MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Former Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic Becomes Full-Time Firefighter

    Amid rumors of returning to the Octagon, Westlake Fire Department in Ohio swore in former UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic as a full-time Firefighter.

    The ceremony took place on February 15, after Miocic and two others completed their testing.

    While being one of the greatest heavyweight contenders, Miocic doubled as a part-time firefighter. He worked for the Valley View Fire Department for a number of years and now works for the Fire Department in Westlake.

    Stipe Miocic
    Stipe Miocic, Photo Credit: Jamie Meklemburg

    The inauguration of this new role comes just a few months after he dismissed rumors of going into retirement.

    But as a full-time firefighter, it leaves room to ponder when Miocic will make his return to the Octagon.

    Although his last fight ended in a round 2 knockout, Micoc is not discouraged. After his championship loss to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260, he made it clear he still has a lot of fight in him.

    Earlier in the month, and in the past, Jon “Bones” Jones flirted with the idea of a match between him and Miocic. Stipe always agreed to the matchup, however, nothing has yet to come of it.

    Stipe Miocic was a well-deserved champion. In his 15 years of MMA, the Ohio native accrued 15 wins by knockout. The first loss of his career was in 2012 against the 7 foot tall Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve.

    Additionally, Miocic has proven he has the ability to bounce back from losses in the past. He bested Daniel Cormier twice in their trilogy and defeated Junior Dos Santos by TKO after losing to him by decision a few years prior.

    Miocic is one of the most successful heavyweights to ever compete. Undoubtedly, he will apply his greatness to being the best firefighter he can.

    What are your thoughts on Stipe Miocic becoming a full-time firefighter?

  • Uriah Hall Goes “Quiet” After Darren Till Responds To “Scared” Comment

    The heated exchange between Darren Till and Uriah Hall continues with the ball in Hall’s court.

    Since last November, Hall has attempted to call out Till. Weeks went by without an answer from the Liverpool native. But now, Till is firing back on social media.

    Recently, Hall accused Till of avoiding a fight with him. The #9 ranked middleweight called Till a few harsh terms and claimed he can easily beat him.

    The accusation of ducking a fight prompted Till to counter on social media.

    “@UriahHallMMA brother brother brother, you just did a interview saying I am scared of you? I jumped up to middleweight and straight off the bat fought 2 of the best middleweights there is in gastelum & Whittaker. I have never turned a fight down at WW or MW,” Darren responds.

    Hall originally wanted Till for his next matchup but will face-off with the submission superstar André Muniz on April 16. So Hall will have to wait longer for his dream match with Till.

    Andre Muniz and Uriah Hall, Photo Credit: Troy Taormina / Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

    After two vicious defeats at welterweight, Till made the decision to bump up to middleweight. He saw success in his debut with a split-decision win against Kelvin Gastelum.

    However, the success was short-lived as he lost against two of the division’s finest, Robert Whittaker and Derek Brunson.

    It is uncertain why Till has yet to be seen in the Octagon since last September, though his team has revealed that he suffered a knee injury before his fight with Brunson.

    Till might return on the London card in March, but that decision still floats in the air.

    Till agrees with the matchup against Hall, but the timing is off. But as soon as Till is where he wants to be mentally and physically, he is willing to accept Hall as his opponent.

    Till’s response to Hall saying he’s afraid to fight him meets crickets.

    “@UriahHallMMA why you gone so quiet now that I’ve responded to you?” says Till.

    Both fighters are coming off a loss and want to fight each other. The results of April 16 will help determine their future matchups and if these two middleweights can settle their beef in the cage later this year.

    What are your thoughts on a Uriah Hall and Darren Till fight?

  • Alexander Gustafsson Using Glover Teixeira As Inspiration For Return

    Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson is using Glover Teixeira as inspiration for his return at heavyweight.

    Gustafsson is set to face Ben Rothwell at a May 21 Fight Night event. He’s looking to get back in the win column after he announced his retirement following a loss to Fabricio Werdum in July 2020.

    Gustafsson is seeking vengeance at heavyweight and is looking to attempt one last potential title run before his career comes to a close. Teixeira, at 42 years old, showed that age may be just a number after he defeated Jan Blachowicz for the 205-pound belt at UFC 267.

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Gustafsson reacted to his old rival Teixeira becoming a UFC champion.

    “It’s amazing to see,” Gustafsson said of Teixeira earning a UFC title. “He’s a tough dude, man, a really tough dude. It’s very impressive. I saw the fight with [Jan Blachowicz] and he was very impressive, he’s a beast. It wasn’t only me [who beat him], he got a pretty tough beating against Jon Jones and a couple of other guys, and he just comes back. He just goes one direction, he doesn’t care. It’s impressive to see and now he has the belt. All respect to him.

    “How old is he, 40? 41? It’s amazing to see. He’s a lot of inspiration for me to see him succeed, it’s crazy to see.”

    Teixeira is set to make his first title defense as the champion against Jiří Procházka at UFC 274. He has won six-straight bouts and 7 of his last 8 since falling to Gustafsson in 2017.

    Teixeira’s win over Blachowicz was one of the most shocking moments in the UFC in 2021. After watching Teixeira finally realize a championship dream, Gustafsson is looking to replicate his success and potentially earn a title at heavyweight.

    What are your predictions for Glover Teixeira and Alexander Gustafsson in 2022?

  • Hill Preparing For The “Wild” Side & The “Calculated” Side Of Walker

    Jamahal Hill is looking for a crazy fight with Johnny Walker at UFC Vegas 48.

    Jamahal Hill is quickly rising up the light heavyweight rankings. He has his next assignment right ahead of him when he takes on Johnny Walker this weekend at UFC Vegas 48. That fight was bumped up to the main event when the scheduled bout between Rafael dos Anjos and Rafael Fiziev was pushed to another card.

    Coming into this fight with Walker, Hill doesn’t quite know what to expect. He sat down for an exclusive interview with MMA News to discuss the bout.

    “I’m expecting, I don’t know man. Honestly, I know there’s only a couple ways, one of two ways he’s gonna come in. He’s gonna come in wild and crazy, or he’s gonna come in and try and be calculated and try to set things up,” Hill said. “Those are the two things. I’m preparing for whatever, I’m preparing for everything. Because I’m not in his camp, I don’t know what he’s gonna do. I don’t know what they’re working on or what they think they see, what holes they see. I’m preparing for everything.”

    Hill is coming into this bout having won his last outing against Jimmy Crute. Prior to that win, Hill lost to Paul Craig and during the bout, suffered a nasty arm injury that kept him out of competition for a while. Now that he is back in the win column and healed up, Hill is looking to make a run for a title shot. A win over Walker could be a great way to get there.

    Walker had a great run going in the UFC and was close to a title shot himself before hitting a bit of a skid. He has now lost three of his last four and dropped to number ten in the rankings. Hill is currently sitting in the number 12 spot and, with a win over Walker, could finally break the top ten.

    Who do you see taking home the win at UFC Vegas 48, Jamahal Hill or Johnny Walker?

  • Report: Brian Ortega Vs. Yair Rodriguez In The Works For TBD Date

    A showdown between top UFC featherweight contenders Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez is reportedly in the works for later this year.

    This was first reported by MMA journalist Ariel Helwani on his Substack channel.

    It’s unclear if the matchup will headline a UFC Fight Night event or if it will take place on an upcoming pay-per-view card.

    Ortega lost to UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 266 via unanimous decision. He nearly secured a submission win on numerous occasions throughout the fight but couldn’t quite pull through over five rounds of action.

    Before the loss to Volkanovski, Ortega earned a dominant win over Chan Sung Jung (otherwise known as The Korean Zombie) following a loss to former featherweight champion Max Holloway.

    Rodriguez made his return to the Octagon against Holloway at UFC Vegas 42. The two featherweights engaged in a back-and-forth clash with Holloway walking away with a decision win.

    Rodriguez had been sidelined for two years following a win over Jeremy Stephens in Oct. 2019. His absence was preceded by impressive wins over BJ Penn and Alex Caceres.

    The Ortega/Rodriguez winner could move one step closer to a title shot. Volkanovski will defend his title later this year against Jung at UFC 273.

    If the matchup comes to fruition, Ortega and Rodriguez could put on a show in their fight. They’re two of the most dangerous featherweights in the UFC who have proven to be versatile in the cage.

    What are your thoughts on the planned Brian Ortega vs. Yair Rodriguez fight?

  • Calvin Kattar: It’s Crazy To Question Holloway For Volk Trilogy Withdrawal

    UFC featherweight contender Calvin Kattar has given his take on champion Alexander Volkanovski accusing Max Holloway of faking an injury to avoid their trilogy fight.

    Last month it was announced that Holloway, coming off a pair of memorable victories over Kattar and Yair Rodriguez in 2021, would be the next challenger to Volkanovski’s 145-pound reign. Since the Australian dethroned “Blessed” in December 2020 and subsequently defended the belt against him six months later, he’s retained the belt with a five-round win against Brian Ortega.

    But just days after the trilogy was announced, it was off. Holloway withdrew after aggravating a previous injury. In his place, “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung stepped up, and Volkanovski’s first appearance of 2022 got pushed back a month to UFC 273.

    But in a surprising turn of events, ESPN recently reported that Holloway was back in training and eager to serve as a backup option for the April pay-per-view main event.

    After hearing the news, the champion took to Twitter to accuse his rival of faking an injury in order to avoid another loss to him. Prior to the booking and recent revelations, “The Great” had already suggested Holloway may look to avoid a third clash with him because another defeat would be damaging to the former titleholder’s legacy.

    Kattar: Holloway Doesn’t Dodge Anybody

    While others have also questioned the quick development from withdrawal to full training, #5-ranked featherweight contender Kattar believes it is “crazy” to suggest Holloway would dodge an opponent.

    During a media scrum at UFC 271 this past weekend, “The Boston Finisher” was asked for his take on the matter. Having felt Holloway’s toughness first hand last January, Kattar doesn’t believe Holloway would fake an injury or avoid a fight, especially considering his willingness to face the returning Rodriguez last November.

    “I’m not reading too much into it. I mean, as a fight fan, that would’ve been a good matchup, watching him and the champ go back at it, third time running it, especially after the last two,” Kattar said. “As far as what got him ready (to be backup) and whatnot, I’m not reading too far into that.

    “I feel like to question Max, man, it’s kind of crazy. He took the Yair fight when he didn’t really need to,” Kattar continued. “He was next in line for the champ anyway, but he took it. The champ and Max, I think, are two guys that don’t really dodge anybody and wanna fight the best guys in the world, so I got a lot of respect for them.”

    With Holloway’s recovery and availability for April, it stands to reason “Blessed” will get another chance to reclaim the 145-pound gold later this year. But for now, it’s the turn of UFC veteran “The Korean Zombie.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZnhjU5tQNd/

    Do you agree with Calvin Kattar’s take on Max Holloway’s withdrawal and recovery?

  • Michael Bisping Responds To Complaints About His UFC 271 Commentary

    Michael Bisping made his pay-per-view commentary debut at UFC 271, but many fans thought he was biased towards Israel Adesanya.

    Throughout the fight, Bisping was praising Adesanya and believed he won nearly every round and the scrap was not that close. However, to many fans watching, it felt very close, and some media members even score the bout for Whittaker. But for Bisping, he doesn’t think he was biased and says the judges’ scorecards prove he was calling the fight correctly.

    “It was a really close fight and to all you haters out there that are talking s***, the judges agree with everything that I f***ing said,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel.

    “So, I’m not taking validation from that nor am I using this as an excuse to sit here and say I know it all. I watched a fight very closely, very intently, but I will go away and watch it and see if I made any mistakes. If you hear bad reviews of your work, you want to take it on board with an open mind. I want to get better; I want to learn and grow as a human being.”

    Michael Bisping
    PHOTO: KEVIN IOLE

    Israel Adesanya was awarded the unanimous decision with the scorecards being 48-47 x2 and 49-46. It marked the fourth title defense of his middleweight and second win over Robert Whittaker. He has started to clean out the middleweight division, but this fight was much closer, despite Bisping believing it was a clear victory for the middleweight champ.

    We should find out soon who Israel Adesanya will fight next.

    Michael Bisping was added to the UFC 271 commentating team as a late replacement for Joe Rogan. Despite the criticisms of Bisping’s commentary, the former middleweight champion no doubt adds a lot to the booth with his experience fighting and knowing what the fighters are going through.

    Do you think Michael Bisping was biased towards Israel Adesanya?

  • Dustin Poirier Agrees With Notion Fighters Should Be Paid More

    Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has weighed in on the controversial issue regarding fighter pay.

    Poirier is coming off of a disappointing loss to UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 to wrap up 2021. Before that, he had earned back-to-back wins over Conor McGregor.

    Many fighters in the UFC, including Poirier’s teammate Jorge Masvidal, have weighed in on fighter pay. Poirier, undoubtedly one of the UFC’s biggest stars, has remained somewhat quiet on the ongoing debate.

    During a recent interview with InsideFighting, Poirier gave his thoughts on how fighters are compensated for their efforts.

    “You know, I think that the more people who do speak up, and the more it’s in the media and the press, it draws more attention to it and that’s great. I think the pay rates will continue to increase year after year. I do think we should be paid more, for sure. But you know, we sign these contracts. You’re not forced into fighting. And it’s an individual thing. For me, I’m just trying to navigate and do the best deals I can from here on. It is what it is.”

    Poirier went on to specifically point out the discrepancy between entry-level fighters and veterans.

    “Yeah, I mean, entry-level pay was even less when I first came to the UFC 11 years ago. But it might be 12 and 12 now? $12,000 to show and $12,000 to win might be like, the base starting point in the UFC, I think. You know, you go out there and win a fight, or worst-case scenario you go out there and lose, and you get $12,000; you’ve gotta pay medicals in preparation for the fight… then taxes, then your gym fees, stuff like that. There’s not a lot of money left on the table after everyone’s paid.”

    UFC President Dana White has been under fire from some former fighters regarding the promotion’s pay structure. Former UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt and the controversial YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul have been a couple of his biggest critics.

    Poirier is anticipating a return to the Octagon in 2022, potentially against Nate Diaz. He has alluded to a potential move to welterweight following his title loss to Oliveira.

    Do you agree with Dustin Poirier?

  • Tate Says Peña’s Doubters Are “Crazy” To Think Nunes Win Was A Fluke

    Meisha Tate is putting all her confidence in Julianna Peña ahead of the new bantamweight champion’s rematch against Amanda Nunes.

    It is no secret that Miesha Tate is a fan of the newly crowned champion Julianna Peña. The two are good friends and former training partners. Tate was also Peña’s coach on their season of The Ultimate Fighter, and since then, she knew that Peña had what it takes to become a UFC champion.

    Now that Peña has defeated longtime champ Amanda Nunes, some people are caulking it up to luck or an off day on Nunes’ part. To these doubters, Tate has a message.

    “Oh, they’re crazy,” Tate said.

    Tate knows firsthand what it takes to become a UFC champion. And although her championship run was cut short by Nunes herself, Tate is positive that Peña could beat her again.

    Julianna Pena vs. Amanda Nunes

    “Yes, absolutely. She just has a no-quit, no-give-up mentality. And now that the seed of doubt has been planted in Amanda’s mind, that’s probably where I see the biggest change going, and that’s not gonna favor Amanda,” Tate told Ariel Helwani of The MMA Hour.

    The rematch between Julianna Peña and Amanda Nunes is targeted for later this year after the two women have wrapped up the upcoming season as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter.

    As for what 2022 holds for “Cupcake,” Tate has announced that since Peña, her good friend is the reigning champ at 135 pounds, she will be dropping to flyweight. Tate will be making her flyweight debut against Lauren Murphy in April.

    Do you think Amanda Nunes would beat Julianna Peña in a rematch?

  • Adesanya Expects UFC To Learn From Their ‘Atrocious’ Treatment Of Ngannou

    Israel Adesanya believes the UFC will learn from their contract negotiations with Francis Ngannou.

    It was well-known that when the heavyweight champion entered his UFC 270 title defense against Ciryl Gane, it was the last fight of his deal. Since then, he has continued to be vocal about his displeasure with his current contract.

    Ngannou’s friend and UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya, who just re-signed with the UFC, says the promotion needs to deal with the heavyweight champ better, and he is optimistic that they will.

    “I don’t know this narrative of, oh, they just gave me a new deal because of what was happening with Francis,” Adesanya said after UFC 271. “I’m like, no, my dealings with the UFC don’t need to be brought forth because every case is different. With Francis’ case, he needed to bring that forward because it was atrocious, and I respect him for that. But like I said, this is a first step.”

    Israel Adesanya
    © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

    Israel Adesanya believes the UFC and Francis Ngannou will eventually strike a deal to keep the heavyweight champion in the Las Vegas-based promotion. The hope for Adesanya is his contract and that of other big names will lift the minimum pay for the debuting fighters as well. The middleweight champ wants to see no UFC fighter need to have another job.

    “Dana already said they had dinner with [Ngannou] before he went back to Cameroon; they gonna have dinner when they come back,” Adesanya said. “So yeah, people make mistakes. The UFC’s filled with humans. Humans make mistakes. Human error. But we can always amend those mistakes. Honestly, rising tides lifts all the ships. And with this, I feel like it’s the first step in this trickle-down effect to the rest of the fighters and lifting everyone up.”

    As of right now, there is no talk on when exactly Francis Ngannou and the UFC will meet again but Israel Adesanya is hoping a deal gets made.

    Do you think Francis Ngannou re-signs with the UFC?

  • Brian Ortega Gets “Tracy” Tattooed On Inner Lip For Valentine’s Day

    Never let it be said that Brian Ortega is not a romantic.

    Love was in the air worldwide yesterday during Valentine’s Day. And for UFC featherweight Brian Ortega, it was also on his inner lip.

    The two-time UFC title challenger went the extra mile on V-Day to show his fiancée, UFC flyweight Tracy Cortez, just how committed to her he really is.

    On his Instagram page, Ortega posted a video of him getting “Tracy” tattooed on his inner lip, thus giving whole new meaning to his nickname of “T-City.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ-4pQ7l9Eo/

    “All I can say is…I LOVE HER” Ortega wrote in the captions along with a heart-eyes emoji.

    Over on the other side of this lovely MMA couple, Tracy Cortez posted the following on her Instagram page to commemorate this special day with her amor.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ-8xINgOGb/

    “Another V’day with my best friend, who would have thought ❤️‍?❤️‍?❤️‍?❤️‍? TE AMO CON TODO MI AMOR ??✨ al fin del día nomas somos TU Y YO ??? POR VIDA!!! Feliz día del amor ?✨???
    HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!” Cortez wrote in the captions.

    The video shows a montage of some of the couple’s favorite moments shared together set to “I Guess I’m In Love” by Clinton Kane.

    Brian Ortega is currently ranked #2 in the UFC’s featherweight division. Most recently, he loss to Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 266 in his bid to become world champion. Of course, his love, Tracy Cortez, was there to console him after the heartbreaking defeat.

    Tracy Cortez is 3-0 in the UFC with an overall record of 9-1. She last defeated Justin Kish via split decision in April 2021.

    More MMA Stars Celebrate Valentine’s Day

    Below, you can check out how some other fighters celebrated their Valentine’s Day via The Gram.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ-U1bAvcPa/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ-OvUbhVWo/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ912MZp83-/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ9gdSUO944/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ9vGxtJwuF/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ-UTBvPE6q/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ99NKIpOoR/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ-Cxf9vOFv/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ9qIa7OLAR/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ9hhJ6FRZH/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ-fB0LpCpH/

  • Watch: Kevin Holland Schools A Second Troll In Hard Sparring Session

    Kevin Holland is at it again, right back on the troll-stomping trail with the release of a second sparring video featuring him disposing of a troll.

    Kevin Holland is preparing to fight UFC veteran Alex Oliveira at UFC 272 in a bout that will mark Holland’s return to the welterweight division. In his preparation for his 2022 debut, Holland has found some rather unusual sparring partners.

    Just weeks ago, UFC middleweight Kevin Holland covered the travel expenses of an online troll in order to teach him a lesson in humility via tapout. Yesterday, Holland posted a second tale of a troll that needed taking care of.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ913UXJgNK/

    “Honestly, I liked this troll way more
    ? non other then @brawlerimages So this guy at the meet and greet called me Brunson….. later he got a autograph ✍️ next day he got the pleasure of being troll number #2 2 down way to many to go im gonna start needing help full video will go up on my #onlyfans Dude ended up being respectful so yes I respect him for showing up ??18h”

    Holland also shared the DMs between himself and the troll, which, to Holland’s point, came across as a respectful exchange. The young lad even politely referred to his future abuser as “Mr. Kevin.”

    After the two worked out the logistics, the training began, which consisted of a barrage of body kicks from Holland. Peep the video below. (h/t MMA Trends)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGbu_C5p2zM

    Holland may have struck creative gold here. His troll-beating adventures has all the makings of a hit mini-series or web series.

    What would you name a mini-series documenting “Big Mouth” Kevin Holland’s troll-beating adventures?

  • UFC Rankings Report: Tuivasa Surges & Adesanya Moves Up P4P

    The UFC rankings have been updated following UFC 271, and we’ve got the full report for you below!

    Men’s Pound for Pound: After defeating Robert Whittaker via unanimous decision at UFC 271, Israel Adesanya moves ahead of Alexander Volkanovski to the #2 spot, sending Volkanovski down to #3. Additionally, Max Holloway (#6) moves ahead of Jon Jones (#7), and Glover Teixeira is no longer tied with Stipe Miocic at #10, with Miocic now ranked at #11. 

    Women’s Pound for Pound: No Changes

    Strawweight: No Changes

    Women’s Flyweight: “King” Casey O’Neill moves up to #12 after defeating Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 271. Additionally, Manon Fiorot (#13) and Maycee Barber (#14) swap positions this week, and Erin Blanchfield appears in the rankings down at #15.

    Women’s Bantamweight: No Changes

    Women’s Featherweight: N/A 

    Flyweight: Sumudaerji (#12) and Tim Elliot (#13) swap places. 

    Bantamweight: No Changes

    Featherweight: No Changes

    Lightweight: Gregor Gillespie moves up one spot to be tied with Conor McGregor at #9. 

    Welterweight: No Changes

    Middleweight: Following his big win over Derek Brunson at UFC 271, Jared Cannonier moves up one spot to #3, sending Marvin Vettori down to #4. Another change in the top 5 this week sees Sean Strickland move up one spot to #5 to be tied with Paulo Costa. Brunson remains at #4.

    Light Heavyweight: No Changes

    Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa’s fifth consecutive KO shook up the heavyweight rankings. After knocking out Derrick Lewis at UFC 271, “Bam Bam” Tuivasa now finds himself ranked at #3, and Lewis drops two spots down to #5. This shakeup has caused the following fighters to drop in this week’s rankings: Alexander Volkov (#6), Jairzinho Rozenstruik (#7), Chris Daukaus (#8), Shamil Abdurakhimov (#10), and Tom Aspinall (#11).

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here. 

    What are your thoughts on these updates to the UFC rankings following UFC 271?

  • Nate Diaz Puts McGregor Trilogy On Ice: “He Got A Lot Of Work To Do”

    Nate Diaz is looking forward to his return to the Octagon in 2022 on the last fight of his deal, but it won’t be against Conor McGregor.

    Diaz hasn’t fought in the UFC since his loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 263. Despite his promise of an active 2021, he competed just once in the calendar year and is now on the last fight of his contract.

    Diaz has hinted at the idea of a fight with Dustin Poirier for months, but an agreement hasn’t materialized just yet. Poirier seems game for a fight with Diaz but things have stalled regarding talks of a bout.

    One element of the Diaz saga is regarding a potential trilogy with McGregor. He won the first matchup on short notice at UFC 196, before narrowly falling to McGregor in the rematch at UFC 202.

    During a recent interview with YouTuber Adam’s Apple, Diaz kept it short and sweet when asked about a potential trilogy with McGregor.

    “Not right now,” Diaz said. “He got a lot of work to do.” (h/t SportsKeeda)

    McGregor is also anticipating a return to action later this year after suffering a gruesome leg break at UFC 264 against Poirier. He has lost three of his last four fights with the lone victory coming against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246.

    Diaz and McGregor have gone at it on social media in recent months, especially following McGregor’s most recent loss to Poirier via doctor’s stoppage. Diaz and McGregor are undoubtedly two of the UFC’s biggest stars.

    Do you think we’ll ever see Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor 3?

  • Khamzat Chimaev Unhappy About Leaked Training Footage

    UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev is far from amused at the recent footage of him training at the renowned Tiger Muay Thai gym in Phuket, Thailand.

    Having risen to prominence in the UFC with four dominant first-round finishes, including a submission victory over ranked welterweight Li Jingliang at UFC 267 last October, Chimaev is looking to contend for gold on MMA’s biggest stage soon.

    With that in mind, he’s continuing his pursuit of development and growth by training with some of the best in the game.

    Ahead of his first challenge of 2022, “Borz” has been training alongside the likes of UFC lightweight Rafael Fiziev, interim bantamweight titleholder Petr Yan, 135-pound contender Marlon Moraes, Bellator Welterweight Champion Yaroslav Amosov, and ONE Championship kickboxers Chingiz Allazov and Roman Kryklia.

    He’s certainly not short of talented sparring partners during his time in Asia…

    Chimaev Discusses The Biggest “Mess” At Tiger Muay Thai

    While he’s working with some of the best MMA and Muay Thai coaches in the game during his stint in Thailand, the experience isn’t all positive for Chimaev. During a recent interview with RT Sport MMA, the #11-ranked UFC welterweight discussed the biggest issue at Tiger Muay Thai: the cameras.

    “It’s hard to keep any secrets here, everybody has a camera,” said Chimaev. “Every time I am doing pad work or rolling, everyone around starts filming. Kind of a mess here in the gym. I don’t get it.”

    While the host of professionals developing their trade at the gym is often publicized, Chimaev suggested the number of amateur fighters significantly outweighs the pros. With that, the Chechen-born Swede says, comes an incessant amount of filming, something the gym doesn’t restrict.

    “The thing is, there are much more amateur fighters around than pro fighters. They keep filming all the time,” added Chimaev. “They don’t understand that it’s a bad idea to film sparring sessions and post them. They don’t have any strict rules about filming. No such rules. It’s probably good for the gym. People make videos, post them on social media, and the gym becomes popular.

    “But as for our gym (Allstar Training Center), you can’t film there,” Chimaev continued. “We have a lot of videos from our gym, but nobody has ever posted them during the four years I have trained there. Here, nobody cares about it. I am busy with training, so I can’t take care of all those cameras around. It’s not good.”

    Describing just how bad the level of recording is at Tiger Muay Thai, Chimaev joked that he could drop a glove and a video of it would end up online. “Borz” suggested gyms must control filming in order to prevent out-worked sparring partners getting upset at leaked footage.

    “If I outwrestle a guy, he won’t be happy to see that footage online. I am a famous person. I may even drop a glove on the floor or jump; they post it right away, ‘Look, Khamzat Chimaev is jumping!’ When they tag me on Instagram, I see it all. Some guys who are on my level may get upset after all those videos get posted. Some guys are more skilful than others, so you have to control the cameras to not let your friends get upset,” concluded Chimaev. (Translated by RT Sport)

    Perhaps a prime example of the footage Chimaev is referring to came in the form of a recent video that showed him dropping a sparring partner with a vicious body shot. Seemingly to keep his development and progress close to his chest, and protect his training partners, Chimaev believes foootage such as that should remain private.

    One man who may be keeping a close eye on Chimaev’s progression at Tiger Muay Thai and any leaked footage is top-five contender Gilbert Burns. While nothing is confirmed, “Durinho” appears set to be the next man in the way of Chimaev’s rapid rise to the top.

    Given the above video, it appears Burns would do well to avoid too many shots to the body…

    Do you agree with Khamzat Chimaev? Should gyms control filming and prevent training leaks?

  • Israel Adesanya Pleaded With Jared Cannonier To Beat Derek Brunson

    UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya has revealed the encouragement he gave to top contender Jared Cannonier ahead of UFC 271.

    Two of this weekend’s biggest fights on pay-per-view saw crucial middleweight clashes go down. While the reigning king ran it back with former rival Robert Whittaker in the main event, top-five veterans Cannonier and Derek Brunson collided earlier in the night, with a title shot seemingly on the line.

    Towards the end of the opening round, it appeared the undefeated run of “Blonde” Brunson was set to continue. But after the round-ending horn cut short a rear-naked choke attempt, the tide turned.

    “The Killa Gorilla” came out in the second and made the most of his stand-up advantage. After one early shot appeared to affect Brunson’s movement and posture, Cannonier went in for the kill.

    With a vicious elbow and clean backhand, the #3-ranked 185lber rocked his counterpart and sent him to the ground. From there, some sickening elbows signaled the end.

    Adesanya Gets His Fresh Meat

    While predictions were largely split heading into the contest, with many backing Brunson’s previous form and five-fight win streak, one man was firmly supporting Cannonier on fight night—that man being the champ.

    Having already faced and defeated Brunson on his way to the title in 2018, as well as dispatching most other contenders in the weight class, “The Last Stylebender” favored the idea of facing a fresh challenge next.

    During his appearance at the UFC 271 post-fight press conference, which came after he successfully defended the middleweight gold for the fourth time, Adesanya revealed the encouragement he gave Cannonier during fight week.

    “I just saw bits and pieces. I think he even got rocked. I saw he got taken down, and then he elbowed Brunson. And so I didn’t really take stock. I’ll go back and watch the fight later on and see what it is,” said Adesanya. “But he made a statement. And I even told him after the weigh-ins, I said, ‘Look, please take this guy out so I can get some fresh meat.’ And he said, ‘Bro, I’m trying to work.’ I said, ‘Me, too.’ So I’m a man of my word.”

    With apparent post-fight confirmation from all parties, including UFC President Dana White, it seems Adesanya’s next challenger is locked in. Targeting a June return, “The Last Stylebender” looks set to have the chance to add another name to his résumé in the form of Cannonier.

    Would you like to see Israel Adesanya’s Next Fight be against Jared Cannonier?

  • NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal Names His Favorite Active MMA Fighter

    Shaquille O’Neal names one of Stockton’s finest, Nate Diaz, as his favorite MMA fighter.

    The four-time NBA champion is highly revered in basketball. He committed 19 years to the center position in six different teams, including the Lakers and Celtics. Now, among a lengthy list of trades, “Shaq” offers his expert opinion as an NBA analyst.

    Shaquille O’Neal, Photo Credit: AP Photo / Mark J. Terrill

    The giant and former NBA sensation is a big fan of mixed martial arts and has high regard for MMA fighters.

    O’Neal trained in the sport and credits it as helping him transform into the best shape of his life.

    Over the weekend, two exciting sporting events took place. On Saturday, MMA fans watched Adesanya defend the middleweight throne against Whittaker in their rematch at UFC 271. The following day, football fans geared up to watch the Rams defeat the Bengals in the Super Bowl.

    O’Neal likely enjoyed both events. During a Super Bowl party, “Shaq” gave props to Nate Diaz. He appreciates the Diaz fighting style and brutality he brings to the cage.

    “I love Nate… because I love his fighting style. It’s similar to mine. IDGAF, if you know what I mean. He’s just real. I like people that are real, you know… and you gotta respect people like that,” O’Neal told ES NEWS.

    Nate Diaz
    Nate Diaz, Photo Credit: Getty Images

    “Shaq” joins a plethora of MMA fans that love watching Nate Diaz put on outstanding performances in the Octagon. He brings toughness, viciousness, and strategic wit that gets under his opponents’ skin, and the crowd roars for it.

    From social media banter and controversy to telling reporters like it is, no one expects Nate Diaz to fail at “keeping it real.” No matter how famous the name, Nate Diaz demands a piece of the action. And win or lose, he does not miss an opportunity to give his opinion on anything or anyone that catches his attention.

    What’s Next For Nate Diaz?

    Nate Diaz
    Nate Diaz, Photo Credit: Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    Shaquille O’Neal retired in 2011, and Diaz claims he is planning his retirement bout for this year against Dustin Poirier.

    Both fighters want each other as their next opponent. Neither fighter landed a win in their previous bouts, so this pairing would be a battle for redemption.

    As a fan of O’Neal, “Shaq” might just be in attendance at the next Nate Diaz fight in the front row, cheering on his favorite fighter in what could be his final match.

    Who is your favorite MMA fighter?

  • Sonnen: Strickland Is Misinterpreting Laughter For Support

    Former two-division UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen believes middleweight contender Sean Strickland is misinterpreting the reaction to his outgoing personality.

    Since returning to the Octagon from a two-year absence in 2020, Strickland has quickly risen up the 185-pound ladder, developing both his status as a contender and prominence across the fanbase in the process. But while his fighting has certainly done some talking, his mouth has done a significant amount more.

    Before and after his latest victory, a five-round decision triumph over Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 47, “Tarzan” put his controversial nature on full display. In the past, Strickland has drawn flak for his remarks about homosexuality and apparent desire to kill a fellow fighter.

    While some praise the #6-ranked middleweight for his lack of censorship and willingness to speak his mind, others believe he routinely crosses the line.

    Sonnen Thinks Strickland Is Going In The Wrong Direction

    Perhaps surprisingly, one man who has warned Strickland about the path he’s going down is Sonnen. Not many fighters have played up to a ‘heel’ character quite like the former middleweight and light heavyweight contender.

    But while he acknowledges the need to accentuate a character in order to rise the ranks, the 44-year-old has suggested it’s time for Strickland to tone it down now that he’s reached title contention.

    During a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen warned Strickland that he’s misinterpreting the laughter from fans and pundits as support. Instead, the Oregon native believes many are uncomfortable with the 30-year-old’s antics and are usually laughing at him, not with him.

    “Sean is a character, man. He’s doing a gimmick, he’s a character, he’s an entertainer. It makes me nervous,” said Sonnen. “I think he’s going in the wrong direction. I think there was a time for that, to get some focus, to get some attention, to get the better fights, to work your way up the card. Once you get there, you can now go down main street.

    “There’s always room for a straight man, for sure. You start playing that game, and I made a living playing that game, it’s a risky one,” added Sonnen. “I think Sean makes some people uncomfortable. I know everyone’s laughing and everyone’s cheering him on, but I don’t think they’re really supporting him. I think they’re laughing at him. I think they’re in shock at what he’s doing. I think he’s misinterpreting it.”

    Interestingly, Strickland has followed a different route. Rather than playing up to a character in order to rise the MMA ladder, Strickland recently suggested he suppressed his personality early in his career in order to ensure he was signed by the UFC. Now that he’s at the top, he feels the freedom to say what he wants.

    Sonnen is not the first to speak out against Strickland’s mindset and controversial statements. Last week, top-five contender Derek Brunson criticized “Tarzan” for his remarks, suggesting he hopes his UFC peer can change his ways soon.

    Given Strickland’s recent posts on social media, and promise to go “full McGregor” if he becomes champion, an adjustment or alteration seems unlikely.

    Do you agree with Chael Sonnen? Should Sean Strickland adjust his attitude?

  • Brock Lesnar On UFC Tenure: “I Probably Should Have Gotten Paid More”

    Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar has spoken out on his time with the UFC and how it compared to working for WWE.

    Lesnar remains a massive star in the professional wrestling scene and is one of the biggest personalities in WWE. He also made a name for himself in the Octagon by earning the heavyweight title despite relatively little MMA experience leading up to his 2008 fight against Randy Couture.

    Lesnar retired from the UFC following his loss to Alistair Overeem at UFC 141. After five years away from the sport, he would return for UFC 200 in one of the most highly-anticipated Octagon appearances in recent memory.

    Lesnar last competed in this bout against Mark Hunt. He won the fight via unanimous decision, but the decision was later overturned to a no-contest after Lesnar tested positive for PEDs.

    Lesnar has teased the idea of a return to the UFC, most notably when Daniel Cormier won the title over Stipe Miocic at UFC 226.

    During a recent interview on The Pat McAfee Show, Lesnar revealed what his relationship is like with UFC President Dana White today and how he feels he was treated by the promotion.

    “Dana’s all right,” Lesnar said of White. “I’ve got a lot of money from him. I probably should have got paid more, maybe.”

    Lesnar went on to compare working for White compared to his at-times tumultuous relationship with WWE headman Vince McMahon.

    “I really can’t compare the two guys,” Lesnar said. “Honestly, my relationship with Vince is so different than it is with Dana over the years. Vince and I have had a love-hate relationship for the last 20 years, but it’s been good. We have a lot of water under the bridge. I have a lot of respect for both.”

    Lesnar’s admission that he feels he should’ve been compensated better is eye-opening during the current debate regarding fighter pay. Fighters such as Jorge Masvidal and current heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou have been a couple of the critics of the UFC’s current pay model.

    Lesnar appears to be done with MMA, but the UFC will forever be a part of his athletic legacy.

    What is Brock Lesnar’s legacy in MMA in your opinion?

  • Israel Adesanya Trolls Jon Jones With Valentine’s Day Tweet

    UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya began his Valentine’s Day with a more-than-subtle jab at former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

    Adesanya is just days removed from his rematch win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 271. It was a much more competitive fight than their first matchup, but Adesanya earned the decision on the scorecards.

    Jones is preparing for a run at heavyweight in 2022, but it’s unclear when he’ll return. He’s recently teased a potential fight with Stipe Miocic for later this year.

    Adesanya and Jones have had their fair share of back-and-forths on social media, and at one point seemed on track to fight each other. Their beef has gotten personal at times, but Adesanya took things to a new level on Valentine’s Day.

    In a recent tweet, Adesanya mocked Jones’ recent run-in with the law and alleged domestic violence incident in Las Vegas.

    “Happy Valentine’s Day,” Adesanya tweeted. “It’s the thought that counts XO.”

    Jones was accused of assaulting his fiancée, Jessie Moses, in a Las Vegas casino hotel room last year just hours after the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony. The battery domestic violence charge was dismissed last December.

    Adesanya signed a new contract with the UFC leading up to his headliner at UFC 271. The exact details of the contract are unknown, but it’s been rumored to be one of the most lucrative in the promotion’s history.

    Adesanya and Jones seem to be on different paths for their Octagon returns, but a fight between them isn’t completely out of the realm of possibility down the line. If a fight between these two stars gets booked in the future, the buildup is sure to be anything but amicable.

    What is your reaction to Israel Adesanya trolling Jon Jones?

  • Watch: Khabib Remains Undefeated With Metaverse Win Over Holloway

    Khabib Nurmagomedov and former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway finally went to battle in the metaverse.

    Nurmagomedov and Holloway faced off in the virtual reality boxing game Creed: Rise To Glory. UFC commentator Daniel Cormier and lightweight contender Islam Makhachev were among those in attendance for the match.

    Nurmagomedov and Holloway used the Oculus VR headset and controllers to fight in the virtual boxing match. Both UFC stars had their moments in the ring, but ultimately Nurmagomedov came out on top with a massive knockout.

    Nurmagomedov participated in the event at the American Kickboxing Academy gym, while Holloway could be seen fighting in his living room. Nurmagomedov talked trash to Holloway throughout the fight.

    Check out footage of the fight below courtesy of YouTuber FightNight.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zt7twerRa0A

    The event was put together by Legionfarm and attendees had to purchase at least one Legionfarm NFT to sit in the virtual crowd. The fight took place just hours before the UFC 271 card got underway in Houston, TX.

    Nurmagomedov and Holloway were supposed to fight back at UFC 223 before Holloway pulled out due to an illness. Holloway stepped up on short notice after Nurmagomedov’s original opponent, Tony Ferguson, withdrew due to an injury sustained during fight week.

    UFC President Dana White has also teased a virtual fight in the metaverse to happen at some point. No details have been revealed just yet.

    Holloway is looking to bounce back in 2022 with another push for the featherweight title, while Nurmagomedov is planning on a busy year as a promoter for Eagle FC.

    What is your reaction to this metaverse fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Max Holloway?

  • Chris Weidman: I Know I Can Shock The World Again

    Despite his horrific injury last year, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman is as hungry as ever to find success inside the Octagon.

    In the immediate aftermath of the UFC 261 pay-per-view in April 2021, not many would have expected us to be in a position to discuss a return to fighting for Weidman.

    At the event, which represented the return of fans after a lengthy spell behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Weidman ran it back with former rival Uriah Hall. While he emerged victorious in their 2010 Ring of Combat clash, the rematch was to end significantly less positively for the two-time Division l All-American.

    After 17 seconds, Weidman threw the first and last strike of the main card contest. When he stood back and crumpled to the mat, it was clear all was not well. Weidman had suffered a gruesome leg break, reminiscent of the injury Anderson Silva suffered against him eight years prior.

    A certain level of immunity to injury and blood comes with the task of being a fight fan. But you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t grimace at the sight of this one.

    Weidman: “I Haven’t Slowed Down”

    After multiple surgeries and intense rehab, Weidman is nearly back to full fitness. While he admits his leg isn’t 100% healed yet and still needs to develop enough strength to where he’ll feel confident pushing off it again, the 37-year-old is back sparring and open to discussing his comeback.

    While some will undoubtedly question the motivation behind a return given the fact he’s already experienced championship status in the UFC, Weidman feels as good as ever and hasn’t lost his hunger and desire to compete.

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Weidman suggested he still has what it takes to beat the best of the best at middleweight. The New York native, who knows a thing or two about upsetting the odds, firmly believes he can “shock the world again.”

    “I honestly feel great man. I’m not coming back just to get a fight and show people that you can come back from tough things,” said Weidman. “It’s more that I really do think I’m in a very selective group of top guys in the world in this division, and I can beat any of those guys on any night.

    “I haven’t slowed down somehow. I’m in there with some really good guys in the gym and if I start seeing that I don’t have what I used to be, and I don’t see myself progressing and getting better and better every day, man, I wouldn’t be doing this,” Weidman continued. “I’m not doing this for the money, I’m not doing this for the glory, I’m doing this because I love to train and I love to do this. I love to compete against the best guys in the world, and I know I can do it; I can shock the world again.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZMy-hhLoa7/

    Prior to his devastating injury, Weidman had rebounded from a two-fight skid by earning a unanimous decision win against Omari Akhmedov. He’ll no doubt be hoping to pick up where he left off in that fight when he returns to action, which he believes could be as early as July.

    Given the recent championship crowning of 42-year-old Glover Teixeira, who dethroned 38-year-old Jan Blachowicz at UFC 267 last October, a late surge for Israel Adesanya’s gold isn’t as hard to picture as it perhaps used to be.

    Do you think Chris Weidman can return to his best following his injury?

  • Michael Chandler Believes Ferguson Win Could Get Him Back To The Title

    Former UFC lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler feels a win over potential opponent Tony Ferguson could get him on the path to revenge.

    Chandler is looking to get back into the lightweight title picture after his back-and-forth war with Justin Gaethje at UFC 268. Despite having his fair share of moments in the fight, he ended up losing via unanimous decision.

    Before that, Chandler had lost his title shot against Charles Oliveira at UFC 262. Many believed he was rushed to the title too quickly after winning his UFC debut against Dan Hooker following a successful run in Bellator.

    Ferguson was one of the more outspoken critics of Chandler’s quick path to the title shot, even coining the phrase “Dana White Privilege” to describe Chandler’s swift ascension up the ranks. He recently aimed at Chandler again during a recent Instagram post.

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

    During a recent appearance on the DC&RC show, Chandler opined on what a win over Ferguson could do for his standing in the lightweight division.

    “It’s always tough. I mean, regardless of organization, us fighters are never really in control of our destiny,” Chandler said. “We have promoters that we work for, and especially when you get to the level of the UFC; these guys are geniuses, they know how to put together fights and they wanna put together fights that make the most sense.

    “With that being said, do I think I automatically make myself the number one contender by beating Tony Ferguson or winning my next fight? I don’t think so under normal circumstances. But these are not normal circumstances. I think everybody wants to see a rematch of myself and Charles Oliveira. They wanna see, they definitely wanna see a rematch, chapter two of the fight of the year against Justin Gaethje. So, I’ve kind of put myself in a unique position, where I could be one win away, and I get the nod to go out there and win the title by the end of 2022.”

    Ferguson was one of the names who Chandler pointed to earlier this year when asked what he’s looking for in his next opponent. Chandler and Ferguson have had a bit of banter over the past few months, but it’s clear that Chandler has respect for the former interim champ.

    UFC President Dana White first teased the matchup during a recent ESPN Q+A with Laura Sanko, stating that the UFC is working on making it happen. It’s unclear timing-wise if and when it’ll take place, but it’s certainly a major fight for both lightweights as well as the fans.

    What are your thoughts on the targeted Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson matchup?

  • O’Neill: Focus On Modafferi’s Retirement Pre-UFC 271 Was “Disrespectful”

    UFC women’s flyweight Casey O’Neill believes the pre-fight focus on opponent Roxanne Modafferi’s retirement ahead of UFC 271 was “disrespectful.”

    In the one and only women’s fight on this past weekend’s pay-per-view card, two 125lbers at opposite ends of the MMA scale collided. While O’Neill was looking to extend her unbeaten record to 9-0 and climb further towards title contention, Modafferi was hoping to close out her 46-fight career with a triumph.

    After 15 minutes of action on the prelims, it was O’Neill who had her hand raised via split decision. While “The Happy Warrior” gave it her all and made a good account of herself, there was little debate about who earned the nod, despite one dissenting judge.

    What followed was a heart-warming final Octagon interview and farewell to active competition for a woman widely regarded as a pioneer for female MMA.

    While O’Neill gave credit to Modafferi following the fight and showed respect for the veteran campaigner, she also revealed her frustration at the amount of attention directed towards Modafferi’s retirement ahead of their clash inside Houston’s Toyota Center.

    While speaking to the media at the UFC 271 post-fight press conference, “King Casey” admitted her annoyance at the fact her own goals and pre-fight preparations were being overlooked.

    Given that her opponent’s retirement wasn’t official until after their fight, the Scottish-Australian contender suggested the questions and discussion about it were “premature” during fight week.

    “I was (annoyed). I felt like nobody was giving me any respect or asking me anything about myself,” admitted O’Neill. “It was all about the retirement. To be honest, the retirement wasn’t happening until after the fight, so I felt like it was a little bit premature to just be talking about that. I wanted to talk about myself, and what I’d been doing, and my game plan, and everything. I just felt like I was being brushed over and it was a little bit disrespectful.”

    O’Neill: I Deserved More Respect From The Crowd At UFC 271

    During her post-fight interview, O’Neill was showered with boos from the Houston crowd, who showed an immense amount of love for Modafferi. The 24-year-old employed the tactic of telling them not to boo her. Who’d have thought that wouldn’t work?

    After being asked about the crowd reaction at the post-fight presser, O’Neill pinpointed the boos as another element of disrespect she felt at the PPV. While she expected a negative reaction given the scenario and her nationality, “King Casey” believes she deserved more respect from the fans.

    “Listen, Roxanne is liked by everybody, so of course, I’m gonna get booed,” said O’Neill. “I’m also not American and I’m fighting in America. To be (honest), I feel like I deserved a little more respect than that.”

    Having said she’s happy to be the “bad guy” if that’s what fans want, O’Neill’s latest remarks certainly continued that narrative…

    What do you make of Casey O’Neill’s comments? Is she right to feel disrespected at the pre-UFC 271 focus?

  • Amanda Nunes: I Was Lying To Myself Pre-UFC 269

    UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion Amanda Nunes says she was “lying” to herself by believing she could compete at UFC 269.

    After extending her win streak to 12, her two-division rule, and her seven-year unbeaten run at UFC 259 last March with a dominant submission win against Megan Anderson, Nunes returned to bantamweight to defend her 135-pound gold against Julianna Peña.

    While many saw the challenger as a gift-wrapped delivery for the Brazilian’s first outing in the weight class since 2019, Peña switched the ‘And Still’ bunting to ‘And New’ in December.

    After their initially scheduled UFC 265 clash was pushed back after the then-champ returned a positive COVID-19 test, the pair finally collided at the last pay-per-view of the year.

    Providing one of the most memorable moments of the year, and across the promotion’s entire history, “The Venezuelan Vixen” submitted Nunes in the second round to be crowned the new queen of the bantamweights.

    During a recent media scrum, Nunes, who still owns the featherweight gold, looked back on her crushing defeat inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    Having branded her camp as a “mess” due to the negative effect the UFC 265 cancelation had on her training, as well as numerous injuries she claims to have carried into the event, Nunes suggested the smart thing to do would have been to delay the matchup for the second time.

    According to the Brazilian, she was lying to herself by attempting to fight through her issues and by believing she could compete at 100% of her abilities at UFC 269.

    “I thought it wouldn’t look good if I let that fight fall through one more time. So I put what I was (dealing with) aside, but I didn’t have a very good camp, that was the honest thing,” said Nunes. “I tried putting into my head that I was ready, I was 100%, but I was lying to myself. That is exactly what I was (doing). But as a fighter, as a warrior, I wanna fight. I want to do that. I’m gonna fight whatever, even if I have an injury. But at this level, you cannot do those stupid moves. So, I paid for it.

    “I was supposed to let the fight fall through, get 100% again, and fight Julianna,” Nunes continued. “And I know Julianna is a very tough opponent. I know that (defeat) could have a chance at happening cause my timing was very off. I wasn’t even able to do sparring in my camp.”

    Nunes Reveals Doctor Advised Her Not To Fight At UFC 269

    To put into context how serious her troubles and physical issues were prior to UFC 269, Nunes revealed her doctor had advised her to pull out of the UFC’s year-ending PPV.

    The “Lioness” described her decision to ignore that advice as a “dumb” move, and one she certainly paid for at the hands of Peña.

    “Unfortunately, sometimes we do dumb things, and especially at the level I’m at, we’re not supposed to do those things,” said Nunes. “Sometimes I say, ‘Man, I really should’ve listened to my doctor.’ He told me, ‘Let me handle it with the UFC, I’ll tell them exactly what you’re going through right now, and you have to have time to rest and recover. If you don’t you’re not gonna perform as well.’ I was like, fighting with my doctor. I said, ‘You’re not gonna do that, you don’t have my permission to do that. I’m gonna fight.’

    “So, I went back to his offices (after UFC 269) and he looked at me like, ‘I told you,’” added Nunes. “So now, after watching the fight as well, I had a hard time for a little bit watching the fight because I was like, ‘Man, I don’t know what happened.’ Like, I kept lying to myself after the fight.”

    After losing the bantamweight title in 2021, Nunes will be hoping to reclaim her spot on the throne this year when she meets Peña for the second time. The pair are set to run it back following a stint coaching this year’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter.

    Are you excited for the new season of TUF and Julianna Peña vs. Amanda Nunes 2?