MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Cheyanne Vlismas Talks UFC Vegas 44 Win Weeks After COVID Bout

    UFC strawweight Cheyanne Vlismas had COVID-19 just weeks before her win at UFC Vegas 44 over Mallory Martin and she bet on herself to fight.

    Vlismas alluded to personal challenges, trials, and tribulations leading up to her impressive performance against Martin that took home Fight of the Night. While she wouldn’t get into details regarding some of the issues she went through, she revealed that she tested positive for COVID just weeks before the fight.

    Remarkably, Vlismas was able to garner the strength needed to compete as she earned a unanimous decision win on another big stage. She most recently defeated Gloria de Paula in her UFC debut earlier this year.

    During her UFC Vegas 44 post-fight press conference, Vlismas spoke about the various challenges she went through just to get to the fight.

    “I was a COVID patient just two weeks ago,” Vlismas said. “My best friends, my parents didn’t want me to fight. I was throwing up, and I didn’t know if I was going to heal. But I believed in my skills, my team and went on there and executed. My parents thought I was nuts to go out and compete. I couldn’t even breathe at one point, but I told myself that I could do it.”

    Cheyanne Vlismas Adds Another Elite Striker At Strawweight

    UFC Vegas 44: Speed, Striking of Cheyanne Vlismas Too Much for Mallory Martin
    Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

    The fact that Vlismas was able to get back to training, nonetheless fighting, so soon after testing positive for COVID-19 is pretty remarkable. Many MMA fighters such as Diego Sanchez and Jim Miller have suffered from the virus this year.

    Vlismas doesn’t lack confidence entering the Octagon. She’s a potential up-and-coming star at 115 pounds with lightning-fast striking to go with a solid ground game.

    Vlismas has the opportunity to face another tough contender for her next Octagon appearance and plans on seizing the moment and making her way up the strawweight ranks.

    What were your thoughts on Cheyanne Vlismas’ win at UFC Vegas 44?

  • Julianna Peña Predicts “Very Long Night” In UFC 269 War

    Julianna Peña says Amanda Nunes shouldn’t be expecting another comfortable first-round win when they meet in the Octagon.

    After defending her featherweight gold at UFC 250 and 259, Nunes will be returning to 135 pounds this Saturday when Peña becomes the latest challenger to the dominant two-division reign of the “Lioness.” Despite going 2-2 in her last four bouts, which includes defeats to Valentina Shevchenko and Germaine de Randamie, Peña secured a title shot after an exchange with the Brazilian on social media following the champ’s last fight.

    The #3-ranked women’s bantamweight was last in action at UFC 257. A third-round submission victory over Sara McMann brought her back into the win column and was ultimately enough for her to earn a championship opportunity.

    UFC on Twitter: "The UFC BW title is back on the books for December ? ? @Amanda_Leoa and @VenezuelanVixen are set to square off at #UFC269. https://t.co/ANSTPeqyYX" / Twitter

    While many have suggested Nunes is set for another short night at the office, similar to her two-minute submission victory over Megan Anderson last time out, Peña sees the fight playing out very differently.

    While speaking with Jim Varsallone, “The Venezuelan Vixen” suggested her fight with Nunes will go long and be competitive. The 31-year-old went on to add that she’s preparing for a war against the most dominant woman in MMA history.

    “You can predict everything. You can predict the sky’s gonna be pink tomorrow. But at the end of the day, you’re not gonna know until you make it to that point. And when it’s all said and done, then, you’ll be able to say oh, this, this, and look like Nostradamus.

    Julianna Peña
    Photo via Instagram @venezuelanvixen

    “But at the end of the day, I’m not guaranteeing anything other than she is not gonna be in some fight where it’s gonna go a minute and it’s gonna be this gigantic blowout. Absolutely not. It’s going to be a very long night for both of us, and I’m expecting a long, tough, grueling fight. And that’s what I’m preparing for. I’m preparing for war,” said Peña.

    Nunes’ latest title defense won’t be the only championship fight on the UFC 269 card. Her clash with Peña will be followed by a lightweight championship clash between Charles Oliveira (c) and Dustin Poirier in the PPV’s main event.

    Do you think Julianna Peña has what it takes to dethrone Amanda Nunes at UFC 269?

  • Rafael Fiziev Admits Head Kick KO Over Brad Riddell Was Bittersweet

    UFC lightweight Rafael Fiziev earned a highlight knockout over Brad Riddell at UFC Vegas 44, but he felt conflicted after beating his longtime friend.

    Fiziev and Riddell are former training partners at Tiger Muay Thai gym in Thailand. While the two agreed to remain friends regardless of the outcome at UFC Vegas 44, Fiziev and Riddell knew their matchup would be a bit unorthodox and uncomfortable.

    Fiziev said earlier on UFC Vegas 44 media day that he didn’t anticipate a lot of difference with fighting Riddell as opposed to his past opponents such as Bobby Green. But after securing a vicious head kick knockout over Riddell, he felt mixed emotions about his performance.

    “I feel uncomfortable when I started,” Fiziev admitted in the post-fight press conference. “Not too much. I understand this is a real fight. Maybe he would knock me out, but it’s still a little bit uncomfortable.”

    Fiziev showed some remorse despite earning arguably the biggest win of his young UFC career.

    “I don’t know if I’m sad or I’m happy because it’s not so good when your friend’s like that,” Fiziev continued. “Of course, I’m happy and sad, and happy. I don’t know.”

    Rafael Fiziev Has Been On A Roll Since Joining The UFC

    With the victory over Riddell, Fiziev has now won five fights in a row since joining the UFC in 2019. After a tough loss to Magomed Mustafaev in 2019, he’s earned dominant wins over the likes of Marc Diakiese, Green, and Renato Carneiro.

    Fiziev’s win over Riddell will more than likely propel him further up the lightweight rankings. However, he is still dealing with the emotions of competing against his good friend on the sport’s highest stage.

    Who would you like to see Rafael Fiziev fight next?

  • Colby Covington Stands By Brazilians “Filthy Animals” Comment

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington isn’t backing down from calling Brazilians “filthy animals” four years after his comments.

    Covington most recently fell to UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 268 in an epic title rematch two years in the making. His journey to the top of the welterweight division has been impressive, but not without controversy outside of the Octagon.

    Following his 2017 win over Demian Maia in Brazil, he cut quite the blistering promo and infamously called the country “a dump” and the people “filthy animals”. This was followed by immediate backlash and nearly resulted in all-out chaos as Covington attempted to leave the country.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Covington spoke about when his hate of Brazil started and accused Rafael dos Anjos of doping ahead of their bout in 2018.

    “Yeah, definitely after the RDA (Rafael dos Anjos) fight,” Covington said. “When I was fighting him in his prime and he was at his absolute best. He was on all Brazilian vitamins. He was juiced up, hungry to defend his country, Brazil.”

    “You know those people are filthy animals,” Covington continued. “I called that place a dump because it was a dump. I didn’t enjoy my experience. There, they treated me like shit. They yelled mean things at me said I was gonna die.”

    Covington has most recently picked a fight with his former teammate and close friend, Jorge Masvidal. The two top welterweights could be on a collision course as fans have clamored not only for a fight between the two but also for both men to coach the next season of The Ultimate Fighter.

    Covington’s rise to one of the UFC’s most polarizing figures seemed to begin with his comments about Brazil and has catapulted him to a pay-per-view star. A matchup with Masvidal could be the next chapter in his controversial journey to the top of the UFC ranks.

    What do you think should be next for Colby Covington?

  • Chael Sonnen Thinks Brock Lesnar Won Because Of Size, Not Skill

    Former UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen thinks Brock Lesnar, like his old rival Anderson Silva, absolutely sucks.

    Sonnen has never been one to hold back his thoughts on MMA fighters and the latest headlines around the sport. He’s transitioned nicely from a decorated fighting career to a career in the booth, hosting multiple ESPN shows and his own podcast.

    Sonnen, like Lesnar, knows a thing or two about promotion. Lesnar is one of the biggest stars in professional wrestling and has played the role of a heel well in both the WWE and the UFC.

    But aside from his marketing skills, Sonnen doesn’t think that Lesnar amounted to much inside the Octagon. During a recent segment on his Beyond the Fight YouTube show, Sonnen said Lesnar’s success in the UFC was mostly due to his sheer size and physical gifts.

    “Nobody else talks about it,” Sonnen said. “I bring it up to try to prove a point. When you have Francis Ngannou who’s 260 pounds of steel and you put him in with Stipe Miocic who’s 230 pounds, there are 30 pounds the right way disadvantage to Stipe. Brock Lesnar does not enjoy my company. I’ve been around Brock and he’s been a gentleman. But I can tell he’d rather be anywhere else but me.

    Brock Lesnar
    Brock Lesnar

    “But one point that I make about Brock, it’s not meant to (slight) him. Brock was not a very good wrestler. That’s true. Brock never had Olympic aspirations. Brock was 265 pounds of steel. In the NCAA finals, he took on someone who weighed 220 pounds. There is a 45-pound weight discrepancy. It’s a fair point by me and it irritates Brock. But I’m right. I am right when I say it about Francis.”

    Chael Sonnen, Brock Lesnar Are Both Former NCAA Wrestling Stars

    Lesnar exceeded the expectations of many fans when he earned the UFC’s heavyweight title upon signing with the promotion. In what was seen as a sideshow originally, Lesnar developed into one of the biggest stars in the UFC in the late 2000s.

    Sonnen and Lesnar were both standout wrestling during their times in the UFC, and going all the way back to their times competing on the NCAA level. Lesnar earned the 2000 NCAA heavyweight wrestling title at Minnesota, while Sonnen enjoyed moderate success in the Pac-10 conference at Oregon.

    Lesnar and Sonnen are both retired from MMA, despite rumors that Lesnar was interested in a potential return to compete for the UFC heavyweight title. Sonnen left the fight game after his loss to Lyoto Machida at Bellator 222 in 2019.

    Do you agree with Chael Sonnen?

  • Clay Guida Wants To Run It Back With Nate Diaz After Comeback Win

    UFC lightweight Clay Guida feels now is the perfect time to get a rematch against Nate Diaz after his improbable win at UFC Vegas 44.

    It was looking to be a disastrous night for Guida against Leonardo Santos after he got caught with some hard strikes on the feet and got dropped early in the fight. After somehow surviving some big blows to the head, he was able to grapple his way out of trouble and survive through the first round.

    Santos appeared to be gassed out entering Round 2, and Guida took advantage of the opportunity and sunk in a rear-naked choke for the comeback win. It snapped a recent skid of losses in three of his previous four fights.

    During his UFC Vegas 44 post-fight press conference, Guida said he still wants another shot at Diaz before their careers are over.

    “We just wanna stay on the gas pedal, stay active, and there’s still one dude out there with our name on him,” Guida said. “I beat him once, I’ll give him another chance. Nate Diaz, I know you’re out there. You can’t run, you can’t hide. I know you’re gonna turn the fight down, you probably won’t even know we want to fight you again. But if you ever want to do it again, buddy, I’ll give you a shot. Let me know.”

    Clay Guida Earned A Close Win Over Nate Diaz At UFC 94

    Guida has been a mainstay in the UFC’s lightweight division since he made his UFC debut back in 2006 at UFC 64. Coincidentally, his first UFC loss came against Din Thomas in 2007, and Thomas was part of the broadcast crew for his UFC Vegas 44 victory.

    Guida has fought most of the top names that have come through the lightweight division; including Diego Sanchez, Anthony Pettis, and Rafael dos Anjos. Despite his long career in the promotion, he has yet to fight for a title.

    Since their first fight, Diaz has emerged as a top star in the UFC and has recently focused on a run at welterweight. He most recently fell to Leon Edwards earlier this year at UFC 263.

    It’s unclear whether or not Guida still has it in him to make another title run, but Diaz is still searching for an opponent for his UFC return. A throwback matchup between Guida and Diaz could be the fight to make if both sides want to make it happen.

    Would you be interested in seeing Clay Guida vs. Nate Diaz 2?

  • Dana White Shares “Savage” Julianna Peña Story Ahead Of UFC 269

    UFC bantamweight contender Julianna Peña pleaded to Dana White for a shot at Amanda Nunes, and she’ll get her chance at UFC 269.

    Peña will face Nunes in her first shot at the UFC bantamweight title after years in the promotion. She most recently defeated Sara McMann by submission at UFC 257.

    White gave Peña a shot in the UFC after she earned a dominant victory over Jessica Rakoczy on The Ultimate Fighter: Season 18.

    Peña hasn’t mince words when it comes to her thoughts about her chances against Nunes in the UFC 269 co-main event. During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, White praised Peña for her confidence and approach to the upcoming title fight.

    “I love that about Julianna Peña,” White said. “She’s a savage. She is an absolute lunatic. She got in a fistfight with a bouncer in a bar, OK? She got into a full-blown fistfight with a bouncer in a bar, and the bouncer called the police. Let’s put it that way. [LAUGHS] Julianna is a fighter, and there’s no doubt in my mind that she’s gonna come in and go to war with Amanda Nunes. How that turns out, we will see (on) Saturday.”

    Julianna Peña Is Looking To Prove To Dana White That She Can Win

    Pena has gone off on Nunes in a series of recent interviews leading up to her fight with Nunes. The two top bantamweights were originally scheduled to fight at UFC 265, but Nunes withdrew from the bout on short notice. Pena has said that Nunes can’t claim the status of the women’s MMA GOAT without fighting her.

    White has been very vocal when it comes to Nunes’ dominance inside the octagon. He’s called Nunes the undisputed female GOAT and has said that other fighters such as Kayla Harrison and Cris “Cyborg” Justino don’t belong in the same discussion as her.

    What are your predictions for Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Peña at UFC 269?

  • Aldo After UFC Vegas 44 Win: No One Will Stop Me From Being Champion

    Former UFC featherweight champion José Aldo will stop at nothing for another shot at the bantamweight title before his career is over.

    Aldo earned arguably the biggest win since moving down to bantamweight over Rob Font at UFC Vegas 44. Despite some early struggles in the fight, he controlled the pace on the feet throughout and battered Font badly as the bout went on.

    Aldo’s kickboxing was in full force on Saturday night, as he landed hard combinations to all targets. In rounds 4 and 5, he knocked down and nearly finished the fight twice before Font was somehow able to recover and survive.

    Following the win, Aldo took to Instagram to thank his fans and look ahead to what’s next in his illustrious career.

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

    “Thank you to my fans, thank you Brazil!” Aldo posted. “My team and my family! I’m after my dream, I want to be the champion of the [division] and no one will stop me!”

    José Aldo Could Get TJ Dillashaw Or A Title Shot Next

    Entering UFC Vegas 44, Aldo earned back-to-back impressive wins over Marlon Vera and Pedro Munhoz. After dropping his first two bantamweight outings to Petr Yan and Marlon Moraes, he’s rebounded nicely and appears more comfortable with the weight cut to 135 pounds.

    Aldo called out former bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw following his win, and the timing could make a lot of sense for both men to fight. Yan will face Aljamain Sterling in a title rematch next unless it falls through once again.

    Regardless of who Aldo ends up competing against next, the fact he’s able to still compete amongst the elite in the UFC is incredible.

    Who would you like to see José Aldo fight next?

  • Darren Till Sends Message To Troubled Youth After Recent UK Stabbing

    UFC middleweight contender Darren Till sent a powerful message to troubled youth in his community in light of a recent tragedy in Liverpool.

    Professional athletes often take the opportunity to use their platforms to improve their locale, and Till is no different. Nine years after suffering a brutal stabbing, he took the time to encourage children to turn to outlets such as MMA instead of a life of crime.

    “9 years ago today I was stabbed twice in the back of my ribs,” Till posted on Instagram. “The great city of Liverpool has recently been shook up by the tragic death of the young and beautiful Ava White. Put down the knives, kids and ask ur mums and dads to take you or take yourselves down to the local gyms. Best thing you will ever do is step foot into a gym with a nice healthy environment and a good mentor in and out of the gym. You won’t regret it.”

    Darren Till Continues To Inspire Others In His Hometown

    Till has become quite the fan-favorite since making his UFC debut back in 2015. He’s well-known for his comedic social media presence but also takes the time to engage with his fans and leave an impact in his community.

    Hundreds of Liverpool residents gathered in the city this weekend for a vigil for stabbing victim Ava White, a 12-year-old schoolgirl. The investigation into the tragic incident is ongoing.

    Till is looking to get back in the win column in the Octagon after losing four of his last five fights overall. He most recently fell to Derek Brunson at UFC Vegas 36 by submission, later alleging that he had suffered a devastating knee injury just weeks before the fight.

    It’s unclear as to when Till will return to fighting as he continues to get his health in order, but he’s currently using the time off to make a positive impact in his city.

    What are your thoughts on Darren Till’s comments?

  • Chandler: I Never Want To Fight Like At UFC 268 Ever Again

    Michael Chandler has learned his lesson following UFC 268.

    Michael Chandler and Justin Gaethje put on a Fight of the Year contender at UFC 268, but it was too much for Chandler. The main card opening bout went the entire three-round distance.

    Gaethje and Chandler went hard and took just as much damage as they gave. Both men were transported to the hospital following the fight. Now a month removed, Chandler is reflecting back on the war.

    “I don’t want to fight that way ever again, but 95% of the fight was just a good ol’ fashioned passionate scrap, you know?” Chandler explained on the Bussin’ With The Boys Youtube channel. “5% of it was a little bit of, ‘Dude, what are you doing, man?’ Of course, I’ve gotten criticism like, ‘Hey, if you would have been a little more tactical and not try to put on a show, you would have won the fight.”

    Following the loss, Chandler has been open about his performance and the damage he took in the fight. She shared a wholesome video of himself explaining to his son why he looked the way he did following the fight. Chandler has publically gone over details of the fight, and although it didn’t go his way, he is proud of his performance.

    “But truthfully, I’m not just saying this. This sounds like something a loser of a fight would say,” Chandler said. “But it’s very genuine when I say it was the first time in my career Mike Beltran, the referee, grabbed my wrist, and it was that moment when I was about to get my hand raised or keep it down while my opponent got his hand raised or kept it down. And at that moment, when he grabbed my wrist, I was like, ‘Oh, shoot. There’s gonna be a winner and a loser right now.’ First time in my life.’”

    Chandler is currently healing up and assessing his next move. He has been targeting a fight with Conor McGregor. Whatever his next move is, Chandler still holds Gaethje in high regard, and perhaps we will see these two fight again one day, however, it should be different the next time around.

    Do you think the UFC 268 bout between Michael Chandler and Justin Gaethje is the best fight of the year?

  • The Pulse of MMA: Fans React To José Aldo’s Victory Over Rob Font

    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 result of UFC Vegas 44’s main event between José Aldo and Rob Font.

    José Aldo def. Rob Font via Unanimous Decision At UFC Vegas 44

    Jose Aldo's power too much for Rob Font at UFC Vegas 44

    Last night at UFC Vegas 44, José Aldo picked up his third consecutive victory when he defeated Rob Font via unanimous decision. Font brought the fight to him but Aldo stood strong and struck back with more firepower behind his shots. You can check out the official scorecards from the bout below.

    Judges Derek Cleary and Junichiro Kamijo gave all five rounds to Aldo while Sal D’Amato gave the third to Font. If you missed the action, you can catch our highlights from yesterday’s event right here.

    After the bout in the Octagon interview, Aldo reiterated what he said leading into the bout, which is that he would fancy a fight against T.J. Dillashaw next. With Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling on a collision course to settle their unfinished business, Dillashaw is unbooked and should be ready to return from knee surgery in early 2022.

    Aldo’s peers have reacted to his win over Font last night, but what about the Pulse of MMA? Check out the raw, unfiltered reactions of what fans had to say about the UFC Vegas 44 main event below!

    https://twitter.com/MMAWillis_/status/1467376852247334914
    https://twitter.com/Stek02/status/1467378971264356354

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

  • Michael Bisping Open To Joining AEW Pro Wrestling: “Give Me A Call”

    Michael “The Three Count” Bisping might just be making his pro wrestling debut if All Elite Wrestling (AEW) comes a-callin’.

    Historically, MMA and pro wrestling have always been linked, both in terms of business formula and, on many occasions, the talent.

    Names like Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, and Don Frye were among the first fighters to wear both hats, followed by Lesnarmania that ran wild through the UFC, and more recent crossover examples like Bobby Lashley and Jake Hager.

    There has particularly been a surge of MMA talent dappling in rasslin’ world as of late, with several fighters over at American Top Team appearing regularly on AEW. This includes former UFC heavyweight champions Junior dos Santos and Andrei Arlovski, who have made their in-ring pro wrestling debuts with the promotion recently.

    Join Us: Every AEW Faction Ranked
    Image Credit: AEW

    Michael Bisping has taken notice of the ATT invasion of AEW, and he may just want to throw his name in the ring as well (h/t PWTorch).

    “Hey, never say never, but I do know that professional wrestling, whilst it is a performance, it is very tough on the body” said Bisping on Radican Worldwide. “My body went through the wringer in the UFC, but hey listen… give me a call, give me a call. There you go. It looks like a lot of fun and I’m so happy to see Junior dos Santos and other members of the American Top Team making a successful transition into something else after fighting.”

    One essential ingredient to making it in the rasslin’ business is knowing how to work a microphone. This is one thing Bisping has never struggled at. Whether it’s tearing his opponents down a peg before a fight with his trash talk or crushing it in the commentating booth or podcast studio, Bisping has always had a way with words.

    That being said, if the 42-year-old former UFC champion decides to take up another post-retirement project, pro wrestling could certainly be a viable option.

    “As a former athlete myself, a fighter, a lot of fighters or athletes struggle with what they are going to do post-fight career,” said Bisping. “I’m always happy to see someone else thriving and that’s why for myself when I was professional athlete I was always terrified as to what I was going to do afterwards, so things like this I’m forever grateful for. I’m truly passionate about my acting career.

    Michael Bisping is 'working towards' a movie career as UFC legend admits 'I'm not tempted to put the gloves back on'

    “Obviously, I still got a long long way to go, but I study hard and do everything I can to be the best version of myself that I can. Fortunately, I got a few roles lined up for next year and so far so good, but yeah if AEW needed a one-eyed Brit, give me a call.”

    If Bisping doesn’t want all that wear and tear on his body but still wants to leave his mark in professional wrestling, he could always just stick to the smack talk as a heel manager. And if things turn violent, “The Count” would be more than capable of taking care of himself in a very real way, believe you me.

    Do you think Michael Bisping would be a good fit in the world of professional wrestling?

  • UFC Vegas 44 Bonuses: Rafael Fiziev Gets Bonus For Wheel Kick KO Win

    The UFC Vegas 44 bonuses have been released.

    The event took place in Las Vegas, Nevada at the UFC Apex facility. Headlining the card was a clash between Rob Font and Jose Aldo. This fight saw Font seem to be a few steps quicker than Aldo, who was taken down by Font briefly in the first round. Font was also moving forward. Aldo landed a big strike that dropped Font to end the round. Aldo rocked him in the second round with an uppercut. Font was landing his jab at will. In the third round, Aldo defended a takedown and got on top. Aldo started to attack the legs. Aldo dropped him with a knee strike and got on top to start the fourth round. Font had some nasty swelling to his left eye. Aldo looked tired to start the fifth round and they clinched up against the fence. Aldo dropped him in the middle of the round before taking Font’s back. Aldo got the decision win. 

    The co-main event saw more action between Brad Riddell and Rafael Fiziev.

    This fight saw Riddell being hesitant in the first round to throw strikes although he was more willing to do leg kicks. In the second round, they both let their hands go, which resulted in Riddell being busted open on his left temple and a cut under his right eye. The finish came in the third round when Fiziev landed a wheel kick. 

    Peep the full list of performance bonus winners below.

    ‘Fight of the Night’: Cheyanne Vlismas vs. Mallory Martin

    ‘Performance of the Night’: Chris Curtis

    ‘Performance of the Night’: Clay Guida

    ‘Performance of the Night’: Jamahal Hill

    ‘Performance of the Night’: Rafael Fiziev

    UFC Vegas 44 Results: Rob Font vs. Jose Aldo, Brad Riddell vs. Rafael Fiziev

    Were the right choices made for the UFC Vegas 44 bonuses?

  • [ARCHIVES] Dana White Confirms Verbal Agreement With Mayweather

    [MMA NEWS ARCHIVES]

    Dana White and Floyd Mayweather apparently came to an agreement as covered in the following story from 2019. What the precise nature of the verbal agreement was, to this day, remains worthy of an episode of Unsolved Mysteries. The following article was published on this day two years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Two Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DECEMBER 5, 2019, 6:52 PM]

    Dana White has confirmed that he and Floyd Mayweather have reached a verbal agreement.

    Last month, Mayweather had the combat sports world buzzing when he teased that something was in the works with the UFC president. “Money” and White had a conversation during an NBA game. Mayweather followed that up by claiming he was coming out of retirement in 2020.

    White Claims Verbal Agreement In Place With Mayweather

    White appeared on The Jim Rome Show and revealed that he’s hoping to put pen to paper in March (via MMAWeekly).

    “It’s true. We sat at the Clippers game. We started talking and we literally got a deal done right there on the court. And if things play out the way things Floyd and I think they will, I will probably sit down with Al Haymon (Mayweather’s manager) in March and get a deal on paper.

    “If everything goes our way, Floyd and I would be doing something in October or November (of 2020).”

    Mayweather retired from professional boxing with a perfect 50-0 record. He wrapped up his career with a 10th-round TKO victory over former UFC “champ-champ” Conor McGregor. MMA News will keep you up to speed on further updates on the Dana White-Floyd Mayweather talks as they become available.

  • Jon Jones Directs Remixed Bible Quote At His Detractors

    Jon Jones has engaged in many Twitter feuds over the years: Chael Sonnen, Daniel Cormier, Israel Adesanya, etc., but he has also never shied away from firing back at his collective mass of detractors.

    A case can be made that no fighter in UFC history has been as criticized as Jon Jones. It can’t be denied that Jones has given his detractors plenty of fuel over the years, including numerous run-ins with law enforcement and multiple atypical drug tests.

    In the case of the drug tests, though Jones was always cleared by an independent body of any intentional cheating, the fact remains that, at best, he used poor judgment to allow such discrepancies to occur, and his critics have never let him hear the end of it and have often discredited his accomplishments as a whole.

    All the while, Jones has always had plenty to say about—and directly to—his detractors. In regards to the frequent cocaine jokes made about him ever since a past drug test revealed usage, Jones pointed out that there is no telling what these same fans are into, yet nobody knows because they are not famous.  

    Early Saturday morning, Jones would reiterate a similar sentiment in his remix of a famous Bible quote.

    “Let he who was not famous when they did something dumb be glad no one cared,” Jones wrote.

    Most recently, Jones criticisms have perhaps been at an all-time high after recent allegations of domestic violence against his fiancée. Jones is set to appear in court on January 31 to answer to these charges.

    Someday, Jones intends to put all of these experiences into a book, where he’d have the free space he needs to share all of his thoughts without character limits and with as many quotes he can think of.

    “Yeah, I’m going to write one hell of a book one day. Been around the block a few times,” Jones wrote in response to a fan complimenting his advice.

    Jon Jones is currently expected to resume his UFC career in early 2022 by making his long-awaited debut in the heavyweight division.

    If Jon Jones wrote a book about his life story, would you read it?

  • Fighters React To Jose Aldo’s Decision Win Over Rob Font At UFC Vegas 44

    Rob Font vs. Jose Aldo lived up to expectations. 

    The two fighters met in a bout on Saturday night (December 4) at the UFC Vegas 44 event from Las Vegas, Nevada at the UFC Apex facility.

    Font did get a takedown, but it was brief, in the first round. Font kept moving forward while Aldo was looking to counter strike. Aldo landed a big strike that dropped Font to end the round. In the second round, Aldo landed a big time uppercut, but Font came back with combos and the jab. In the third round, Aldo defended a takedown and got on top.

    Aldo was landing some serious leg kicks. The start of the fourth round, Aldo dropped him with a knee strike and got on top. In the fifth round, they did some clinch work. Aldo dropped him in the middle of the round before taking Font’s back. Aldo got the decision win. 

    Peep the highlights of the fight courtesy of the UFC’s official Twitter account:

    Let’s see how the fighters reacted to the outcome of this fight: 

    Font had won his last 5 out of 6 bouts and was on a four-fight winning streak heading into this fight. He ripped off wins over the likes of Sergio Pettis in December 2018 by decision, Ricky Simón via decision in December 2019 and a KO win over Marlon Moraes in December 2020. He most recently beat Cody Garbrandt by decision in May 2021. 

    Aldo entered this fight with a 4-5 record in his previous nine bouts with two of those losses coming to Max Holloway. He suffered a decision loss to Alexander Volkanovski at the UFC 237 pay-per-view event from the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. He dropped a split decision loss to Marlon Moraes at UFC 245. He got TKO’d by Petr Yan for the vacant bantamweight title at the UFC 251 pay-per-view event from Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island aka Fight Island. Aldo then beat Marlon Vera at UFC Vegas 17 in December 2020. In his previous fight, he beat Pedro Munoz by decision at UFC 265. 

    UFC Vegas 44 Results: Rob Font vs. Jose Aldo, Brad Riddell vs. Rafael Fiziev

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC Vegas 44. We’ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

  • Fighters React To Rafael Fiziev’s Wheel Kick KO Win At UFC Vegas 44

    Brad Riddell vs. Rafael Fiziev was a solid co-headliner with a special finish. 

    The two fighters met in a bout on Saturday night (December 4) at the UFC Vegas 44 event from Las Vegas, Nevada at the UFC Apex facility..

    The first round had a slow start with Riddell being various cautious and not throwing a lot of volume although he was landing some leg kicks. However, Riddell did get in a nice combo to end the frame. They started to let their hands go in the second round. Brad had a cut under right eye and was bleeding from his left temple. Riddell got the brief takedown in the third round, but let him back up. Fiziev finished the fight with a wheel kick. 

    Peep the highlights of the fight courtesy of the UFC’s official Twitter account:

    Riddell entered this fight on a six-fight winning streak with his promotional debut going down at the UFC 243 pay-per-view event where he picked up a decision win over Jamie Mullarkey. 

    Fiziev entered the fight with a pro-MMA record of 10-1 and was riding a four-fight winning streak including his most recent win over Bobby Green by decision at UFC 265. 

    Let’s see how the fighters reacted to the outcome of this fight: 

    UFC Vegas 44 Results: Rob Font vs. Jose Aldo, Brad Riddell vs. Rafael Fiziev

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC Vegas 44. We’ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

  • Michael Bisping Explains How Commentators Affect The Judges’ Decisions

    Michael Bisping is revealing some trade secrets from inside the UFC APEX.

    Since last year the UFC has held the majority of the events inside the small UFC APEX Center. The intimate location allowed the UFC to safely hold events throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. With no fans allowed, the first thing many noticed was how quiet it was during the live fights. The question that began to rise was did that quiet have an effect on the outcome of the fight?

    Michael Bisping has been cage side for many of these APEX fights and feels that the commentary, his included, could sway the decisions of the judges. He spoke about this on his Believe You Me Podcast.

    “So there is a potential for that. However, if the judge was good at his job and had his own opinion and if he had a strong mind, confidence in his pick, confidence in his opinion,” Bisping explained. “If he knew the sport and he was breaking it down then he should ignore us anyway. But I guess we are all human beings. You know what I mean.”

    Bisping became a color commentator for the UFC back in 2018 following a long fight career. He is outspoken on the mic and likes to air his opinions. Since the UFC Apex began to house these events some fighters claimed that they could hear the broadcast team and that they made some adjustments accordingly. If the fighters can hear then probably so can everyone else.

    “If you are torn between, ‘oh, I’m not sure, it was close, this guy, that guy’. And DC [Daniel Cormier] arguing the takedown and I’m like, ‘Well no, he got back to his feet’. And he hears that, hey listen, judges are human beings,” Bisping continued. “I don’t know, that’s a really interesting question. The judges are kind of far from us. But still I would assume in the early days, now I feel that that’s eradicated. There’s a bit of a crowd, there’s more atmosphere, it is louder.”

    Lately, a few fighters have been called out for biased commentary. Among those who were blamed were Daniel Cormier, Paul Felder, and Joe Rogan. As a former fighter, there are bound to be certain feelings towards the other fighters. Either they have fought one another or maybe trained together. In the end, commentators are there to give info during the fight. The judges should be making their own decisions without influence.

    Do you think the judges are being influenced by what the commentary team is saying?

  • [ARCHIVES] Aldo Says “POS” McGregor Didn’t Keep His Word

    [MMA NEWS ARCHIVES]

    The following article was published five years ago, where tonight’s UFC Vegas 44 headliner José Aldo accused McGregor of backing out of a deal they had made prior to their UFC 194 bout. The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 14, 2016, 5:48 PM]

    Former UFC Featherweight Champion José Aldo recently spoke out about a pre-fight agreement made with UFC officials prior to his title defense against Conor McGregor at UFC 194 and explained how “The Notorious” Irishman broke his word immediately after the fight.

    Aldo told Portal Vale Tudo that prior to losing his title to McGregor at the UFC 194 pay-per-view that both he and McGregor agreed to vacate the Featherweight title after the fight — regardless of who won — and move up to the Lightweight division where they were told they would then receive an immediate shot at the UFC Lightweight title.

    “I won’t accept another fight if it’s not for the belt. When we signed the contract, the intention was that the winner would fight at lightweight, but we would need to abandon the featherweight belt.”

    Aldo continued, explaining that after that, if they wanted to return to the Featherweight division, they would again immediately receive a shot at whoever the champion would be at that point in the weight class.

    “That was the plan, that’s what they told us. If we fought at lightweight, win or lose, and then had the opportunity to fight at featherweight again, it would be for the title immediately. I think they gave him too much power and he’s playing now, calling the shots more than the others. I think that’s wrong, no one ever did that.”

    In conclusion, Aldo said that it’s not so much that the “piece of sh*t” McGregor broke his word, but it’s a sign that it shows it is McGregor, not Dana White or another UFC executive, that appears to be calling the shots in the UFC lately.

    “It doesn’t matter if it’s about money or not at this point, what matters is show who calls the shots, who’s the boss, and not just a piece of s–t talking about things you see. He doesn’t deserve to be where he is. I’ve always respected all the merits, but he had more luck than merits.”

    (H/T for transcribing: MMAFighting.com)

  • Oliveira: On Dec. 11, We’ll Be There To Prove Who Is The Best

    Charles Oliveira looks forward to proving his doubters wrong. 

    The UFC’s final Pay-per-view of 2021 looks to end the year with a bang. The card features some rising prospects, a welterweight banger, and a women’s bantamweight title fight. In the main event of the evening, Charles Oliveira will try to keep the gold around his waist when he meets #1-ranked, Dustin Poirier. 

    Poirier has been sitting near the top of the division for the last three years. He holds wins over Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, Conor McGregor, and Eddie Alvarez in that time. So, for many, it makes sense that with Khabib Nurmagomedov out of the picture, Poirier has a good chance of obtaining the lightweight title. In the meantime, many people also believe that Oliveira has not been receiving his full respect as the undisputed champion.

    Charles Oliveira blasts Michael Chandler en route to winning UFC gold Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

    Oddsmakers have the Louisianian as a slight favorite heading into the title fight. Oliveira, though, sees UFC 269 going differently. The submission ace detailed his prediction for the bout in a recent interview with MMA Fighting. 

    “On [December] 11, we’ll be there to prove who’s best and who’s not the best,” Oliveira said. “There’s not much to say. We’ll only know when we face each other. I trust myself, I believe myself. I think I have way more weapons than him. All you guys that think [he’s No. 1], watch his last fight and watch my last fight, see what I’m good at and what he’s good at, and match it all up to see what happens.

    “Strikers took him down way too easily, and you know what happens if I take him down. If he trades on the feet with me, you know I’m hitting hard, brother. It will be fire on the 11th. I have firepower in my hands, I have my jiu-jitsu. I respect him a lot, but I want to remain champion, I want to keep this belt here. I couldn’t care less what others say or criticize. It’s about time I take all that inside my head and look at what people say on Instagram.”

    While Poirier is a slight favorite at the time of writing, the money could turn the odds as bets come in the next couple of weeks. Oliveira has had issues with durability and weight cuts in the past but has found his stride the last half of his UFC career. The champion is currently on a nine fight win streak, with eight of those victories coming by submission or knockout. 

    His last outing saw “Do Bronx” capture UFC gold when he rallied from the brink to knock Michael Chandler unconscious at UFC 262.

    Who do you think will win next Saturday between Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira?

  • [ARCHIVES] Ferguson Says ‘F**k No’ To Idea That Khabib Fight Is Cursed

    [MMA NEWS ARCHIVES]

    On this day two years ago, there was still hope that we’d see Khabib vs. Ferguson, and Ferguson refused to accept that the fight was cursed. 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 4, 2019, 11:24 AM]

    One would be wise not to tell Tony Ferguson that a bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov is cursed.

    Ferguson is set to challenge Nurmagomedov for the UFC lightweight title on April 18 in Brooklyn, NY. While fight fans are excited, some feel this bout is cursed. It has been booked several times in the past but never came to fruition due to injuries and illnesses on both sides.

    Tony Ferguson Blasts Those Who Say Khabib Fight Is Cursed

    Ferguson was a guest on ESPN’s Ariel Helwani MMA Show. During his appearance, “El Cucuy” had some choice words for those who think a bout with “The Eagle” is cursed (via MMAMania.com).

    “F*ck no, you can stop right there. Don’t even get the fans going on that sh*t. We’re going to set the pace right now – I want the encouragement,” Ferguson told Ariel Helwani. “F*ck you, don’t watch this sh*t, don’t buy our stuff. Go watch Bellator or some other bullsh*t. Go find some knock-off copy of what he got going on here … this is the OGs, I’m the original genius right here.”

    Ferguson was last seen in action back in June at UFC 238. He earned a second-round TKO victory over Donald Cerrone. The victory extended Ferguson’s winning streak to 12. He is scheduled to be Nurmagomedov’s third UFC lightweight title challenger. Nurmagomedov is a perfect 28-0 in his pro MMA career.

    Stick with MMANews.com for the latest updates on the UFC 249 card. We’ll keep you up to speed as the card shapes up.

  • Kamaru Usman Pays Covington A High Compliment After UFC 268 Bout

    UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has described arch-rival Colby Covington as the “most complete” opponent he’s ever faced inside the Octagon.

    Covington has challenged for Usman’s gold on two occasions. In their first meeting, which took place at UFC 245 in December 2019, “Chaos” took the champ to the limit. Having won the 170-pound title with a win against Tyron Woodley nine months earlier, Usman was defending the belt for the first time. It’s arguable that he hasn’t faced a stiffer test since.

    After four rounds of grueling action on the feet, most had the fight level heading into the fifth and final frame. Despite the former interim titleholder’s best efforts, it was Usman who secured a late TKO stoppage.

    After seeing off the threat of Gilbert Burns and two challenges from Jorge Masvidal, Usman ran it back with Covington for his fifth title defense earlier this month. In the main event of UFC 268, “The Nigerian Nightmare” once again defeated the #1-ranked contender, this time on the judges’ scorecards.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CV9peNUMBnR/

    Usman Can’t Pinpoint A Weakness In Covington’s Game

    Having consistently admitted Covington’s ability and strengths inside the Octagon prior to their rematch, the champ has continued to do so in the aftermath of his latest defense and 15th straight UFC triumph.

    During a recent appearance on the Full Send Podcast, Usman discussed where Covington ranks among the other contenders and fighters he’s traded leather with. According to the welterweight kingpin, the 33-year-old is the most well-rounded of them all.

    “Yeah, I wanna say he was probably the most complete. He was the most complete because he can wrestle, he can strike, he has a good gas tank. Usually everybody else, I could kind of pinpoint something about them that’s like… it might be a weakness that I can exploit and I can push for but, you know, he probably was the most complete.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    Usman’s next step appears to be yet another rematch, this time with Leon Edwards. The Englishman had been set to meet Masvidal at UFC 269 next month. After “Gamebred” withdrew due to injury, “Rocky” announced his intention to wait for a title shot.

    The champ has also made his desire to set-up a blockbuster crossover showdown with boxing’s pound-for-pound best Canelo Álvarez known, something Covington laughed off in a recent interview with MMA News. Whichever route he goes down, Usman will certainly be hoping to further cement his place in the GOAT conversation.

    What should be next for Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington?

  • [ARCHIVES] Holloway: Conor McGregor Beat Me When We Were Kids

    [MMA NEWS ARCHIVES]

    It’s been eight years since Conor McGregor defeated Max Holloway. Much has changed since then, and for the past several years, one thing that has remained the same is talk of a potential rematch between the two. As far back as four years ago, the two former opponens were still trash talking, as they continue to do to this day. The following article is was published on this day four years ago and is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Four Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DECEMBER 4, 2017, 11:51 PM]

    Max Holloway doesn’t take too kindly to Conor McGregor’s social media jab.

    This past Saturday night (Dec. 2), Holloway successfully defended his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight title against Jose Aldo. “Blessed” earned a third-round TKO victory in the main event of UFC 218.

    After the bout, Holloway told the media that McGregor doesn’t want a rematch with him because he’s too busy hoping for a mixed martial arts bout with Paulie Malignaggi. McGregor responded by taking a jab on Twitter:

    Holloway didn’t waste time firing his own shot:

    During a recent appearance on MMAFighting.com‘s “The MMA Hour,” Holloway said he fought hard to restore order in the featherweight division:

    “You know, it’s funny. The guy’s funny, I couldn’t help but laugh. I’m on his mind apparently. Like I said, I told you guys, I’m a champion and we just brought order back to the division. I’m trying to think of our division and respect all the other fighters. It took me 10 fights to get the damn interim title shot and then 11 to get an undisputed shot. It’s my duty to make sure everything runs smoothly. I gotta respect our sport, my division and the guys that are fighting in it. That’s what I gotta do. At the end of the day, this guy is gonna keep yapping.”

    He went on to say that McGregor’s win against him came at a time where they both were developing fighters.

    “This guy has got a win over me when we were kids in a Fight Night show — I think the main event was (Chael) Sonnen and (Mauricio) “Shogun” Rua. I don’t know if the two of them are in the UFC anymore. You know me and him made 12K that night and I think he’s happy to hold onto that. That’s the kind of person he is.”

  • [ARCHIVES] Bisping Feels Israel Adesanya Would Be An Easy Fight For Him

    [MMA NEWS ARCHIVES]

    On this day three years ago, former middleweight champion Michael Bisping predicted how a fight between himself and Israel Adesanya would go. The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Three Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DECEMBER 4, 2018, 12:17 PM]

    Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight title holder Michael Bisping believes Israel Adesanya would be the perfect match-up for him if he were still fighting.

    Adesanya is set to clash with Anderson Silva on Feb. 9. The bout will be a part of the main card of UFC 234. The event is set to take place inside the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia.

    Michael Bisping Believes He’d Have An Easy Time Against Israel Adesanya

    During a recent edition of his “Believe You Me” podcast, Bisping had quite the take on Adesanya. He believes “The Last Stylebender” would be an easy fight for him (via MMAFighting.com):

    “I like Israel Adesanya but I’ll tell you something, if there’s one person if you asked me who I want to fight right now, it would be Israel. When I look at him – listen, he’s good, he’s great, but I’m sorry, I’m not buying it. I’m not saying I’m not impressed. I’m on the hype train. He’s good, he’s beating people. He’s beating the Marvin Vettoris of the world. He had a good win against Derek Brunson but Derek Brunson looked like sh*t. He was terrified. I think I would have an easy time with him. Just saying, just throwing it out there.”

    Bisping retired after being knocked out by Kelvin Gastelum in late 2017. While it doesn’t appear that Bisping is hinting at a return, he doesn’t seem fully on board with Adesanya until he faces elite-level competition.

    Do you think Israel Adesanya would’ve had a difficult time against Michael Bising?

  • Dana White Says He’s Already COVID Free, Thanks Dr. Joe Rogan

    Dana White says he is now completely rid of COVID-19 a mere five days after testing positive for the virus, and he says he and his entire family has Joe Rogan to thank for it.

    Earlier this week, Dana White revealed that he and his entire family contracted COVID-19 over the Thanksgiving holiday. Once White realized this grim news, he took immediate action and knew just who to call: Joe Rogan.

    Hiltzik: Judges wrong to order Ivermectin COVID treatment - Los Angeles Times

    The following is what White had to say about his discussion with Rogan and the treatment he was recommended to take:

    “I get up, 9 o’clock Monday morning, and I get tested,” White continued. “He said get monoclonal antibodies in you as soon as possible, so I did. By noon, I had the monoclonal antibodies in me. Then he told me to do a NAD drip. I did that right after. The next day – so Sunday at 8 o’clock at night I have no taste or smell. I get up Tuesday getting ready to shave. Cleaning my razor, I could smell the alcohol. My taste and smell were back by the next day by 11 o’clock. Then I took a dose of ivermectin. Then yesterday I did a vitamin drip, and today I’m doing another NAD drip.

    “Never felt better. I’m feeling like a million bucks. I’m doing two-a-day workouts for the next 10 days while I have COVID and I’m in quarantine. I got my smell and taste back in less than 24 hours.”

    Dana White And Family Now COVID Free

    Days later, TMZ caught up with Dana White for an update on his health status. Not only is Dana White now testing negative for COVID, but his entire family is also on the mend after taking Rogan’s advice.

    “I’m incredible. Today is Day 5 (since I) tested positive for COVID. And today, this morning at 9 o’clock, I tested negative. Thank you, Dr. Joe Rogan!”

    Rogan has been widely criticized for recommending ivermectin be used to treat COVID, with sources such as the FDA and the BBC stating that the drug is not intended for human usage.

    The legitimacy of such warnings has been widely disputed, with the doubters often being associated with ring-wing ties. There have been reports as recent as four months ago of ivermectin gaining momentum in places such as Latin America and India. Readers are encouraged to do their own research and form their own opinions on the matter beyond this snapshot overview of the issue.

    As far as Dana White is concerned, every time he looks at his family is all the proof he needs about the efficacy of Joe Rogan’s treatment regimen. And if that’s not enough proof, there’s a whole host of others who swear by Rogan’s advice, says White.

    “And himself, he did it himself, and like 40 other people that he’s close to he’s done this with,” White said of the number of people Rogan has helped with his advice. “And here’s the reality. In all seriousness, Joe Rogan is a brilliant guy and he talks to the most brilliant people out there. He studies, he does his homework on all this stuff.

    “And it’s a fact that this works, and not just me. So me and my wife are both 53 years old. We both did it. My daughter is 15 years old. She did it. My mother-in-law is 80 years old. She did it. When I was sitting here waiting to talk to you, my mother-in-law went strolling by here. She’s on her way over to get a massage. Everybody feels like a million bucks, man.”

    What do you make of Dana White’s testimony in favor of Joe Rogan’s medical advice?