Derrick Lewis now holds the record for the ‘most knockouts in UFC history’ following his first-round KO victory over Chris Daukaus last weekend at UFC Vegas 45.
Prior to the event, Lewis shared the record with Matt Brown and Vitor Belfort with 12 TKO/KO finishes.
Lewis earned his 13th KO victory in the promotion last weekend, a streak that began back in 2014 at UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne, where he TKO’d Jack May in the first round. Lewis would also win his next five victories by KO/TKO before earning a split-decision victory over Roy Nelson.
The knockouts would continue after his fight with Nelson, as Lewis would only have three fights go the distance in his next 14 bouts. Along the way, Lewis earned memorable KO victories over fighters such as Travis Browne, Alexander Volkov, Curtis Blaydes, among others.
Derrick Lewis KOs Travis Browne
At UFC Vegas 45, Derrick Lewis wasted no time in breaking the record. He finished Daukaus in under four minutes and left the fight almost unscathed, absorbing just 10 total strikes. Surprisingly enough, this was just Lewis’ fourth KO victory that came in the first round.
After his victory, Lewis was asked in the post-fight press conference which of his 13 knockouts was his favorite (h/t MMA Fighting). Here’s how “The Black Beast” responded.
āI like the [Alexander] Volkov knockout,ā Lewis said. āThat was pretty clutch because I was getting my cheeks clapped that whole fight, and it was good that I came in the last round ā and it was a Russian guy, so it was an American going against a Russian, and I love all the Rocky movies. So basically thatās how Rocky used to fight, where heād get whooped ā damn near the whole fight heād get whooped ā then the music starts playing, then his wife starts screaming, then heād get the knockout.”
You can catch the full UFC Vegas 45 post-fight press conference below.
Former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm believes it’s “feasible” she could be the first challenger to Julianna PeƱa’s reign on the 135-pound throne.
Since her last title shot, a brutal knockout loss to former titleholder Amanda Nunes in 2019, Holm has surged back to contention with unanimous decision victories over Raquel Pennington and Irene Aldana. However, injuries have stalled the 40-year-old’s pursuit of regaining the belt and joining Rose Namajunas in the two-time champ club.
“The Preacher’s Daughter” was set for an apparent title eliminator against PeƱa at UFC Vegas 26 in May. After being forced out due to hydronephrosis, Holm found herself sidelined while “The Venezuelan Vixen” was accelerated to the title.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMnGD-ZpHmV/
Having had her return fight against Norma Dumont in October also called off, this time due to a knee injury, Holm’s string of bad luck means she was unable to enter the Octagon in 2021 and it’ll have been well over a year since her victory over Aldana when she does make the walk again.
That, understandably, has frustrated Holm to a great degree. Nevertheless, she’s recovering and says she won’t let her injuries and problems “break” her.
āIām super frustrated,ā Holm said when speaking to MMA Fighting. āI definitely am on the mend. I hope to be back in there, back training and get back in there. Iām feeling a little better. I had to take care of some things. Itās super frustrating, especially when I see people fighting, especially [Nunes vs. PeƱa] but all the time.
āAny time I watch the fights, itās so frustrating cause I want to get in there so badly. I donāt want to embrace not being able to fight but Iāve been very fortunate to have a career where Iāve been pretty active. This last yearās had some stuff thatās been kind of from left field. Iām handling it. Iām going to keep pushing forward. Iām not going to let it break me and I want to be back in there very soon.”
Holm Sees PeƱa Matchup Being Resurrected
Holly Holm, Julianna Pena
Despite her lengthy layoff, Holm believes there’s a chance she’ll find herself in her sixth UFC championship fight when she makes her comeback. Having previously been scheduled to face PeƱa, the veteran thinks there’s a chance that matchup will be re-visited soon, this time with the belt on the line.
After Holm’s injury saw PeƱa secure a title shot, the challenger did the unthinkable. At UFC 269 earlier this month, “The Venezuelan Vixen” brought the fight to Nunes like few had done before her. After hurting the “Lioness” on the feet, PeƱa dragged the Brazilian to the mat and submitted her in what was undoubtedly one of the greatest upsets of all time.
Holm, who knows a thing or two about upsetting the odds, believes it’s “feasible” she returns to face the champ before Nunes has her chance to regain the gold.
āItās honestly, thatās a very feasible thing [that PeƱa could be next],ā Holm said. āYou never know whatās going to happen. Are they going to say letās rematch right away? Thereās been times a fighter will say āI need a little more time before a rematchā or āI need this, I need that.ā So you never know whatās going to happen.”
But before that, Holm will have to ensure she’s 100% ready and fit for a return, and the fact she can’t say she is at the moment is clearly an annoyance for “The Preacher’s Daughter.”
āSo yeah itās super frustrating. I want to be right back in there. I want to be able to say hey, Iām ready to fight whoever, whenever. Iām real close to that. Itās super frustrating for sure.ā
Given her age and experience in the sport, it stands to reason Holm’s return will signal her final charge for a second title crowning. With how the current champion got there, anything is certainly possible.
How do you think a fight between champion Julianna PeƱa and former titleholder Holly Holm would play out?
A beef between Mariya Agapova and Maryna Moroz will be settled in the UFC Octagon.
The flyweights have reportedly been booked to meet at UFC 272 on March 5th, per Raphael Marinho of Combate. The fight is expected to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
After a win two months back, Agapova had strong words for Moroz and her allegations.
āYeah, sheās just jealous. Sheās jealous. Second, sheās sneaky. Sheās trying to destroy my career. I lost sponsorship because of her interview and got [into a] really big trouble situation,ā said Agapova during her post-fight press conference. āAnd I would like to punish this b**** because sheās trying to destroy my career. I want to smash her.ā
Beef Aside, Looking At Agapova vs. Moroz
PHOTO: MMA JUNKIE
Setting the beef aside, the matchup is an intriguing pairing at flyweight. The bout gives both competitors a chance to build on their short winning streaks.
The reported matchup will be Morozās first fight in nearly two years. This is because numerous planned bouts for her have fallen off of cards due to various reasons.
Moroz will be returning with a two-fight winning streak, having beaten Sabina Mazo and Mayra Bueno Silva in her last appearances.
Similarly, Agapova defeated Mazo in her October outing. That fight, which earned her a āPerformance of the Nightā bonus, also put her back into the win column after being on the losing side of a massive upset to Shana Dobson in 2020.
Do you want to see Mariya Agapova vs. Maryna Moroz?
Borz is asking for permission to continue his feasting of the UFC roster.
If there’s one thing we know about “Borz,” it’s that he’s always hungry. Since his debut in the UFC as 2020’s breakout star, Khamzat Chimaev has done nothing but fill up stats. The fights have been about as one-sided as a four-plater against a Thanksgiving spread. The only struggle that comes is after the meal has already been smeshed.
For Chimaev, that struggle has been the constipation of his fight bookings. According to both White and Chimaev, the UFC has had quite the time finding Chimaev’s next opponent.
There is one individual who has constantly been volunteering his services to end Borz’s feast draught: #7-ranked welterweight Neil Magny. Magny has been calling for a fight against the UFC’s new boogeyman since last year. Chimaev himself even once commended Magny for his bravery and self-sacrifice.
Dana White recently stated that no welterweight wanted to fight Khamzat Chimaev. He would later walk back this claim, admitting that Neil Magny was more than willing to accept that fight.
Now, with his patience far past its limit, Chimaev is asking his supplier if he can begin eating again.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXuJDdHAIgf/
“@danawhite let me eat this guy bro neil_magny170,” Chimaev posted on Instagram.
Khamzat Chimaev’s latest feasting took place at UFC 267 against #13-ranked Li Jingliang. Not unlike his three UFC beatdowns that preceded this bout, Chimaev had his way with his opponent en route to a flawless 10-0 record.
Neil Magny last competed in May at UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Waterson. Magny defeated Geoff Neal via unanimous decision, making that four victories out of his last five fights.
Are you interested in a fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Neil Magny?
UFC heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis took pleasure in getting the opportunity to legally knock out a former police officer inside the Octagon.
Lewis put on arguably the best performance of his 2021 run in knocking out Chris Daukaus in the UFC Vegas 45 main event. Lewis looked patient on the feet before eventually overwhelming Daukaus with a barrage of right hooks to secure the finish.
Leading up to the fight, Lewis had spoken about how he wanted to avoid getting Rodney King’d by Daukaus. King is well known as a victim of police brutality in the 1990s. During his post-fight press conference, Lewis spoke about his performance and what it was like to assault a former police officer without penalty.
āThat was for Rodney King,ā Lewis said. āIām fighting a police officer, man. Come on, man. Thatās the only time you get a chance to punch a police officer in the mouth and get away with it, and then he gets up and shakes your head? Sh*t, that was a great feeling, man.ā
With the knockout over Daukaus, Lewis passed Vitor Belfort and Matt Brown to claim the top spot on the UFC’s all-time knockout list with 13 finishes. Earlier this year, he had knocked out Curtis Blaydes in a Knockout of the Year candidate.
What stands out about Lewis isn’t just the performances he puts in the Octagon, but also his microphone work before and after events. As Lewis looks ahead to possible title contention in 2022, his following is more than likely to grow with each additional comedic gesture.
What do you think should be next for Derrick Lewis?
Charles Jourdainās call-outs of Cub Swanson arenāt falling on deaf ears.
Jourdain asked for a fight against Swanson on Saturday, and the veteran featherweight responded positively to the motion.
Both fighters are coming off a win from this past weekend. Jourdain won on the prelims, dominating Andre Ewell for a scorecard victory. Swanson won later in the evening, stopping Darren Elkins for a victory worthy of a āPerformance of the Nightā award.
āI want to f*ck [Cub Swanson] up. I want to put my hands on him ā¦ I donāt mean any disrespect to the man, heās fighting tonight,ā said Jourdain, speaking before Swanson took to the Octagon and won later in the evening. āWin or lose I want to fight him.ā
Swanson responded kindly to Jourdainās call-out during his own post-fight press conference, mentioning how he likes the idea of them fighting. He said that he previously requested the fight for the promotion, although he wasnāt able to get it before.
āI actually appreciate him ā¦ I like him because he calls me out respectfullyā¦I canāt hate on that,ā said Swanson.
Swanson Celebrates Emotional Weekend Performance
Cub Swanson
Swanson was coming off an emotional victory over the weekend. His finish win meant a lot to him, as he was able to have his children in attendance for the bout.
Following his win, he explained why he feels it is important that they get to see him while heās still fighting:
āTheyāre at the exact age that I have all my memories right now [from]. Thereās been plenty of times in my life where people talked to me about things that happened when I was younger and it doesnāt really mean as much to me because theyāre just stories that people have that I donāt really relate with because I donāt remember. So, I just wanted them to be able to have the experience and not just hear stories about me.ā
Do you like the idea of Cub Swanson vs. Charles Jourdain?
Former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate has explained why she won’t be accepting a fight against Aspen Ladd anytime soon.
Tate returned to the UFC earlier this year after nearly five years in retirement. She originally stepped away from the sport following back-to-back losses to Amanda Nunes, which saw the 135-pound title leave her possession, and Raquel Pennington.
In the UFC Vegas 31 co-main event, Tate stepped out of retirement by sending veteran Marion Reneau into it. With a third-round TKO, the former champ announced her arrival back onto the bantamweight ladder. But her charge to the belt stalled at the hands of Ketlen Vieira last month. In the UFC Vegas 43 main event, Tate was comfortably beaten on the scorecards.
Despite Ladd, who went up to featherweight in her last outing, suggesting she intends on returning to 135 pounds to face Tate, “Cupcake” doesn’t share the same enthusiasm for the grudge match. In a video uploaded to her YouTube channel, the former 135-pound UFC titleholder responded to Ladd’s callout, stating she wouldn’t consider facing the #4-ranked bantamweight until she’s proven she can make the weight.
āAspen Ladd has called me out to a fight at 135 pounds. Iām afraid that Iām going to waste an entire camp training for a fight that may very well end at the scale,ā Tate explained. āAspen Ladd has missed weight three times in her MMA career and one time she failed to make it to the fight due to weight cutting issues.
Aspen Ladd On the Scales
“So all in all four times. Go to PI (performance institute) show some kind of progression. If one of these other bantamweights wants to take that risk, then hats off to them. If Aspen Ladd can show up, make 135 pounds and have a good performance then we might be talking.ā (h/t BJPenn.com)
Despite her setback against Vieira, Tate remains motivated to make her way back to the top of the mountain. However, with her friend and occasional teammate Julianna PeƱa now sitting on the throne, the 35-year-old suggested she could be forced to pursue the flyweight belt instead. If that happens, a clash between Tate and Ladd will become even more distant.
How do you think a fight between Miesha Tate and Aspen Ladd would play out?
According to Dana White, the next strawweight title bout is in the works.
Rose Namajunas is quickly proving that she could be the long-term face of the UFC’s strawweight division. She has now defended her title and already has her next opponent lined up.
According to UFC President Dana White, Namajunas’ next title challenger will be none other than the first strawweight champion, Carla Esparza.
āCarla Esparza (is next),ā White told ESPN. ā100 percent.ā
Namajunas and Esparza were both members of The Ultimate Fighter Season 20. Both made it to the finale, and it was Esparza who walked away with the win over Namajunas and the belt wrapped around her waist. She later lost the belt to Joanna JÄdrzejczyk.
Namajunas’s skills have grown immensely in the years after her first fight with Esparza. Since this loss, she has had 11 fights in the UFC and has finished five of those opponents.
Since Esparza lost her title, Namajunas has won it, lost it, and won it again. She is continuing to prove that she is one of the best in the world at 115 pounds. She now holds wins over every other former strawweight champion except Esparza. If she can beat Esparza, perhaps she can claim the title of UFC strawweight GOAT.
Do you think Carla Esparza will have what it takes to dethrone Rose Namajunas when they meet for the second time?
With big upsets come big betting losses and wins. PeƱa has some words of wisdom for the people who bet on Nunes to win, especially a person who lost $300,000 according to Yahoo Sports.
āSorry that that man lost so much money,” PeƱa said. “He shouldāve bet on me. He shouldāve took that $20,000 and made $2 million because I heard somebody else made that amount.ā
Coming into the bout at UFC 269, people were seriously doubting PeƱa. Perhaps this is because she was 2-2 in her last four fights. But the new champion has her own theory on why people may have bet against her.
āI think probably the biggest thing is that I havenāt had these types of fights where you hit one punch and knock somebody out unconscious. So I think that my fights have kind of been grinding type of uglier fights that sometimes go the distance, sometimes end my way. Either way, itās either kill or be killed. And you know that Iām gonna either kill or be killed in there.
“And so I definitely think that they probably just haven’t seen a ton of highlights of me just one-KO punching people and thatās probably why they werenāt really on my side at all.ā
Dana White has shared his thoughts on the possibility of Nick Diaz fighting again.
The biggest comeback of the year belongs to Nick Diaz. After six years away from the UFC, Diaz made his return to the Octagon with a loss to Robbie Lawler at UFC 266. After the fight, Diaz seemed uncertain about his fighting future.
UFC President Dana White does not believe that Diaz should fight again and has explained why he feels this way.
“Regardless of how good [Nick Diaz] looked and what he did after such a huge layoff, I don’t think he should fight,” White told ESPN. “I don’t think Nick does it cause he loves it, I think Nick does it cause he has to do it. When I always talk about people sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic to go to a job they hate, that’s what I feel like when Nick Diaz is getting ready for a fight.”
Diaz’s last win in the UFC has back in 2011. He was suspended for five years after testing positive for marijuana. His return was met with excitement from fans, but Diaz himself seemed less than thrilled. In his own interview with ESPN prior to his fight with Lawler, he claimed he never liked fighting.
Following the loss to Lawler, Diaz appeared to have retired from MMA, but then quickly began asking for fights again. With the financial success of his brother Nate, perhaps Nick will be sticking around the UFC for a bit longer. Since his return, he has been looking for fights with both Leon Edwards and champion Kamaru Usman.
Diaz is 38 years old and began fighting professionally back in 2001. He is one of the OG’s of the UFC and has fought some of the best in the history of the UFC, including BJ Penn, Anderson Silva, and Georges St-Pierre. If he is done, he might find himself a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame.
“I want to apologize to my coaches, my family, and my fans for my performance,” Thompson wrote. “I’m motivated not broken.”
This is the second loss in a row for Thompson and the fourth out of his last six fights. Prior to the loss, Thompson was sitting in the #5 spot of the rankings. He will most likely move further down the list and further away from another title shot.
Thompson is 38 years old and has been fighting professionally since 2010. It seems retirement is far from his mind considering his “motivated” statement. Despite the setback, Thompson will continue to fight in the UFC as long as he can. He spoke recently in an interview about wanting to be the oldest fighter on the UFC roster.
āI want to break records, man. I wanna be the oldest guy who ever fought in the UFC. They are going to have to bring out a senior division or something,ā he said. āItās the plan. I will do this as long as my body will let me or when my dad says Iām done.ā
When Thompson finally decides to hang up his gloves, he will have plenty of other opportunities. He is a martial arts teacher for children at his family gym and has recently been involved in the Netflix Cobra Kai series.
Who do you want to see Stephen Thompson fight next after his UFC Vegas 45 loss?
UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal was allegedly pushed by a teenage fan at Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley 2 over the weekend in a now-viral video.
Masvidal was just hours removed from hosting the latest event with his Gamebred FC promotion when he decided to attend the boxing match in Tampa. He was ringside when one fan decided to push him from behind, nearly sparking an all-out brawl.
The fan immediately regretted the decision and allegedly screamed “I’m 17! Please, I’m 17!” to Masvidal following the push. Masvidal’s manager, Ibrahim Kawa would later explain what happened on his Twitter page.
Kid decides to push masvidal while masvidal was facing the ring. Quickly realizes thatās a big no no when masvidal turns around and starts screaming āIām 17, please Iām 17ā with his hands up. Kids I tell you smh https://t.co/Q75z9Ndj1f
Masvidal posted a cryptic warning to Paul on his Twitter page following the fights, calling him out for a bout in the UFC. The BMF champion has previously hinted at a move to boxing down the line, although it’s unclear if that will come to fruition.
Paul used his post-fight ring interview to indirectly call out Nate Diaz and Masvidal for future bouts. The two UFC stars allegedly left the arena immediately after the knockout.
Masvidal was originally slated to face Leon Edwards at UFC 269 before withdrawing due to an injury. He’s anticipating a return to the Octagon sometime in 2022.
Former UFC bantamweight title challenger Marlon Moraes will look to get back in the win column against Song Yadong at a March 12 event.
MMA Junkie was among the first to report news of the targeted matchup.
Moraes most recently fell to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 266 via second-round TKO. After nearly finishing the fight in the first round, Moraes appeared gassed, and Dvalishvili took advantage of it with a barrage on the feet and ground.
Moraes has also suffered tough losses to top contenders such as Rob Font and Cory Sandhagen, both of whom are in the upper echelon of the division.
With the bantamweight division being as stacked as it is in many eyes, Moraes desperately needs a win to remain in the conversation at 135 pounds.
Marlon Moraes Faces A Tough Task In Song Yadong
Song Yadong. Image Credit: UFC.com
Moraes will face a rising prospect in Yadong, a 24-year-old juggernaut who has won back-to-back fights against Julio Arce and Casey Kenney. He is widely regarded as one of the top prospects to watch in 2022 and beyond.
Yadong made his UFC debut in 2017 against Bharat Khandare, earning a first-round submission before winning four straight bouts. He’s earned wins over the likes of Vince Morales and Marlon Vera during his run in the promotion.
Moraes and Yadong are both fiery strikers who could provide a potential Fight of the Year matchup in the first quarter of 2022. The winner could get back into title contention at bantamweight.
What is your early prediction for Marlon Moraes vs. Song Yadong?
In the aftermath of his impressive co-main event victory over Stephen Thompson at UFC Vegas 45 this past weekend, Belal Muhammad revealed the racism he’d been subjected to by a member of the Apex crowd.
After his first opportunity to break into the welterweight elite ended in disaster thanks to an inadvertent eye poke at the hands of top-five contender Leon Edwards in March, Muhammad had his second chance to do so at the final UFC event of 2021. Opposite him in the Octagon was perennial contender and two-time title challenger, “Wonderboy.”
Following a similar blueprint to Gilbert Burns, who defeated Thompson earlier this year, Muhammad imposed his will, consistently taking the 38-year-old down and delivering damage on the ground and against the fence. After 15 minutes of control and dominance, “Remember The Name” took home a unanimous decision victory and will be ascended further up the division when the next rankings update arrives.
While he secured the win and established himself as a real contender at 170 pounds, the night wasn’t without some disappointment for Muhammad.
Muhammad: “It Was Some Drunk Hick”
Since introducing small crowds at the Apex, the facility that allowed the UFC to continue hosting events throughout the pandemic, the atmosphere has increased and provided a better feeling to Fight Nights. But on Saturday, not everyone let through the door behaved appropriately.
During his Octagon interview with Michael Bisping, Muhammad addressed someone in the audience who’d seemingly been sending abuse his way during his three-round fight with Thompson. During the post-fight press conference, the 33-year-old expanded on the racism he was subjected to from a “drunk hick” outside the Octagon.
“He was screaming out like, it was some drunk hick or something like that, screaming out racist Arabic words and stuff like that. I was just like, ‘Wonderboy, are these your boys?’ And he’s like, ‘Nah, nah, they ain’t my boys.’ I was like, ‘Alright, cool,’ and kept punching him again. It’s a small Apex, so you hear everything, and it was just weird. I was like, ‘Alright, I can see who you are.’ So I’m about to catch him on the Strip later today.”
There is certainly no room for racism in MMA, or any sport for that matter, not least when an athlete is putting their body on the line to entertain you. Given the size of the crowd and Muhammad’s knowledge of which individual used the terms, it shouldn’t be hard for the UFC to take action.
Should the abusive audience member be banned from the Apex for life?
Gregor Gillespie wants former UFC interim title champion Tony Ferguson as his next opponent.
Hot off a successful performance in his return, Gillespie wants to continue his climb up the lightweight ranks. In an attempt to do so, he has targeted the divisionās seventh-ranked fighter in Ferguson.
Gillespie took to social media earlier this week to call for the matchup. He noted the importance of his message, stating that it is rare for him to ever call for a specific fight.
āFor the last 15 fights, people have been pressuring me and annoying me to call someone out. I never wanted to, but I think itās time to play the game,ā said Gillespie in a Twitter clip. āI want my second callout to count, so Tony Ferguson, I think itās time for me to ankle pick you in that Octagon. What do you say?ā (h/t Sportskeeda)
What Gillespie vs. Ferguson Would Mean To Both Fighters
Image Credit: John Locher/AP
The theoretical fight offers Ferguson a chance to break a losing streak, putting him in the win column for the first time since his campaign towards a title shot in 2020. On the other hand, it gives Gillespie the opportunity to potentially climb numerous spots in the rankings, pushing him one step closer to the ultimate goal of becoming a champion.
The recent win for Gillespie was his first appearance in over a year. His prior fight was a loss against Kevin Lee in November 2019.
Ferguson is currently on a three-fight skid, although the losses have come against some of the best at lightweight. In 2020, Ferguson lost to Justin Gaethje and now-UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira. His last appearance saw him unfavored on the scorecards against Beneil Dariush.
Do you want to see Gregor Gillespie against Tony Ferguson? Who do you think would win?
UFC lightweight contender Justin Gaethje has questioned whether Dustin Poirier’s lucrative fights with Conor McGregor earlier this year may have hampered his performance against Charles Oliveira at UFC 269.
At the final pay-per-view of 2021, many expected Poirier to secure his place in contention for Fighter of the Year through a title crowning. In January, “The Diamond” got his 2014 loss to McGregor back by becoming the first man to knock the former two-division champion out. Six months later, the pair headlined their second event of the year. Poirier secured the trilogy victory after the Irishman broke his leg in the opening round.
Following two lucrative money fights, Poirier turned his attention back to the belt. He became the first man to challenge the reign of fellow promotional veteran Charles Oliveira at UFC 269.
The result has seemingly set the stage for new #1-ranked contender Gaethje to have his second crack at the undisputed gold in 2022. Following the main event fight that likely determined which individual he’ll be looking to dethrone next year, “The Highlight” discussed the action that unfolded in an interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto.
Gaethje suggested that Poirier’s previous outings in 2021 may have had a negative impact on his drive to succeed at UFC 269. Having earned millions with two triumphs over MMA’s biggest superstar, the Arizona native believes Poirier may have had less hunger than before this year.
“Luckily for me, I’ve just lost a fight two fights ago. You know, I’m back here in this position, but when you get to the top and you lose, you’re not sure if you’re gonna get back. And I’m not coming off two (fights) where I just made $10 million-plus, at the end of the day. (I have) the same goals I had from day one, which are to represent my family, my country, my town, to inspire the world, and to gain economic comfortability for me and my family through this sport.
“I don’t have that yet, so of course I’m still as hungry as ever. I can’t say that’s why Poirier wasn’t or was; I don’t think he wasn’t hungry, I just, I don’t know. I can’t imagine… I hope one day I know how hard it is to get ready for a fight coming off those two big paychecks.”
Gaethje Suggests Oliveira Had “More Hunger” At UFC 269
Whether the McGregor fights had a significant part to play or not, Gaethje, who was in attendance for Oliveira’s first title defense, believes the Brazilian had “more hunger” on the night. Nevertheless, “The Highlight” acknowledged there was more to the result than just that, also suggesting “Do Bronx” is simply better at this moment in time.
“You know, I think he’s (Oliveira) better right now (than Poirier), more hungry, per se, more specifically. That’s such a huge factor, and then the confidence, the fact the belt is around his waist, he’s representing Brazil on that level, it just makes this man that much harder to beat. I think that was a big piece of it.”
Having previously doubted the toughness and resolve of Oliveira, Gaethje will now look to prove himself right and do what Poirier failed to do when he gets his own shot at the Brazilian’s gold next year.
Do you agree with Justin Gaethje? Did Charles Oliveira have more hunger than Dustin Poirier at UFC 269?
UFC President Dana White is open to being an advisor to fellow promoter Khabib Nurmagomedov but thinks he’ll learn just how difficult it is for himself.
Nurmagomedov, a former UFC lightweight champion and arguably one of the greatest fighters ever, is the promoter of Eagle FC. The promotion has been in the headlines recently, as they signed former UFC interim lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee and UFC Hall of Famer Rashad Evans.
Nurmagomedov is off to an active start in this new career venture after retiring from MMA in 2020. However, White believes that sooner rather than later, Nurmagomedov will be confronted with the various challenges of being in the fight business.
āNo, I havenāt talked to Khabib about his promotion at all, but heās gonna find out what itās like to be on the other side, and itās not as fun as it seems,” White said at the UFC Vegas 45 post-fight press conference. “Heās gonna learn. If he doesnāt know, heās gonna know.ā
White was then asked if he would be open to helping Nurmagomedov ride the waves that come with fight promotion.
āListen, if he calls me and wants some advice, I would absolutely give him advice,” White said. “But yeah, heās gonna learn the hard way. [Chuckles]ā
Eagle FC will host its first U.S. event next month in Miami, FL. The card will be headlined by kickboxing legend Tyrone Spong taking on Sergei Kharitonov.
White has been one of the most prominent personalities in MMA since he began his reign as the UFC headman in the early 2000s. While White and Nurmagomedov are now technically competitors, it sounds like the two could be in communications sooner rather than later regarding promoter life.
What are your thoughts on Dana White’s remarks about Khabib ‘learning the hard way’ about promoting?
Sean Strickland is taking aim at all fighters who have failed USADA testing, especially TJ Dillashaw.
Sean Stickland is a fighter who is constantly in the news for things he says. Whether he is calling out fighters or starting drama, he is not one to hold back. His latest target is on all fighters who have failed drug testing. Strickland went on a Twitter rampage on Thursday to call out for stricter punishments for U.S Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) violations.
Only thing @usantidoping is good at is catching broke fighters who can't afford good shit lol! Steroids should be a life time ban.. @TJDillashaw is the absolute scum of the earth and should never be allowed to compete I'm the UFC again.. You ruined people's careers you're scum.
“Only thing @usantidoping is good at is catching broke fighters who can’t afford good shit lol! Steroids should be a lifetime ban,” Strickland wrote. “@TJDillashaw is the absolute scum of the earth and should never be allowed to compete I’m the UFC again. You ruined people’s careers you’re scum.”
Strickland is mentioning TJ Dillashaw by name in his Tweet. Dillashaw has just returned from a two-year suspension after failing a USADA drug test back in 2019. Since the USADA program was instated by the UFC back in 2015, 127 fighters have been handed suspension due to violations, according to the USADA website. Of those 127 fighters, the length of suspensions can range from four months to two years. Some fighters have been simply given a warning.
Nick Diaz was famously suspended for five years following his drug test failures but that was by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, not USADA. Strickland does not see these timeframes as sufficient enough punishments. He would like to see any fighter testing positive be banned for life. He even went in on Jon Jones as well. When asked about Jones specifically, Strickland responded.
Greatest fighter to ever step in the ufc… completely erased by doping
“Greatest fighter to ever step in the ufc completely erased by doping,” he wrote.
Jones was suspended by USADA for the use of Clomiphen and Letrozole back 2016. His suspension lasted one year. He was then suspended for 15 months in 2018 for Chlorine-substituted Anabolic Steroid.
Many fighters will just simply return to fighting following suspension. If it were up to Strickland, that would not be the case. Strickland has also recently targeted middleweight champion Israel Adesanya for what Strickland believes is physical evidence of drug use.
Do you think UFC fighters should receive harsher punishments for USADA violations?
Teddy Atlas has compared the recent win by Julianna PeƱa to some of the biggest upsets in combat sports history.
PeƱaās win against Amanda Nunes has shocked the combat sports world. PeƱa picked up a win last weekend in the UFC 269 co-main event, ending a back-and-forth battle in the second round with a rear-naked choke submission.
Many have since questioned where the result stands in the history of upsets in MMA. Is it one of the biggest shocks we have seen in the Octagon thus far?
Atlas, a famous boxing trainer and combat sports pundit, recently weighed in about what fights he could compare PeƱaās recent win against Amanda Nunes to. Racking his brain about the fight, he considered a ’90s boxing outcome and a more recent UFC result as two fair comparisons.
“The first comparison that comes to you is Buster Douglas and [Mike] Tyson. When you think of the enormity of the upset, you know,ā he said on his podcast The Fight with Teddy Atlas. āBut I was surprised [the commentators] didn’t mention one that was pretty damn enormous right in their own sport. And that was [Holly] Holm and [Ronda] Rousey. People forget how dominant Rousey was. I mean, Rousey was a monster. I mean, she was Godzilla and when she got stopped and beatenā¦ she got beat by Holly Holm, who was a former [boxer].” (h/t Sportskeeda)
Comparing PeƱa vs. Nunes To Upsets Of The Past
Image Credit: AP/Andy Brownbill
Douglasā 1990 win over Tyson is legendary and is one of the most notorious upsets in sports history. The fight saw Douglas not only enter as a 42-to-1 underdog but also make a comeback after being knocked down to later stop Tyson in the 10th round.
The comparison of Nunes and Rouseyās upset losses has been made by many recently. The results were both widely regarded as a massive upset, and both fights declared the end of dominant reigns at bantamweight.
Itās certainly up for debate where PeƱaās win ranks in the grand scheme of upsets. However, if thereās one thing for sure, itās that the bantamweight title fight will be discussed by fans for years to come.
Where would you rank PeƱaās upset victory over Amanda Nunes in MMA history?
MMA fighter Chris Roman experienced the highs and lows of the fight gameāand lifeā at Titan FC 73 on Friday night.
Roman was looking to win a third-straight fight when pitted against Asa Ten Pow in a featherweight bout on the card. But just seconds into the fight, Pow landed an illegal knee that knocked Roman unconscious, ending the bout immediately.
The bout was later ruled a no-contest, as Pow’s knee was clearly to a grounded Roman.
Chris Roman Turns Illegal Knockout Into A Memorable Night
After lying unconscious for a considerable amount of time, Roman managed to get back up to his feet and find his longtime girlfriend, UFC flyweight Roxanne Modafferi. Roman and Modafferi managed to turn the night around when Roman proposed to her in the middle of the Titan FC cage.
Following the incredible moment, Modafferi took to her Instagram to talk about her and Roman’s moment at Titan FC.
“My boyfriend took an illegal knee at 21 seconds into the fight and it got called a no-contest,” Modafferi said of Roman. “Iām sad for Chris that he didnāt get as much fight time, but then he proposed!
“I love you for the rest of our lives, Chris Roman!! The fight result sucked but it was kinda epic you proposed on a national broadcast.”
Roman has a 3-3 professional record in MMA and appears to be doing just fine despite the unfortunate ending to his fight at Titan FC 73. Modafferi will face Casey O’Neill in the last fight of her career at UFC 271 before retiring and moving on to the next chapter of her life with Roman.
What are your thoughts on Chris Roman’s wild Friday night?
Cody Garbrandt has had his share of drama over the years involving his peers, whether it be in heated interviews, on social media platforms, or even backstage at a UFC event. On this day two years ago, we ran a story covering one of these occurrences, this time involving Petr Yan.
The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.
On This Day Two Years Ago…
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DECEMBER 19, 2019, 1:20 PM]
Headline: Petr Yan Speaks On Backstage Altercation With Cody Garbrandt
To open up the main card of UFC 245 this past Saturday night (Dec. 14), Yan clashed with Team Alpha Male head honcho Urijah Faber. Garbrandt was in attendance to support his teammate and mentor Faber. It was a rough night for “The California Kid” as Yan knocked him out with a head kick in the third round.
Yan Explains Confrontation With Garbrandt
Footage surfaced of Yan and Garbrandt exchanging words backstage at UFC 245. The two bantamweights had to be separated. Speaking to MMAFighting.com, Yan said that the issues stem from a social media interaction.
āNothing really happened,ā he said of the backstage incident. āCody wrote, āGet this MFer,ā on Dana Whiteās Instagram page, I jokingly replied, āYou are next, No Chin,ā and he tried to act tough and crossed the line by commenting that he will see me tomorrow and smack me like a little ho. You all saw what happened when he saw me face to face: he was hiding his hands behind his back, acting all emotional and didnāt back up his words proving that he is all talk. He is a puppy – he barks, but doesnāt bite.ā
Garbrandt hasn’t been seen in action since March. He’s on a three-fight skid and has been stopped in all of those losses. As for Yan, he may see himself getting a title opportunity or a number one contender bout soon. He’s riding a nine-fight winning streak.
Belal Muhammad thinks he is next in line for a fight against UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman.
Riding the momentum of his win Saturday night against Stephen Thompson, Muhammad insisted on himself being the next name in line for the welterweight divisionās current champ. He made his case for a title fight following his win, stating exactly why he thinks other names donāt match up to a title fight including him.
Muhammad sees other challengers as not a good enough test for Usman. He thinks the current champ has received too much credit for his wins and isnāt as good as people make him out to be.
āMy streak is as long as Leon [Edwardsā] streak, and he already lost to Usman. Letās stop with these rematches. Letās stop with āoh he beat Colby [Covington] twice, he beat [Jorge] Masvidal twice, heās the GOAT.ā Nah, give him new blood,ā said Muhammad during the post-fight press conference Saturday.
Muhammad arguably scored the biggest win of his career over the weekend, putting on a dominant performance against āWonderboyā Thompson. His use of wrestling along with ground-and-pound allowed him a lopsided decision win that saw him earn a 10-8 round on all three judgeās scorecards.
Muhammad is now undefeated since 2019 with six wins in that time. Before Saturday, his most recent win came against veteran Demian Maia at UFC 263.
He should expect a jolt up the welterweight rankings next week, as Thompson entered the weekend ranked fifth in the division.
Usman has dominated the welterweight division since becoming champion in 2019 with a win over Tyron Woodley. He defended his belt for the fifth time in November, defeating Covington via decision in a rematch.
Do you think Belal Muhammad should be next in line for a title fight?
In 2021, UFC fans are well aware that Kamaru Usman is 2-0 against Jorge Masvidal, which includes one of the front-runners for knockouts of the year at UFC 261. On this day two years ago, however, not only had Usman and Masvidal not yet fought, but they were not even booked to fight.
In fact, Usman was only days removed from his first successful title defense against Colby Covington. Nevertheless, Masvidal shared his prediction for how a fight against Usman would go. With the benefit of hindsight, fans can weigh the forthcoming comments against the tide of reality.
The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.
Jorge Masvidal believes only casual fans feel Kamaru Usman has a chance against him.
Masvidal’s stock has never been higher and he has some options. “Gamebred” is riding a three-fight winning streak and is coming off a third-round TKO victory over Nate Diaz at UFC 244. Masvidal’s popularity has skyrocketed and potential bouts with Nick Diaz, Conor McGregor, and UFC welterweight champion Usman are all possibilities.
Masvidal Says He’d Embarrass Usman, Sets Sights On McGregor
Usman scored a fifth-round TKO victory over Colby Covington this past Saturday night (Dec. 14) to retain his UFC gold for the first time. In a series of video clips posted by Hans Molenkamp through Instagram Stories, Masvidal said he doesn’t believe Usman would stand a chance against him.
“Before I could even challenge for this belt, this is what a lot of people don’t know. A lot of people say that I’m an overnight success story and this and that. I say f*ck you. I say I’ve been here 16 years. You can do the math on how many nights of staying up, no sleep at the gym to finally get here. And now they’re saying that this one dude, this old dude from Africa is the best guy at my weight. I beg to differ man. I think I’d embarrass him to the point that people, they’d think that I went full heel on him from just the embarrassment I’d give him on TV because our skillsets are nowhere near the same. And if you’re hearing this right now and you’re thinking Kamaru has a chance, you’re the f*cking casual because my lineage runs 16 years back of being in this f*cking game.”
Masvidal made it clear that he is targeting Conor McGregor before anyone.
“The first guy to get his ass f*cking kicked and his teeth f*cking punched in is Conor. That’s the first guy that gonna get the floor wiped with. And then after that we’ll sit back and decide who’s next, you know?”
McGregor is scheduled to return to action on Jan. 18. He’ll take on Donald Cerrone in the main event of UFC 246 in Las Vegas. The bout will be contested in the welterweight division.
UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal has responded to Jake Paul after the polarizing YouTuber turned boxer called him out.
Masvidal is currently recovering from an injury he suffered during training camp in preparation for a fight at UFC 269 against Leon Edwards. He ended up withdrawing from the bout on short notice, and it’s unclear when he’s targeted to return to the Octagon.
“Shoutout to Frank Gore, shoutout to Tyron Woodley. Now to address that lil b***h,” Masvidal said. “Listen, you can’t afford me. The names that you mentioned, you can’t afford. I know what you pay. You talk a big game, and it’s bulls**t. You’re giving out free tickets to the fights. I fight for money, or to fight the best in the world. You’re neither. If you want to come to the UFC, sign a one-fight deal, I’ll break your jaw in front of the whole world. None of that boxing s**t where I can’t slam you on your spinal cord. If you want it, it’s here.”
The Jorge Masvidal/Jake Paul Feud Continues
Masvidal and Paul, once appearing to be cordial with one another, have developed quite the animosity over the past few months. Masvidal even helped Paul get ready for his fight against Ben Askren earlier this year.
Masvidal is arguably one of the best boxers in the UFC, as evidenced by his fights against Nate Diaz and Darren Till. While he hasn’t committed to an eventual transition to boxing, he’s previously stated that he would consider it for the right price tag.
It appears that the Paul/Masvidal hostility is beginning to heat up, and it could only be a matter of time until the two sides settle their differences in a fight environment.
Do you think we’ll ever see Jorge Masvidal vs. Jake Paul?
Former UFC bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes has responded to Julianna Pena’s controversial “mom champ” remarks.
Nunes fell to PeƱa in one of the most shocking UFC moments of 2021, submitting to a rear-naked choke in the second round. Nunes appeared winded early in the fight and arguably didn’t look like her usual dominant self.
After her historic win, PeƱa claimed that she, not Nunes, is the first “mom champ” in the UFC. Nunes and her wife Nina welcomed their first child in late 2020.
āThe UFC absolutely needs to create a new belt for me It needs to be āThe Baddest Mom on the Planet,ā PeƱa said during theĀ UFC 269 post-fight press conference. āAnd you know, Iām not trying to take away anything from Amanda. Sheās a wonderful mother. But I gave birth to my daughter, and I know that I feel like, for giving birth, I am the first mom champ. And that, to me, is also a little feather in the cap.ā
The MMA community has been divided on Pena’s controversial statements, and Pena has recently come out and claimed that she didn’t mean any ill-will with the comments and acknowledged Nunes is a great mother and a true “mom champ.”
During a recent Instagram post, Nunes addressed the controversy and aimed her statement directly at PeƱa.
“I may not have birthed my Daughter. If I wanted to I could have,” Nunes said. “I chose to watch from the outside. After going through the IVF procedure with Nina. It was truly heartbreaking to see many women break down in the waiting room knowing they would never be able to carry their own and have to take another direction. This doesnāt not make these women any less of a MOM than Nina or I. As a MOM champion as well, I feel this needed to be said, [Julianna Pena].”
The “Mom Champ” Controversy Could Fuel Nunes/Pena Rematch
Many of Nunes’ fans commented with messages of support on the post. PeƱa has yet to respond to Nunes’ post as of this writing.
Nunes and PeƱa are expected to run it back sometime in 2022, with both women publically agreeing to an immediate rematch. Nunes has hinted at taking some time off, and it’s unclear when she’s targeting her return.
The PeƱa vs. Nunes rivalry appears to just be getting started, and this out-of-competition turmoil could fuel the fire between these two women going forward. Whenever they end up fighting again, it’s almost certain that PeƱa’s comments will continue to be addressed publically.
What are your thoughts on the Amanda Nunes/Julianna PeƱa “Mom Champ” controversy?
