MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Fighters React To dos Anjos Dominating Moicano At UFC 272

    Rafael dos Anjos didn’t lose focus with the last-minute change in opponent.

    Rafael dos Anjos took on Renato Moicano in the co-main event of UFC 272 from inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    dos Anjos entered this bout coming off a victory over another short-notice opponent in Paul Felder in a Fight of the Night performance in 2020. That bout was his first fight back in the lightweight division since 2016. Moicano entered the fight with a 3-1 record in the lightweight division.

    Rafael dos Anjos dominated Renato Moicano throughout the entire fight. He used his wrestling, grappling, and ground-and-pound to make life difficult for Moicano, who stepped in on one week’s notice for this five-round bout. You can catch a glimpse of dos Anjos’ finished artwork below.

    dos Anjos won with the final scorecard of 49-45, 49-44, 50 44.

    Let’s see how fighters reacted to dos Anjos’ victory.

    https://twitter.com/GroovyLando/status/1500333850425102341

    UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal Results & Highlights

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC 272. We’ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

  • EXCLUSIVE | ATT Fighter Johnny Eblen Talks Masvidal/Covington Beef

    Bellator middleweight and American Top Team fighter Johnny Eblen gave MMA News the inside scoop regarding Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington.

    Eblen is set to face former Bellator title challenger John Salter at Bellator 276 next weekend. He’s spent plenty of time around Covington and Masvidal at ATT and knows their story from the inside out.

    Masvidal and Covington will square off in the UFC 272 headliner this weekend. It is one of the most highly-anticipated fights in recent memory and one of the biggest non-title grudge matches in UFC history.

    Eblen was a teammate of Covington before Covington’s split from the gym. He continues to work with Masvidal at ATT as one of his main sparring partners.

    During an exclusive interview with MMA News, Eblen gave his thoughts on the matchup between Covington and Masvidal.

    “I think Jorge is going to put it on the motherf**ker, to be honest,” Eblen said of Masvidal. “I sparred a lot with that dude this camp, he’s on point and I can’t wait to watch him break his jaw. And I can’t wait to watch it on national television.”

    Johnny Eblen Explains The Difference Between Jorge Masvidal And Colby Covington

    Eblen went on to detail his personal experience with Covington at ATT and why he’s glad he’s still a teammate of Masvidal.

    “When I kinda came into the gym, he was just transitioning into that whole gimmick thing, and he was kinda doing it at the gym as well,” Eblen said of Covington. “I never really got close to him, never really trained with him too much. There were some instances where I trained with him, but outside of that didn’t get close to him. I don’t know, he just seems like a clown to me now. I’m definitely on the side of Jorge. Jorge is my homie and I’ve been training with that dude since I’ve been at the gym and I kind of gravitated closer to him instead of Colby, and I’m glad I did.”

    While Covington and Masvidal have had their fair share of verbal banter leading up to the fight, Eblen says their intentions are completely different.

    “He’s more respectful to people,” Eblen said of Masvidal. “He doesn’t talk s**t to talk s**t. When he’s talking s**t, there’s a reason for it. You’re on his bad side. Colby’s talking s**t to get likes and to be relevant. He was calling out teammates and s**t, which is a big no-no. Causing tension at the gym that wasn’t supposed to be there.”

    The storyline of Masvidal and Covington’s friendship and time together at ATT has been well documented. Eblen and the rest of ATT don’t plan on burying the hatchet with Covington anytime soon, regardless of what happens at UFC 272.

    What are your thoughts on our Johnny Eblen interview about Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington?

  • (Archives) Woodley: I’m (Still) Better Than Usman At Everything (2019)

    Before UFC 235, Tyron Woodley told the world he was better than Kamaru Usman in every department. At UFC 235, Kamaru Usman soundly dominated Tyron Woodley via a unanimous decision victory. After UFC 235, Tyron Woodley still believed he was better than Kamaru Usman in every department.

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

    On This Day Three Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 5, 2019, 9:03 AM]

    Kamaru Usman proved a lot of doubters wrong this past Saturday at UFC 235, but Tyron Woodley is not one of them.

    That is because Tyron Woodley does not believe he was wrong.

    In his comments leading up to his welterweight title defense against Kamaru Usman, Tyron Woodley claimed that Usman was not better at him in any aspect of fighting. In spite of losing 50-44, 50-44, 50-45, and in spite of being outstruck 336-60 and outgrappled throughout the contest in all positions, Tyron Woodley still feels the same way about his skill set in comparison to Kamaru Usman and doubled down on the comments he made prior to UFC 235:

    “No, I still feel the same way,” Woodley said in a recent appearance on “The Ariel Helwani MMA Show.” “I still feel the same way. And that wasn’t a knock. It’s just reality. It’s just reality that when it comes to the strike game, when it comes to wrestling, when it comes to anything explosive and extravagant, I’m better at those things. I just didn’t do it that night.

    “And that doesn’t mean I veer away from what I said. I still mean that, and I still think that when I rematch Kamaru Usman, when I get back the Tyron that was out there in the Octagon, I think we’ll see what I’m saying.”

    Unfortunately for Tyron Woodley, Dana White has vocalized that Colby Covington will receive the next world title opportunity. It is not yet known if Tyron Woodley will elect to take another opponent in the meantime or continue to bide his time waiting to role-reverse with Kamaru Usman by proving any doubters of his assessment wrong.

    Do you think Tyron Woodley is justified in stating he is better at Kamaru Usman at everything after UFC 235?

  • Tsarukyan Doubles Down On Gillespie Callouts: “He Is Scared Of Me”

    UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan has once again expressed his desire to share the Octagon with Gregor Gillespie, who he believes is “scared” to face him.

    If Tsarukyan wasn’t on your radar as one of the hottest prospects in the UFC before UFC Vegas 49, he certainly is now. After falling to a loss on promotional debut to Islam Makhachev, the Armenian got back on track with three consecutive unanimous decision wins.

    But now, Tsarukyan has returned to the finishing form that brought him 10 stoppages in his first 13 victories in professional MMA. After a first-round TKO victory over Christos Giagos last September, the 25-year-old hoped to impress even more in his first outing of 2022.

    With some brutal elbows and a vicious second-round TKO against fellow young prospect Joel Álvarez, Tsarukyan did just that.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CadimB1pAe4/

    Now, having risen to #12 in the UFC lightweight rankings, Tsarukyan is looking ahead to his next challenge, with the goal being a place inside the divisional top 10. When discussing his next move post-fight, the two-time Performance of the Night winner had a familiar name on his lips.

    Tsarukyan Sees Gillespie As Route To LW Top 10

    Prior to his fight with Álvarez coming to fruition and after it became apparent a verbal feud with Dan Hooker wasn’t likely to reach the Octagon, Tsarukyan had his sights set on top-10 contender Gillespie.

    With “The Gift” seemingly declining him as an opponent, Tsarukyan was forced to look elsewhere. But during his appearance at the UFC Vegas 49 post-fight press conference, the Armenian circled back to the decorated wrestler, calling him out and accusing the 34-year-old of being “scared.”

    “You know, in our division, like, I wanna fight with top 10, but now everybody almost have fights, and just (Gregor) Gillespie doesn’t have fight. He is scared of me, you know? UFC offered me twice fights with him, and he doesn’t want fights. I don’t know what he wants, but I’d like fight with him because he’s number nine, it’s gonna be good fight, we both wrestlers. If I win him, it gets me close to title shot and top fighters.”

    Tsarukyan previously made a Gillespie offer public. Last October, the 25-year-old took to Instagram to confirm he’d accepted an approach from the UFC to face “The Fisherman.” While he hadn’t answered at the time, the response evidently wasn’t the acceptance Tsarukyan was after.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CUxVIPYMiH8/?utm_source=ig_embed

    Interestingly, Tsarukyan’s latest callout comes a few weeks after former UFC star Chael Sonnen claimed he’d been told Gillespie has a habit of rejecting fights.

    While he didn’t possess evidence other than an apparent source, Tsarukyan’s failed attempts to make the matchup come together, as well as the veteran’s lengthy periods of inactivity, certainly supports Sonnen’s claims.

    It remains to be seen whether the Armenian’s recent remarks will be met with a more positive response from the #9-ranked contender.

    Would you like to see Arman Tsarukyan face Gregor Gillespie next?

  • Dariush Avoids Surgery, Targets June/July Return Against Makhachev

    UFC lightweight Beneil Dariush has provided an update on his injury and given a potential timeline for his return to the Octagon.

    Dariush, a mainstay on MMA’s biggest stage since 2014, was finally set for his first chance to secure a title shot in the UFC last month. Having amassed a seven-fight win streak that includes victories over Diego Ferreira and Tony Ferguson, the Iranian-born American secured his place in a likely title eliminator opposite fellow top-five contender Islam Makhachev.

    Unfortunately, tragedy struck 11 days before the February 26 card. While grappling in training, Dariush suffered a broken fibula after getting his toe caught in the mat during a takedown.

    Soon after, the serious nature of the injury came out, and Dariush appeared to be facing the possibility of surgery. However, the #4-ranked lightweight has now provided a positive update on his condition.

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, the 32-year-old confirmed the injury is not as bad as initially feared, and will not require an operation. With that in mind, a feared four-month layoff from training has been reduced to just six to eight weeks.

    “At first, they were talking four months just to start training again,” Dariush said. “So, when I heard six to eight weeks, I almost started crying.”

    Now that a timeframe for his return to the gym is in place, Dariush is well-placed to provide an early guess on when fans will be able to see him enter the Octagon again. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt further told Okamoto that he’s targeting a return to action in the summer.

    And after a recent revelation from UFC President Dana White, it appears Dariush’s next camp will see him preparing for a re-arranged clash with the #3-ranked Makhachev.

    “Thank God, we’re going to reschedule. I feel bad for Islam. I’m sure he’s not happy about the situation, but it’s the ideal situation for me to get this fight rebooked. I’d like to have another 10 weeks for this camp, but if it’s shorter, it’s shorter. June, July, those are dates.” (h/t ESPN)

    Dariush Was Looking At Gillespie/Tsarukyan Before Makhachev Revelation

    Immediately after Makhachev’s comfortable triumph at UFC Vegas 49, which came against short-notice opponent Bobby Green, it appeared the Dagestani was in line for a title shot, a sentiment Khabib Nurmagomedov suggested White had shared to him.

    But after the 30-year-old turned down a short-notice bout with Rafael dos Anjos for this weekend’s UFC 272 pay-per-view, the UFC President revealed the promotion would be looking to re-book Makhachev vs. Dariush later in the year, rather than grant the AKA product the next championship opportunity.

    That certainly came as a surprise to Dariush, who told ESPN he was already scanning the lower-ranked names for a potential next foe.

    “I was so bummed. At first, I thought it was gonna be, he’s gonna get the title shot,’” said Dariush. “I heard them saying, ‘Oh, Dana said he’s got the title shot,’ and things like that. Again, I went crashing into sadness, or whatever you want to call it. I was like, ‘Okay, I guess this isn’t in.’ And then I started looking at the top 10, I’m like, ‘Who am I gonna fight next? Who’s gonna be my next matchup?’

    “I was looking at (Gregor) Gillespie, that was somebody I was looking at,” continued Dariush. “Who else was there… [Rafael Fiziev or Arman Tsarukyan?] I mean, Fiziev was supposed to fight Raf (dos Anjos) at the time. But yeah, Fiziev would’ve been another one. And then, man, Arman looked awesome (at UFC Vegas 49). I was really impressed with him. So, yeah, that would be another guy.”

    Dariush’s recovery timeline has certainly made White’s plans more feasible. While you’d expect that to be a disappointment for Makhachev, who seemingly expected to be fighting next with gold on the line, the Dagestani responded by promising to “smash” the entire division if that’s what it takes.

    If this fight does get re-arranged, who do you think will have their hand raised, Beneil Dariush or Islam Makhachev?

  • Ukrainian UFC Fighter Denys Bondar Suffers Loss Of Home

    Ukrainian UFC fighter Denys Bondar has lost his home and gym ‘Kharkov Top Team’ to Russian bombings.

    The war in Europe continues to take a toll on innocent lives. Russian military attacks on Ukrainian land have taken hundreds of lives and left many people homeless.

    Thankfully, Bondar and his family were unharmed in the attack. But they are now without a home and with the gym also destroyed, it leaves a lot of questions for the new UFC fighter.

    Fighters from Russia and Ukraine carry a heavy burden at this time. Sanctions continue to grow against Russian athletes; meanwhile, Ukrainian athletes that are away from their native country likely live in fear and worry as their families are devastated by the crisis.

    For example, Maryna Moroz fights this Saturday at UFC 272 and has expressed her concern for her family while she remains in the states.

    “Psycho” Bondar’s MMA career is an absolute astonishment. At just 29-years-old, Denys Bondar has made incredible strides in the world of MMA.

    Denys Bondar
    Denys Bondar, Photo Credit: World Warriors Fighting Championship

    The flyweight has racked up 10 submissions and 4 knockouts in his 17 professional fights and became the WWFC champion in 2019, a stellar résumé that began in 2015.

    His amateur career is impressive, as well—14 fights, only 2 losses. In comparison, Bondar has four losses in his professional track, which includes his recent loss at his UFC debut.

    Canadian fighter Malcolm “X” Gordon put an end to Bondar’s eight-fight win streak in the first round, leaving him with a nasty arm injury.

    It is likely the loss did not dampen his fighting spirit. However, in lieu of recent events, there is much uncertainty surrounding the fighter’s future.

    Denys Bondar and his family
    Denys Bondar and his family, Photo Credit: World Warriors Fighting Championship

    Hopefully, Bondar, his family, and fellow gym members will remain safe during this time as they figure out where to pick up the pieces.

    What are your thoughts on Denys Bondar’s unfortunate situation?

  • Adesanya On Potential Covington Fight: “Who The F**k Are You?”

    UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya is open to the idea of a Colby Covington fight, but Covington has some work to do first.

    Adesanya is fresh off his title rematch win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 271. He’s more than likely set to face Jared Cannonier next later this year after Cannonier knocked out Derek Brunson earlier on that same card.

    Covington is set to face Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272 but has already discussed his future plans. He’s teased a potential matchup with Adesanya at middleweight happening sometime over his next few fights.

    UFC President Dana White has shut down the idea of Covington getting an immediate title shot and listed what he needs to do to get a fight against Adesanya.

    During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Adesanya responded to Covington’s desires for a middleweight title shot against him.

    “Everyone always has the idea until they’re across the cage from me, and then it’s a different beast,” Adesanya said. “Ala Paulo Costa, or anyone else I’ve fought. I’d say just fight someone else. You can’t just come straight for the champ. Who the f**k are you? Are you dumb? Call someone else out. It would be a selling point, definitely. Big mouth. I can shut that s**t up.”

    Adesanya and the interviewer went on to allude that Covington is really a 155 pounder fighting at 170.

    Covington has had a long-standing rivalry with Adesanya’s close friend, Kamaru Usman. Covington fell to Usman at UFC 268 in their rematch via a unanimous decision.

    While a Covington vs. Adesanya fight may not be out of the question going forward, it appears that Covington has a few things to do first before a middleweight title shot.

    Do you want to see Israel Adesanya vs. Colby Covington?

  • (Archives) White: Costa Tried To Use Fake Doctor To Get Cleared (2020)

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

    On This Day Two Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 5, 2020, 10:15 AM]

    UFC president Dana White says Paulo Costa attempted to be cleared by a fake doctor so he could fight Israel Adesanya.

    Following Adesanya’s UFC 243 knockout win over Robert Whittaker, Costa was in attendance and took shots at the champ. The two were then scheduled to fight at this event but an injury to the Brazilian left Yoel Romero to step in.

    Although Costa was reported to be out for six months, White said Costa got one of his friends to pretend to be a doctor so he could get cleared.

    “I respect him,” White said a recent media scrum (via MMA Mania). “I respect the fact he wants to fight. ‘I’m ready, I’m ready,’ no you’re not. You’re not a doctor. And then he got some guy who’s his buddy or something to say he’s okay. No, that’s not how this works. I don’t want to push him and make him hurt himself again. Take your time, you’re getting the fight, that fight is gonna happen, don’t worry about it.”

    “He’s close, but let’s take our time,” White continued, encouraging Costa to slow down. “The more time the better with that injury. Then he starts throwing up videos of himself hitting the mitts and doing all kinds of crazy s*** that he probably shouldn’t be doing right now. But he’s a freak athlete too, so who knows. I just don’t want the guy to get hurt again.”

    There is no doubt Costa is next in line for the winner of the main event between Adesanya and Romero.

  • Brunson: Velasquez Shouldn’t Get Jail Time Due To “Temporary Insanity”

    UFC middleweight Derek Brunson gave his take on Cain Velasquez after he was arrested on an attempted murder charge earlier this week.

    Velasquez faces at least 20 years in prison after he intended to shoot an alleged molester of one of his younger relatives. The incident included a high-speed chase, with Velasquez intending to shoot the molester but instead inflicting a gunshot wound to the alleged molester’s stepfather.

    The shooting victim is being treated at a Bay Area hospital and is expected to make a full recovery from his injuries.

    Many around the MMA community have spoken in support of Velasquez in recent days. This includes UFC President Dana White, who hinted that he feels most people in Velasquez’s position would’ve acted similarly.

    In a recent Instagram post, Brunson defended Velasquez’s action and called for a minor sentence.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Cap6AQIvreD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “No one said Cain Velasquez handled the situation legally correct,” Brunson said. “From Day 1 of being a loving father, our objective is to guide and protect our kids through life. If the accusations of a 40-year-old man molesting a 4 year old for over a year (even once) is accurate. Cain acted in temporary (temporary definition reads not permanent, even a year could be temporary when comparing to a year) insanity and should receive probation at best. No one was killed. DONT MESS WITH KIDS OR YOU GET WHAT YOU GET #FreeCainVelasquez.”

    Brunson’s comments come shortly after former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey recently hinted that she would’ve done the same thing if not worse. In a separate Instagram post, Brunson donned a shirt in support of Velasquez and his legal situation.

    But the shirt was apparently just the start of Brunson’s support of Velasquez. Shortly afterward on his Twitter page, Brunson revealed that he and the MMA community have raised $10,000 for Velasquez’s legal fees.

    “As a father I feel you Cain,” Brunson tweeted. “The MMA community got your back! 10k in 2 1/2 days sent to his wife! #FreeCainVelasquez.”

    The investigation into Velasquez and the shooting incident is ongoing. He’s scheduled to face arraignment next week and we’ll bring you the latest right here at MMA News.

    Do you agree with Derek Brunson’s take on Cain Velasquez?

  • (Archives) Rousey: I Could Beat 100% Of UFC’s Male BW Fighters (2015)

    At one point, Ronda Rousey was viewed by many to be indestructible and borderline unbeatable. No one believed this more than Rousey, who thought that she would have been literally unbeatable against the men’s UFC bantamweight roster.

    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 5, 2015, 3:59 PM]

    Following her 14-second destruction of the previously undefeated Cat Zingano at UFC 184 this past Saturday night, UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey turned some heads with comments she made during an appearance on the ESPN program “SportsCenter.”

    Rousey, who appeared on the sports talk show on Thursday, stated that she “could beat 100 percent” of the UFC Men’s Bantamweight fighters.

    “I never say that I’m incapable of beating anybody, because I don’t believe in putting limits on myself,” said Rousey. “So I mean, I would have to say if you’re just talking about what’s in the realm of possibility of what’s possible of who I could beat, well I could beat 100 percent of them. You can’t tell me that there’s a zero percent chance that I can beat anyone on the planet, so I’m never gonna say that.”

    Rousey continued, “It’s not that they’re lacking anything so much. They decided later in life that they wanted to be a fighter. A lot of these girls already developed a personality and had a life and one day they decided, ‘I’m gonna give it a try.’ Whereas, this is literally what I was raised to do.”

    Looking back on her dominant performance over Zingano this past weekend at UFC 184, which may have been ordered by more than 500,000 homes on pay-per-view, Rousey said she felt it was nearly a flawless performance.

    “I looked through it and there literally isn’t a single wasted movement the entire fight,” said Rousey. “I wish I could have reacted a little sooner maybe with her charging at me. I can’t say a single bad thing about it, except for my reaction time in the beginning. If you watch it frame by frame, literally I did a backwards cartwheel off my face. I didn’t plan that at all. But if that’s your reaction at the moment, I guess you planned something right.”

  • Covington Takes One Last Personal Shot At Masvidal & ATT Pre-UFC 272

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington wanted to get a final message across to Jorge Masvidal before their grudge match at UFC 272.

    After months and years of brewing tensions between Covington and Masvidal, they’ll finally get the opportunity to prove themselves in the Octagon in the UFC 272 headliner. The former friends turned rivals have engaged in quite the mental warfare over time, especially during fight week.

    A chaotic UFC 272 pre-fight press conference was followed up by an intense staredown at the ceremonial weigh-ins. Covington and Masvidal came face to face one last time before their highly-anticipated matchup.

    An excess of security personnel and UFC President Dana White separated the two sides from engaging in a physical altercation, but the battle continued shortly after their faceoff. Covington has been on Masvidal’s nerves, invoking Masvidal’s personal life and his ex-wife.

    Just hours before his fight with Masvidal, Covington took an opportunity to take a final shot at his UFC 272 opponent along with his former coach Mike Brown.

    “Hey [Jorge Masvidal] you looked real nervous bud…” Covington said. “Maybe you should try that juiced up little drug addict Mike Browns favorite trick to take the edge off and fight on some GHB. Yeah I said GHB, but Brown did HGH too because he’s a nut less b**ch just like you.”

    Brown is one of Masvidal’s main coaches and is arguably the closest to the welterweight star. Covington accused Brown of being a drug addict at the pre-fight press conference and doubled down on his stance in this most recent tweet.

    Covington and Masvidal used to be teammates and friends at American Top Team in Florida. This was before the amicable relations between the two shattered following an alleged failed payout to a coach by Covington and a series of near-brawls at the gym.

    Brown recently confirmed Covington’s leaked information regarding Masvidal’s injury that forced him to withdraw from UFC 269. He was supposed to face Leon Edwards, another bitter rival of his.

    Masvidal has also recently shared a near-brawl that took place between him and Covington at a Miami-area sushi restaurant as their friendship deteriorated. After inviting Covington for a meal, and possibly a fight, Covington failed to show up.

    This is much more than a grudge match, as former strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk has alluded. This is a matchup between two of the biggest stars in recent UFC history and Covington and Masvidal will look to put on a show at UFC 272.

    What is your prediction for Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal?

  • UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal Preview, Betting Odds, & Final Face-Offs

    The UFC 272 Ceremonial Weigh-Ins have wrapped up, and we have the full preview for tomorrow night’s action-packed pay-per-view below!

    Tomorrow night, UFC 272 comes at you live on pay-per-view from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The early preliminary card will begin at 6:00 PM, followed by the ESPN/ESPN+ preliminary card at 8:00 PM, and the pay-per-view starts at 10:00 PM ET.

    Three of our staff members have provided their picks and breakdowns for the main card, and the official weigh-ins were conducted earlier today, with every fighter making weight.

    The main event tomorrow night will feature Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal finally settling their rivalry for the world to see. You can catch up on our Colby Covington archives right here and the Jorge Masvidal archives here to get up to speed on all the dirt dished out ahead of tomorrow’s showdown.

    The co-main event will feature Rafael dos Anjos taking on Renato Moicano on short notice. If you missed all the drama leading up to this replacement bout being set, you can get up to speed on our RDA archives here.

    Additionally, Bryce Mitchell will take part in the biggest fight of his career when he goes up against elite striker and tested veteran Edson Barboza. Mitchell’s pre-fight rhetoric in many ways overshadowed the intrigue of such a great contest. If you missed all the hoopla surrounding Mitchell’s political views and some of the public reaction to them, you’ll want to do some reading up on our Bryce Mitchell archives here.

    Also, aside from the main event, there is another ex-teammate grudge match that may be flying under the radar, that between Mariya Agapova and Maryna Moroz. You can get caught up on the intense background story between these former teammates right here.

    For a look into every fight on tomorrow’s UFC 272 card, you can check out the UFC’s official fight-by-fight preview right here.

    Below, you can peep the full card tomorrow through every final faceoff, along with the current betting odds for each fight via 5Dimes.

    Dustin Jacoby (-190) vs Michael Oleksiejczuk (+175)

    Devonte Smith (-142) vs Ludovit Klein (+132)

    Tim Elliott (+190) vs Tagir Ulanbekov (-210)

    Brian Kelleher (+635) vs Umar Nurmagomedov (-800)

    Maryna Moroz (+164) vs Mariya Agapova (-174)

    Nicolae Negumereanu (+127) vs Kennedy Nzechukwu (-137)

    Marina Rodriguez (-250) vs Yan Xiaonan (+230)

    Jalin Turner (-145) vs Jamie Mullarkey (+135)

    Sergey Spivak (-178) vs. Greg Hardy (+167)

    Kevin Holland (-325) vs. Alex Oliveira (+295)

    Edson Barboza (+137) vs. Bryce Mitchell (-147)

    Rafael dos Anjos (-157) vs. Renato Moicano (+147)

    Colby Covington (-330) vs. Jorge Masvidal (+300)

    Closing Remarks

    Be sure to keep it locked right here on MMANews.com tomorrow for all the results, highlights, and coverage from UFC 272!

  • Israel Adesanya On Cain Velasquez’s Arrest: “I Can’t Imagine The Rage”

    UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya has become the latest UFC star to speak out in favor of Cain Velasquez after his arrest this week.

    Velasquez was arrested earlier this week on an attempted murder charge after a targeted shooting of an alleged molester of one of his younger relatives. In a high-speed chase, Velasquez intended to shoot the accused molester, Harry Eugene Goularte, but wounded Goularte’s stepfather instead.

    Velasquez faces at least 20 years in prison if convicted. He is currently being held without bail at a Bay Area jail.

    During a recent sitdown with TMZ Sports, Adesanya defended Velasquez’s actions and reflected on how he would’ve handled the same situation.

    “Yeah, that’s f**ked up,” Adesanya said of Velasquez’s recent incident. “I know they’re saying he hit the wrong guy, he shot the wrong guy. But look, I can’t imagine the rage. Because there’s been times, and I’m a human being. There’s been times where my shadow self has emerged and I lose it. That’s why I don’t like to react these days, I like to respond. Because if you react, you’re acting off of emotion. But I can’t imagine because I’m not a father, and I can’t imagine what that’s like, but I know for a fact he did the right thing. He honestly did the right thing, 100 percent.”

    Adesanya isn’t alone in his defense of Velasquez. Many current and former stars, including former bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, have spoken out in favor of the former heavyweight champ.

    Adesanya has emerged as one of the biggest stars in the UFC. He most recently defeated former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker via unanimous decision at UFC 271.

    Adesanya’s star power was rewarded when he signed a new deal with the UFC earlier this year. It’s been rumored to be one of the most lucrative in UFC history.

    Velasquez is scheduled for arraignment next week. We’ll bring you the latest here at MMA News.

    Do you agree with Israel Adesanya regarding Cain Velasquez?

  • Terrance McKinney To Step In Against Drew Dober At UFC Vegas 50

    Up-and-coming UFC lightweight prospect Terrance McKinney will get back in the Octagon on short notice against Drew Dober at UFC Vegas 50.

    The UFC announced the news on Friday that McKinney will fill in for Ricky Glenn, who had to withdraw due to an injury. UFC Vegas 50 takes place on March 12.

    McKinney just fought at UFC Vegas 49, earning an impressive submission win over Fares Ziam. The win over Ziam was McKinney’s fifth-straight first-round finish and second straight in the UFC.

    McKinney has bounced back in a big way since losing to Sean Woodson during the 2019 season of Dana White’s Contender Series. He’s gone on to win five of his last six with impressive performances in LFA and SHP.

    McKinney will face arguably the toughest test of his career against Dober, who has lost back-to-back fights but is still regarded as arguably one of the most dangerous lightweights in the UFC. His last win came against Alexander Hernandez via second-round knockout in May 2020.

    McKinney shattered a UFC record in his promotional debut at UFC 263. He knocked out Matt Frevola in just seven seconds, which still stands as the fastest knockout in lightweight history.

    A win over Dober could propel McKinney into the lightweight rankings just three fights into his UFC tenure. Meanwhile, Dober is looking to get back in the win column and back in the thick of things in the division.

    UFC Vegas 50 will be headlined by a light heavyweight matchup between top contenders Thiago Santos and Magomed Ankalaev.

    What is your prediction for Terrance McKinney vs. Drew Dober?

  • Rafael dos Anjos On Injuries: I’ve “Paid The Price” For Abusing My Body

    Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos has described the torrid run of injuries that has left him out of action for the past 15 months.

    After some uncertainty, owing to the late withdrawal of Rafael Fiziev, who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week, dos Anjos is set to return to the Octagon this weekend at UFC 272. He’ll face compatriot Renato Moicano, who’ll share the cage with the former titleholder on just four days’ notice.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CakmD0qu96G/

    Saturday’s co-main event will represent RDA’s first taste of action since a five-round victory over Paul Felder in 2020. Prior to being on the sidelines for the entirety of 2021, the Brazilian had consistently competed two to four times a year in the UFC since 2009.

    As the longest layoff of his career comes to an end in Las Vegas this weekend, dos Anjos has lifted the lid on the issues that have chained him to the sidelines for the past 15 months.

    dos Anjos “100% Healthy” After Brutal Run Of Injuries

    During an interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, dos Anjos admitted his recent injuries represented him paying the price for the abuse his fighting career has put his body through since 2004.

    “I’ve been away for 15 months having injuries back-to-back. I was abusing my body for over 15 years,” said dos Anjos. “Last year, I paid the price so I had to fix some issues on my body, but I’m 100% healthy right now. I want it so much.

    “I had a sports hernia, which was on my abdomen wall. That was back in March, it’s going to be a year. I fought Paul Felder with that injury. I couldn’t kick, I couldn’t squat down, I couldn’t do any sit-ups. I signed up for the fight and I fought with that injury,” dos Anjos continued. “The other one was the meniscus on my right knee. I was just training, getting ready for Islam [Makhachev]. I had something they call a bucket handle on my meniscus. I removed it and now I’m 100%.” (h/t CBS Sports)

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CalmjcSBq3u/

    Having returned to full health, dos Anjos will be hoping to add a 31st professional victory to his record when he makes the walk to the Octagon again this Saturday. If he does manage to get past Moicano, RDA will have secured a second consecutive win for the first time since 2017.

    Who do you think will emerge victorious in the UFC 272 co-main event, Rafael dos Anjos or Renato Moicano?

  • Masvidal: I Was Hurt When I Was Kicked Out Of American Top Team

    Jorge Masvidal opens up on being thrown out of American Top Team years ago.

    Jorge Masvidal will be fighting his former teammate Colby Covington on Saturday night at UFC 272. These two have a long history together. At first, they were friends, and now they are enemies. At one time they were roommates and now they are promising harm to one another. When their relationship began to fall apart they were still both training at American Top Team in Florida.

    The owner of American Top Team, Dan Lambert recalled how the tension between Masvidal and Covington got so bad back then that he was forced to kick both men out of his gym. Covington was never allowed back in but Masvidal was.

    Masvidal doesn’t speak of that time in his life often, but he did in the lead up to UFC 272.

    “So I haven’t said anything in the media yet, and Dan puts this ultimatum. I don’t do well with ultimatums. So I immediately took to my first ‘insult’ in public of Colby, and that’s the first time I (really) attacked him,” Masvidal told ESPN. “And Dan kicked us both out. Colby didn’t even say nothing back or respond anything back. But Dan kicked us both out. And, man, I was hurt. Because I thought he was trolling me and joking me.”

    American Top Team is home to many high-level fighters. With so many fighters, there are bound to be some frustrations. Lambert said that throwing Masvidal and Covington was due to things getting out of control.

    “One week went by and that week turns into a month, and then two months, and then three months. This [MUTED] still not letting me in. I’m calling Dan every day because we’re still (very close),” Masvidal said. “He’s like my Uncle Dan. I’m like, ‘I’m gonna [MUTED] run you over, bro. I’m gonna take my car and take your knees out, bro, if you don’t let me back in the gym.’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, go do it, but you’re still not getting into the gym because I’ve told all our coaches not to let you in.’”

    Masvidal went on to say that he privately apologized to Lambert and the team and was eventually let back into the gym where he continues to train today. Lambert was getting pressure from his kids, who stopped talking to him, and his other coaches to let Masvidal back in. That was not the case with Covington, who never returned.

    Now, the grudge that started inside the gym will be settled inside the Octagon this weekend at UFC 272.

    Who do you have winning the main event of UFC 272, Jorge Masvidal or Colby Coviington?

  • Colby Covington Claims He Rejected An Invitation Back To ATT

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington recently revealed that he had an opportunity to go back to American Top Team, but turned it down.

    Covington is set to face his former friend and ATT teammate Jorge Masvidal in the main event of UFC 272. It is arguably one of the biggest grudge matches in UFC history and one of the rare non-title main events in recent memory.

    A major storyline of the Covington/Masvidal fight is the two fighters’ time at ATT, and Covington’s eventual departure. Covington left the team after near brawls and building tension between Covington and Masvidal, Joanna Jędrzejczyk, and Dustin Poirier.

    ATT owner Dan Lambert has recently detailed his version of what led to Covington leaving the team, and that Covington’s fractured relationship with Masvidal was unfixable.

    During a recent interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Covington admitted that he turned down an offer to return to ATT after the initial split.

    “Yeah, I got invited back by Dan and Conan,” Covington said. “Yeah, go ask them. I got texts, if you want to see the receipts I can show you. I have them, they invited me back. I didn’t want to go back. It wasn’t a good situation for me anymore. The last two years of training there, just all drama. Terrible energy. I couldn’t have any focus in my career, there was no direction, nothing. Just, it was terrible. It was draining me and I wasn’t getting the best out of myself. What was sacrificed was my training and my evolution as a fighter.

    Interview with UFC Champ Colby Covington of American Top Team in South Florida - YouTube
    Colby Covington

    “Now, I rid myself of that drama and all that stuff, I have a great camp that actually cares about me. It’s not about money, it’s not about paychecks, it’s about developing us as a fighter. Evolving. Taking the steps to get better every single day and I’ve seen the growth.”

    Covington went on to join nearby MMA Masters and is now coached by Cesar Carneiro and Daniel Valverde. He has said on numerous occasions how much of a burden training at ATT was for him during the final days of his tenure.

    Covington’s matchup with Masvidal isn’t just seen by some as a fighter vs. fighter battle, but also one with his former gym ATT. Covington will have the chance to silence his critics this weekend at UFC 272.

    What is your prediction for Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal?

  • Conor McGregor Goes On Twitter Rampage About Islam Makhachev

    Former UFC champion Conor McGregor went after Islam Makhachev on social media regarding talks of a fight between them.

    McGregor is focused on a return to the Octagon later this year after a nasty leg break he suffered against Dustin Poirier last summer at UFC 264. Makhachev is coming off of his 10th straight win over short-notice replacement Bobby Green at UFC Vegas 49, after he was originally supposed to face Beneil Dariush.

    McGregor has a long history with Makhachev’s coach and mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov. McGregor fell to Nurmagomedov via fourth-round submission at UFC 229 after a series of personal attacks in the buildup.

    Following his win over Green, Makhachev hinted at wanting a title shot next but also an “easy” fight against McGregor. UFC President Dana White most recently shut down the idea of Makhachev fighting for the title next.

    McGregor began his attack on Makhachev by expressing interest in a future fight between the two of them.

    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1499793340052746246?s=20&t=jBm0tB306w8wDJExr9AdCQ

    “I’ll fight that shit stain makchavich, no sweat,” McGregor said. “Embarrassing g’n’p the other night IMO. Pitiful punching. And then bottles the RDA fight after mouthing of him lol. Embarrassing. Watch when I come back. Same as before. Anyone. Any weight. Anywhere. Game full of shit stains.”

    McGregor went on to discredit Makhachev’s most recent win over Green at UFC Vegas 49.

    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1499795855091585035?s=20&t=bmVMujeVzFWAz64vlwn7Og
    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1499797224888455168?s=20&t=c3CK5Gzi6lEjll6aJhX6nA

    “Full mount g’n’p and the guy bounces up not a scratch, huggin and kissing,” McGregor said. “Talkin bout thanks for the match etc. If that’s me there’s holes left in their head like they been smacked with a sock full of golf balls. Don’t even know where they are. Caramel butter skin strikes again!

    “Am I the only one that sees this stuff for what it is or what’s the craic ?
    Not a scratch, man. Embarrassing!”

    Makhachev had been rumored to be a short-notice opponent against Rafael dos Anjos before he allegedly turned the fight down. dos Anjos will now face Renato Moicano in the UFC 272 co-main event.

    McGregor has previously said that he expects a title shot upon his MMA return, and a matchup with Makhachev could be an option as well. It seems that this could only be the beginning of a new rivalry between McGregor and Makhachev.

    Do you think we’ll see Conor McGregor vs. Islam Makhachev in 2022?

  • ATT Founder Talks Gym “Blowback” From Covington’s Brazil Comments

    American Top Team founder Dan Lambert says the team began to turn against Colby Covington following his infamous roast of Brazil.

    Covington’s shift from relatively unknown welterweight fighter to a professional wrestling-like heel occurred following his win over Demian Maia at UFC Sao Paulo in 2017. After earning a dominant unanimous decision victory, Covington used his post-fight interview to call out the Brazilian crowd as “filthy animals” during his Octagon chat with Daniel Cormier.

    Covington had to be escorted out of the arena by groups of security personnel following the post-fight interview. Covington put a target on his back with his comments, including callouts from Belal Muhammad and Warlley Alves.

    During a recent interview with ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, Lambert explained how Covington’s post-fight comments about Brazil impacted the training environment at ATT.

    “Yeah, we had blowback immediately at the gym from some of those comments,” Lambert said of Covington. “Colby had never really caused much of a problem for other fighters at the gym leading up to that point. We obviously have a Brazilian presence at our gym with some other fighters and some coaches. I think most of them saw it for exactly what it was—just him trying to promote himself, but it’s not just how you see things in this business. These guys (Brazilians at ATT) are opening up their Instagram accounts and they’re getting direct messages from a million people in Brazil saying, ‘What are you doing you piece of [MUTED]? You’re gonna train this guy? You’re gonna work with this guy? You better step up and represent our country! What are you doing?’ So, they felt pressured.

    As tensions escalated between Covington and his now-former Brazilian teammates, Lambert explained how he needed to hold a meeting to bring the team back together and have everyone on the same page.

    “Basically, we just had a meeting at the gym, sat everybody down, and said, ‘Hey man, this is American Top Team here. I don’t care where you’re from or who you are. When you’re inside this gym, you’re here to do your job, and we’re a team. If anybody has an issue outside of the gym, or something somebody’s doing outside of the gym, that’s fine. But it stays outside the gym. Nobody’s too big to be asked to leave this gym.’ I think everybody brought into it and everybody understood it at the time.”

    Covington has since doubled down on his previous Brazil comments and isn’t apologetic for the post-fight interview. Covington will face former ATT teammate turned bitter rival Jorge Masvidal this weekend in the UFC 272 main event.

    Did Colby Covington go too far with his Brazil comments?

  • Liudvik Sholinian, UFC Fighter, Stuck In Ukraine During Russian Invasion

    Ukrainian-Armenian UFC fighter Liudvik Sholinian is stuck in Kyiv amidst the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

    Sholinian, a former The Ultimate Fighter Season 28 participant, is in danger of missing his upcoming fight at UFC London on March 19 against Nathaniel Wood. He most recently fell in his UFC debut against Jack Shore last September.

    Russian and Ukrainian fighters, like Bellator champ Yaroslav Amosov, have both been impacted by the current crisis in Ukraine. UFC President Dana White recently alluded to potential issues for some fighters on the upcoming UFC London card.

    During a recent interview with the Armenian Weekly, Sholinian provided details on what it’s like right now in Kyiv.

    “Basically, the situation right now is very stressful,” Sholinian said. “Everyone is on pins and needles. Everyone is staying indoors, trying to watch the news and follow everything that’s going on. Most of all, I’m at home with my family making sure they’re safe.

    “I was actually looking forward to this fight. I’ve been training for it the hardest I’ve ever trained for a fight. As much as I’ve trained for this fight, it’s the last thing on my mind and I’m willing to give my entire career for this war to end today. Right now, I don’t think the discussion should be about the fight at all.”

    Before getting his shot on TUF 28, Sholinian enjoyed success in smaller promotions such as LFA and Gladiator Challenge. He has accumulated a 9-2-1 professional record.

    It’s unclear if Sholinian will be allowed to leave Ukraine for his upcoming fight. But for now, that appears to be the last thing on his mind.

    What are your thoughts on the Russia/Ukraine conflict?

  • UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal Weigh-In Results, All Fighters On Target

    The UFC 272 weigh-in results are in, and every single fighter was on target ahead of the Las Vegas pay-per-view.

    Tomorrow night, Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal will finally turn talk into violence when they settle their feud once and for all in front of a worldwide audience. Both fighters made weight without issue, as did every other competitor on the card.

    That includes co-main eventers Rafael dos Anjos and Renato Moicano, who will be competing in a 160 lbs. catchweight bout in a short-notice bout. It also includes Edson Barboza and Bryce Mitchell, who will take the stage shortly before the two feature bouts of the evening.

    Three of our staff members broke down the entire main card with predictions, which you can find right here. And if you missed it, you can catch up on the pre-fight press conference highlights here.

    As usual, the UFC hosted a live weigh-in show, which you can check out right here.

    Finally, you can view the full UFC 272 weigh-in results and viewing information for the event below, courtesy of UFC.com.

    UFC 272 Weigh-In Results

    MAIN CARD (ESPN+ PPV, 10:00 PM ET)

    Main Event – Welterweight Bout: Colby Covington (170.5) vs Jorge Masvidal (170.5)

    Co-Main Event – Catchweight (160 lbs) Bout: Rafael Dos Anjos (160) vs Renato Moicano (160)

    Featherweight Bout: Edson Barboza (145.5) vs Bryce Mitchell (145.5)

    Welterweight Bout: Kevin Holland (170) vs Alex Oliveira (170)

    Heavyweight Bout: Serghei Spivac (243.5) vs Greg Hardy (266)

    PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+/ESPN DEPORTES, 8:00 PM ET)

    Lightweight Bout: Jalin Turner (156) vs Jamie Mullarkey (155.5)

    Women’s Strawweight Bout: Marina Rodriguez (116) vs Yan Xiaonan (116)

    Light Heavyweight Bout: Nicolae Negumereanu (205.5) vs Kennedy Nzechukwu (206)

    Women’s Flyweight Bout: Maryna Moroz (125.5) vs Mariya Agapova (126)

    EARLY PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+/ESPN FIGHT PASS)

    Featherweight Bout: Brian Kelleher (145) vs Umar Nurmagomedov (146)

    Flyweight Bout: Tim Elliott (126) vs Tagir Ulanbekov (125.5)

    Lightweight Bout: Devonte Smith (156) vs Ludovit Klein (156)

    Light Heavyweight Bout: Dustin Jacoby (205.5) vs Michal Oleksiejczuk (206)

  • Covington: Masvidal Will Be Hungrier For This Fight Than Any In Career

    Former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington is expecting a hungry Jorge Masvidal to enter the Octagon when they collide at UFC 272.

    Covington will be taking on another fight involving bad blood something he has become accustomed to at this point. Yet, it appears to be at a boiling point between the two in the build-up to this bout as comes with the pair being former best friends.

    With that, Covington is expecting Masvidal to be hungrier than ever when the two settle the score on March 5th. Speaking on the similarities between Masvidal and his last opponent Kamaru Usman to Yahoo Sports, Covington had the following to say.

    “It’s tough to draw comparisons because we fight differently,” said Covington. “I’m a southpaw. Usman’s an orthodox. So I can’t take fights from different fights from the past and think that that’s gonna be the same guy. I think Jorges is gonna be hungrier for this fight than he’s ever been for any fight in the history of his career. So I don’t take much from those fights.”

    The 34-year-old went toe-to-toe with Usman at UFC 268 in a competitive five-round fight. Where for the second time between the two, the UFC welterweight champion edged a decision victory over his foe. Despite the verdict, ‘Chaos’ still believes he had done enough on the night to earn the title.

    “I know I went neck and neck with the pound-for-pound (best) fighter in the world. A lot of people in the world thought I won that fight. I thought I won rounds 3, 4, and 5. The people in the arena at Madison Square Garden thought I won three, four, and five.

    Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington
    Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington. Image Credit:

    “It just sucks that the three stooges sitting cageside in the judges’ desk decided to score him winning by one (more) round against me, one little measly round. But he didn’t prove that he was some dominant pound-for-pound fighter, and I showed why I’m the #1 ranked fighter in the world,” said Covington.

    It appears Covington is uninterested in facing Usman for a third time. With the #1 ranked UFC welterweight openly speaking of his interest in going up a weight class to face Israel Adesanya instead.

    For now, Covington will have to remain focused if he is to get past the man labeled the ‘BMF’ in their grudge fight at UFC 272.

    Who do you see coming out on top between Jorge Mascvidal an Colby Covington?

  • Bryce Mitchell Hopes For A Happy Ending To Covington/Masvidal Drama

    UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell is hopeful that Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal can bury the hatchet following their UFC 272 grudge match.

    Covington and Masvidal, former friends and teammates turned bitter rivals, will square off in the main event of UFC 272. It is one of the few non-title UFC main events in recent memory.

    The beef between Covington and Masvidal has turned from heated, to downright nasty ahead of their fight. Covington has invoked Masvidal’s family and ex-romantic partner while Masvidal has said that he intends to leave Covington in critical condition in their matchup.

    During his UFC 272 pre-fight press conference, Mitchell gave his thoughts on the level of trash talk between Covington and Masvidal.

    “I kinda hate to see the personal attacks, you know what I mean?” Mitchell said. “I kinda hope after the fight they just kinda hug it out. But I hate to see all that personal—it gets so personal. Because I think, overall, they’re both probably pretty good people. And I don’t know who’s gonna win, brother.

    Jorge Masvidal Colby Covington
    Courtesy of Jorge Masvidal’s Instagram (via Daily Mail)

    “I hope that both of those guys leave that cage healthy because they’re talking about wanting to kill each other and all that. And I hope that neither of them dies. I hope that both of those people goes home healthy. I know they have a lot of people that care about ‘em back home, so that’s what I hope.”

    Mitchell will fight featherweight contender Edson Barboza in the lead up to the UFC 272 main event between Covington and Masvidal. He’s looking to get back in the win column after nearly two years away from the sport.

    Covington and Masvidal have both spewed heated rhetoric during the buildup to their fight, but Mitchell is hopeful that after they get their aggression out of their system, they can patch things up.

    Do you think Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington will be friends again at some point?

  • Dana White To Those Criticizing A McGregor Title Shot: You’re An Idiot

    UFC President Dana White has responded to those criticizing recent comments he made about Conor McGregor’s return to the Octagon.

    McGregor hasn’t been in action since his second defeat of 2021 at UFC 264 last July, a setback that marked the end of his presence in the cage for some time. Having been knocked out by Dustin Poirier in January, the Irishman suffered a broken leg six months later when the pair completed their trilogy.

    Now, nearly eight months beyond his gruesome injury, McGregor has stepped up talk of a return. Having kept fans updated on his recovery and return to training, McGregor has suggested he’ll come back with a vengeance later this year.

    But despite riding a two-fight skid into 2022 and losing three of his last four outings, it’s seeming increasingly likely that we could see the “Notorious” megastar compete with gold on the line immediately.

    Dana White appeared to confirm as much in a recent interview, during which he suggested McGregor’s return opponent will depend on who the champion is at the time and what they want to do.

    “We will see what’s what with the lightweight division,” said White to The Underground. “It’s going to depend on who the champion is when Conor McGregor comes back, they have a say in it. What do they want to do? If it’s Oliveira who is still champion when Conor comes back, maybe Oliveira wants Conor we will see then.”

    Having revealed the promotion’s plan to re-book Islam Makhachev vs. Beneil Dariush in the summer rather than grant the Dagestani the next shot after Justin Gaethje, it seems the stars are beginning to line favorably for the former two-division titleholder.

    That will especially be the case if Oliveira retains the gold at UFC 274. The Brazilian has already approved McGregor’s request for a championship opportunity. A Gaethje victory, meanwhile, would perhaps prove trickier for the Dubliner.

    White Tells McGregor Detractors To “Calm Down”

    Following White’s latest comments, a wave of backlash was sent his way by some fans and pundits, many of whom suggested an immediate title shot for McGregor would be a ludicrous decision.

    But according to the UFC President, being annoyed by it is even more ludicrous.

    During a recent appearance on My Mom’s Basement with Robbie Fox, White responded to those slamming his recent remarks. After suggesting the media was to blame for asking about McGregor in the first place, the 52-year-old branded those frustrated by the possibility of a McGregor title shot as “idiots.”

    “The problem is, every time I do a f*cking interview, all anybody wants to ask is, ‘You think Conor McGregor will get a f*cking title shot?’ That’s all they f*cking ask,” said White. “So, I’m gonna say, ‘Well Conor McGregor isn’t anywhere near coming back yet, so I don’t know, let’s see what happens..’ It’s a dumb f*cking question for the media to ask, but the media asks dumb f*cking sh*t all day, every day. That’s what happens.

    “And anybody who’s p*ssed off because Conor might f*cking get (a title shot), you’re a f*cking idiot too. If that p*sses you off, Jesus Christ. Calm down, buddy,” concluded White.

    Having consistently announced his intention to return straight back into the title picture this year, White’s remarks will certainly be encouraging for the Irishman. However, it will also serve as another reminder of the overriding importance of star power, even over rankings and form.

    Do you think Conor McGregor should return from injury straight into a title fight?

  • Usman Offers To “Relinquish” BMF Title For Covington/Masvidal

    Believing himself to be the rightful owner of the BMF title, UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has offered to vacate the belt just for this weekend’s UFC 272 main event.

    On Saturday, an animosity-fueled grudge match will reach the Octagon on the pay-per-view stage. Two-time undisputed title challengers Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington share the history and hatred to mark themselves as an apt pairing for a rare non-title PPV headliner.

    Despite the absence of official gold, many have suggested a ceremonial strap should be on the line. In 2019, Masvidal took home the specially-created BMF belt following his victory over Nate Diaz.

    With the title firmly slipping into the background, perhaps the only man keeping it relevant is Usman, who claimed ownership to BMF status after consecutive successes against “Gamebred.”

    After some brought up the possibility of the belt being on the line this weekend, “The Nigerian Nightmare” took to Twitter to offer a generous loan of it for UFC 272.

    “I will relinquish the BMF Belt just for this fight #UFC272”

    The BMF Title Would Be The 5th Belt On The Line, According To Covington…

    While to the eyes of most, Saturday’s event lacks the presence of UFC gold, Covington believes they’ll be as many as four at stake on fight night.

    During an interview with TMZ Sports, the topic of adding the BMF strap to the mix at UFC 272 came up. In response, “Chaos” branded it a fake belt and claimed he’ll be carrying four titles with him to the cage on March 5.

    “I have a real title; he has a fake title. I could care less about his title. I have all the titles that matter: the people’s champion, America’s champion, Donald Trump’s favorite fighter, and Miami’s title. So I’m gonna put ’em all on the line (at UFC 272) to show you why I’m the king of Miami.”

    We can’t imagine Bruce Buffer will be including those titles in Covington’s pre-fight introduction…

    https://twitter.com/danawhite/status/1499582961372389379

    Should the BMF title be on the line when Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal share the Octagon this weekend?