know, I don’t need extra friends here. I feel like these people are trying to take my dreams, so I’m gonna fight them.”

    Giga Chikadze Could Be On The Verge Of A Bout With Volkanovski

    Chikadze will face Calvin Kattar in a second straight main event at UFC Vegas 46 this weekend. In his last fight, he put on a dominant performance over Edson Barboza and ended up earning TKO victory.

    Chikadze has long been considered by many to be the dark horse of the featherweight division. After losing out on a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, he’s won nine fights in a row over the likes of Cub Swanson, Omar Morales, and Barboza. For these reasons, Dana White allegedly told Chikadze that he’s close to earning the next shot. Another impressive win over Kattar is the first step to making that happen.

    How do you think a Giga Chikadze vs. Alexander Volkanovski fight would play out?

  • ONE Championship Will Award Fight Bonuses Of $50,000 For “Gameness”

    ONE Championship will be awarding fighters who give it their all.

    ONE Championship is hoping to have a very successful 2022, and they will be making it more lucrative for fighters. According to The South China Morning Post, the organization will be handing out fight bonuses of $50,000. Much like the UFC, these fight bonuses will be given to fighters who put on exceptional performances.

    ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong spoke a bit about why they are giving out these bonuses.

    “We have always given out $50,000 bonuses but it was not every event. It was if there were spectacular performances we have given out for the last several years,” CEO Chatri Sityodtong explained on The MMA Hour. “This year is the first year that we will give out every single show, several of these $50,000 bonuses. Our main criteria is performance of course, but gameness. Gameness we define as fighting every second of the fight to finish.”

    The UFC has been giving out performance bonuses for a long time. While they typically give out “Fight of the Night” and “Performance of the Night” bonuses, ONE Championship will be using a different type of scale to award these prizes.

    “Even someone who loses can win,” Sityodtong said. “We gave this bonus to Timofey Nastyukhin who knocked out Eddie Alvarez, he fought Dagi Arslanaliev just a few weeks ago, and man, you have to watch this fight, I don’t know if you saw, no one expected it to be this crazy. I decided that both of them get $50,000 because it was crazy gameness.”

    ONE Championship will now move forward with giving these bonuses out every event. They hold events roughly twice a month and have a very big show coming up on March 26. That event will be called ONE Championship: ONE X event and is set to feature big names such as Demetrious Johnson, Eddie Alvarez, Shinya Aoki, and Sage Northcutt.

    Do you like the criteria that ONE Championship will use to give out bonuses?

  • Sean O’Malley: “I Feel Bad” For Cody Garbrandt

    Sean O’Malley went from trash-talking Cody Garbrandt to now feeling sympathy towards him.

    Sean O’Malley is coming off a great win at UFC 269. At that same event, former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt lost his flyweight fight against Kai Kara-France. Leading up to that UFC 269 event, Garbrandt and O’Malley were trash-talking towards each other, and it seemed like they would like to fight in the future. However, O’Malley’s feelings towards Garbrandt have changed.

    “After Cody got knocked out, I got asked at the press conference, ‘What do you wanna say?’ And I just, I feel bad for him,” O’Malley told Michael Bisping on his podcast. “He’s lost a lot of fights in a row, and I don’t really have anything negative to say about him.”

    O’Malley has found himself in the top fifteen on that bantamweight rankings for the first time in his UFC career. He has caught heat in the past for not facing ranked opponents, and when he was targeting a former champion in Garbrandt that, might have been his way of proving the haters wrong. Now, Garbrandt is no longer ranked in any division and O’Malley is looking towards other opponent options.

    “It’s just tough. I go out there and beat him, I do not see it doing much for me right now… He’s 1-6 or something in his last seven,” O’Malley said. “I think he’s won one fight since 2017. I go out there and beat him, it doesn’t really do what it would’ve three or four fights ago. I go out there and lose to Cody, who’s 1-7 and got knocked out, that does a lot of negative damage towards me. I just don’t think that’s realistically the next fight.”

    O’Malley is right about Garbrandt having only won a single fight in his last six. Since losing the bantamweight belt, he has had a hard time inside the Octagon. It is unclear at this time if he will remain at flyweight or revert back to 135 pounds. Either way, it is highly unlikely he will face off against O’Malley next based on these latest comments.

    What do you think Cody Garbrandt should do going forward?

  • Tai Tuivasa Shares Prediction For Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane Title Fight

    Tai Tuivasa believes Ciryl Gane is the real deal and is the new breed of heavyweights, but isn’t sure if he beats Francis Ngannou this soon.

    In the main event of UFC 270, Francis Ngannou is looking to defend his heavyweight title for the first time against the interim champ, Ciryl Gane. It’s a fascinating fight due to the fact they are former training partners and both are phenomenal fighters.

    Ngannou has the one-punch KO power while Gane is a technical striker and is hard to hit. Gane has rarely been touched in the UFC, but Ngannou only needs to land one. For Tuivasa, he believes Gane has the skills to avoid that shot.

    “Yeah, they are two freaks. You know what I mean. I think I have said the other day…I think if Ciryl plays the long game at points and can stay away from Francis, I think he might win over the five rounds,” Tuivasa said on InsideFighting (via Sportskeeda). “But that’s harder than it sounds, you know what I mean. If Francis touches him or lands one of those massive shots, I think we’ve all seen what Fancis does. He might put him out. Like, that’s, again, another 50-50.

    “Ciryl’s a nice guy, but I think Francis might get it. I’m not sure but I’m gonna go with Francis. But Ciryl Gane is a new breed of heavyweights for sure.”

    Francis Ngannou, Ciryl Gane
    Francis Ngannou, Ciryl Gane

    The current betting odds have the fight between Ngannou and Gane as a pick’em, so Tuivasa is right in saying it is a 50-50 fight and a hard one to call. But, we will all find out on January 22 who becomes the new heavyweight champ.

    Tai Tuivasa, meanwhile, is coming off a KO win over Augusto Sakai at UFC 269 to make him the 11th-ranked heavyweight. He’s now riding a four-fight winning streak as he also KO’d Greg Hardy in July and Harry Hunsucker in March. To start 2022, he will be facing Derrick Lewis next month at UFC 271.

    Who do you think wins between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane?

  • Robert Whittaker Explains The Predicament Kelvin Gastelum Is In

    Former UFC Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker views fierce competition as the main hurdle in Kelvin Gastelum‘s career.

    #1 middleweight contender Robert Whittaker will go against Israel Adesanya in a rematch at UFC 271 this February to reclaim the championship. He knows firsthand what it is like to lose to “The Last Stylebender” and refuses to let it be his downfall.

    Robert Whittaker (left) and Israel Adesanya / Photo Credit: Michael Dodge/EPA

    Since the UFC 243 loss, the New Zealand-born fighter has been on a winning streak, including a win against Gastelum and the middleweight division’s #3-ranked fighter Jared Cannonier, who bested Gastelum by unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 43.

    In contrast, Kelvin Gastelum has experienced a setback after his loss to Israel Adesanya back in 2019 and questions his place in his current weight class.

    “I don’t see him going back down to 170. He’s a thick dude. He hits like a ton of bricks as well. I don’t see him going down to 170. He’s just in that awkward spot that I think a lot of guys get in, where they find it hard, they’re coming up against the highest tier up at the top of the ladder, but they crush a lot of the dudes coming up onto the ladder. So he’s kind of getting caught in that gatekeeping sort of spot,” Whittaker said about Gastelum in a recent interview with MMA Junkie.

    The middleweight division certainly is home to some incredible UFC talent such as Sean Strickland, Jack Hermansson, Derek Brunson, and, of course, Israel Adesanya. Every fighter is hungry to be the champion. And with only one win out of his last six fights, Kelvin Gastelum may have a long journey ahead.

    But despite the defeats, “The Reaper” had nothing other than positive things to say about the #10 middleweight:

    “I’ve got a lot of love for that guy, I really like him. I’ve got a lot of respect for him as well. He’s had a bit of a rough skid lately, just because he’s been fighting hard guys. He’s been fighting top-tier opponents. It is not easy… fighting, playing, and trying to advance up in the top five. It is hard. Everyone up there is the best in the world. Everyone up there could be the next champ. We’ve seen that with him. He’s been fighting the highest-quality opponents,” Whittaker told MMA Junkie.

    Kelvin Gastelum
    Image Credit: Steve Marcus/Getty Images

    Struggling to make weight caused Gastelum’s move up to the middleweight division in 2016. But following his Ultimate Fighter 17 win in 2013, Kelvin Gastelum sped through the welterweight rankings. Despite fewer losses at 170 and talks of hiring a dietician to help maintain his weight, we may see Gastelum in a welterweight bout in 2022.

    With seven knockouts under his name, the veteran fighter possesses the potential to move back up in the rankings just like other fighters have done in the past, Whittaker believes.

    “He’s my age, I think, so he’s got years to evolve and change his game, and to develop new skillsets. I see him developing himself and coming back with better versions of himself. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Kelvin Gastelum,” Whittaker continued.

    What do you think is next for Kelvin Gastelum?

  • Ex-Coach: Ngannou Lacks The Dedication, Sacrifice, & Skill To Be A Boxer

    Francis Ngannou’s dreams of becoming a boxer might be over before they began.

    Francis Ngannou is just one of the UFC fighters who are looking to make some extra money by trying their hand at boxing. The road paved by Jake Paul has given former UFC fighters a chance to make a huge paycheck in a “celebrity” style boxing match. Ngannou has been toying with this idea himself and has been asking for a shot at Tyson Fury.

    One man who is not so sure of Ngannou’s chances against “The Gypsy King” is his former coach Fernand Lopez.

    “I think the fight makes sense for Francis because he thinks he can cash out. There’s also something there for Tyson Fury, he doesn’t care that it’s not a competitive fight, he just wants to make money and make some news,” Lopez told The Mac Life. “It would take at least three years for Francis Ngannou to be competitive from a boxing standpoint with Tyson Fury, and I mean three years only dedicated to boxing. Realistically, he would have to stop everything else and probably do nothing else for three years, only boxing. No grappling, nothing else. The way that his body and muscles are built, it will not allow him to keep throwing punches after the third round.”

    Ngannou is known for his power in the UFC heavyweight division. Who can forget when he sent Alistair Overeem into the shadow realm at UFC 218, but can his power translate over to the squared circle? Lopez thinks not.

    “I’m not sure Francis can ever challenge the stamina or endurance of Tyson Fury,” Lopez said. “All he can do is have a high defense; be elusive, close footwork, change direction. But eventually, Tyson will wear him down, get him tired, work the body and then go up with the uppercut, and sooner or later Francis will give up because of the volume, because of the pressure shots and he will just go down.

    From Homeless to UFC's Next Big Thing: Francis Ngannou's Amazing Journey | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights
    Francis Ngannou

    “I don’t see how he can win the match. This is an opportunity for him to cash out. I’m not sure if you’re a UFC fighter it’s worth letting it all go and have three years boxing training–how would you live your life, what would be your income? And after three years, you may be competitive enough to stand there and keep throwing punches.”

    Lopez was Ngannou’s first MMA coach in France. He led him to the UFC and saw him rise up the ranks. However, the two have since had a falling out and Lopez is now the head coach of Ngannou’s upcoming opponent Ciryl Gane. Having trained Ngannou for years, Lopez thinks he knows what to expect in the main event of UFC 270. He and Gane are preparing for Ngannou and all of his strengths and weaknesses.

    “We are not expecting anything brilliant, Francis is not a boxer,” Lopez said. “You train a lot to be a boxer. Boxing needs dedication, boxing needs sacrifice, you need years and years to train. So we know the outcome of that fight. The question is how much Francis Ngannou can cash out, because he only has one shot. Because objectively speaking, he cannot think about having a boxing career because his boxing skill will not be enough for him to become a boxer.”

    Do you think Francis Ngannou would have what it takes to succeed at boxing?

  • Daniel Cormier Believes Jon Jones Should Dictate HW Title Picture

    Daniel Cormier thinks Jon Jones could be next for the heavyweight title.

    Daniel Cormier knows what it is like to be the UFC heavyweight champion. Now as a retired fighter and UFC analyst, Cormier is on the outside looking in. With a heavyweight championship bout happening in just a few weeks, the future of the division is now a topic of conversation. Cormier believes that the winner between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 will find themselves matched up with Jon Jones next.

    “Honestly, it’s just a matter of when Jones gets there,” Cormier told The Schmo. “And rightfully so.

    “For all that he’s done at 205, when he goes to heavyweight, it is his matchup to turn down. It has to be for Jon Jones and what he decides to do.”

    Jon Jones was the longtime king at light heavyweight. He decided to make the move to heavyweight back in May of 2020 but has yet to do so. He is working on his physique and putting on weight to get ready for his heavyweight debut.

    Last year, there was some UFC negotiation trouble and legal trouble that made Jones’ return to the cage unclear. However, with all this Jones drama, Cormier still thinks it will be him next in line anyway, not former two-time champion Stipe Miocic.

    “As much as Stipe is probably deserving, are we talking deserving, or what is going to happen?” Cormier explained. “Because even though Stipe is deserving, Jones makes it known that he is at heavyweight and ready to fight he’s going to be the guy who gets the title fight.”

    Stipe Miocic is itching at another chance at Ngannou or whoever is holding the belt come Jan. 23. Miocic was the longest-running UFC heavyweight champion and has been waiting for a shot to show that he is still champion material. Miocic was overlooked when the UFC decided to make the interim title and now might be waiting even longer if Jones jumps the line.

    Do you agree with Cormier that Jones will get a title shot before Stipe Miocic?

  • Ciryl Gane Disagrees With Francis Ngannou’s UFC 268 Conspiracy Theory

    Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane has responded to Francis Ngannou’s suggestion that the UFC set up their awkward backstage interaction in November.

    Ngannou and Gane are set to headline the UFC 270 pay-per-view on January 22. Their collision course was set up after “Bon Gamin” won interim gold against Derrick Lewis at UFC 265 last August. Having not competed since his title-winning performance last March, the upcoming clash of former teammates will be Ngannou’s first defense.

    One of the leading narratives heading into the opening PPV main event of the year is the ongoing feud between Ngannou and his former coach Fernand Lopez, who now mentors Gane. Their bitter relationship soured even further after an awkward backstage interaction at UFC 268 attracted widespread interest and attention.

    The meeting in question took place at Madison Square Garden on November 5. While Ngannou was in attendance to support his friend and fellow African champion Kamaru Usman, Gane and Lopez were cornering rising middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov.

    After Imavov defeated Edmen Shahbazyan, the MMA Factory group was backstage when “The Predator” was filmed walking towards them. Instead of acknowledging his former coach and training partners, the heavyweight titleholder strode past, a move that was later criticized by both Gane and Lopez.

    But Ngannou doesn’t believe all was as it seemed. Later in the month, in an interview with Daniel Cormier, the Cameroonian suggested the interaction was likely manufactured by the UFC in order to add more intrigue and drama to his fight with Gane.

    “There was this lady taking us to our seat. And she was bringing us to this section, and then they talked to her over the radio. And then [she said], ‘Oh, sorry, I’m wrong.’ So she turned around and we get back [and Gane and Lopez are standing right there]. I mean, tell me how this can be a coincidence.”

    Gane Responds To Ngannou’s Conspiracy Theory

    During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Gane looked back on the incident with less than two weeks until his showdown with Ngannou.

    Discussing his upcoming opponent’s claim that the UFC 268 interaction could have been created by the promotion, the Frenchman asserted the theory is “wrong.”

    “The people like to say everything was managed for this meeting (to happen), and that’s wrong. I think it’s wrong,” said Gane. “Because there are no cameras, there are nobody, and we just did a lot of interviews for Nassourdine Imavov, and we were just waiting for the elevators and at the same time, he comes, at the same time. There was no camera, when the people say Francis hung out by the elevator, the guy (filming) picked up his phone and just do that (started recording). It was a phone, it was not a camera, it was not something like that. For me, I’m not sure it was (a controlled meeting).”

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

    While the UFC is set to return this weekend with a card headlined by Giga Chikadze and Calvin Kattar, most of the January intrigue is pointed towards the battle of former teammates and different heavyweight styles a week later.

    We’ll likely never know whether the backstage moment at UFC 268 was simply by chance or controlled by the UFC. However, it certainly has created some extra animosity and opened the door for Ngannou and Lopez to take their rivalry into the public domain.

    Do you believe the backstage meeting between Ciryl Gane and Francis Ngannou could have been manufactured by the UFC?

  • Coach Shares Advantage That Could Lead To Zombie Beating Volkanovski

    Fight Ready striking coach Eddie Cha has revealed the stylistic advantage he believes could give “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung the edge if he challenges Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title.

    Mere days ago, the promotion’s plans for March’s UFC 272 were revealed. Completing a blockbuster trilogy, Volkanovski looked set to defend his belt against Max Holloway, who has impressed in two main event wins since his back-to-back losses against the Australian.

    But after aggravating a previous injury, news broke that “Blessed” had been forced to withdraw from the contest. We want to say that fight joy has never been provided and taken away so drastically and quickly, but for UFC fans, especially during the pandemic, this is nothing new.

    It didn’t take long for a number of featherweight contenders to throw their names in the hat to replace Holloway. As well as top-10 145lbers Yair Rodriguez and Giga Chikadze, former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo once again staked his claim for the chance to win a third divisional gold in the promotion.

    However, per Ariel Helwani, the man set to take centre stage with “The Great” Volkanovski at UFC 273 in April is The Korean Zombie. The fan favorite rebounded from his title eliminator loss to Brian Ortega with a main event win against Dan Ige last year. He’ll now look to reach the mountaintop at the second time of trying.

    With Zombie’s replacement opportunity all but officially confirmed, the 34-year-old’s coach Eddie Cha spoke exclusively to MMA News. As well as discussing the latest developments in the featherweight title picture, Cha spoke about a possible Cejudo return, Deiveson Figueiredo’s preparation ahead of UFC 270, and Zhang Weili’s expected return to the Fight Ready gym.

    Cha: Zombie Has A Great Chance Of Beating Volkanovski

    While some see Zombie as the correct replacement for Holloway, many in the MMA community have claimed Chikadze should be thrust to the title should he defeat Calvin Kattar in this weekend’s main event. However, with the Georgian sat at #8 in the rankings, compared to Zombie’s #4 spot, and the South Korean’s 3-1 record since 2018, it’s hard to brand the veteran as undeserving.

    Along the same lines, many expect the likes of Chikadze and Rodriguez to pose a greater threat to Volkanovski than Zombie. But one man who’s consistently worked with the 34-year-old in the gym and throughout his career believes he may shock the world when he enters the Octagon with the Aussie titleholder.

    Naming his height advantage and prior success against shorter fighters as evidence, which includes knockouts of Frankie Edgar and Dennis Bermudez, Cha told MMA News’ James Lynch that Zombie has a “great chance” of taking the title from Volkanovski.

    “I think Volkanovski is an unbelievable champion. I think he’s been underestimated the last few fights. But now, he’s not. Everybody knows how good he is. But, as far as stylistically, Zombie does so well against shorter fighters. I really kinda like this fight; I think anybody does when it comes to a title shot, but I really think he has a great chance of winning that fight.”

    With Glover Teixeira dethroning Jan Blachowicz last October and Julianna Peña shocking the world by submitting Amanda Nunes in December, 2021 had its fair share of upsets. If Cha and The Korean Zombie have their way, the name Chan Sung Jung will be on the Upset of the Year nominee list at the end of 2022.

    Do you think The Korean Zombie has what it takes to dethrone Alexander Volkanovski?

  • Helwani Ponders Possible Mass Departure Of UFC Stars In 2022

    Renowned MMA journalist Ariel Helwani has discussed the possibility of a mass departure of the UFC’s top stars taking place in the promotion this year.

    With the success of celebrity boxing, among other factors, the sport of MMA has moved into a climate where fighter pay is at the forefront of the agenda.

    UFC President Dana White has blamed a media narrative for the increased attention and cited the riches of wealthy and successful fighters as proof there’s no issue. However, many involved in the sport, both inside and outside the UFC, often argue that a major problem exists.

    Recently, White and UFC owners Endeavor boasted of the “best nine-month” financial report in the promotion’s history. That comes a year after White suggested the world’s premier MMA organization “broke just about every record” in 2020, including revenue.

    Since then, however, the UFC has chosen to increase pay-per-view prices and keep the lesser-regarded fighters in the promotion on as low as $12,000 per fight.

    With the UFC also distributing one of the lowest percentages of its profits to its athletes among the top sports leagues and companies in the United States, it’s no surprise some stars believe they’re owed more, both in terms of money and treatment.

    Still, despite the criticism on the matter, White maintains the debate is as simple as ‘it’s only bad if you lose’.

    In recent months and years, we’ve seen the likes of Jon Jones express their dismay at the money they’re receiving. In response to Jones requesting more remuneration to face Francis Ngannou in what would have arguably been one of the biggest fights in history, the UFC seemingly abandoned plans for the showdown, leading to Jones spending the entirety of 2021 on the sidelines.

    With that in mind, it’s no surprise that talk of a number of stars moving into free agency instead of signing new contracts has hit the surface. This year, we could see Ngannou, Israel Adesanya, Nate Diaz, and Conor McGregor all complete the final bouts on their active deals.

    In a recent episode of The MMA Hour, host Helwani discussed the possibility of those names choosing to test the waters of free agency rather than re-sign with the UFC.

    “That’s another interesting story to follow in 2022, Israel Adesanya’s contract. Not quite at the point of Nathan (Diaz’s), I think there’s a couple (fights) left, but that’s an interesting one to follow. Could you imagine in 2022, we are facing a potential scenario where Izzy might reach the end of his contract, Diaz reaches the end of his contract, Conor McGregor reaches the end of his contract, Francis Ngannou reaches the end of his contract. Think about that for a second. Think about how big those names are. Think about the power that they have. It could be fascinating times.”

    As Helwani later pointed out, the UFC usually re-signs its fighters before they reach the final appearance on their contracts. While the unranked Charles Jourdain recently dipped his toes into the market before choosing to sign another UFC deal, Helwani questioned the impact it would have if the biggest stars in the promotion chose to follow suit.

    “The brilliance of the UFC is they don’t let the fighters get to the end because they know they wanna lock them up before they get to the end, before they’re able to test those waters, those free-agent waters. But what if they want to? What if they play their cards right and they get to the point where they can? Fascinating times.”

    Ngannou Could Depart The UFC If He Loses At UFC 270

    The biggest contractual story in the UFC right now surrounds the status of UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou. Remarkably, “The Predator” is heading into a blockbuster unification title fight against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 with a possible departure from the promotion looming.

    If Ngannou loses on January 22, he will be out of contract and free to take his power elsewhere. If he wins, he’ll be contractually obliged to defend the title again.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXy2596vj6Q/

    According to Ngannou’s manager, the issue isn’t about money. He recently laid out the two things that need to happen for his client to re-sign: increased activity and better promotion. The Cameroonian then seemingly added the need for a boxing crossover to be possible to his demands.

    With an increasing number of fighters now questioning their pay and contracts in comparison to the likes of YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, one of the promotion’s top champions potentially about to fight out his deal, and a number of the UFC’s top stars one or two fights away from a similar situation, will we see a new tone set in regards to testing free agency before re-signing? Only time will tell.

    Do you think we could see some UFC stars fight out their contracts and explore free agency in the near future?

  • Mackenzie Dern vs. Tecia Torres Set For UFC 273 On April 9

    Mackenzie Dern will have the chance to rebound on April 9 when she takes on the in-form Tecia Torres at UFC 273.

    The bout, which has been rumoured for a number of days, was confirmed by Torres today in a post on Twitter. The #7-ranked strawweight contender is clearly excited to have the opportunity to break into the 115-pound top five when she enters the Octagon with Dern.

    “I got my Top 5 fight. Cracking into that Top 5 April 9th at #UFC273“

    Torres will be riding a three-fight win streak into the contest. Since defeats to Jéssica Andrade, Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Zhang Weili, and Marina Rodriguez between 2018 and 2019 left her on a four-fight losing skid, “The Tiny Tornado” has returned to form.

    Along with a TKO (doctor’s stoppage) against Sam Hughes, Torres has recorded two unanimous decision triumphs, most recently against Angela Hill at UFC 265 last August. She’ll hope to break back into title contention at UFC 273.

    Dern, meanwhile, will be hoping to rebound on April 9 by stalling the charge of her strawweight peer. Like Torres, the Brazilian also has a loss to Rodriguez on her record. But while her upcoming opponent’s loss extended her woes at the time, Dern’s main event defeat to her compatriot last October halted her surge towards the gold and ended her win streak.

    Nevertheless, Dern’s form beforehand can’t be forgotten. After returning from pregnancy in mid-2020, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt put her talents on the ground on full display, submitting Hannah Cifers and Randa Markos with brutal armbars. She extended her win streak to three by outpointing Virna Jandiroba on the feet at UFC 256. At the age of 28, Dern’s potential remains high, and she’ll look to show her improvements and re-rail her train to the top at the April pay-per-view.

    The event currently looks set to play host to two blockbuster title fights. After Max Holloway’s withdrawal, “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung is seemingly in line to challenge Alexander Volkanovski in the UFC 273 headliner. Also moving over from the UFC 272 event is the unification fight between bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and interim titleholder Petr Yan.

    Listed below are the fights expected to take place at UFC 273:

    Alexander Volkanovski (C) vs. The Korean Zombie (featherweight title fight)

    Aljamain Sterling (C) vs. Petr Yan (IC) (bantamweight unification title fight)

    Lauren Murphy vs. Miesha Tate (women’s flyweight)

    Mackenzie Dern vs. Tecia Torres (women’s strawweight)

    Mickey Gall vs. Mike Malott (welterweight)

    Irene Aldana vs. Aspen Ladd (women’s bantamweight)

    Pat Sabatini vs. Gavin Tucker (featherweight)

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 273, Mackenzie Dern or Tecia Torres?

  • Leon Edwards Reacts To Covington/Masvidal UFC 272 Booking

    Leon Edwards had to add his two cents in when Covington vs. Masvidal was announced.

    Some big news was announced on Tuesday afternoon as UFC 272 had a new headliner. In a surprising twist, the event will now have a non-title fight featuring Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal as the main event. Fight fans all over the world began to express either their interest or disappointment in this match-up. Leon Edwards was the latter group.

    “2 bums coming off losses,” Edwards wrote on Twitter.

    Edwards, Masvidal, and Covington have all been circling the top of the welterweight division. There may have been a time in the past year that they were all rumored to be fighting one another.

    Edwards has been vocal about wanting a title shot, especially once Masvidal was forced out of their fight with an injury. Now with Masvidal and Covington locked up, that could mean Edwards finally gets the shot at Usman he has been wanting.

    Another reason this matchup is abnormal is, as Edwards pointed out, both men are coming off losses. This type of bout is not usually considered for a PPV main event, but the background between the two fighters and their growing animosity makes it a very compelling fight for most fans.

    Usman is coming off a win over Covington in November. Following that win, he stated that he would like to take some time off to spend with family. A return date has not been mentioned, but perhaps he could be ready to face Edwards in the summer.

    Do you like Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal as the non-title fight main event of UFC 272 in March?

  • Michael Chandler: Dustin Poirier Ate His Words At UFC 269

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler believes Dustin Poirier “ate his words” at UFC 269 after describing the vacant title fight at UFC 262 as a clash for “fool’s gold.”

    At the start of 2021, the future of the lightweight division was uncertain. But after Khabib Nurmagomedov committed to his retirement by vacating the gold and Poirier pursued a third fight with Conor McGregor, the path was laid out.

    While “The Diamond” and the “Notorious” Irishman faced off in a title eliminator at UFC 264, a champion was crowned two months prior at UFC 262. The main event pitched Charles Oliveira against former three-time Bellator champion Chandler.

    After “Do Bronx” mounted an incredible second-round comeback to secure his place on the lightweight throne, a moment 28 UFC fights in the making, Poirier later cemented his place as the Brazilian’s first challenger with his second triumph of the year over McGregor.

    At UFC 269, Oliveira made his first title defense. Despite many expecting Poirier to be too much for the champion, the underdog once again upset the odds. In the third round, Oliveira submitted Poirier with a standing rear-naked choke.

    Chandler Details The “Irony” Of Poirier’s Loss

    In the aftermath of the final pay-per-view of 2021, Chandler wasted no time in criticizing the fallen challenger. In a couple of posts on Twitter, “Iron” suggested Poirier “quit” in his main event clash against Oliveira.

    While he slightly walked back the comment in a later interview and admitted it was harsh, Chandler maintained that “The Diamond” has doubted him since the start, a sentiment he reiterated during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour.

    Discussing where his comments came from, Chandler brought up the fact Poirier had described the title as “fool’s gold” when he fought Oliveira for it last May. Given the fact the former interim titleholder then went on to lose to “Do Bronx,” Chandler believes Poirier ate his words at UFC 269.

    “The reason I was critical of Dustin Poirier has been his dismissal and just downright disrespectful of me when I came into the UFC lightweight division,” claimed Chandler. “Even after Dustin made the decision that he didn’t wanna fight for the UFC title and he wanted to hold out for the money fight against Conor, when me and Oliveira were next in line and we said yes and we were gonna fight, instead of just saying, ‘Hey, I decided to fight Conor and let these guys fight for the title,’ he called the title ‘fool’s gold,’ and I think that was part of it.

    “That’s what he called the title that Charles Oliveira won, and then Charles Oliveira went out there and finished him,” added Chandler. “My only regret was that I didn’t type in ‘fool’s gold’ somewhere in that statement because that was exactly what Dustin Poirier called the title that me and Charles Oliveira fought for. Dustin Poirier decided to take the money fight with Conor, which I don’t blame him (for) whatsoever, but that’s the decision you make, so don’t go ahead and discredit the guys who are fighting for the title and call the title ‘fool’s gold.’

    “So the ‘fool’s gold’ champion Charles Oliveira went out there and finished Dustin Poirier, which is just a little bit ironic… I think Dustin Poirier ate his words that night.”

    In 2022, both Chandler and Poirier have their eyes on possible opponents but are yet to have one set in stone. Whilst “The Diamond” has his sights set on a welterweight clash with Nate Diaz, a prospect that also entices Chandler, “Iron” is looking at potential matchups with Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson.

    But outside of these possibilities, Chandler is also open to settling his score with Poirier inside the Octagon. Given their exciting and fan-friendly styles, the fight would undoubtedly be highly anticipated and highlight entertaining.

    Would you like to see Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier share the Octagon in 2022?

  • Coach Shares Additional Insight On Jake Paul’s Potential MMA Move

    Jake Paul seems intent on transitioning to MMA in the future, and his boxing coach BJ Flores is optimistic about his chances in the cage.

    Paul most recently knocked out former UFC champion Tyron Woodley in the sixth round of their rematch. Leading up to the fight, he hinted at a future move to MMA after he gets a few more boxing fights on his record.

    In the meantime, Paul has been calling out some of MMA’s biggest stars, including Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor. Before his wins over Woodley, he earned a vicious knockout over former Bellator champion Ben Askren.

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, Flores spoke about why Paul could make the move to MMA with relative ease.

    “He’s just a well-rounded kid,” Flores said. “If he wants to learn how to kick, if he wants to do an MMA fight, [Paul should] do it 100%.”

    “I’ll help any way I can, anywhere possible. Like it’s not about me, it’s about him. If that’s the direction he wants to go, no problem. He’ll be good at anything he does, trust me.” (h/t MiddleEasy)

    Jake Paul Has Been In Talks With American Kickboxing Academy

    Paul revealed that he’s been in contact with the American Kickboxing Academy, the home of former champions Daniel Cormier and Khabib Nurmagomedov, to eventually train MMA. It’s unclear when he’ll begin his planned move to the cage.

    Paul has also been a vocal component of the UFC fighter pay issue. He’s poked at UFC president Dana White for underpaying fighters and not giving the roster long-term health care benefits.

    Paul has taken the boxing world by storm over the past year, and he has the potential to attract a lot of attention in a possible move to MMA.

    How do you think Jake Paul would do in MMA?

  • Evloev vs. Topuria Scrapped From UFC 270, Topuria Calls Out Ige

    The battle of two undefeated featherweights Movsar Evloev and Ilia Topuria has been canceled after Evloev was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a positive COVID-19 test.

    Soon after news of Evloev’s withdrawal became known, Topuria was immediately hot on the trail in pursuit of a replacement.

    “Bad news! @MovsarUFC is out. We already knew that this was gonna happen. @Dynamitedan808, are you up for a fight? Let me know ASAP and if you are down, hope to see you January 22. Let’s go!”

    Dan Ige is currently ranked #9 in the division while Topuria is unranked, so the callout certainly makes sense for Topuria, who is coming off a vicious KO win over Ryan Hall at UFC 264.

    The 24-year-old was ranked 15th at featherweight not too long ago and is 3-0 in the UFC. He made his debut on short notice back on Fight Island in October of 2020 as he beat Youssef Zalal by decision. In his next fight, he scored another highlight-reel vicious KO over Damon Jackson last December.

    Movsar Evloev (15-0) last fought back at UFC 263 as he beat Hakeem Dawdou by decision it was his fifth fight inside the Octagon. The 27-year-old gas beat Nik Lentz by split decision, Mike Grundy, Enrique Barzola, and Seung Woo Choi, all by decision in the UFC. He’s currently the 13th-ranked featherweight and is the former M-1 bantamweight champion.

    There is no word on if Topuria will remain on the card as he wishes or if this fight will be rescheduled.

    With this cancellation the updated UFC 270 lineup is as follows:

    • UFC Heavyweight Championship Bout: Francis Ngannou (c) vs. Ciryl Gane
    • UFC Flyweight Championship Bout: Brandon Moreno (c) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
    • Derek Brunson vs. Jared Cannonier
    • Greg Hardy vs. Aleksi Oleinik
    • Wellington Turman vs. Rodolfo Vieira
    • Michel Pereira vs. Andre Fialho
    • Poliana Botelho vs. Ji Yeon Kim
    • Said Nurmagomedov vs. Cody Stamann
    • Trevin Giles vs. Michael Morales
    • Matt Frevola vs. Genaro Valdez
    • Raoni Barcelos vs. Victor Henry
    • Kay Hansen vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
    • Tony Gravely vs. Saimon Oliveira

  • Yan: UFC Delayed Rematch To Avoid Sterling Headlining PPV

    Petr Yan has his theory on why the UFC opted to move his scheduled rematch with Aljamain Sterling from UFC 272 to the UFC 273 co-main.

    Yan lost his bantamweight title to Sterling at UFC 259 after landing an illegal knee to a grounded Sterling late in the fight. Sterling would earn the title via disqualification and the saga began regarding rematch talks.

    Sterling and Yan were originally scheduled to square off at UFC 267, but Sterling pulled out due to lingering health issues. Yan would go on to fight and defeat Cory Sandhagen for the interim belt at UFC 267.

    After they were originally scheduled once again to battle at UFC 272, the fight has now been pushed back to UFC 273. The two sides have gone at it on social media regarding the reasoning for the delay, with Sterling accusing Yan of being responsible for it.

    The two went at it on Twitter regarding the situation, with Yan citing Sterling as the reasoning.

    “Pathetic liar desperately trying to look good and control the narrative but it won’t work. I’m vaccinated and ready to bash you anywhere even tomorrow. UFC simply doesn’t want fake champion to headline the event,” Yan tweeted.

    The UFC and president Dana White haven’t come out publically and explained the fight getting pushed back. Yan’s attack prompted a brutal response from Sterling.

    “Lmao I’m only repeating what I was told from the bosses. Don’t get your potato tits in a twist! I’d happily fuck you up tmw too. That can easily be arranged.”

    The bantamweight title picture has been searching for clarity ever since Sterling controversially earned the belt. The UFC’s feelings about the situation can be attributed to Yan being on the pound-for-pound list while the champion Sterling is notably absent.

    For now, it appears that the Sterling-Yan rematch is set to happen at UFC 273, and fans will need to keep their fingers crossed regarding any potential shakeups between now and then.

    What is your prediction for the Petr Yan-Aljamain Sterling rematch?

  • Gillespie Has Reached Peak Frustration With Ferguson, UFC Booking

    After an impressive victory over Carlos Diego Ferreira last May, Gregor, “The Gift” Gillespie is still without a fight booked to start 2022.

    After Gillespie’s victory over Ferreira, he was offered fights, but none of them interested him due to his hopes of climbing the ladder to a title shot. The 35-year-old wanted a fight with Ferguson because he said everyone else in the division at the time was already booked.

    In an interview with MMAJunkie, Gillespie addressed his frustration regarding this fight not coming together and him remaining without an opponent.

    “Yeah, super frustrating. I’ve been radio silent for the last five or six years. I don’t call people out. I’ve been pretty adamant about not doing that,” said Gillespie.

    Gillespie also addressed his frustration via a video posted to his Instagram a few days ago about how Tony Ferguson turned down a fight with him. Gillespie had previously challenged Ferguson on December 14th with a friendly call-out on his Instagram page. Yet, Ferguson never responded.

    Gillespie is especially frustrated about Ferguson eying a fight against Michael Chandler instead of him.

    “He doesn’t want the fight and then I see him calling out Chandler and that really pissed me off,” Gillespie said. “Like you know, the ‘wrestler-wrestling season.’ Come on, give me a break. Chandler’s a great wrestler, but he doesn’t wrestle in his fights. In my last fight, I wrestled more than Mike Chandler has done in his last 10 fights.”

    Gillespie has a valid opinion when it comes to wrestling, as he’s a former D-1 NCAA champion. Gillespie even defeated Michael Chandler in the 2009 NCAA Championship wrestling tournament.

    “I’m the wrestler in that division. I did beat Mike Chandler. Not a lot of people know that it wasn’t a really close match,” Gillespie said, regarding his MD 10-2 victory over Chandler.

    Who do you think Gregor Gillespie should fight next?