UFC is currently looking to pair up Irene Aldana and Aspen Ladd for their April 9th event, per reports.
The fight isn’t finalized but is currently in the process of being made, per a report from Carlos Contreras Legaspi of ESPN Deportes. Should the fight be made official, it would join UFC 273.
The matchup places two of the higher-ranked bantamweights up against each other. Aldana currently sits third in the division’s official rankings, with Ladd just trailing behind in fourth place.
A win for either fighter would put them a step closer to being in the title conversation, one that has recently changed amid the crowning of new champion Julianna Peña.
The potential booking could mark Ladd’s return to bantamweight—a division she has not competed in since late 2019.
Ladd’s last fight was a short-notice appearance at featherweight, where she lost a decision to Norma Dumont. She was pulled from a fight earlier in October, as she fell ill while attempting to cut down to the bantamweight limit.
Ladd’s fight in the fall put an end to an unlucky two-year period where she was pulled from four different fights. One of the bouts was thrown out due to her opponent being injured. Another was canceled in 2020 after she tore her ACL and MCL.
Aldana is currently riding the momentum of a finish victory she scored against Yana Kunitskaya in July. That fight put her back into the win column.
Her previous fight was in October 2020, where she lost a five-round decision to the now #2-ranked Holly Holm. Aldana has spent her entire UFC run at bantamweight, attaining six wins and four losses in that time.
Who do you see winning this matchup? And where do you think a win would put either fighter in the title picture?
Sean Strickland is known for his striking and boxing inside the UFC Octagon, but he isn’t a fan of boxing as a sport.
Strickland is known for speaking his mind on whatever topic comes up, and on Twitter on Wednesday, he spoke about why he doesn’t like boxing. He says he can go months in MMA in training and take zero brain damage, but as he is about to spar boxing for 25 minutes, he will receive a ton of brain damage.
Let me tell you why I absolutely hate boxing. I can go months with mma and take ZERO brain damage. I'm about to box for 25 minutes and even if I dominate I'm going to receive some brain damage. Absolutely retarded sport…
“Let me tell you why I absolutely hate boxing. I can go months with mma and take ZERO brain damage. I’m about to box for 25 minutes and even if I dominate I’m going to receive some brain damage. Absolutely retarded sport…,” Strickland wrote on Twitter.
Although Strickland believes he takes more brain damage in boxing, he does take some in MMA as well. No matter what sport, you are getting punched in the head in both, but perhaps Strickland believes he is hit more in the head in boxing, as in MMA, you can grapple and throw kicks to the leg and body. The good news for Strickland is he is in MMA and doesn’t have to do boxing if he doesn’t want to and can just focus on MMA striking.
Since coming back from a motorcycle accident, Strickland is 4-0, which also included a move to middleweight. Since coming back, he beat Jack Marshman by decision, TKO’d Brendan Allen, and holds decision victories over Krzysztof Jotko and Uriah Hall in his first UFC main event.
What do you make of Sean Strickland’s take on boxing?
After questionable judging saw what appeared to be a comfortable victory over Davey Grant go down as a split decision, Adrian Yanez has called for repercussions for “terrible” scorecards.
Yanez has been rising up the bantamweight ladder rapidly and establishing his name as one of the most entertaining strikers in the division. Since breaking onto the scene with a memorable TKO win on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020, Yanez has entered the Octagon four times, recorded four wins, three by way of knockouts, and earned four $50,000 bonuses.
In his latest outing, Yanez boarded further passengers to his high-speed hype train by adding the well-established name of England’s Grant to his résumé. Against the tough Darlington native, who has never been finished on the feet, Yanez was taken to the scorecards for the first time in the UFC, where he took home a split-decision win.
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Yanez Frustrated By Split Decision “Asterisk”
Thanks to an impressive volume and damaging strikes, most had the 28-year-old clear on their cards. Per MMA Decisions, three media members scored the contest 30-27 Yanez, while the other nine had it 29-28 the same way. It was a similar lean in the fan scoring, with over 65% favoring the younger bantamweight.
Given the fact only 11% boasted 30-27 Grant scorecards, a result that is hard to take seriously, it’s miraculous that judge Tony Weeks fell on the side of Yanez’s opponent in every round. The scorecard was widely criticized at the time, and Yanez has now slammed Weeks for his interpretation of the contest.
During an interview with Sherdog, the surging 135-pound prospect described Weeks’ card as “terrible,” and questioned how he’d come to the conclusion Grant had taken all three frames.
“Ah, man, he (Tony Weeks) must have been texting, he must have been off in la-la land or whatever… Going back, I was trying to be super biased and re-watching the fight, but I still don’t see how all three rounds he gave to Davey Grant. I don’t see how he did that. I don’t know. And the fact that he’s a boxing judge as well, that made me really question a lot of things. I thought that was a terrible card.”
Despite ultimately walking away with another win on his record and one step closer to the rankings, Yanez admitted the scorecard has left a bad taste in his mouth and an “asterisk” on the result. In his mind, there should be consequences for judges who deliver clearly wrong scorecards.
“The fact that I still got the win is good, but also, it’s still kind of a little asterisk on that win because it’s a split decision, so it’s like, I don’t like that at all. It doesn’t sit well with me. I wish there’s something else that could happen, and be like, ‘Hey, there’s a penalty for that. That was a terrible scorecard.’ I think, 100%, there should be repercussions on that. I don’t like that scorecard at all.”
Bad scorecards aren’t uncommon in the promotion and have almost become part and parcel of the sport. Yanez, like virtually every fan and pundit, believes that needs to change.
Do you agree with Adrian Yanez? Should judges be held to account for their scorecards?
UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington believes Charles Oliveira’s victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 269 had a negative affect on the legacy of Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Oliveira’s incredible journey from the middle of the pack to top of the UFC continued in the main event of the final pay-per-view of 2021. Having won the title vacated by Khabib with a win against Michael Chandler at UFC 262 in May, “Do Bronx” made his first defense inside the T-Mobile Arena.
Heading into the contest, many branded Poirier the “uncrowned champion” and predicted he’d end a short reign for Oliveira on December 11. Despite looking on his way to doing so after a first-round knockdown, “The Diamond” fell short of the lightweight mountaintop yet again after being submitted with a third-frame rear-naked choke.
Covington: Khabib “Never Fought A High, High-Level Wrestler”
For Poirier, who’s built a similarly inspirational rise to the top as Oliveira, the chance to complete his journey with title glory collapsed in a chokehold at the hands of another elite grappler. His first challenge was beaten away by Khabib in the pair’s 2019 unification bout.
According to Covington, the fact Poirier was beaten by Oliveira in a similar fashion to his setback against Khabib has actually damaged “The Eagle.” During an appearance on Submission Radio, “Chaos” suggested the Dagestani’s legacy has been delegitimized by the Brazilian’s win and the fact Khabib didn’t face Oliveira before retiring.
“It definitely kinda delegitimizes his (Khabib) legacy. He never really fought a high, high-level wrestler that could challenge him, that was good, in both areas of striking and wrestling, and submissions and defensive wrestling. So, you know, there’s always been doubts about Khabib’s legacy. He had an interesting route and he took some time off in-between his career. He got good matchups, you know, people that didn’t know how to wrestle. Even, a lot of people thought that he lost to a guy I used to train with all the time, Tibau, Gleison Tibau. He won a split decision over him but a lot of people thought he lost that fight.
Khabib vs. Gleison Tibau, UFC 148
“I definitely think that kinda puts a dampener into Khabib’s legacy. That guy’s (Poirier) going out there and getting submitted just like you did to him; the same exact way. So how would that matchup go with him and the Brazilian?”
While Oliveira’s latest success has certainly brought up questions regarding how a fight with Khabib would play out, it seems fans will never have the answer. Since hanging up his gloves following his victory over Justin Gaethje last October, “The Eagle” has consistently reiterated the commitment he has towards his retirement.
While Khabib continues to remain outside the cage, Oliveira will look to extend his reign beyond 2022 and succeed the number of title defenses accumulated by the Russian. If he’s to do so, he may have to halt the challenge of Khabib’s prodigy, Islam Makhachev, who’s set to feature in a likely title eliminator against Beneil Dariush early next year.
Do you agree with Colby Covington? Did Charles Oliveira’s victory over Dustin Poirier affect Khabib Nurmagomedov’s legacy?
UFC featherweight Josh Emmett is hoping his next appearance in the Octagon will be a title eliminator against veteran contender “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung.
Having overcome the serious knee injury, Emmett returned to action at UFC 269, the final pay-per-view of 2021. Against tough and gritty contender Dan Ige, Emmett became a useful piece of evidence for those who doubt the existence of ring rust.
After three rounds of preliminary card action, which saw the Phoenix native put his power on full display with a first-frame knockdown, Emmett fell on the right side of a close decision.
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Emmett Lays Out Path To The Title
Having cemented his spot just outside the featherweight top five, extended his win streak to four, and reminded the rest of the division of his presence, Emmett is looking to stake his claim for a championship opportunity in 2022.
During a recent interview with The Hannibal TV, Emmett discussed his options moving forward. With most top contenders pre-occupied or coming off a loss, presuming Max Holloway fights for the belt next, the 36-year-old believes there is only one man who can stand opposite him in the cage for a title eliminator.
“The only person that’s in front of me coming off a win, and that’s not booked, is Korean Zombie. So it’s like, that would be awesome to fight Korean Zombie in a title eliminator, and then the winner gets the winner of the trilogy fight (Volkanovski vs. Holloway 3)… Giga (Chikadze) and Calvin Kattar are fighting soon, so there’s no one available in front of me (except Zombie).”
Emmett also revealed some frustration with regards to how the UFC have booked him in the past. Having watched a number of names rise the divisional ladders after receiving opportunities against higher-ranked names, Emmett questioned why he’s always been made to fight down the rankings.
He’s looking to change that in 2022, and says he won’t be fighting a featherweight below him. If the UFC is to heed to those demands, it stands to reason we’ll be seeing Emmett and “The Korean Zombie” throwing bombs inside the Octagon in the coming months.
“I really want a title eliminator, I’ve fought everybody behind me and I’m one of the only guys they only offer fights behind me. Everyone else, they’re not even ranked in the top 15, then they get a fight in the top 10, and then they’re fighting someone in the top five. I don’t really get it. I do not want to fight anyone behind me. I want my next fight to be a title eliminator. There’s only one guy coming off a win that’s available and I would love to fight him.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CNK-Mz-BEvH/
After back-to-back victories over Renato Moicano and Frankie Edgar in 2019, Chan Sung Jung saw his immediate title hopes shattered by Brian Ortega in a 2020 main event. But the 34-year-old brawler burst back into the conversation with a headlining decision triumph over Ige earlier this year.
With both Josh Emmett and “The Korean Zombie” coming off impressive decisions against “50K,” it seemingly makes sense to match the pair up for a 2022 showdown.
How do you think a fight between Josh Emmett and “The Korean Zombie” would play out?
The Pulse of MMA: Fan Reactions To The Sport’s Biggest Stories
In this installment of The Pulse of MMA, we look at the raw, unfiltered reactions from MMA fans to the UFC‘s nominations for Best Knockout of 2021.
It’s the last week of 2021, which means it’s time to start looking back at the biggest and best moments of the year. Right now, that means taking a peek at the UFC’s nominations for the best knockout of the year.
Who doesn’t love a good knockout? A viral KO can be a star-maker and could take an already-established star even further into orbit. But more than anything else, they give fans that jaw-dropping moment that could make a fan’s entire night.
Below, we present to you the UFC’s nominations for best knockout of 2021! After a look at each knockout, we will see what the Pulse of MMA had to say about it.
The four nominees presented by the UFC were as follows:
UFC President Dana White has had some difficult fighter relationships during his time with the promotion, but Conor McGregor is an exception.
McGregor is in the middle of his planned comeback to the UFC Octagon next year, after suffering a brutal leg injury at UFC 264. In the meantime, he’s managed to stay active on social media and in the gym.
White has never been afraid to speak his mind, especially when it comes to the fighters on his roster. He and McGregor have always seemed to have a cordial relationship, even when McGregor hasn’t shown up on time.
“You know better than anybody, how f*cking dirty the fight business is, man,” White said. “It doesn’t take much to get somebody to cut somebody’s throat in the fight business. But there’s been a lot of fighters that have been incredibly loyal to me, and I’ve been incredibly loyal to them. Conor McGregor is one of them. Conor’s a f*cking handful, boy.
Conor McGregor and Dana White Miles Apart On Pacquiao Fight
“But when you look at the way fighters are built, they’re different than everybody else on this planet. But the Ronda Rouseys, the Chuck Liddells, Matt Hughes, Conor McGregor, there’s a lot. And I don’t wanna mention people, but there’s been a lot of fighters over the past 20 years that have been very loyal.”
A big reason why the UFC, and MMA in general, have grown immensely over the years is its global superstars. McGregor is one of the most notable names, bringing a brash and exciting style into the UFC ranks.
Despite his large fortune, McGregor doesn’t seem like he’s planning on retiring anytime soon. He’s looking forward to getting back on track after back-to-back losses to Dustin Poirier in 2021.
UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya has praised undisputed light middleweight boxing titleholder Claressa Shields for making the transition to MMA.
Shields is widely regarded as one of, if not the greatest female boxer of all time. The 26-year-old has held multiple world championships across three weight classes and holds the record for achieving two and three-division title glory in the fewest amount of professional fights.
The undefeated Michigan native, who won back-to-back Olympic gold medals at the London and Rio games, has entered the ring 11 times as a pro, with gold being on the line on every occasion beyond her debut. Unlike most, success inside the squared circle wasn’t the end of Shields’ combat sports ambition.
While the same issues on the ground were present in her sophomore appearance, this time, she wasn’t able to mount a comeback. Against Abigail Montes At PFL 10, Shields fell to her first defeat as a professional in combat sports.
Adesanya Praises Shields For Trying “Real Fighting”
Shields is now set to turn her attention back to the sport of Boxing. On January 29, she’s set to put her WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring middleweight titles on the line against Slovenia’s Ema Kozin. But she’s insisted her journey in MMA is far from over, something the UFC’s middleweight king certainly respects.
In the latest episode of his UFC 271 Fight Camp vlog series, Adesanya lauded Shields for adding more disciplines to her game. According to “The Last Stylebender,” the 26-year-old is doing something most boxers are too afraid to do—try their hand at “real fighting.”
“People don’t understand. How do you think I’m a fucking world champion? With just one discipline? Fuck no! I know how to fight. I could’ve been a fucking boxer. Done the whole blueprint like I said. Same as a kickboxer. But I humble myself when I realized I want to be a full-fledged fighter, so I humble myself and I learn. I tell you one thing, Claressa Shields has got more ovaries than all you boxers have balls. ‘Cause she actually humbled herself as well and ventured into real fighting.” (h/t Sportskeeda)
Despite her setback, the message from Shields has been, “It’s not over.” She’ll now look to re-enter the win column by extending her unbeaten record and continuing her dominance in the boxing ring. If she does, it stands to reason we’ll be seeing “T-Rex” back in the cage later in 2022.
Do you agree with Israel Adesanya? Should Claressa Shields be praised for making the crossover to MMA?
The price of fame appears to be weighing heavily on Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The consensus lightweight GOAT retired from MMA over a year ago and has since transitioned into a highly successful coaching career. Like he was in the UFC, as a coach Khabib remains undefeated, having most recently steered Islam Makhachev to victory at UFC 267. His record as a coach stands at 7-0.
Khabib Shares How He Deals With Fame, Tells Story Of Almost Fighting Fan
So it seems Nurmagomedov is still very much in the MMA limelight, and as one of the sport’s most recognizable faces, will be for a long time. But the life of a global sports star hasn’t been all roses for Khabib.
Speaking at an event in the UK, the 33-year-old revealed that to avoid the thronging masses of fans who regularly clamor for his attention, he often goes out completely incognito, wearing a hoodie and COVID mask.
“This is best feeling—go outside when people not bother you, just be like regular person. Sometimes I do this,” said Khabib.
PHOTO: GETTY
Khabib’s disguise isn’t always foolproof, however. The Dagestani related an incident—one of many, he claims—where a fan spotted him, and things got a little tense.
“In Moscow, couple weeks ago, I put mask, hoodie, and just walk around, and one guy come to meet,” said Khabib. “It was a lot of people there. And (he said), ‘Can I take picture?’ And I was walking. I said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘Because I don’t want.’ It was (a discussion) between me and him, just walking. He said, ‘But I want to take picture with you.’ I said, ‘OK, take on the way, but I don’t want to stop.’ Because I know if I stop, put mask off, I have to stop there for one hour. And he don’t like this. It was very nervous (discussion) with him. I feel pressure, too. But I was ready for fight. Because I don’t want to take picture. Because now is not time.”
How would you handle a situation like the one Khabib found himself in with this overzealous fan?
Nate Diaz has initiated another Twitter exchange with Dustin Poirier as we head into the new year, this time questioning the Louisianan’s worthiness and desire to fight.
Both Diaz and Poirier recently took to Twitter to cryptically hint at there being issues with the fight being made. On Poirier’s side, he claims he told the promotion that he was available to fight at UFC 271 on February 12th, not stating any issues with the fight being made. But on Diaz’s end, he thinks the promotion doesn’t want to pay Poirier for the fight.
Maybe UFC 271 they couldn't make it happen on 270. I said yes
“Maybe UFC 271 they couldn’t make it happen on 270. I said yes,” said Poirier on Twitter recently.
Diaz was quick to respond: “The ufc don’t wanna pay for u dp sorry u suck. Loser.”
Both tweets had a mysterious layer to them, with neither directly addressing any previous comment made on the platform. Of course, the ambiguity of the situation leaves parts of what they said up for interpretation.
Nate Diaz Sends Another Shot At Poirier
Dustin Poirier, Nate Diaz, Image Credit: Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Thursday, Nate Diaz would again address Poirier, this time in a disrespectful tweet that questions his potential opponent on multiple levels.
“Your not worthy If u wanted to fight we would have already. Bring yourself back from the dead you suck Dp,” Diaz wrote.
Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz have both previously expressed interest in the matchup. Coming off a recent loss to UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira, Poirier called out Diaz on The MMA Hour. Diaz was quick to reply with enthusiasm. Dana White has also stated that he is willing to make the fight happen if it’s what everyone wants.
The next Octagon appearance for Diaz will be a chance to snap a two-fight losing streak. He last fought in June 2021, where he went five rounds against Leon Edwards for a decision loss.
A fight between Diaz and Poirier has been attempted before and even publicly promoted by the UFC. However, fans have yet to see the two meet. The UFC first tried to make the fight all the way back in November 2018 at UFC 230. That iteration of the bout never happened, reportedly due to an injury on Poirier’s side.
Should the fighters work out their issues behind the scenes, we may see the clash of fan-favorites after all.
MMA News will keep you updated on any response from Dustin Poirier to Diaz’s latest tweet and keep you apprised of any relevant traction on this fight finally getting made.
Do you think we will eventually see Dustin Poirier vs. Nate Diaz?
Jake Paul has denied the reported number of buys for his latest boxing fight, although he has admitted the fight didn’t do too well.
Earlier this week, DAZN reported that Paul’s rematch fight against Tyron Woodley did a low number on pay-per-view. It reportedly sold approximately 65,000 buys. The figure for online purchases of the event are not known at the moment.
Paul has denied this rough figure but also admitted his disappointment with what he knows about the sales.
The PPV number rumors are bullshit
1st fight w Woodley we sold 500k+
Numbers for this one are still rolling in but still looking positive
Not my best business night
But remember.. Everyone wanted to see me Vs. Fury and that’s what we sold..
“The PPV number rumors are b*******,” said Paul in a Twitter post. “1st fight [with] Woodley we sold 500k+. Numbers for this one are still rolling in but still looking positive. Not my best business night.”
Paul gives credit to Showtime and Woodley for putting on the show, also using the opportunity to take a shot at his opposition.
Shoutout to Showtime for riding with me and all the fighters on the card and Tyron for not being a bitch like most of these “fighters” are..
“Shoutout to Showtime for riding with me and all the fighters on the card and Tyron for not being a b**** like most of these “fighters” are,” said Paul.
Masvidal Mocks Paul over Report
Jorge Masvidal, Jake Paul
UFC fighter Jorge Masvidal has run with the report about the PPV, using the stat to mock the celebrity-turned-boxer.
Masvidal talked about the reported sales and used the statistic to distance himself from a potential fight against Paul.
“Bitch boy can’t afford the big boys. Never again do I want to hear my name associated with the fake,” said Masvidal via Twitter.
Paul was originally set to face undefeated boxer Tommy Fury earlier this month. He was given Woodley as an opponent after injury forced Fury out of the matchup.
UFC strawweight contender Amanda Ribas has suggested something may have been wrong with featherweight champion Amanda Nunes prior to her shocking defeat at UFC 269.
Ahead of the final pay-per-view of 2021, Nunes reigned over two divisions, hadn’t lost since 2014, was riding a 12-fight win streak, and had cemented her place as the female MMA GOAT in the eye of most.
With those accolades in mind, she was expected to close the year out with a comfortable bantamweight title defense against Julianna Peña. What occurred in Las Vegas on December 11 was far from comfortable for “The Lioness.”
Proving that her fight week confidence and self-belief hadn’t been misplaced, and proving most fans and pundits wrong, Peña executed her strategy to perfection, tiring Nunes out on the feet and choking her out on the ground. The result will forever be seen as one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
During the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s Portuguese-language podcast Trocação Franca, Ribas compared Nunes’ disappointing defeat to her own setback opposite Marina Rodriguez earlier in the year. Despite feeling prepared and good to go, something felt off on the night, a phenomenon she believes could have hit “The Lioness” at UFC 269.
“Maybe she had sinusitis and nobody knew,” Ribas said. “Imagine getting punched in the face and when you see it, wow. Nobody knows. Maybe she didn’t recover well from her weight cut. I haven’t spoken with her so I don’t know. Nobody knows what happened that day.
“In my opinion, I thought she looked a little, I don’t know, kind of the same way I was in my fight with Marina [Rodriguez]. I was fine, I was prepared, but [wasn’t 100 percent there]. And sometimes the Venezuelan was more active, wanted it more.”
Despite admitting the loss was difficult for her to accept as a fan and teammate of Nunes, Ribas expects the reigning featherweight titleholder to bounce back in 2022 and reclaim the bantamweight belt from “The Venezuelan Vixen.”
“It was complicated,” she said of her reaction to Nunes’ UFC 269 loss. “I have Amanda at the top, like no one’s getting near her and she’ll beat everybody. To me, she’s very smart in her game and has an extraordinary mind for the fight, so it’s hard to accept when she lost.
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“Maybe she’ll accept the loss better than me, as a fan. But nobody knows how she was [feeling] that day. Maybe she didn’t perform that day. Nobody knows what’s going on. It was sad, but I know she’ll bounce back. She’s still the [featherweight] champion. She’s only lost one belt and I’m sure she will reclaim it. [Peña] said she’ll give her an immediate rematch, and I can’t wait for it.” (h/t MMA Fighting)
Showing that her motivation and toughest hasn’t dwindled, Nunes was quick to accept. “The Lioness” will no doubt be returning to the Octagon with extra fire and hunger in 2022.
Do you think Amanda Nunes will reclaim the bantamweight gold if she runs it back with Julianna Peña in 2022?
Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz cleared the air on his UFC 269 post-fight remarks that he was happy with referee Marc Goddard.
Cruz’s praise of Goddard was particularly notable after he blasted Keith Peterson following his loss to Henry Cejudo at UFC 249. He lost to Cejudo via TKO after Cruz suffered heavy blows on the ground and the feet, though he claimed he was still defending himself.
Cruz’s wishes for not having Peterson officiate his next fights were granted in recent wins over Casey Kenney and Pedro Munhoz. Following his win over Munhoz, Cruz praised Goddard for allowing him to continue fighting through an early barrage.
During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Cruz denied that praising Goddard was in some way an indirect slight at Peterson.
“I gave kudos to Marc Goddard and the Las Vegas commission for the great job they did with the show,” Cruz said. “And I heard it in that moment in the interview. He said, ‘Well, look, you took a stab at Keith Peterson, I noticed, and you gave kudos to Marc Goddard.’ And I said, ‘Hold on one second. That’s exactly what happened with me and Cormier right there,’ is whatever got said you can twist it and hear your interpretation and write a headline that everyone’s gonna click.
“That’s the world we live in today,” Cruz continued. “But the truth is I never said (anything) about Keith Peterson. You did. And I gave kudos to Marc Goddard and that got turned into me talking bad about Keith Peterson? How does that happen?”
Dominick Cruz Has Never Been One To Hold Back His Opinions
Along with his successes in the Octagon, Cruz has turned into arguably one of the top UFC commentators in the promotion. He’s become a main fixture of many UFC Fight Night events, especially during the UFC’s time broadcasting events at the UFC Apex.
Cruz is now much closer to re-entering the bantamweight title picture after back-to-back wins in the Octagon, and he could earn more of a spotlight if he can keep up his recent winning ways.
What are your thoughts on Dominick Cruz’s latest comments?
Francis Ngannou is disturbed by comments made by his former coach.
Francis Ngannou is preparing for his UFC heavyweight title defense. This will be Ngannou’s 14th fight in the UFC, but this one is different. His opponent, Ciryl Gane, is his former training partner, and there is a whole lot of history there between them.
Gane’s head coach, Fernand Lopez, once trained Nagnnou as well. Recently, he made a public comment that implied that Ngannou had tried to keep Gane out of the UFC. Lopez stated that Ngannou told UFC matchmakers that Gane was not good enough for the UFC yet.
Gane’s team thought Ngannou was trying to sabotage him because he was afraid of fighting Gane. To this end, Ngannou has now responded to these allegations from his former coach. (h/t Daily Mall)
“And recently, I saw something about him, “Ngannou said on his YouTube channel. “They sent me something like, which his coach said about me – Fernand [Lopez] – He said I told [UFC matchmaker] Mick [Maynard] that Ciryl is good but not that good or something like that. I’m like, ‘Man. This, like; this nasty.’
“You know this is not a fair game anymore. It’s not a fair game anymore. Like, I understand this position is not; you want to take everything, you want to destroy somebody. But to go after him like that, associate other people; I mean, I think this is evil. You know, but I know the man, and I know how it processed.”
Ngannou came to the UFC in 2015. He had immediate success but eventually decided to leave his France-based gym, MMA Factory. Fast forward to Gane, the MMA Factory product came to the UFC in 2019.
UFC bantamweight Frankie Edgar had quite the eventful aftermath to his disappointing loss to Marlon Vera at UFC 268.
Just days after the knockout defeat, Edgar underwent surgery to remove part of a bulging disc in his lower spine. The surgery was successful but requires quite a lengthy recovery process.
The former UFC lightweight champion has had his fair share of struggles since moving down to bantamweight. After falling short of featherweight gold, he’s lost two of his last three fights at 135 pounds, including knockouts to Cory Sandhagen and Vera.
During a recent segment of his Champ and The Tramp podcast, Edgar gave an update after undergoing two significant procedures.
“So far, so good,” Edgar said. “Obviously a little sore, but the reason I went there – it feels like it worked. I always push too hard, sometimes. I feel really good. I want to do more. I can’t twist and turn and bend over. I feel like I can do all that, but I’m trying to sustain myself in the meantime.
“I feel like I can do all of this, but I’m trying to make ends meet for now. I’m glad I did it. I hope it stays feeling like it is now. Two surgeries and now I’m fine walking around.” (h/t ESPN)
UFC President Dana White seemed vague about Edgar’s future with the promotion after his latest defeat, and he’ll likely need a win in his return to remain on the roster. For now, all things are looking positive when it comes to Edgar’s health.
Who would you like to see Frankie Edgar fight in his return to the cage?
Top-5 strawweights Marina Rodriguez and Yan Xiaonan are scheduled to compete on March 5.
As first reported by MMA DNA, this high-level strawweight bout between Rodriguez and Xiaonan will take place at UFC 272. There is currently no main event announced for this card, but the location has been determined to be the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Marina Rodriguez may very well be one fight away from securing a title shot seeing as how she is currently riding a three-fight win streak, with wins over Amanda Ribas, Michelle Waterson, and Mackenzie Dern. Her last victory over Dern took home Fight of the Night.
To further support the notion of Rodriguez potentially earning a title shot with a win here is the fact that the only two fighters currently ahead of her in the rankings are Carla Esparza (#2) and Zhang Weili (#1). Esparza is currently next in line to challenge Rose Namajunas, while Zhang has already lost twice to Namajunas this year.
Yan Xiaonan was in a familiar position heading into the year. She was undefeated in the UFC and unbeaten in her last 12 fights. However, she would come up short against the grappling-heavy Carla Esparza at UFC Fight Night: Garbrandt vs. Font.
Now, Xiaonan will have an opportunity to put on a show in this high-level striking affair against fellow trader Marina Rodriguez. With a big win here, the #4-ranked Xiaonan may very well still be live for a title-shot opportunity herself.
With the addition of this bout, the current lineup for UFC 272 is as follows:
Marina Rodriguez vs. Yan Xiaonan
Edson Barboza vs. Bryce Mitchell
Jessica Eye vs. Manon Fiorot
Maryna Moroz vs. Mariya Agapova
Michał Oleksiejczuk vs. Dustin Jacoby
Tim Elliott vs. Tagir Ulanbeko
Who is your pick to win this crucial strawweight bout between Marina Rodriguez and Yan Xiaonan?
Darren Till is giving the other fighters of the UFC a little financial lesson.
Darren Till is an outspoken guy. He is loud, and his candidness has earned him many fans. Till’s latest rant is about fighter pay.
This topic has been trending lately after many fighters on the UFC roster have been asking for more bonuses and better pay. For Till, he thinks the fighters are getting plenty and stated a few facts he thinks compensates for the contracts fighters receive. (h/t Pundit Arena)
“People seem to forget that we’ve got a 20 million dollar facility there open for all UFC fighters with food, with nutrition, with strength training, with anything you want,” Till told The MMA Hour. “If you want to sleep there I’m pretty sure you could and I stayed there for three months and I was treated like a god by the UFC team, Dana and Hunter.”
Even the biggest names such as Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou have been through contract negotiation disagreements with the UFC brass this year. Outsider Jake Paul has been one of the biggest advocates for MMA fighter pay discrepancies.
“Obviously, there’s flaws in this game for fighters but before you get on and start criticizing the UFC or whatever, just remember what you’ve got at your feet,” Till explained.
The UFC performance institutes are there in order to help the UFC fighters under contract live their best lives. The locations in Las Vegas and China are meant to help fighters negotiate weight cuts, receive bodywork, and nutrition. Till feels that the luxuries and accommodations at these institutes are making up for any perceived lack of pay per fight.
What do you think of Darren Till’s stance on fighter pay?
Commentator and former UFC fighter Brendan Schaub thinks Jake Paul’s critics need to pump the brakes when ripping Paul’s boxing career.
Paul is coming off of his sixth-round knockout win over former UFC champion Tyron Woodley to remain undefeated. He was originally slated to face Tommy Fury before Fury suffered an injury just weeks before the bout.
While Paul remains unscathed in his young boxing career, he hasn’t faced a true boxer so far during his 5-0 run.
During a recent episode of the King and the Sting podcast, Schaub came to Paul’s defense when it comes to his perceived lack of tough competition.
“Here’s the thing though, all the hate on Jake Paul and stuff I get; no, I get it,” Schaub said. “Everyone’s like, ‘Oh, fight a real boxer,’ like that. Go to any; name a boxer you guys like – Tyson Fury, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Julio Chavez Senior, Junior, whoever the f**k you want, ‘Canelo’ [Alvarez], their first four fights, they were fighting cans. That’s how it should be. Jake Paul’s first four fights are way more difficult than anything your favorite boxer fought. You have to give the guy credit at some point.” (h/t Sportskeeda)
Jake Paul Has Been Criticized For Lack Of High-Caliber Competition
Before knocking out Woodley, Paul had defeated the former UFC standout via split decision earlier this year. He has also recorded knockouts against former UFC wrestling specialist Ben Askren, former NBA star Nate Robinson, and fellow YouTuber AliEsonGib.
Paul called out UFC stars Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal after defeating Woodley. He remains particularly interested in a fight with Masvidal, as the two have gone back-and-forth on social media recently.
White has remained adamant that he will not allow any current fighters on the UFC roster to break their contract to box Paul. However, Paul remains hell-bent on fighting MMA standouts for now. Nevertheless, a bout against a true boxing specialist could come soon as his star power continues to rise.
UFC President Dana White has provided a positive update on his promotion’s ongoing negotiations with heavyweight titleholder Francis Ngannou.
As Ngannou gears up for his return to the Octagon on January 22, much of the build-up so far has surrounded his fractious relationship with the UFC and his uncertain future. Despite holding the heavyweight gold and being widely regarded as the biggest power-puncher in MMA, “The Predator” and his management team believe he’s been underappreciated by the UFC.
Since reaching the divisional mountaintop at UFC 260 with a brutal knockout of Stipe Miocic, Ngannou has been out of action and voicing his displeasure in interviews and on social media.
But it appears tensions may be fading and progress may be on the up. During a recent appearance on THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas, Dana White revealed he’d spoken with Ngannou while out for dinner, a conversation he described as a “good talk.”
“Francis and I bumped into each other the other night at dinner. We had a good talk. And he’s not out of contract if he wins that fight (vs. Gane). I think he’s got one more fight with us after that… I think that Francis and I had a good conversation.”
Judging by his comments, it’s clear White has no issue with Ngannou and believes the real problem lies with the advice he’s been receiving. Doubling down on his criticism of the Cameroonian’s representation, White suggested the reigning titleholder had been led astray by individuals who simply don’t know what they’re doing.
“I think Francis has been misguided, too, by some people that aren’t very bright. That doesn’t help either; when you’ve got some people behind you that have no f*cking clue what they’re talking about. It doesn’t help the situation.”
Nevertheless, White reiterated a sentiment he’s consistently shared. After taking a dig at the fighter pay “narrative,” the UFC kingpin suggested if an athlete doesn’t want to be a part of the promotion, they can decide to leave.
“Listen, I say it all the time, man, this sport’s fun for me, I love doing this. Contrary to the narrative out there, we’ve made a lot of people very wealthy. If you don’t wanna be here, if this is not where you wanna be, well that’s not fun for you and it’s definitely not fun for me, either. These are all grown men and women, and everyone has to make their own decisions in life.”
Ngannou Will Look To Push Contractual Issues Aside At UFC 270
Despite the ongoing negotiations and talk about his future, which could seemingly see him enter free agency with a defeat in his next outing, Francis Ngannou will need to switch his focus to one thing and one thing only: Ciryl Gane.
After the controversial interim belt was created, Gane, a former teammate of “The Predator” at Paris’ MMA Factory gym, took full advantage. After main event wins against Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Alexander Volkov, “Bon Gamin” was the clear choice to join Derrick Lewis in the UFC 265 main event.
By dominating and finishing “The Black Beast,” Gane had gold wrapped around his waist as an undefeated fighter and set up a collision course with Ngannou. The pair will now meet for a blockbuster unification bout in the first pay-per-view headliner of 2022.
The Pulse of MMA: Fan Reactions To The Sport’s Biggest Stories
In this installment of The Pulse of MMA, we look at the raw, unfiltered reactions from MMA fans to the UFC‘s nominations for Best Debut of 2021.
It’s the last week of 2021, which means it’s time to start looking back at the biggest and best moments of the year. Right now, that means taking a peek at the UFC’s nominations for the best debut of the year.
After a brief recap of each debut, you can find the Pulse of MMA letting their collective voice be heard on their thoughts on the final vote tally of the UFC’s poll.
Michael Chandler def. Dan Hooker (UFC 257)
Credit: Getty Images
There were four nominees presented by the UFC, beginning with Michael Chandler’s UFC 257 debut against Dan Hooker.
Chandler overwhelmed Hooker with his forward pressure immediately after the fight began. Before long, a devastating left hook sent Hooker down to the canvas, and the Missouri native put on the finishing touches with several punches to his downed opponent.
Chandler went on to compete two additional times in 2021, first in the main event of UFC 262 in a loss to Charles Oliveira in a lightweight championship bout; and then against Justin Gaethje in a certified Fight of the Year candidate, which was another loss for Chandler, bringing his year record to 1-2.
We only have seven seconds of footage of Terrence McKinney in the UFC available, but he made every tick count.
At UFC 263, Terrance McKinney came right out, landed a lightning-quick one-two combo that sent Matt Frevola down, and then the celebration began.
Unfortunately, there was a little too much celebrating, as McKinney would turn in a second finish moments after his historic win over Frevola. This time, he gave himself a doctor’s stoppage with a cage flip gone wrong. Take notice Michael Chandler.
Heading into 2022, McKinney is booked to face Fares Ziam in his sophomore UFC performance on February 26.
Alex Pereira def. Andreas Michailidis (UFC 268)
Alex Pereira entered UFC 268 with a lot of hype on his back, including teammate and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Glover Teixeira predicting that he will definitely win UFC gold in the future.
In his debut against Andreas Michailidis at UFC 268, the decorated kickboxer’s grappling game was instantly put to the test when Michailidis got the early takedown in the first round. Despite the early setback, Pereira was able to return to his feet but spent most of the round tamed by Michailidis’ clinch control. In this second round, he let loose.
Pereira landed a sure-fire candidate for KO of the year with his flying knee KO in the second round. Now, heading into 2022, he has a date with Bruno Silva on March 12.
Paddy Pimblett def. Luigi Vendramini (UFC Vegas 36)
There perhaps was no debut in 2021 with as much fanfare behind it as Liverpool England’s Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett’s.
In the early goings of Pimblett’s UFC debut, it looked as though his hype train might have been en route to being derailed before it ever really got going. Vendramini was putting it on Pimblett, repeatedly landing hook after hook to the “Baddy’s” exposed chin.
That chin held up and so did Pimblett’s hype. Because after absorbing multiple heavy punches from Vendramini, ultimately it was Pimblett who got the KO finish in a series kicked off by a staggering right hand.
Pimblett and his hype now head to 2022 with a date and opponent yet to be determined. Word around the grapevine is Donald Cerrone is interested in the fight, but there have been no formal reports on this potential pairing.
Best UFC Debut of 2021 Nominees Video
Now that you’ve read about them, SEE these memorable debuts for yourself in the video package below!
MMA Twitter Weighs In
Finally, here is what the Pulse of MMA had to say about the UFC’s nominations list after Michael Chandler took home the most votes on the official poll.
Come on guys, really? Why so many votes for Paddy? He showcased a concerning lack of defense and even his offense wasn't that impressive. Not good, if this debut is any indication of how he will fight against tougher opposition.
Chandlers to me was the best but I chose paddy because he overcame a little bit of a storm there at the beginning and finished it in the first like he said he would.
Glover Teixeira is already planning his first light heavyweight title defense.
Glover Teixeira is coming off his extraordinary win over Jan Blachowicz at UFC 267. The 42-year-old shocked the world and became one of the oldest fighters to ever win their first UFC title. Now that he is the champion at 205 pounds, Teixiera isn’t ready to slow it down. In fact, he is already planning his first title defense and even has a name in mind.
“For sure in Brazil,” Teixeira told Sherdog. “It’s meant to be. I (said) right after my fight with Blachowicz…in a perfect scenario would be May for myself because I want to relax, enjoy this moment, and that was a hard year for me—hardcore, focused 100% for the fight. I want a few months off, a couple months off, and I want to get back (training) beginning of January….I told everybody May would be perfect time. And May is the card in Brazil. Who knows? Maybe it’s a possibility, and it’d be fun.”
Teixeira’s win over Blachowicz was the 33rd win of his career. Many thought Teixeira might be heading towards retirement back in 2018 when he suffered his third loss in five fights, but the longtime veteran of the sport battled back to win his next five and secure his title shot. Now, with the belt wrapped around his waist, Teixiera would like to bring it back home to Brazil.
Talent managers Alex Davis and Samir Nadaf have reportedly filed a lawsuit against ONE Championship fighter Adriano Moraes.
The lawsuit alleges Moraes owes the managers over $100,000 due to a breach of contract.
The issue stems from a claim that Moraes wasn’t paying the managers an agreed-upon amount of his income. News of the filing was first reported by Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting.
Details obtained by MMA Fighting allege that Moraes was giving his management less than what he agreed to give them as part of a deal. The managers claim he agreed to pay them 10 percent of fight purses and 20 percent of his money from sponsorships, but they say he only gave them 5 percent for his last two outings.
Managers Allege They Are Owed $35,000 For Fight Against Johnson
Adriano Moraes, Demetrious Johnson, Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Davis and Nadaf are reportedly seeking $113,000 in total.
Moraes pulled off a big win earlier this year, stopping former UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson with strikes. Documents filed in the lawsuit claim that Moraes was given $50,000 to show for that fight, along with another $50,000 for winning. He was also allegedly given an extra $250,000 as a bonus afterward.
Davis and Nadaf claim they were owed $35,000 for the fight weekend but only received $2,500 from Moraes.
“As a professional rule, I don’t make comments about contracts, money and etc publicly,” said Davis when requested for comment by MMA Fighting. “I seek the justice when I’m in need about any situation, and I’ll wait and humbly agree to its decision.”
Moraes started his third run as the ONE 135-pound Champion in early 2019. In that fight, he avenged a loss he previously took against Geje Eustaquio. Moraes has fought on the ONE Championship roster since 2013.
UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley says he doesn’t want to compete in five-round fights unless he is paid very lucratively.
O’Malley is edging ever closer towards main event territory and is arguably already there, mostly due to his charisma and recognizable name. Since a setback against Marlon Vera in 2020 stalled his surge, a defeat that marked his first in the sport, “Sugar” has proved why he’s so highly touted.
In three 2021 contests, O’Malley added three wins to his record, recorded three finishes, and earned three $50,000 bonuses. After a brutal knockout against Thomas Almeida and a record-breaking striking performance opposite Kris Moutinho, O’Malley closed out his perfect year by finishing formerly-ranked Brazilian Raulian Paiva at UFC 269.
O’Malley: “I Don’t Want A Fucking Five-Round Fight”
In the aftermath of O’Malley’s latest victory came a jump into the rankings. With his #12 position on the bantamweight ladder will come an increase in competition, as well as the likelihood of five-round contests. But that’s something “Sugar” is hoping to avoid for the time being.
During an appearance on the Full Send Podcast, O’Malley made his feelings for 25-minute contests clear. For the extra money he’d currently receive for them, he’s not at all interested.
“I don’t want a fucking five-round fight,” O-Malley said. “They’re gonna give me like, $20,000 extra to go fight, basically another fight, 10 minutes. I’m like, ‘I’m not gonna fucking do that.’”
Despite that, O’Malley knows it’s an inevitability, especially if he is to reach the heights in the UFC he has aspirations for. But given the extra preparation needed, the 27-year-old says he’d be after a hefty paycheck to make it happen.
“When I’m champ, yeah. There comes a point, you can’t say no to the UFC, you know what I mean? I’d rather not fight five rounds unless you wanna pay me a fucking lot more money. You know how much more training goes (into it). That was like a 10-week camp (ahead of UFC 269) for 15 minutes. That’s a hard camp. I think, though, with the level of cardio I was in, I could have gone five rounds, just because when you’re in there, you’re not gonna give up, you’re not gonna fall, you’re gonna fight.
“But five rounds, that’s a lot. That’s 25 minutes of fucking fist-fighting. I’d like to be paid, if I’m gonna do that, paid equally. That’s a long time to fucking fight, dude.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CX14GhFvzUG/
Despite his successful 2021, many in the MMA community still doubt O’Malley’s title credentials and ability to compete with the elite at 135 pounds. It stands to reason that idea will be tested in 2022.
Whether against a top-10 opponent or fellow surging striker Adrian Yanez, we’ll likely see “Sugar” tested like he’s never been tested before. Although it’s safe to say we’ll have to wait to see him tested beyond 15 minutes…
Do you agree with Sean O’Malley’s stance on five-round fights?
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña has issued a challenge for those who continue to doubt and discredit her title-winning performance at UFC 269.
At the final pay-per-view of 2021, Peña finally had her long-awaited clash with then-two-division titleholder Amanda Nunes. Having dominantly reigned over both the bantamweight and featherweight classes for years, most expected the “Lioness” to brush “The Venezuelan Vixen” aside and add another defense to her résumé.
What transpired inside Las Vegas T-Mobile Arena couldn’t have been further from the predictions of most. After getting through the first round unscathed, the challenger put her plan into action. After hurting and tiring Nunes on the feet, Peña sent the Brazilian crashing to the mat before choking her out and taking her title.
Despite executing her game plan to perfection and completing one of the greatest upsets in UFC history, some fans and pundits have questioned whether Peña beat Nunes, or if the former champion simply quit after being put into a position she hadn’t faced since 2014.
“It was great. That’s the second time I’ve finished (a fight with that rear-naked choke). I finished Sara McMann in January. It’s something that is not a regular rear-naked choke. I know that a lot of people want to discredit me, people wanna say that I didn’t have any hooks in and that wasn’t real and she just tapped because she quit.
“I guarantee you, and Jim, maybe one day you can take me up on this, or any of your listeners, if any of them out there want to come to my house and let me put that choke on them, I guarantee you they’re gonna tap as well and I guarantee you they’ll be able to feel that force and pressure that I was putting on Amanda.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXxLHLYD14Z/
Having ascended the bantamweight mountaintop, the next step for Peña to further legitimize her spot on the throne will likely be a second clash with Nunes.
After UFC President Dana White confirmed the option of an immediate rematch would be made available to the former champ, the “Lioness” quickly accepted. The pair will seemingly enter the Octagon together again in the first half of 2022.
Do you think Amanda Nunes had to tap to Julianna Peña’s choke at UFC 269?
After Julianna Peña submitted Amanda Nunes to become the new bantamweight champion, her friend Tate said she thought of dropping down to women’s flyweight. If she does drop down in weight, the Brazilian Andrade would love that fight.
“I recently read that Miesha is thinking about the idea of going down to 125 pounds and I would love to be her first opponent in this new weight class,” Andrade told MMA Fighting. “Maybe she never thought about it, but I entered the UFC because of her, when she went to shoot TUF with Ronda [Rousey] and withdrew from a fight with Liz Carmouche, and I was signed as her replacement.”
Image Credit: Zhe Ji/Getty Images
As JéssicaAndrade said, she and Miesha Tate were both fighting at bantamweight when Andrade joined the UFC. Yet, after going 3-3, she dropped down to strawweight and eventually claimed UFC gold.
After losing her belt and then dropping the rematch to Rose Namajunas, she moved up to women’s flyweight. She quickly made her mark with a TKO win over Katlyn Chookagian and got a title shot but lost to Valentina Shevchenko.
In Andrade’s last fight, she TKO’d Cynthia Calvillo. But given the fact that she just lost to champion Valentina Shevchenko, she is in a weird position because she likely won’t get a title shot anytime soon.
With that, Andrade would love to face the former bantamweight champ in Tate, as she believes it would be an interesting fight for the fans that is years in the making.
“[Tate and I] went different directions in the organization, but I followed her this entire time in the UFC when I still competed at 135,” Andrade said. “She won the 135 belt right after I dropped to 115. I believe that a fight between a former strawweight champion and a former bantamweight champion would be an interesting show for the fans.”
Would you like to see Jéssica Andrade vs. Miesha Tate?
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