Strickland is in pursuit of a second reign atop the 185-pound mountain following a brief stint there courtesy of his efforts Down Under last year. Off the back of consecutive wins over Nassourdine Imavov and Abus Magomedov, “Tarzan” capitalized on a short-notice chance to challenge Adesanya at UFC 293.
Having had his calls for an immediate rematch dismissed, Strickland must return to winning ways at the expense of “Borrachinha” if he’s to earn an opportunity to achieve two-time champ status.
According to coach Tim Welch, former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo closed the door on a possible main event against a rising contender.
Cejudo hasn’t had the best time of things since returning from a short-lived retirement last May. After narrowly falling short of regaining the bantamweight crown against Aljamain Sterling, “Triple C” fell to 0-2 since his comeback at UFC 298 in Anaheim this past February, where he was beaten by Merab Dvalishvili.
While the latest setback sparked talk of a return to retirement for the veteran, he was quick to commit to the continuation of his fighting career. He’s since been assessing his options, calling to fight the likes of Petr Yan and Rob Font.
He’s also been dismissing some matchups. That was publicly evident in the case of Song Yadong, whose invitation to Cejudo for a showdown in China was shut down by the former champ-champ on social media.
And when it comes to being rejected by the 2008 Olympic gold medalist, “The Kung Fu Kid” is seemingly not alone…
O’Malley’s Coach Claims Cejudo Turned Down Phillips Headliner
A recent report from @MagicM_MMABets on social media claimed that Cejudo was being lined up to headline a UFC Fight Night opposite #11-ranked contender Kyler Phillips.
Phillips, a teammate of bantamweight kingpin Sean O’Malley’s, has won three straight since a controversial loss to Raulian Paiva in 2021, most recently getting the better of divisional veteran Pedro Munhoz at UFC 299 in Miami.
While “Matrix” is pursuing a spot inside the top 10 that a matchup with Cejudo would present an opportunity for, “Triple C” has been accused of rejecting the clash.
UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev fully intends on stalling Dustin Poirier’s ongoing title ambitions this weekend, but he hopes it won’t be the end of the road for his latest challenger.
Having returned to winning ways with an emphatic knockout of Benoît Saint Denis at UFC 299 this past March, some favorable results at UFC 300 last month paved the way for Poirier to receive a third shot at undisputed status.
By the sounds of things, “The Diamond” is expecting it to be his last opportunity — and potentially even his final fight overall, win or lose.
Makhachev Hopes Poirier Pours Cold Water On Retirement Talk
During a recent interview with NBC Sports, Makhachev acknowledged the recent remarks regarding retirement to come from Poirier ahead of their collision on Saturday night.
Makhachev appears to share that sentiment, but for a different reason. While plenty have simply suggested that Poirier should keep retirement thoughts to himself until post-fight, the Dagestani doesn’t want to see them reach the surface at all.
“He’s talking about (retirement), but I don’t want him (to) retire after this fight if I beat him,” Makhachev said. “This guy is dangerous. He can beat everybody. He’s number, like, top five in the world, you know? That’s why I don’t think it’s a good idea (to talk) about retiring, because he’s still a very dangerous guy. That’s why I’m preparing very hard for him.”
Fans will have to wait and see when it comes to Poirier’s future in the sport. For now, “The Diamond” will have his sole focus on upsetting the odds to bring Makhachev’s lightweight reign to an end.
Whether that would be followed by a defense or a departure from the sport remains to be seen.
Newark, we have arrived 😤#UFC302 fight week is HERE!
As fans and pundits express concern over his continued partying ahead of UFC 303, Conor McGregor has reasserted his confidence when it comes to dealing significant damage to Michael Chandler.
Having been out of action after breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier, the long wait for McGregor’s comeback will reach its end on June 29 when he shares the Octagon with Chandler.
In the lead-up, the pair appear to be having drastically different camps…
While there’s no evidence that McGregor was consuming alcohol, the posts still led to many branding it a less than ideal sign when it comes to the former champ-champ’s preparation.
The Irishman, unsurprisingly, disagrees.
Some are just built different. I am only now coming into my own. June 29th, records and jaw’s are getting smashed! Onwards and upwards! 🩸☘️ #fightingIrishpic.twitter.com/6qiMPqxPX1
“Some are just built different,” McGregor wrote on X. “I am only now coming into my own. June 29th, records and jaws are getting smashed! Onwards and upwards! #fightingirish”
McGregor has vowed to have his way with Chandler inside the Octagon ever since the pair coached opposite one another on last year’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter.
“Iron” Mike, a former three-time Bellator champion, has gone 2-3 since joining the UFC, defeating Dan Hooker and Tony Ferguson but falling to losses against Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje, and Dustin Poirier.
He’ll look to even up his Octagon record at the expense of McGregor, who hasn’t had his hand raised since a 40-second knockout of Donald Cerrone back in January 2020.
Former interim UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje is back in light training a month and a half on from a devastating defeat in Las Vegas.
While it appeared last year that a memorable victory over Dustin Poirier had netted Gaethje a third shot at undisputed title glory, his subsequent assignment was instead a defense of the symbolic BMF belt.
On the main card of last month’s milestone UFC 300 pay-per-view, “The Highlight” put the strap on the line in a highly anticipated clash with Max Holloway. While the featherweight legend’s previous venture to 155 pounds left many favoring Gaethje pre-fight, “Blessed” put on a masterclass.
And after moving ahead on the scorecards, Holloway ultimately closed the show in emphatic fashion with a buzzer-beating knockout that left Gaethje face down on the Octagon canvas.
Gaethje Back In Training 6 Weeks On From UFC 300 Defeat
Given the brutal nature of the finish, fans aren’t expecting to see Gaethje back inside the cage anytime soon. The ex-interim champ has admitted that it would be ill-advised for him to return to sparring within six months of the UFC 300 loss.
“The Highlight” has, however, been letting his fists fly again. In a recent video on social media, Gaethje shared footage of his return to light training. He donned the boxing gloves to hit the heavy bag, which you can watch here.
“Trying to get back in the routine,” he wrote in the caption.
The 35-year-old Arizona native has appeared to remain positive despite the setback, which stalled his plans to finally reach the lightweight throne at the expense of current kingpin Islam Makhachev.
In the immediate aftermath, Gaethje reassured his fans that he was still in “great spirits” and offered his congratulations to Holloway, who became the third BMF champ on April 13.
I’m in great spirits with my family. Thanks for all the love. What a sport. @BlessedMMA you’re a dog. Congrats. Well deserved double bonus #ufc300
Beating Hill, who headlined UFC 300 in April against Alex Pereira, will see Ulberg extend his winning streak to seven and likely secure himself a position in the top five.
In his first interview since the fight was made official, he told Engage about what this fight and opponent means to him.
“We’re going up against Hill, I think he’s number three at the moment so that’s some really good news that puts us in a really good spot and I’m not going to pass that opportunity.”
Carlos Ulberg Talks Fighting On The Same Card As Conor McGregor On June 29
Competing on International Fight Week is already a big deal but this year’s instalment is something entirely different.
Ulberg vs Hill will take place in a prominent spot on the PPV main card of UFC 303 which will be headlined by the returning Conor McGregor.
This fight was already the biggest of his career but now the 33-year old has the opportunity to secure a massive win on one of the biggest platforms possible.
In the interview with Engage, Ulberg spoke about McGregor and how he is able to draw inspiration from “The Notorious”.
“Yeah McGregor is obviously the biggest star to rise out of the UFC and even sporting alone. So everybody that you talk to, they all know McGregor even if they’re not MMA fans. I spoke to someone today and they didn’t know about MMA but they knew who McGregor was which was amazing so he is definitely a big star and to fight under that undercard would be amazing and if we can get the co-main event, then that’d be even more spectacular so yeah man.
“He goes in with confidence and that’s something that I like to lead into my fights. When I jump in that cage, it’s just me, my opponent and the preparation that I’ve had prior.”
Former UFC fighter Ben Askren may still have a grudge towards his former rival Jorge Masvidal, but they agreed on a recent controversy.
Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas has been at the center of an ongoing debate about whether or not transgender women should compete in female sports. Thomas recently became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I championship by winning the 500-yard-freestyle race.
Masvidal and Askren had a heated buildup before their main card fight at UFC 239. Masvidal went on to bash Askren with a flying knee knockout that is widely considered one of the most memorable moments in recent UFC history.
“If you think Biological males should compete in female division then you don’t understand sports!” Askren said in a recent tweet.
Thomas is planning on swimming in the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics trials. While Thomas’ success is undeniable and unprecedented, many have debated whether or not it’s ethical and good for sports in general.
Askren left MMA following losses to Masvidal and Demian Maia in 2019. He also lost to Jake Paul in a boxing match in April of last year.
Masvidal is looking to get back on track after three straight losses in the Octagon. While Asken and he may never be cordial, it appears that they’re on the same page when it comes to the debate surrounding Thomas and trans athletes.
Former police officer and upcoming UFC Columbus headliner Chris Daukaus has shared his thoughts on the Cain Velasquez case.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was reportedly involved in a car chase in pursuit of alleged child molester Henry Goularte. While Velasquez allegedly fired rounds into the vehicle carrying Goularte, bullets hit Goularte’s stepfather instead. Since the arrest, many fighters have voiced their support for Velasquez, such as Israel Adesanya, Colby Covington, and Alexander Volkanovski among others.
One man who is in a position to offer some unique insight into the case is Chris Daukaus. Daukaus worked as a law-enforcement officer in Philadelphia for more than 10 years, so he has a firm awareness of the criminal justice system.
But the #9-ranked UFC heavyweight is also a parent. So while he understands the need to charge Velasquez for breaking the law, he is not personally convicting Velasquez from a morality standpoint.
“Yeah, so as a father and as a fighter, I’m OK with what he did,” Daukaus began in an interview with Sherdog. “Yes, it sucks that he shot the wrong person. I understand where he’s coming from. I understand the emotions that he must have felt and I couldn’t imagine what was going through his head, and I couldn’t imagine being in that situation.
Image Credit: Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group
“As a former law enforcement officer, as a former police officer, dealing with the circumstances of the case and the facts of the case, I knew he was gonna be locked up. And he’s going to be charged, and it’s just (about) what he gets charged with during the trial. It’s a really bad situation, I think. But we’ll see how it plays out as far as the timeline goes.”
Velasquez was charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, assault with a firearm, shooting at a motor vehicle, and discharging a firearm from a vehicle with intent. His bail was denied earlier this month, and he remains in Santa Clara County Main Jail until his trial.
Once the trial begins, Daukaus believes there will be many factors that ultimately determine Velasquez’s fate.
“So if it was a quote-unquote ‘crime of passion’ with his emotions and if he just reacted, that plays a factor as opposed to him planning a revenge factor against this person. That also plays a factor in it. But as a father and as a father of a young son and a soon-to-be daughter, I can respect what he did; I understand what he did. But as a former law enforcement officer, like I said, he broke the law; he needs to be locked up.”
Chris Daukaus
Daukaus went on to opine that this entire ordeal is a textbook example of faith lost in the criminal justice system.
“But I guess that goes to show the type of faith or lack of faith that an individual has in the criminal justice system here in America, which you can tell from not only this story but other stories, it seems to be broken at this point in time,” Daukaus said. “I really wish that it was fixed. But there seems to be something really wrong if the guy who did that to Cain Velasquez is now free to go out in society and back to his normal life after what he’s done, allegedly, to someone or other people.”
Chris Daukaus is scheduled to face Curtis Blaydes in the main event of UFC Columbus this Saturday. Cain Velasquez is due to reappear in court on April 12.
What do you make of Chris Daukaus’ thoughts on the Cain Velasquez case?
UFC star Nate Diaz and YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul have blasted Jorge Masvidal after his alleged attack on Colby Covington in Miami.
Masvidal allegedly confronted Covington outside of a restaurant in Miami on Monday night, hitting him with a couple of punches before the two sides were separated. Covington suffered a fractured tooth as a result of the assault and Masvidal could face a felony battery charge.
Masvidal and Covington fought in the UFC 272 headliner, with Covington earning a unanimous decision victory. Yet, the two former friends and teammates have continued the banter on social media in recent weeks.
After news broke of the alleged altercation, Diaz and Paul aimed at Masvidal for the alleged assault on Covington. First, Diaz referenced Masvidal’s self-published video apparently gloating about the attack.
Diaz fell to Masvidal for the self-coined BMF title at UFC 244. He most recently fought against Leon Edwards at UFC 263 and is allegedly eying a matchup with Dustin Poirier this year.
Paul also blasted Masvidal on social media for the alleged attack, just over a year since they worked out together briefly as Paul prepared to face Ben Askren in the boxing ring.
2 facts of the day:
#1 Masvidal is a bitch for ambushing Colby. Couldn’t hurt him in the cage so try to blindside him?
#2 UFC always says it’s increased fighter pay 600% since 2005. Per Huddle Up, UFC revenue is up 1,700% since 05 and PROFITS up by 6,200% 🤯 10x fighter pay!!!
“2 facts of the day: #1 Masvidal is a bitch for ambushing Colby. Couldn’t hurt him in the cage so try to blindside him?” Paul said.
“#2 UFC always says it’s increased fighter pay 600% since 2005. Per Huddle Up, UFC revenue is up 1,700% since 05 and PROFITS up by 6,200%. 10x fighter pay!!!”
Paul called out Masvidal for a boxing match following his most recent win in the ring over Tyron Woodley last December. He’s aiming at a return to boxing later this year.
Diaz and Paul aren’t the only ones to mock Masvidal after the incident. UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman also took to social media and mocked both Masvidal and Covington for the brawl.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
What are your thoughts on the alleged Jorge Masvidal/Colby Covington incident?
Bellator’s bantamweight grand prix has suffered a major blow as champion, Sergio Pettis suffered an injury and is now out of the tournament.
On Tuesday morning it was revealed by CBS Sports that Pettis was forced to withdraw from the field due to injury. He was supposed to fight Raufeon Stots in the opening round at Bellator 279 on April 23 in Hawaii. With Pettis out of the fight, Juan Archuleta will now face Stots on the card for the interim bantamweight title, which will be on the line throughout the grand prix.
Pettis’ injury was not disclosed but it is a massive blow for the grand prix as the eight fighters will now be fighting for the interim title. The champ is coming off a stunning KO win over Kyoji Horiguchi to defend his bantamweight title for the first time. He won the belt by decision after defeating Archuleta in May.
Along with Pettis being out of the Bellator bantamweight grand prix, it’s likely that Josh Hill will now enter the tournament. He was named the alternate after a vicious KO win over Jared Scoggins in December.
Raufeon Stots, meanwhile, is 17-1 and coming off a decision win over Magomed Magomedov in August. He’s currently 5-0 in Bellator with notable wins over Josh Hill, Keith Lee, and Cass Bell. His lone loss was a spinning backfist KO to Merab Dvalishvili.
Juan Archuleta, on the other hand, has not fought since his loss to Pettis to lose his bantamweight title. He won the vacant belt with a decision win over Patchy Mix in September 2020 after dropping back down to bantamweight.
With Stots now fighting Archuleta, Bellator 279 is as follows:
Raufeon Stots vs. Juan Archuleta – interim bantamweight title
Cris Cyborg vs. Arlene Blencowe- featherweight title
Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Patchy Mix – bantamweight grand prix
Jorge Masvidal may face a felony battery charge stemming from his altercation with Colby Covington outside a Miami restaurant.
Covington was outside of the Papi Steak Restaurant in Miami, FL when Masvidal allegedly attacked him with a punch to the mouth another punch to the left eye. According to a recently-released police report obtained by MMA Fighting, Covington suffered a fractured tooth and suffered an abrasion on his left wrist as a result of the assault.
During the altercation, Covington told Miami police that he heard Masvidal say “You shouldn’t have been talking about my kids”. Covington has repeatedly accused Masvidal of being a “deadbeat dad” to his kids and has mocked Masvidal’s past relationship with the mother of their children.
The investigation into the altercation is ongoing and if Covington can prove that Masvidal assaulted him, Masvidal may face legal action.
No charges have been filed against Masvidal yet and he has not been arrested for his alleged actions against Covington.
Masvidal was involved in a similar incident with Leon Edwards back in early 2019. After verbal banter turned into a sudden attack backstage, Masvidal didn’t face charges for the infamous “three-piece and a soda” assault on Edwards.
MMA News will keep you updated on any further updates on this developing story.
UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has given his thoughts on the recent altercation between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington.
Masvidal and Covington allegedly got into a fistfight outside of a steakhouse in Miami, FL on Monday night. Covington had been dining with YouTube podcasters The Nelk Boys when he was confronted by Masvidal as he was leaving the restaurant.
No arrests were made following the incident and the investigation is ongoing by local police.
“This is not how we conduct our selves in this house,” Usman tweeted.
Usman has referred to Masvidal and Covington as his “sons” after beating both of them twice. While both of his fights with Covington were closely contested, Usman earned a fifth-round TKO in their first fight followed by a unanimous decision win in their rematch.
Usman defeated Masvidal via a unanimous decision at UFC 251 in a short-notice clash before knocking him out in their rematch at UFC 261.
Usman later replied to a fan that alluded to the Masvidal/Covington brawl and promised “consequences” following the incident.
This is unacceptable. I will have a hard TALK with both when they get home 😤
“This is unacceptable,” Usman replied. “I will have a hard TALK with both when they get home.”
Usman is expected to defend his title against top contender Leon Edwards later this year. The UFC’s top pound-for-pound fighter has also flirted with the idea of facing boxing world champion Canelo Alvarez in a crossover fight.
Covington recently defeated Masvidal in their grudge match at UFC 272 via a unanimous decision. He could be on the verge of a potential third fight with Usman while Masvidal is looking to snap a three-fight losing skid in his Octagon return.
What are your thoughts on Kamaru Usman’s response to the incident involving Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal?
UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo is reportedly set to face familiar foe Brandon Moreno in the first title defense of his second reign.
Per Ariel Helwani’s Substack, the promotion have settled on the pair, who have shared the Octagon three times across the past year-and-a-half, as the next championship clash at 125 pounds.
The tetralogy, which is being targeted for July, will represent the flyweight division’s fourth consecutive championship collision between Moreno and Figueiredo.
UFC has decided to go with Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno 4 for the UFC flyweight title next, sources say. The hope is to do it in July. https://t.co/ZA38Pj1mWv
After seeming unstoppable following two brutal victories over the now-retired Joseph Benavidez, as well as first-round opening defense against Alex Perez, Figueiredo hoped to close out 2020 with a fourth comfortable triumph when he met Moreno at UFC 256.
While he left Las Vegas’ Apex with his reign in tact and the gold still in his possession, it was far from an easy night for the Brazilian, whose win streak was halted thanks to the Mexican’s grit to fight for a majority draw. That, as expected, forced a rematch between the elite flyweight duo six months later.
After top contender Alexandre Pantoja couldn’t make the UFC’s desired December date, Figueiredo was given an immediate chance at redemption, which went down one month later than planned on January 22 earlier this year. In a five-round war at UFC 270, the Brazilian chose power over volume, a strategy that paid off in the form of a unanimous decision verdict and the sound of ‘and new’ in front of a Moreno-supporting California crowd.
Usman/Edwards 2 & Figueiredo/Moreno 4 In International Fight Week?
If the targeted July date comes to fruition, fans may be in store for a blockbuster championship double-header. The UFC 276 pay-per-view appears set to go down from Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena during International Fight Week on July 2.
“The Nigerian Nightmare” is currently recovering from hand surgery, but both Ali Abdelaziz And UFC President Dana White have identified July as the likely return of the 170-pound king.
Kamaru Usman had surgery to repair a ligament in his hand, his manager Ali Abdelaziz told @marc_raimondi.
Abdelaziz said Usman is targeting a return for International Fight Week at UFC 276 in T-Mobile Arena on July 2. pic.twitter.com/MQqd9srmJf
While we would expect Darren Till and Khamzat Chimaev to be up to no good in the gym, it turns out the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas isn’t safe, either.
While their interactions on social media and hilarious Instagram Live session had teased a budding ‘bromance’ between the two UFC stars, not many would have been expecting the pair’s link up to have gone as well as it has.
Having spent so much time in each other’s company, it’s unsurprising there are some hilarious tales to be told. One of those was revealed last week, and it perhaps won’t please UFC staff…
When asked to disclose the craziest thing he’s done alongside “Borz,” the Liverpudlian suggested that would have to stay behind closed doors.
“I can not say on the mic [LAUGHS]. I’ll be surprised if we make it through this year though,” joked Till. “He told me he wants to come back to Liverpool and train and live.”
However, there was one moment Till was willing to narrate, and it perhaps demonstrates the kind of shenanigans most would expect from the pair’s ventures.
“I’ve got a brilliant story that I think is funny. So, we’re training at the UFC PI in Vegas, and obviously, all fighters eat free and stuff like that, but they have a fridge full of like, protein drinks and monsters and like, these nice milk drinks they do,” recalled Till. “So me and Khamzat were getting our food the other day and he looks at me, and he’s got like, his big UFC bag, and he goes—starts just ruffling everything into his UFC bag.
Khamzat Chimaev
“So the next day, I was coming out to the changing rooms and I heard one fighter say to his friend, ‘F*cking hell, I’ve been coming here everyday for the past week and there’s no drinks [LAUGHS]. So yeah, there’s a good story. He’s probably messaging me right now.”
I think we can expect the UFC to add some additional cameras around the drinks fridge moving forward…
Are Darren Till and Khamzat Chimaev the best duo in MMA right now?
It’s safe to say that Sean Strickland is not a fan of Colby Covington.
After Covington defeated Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272, he was asked in an interview about his thoughts on Strickland, and ‘Chaos’ was dismissive saying he didn’t know who he was and wondered if Strickland was a girl.
After catching wind of the comments, Strickland took to his Instagram to blast Covington for his comments. (h/t MMAMania)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbYNoO8P3f2/
“I thought [Donald] Trump’s c—k would of been too deep in your mouth for you to speak …” Strickland’s caption to an Instagram video read. “Just because someone can fight doesn’t mean their not a coward.. @colbycovmma Look what happened when you got called out for being a troll you ran away and pulled out your phone. You’re a f-cking Karen.
“Covington, you like to run your f—king mouth,” Strickland continued. “You didn’t run your mouth when I seen you now you run your mouth now on the internet. Bro, we all see what [Fabricio] Werdum did to you. Werdum walked up to you, f—king punked you, you ran away and you pulled out your phone and recorded him like a f—king Karen, bro. You’re a f—king embarrassment. Yeah, I’ll be honest with you, you’re a good fighter but like, as far as a man, you’re f—king pathetic.”
Of course, the Werdum incident he is talking about was when he allegedly threw a boomerang at Covington in Australia and it caused quite a scene. It also shouldn’t be a surprise to see Sean Strickland take a shot at Covington, as he is also vocal about a lot of things.
Although Strickland is taking a shot at Covington, it seems unlikely they will ever fight. Strickland is at middleweight and seems comfortable there while Covington is a welterweight. However, he has talked about wanting to face Israel Adesanya, so maybe he’ll consider moving up to face Strickland first prior to ideally challenging Adesanya.
Would you like to see Sean Strickland fight Colby Covington?
UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall has offered fellow contender Tai Tuivasa the chance to pop a certain alcohol-related cherry of his.
If anyone was uncertain of Aspinall’s credentials as a member of the heavyweight elite in the UFC prior to this past weekend, it stands to reason they aren’t anymore.
Having breezed past “Drago” and risen five spots to #6 in the rankings, Aspinall has set his sights on a member of the top five, and a charismatic and entertaining one, at that.
After calling out the #3-ranked Tuivasa in his Octagon interview, Aspinall channeled his inner “Bam Bam” by chugging some beer on his way to the back. But one thing was missing… a shoe.
Aspinall: Only Tuivasa Can Take My Shoey Virginity
In less than a year, Tuivasa’s brand as a fighter has expanded into the shoey business. What started after a victory over Greg Hardy last July at UFC 264 has quickly become a mainstream topic, and even a profitable one for the Australian powerhouse, even if the UFC did keep the most recent shoey celebration at UFC 271 off our screens…
Given the questions directed towards Tuivasa and Derrick Lewis ahead of their clash last month, it seems inevitable that shoey talk will be an integral part of the 29-year-old’s pre-fight buildups from now on. And while a clash with Aspinall is far from official, the drinking practice is already on the agenda.
“I’m a shoey virgin at the moment, but if Tai wants to do one, I will,” confirmed Aspinall. “Big shout out to Tai for doing his thing with the shoey. I started seeing that he’s making money off that as well so, respect man.”
When MMA journalist Oscar Willis wanted in on the shoey action then and there, Aspinall revealed there’s only one man who can pop his shoey cherry.
“I’ll only do one with Tai… When Tai comes to the UK, Tai will pop my cherry,” said Aspinall.
While the prospect of post-fight shoeys is always a bonus for the fans in attendance, the one constant that’s remained alongside Tuivasa’s celebrations is his brutal knockouts that have come prior to them.
With Aspinall now experiencing a similar rise up the heavyweight ranks and recording a victory over a high-ranked perennial contender, a matchup with Tuivasa is sure to bring fireworks if it comes to fruition.
UFC London: Aspinall vs. Tuivasa later this year anyone?
How do you think a fight between Tai Tuivasa and Tom Aspinall would play out? Would we see “Bam Bam” complete another victory shoey?
Stephen Thompson is not sold on Conor McGregor moving up to face Kamaru Usman.
There has been some talk lately about Conor McGregor wanting to move up to welterweight and challenge champion Kamaru Usman for the title, that talk is coming from McGregor himself.
The former dual champion at 145 and 155 pounds is looking to make another jump when he is cleared to return to the UFC. McGregor has fought at 170 pounds before and although that might not be his natural weight class, he is confident he can hang with the best.
There are some people who are doubters of McGregor and his skills, however. One man who believes that McGregor would have no shot at beating Usman is Stephen “Wonerboy” Thompson. Thompson spoke about this on his podcast.
Stephen Thompson (Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa)
“[McGregor’s] going to get demolished [by Usman]. Yeah, he’s going to be a big fight, a big payday but you’re going to get demolished,” Thompson said via Sportskeeda. “Dude, I love you Conor but you put on the weight like that and you’re fighting a dude at 170 [pounds]. I mean you got to try and put some weight on to become a real 170 [pounder]. I mean, look at Kamaru, look at the biceps and shoulders on that guy. [And] he’s got both attributes, he’s got cardio for days and he’s one of the top wrestlers in the welterweight division.”
Thompson has fought some of the best the UFC welterweight division has to offer. He has been in some wars and has fought in two title fights. He knows as well as anyone what it takes to compete in the welterweight division. McGregor’s two fights at 170 pounds were a loss against Nate Diaz and a win against Donald Cerrone.
Having three losses in a row at lightweight, this move could be a new beginning for McGregor. He is currently out dealing with the recovery of his leg injury he suffered his last time in the Octagon. At this point, a timetable for his return is unconfirmed, but he is expected to be back in action by early fall.
How do you think Conor McGregor would fare against Kamaru Usman?
UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has looked back on his response to Max Holloway’s injury and subsequent recovery, describing his remarks as “silly.”
After securing a decision victory over Yair Rodriguez in a FOTY contender last November, a win that secured his second headlining triumph of 2021, Holloway appeared set for a third crack at adding the opening blemish to Volkanovski’s UFC record, a feat he’d failed to manage in 2019 and 2020.
In January, it was announced the pair would headline UFC 272 this month. But after agitating a previous injury, “Blessed” was forced to withdraw, paving the way for “The Korean Zombie” to step in for the Australian’s next defense, which was moved to UFC 273 in April.
@BlessedMMA wants to be the backup fighter for the fight he was originally scheduled to fight.🤦🏻♂️ so in other words…he was never injured. Just hoping he doesn’t have to fight me or fight me while I’m preparing for someone…but hey “if you ain’t cheating you ain’t trying”😆…NO
After many came out in support of Holloway, suggesting the former titleholder would never create an excuse to pull out, Volkanovski has now admitted his tweet was out of line.
Volkanovski Walks Back Holloway Accusations
During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Volkanovski was asked whether he’d received any more information about Holloway’s apparent willingness to be the backup fighter for UFC 273.
In his response, “The Great” took the opportunity to address his previous remark. Volkanovski admitted he let his frustration and confusion get the better of him, something he says he’s been working to avoid moving forward.
“I didn’t get clarification (on Holloway’s willingness to be backup for UFC 273). Obviously, I heard about it, and obviously, it was frustrating,” said Volkanovski. “At the time, you know, I really wanted that fight. So once he got injured after they’d already announced it early, it was all a little bit confusing and frustrating. So you’ve seen my frustration. I wanted to tweet and get that—have a little shot at Max and his fans. But that was the only reason, which was pretty silly on my behalf, to be honest. That just shows you where my head was at back then. That’s something that I’ve really been working on lately.
Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway (Image Credit: Louis Grasse/PxImages & Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
“I bring that up just purely because, as you could see, it obviously, things that I’d say—I don’t know if he (Holloway) even asked for that (backup slot), let’s be real,” added Volkanovski. “That could’ve just been, I think it was Brett Okamoto who put it out there? I was like, ‘What, how is this gonna work? As if we’re gonna have out trilogy on a late-replacement.’ So I was a little frustrated. But for me to even let it get to me, and we don’t even know the real story behind it, it just shows me how much I was diving into the wrong sh*t, if that makes sense? I felt like I had to say something about it when I didn’t even know if it was true.”
With Holloway seemingly ready to go in April and beyond, it stands to reason the victor of next month’s PPV main event will be standing opposite the Hawaiian in the Octagon soon after.
If Volkanovski manages to secure his third title defense and 21st consecutive MMA victory in Jacksonville next month, the much-awaited trilogy should be a go.
Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett could be on to bigger and better fight opportunities ahead.
UFC London was full of star power and great finishes. Many hometown fighters saw big wins, including Paddy Pimblett.
A victorious Paddy Pimblett
Pimblett was coming into UFC London with high expectations. He is a rising star and has gained a huge number of fans since joining the UFC. With all eyes on him, he was able to get the impressive win and could have just sealed a bright future ahead of him in the UFC.
“That was quick. I don’t know. I mean, his numbers say yes. His numbers say yes. He could headline a Fight Night,” White said.
Pimblett made his second walk to the Octagon at UFC London. His first-round submission win over Kazula Vargas was his second win in the UFC and although he is still a newcomer people are calling his name.
Pimblett was in the Cage Warriors organization before coming to the UFC. He did have the opportunity to headline two events when he was a champion in Cage Warriors, one at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, proving he can rise to the occasion.
There is no doubt many fans in attendance were there to see Pimblett. The noise was booming when he was walking to the cage and when he won. Pimblett has shown he can handle the spotlight and the pressure of headlining an event, so perhaps the next time the UFC is in the UK, it could be Paddy “The Baddy” at the top of the card.
Do you think Paddy Pimblett is ready to headline an event?
Renowned MMA journalist Ariel Helwani thinks that while we’re still a wide distance from the goal line, the ball for a potential Conor McGregor vs. Jake Paul fight is now in play.
Jake Paul has wanted a fight against Conor McGregor seemingly ever since he entered the world of professional boxing two years ago. Whenever speaking of his dream opponents, McGregor’s name has never been far from his lips.
The same can’t be said about the other side, though. Not only has McGregor never expressed interest in fighting Paul, but he’s always ignored him whenever smack talk from the YouTuber was tossed in his direction.
Part of that equation changed recently when McGregor finally responded to Paul after the 5-0 boxer criticized his boxing technique. Though the Irishman didn’t say much—one word to be exact—that word (“jackass”) along with some interpretable thawing on the Dana White front has Ariel Helwani believing that a McGregor/Paul fight could eventually happen.
“I maintain that Dana likes Jake Paul. I maintain that Dana would want to do business with Jake Paul,” Helwani began on his program The MMA Hour. “I maintain that we are closer than ever—this is how the Mayweather thing started—to this fight actually happening. Now does it ultimately happen? No, but I believe it is more of a thing than it was six, eight months ago.
Credit: Complex
“Conor responding to the tweet, Dana talking about it, not closing the door, talking weight and all this stuff—this would be the biggest fight in combat that can be made right now. It would do well over two million buys. And you can just see the interest building. You can see the wheels turning. You can see people starting to warm up to it, the important people. So again, I’m not saying it’s happening; it’s not happening. I’m just saying we continue to inch closer to it happening—inch closer, inch closer, appearance here, a question there, an answer there, an open door here.”
Dana White has always maintained that he has no interest in doing business with Jake Paul. However, to Helwani’s point, White recently only questioned if Paul could make it down to 170 to fight McGregor as opposed to outright shutting the door in the YouTuber’s face per usual.
But what’s most telling to Helwani is the subtle yet noticeable change in behavior from The Notorious One.
“And then to me, the biggest thing was Conor directly responding. Because in the past, he always ignored, interviews—always deflected. A back-to-back MMA/boxing would be just gigantic. Will the UFC be willing to pay Jake Paul what he’s making in boxing? I mean, they could afford it. Do they want to set that precedent? I don’t know…If everyone puts their ego aside, there’s just a gigantic amount of money to be made.
Image Credit: Jake Paul’s Instagram
“Now we do dismiss the size. Jake fights at around 190. Conor just barely makes 170. That’s significant. It’s really significant. But I just feel like we are closer than ever. Now when I say ‘closer than ever,’ do I mean we’re on the goal line? No. We might be on the five-yard line as opposed to being in the end zone just starting off. But I feel like there’s something happening here. That’s all I’ll say. I feel like we are inching, inching, inching, ‘inching—inching’ being the operative word—ever so slowly.”
The last time the fight was proposed by Paul, it was for a UFC fight against McGregor. If Paul won, White would agree to Paul’s list of terms geared towards improving UFC fighter pay and benefits. If McGregor won, Paul would donate his entire fight purse to UFC fighters making less than $50,000 per fight and never speak of the UFC again.
It bears noting that Helwani is merely speculating and not reporting any actual talks for a McGregor/Paul bout taking place. However, if this far-fetched pairing actually does materialize, you’ll most certainly get the scoop right here on MMANews.com.
What do you think are the chances we’ll see Conor McGregor and Jake Paul fight in any capacity?
Best friends turned sworn enemies Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington reportedly extended their UFC 272 fight to a 6th round inside a Miami restaurant Monday night.
Following the grudge match between Masvidal and Covington at UFC 272, it instantly became clear that there was still animosity between the two former pals.
The beef continued with Covington gloating about his unanimous decision victory over Masvidal via relentless trolling and insults towards Masvidal long after the end of their contest. As for Masvidal, he did not mince words when he said that should he ever cross paths with Covington on the streets of Miami, he would still try to break his face.
Colby Covington With Custom-Made “King of Miami” Belt
Covington issued similar remarks. After once again proclaiming himself to be the “King of Miami,” he banished Masvidal from the city and warned that if Masvidal disobeyed the order to vacate, he would get “sparked” as a penalty.
As it happens, both men reportedly had an opportunity to back up their words Monday night.
Masvidal & Covington Reportedly Brawl In Restaurant
According to the initial report from Andy Slater of FoxSports640, Masvidal and Covington fought inside Papi Steak restaurant in Miami Beach, Florida. Video soon emerged of Covington in the aftermath of the alleged brawl with several police officers nearby. You can view that video below.
In the above video, Covington could be heard asking how Masvidal found out where he was. The man he was speaking to, identified as social media influencer Bob Menery, responded by informing Covington that he is all over the internet.
Word of Covington hanging out with the Nelk Boys did, in fact, make its rounds over the web Monday and is what most likely tipped Masvidal off to Covington’s location.
Team Masvidal React To Alleged Altercation
There are currently no reports indicating any arrests were made following the alleged altercation; yet, Masvidal still proposed a mug-shot challenge, if you will, in order to settle who was the victor of round 6.
“I’m calling this the ‘Show Your Face Challenge.’ What’s up? I’m from Dade County. You talk that shit, you gotta back it up. That’s how my city rolls, man,” Masvidal said.
Masvidal’s manager, Malki Kawa, would also hop on social media to imply that Covington’s face was indeed “broken” to the extent of a missing tooth.
I’m hearing that a someone not from miami who says he’s the king of it is missing a tooth. Can someone confirm this? I need the video asap.
“I’m hearing that a someone not from miami who says he’s the king of it is missing a tooth. Can someone confirm this? I need the video asap.”
Coincidentally, Masvidal shared a story prior to UFC 272 where he once invited Covington to a sushi restaurant to settle their differences. Judging from all appearances, the former buddies opted to resolve matters over some beefy steak instead.
MMA News will keep you updated on this developing story and provide any video of the alleged brawl between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington the moment it becomes available.
Chael Sonnen believes Charles Oliveira should thank Tony Ferguson because without him, he wouldn’t have gotten the title shot.
At UFC 256 in December of 2020, Ferguson stepped up to face Oliveira on just a few weeks’ notice. It was an intriguing matchup as ‘El Cucuy’ was linked to Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler before that. However, because he wanted to fight, Ferguson took the fight against Oliveira who was ranked below him. With that, Sonnen says Oliveira should be thanking Ferguson for the opportunity.
“One real cool move that Tony did, he did it for Charles Oliveira and I’ve never heard Charles thank Tony, he may have thanked him but I didn’t hear it,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel (via Sportskeeda). “Oliveira was a really good fighter but he couldn’t get on a docket with one of the stars of the division. Tony was a star of the division, got up in the loft, threw the ladder down behind him so Charles could climb up.
Tony Ferguson vs. Charles Oliveira, UFC 256
“Charles gets done with Tony, Tony has gotta figure out what he’s gonna do, Charles goes into a world title fight, the rest is history – but Charles does not have a world title fight let alone a world championship if it’s not for Tony Ferguson,” Sonnen added.
After Charles Oliveira dominated Tony Ferguson for three rounds, he got the title shot against Chandler in May, on the same card Ferguson lost to Beneil Dariush. Oliveira ended up scoring a second-round KO to win the vacant belt and has since defended it with a submission win over Poirier.
Although Oliveira has cemented his status as the current best lightweight in the world, Sonnen hopes the Brazilian thanks Ferguson. He will have the chance to do so again as they will once again be on the same card as Oliveira will headline UFC 274 on May 7 against Justin Gaethje while Ferguson will take on Chandler in the co-main event.
Do you agree with Chael Sonnen that Charles Oliveira should thank Tony Ferguson?
Nevertheless, while the event was unbelievably successful for the UFC, both in terms of fights and performances, and gate and revenue, Dana White believes there’s one thing that could have made it even better.
“The only thing that kills me tonight is that it would have been awesome for the main event to be Leon and (Kamaru) Usman,” said White. “That would have been incredible here. That was the only thing tonight that’s missing, if tonight is missing anything.” (h/t Sportskeeda)
White Reiterated Edwards’ #1 Contender Status
After a 10-fight unbeaten run, Edwards has firmly secured a rematch with Usman and a shot at 170-pound gold in the eyes of many. While White confirmed as much earlier this year, he reiterated it during UFC London fight week while in the #3-ranked welterweight’s home country.
During BT Sport’s Fight Week Live, White and Edwards were in attendance to answer questions from analysts and fans. When the topic of the Englishman’s potential championship opportunity came up, the UFC kingpin once again confirmed Edwards’ place as the number one contender.
“He absolutely deserves the next title shot, and yes, I’m wishing for nothing but good luck for Edwards this year, he’s had a rough run,” said White. “Usman, we’re waiting for his hand to get cleared. His hand gets cleared and he’s got the fight.”
Former UFC heavyweight Stefan Struve has become the latest current or former fighter to make the transition to broadcasting.
Struve hasn’t fought in the UFC Octagon since his first-round loss to Tai Tuivasa at UFC 254. He had lost five of his last six fights, including defeats to the likes of former champion Andrei Arlovski and Alexander Volkov.
But despite Struve’s recent struggles outside of the cage, he’s making great strides outside of it as his MMA career comes to a close.
In a recent tweet, Struve shared photos of him covering UFC London and introduced his social media following to his next career venture.
“I’m happy to announce that at the beginning of this year the opportunity came up to start working for [EuroSport Netherlands] and [Discovery Plus Netherlands] as an analyst, commentator, and reporter,” Struve shared. “Great way for me to stay involved in the sport I love.”
This piece of news is exciting for Struve, who announced his retirement from MMA last year following a stem of recent health issues. He later revealed that he had been dealing with an inner ear issue for the better part of a year and that training camps only made the injury worse.
Struve made his UFC debut back at UFC 95 following brief stints in M-1 and a series of regional promotions in the Netherlands. During his UFC tenure, he earned massive wins over the likes of former champion Stipe Miocic and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Struve will look to join the ranks of Daniel Cormier, Chael Sonnen, and others who have made the transition to the broadcasting world. He is the latest example of a former UFC fighter who has achieved success in other areas after fighting.
Which former UFC fighter, like Stefan Struve, is your favorite broadcaster?
UFC President Dana White gave out nine post-fight bonus checks following UFC London, but UFC featherweight Arnold Allen stood out most to him.
White had a lot to choose from when it came to deciding who would get the post-fight bonus checks, so he opted to give out bonuses to the nine fighters who picked up finishes. This included Allen, who blitzed Dan Hooker in the opening seconds of the fight en route to a first-round TKO victory.
Arnold Allen vs. Dan Hooker, UFC London
Allen seized his opportunity in the UFC London co-main event slot and has now won 11 in a row in his MMA career. His TKO of Hooker was his first stoppage victory since 2018 when he submitted Mads Burnell.
During his UFC London post-fight press conference, White tabbed Allen as his choice if he was forced to give out just one Performance of the Night bonus check.
“I’d have to go with Arnold,” White said. “He just beat the s**t out of f**ing Hooker, who just moved down a weight class to fight in a lower weight class, and he did it within seconds of the first round, it’s crazy.”
Allen wasn’t the only UK fighter who shocked the masses at UFC London. Tom Aspinall, Paddy Pimblett, and Molly McCann all picked up massive wins on the main card.
Allen picked up four straight unanimous decision wins over Sodiq Yusuff, Nik Lentz, Gilbert Melendez, and Jordan Rinaldi before his stunning performance at UFC London. He used his post-fight interview to call out Calvin Kattar for a fight later this year.
Allen’s performance puts him right in the thick of things in the featherweight title picture. After drawing quite the reaction from his fellow UFC colleagues, he could face a top featherweight contender for his next UFC outing.
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