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Latest UFC news articles, interviews and more covering the world’s top Mixed Martial Arts promotion.

  • Fighters React To Yadong’s KO Of Moraes At UFC Vegas 50

    Song Yadong showed why he’s a future bantamweight title contender in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 50.

    Yadong earned a spectacular first-round KO of former title challenger Marlon Moraes at the UFC Apex this evening, extending his win streak to three. For Moraes, the loss was his fifth in six fights, all of which have come via KO or TKO.

    Still only 24 years old, Yadong has fought in the UFC since 2017. His record in the promotion now stands at 8-1-1, while his overall record reads like that of a fighter far more advanced in years, at 19-5-1. With a victory over #10 ranked bantamweight Moraes, it’s likely we’ll see #14 ranked Yadong enter the top ten in the coming days.

    You can catch the highlights of the co-main event below.

    This was Yadong’s third win in a row.

    Now, let’s see how fighters reacted to the co-main event of UFC Vegas 50.

    UFC Vegas 50: Santos vs. Ankalaev Results & Highlights

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC Vegas 50. We’ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

  • UFC Vegas 50 Results & Highlights: Ankalaev Decisions Santos

    UFC Vegas 50 took place tonight from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas Nevada, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Tonight’s main event featured former title challenger Thiago Santos taking on surging light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev. The co-main event saw another Brazilian who has competed for a UFC title before, Marlon Moraes, also face a rising star in 24-year-old Song Yadong. Also on the main card was ranked featherweights Sodiq Yusuff and Alex Caceres.

    Check out all the UFC Vegas 50 results and highlights below.

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Azamat Murzakanov def. Tafon Nchukwi

    Light heavyweights Azamat Murzakanov and Tafon Nchukwi faced off in the opening bout of the evening. Making his UFC debut, Murzakanov was down on the cards after two rounds, before landing an impressive flying knee in the third to earn a TKO victory. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Guido Cannetti def. Kris Moutinho

    Argentina’s Guido Cannetti made quick work of Kris Moutinho in this bantamweight bout. Much like he did in his previous outing against Sean O’Malley, Moutinho took heavy damage, but this time the ref stepped in to call off the fight just two minutes into round one, declaring a TKO victory for Canetti. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Cody Brundage def. Dalcha Lungiambula

    Cody Brundage pulled off an impressive come-from-behind win in this middleweight bout with Dalcha Lungiambula. After sustaining heavy damage throughout round one, Brundage locked in a guillotine choke to force a tap from Lungiambula, ending the fight in just under four minutes. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Miranda Maverick def. Sabina Mazo

    In this women’s flyweight bout, Miranda Maverick forced Sabina Mazo to tap in round two after sinking in a rear-naked choke. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Damon Jackson def. Kamuela Kirk

    Damon Jackson took on Kamuela Kirk in this featherweight bout. Jackson dominated in round one, and continued doing so in round two, before ending the fight with an arm triangle with just 18 seconds left in the round. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Main Card Highlights

    Alex Pereira def. Bruno Silva

    The main card opener saw a much-awaited middleweight matchup between former K1 kickboxer Alex Pereira and his fellow Brazilian Bruno Silva. After being taken down briefly, Pereira ended round one unloading on Silva. In round two, Silva continued to hold his own on the feet against Pereira, with both men having success. Round three saw Pereira rock Silva multiple times, defend another takedown, and wrap up a dominant victory. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Drew Dober def. Terrance McKinney

    In this lightweight bout, Drew Dober pulled off a remarkable come-from-behind win against surging prospect Terrance McKinney. McKinney came out of the gates fast and hard, almost putting Dober away with a flurry of ferocious strikes. Dober, however, weathered the storm and turned the tables on McKinney, earning a TKO victory in round one. Catch the highlights below.

    Khalil Rountree def. Karl Roberson

    Khalil Rountree made a statement against Karl Roberson in this light heavyweight clash. Round one saw both men throw heavy leather, with Rountree getting the better of the exchanges. In round two, Rountree dropped Roberson early and swarmed his opponent with a series of devastating strikes and kicks to earn a TKO victory. Catch the highlights below.

    Sodiq Yusuff def. Alex Caceres

    Nigeria’s Sodiq Yusuff marked his return to the Octagon with a convincing win against featherweight Alex Caceres. Yusuff got the better of the grappling exchanges in round one, before Caceres made a hopeful rear-naked choke attempt late on. Round two saw both fighters exchange heavy strikes, with Yusuff landing successive leg kicks that swept Caceres off his feet. In round three, Yusuff landed the more potent strikes to round out a unanimous decision win.

    Song Yadong def. Marlon Moraes

    Song Yadong announced himself as a future title contender in this bantamweight clash with Marlon Moraes. The Chinese proved too fast and explosive for former title challenger Moraes, landing a blistering uppercut to earn a KO victory in round one. Catch the highlights below.

    Magomed Ankalaev def. Thiago Santos

    In the main event of the evening, surging light heavyweight prospect Magomed Ankalaev took on Thiago Santos. A very cagey first round saw Ankalaev get the better of the few striking exchanges between the duo.

    Both men remained tentative in round two, before Santos dropped Ankalaev late on, landing further strikes form on top. In round three, Ankalaev continued to pressure Santos, with both landing strikes, albeit sparingly.

    The action continued in much the same vein in round four, before Ankalaev landed a take down late on. In the final round, Ankalaev controlled Santos against the fence, doing minimal damage, but enough to round out a unanimous decision victory. Catch the end of the fight below.

    MAIN CARD (7:00 PM ET, ESPN+)

    Main Event – Light Heavyweight Bout: Magomed Ankalaev def. Thiago Santos via unanimous decision (49-46×2, 48-47)

    Co-Main Event – Bantamweight Bout: Song Yadong def. Marlon Moraes via KO: R1, 2.06

    Featherweight Bout: Sodiq Yusuff def. Alex Caceres via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)

    Light Heavyweight Bout: Khalil Rountree def. Karl Roberson via TKO: R2, 0.25

    Lightweight Bout: Drew Dober def. Terrance McKinney via TKO: R1, 3:17

    Middleweight Bout: Alex Pereira def. Bruno Silva via unanimous decision (30-27×3)

    PRELIMINARY CARD (4:00 PM ET, ESPN+)

    Welterweight Bout: Matthew Semelsberger def. AJ Fletcher via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

    Women’s Flyweight Bout: JJ Aldrich def. Gillian Robertson via unanimous decision (30-27×3)

    Bantamweight Bout: Javid Basharat def. Trevin Jones via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)

    Featherweight Bout: Damon Jackson def. Kamuela Kirk via submission: R2, 4.42

    Women’s Flyweight Bout: Miranda Maverick def. Sabina Mazo via submission: R2, 2:15

    Middleweight Bout: Cody Brundage def. Dalcha Lungiambula via submission: R1, 3.41

    Bantamweight Bout: Guido Cannetti def. Kris Moutinho via TKO: R1, 2:07

    Light Heavyweight Bout: Azamat Murzakanov def. Tafon Nchukwi via TKO: R3, 0.44

  • Jake Paul Proposes Deal To White For UFC Fight Against McGregor

    Jake Paul has laid out a proposal for Dana White to book him in a UFC fight against Conor McGregor with game-changing stakes.

    Dana White has held true to his word. Just as he vowed two months ago, White has not mentioned Jake Paul in any meaningful way after their latest exchange.

    In that exchange, White proposed that Paul randomly drug test him for cocaine over the next 10 years if White could, in turn, randomly drug test Paul for steroids for two years. This proposal was inspired by Paul constantly claiming that White is a cocaine addict.

    Paul then responded to White with the following counterproposal:

    Paul expressed a willingness to fight Jorge Masvidal in the UFC if White agrees to a list of terms that help improve fighter pay and benefits. After both parties accused one another of dodging the other’s challenge, White decided to wash his hands of Paul and vowed to never speak of him again.

    In one of his last comments about Paul, White was surprisingly respectful of the YouTuber, stating that he “doesn’t fault” Paul for the way he makes his money.

    Weeks later, after finally receiving a response from Conor McGregor and with White’s animosity towards him now at somewhat of a thaw, Paul decided to strike while the mitten’s hot and pitch a UFC fight against McGregor with some very big stakes.

    “Dana – Since you like me now, how about a 1 fight UFC deal to fight Conor. If I win, you agree to my UFC fighter pay and healthcare proposal. If I lose I donate my entire purse to all UFC fighters who make less than $50K a fight and never mention UFC again.

    Deal?”

    As usual, the odds of Dana White agreeing to Jake Paul’s terms are slim to none. Then again, moments like these are where the phrase “never say never” becomes very applicable.

    Paul has already expressed his confidence that he’d be able to KO the former champ-champ inside the Octagon. If Dana White stuns the world by agreeing to Paul’s terms, the YouTuber turned boxer will have the chance to go in for the finish and send the world into a shock-induced coma if he were to successfully knock out Conor McGregor in a UFC fight.

    How interested would you be to watch Jake Paul fight Conor McGregor in a UFC fight?

  • Sodiq Yusuff Points Out The One Claim Multiple Fighters “Lie” About

    “Super” Yusuff prefers to get the knockout over a decision win when he faces Alex Caceres on March 12.

    In Yusuff’s 11 wins of his professional MMA career, 6 of them have come by KO/TKO, and he hopes to continue down the knockout path when he goes against Caceres at UFC Fight Night 203.

    Unlike some fighters, Yusuff is not interested in a grueling three-round bout where both fighters end up exhausted from giving it their all. He would rather take out the competition as quickly as possible.

    “Trust me, when these fighters tell you they’re trying to go get a three-round war, they’re all lying. If I can walk in there and touch [Caceres] once and walk out, that would be the perfect day,” said Yussuf in a pre-fight media scrum.

    Likely, most fighters want to win big without breaking a sweat, and it has been known to happen on occasion. Just ask Jorge Masvidal, who took out Ben Askren with just one strike of his knee 5 seconds into the first round.

    Bonuses are handed out after a fight night for top performances. In 2018, Yusuff received a Performance of the Night bonus for his TKO victory over Suman Mokhtarian.

    UFC Adelaide: Sodiq Yusuff stop Suman Mokhtarian in the first round

    A one-touch win tonight at UFC Vegas 50 would surely gift him another bonus, and of course, place him back in the winner’s circle following his first UFC loss last year to Arnold Allen.

    Tonight will be a quick night for Yusuff if it ends in his desired fashion. But does he have what it takes to knockout “Bruce Leeroy,” who won all of his last five fights?

    Do you think Sodiq Yussuff will knockout Alex Caceres tonight at UFC Vegas 50?

  • Archives: Jones, DC Caught On Tape Talking Trash In Parking Lot (2016)

    The following article was published on this day six years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Six Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 12, 2016, 10:48 AM]

    If you thought the trash-talk between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier was intense on-camera, wait until you hear what they have to say to each other when they think they’re not on camera.

    Footage leaked this week that shows Jones and Cormier talking trash to each other as they walked to their cars after the UFC “Unstoppable” press conference last weekend.

    Transcribed below is a recap of what Jones and D.C. said to each other on the way to their cars after the press event, which you can see in the video footage embedded above.

    Jon Jones: “You’re the lamest b*tch ass I’ve ever met, bro.”
    Daniel Cormier: “What does that make you?”
    Jones: “Talking all this sh*t outside with your bodyguards.”
    Cormier: “When have I ever backed down from a fight with you?”
    Jones: “Daniel, suck my d*ck, man. F*ck your cheerleading squad.”

    UFC 197: Cormier vs. Jones II is scheduled for April 23, 2016 inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Make sure to join us here at MMANews.com on 4/23 for the best UFC 197 live results coverage on the web!

    H/T to MMAMania.com for transcribing.

  • McGregor Finally Responds To Jake Paul & Claps Back At Malignaggi

    Conor McGregor fired back at one new target and one from years past after both took aim at the Irishman’s boxing skills.

    Conor McGregor has remained active after breaking his leg at UFC 264 against Dustin Poirier. He has spent much of his time bulking up and active resting. And now, he has begun to hit the pads as he inches closer to his targeted summer return.

    When footage of McGregor engaging in an outdoor training session was released, the Irishman left himself wide open to criticism from peers and haters alike, or in this case both.

    Notorious troll Jake Paul shared his thoughts on McGregor’s handiwork, calling it “embarrassing” and telling McGregor “Your chin (is) wide open with no head movement for the PRBLM CHILD right hand of god.”

    This is far from the first time Paul has jabbed McGregor. The former champ-champ was even one of Paul’s targets in his Dana White Diss Track.

    Additionally, Paul has been angling for a fight with McGregor for roughly a year now, roasting him at every turn. In fact, the YouTuber even went so far as to create a “Sleepy McGregor chain,” which depicted McGregor’s posture on the mat immediately after getting TKOd by Dustin Poirier at UFC 257.

    But through all the jokes and challenges, McGregor has never issued a direct response to Paul. That is until Friday.

    After Paul’s critique of McGregor’s boxing technique, “The Notorious” posted the following video on his Twitter page:

    After shadowboxing in bed for a few seconds, McGregor would shout, “Jackass!” before belting out a hearty laugh.

    McGregor & Malignaggi Back At It Again

    Soon after McGregor’s exchange with Paul, a name from McGregor’s past, Paulie Malignaggi, also weighed in on McGregor’s training video. Unsurprisingly, the “Magic Man” was not complimentary.

    “I agree with Jake. Connor is light work,” Malignaggi wrote.

    “He ain’t s**t” Malignaggi further assessed when a Twitter user spoke up in defense of McGregor.

    Never being one in need of someone to defend him, McGregor would counter Malignaggi himself.

    “I left you like a little seesaw,” McGregor said with an image from their infamous sparring session prior to the MayMac event.

    Malignaggi has always argued that him hitting the canvas during this session was actually a result of a push and that he wasn’t actually dropped by a McGregor punch. He also repeatedly called on McGregor to release the full sparring footage instead of cherry-picked clips.

    The full sparring session was never released, and Malignaggi has continued to take shots at McGregor ever since their falling out, even five years later.

    Though Malignaggi and McGregor never had the opportunity to compete in a full boxing match, Malignaggi did have the opportunity to fight McGregor’s close friend Artem Lobov in a bare-knuckle boxing match in 2019.

    Prior to the bout, Malignaggi admitted to not taking Lobov seriously and laughed about MMA fans being dumb enough to believe Lobov stood a chance.

    Lobov would go on to win the contest via split decision.

    What are your thoughts on McGregor’s clap-backs to Jake Paul and Paulie Malignaggi?

  • Mackenzie Dern Reveals Pre-Fight Injury Before Rodriguez Loss

    Mackenzie Dern revealed in an exclusive interview with MMA News that she suffered a knee injury before her main event loss to Marina Rodriguez.

    Dern went on to lose to Rodriguez in her first career UFC main event at UFC Vegas 39 last October via a unanimous decision. She was unable to deal with Rodriguez’s boxing or get the fight to the ground by using her signature Jiu-Jitsu.

    Dern remains one of the top UFC strawweight prospects heading into her 2022 debut against Tecia Torres at UFC 273. However, it was a hard road back to full health following the knee injury before her fight with Rodriguez.

    Dern explained what led to her knee injury in a recent sitdown with MMA News’ James Lynch.

    “Yeah, I hurt it on the last sparring before my fight with Marina on Friday [of fight week],” Dern said. “It was more during the fight week, so during fight week it just blew up and it was huge. I couldn’t really do anything, I couldn’t train during fight week, I couldn’t move around too much, I couldn’t put pressure on my knee or anything like that. In the fight, I didn’t feel it or anything like that. Marina did a couple of kicks and it was in the back of my head. She didn’t know about it or anything like that.

    “I felt good, I had trained hard and everything like that. But it was a little distraction. All of these things are little distractions and you just gotta learn to block it all out.”

    Dern went on to reveal that she underwent knee surgery following the fight with Rodriguez and made a full recovery ahead of this fight camp.

    Before the loss to Rodriguez, Dern had won four straight over the likes of Nina Nunes and Virna Jandiroba. She debuted in the UFC back at UFC 222 following successful stints in LFA and Invicta FC.

    Dern will look to get back into the strawweight title picture with a win over Torres at UFC 273. Her grappling is arguably the best in the strawweight division and she’s proven to be a matchup nightmare for most contenders.

    What is your prediction for Mackenzie Dern vs. Tecia Torres?

  • Archives: Esparza & Jędrzejczyk Offended By Fedor’s Comments (2015)

    Months ago, Khabib Nurmagomedov made headlines after implying that women’s mixed martial arts is inferior to men’s mixed martial arts. Specifically, Khabib used Julianna Peña’s victory over Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 as an example in support of his claim and, unsurprisingly, Peña took issue with these remarks.

    Seven years ago, another Russian MMA legend, Fedor Emelianenko, made very similar remarks. And then-champion Carla Esparza as well as Joanna Jędrzejczyk both were offended, not unlike Julianna Peña years later.

    The following article was published on this day seven years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Seven Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 12, 2015, 1:48 PM]

    At the UFC 185 open workouts on Wednesday, UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza and number one contender Joanna Jędrzejczyk took exception to recent comments made by MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko.

    During a recent WHOA TV interview, the former PRIDE Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko controversially stated that he felt MMA is a man’s sport, adding that women have no business fighting in MMA.

    Esparza and Jędrzejczyk, who compete in the co-main event this Saturday night at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, disagree.

    “I like him so much and he’s a living legend,” Jędrzejczyk said. “But I think we can do a pretty good job, you know? I think it’s not right. We can fight good, we can bring the audience and we can make the show better. That’s all.”

    “Facts speak for themselves,” Esparza agreed. “He’s one of the greats. I have nothing against him. Maybe we differ a little bit in opinion. You know, I think Ronda and the crowd she brought in to LA, the proof is in the pudding. It shows right there.”

    Esparza continued, “I think female MMA is basically the biggest female sport out there right now. We’re being put on the same stage as the guys, and obviously, Ronda is headlining even above all the guys. It just goes to show, we’re on top right now.”

    “Some people are always going to feel the way they feel. But I think day-by-day, fight-by-fight, I’m hearing those whispers a lot less than I used to I think if we go out there and keep showing that we have skills, that we have heart — I feel like a lot of times girls bring it even more than the guys just with their tenacity and they’re just non-stop. That’s why it is where it is right now because they keep proving themselves.”

    Esparza concluded, “We’re legit and we’re here to stay. Nothing is going to stop this momentum that’s been going with the women.”

    What do you think about Fedor’s comments about WMMA?

  • Chael Sonnen: The BMF Title Is Finished

    UFC commentator Chael Sonnen doesn’t want to hear about the BMF title ever again, and he doesn’t think there’s any reason to still discuss it.

    Sonnen’s thoughts come after the BMF titleholder, Jorge Masvidal, lost via unanimous decision to Colby Covington at UFC 272. Masvidal earned the BMF title by defeating Nate Diaz at UFC 244.

    Sonnen, who was arguably a ‘BMF’ during his time in the UFC, is never afraid to speak his mind. He’s proven to be just as outspoken after retirement as he was during his fighting career.

    During a recent segment on his YouTube channel, Sonnen explained why the BMF title is dead.

    “The BMF is gone,” Sonnen said. “I’m annoyed that it took me this long to see it. I usually see these things upfront. We don’t need to discuss it again. It’s not going to be contested again. I love the BMF and I’m sad that it’s over. I’ve been talking about it for three years now hoping that we’d resurrect that thing. We gotta stop, it ends today. The BMF is not getting fought for again.”

    Sonnen’s comments come after UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman said he was relinquishing the BMF title prior to UFC 272. Masvidal has lost three straight fights, including back-to-back fights to Usman with one vicious KO loss.

    The BMF title was made specifically after Diaz called out Masvidal following his win over Anthony Pettis at UFC 241. It’s unclear if Diaz and Masvidal will ever rematch down the line after their first matchup ended in controversy.

    Do you agree with Chael Sonnen about the BMF title being finished?

  • Archives: Jon Jones Likens Thiago Santos to His Fiancée (2019)

    Despite Jon Jones’ initial doubts found in the following story, Thiago Santos proved that he was a worthy opponent when he took the LHW GOAT to the only split decision of his career three years ago. Tonight at UFC Vegas 50, Santos will go up against another dominant light heavyweight in Magomed Ankalaev in the main event.

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JUNE 25, 2019, 1:37 PM]

    Jon Jones is no more worried about Thiago Santos’ knockout power than he is that of his fiancée.

    At UFC 239 Jon Jones will defend his light heavyweight championship against the dangerous Thiago Santos. The story leading up to the fight is that the power Santos possesses in his limbs could be the key to someone finally defeating Jon Jones. Though this might be an area of concern for some fans and betters of Jon Jones come July 6, it isn’t to the man himself, who believes that power is universal; execution is not:

    “No, I’m not worried about him at all,” Jones said in an appearance on The Ariel Helwani MMA Show on Monday. “I feel like my fiancée’s strong enough to knock me out if I put my hands behind my back and let her punch me right in the chin. A lot of people hit hard. Everybody has the power to knock out anybody. My manager can knock me out if I let him punch me in the face. It’s about being smart enough to land that punch.”

    Of course, one glaring difference between Thiago Santos and Jon Jones’s fiancée is that, unlike his fiancée, Santos has 15 wins by knockout. But Jones maintains that it isn’t the heavy hitters like Quinton Jackson, Glover Teixeira, Vitor Belfort he has fought in the past that concern him, it is those who can test his fight psychology:

    “Everyone hits hard,” Jones reiterated. “The fighters that concern me the most are the intelligent fighters, the guys who can set up those punches or set up a solid game plan. So I’m not too worried about Thiago. I’ve fought many guys with big muscles and big knockout power. I started doing that at 23 years old.

    “So, no, I’m not worried about anything. I’ve just got to go out there, have faith in my abilities, and my team that’s around me, my intelligence towards the game, and everything else will fall into place.”

    Do you believe Jon Jones should be worried about Thiago Santos’s knockout power?

  • Khamzat Chimaev Mocks Usman’s Boxing Skills Amid Canelo Fight Talks

    Rising UFC welterweight star Khamzat Chimaev doesn’t think Kamaru Usman would fare well in a fight with boxing champion Canelo Álvarez.

    Chimaev is set to face Gilbert Burns at UFC 273, in arguably the toughest test of his UFC tenure. He has won 10 straight to begin his MMA career, including most recently in a smothering of Li Jingliang at UFC 267.

    Usman is the UFC’s best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and is coming off an electric 2021. In the leadup to his last fight at UFC 268, he hinted at a potential crossover against Alvarez soon.

    Usman’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, recently said that Usman can knock out Alvarez inside three rounds of boxing. This prompted a variety of reactions around combat sports, including from Chimaev.

    In a recent tweet, Chimaev mocked the UFC welterweight champion along with a retweeted video of Usman whiffing punches.

    “[He is] good boxer,” Chimaev said sarcastically.

    Usman’s striking has arguably improved drastically over his past few fights, particularly showcased in knockouts of Burns and Jorge Masvidal. Yet, it seems Chimaev is not impressed to the point that he thinks Usman would stand a chance against Alvarez.

    UFC President Dana White has recently teased that Chimaev vs. Burns “makes sense” as a No. 1 contender fight. If that’s the case and Chimaev can defeat Burns, he could secure a matchup with Usman sooner rather than later.

    As for Usman/Alvarez, White has made it clear that he is not interested in helping put that superfight together.

    How do you think a Khamzat Chimaev vs. Kamaru Usman fight would play out?

  • Ankalaev On 2018 Craig Loss: “Look Where He Is & Look Where I Am”

    Ahead of his first UFC main event, light heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev has dismissively looked back on his sole defeat in professional MMA.

    Since joining the UFC in 2018, a signing that came after he’d amassed a 9-0 record across various Russian promotions, Ankalaev has established himself as one of the fastest rising and most promising contenders in the promotion.

    But while he’s defeated the likes of Volkan Oezdemir, Nikita Krylov, and Ion Cuțelaba in recent times, the Dagestani’s stint in the UFC didn’t get off to the best start.

    Ankalaev made his debut against Scotland’s Craig at a UFC Fight Night held at London, England’s O2 Arena. Until the final second of the fight, “Bearjew” was on his way to a third straight loss. But with one second on the clock, he secured victory with a clutch triangle choke submission.

    During a recent interview with Yahoo Sports, the topic of Ankalaev’s only setback in the sport came up. Judging by his answer, the 29-year-old is clearly not too bothered about the blemish on his record.

    Claiming he’d forgotten all about it, Ankalaev suggested the defeat means nothing given the pair’s current standings in the division.

    “Until you brought it up, I hadn’t thought about it in a very long time,” Ankalaev said. “I had forgotten all about it. I’m not thinking about Paul Craig or worried about him at all. Look where he is and look where I am.”

    Ankalaev & Craig Hope To Extend Their Win Streaks This Month

    While March 2018 saw the pair share the cage, March 2022 will see both Ankalaev and Craig look to climb further up the light heavyweight ladder in separate clashes.

    The Scotsman, who is riding a three-fight win streak that features victories over Jamahal Hill, Shogun Rua, and Gadzhimurad Antigulov, will return to UK turf on March 19 to face top-10 contender Krylov.

    Ankalaev, meanwhile, is set to enter the main event spotlight at this weekend’s UFC Vegas 50 event. In his way of a place in the 205-pound top five and title contention will be Thiago Santos, a 22-fight UFC veteran who challenged Jon Jones for gold back in 2019.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Caz6EqdND_g/

    With the winner likely only one victory away from securing a date with the champion, this weekend’s main event certainly has a lot at stake. Ankalaev will hope to make an impact as he looks to surge into the group of elites at 205 pounds.

    Do you see Magomed Ankalaev as a future UFC light heavyweight champion?

  • Jake Paul: I Would KO Conor McGregor In Boxing Or MMA

    YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul says he could beat UFC superstar Conor McGregor in a ring or in a cage.

    Paul has been on McGregor’s case for several months, as he continues to tease a potential boxing match with McGregor down the line. Paul is coming off of three-straight wins in 2021 over former UFC champion Tyron Woodley and former UFC fighter Ben Askren.

    McGregor was a target of Paul in a recent diss track that featured jabs at UFC President Dana White, Nate Diaz, and others. But not all of Paul’s comments towards McGregor have been adversarial, as he recently claimed that McGregor is the most underpaid fighter in history.

    In a recent tweet, Paul took his confidence to a different level when hinting at a potential fight with McGregor.

    “I would KO Conor in boxing or MMA,” Paul said. “Right hand of God.”

    Paul showed off his right hand in a gruesome knockout of Woodley last December. After five back-and-forth rounds, Paul landed a powerful right hook that sent Woodley to sleep.

    McGregor has hinted at a potential return to boxing down the line, most recently when he was allegedly in negotiations to fight Manny Pacquiao last year. However, he’s anticipating a return to MMA first, with a timetable set for this summer at the earliest.

    Though unlikely, Paul vs. McGregor boxing match could theoretically happen down the line, and Paul is confident he can put on another impressive performance against arguably one of the fight game’s best strikers.

    What do you make of Jake Paul’s roast of Conor McGregor?

  • Cejudo Says He’d Stop McGregor In Training Critique, Mac Hits Back

    Former UFC double-champ Henry Cejudo isn’t impressed by Conor McGregor’s striking that he showed off in a recent social media post.

    Cejudo and McGregor have bickered back and forth on social media on and off for months. While Cejudo remains a retired UFC fighter, he remains active on social media and is also a commentator for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC promotion.

    Cejudo is never afraid to speak his mind when it comes to his UFC colleagues, including former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and former opponent Dominick Cruz.

    Despite being known mostly for his elite grappling during his time in the Octagon, the Olympic wrestler isn’t impressed with McGregor’s boxing. In a recent tweet, he criticized McGregor for his technique when hitting pads.

    “The same reason why you let people chew that front leg [Conor McGregor] is the same reason why I would stop you,” Cejudo said. “What do you say I make my comeback at 155?“

    McGregor, who has had his fair share of social media back-and-forths with his rivals, quickly hit back at Cejudo in a reply.

    “Shut up u little fart,” McGregor replied.

    Cejudo had hinted at a UFC comeback against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski before UFC president Dana White booked ‘The Korean Zombie’ for UFC 273. He hasn’t fought since he retired following UFC 249 in 2020.

    McGregor is preparing for a UFC comeback later this year after snapping his leg in his trilogy with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. While Cejudo is unafraid of McGregor, the Irishman is the more likely of the two to return to competition in 2022.

    What do you make of the Henry Cejudo/Conor McGregor Twitter beef?

  • Santos Finally Feels “100%” After Knee Injury Ahead Of Ankalaev Fight

    Thiago Santos says he finally feels like himself again ahead of his UFC Vegas 50 main event against Magomed Ankalaev.

    Santos returned to the win column last October with a decision win over Johnny Walker which snapped his three-fight losing skid. On the losing streak, he dropped a decision to Aleksandar Rakic, a submission loss to Glover Teixeira, and a split-decision loss to Jon Jones for the belt in a fight he tore both his knees in.

    Since the Jones fight and tearing both his knees, Santos has admitted his knee hasn’t felt the same but that changed this camp.

    “It’s going good. It’s a long process. I came back, I fought, I didn’t win, but I feel like my progress—I feel better every single fight. I’m pretty sure this next fight, I will be so much better than my last fight,” Santos said to MMAJunkie.

    Thiago Santos
    Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    According to Santos, he says he doesn’t think he returned when he was 100% and that showed in his performances. He says the mental toll also played a role in his performances

    “I was able to fight, you know, but I can’t say I was 100%. Like I said, it’s a long process. Not only physical, but mental. I cannot say I was 100%. I was able to fight, but I did not feel 100%,” Santos explained. “Now, I can say I feel 100%. I feel mentally good (and) physically good. Even in my camp, I didn’t have any problems. I did everything, all our training stuff—wrestling, jiu-jitsu; I could train everything, so I feel 100%.”

    Thiago Santos is currently ranked fifth at light heavyweight while Magomed Ankalaev is ranked sixth. Both men believe if they get a big win here they could get a title shot. It’s certainly not out of the question, as even in Santos’ fight against Teixeira, he dropped him a couple of times and nearly finished him.

    Do you think Thiago Santos will defeat Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Vegas 50?

  • Bruno Silva Looks To Steal Alex Pereira’s Hype At UFC Vegas 50

    UFC middleweight Bruno Silva is aiming to make a statement against the highly-touted striker Alex Pereira at UFC Vegas 50.

    Silva has been deserving of some hype of his own following seven-straight wins. He hasn’t lost since 2016 and has earned UFC victories over the likes of Andrew Sanchez and Jordan Wright.

    Silva is the slight underdog against Pereira at UFC Vegas 50. Pereira was one of the biggest signings by the UFC in 2021 following a decorated career in Glory Kickboxing.

    Pereira passed his first test with flying colors with a debut win over Andreas Michailidis at UFC 268. During his UFC Vegas 50 pre-fight press conference, Silva talked about his intentions for making a name for himself against Pereira while stealing his hype.

    “Absolutely, [I will steal his hype with a win], that’s one of the reasons why I took this fight,” Silva said. “According to Alex, 15 guys turned him down, and I was crazy No. 16. A lot of guys have fear. I have fear, but I’m brave, so I will fight him.” (h/t Cageside Press)

    Silva went on to tease an aggressive approach to his fight with Pereira.

    “There is no way to make history if you are not brave enough. So you guys are not going to see me fighting like Khabib [Nurmagomedov] or Damian Maia. If I have to, I will, but I’m going to look for another knockout.”

    Pereira is also the only man to ever knock out UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in any sport, as he’s continued to allude to during his UFC rise.

    Silva could give Pereira plenty of challenges inside the Octagon. He possesses powerful striking and has showcased the ability to finish a fight with a single blow.

    Silva will look to put on a show against Pereira and continue his rise in the middleweight division.

    What is your prediction for Bruno Silva vs. Alex Pereira?

  • Henry Cejudo’s Intuition Says He Won’t Fight In The UFC Again

    Former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo is beginning to lose hope in a UFC comeback in light of his recent jabs at UFC President Dana White.

    Cejudo hasn’t fought in the UFC Octagon since his last bantamweight title defense against Dominick Cruz at UFC 249. In his post-fight interview, he announced his retirement from the UFC and officially vacated the title shortly thereafter.

    But Cejudo has hinted at a UFC comeback, most recently volunteering to fight against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 273. This was after Max Holloway pulled out of the Volkanovski fight due to an injury. However, the UFC opted to go with ‘The Korean Zombie’ as a replacement.

    Cejudo has recently claimed that he demanded too much money and that was the reasoning behind not getting the Volkanovski fight. In the meantime, he has coached various UFC fighters at Fight Ready in Arizona.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Cejudo addressed his status towards a UFC comeback and sounded less than optimistic.

    “I don’t think so,” Cejudo said. “I think the way that things are going, I think I talked too much sh*t. I think I picked on (UFC president) Dana (White) a little too much. He’s just not going to pay me. I’ve accepted that. This is why I’m able to throw out the kitchen sink from now on because it’s never going to change. It’s not going to change.”

    Cejudo went on to criticize White and the UFC’s pay model in light of recent deals with Jorge Masvidal and UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

    “He’s going to pay Jorge. He’s going to pay the 1 percent. He’s going to pay the entertainers – and that’s partially what I am. I’m an entertainer. I could sell a damn fight and I can fight better than all those dudes combined. It sucks, but that’s just the way it is. It’s just business. I ain’t mad. (I’m) maybe a little frustrated, but I ain’t mad. That’s just life.”

    Masvidal and Adesanya earned mega deals leading up to their recent fights, prompting frustration from Cejudo. His issues with the UFC have allegedly been financially related and could’ve potentially led to his retirement.

    Cejudo is regarded as arguably one of the greatest combat sports athletes of all time. After earning a gold medal in Olympic Wrestling, he earned UFC titles at flyweight and bantamweight and wrapped up his UFC tenure with six straight wins.

    Do you think Henry Cejudo will fight in the UFC again?

  • UFC Vegas 50: Santos vs. Ankalaev Weigh-In Results, Odds & Faceoffs

    The weigh-ins for UFC Vegas 50: Santos vs. Ankalaev have wrapped up, and we are all clear for the full slate of fights tomorrow.

    UFC Vegas 50 takes place from inside the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. All fighters made weight, and below you can find the betting odds and preview of the main card fights along with the final faceoffs.

    Thiago Santos (+410) vs. Magomed Ankalaev (-575)

    The main event features top-10 light heavyweights Thiago Santos and Magomed Ankalaev going at it, with an opportunity for Santos to prove he’s still in the mix at the top of the division. For Ankalaev, it’s an opportunity to crack into the top 5 and make his biggest statement to the light heavyweight division thus far.

    Thiago Santos was successful in his last main event when he defeated Johnny Walker via unanimous decision last October. For Ankalaev, this will be his first time headlining a UFC card. In the MMA News Top 100 Fighters of 2021 list, Santos came in at #50, with Ankalaev being placed nine spots ahead at #41.

    Ankalaev has the potential of easily being ranked within the top 20 or higher on our 2022 list, and fights like this demonstrate just where a fighter is at this point in their career ascension.

    Meanwhile, Santos can show that he is a proven KO legend and former title challenger for a reason and that he is being disrespected by oddsmakers and anyone else who is considering this fight to be Ankalaev’s coming-out party.

    You can check out the face-off for Santos vs. Ankalaev below.

    Marlon Moraes (+210) vs. Song Yadong (-260)

    The co-main event will see former title challenger Marlon Moraes facing rising contender Song Yadong. Both fighters are ranked within the top 15 at bantamweight, with Mores at #10 and Yadong ranked at #14. The two are on completely different trajectories, though, with Moraes currently on a three-fight losing streak while the 24-year-old Yadong has won two straight and three of his last four.

    Peep the face-off of the co-headliners down below.

    https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1502355941274144770

    Sodiq Yusuff (-240) vs. Alex Caceres (+195)

    Two more ranked fighters coming at you in this featherweight scrap featuring Sodiq Yusuff (#12) and Alex Caceres (#15). Last year, Yusuff did not even know if he would even fight again after a bout with COVID-19, but here he is, ready to bounce back from his first UFC loss to Arnold Allen last April.

    To do so, he’ll need to hand “Bruce Leeroy” his first loss since 2019. Caceres is currently on the longest winning streak of his entire MMA career with five straight wins.

    Win or lose, if Caceres has it his way, you’ll continue to see him for years to come until he makes 20 full years in the UFC.

    On our year-end list last year, Yusuff ranked at #95 while Caceres did not place. Caceres will have an opportunity to show that this sudden surge is not temporary and that he belongs in the conversation with the very best fighters in the world.

    Peep the face-offs between these two samurais below.

    Khalil Rountree Jr. (+110) vs. Karl Roberson (-130)

    Khalil Rountree will enter this bout coming off one of the more “clean yet controversial” tactics in recent memory in his TKO victory over Modestas Bukauskas last September. We’ll see if Rountree makes headlines again this time.

    Roberson will need to guard every limb and stay keen to all of Rountree’s unpredictable attacks. If he gets his hand raised here, that would be his first win since 2019.

    Check out the face-offs between these two below.

    https://twitter.com/danawhite/status/1502365716720209921

    Drew Dober (-170) vs. Terrance McKinney (+150)

    Terrance McKinney followed up his record-setting UFC debut with yet another stellar performance in his first-round submission over Fares Ziam just weeks ago at UFC Vegas 49. Riding hot, the 27-year-old lightweight has already set a timeline for when he’ll become UFC champion. But now he’ll meet his largest test in veteran Drew Dober, and he’ll do it on short notice.

    Peep the face-off below.

    https://twitter.com/danawhite/status/1502364873786683394

    Alex Pereira (-180) vs. Bruno Silva (+155)

    Alex Pereira is the new hype train of the middleweight division. That distinction once belonged to Israel Adesanya. Adesanya lived up to the hype and then some, going on to win the UFC middleweight championship and being one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.

    Now, Pereira wants to follow that same path to Adesanya, who Pereira believes wants no part of him after being knocked out by him in Glory Kickboxing years ago.

    If Pereira’s path to the champion is to remain steady, the Brazilian will need to amass a winning streak. After a successful debut against Andreas Michailidis at UFC 268, Pereira now faces his second UFC challenge in the much more experienced, 22-6 Bruno Silva.

    Peep the face-off below.

    UFC Vegas 50 Weigh-In Results

    You can view the full card and weigh-in results for UFC Vegas 50 along with the viewing information for tomorrow’s event below, courtesy of UFC.com.

    MAIN CARD (7:00 PM ET, ESPN+)

    Main Event – Light Heavyweight Bout: Thiago Santos (205.5) vs Magomed Ankalaev (205)

    Co-Main Event – Bantamweight Bout: Marlon Moraes (136) vs Song Yadong (135.5)

    Featherweight Bout: Sodiq Yusuff (145.5) vs Alex Caceres (145)

    Light Heavyweight Bout: Khalil Rountree (205) vs Karl Roberson (203)

    Lightweight Bout: Drew Dober (155) vs Terrance McKinney (156)

    Middleweight Bout: Alex Pereira (186) vs Bruno Silva (185.5)

    PRELIMINARY CARD (4:00 PM ET, ESPN+)

    Welterweight Bout: Matthew Semelsberger (169) vs AJ Fletcher (170)

    Women’s Flyweight Bout: JJ Aldrich (125.5) vs Gillian Robertson (125.5)

    Bantamweight Bout: Trevin Jones (135) vs Javid Basharat (136)

    Featherweight Bout: Damon Jackson (145.5) vs Kamuela Kirk (145)

    Women’s Flyweight Bout: Sabina Mazo (125.5) vs Miranda Maverick (125.5)

    Middleweight Bout: Dalcha Lungiambula (186) vs Cody Brundage (185.5)

    Bantamweight Bout: Kris Moutinho (135) vs Guido Cannetti (136)

    Light Heavyweight Bout: Tafon Nchukwi (205.5) vs Azamat Murzakanov (205.5)

    Be sure to keep it locked right here on MMANews.com tomorrow for full coverage of UFC Vegas 50: Santos vs. Ankalaev!

  • Mackenzie Dern: You Don’t Have To Give Birth To Be A Mom Champ

    UFC women’s strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern has given her take on bantamweight champion Julianna Peña’s past comments on motherhood.

    At UFC 269, Amanda Nunes put her 135-pound gold on the line against “The Venezuelan Vixen.” In and around fight week was the presence of two little ones. While the Brazilian became a mom after her wife Nina Nunes gave birth to daughter Raegan in 2020, Peña brought her daughter into the world two years prior in 2018.

    After shocking the world with her performance at the final pay-per-view of 2021, the newly-crowned bantamweight queen shocked a few more with some of her post-fight remarks. She claimed that, owing to the fact she gave birth to her child, she deserves the title of “first mom champ,” rather than the defeated Nunes.

    In a recent exclusive interview with MMA News, Dern, who became a mother herself in 2019, provided her thoughts on her UFC peer’s controversial comments.

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

    Dern: I Disagree With Peña, But Understand Her Take

    After making the statement, Peña drew widespread criticism, with Nunes even suggesting her rival has to be more aware when addressing the sensitive topic of motherhood and the alternate methods to pregnancy.

    Like many, Dern, the current #5-ranked 115-pound contender, disagrees with the idea a fighter can only become a ‘mom champ’ if she’s given birth.

    Nevertheless, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist told MMA News she understands where Peña is coming from, and identified some of the benefits that could come for those who didn’t go through pregnancy and delivery.

    “I think each family is different,” said Dern. “I don’t think that actually giving birth is what makes the mom champ, you know what I mean? Because, I mean, the guys, they have tons of guys, men, that dedicate a lot of time with their kids and all things like that. But also, too, they have the guys that have the moms, the wives, that’s been kinda help(ing) with their career, their training, and the guys can just focus on training, and they have the wife that helps them out and can just take care of the kids for them, and be that support team for them.

    “I don’t know. I don’t really agree with the whole, ‘Oh, because they’re giving birth, they’re the mom champ.’ But, I mean, I understand what she’s trying to say,” concluded Dern.

    It is worth noting that Peña later clarified her remarks and has since stated that Amanda Nunes is indeed a true mom champ.

    As well as discussing Peña’s comments on motherhood, Dern also touched on topics like her recent knee injury, her upcoming return to action at UFC 273 against Tecia Torres, and the impending return of former champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk during her interview with MMA News.

    Since returning from her maternity break, Dern has shot back into contention. After suffering her first setback in professional MMA at the hands of Amanda Ribas, the 28-year-old won four straight bouts, three of which ended via first-round submission.

    Having dropped her last contest to Marina Rodriguez, Dern will be hoping to return to the win column and the title conversation when she enters the Octagon for the first time in 2022. In her way of doing so will be Tecia Torres, who has had an impressive resurgence in recent times.

    Given that she’s on the right side of 30, Dern will be hoping to join the club of mom champs in the coming years, a pursuit that will first have to get through a certain “Tiny Tornado.”

    Do you agree with Mackenzie Dern?

  • UFC Vegas 50: Alex Caceres Reveals Plan For 20 Years In The UFC

    This Saturday marks Alex Caceres’s 26th fight in his 11 years with the UFC, adding to his aspiration to become the longest-running active fighter in the promotion.

    Though Caceres’s professional MMA career began in 2008, in 2010 he appeared on season 12 of The Ultimate Fighter. Since then, “Bruce Leeroy” has racked up 14 wins in the UFC. Caceres won his last match in brutal fashion by submitting his opponent Seung Woo Choi by rear-naked choke in the second round.

    Submission! Watch Alex Caceres choke out Seung Woo Choi at UFC Vegas 41 - MMAmania.com
    Image Credit:

    And on March 12, he has the chance to continue his five-fight win streak when he faces the #12 featherweight Sodiq Yusuff. Of course, he wants to win the fight, but Caceres’s main goal is to become the UFC’s longest-running active fighter.

    “If I set up one lofty goal, it was just to be the fighter with the longest-running active career,” Caceres told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Vegas 50 media day. “I know I’m closing in on the top guy right now who has 11 years. I beat him out of the running. If I make it to 42 (years old), that’ll be 20 years (in the UFC). So let’s see who tops that.” (h/t MMA Junkie)

    At just 33 years old, Caceres has already reached his 11-year mark with the UFC. He has a promising career that he hopes to maintain for the next nine years. Win or lose at UFC Vegas 50, Caceres hopes to continue his 20-year journey in the UFC.

    What are your thoughts on Alex Caceres wanting to fight in the UFC for 20 years?

  • Sodiq Yusuff Thought Career Could Be Over During COVID Battle

    UFC featherweight Sodiq Yusuff has described the fear he had for the future of his fighting career during a tough battle with COVID-19.

    Yusuff has long been considered one of the top prospects in the UFC at 145 pounds. Entering 2021, the 28-year-old was unbeaten in the promotion and boasted an 11-1 record that included wins against Gabriel Benitez and Andre Fili.

    However, the year was his first in the UFC that didn’t bring success and progression up the featherweight ladder. In his sole appearance, he was matched up with Arnold Allen in a real battle of future stars. The Englishman secured a tight decision victory in their UFC Vegas 23 clash.

    Instead of having a quick chance to rebound, Yusuff found himself suffering from the virus that has caused havoc across the world over the past two years.

    Now finally set for his return to the Octagon this weekend after a near one-year layoff, Yusuff has looked back on his battle with the illness.

    While his long layoff in 2020, owing to passport-related issues that caused the cancelation of his bout with Edson Barboza, was frustrating, Yusuff says his 2021 spell on the sidelines was ‘scary’.

    During UFC Vegas 50 media day one Wednesday, the Nigerian-American admitted he was frightened about the future of his career after suffering from the long-term symptoms of COVID-19.

    “It’s super depressing. The year before this one (2020) was frustrating. But last year (was) not frustrating because now I’m dealing with my health,” said Yusuff. “It’s different about being frustrated about fighting and thinking you’re gonna be jacked up for the rest of your life. I was really, really scared. I actually called my coach. I was telling him, ‘Man, I think I might be done with fighting.’

    “I didn’t know anything about (long-term) COVID symptoms. A lot of this stuff people were figuring out on the go,” added Yusuff. “So I didn’t know that, oh, your body’s still acting like you’re sick. So it was very, very depressing. But hey, we’re on the other side now.”

    One notable other instance of a fighter suffering from long COVID was rising welterweight star Khamzat Chimaev. Like Yusuff, “Borz” even considered retirement when feeling the effects the virus had on his body.

    Having seen the Chechen-born Swede return in style last October by choking Li Jingliang unconscious, “Super” will be looking to make a similar comeback this Saturday.

    Yusuff Has Opportunity To Rebound At UFC Vegas 50

    In the way of Yusuff making a successful return to the win column and re-railing his train towards the top 10 will be Alex Caceres. The pair will share the Octagon on the main card of this weekend’s UFC Vegas 50 card.

    “Bruce Leeroy” has been a part of the UFC roster since 2011 but has only recently hit his best form. Across an active five-fight win streak dating back to 2019, Caceres has bested names like Steven Petersen and Chase Hooper.

    Most recently, the 33-year-old secured the final spot in the rankings by recovering from an early knockdown and illegal knee to submit Seung Woo Choi.

    While he’ll hope to continue his previously unlikely climb towards the elite at 145 pounds, Yusuff will be hoping to avoid a skid and re-establish himself as the prospect to watch in the featherweight division.

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC Vegas 50, Sodiq Yusuff or Alex Caceres?

  • Tuivasa Supports “Great Guy” Velasquez: I Wish He Got Him In The Head

    UFC heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa has sent his support to incarcerated former two-time champion Cain Velasquez.

    Velasquez, who held the UFC’s heavyweight gold for two stints between 2010-2011 and 2012-2015, was arrested late last month and charged with attempted premeditated murder.

    In the incident, which took place in San Jose, California, Velasquez is accused of pursuing an individual named Henry Goularte, who’d been released one week prior to the February 28 events after reportedly molesting a relative of Velasquez.

    After ramming Goularte’s vehicle following an 11-mile chase, Velasquez is accused of shooting the stepfather of his intended victim. The 38-year-old was recently denied bail after being deemed too high risk by Judge Shalyna Brown.

    cain velasquez mugshot
    Cain Velasquez

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Tuivasa, who has trained with Velasquez at San Jose’s American Kickboxing Academy, praised the Salinas-born star as a “great guy” who’s always willing to help the up-and-comers in the gym.

    “He’s such a great guy. In real life, he’s always in the gym, he’s always helping the younger guys, always helping the amateurs,” said Tuivasa. “I don’t know. Things take over.”

    Like others, “Bam Bam,” who is currently in the midst of his own push for UFC gold, also gave a firm opinion on how he wished the incident had unfolded.

    “I wish he got the guy in the head.”

    Tuivasa Isn’t The Only MMA Personality To Show Support

    With their MMA peer potentially facing 20 years in jail if found guilty, a number of fighters, pundits, and big names in the sport have come out in support of Velasquez, who is widely regarded as one of the most gifted heavyweights in UFC history.

    As well as sending personal messages and thoughts on the incident on social media and in interviews, the likes of UFC President Dana White, lightweight legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, and former two-division titleholder Henry Cejudo, along with over 30 others, have penned letters calling for Velasquez’s release.

    In the same vein as Tuivasa, color commentator and renowned podcast host Joe Rogan wished Goularte hadn’t have escaped the incident unharmed.

    “My only wish is that he just ran the car off the road, pulled that guy out of the f*cking car, and beat him to death. F*ck you,” he said during an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience.

    What are your thoughts on the Cain Velasquez case?

  • Masvidal Shares Aftermath Of Eyepoke From “Cheating F**k” Covington

    Jorge Masvidal suffered quite the eye injury after getting poked by Colby Covington during their grudge match at UFC 272.

    Masvidal and Covington finally got their chance to settle their beef in the Octagon, with Covington earning a unanimous decision win. Outside of a Round 4 knockdown from Masvidal, it was a largely impressive performance from Covington.

    Seconds after the fight ended, Covington and Masvidal nearly brawled more before security personnel separated the two welterweights. During his post-fight press conference, Masvidal also claimed that Covington cheated and intentionally eye-poked him during the fight.

    Just days after their fight, Masvidal is still dealing with the physical consequences of his loss to Covington.

    In a recent tweet, Masvidal sent a message to Covington along with an image of his eye injury.

    “Almost took eyes out but all good u cheating f**k see u soon,” Masvidal said.

    Despite some retirement talks from fans and pundits, Masvidal seems intent on returning to the Octagon later this year. It’s unclear who his next opponent will be, but he seems focused on working his way back to the title picture and a potential rematch with Covington.

    Masvidal and Covington shared quite the buildup to their fight at UFC 272. They held arguably one of the most chaotic pre-fight press conferences in recent memory and went back and forth for months on social media.

    Masvidal seems keen to settle his beef with Covington in the Octagon or on the streets. Masvidal’s eye injury could fuel the fire to their severed relationship for years to come.

    Who do you want Jorge Masvidal to fight next?

  • Colby Covington Will Streetfight Dustin Poirier On One Condition

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington has upped the ante on his callout of former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier by adding a stipulation.

    Last weekend, Covington returned to the pay-per-view stage for the second time in four months. Following another failed attempt at dethroning reigning 170-pound king Kamaru Usman, “Chaos” was looking to maintain his #1 spot in the division and hopes of a trilogy with the champ alive against bitter rival and former teammate Jorge Masvidal.

    After 25 minutes of action, dominated by the 34-year-old barring a fourth-round knockdown, Covington was awarded a unanimous decision victory. In his post-fight interview, the former interim welterweight titleholder had one name on his lips, “The Diamond.”

    Covington: Poirier Has To Let The World Watch

    Poirier, another of Covington’s former American Top Team teammates, has been going back and forth with the controversial 170lber for quite some time.

    Having moved past Conor McGregor’s famed trash talk by defeating the Irishman twice in 2021, Poirier might have hoped for a rest from the attacks on his family. Covington has ensured that’s not the case, consistently insulting the Louisianan’s wife and child.

    Following his victory over “Gamebred,” Covington directed his attention away from the Miami native and back to Poirier. Reminding the two-time lightweight title challenger of his “on sight” statement again, “Chaos” pleaded with Poirier to act on his words.

    He also expressed a willingness to meet “The Diamond” in a street fight, providing Poirier lets the world watch. Of course, he couldn’t deliver that callout without a personal insult. This time it came in the form of an insinuation of a sexual relationship between Poirier’s wife and McGregor.

    “Let’s do it, bro. You said it’s on sight, man. Let’s do it, man,” said Covington during his appearance at the post-fight press conference. “Stop talking reckless to the media, man. If I talk to the media and say things, I come out here and I back it up. I’m a man of my words.

    “So we can do it anywhere. We don’t have to do it in the UFC Octagon,” he added. “If he wants to do it in a park or in the street, my only one stipulation is he let the world watch and enjoy themselves, just like he does when Conor’s in bed with his wife.”

    Poirier has previously stated that fans will never see him share the cage with Covington in the UFC. However, he hasn’t shut down Covington’s desired clash outside the promotion. Streetfight, anyone?

    Would you pay to see a streetfight between Colby Covington and Dustin Poirier?

  • Kamaru Usman States What Must Happen For A New Ngannou/UFC Deal

    UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has given his take on the ongoing contractual dispute between the promotion and his fellow African titleholder Francis Ngannou.

    All is not well between the UFC and its heavyweight king. If that wasn’t evident before UFC 270, where Ngannou faced Ciryl Gane in a unification showdown, it certainly is following it.

    In the aftermath of the Cameroonian’s triumph in Anaheim, Dana White’s post-fight absence, both in the Octagon and at the post-fight press conference, seemed to indicate the animosity between the two parties had reached a peak.

    While White later attempted to clarify it as simply being needed elsewhere at the time, that explanation didn’t appease many in the MMA community.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZND3j6v2vy/

    Beyond that, Ngannou made several claims in the following week, including the revelation that the UFC had threatened to sue his manager for an alleged talk with Jake Paul’s manager prior to UFC 270.

    With “The Predator” now on the sidelines following a knee injury and out of contract in December, as well as his statements about being willing to do “whatever it takes” to get what he wants, many believe we could see the champion exit the promotion.

    Kamaru Usman, who was in Ngannou’s corner at the January pay-per-view, believes there is a way for the UFC to form an agreement with the heavyweight powerhouse. If that’s to happen, “The Nigerian Nightmare” says compromise is crucial.

    “There’s things that they need to sit down and they need to talk about, 100%. Francis Ngannou, that’s my brother. I believe Francis is always going to be worth more than he’s getting, absolutely,” Usman said during an appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay. “If he can go to boxing tomorrow and they’re paying $50 million, I think he’s worth more than that. So that’s something that they need to sit down with the company because there’s plenty and plenty of athletes that were unhappy that were eventually sat down and something was done.

    “No one side is always going to get more than—you’re going to come to a compromise,” Usman suggested. “And I think they need to come to a compromise. Can he get more? Absolutely. Should he get more? Absolutely.”

    A UFC Exit & A Fury Superfight?

    If a compromise can’t be found, it appears Ngannou will be pursuing fresh pastures come 2023, which may come in the form of the squared circle.

    Boxing has long been on the champ’s mind, even before his decision to pursue MMA. Now, with his success and stardom, Ngannou is looking to venture to the ring for some blockbuster crossover fights. “The Predator” even labeled the need to be able to box as a key factor in negotiations with the UFC.

    If he does need to depart MMA’s biggest stage to be able to step between the ropes, it appears he’ll have a certain “Gypsy King” awaiting him.

    While Ngannou has gone back and forth with WBC and The Ring Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury for a while now, the Englishman recently stepped up talk of the superfight by suggesting it could happen in Las Vegas as soon as March next year.

    Given Kamaru Usman’s own desire to transition to the ring to face pound-for-pound great Canelo Álvarez, it stands to reason he’ll be supporting his friend and fellow African’s pursuit of a crossover fight all the way.

    Do you think the UFC and Francis Ngannou will come to an agreement before the end of the year?