MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Figueiredo Wants To Avoid A Mexico Fight Following Post-UFC 270 Abuse

    UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo does not want to defend his title in Mexico due to the “prejudiced” nature of the country.

    Figueiredo began his second reign on the 125-pound throne at the opening pay-per-view of 2022 last month. In the UFC 270 co-main event, “Deus da Guerra” shared the Octagon with Brandon Moreno for the third time.

    Having failed to defeat “The Assassin Baby” in a December 2020 draw and losing the gold to the Mexican last June at UFC 263, Figueiredo hoped to level the score in Anaheim in front of a largely hostile crowd.

    After five rounds of action, the Brazilian did just that. Seemingly thanks to knockdowns in the third and fifth frames, Figueiredo was awarded the unanimous decision verdict, with all three judges seeing the fight 48-47 in his favor.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZD5QIvLvs8/

    Figueiredo Pours Cold Water On Moreno’s Hopes Of A Mexico Crowning

    With the pair’s feud now at 1-1-1, this chapter of their careers seems to be far from over and could see an immediate historical tetralogy go down later this year, something Moreno believes he more than deserves.

    But while the newly-crowned champion and his manager appeared to envision a fourth fight with the Mexican happening soon, the tune appears to have changed. Having recently claimed it would take a million-dollar check to get him back in the cage with “The Assassin Baby” and suggested an interest in facing top contender Kai Kara-France, Figueiredo has now shut down talk of a possible defense in Mexico.

    During a recent appearance on Combate’s Mundo da Luta podcast, the flyweight king revealed his team is targeting a Brazil outing. Despite previously expressing a desire to defeat Moreno on the former champ’s home turf, post-fight “prejudiced” comments have left “Deus Da Guerra” with little desire to venture to his rival’s nation.

    “If we fight in Mexico, we’re sure not to go out with Cejudo from there because people want his head in Mexico,” said Figueiredo. “We’re going to ask this fight for Brazil, or anywhere else, except Mexico. Even I don’t want to go there. Guys are pretty prejudiced too, some Mexicans come to me calling me ‘monkey’ and stuff. Through that, I don’t want to fight in Mexico.” (h/t BJPenn.com)

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZH2Y_nv3UG/

    With the likes of Kara-France, Askar Askarov, and Alexandre Pantoja waiting in the wings for a shot at gold, a fourth fight between Figueiredo and Moreno is certainly not an obvious and clear-cut choice for the UFC.

    Nevertheless, if the promotion does choose to go down that path, it appears unlikely “The Assassin Baby” will have the chance to dethrone Figueiredo in front of a home crowd, especially while the champ is training with Henry Cejudo.

    Would you like to see Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno meet again for a historical fourth fight?

  • Daniel Cormier Says Israel Adesanya Needs To Do More For GOAT Talk

    Daniel Cormier thinks UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is great, but not to the level of Anderson Silva yet as some fans think.

    Adesanya is set to face former champion Robert Whittaker in a rematch at UFC 271. Since he first earned the title over Whittaker, he’s defended his belt against Paulo Costa, Yoel Romero, and Marvin Vettori in dominant performances.

    Some believe that Adesanya is potentially on the way to becoming the greatest middleweight champion in UFC history, but Cormier tells fans to pump the brakes on that assumption.

    “No. Dude, Anderson Silva existed. Anderson Silva existed. Like, I don’t get this recency bias that fans have,” Cormier said during a recent episode of DC&RC. “Honestly RC, I think the word ‘GOAT’ gets thrown around way too easy in fight sports. The only person that doesn’t get passed is Muhammad Ali and there have been some really impressive fighters, but people recognize what Muhammad Ali was. Anderson Silva was to MMA what Muhammad Ali was to boxing. No, [Israel Adesanya] has some work to do to catch Anderson.” (h/t SportsKeeda)

    Silva is arguably the greatest UFC fighter of all time, regardless of weight class. His run as the middleweight champion was a spectacle that has arguably yet to be replicated.

    Adesanya defeated Silva at UFC 234 when Silva was arguably years past his prime. Following his losses to Chris Weidman, Silva was never quite able to repeat the magic that he created as the middleweight king.

    Adesanya’s lone blemish on his UFC record came against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 for the light heavyweight belt. While he had his fair share of moments on the feet, Blachowicz used his grappling and size to smother Adesanya in the later rounds.

    Adesanya certainly has the potential to be an all-time great, but Cormier thinks he has some work to do to warrant that distinction.

    Do you agree with Daniel Cormier regarding Israel Adesanya?

  • Whittaker Explains What His Biggest Mistake Was In Adesanya Loss

    UFC middleweight contender Robert Whittaker has revealed what he believes was the biggest mistake he made against Israel Adesanya at UFC 243.

    Midway through 2019, Whittaker held the 185-pound gold and hadn’t been beaten since a loss to Stephen Thompson in 2014. In his nine-fight win streak, “The Reaper” defeated the likes of Brad Tavares, Uriah Hall, Derek Brunson, and Ronaldo Souza; won the interim title against Yoel Romero, after which he was promoted to undisputed king; and defeated the Cuban powerhouse for the second time.

    Adesanya, meanwhile, defeated Brunson, Tavares, Marvin Vettori, and Anderson Silva on his way to an interim title shot earlier in the year. In a Fight of the Year contender, he defeated Kelvin Gastelum, setting up a unification showdown with Whittaker at UFC 243.

    In phenomenal fashion, “The Last Stylebender” dominated the short-lived contest. After knocking his foe down at the end of round one, Adesanya secured his place on the middleweight throne with a second-round knockout inside Melbourne, Australia’s Marvel Stadium.

    Whittaker: I Was Too Reckless

    Given Whittaker’s prior performances, the way in which Adesanya was able to dispatch him came as quite a shock. But following a break from the sport, the New Zealand-born Australian returned with a vengeance.

    Having comfortably defeated Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and Gastelum on the scorecards since losing his title, three of the best performances of his career, Whittaker has earned his shot at redemption. And he believes he’s rectified the mistakes that led to his downfall in October 2019.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun, Whittaker was asked whether he’s identified the greatest error he made against Adesanya. Aside from getting hit very hard in the face, “The Reaper” named his reckless attitude in the Octagon as the leading cause for his loss.

    “Getting hit in the face [LAUGHS]. Definitely that one. Probably my recklessness,” said Whittaker. “I was recklessly charging in, I was falling into every one of his baits, every one of his traps, and just, you know, stubbornly just trying to press forward, press the attack, and rip his head off. That’s what was going through my head, and yeah, it didn’t work.

    “That’s not how I usually fight. You don’t see me fight like that in a lot of other fights,” added Whittaker. “So I have addressed it, I’ve reflected on it, and we’re gonna try and get in there and do something different this next time.”

    Whittaker will have the chance to prove he’s eliminated the mistakes from his game when he steps inside the Octagon with Adesanya for the second time. The pair are set to headline Houston’s UFC 271 pay-per-view on February 12.

    Do you think Robert Whittaker has what it takes to hand Israel Adesanya his first middleweight loss?

  • Jędrzejczyk Explains How She’s Trying To Extend Her Legacy

    Former UFC women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk has explained how she’s harnessing her business acumen to extend her legacy outside the Octagon.

    Jędrzejczyk held gold on MMA’s biggest stage between 2015 and 2017. After dethroning Carla Esparza at UFC 185, the Polish star went on to defend the belt five times against Jessica Penne, Valérie Létourneau, Cláudia Gadelha, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, and Jéssica Andrade.

    But since her victory over the Brazilian, Jędrzejczyk has gone 2-4, including consecutive losses to current titleholder Rose Namajunas and a setback against reigning flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko.

    The 34-year-old’s last appearance saw her share the Octagon with then-champ Zhang Weili in March 2020. In one of the greatest fights of all time, the pair traded blows for 25 minutes. In a close contest, many believe the level of visible damage on the head of the challenger, including a gruesome hematoma, perhaps swayed the decision in the Chinese star’s favor.

    Jędrzejczyk: “I Was Always Into Business”

    While some fans will look down on a two-year layoff and often criticize inactivity, Jędrzejczyk has certainly paid her dues in the sport and has been making an impact beyond the realms of fighting since her last outing.

    From commercials to projects, Jędrzejczyk has been making a splash in the business world, as many fighters have attempted and succeeded in doing over the past few years.

    Having developed a business acumen from a young age, Jędrzejczyk is hoping to stretch beyond the confines of being an “athlete” and extend her legacy through partnerships and self-made businesses.

    “I do lots of media, lots of sponsorships; I’m trying to build my own businesses,” said Jędrzejczyk on a recent episode of American Top Team’s Punchin’ In podcast. “The other things, I love doing sponsorship obligations, media, TV, but training is always first. This is what made me. This is who I am. This is why I’m here, because of all my wins, trophies, sports legacy, sports success; it helped me become kind of a celebrity. I think after I lost the belt, people learn more about the Joanna Jędrzejczyk as a woman, a human, than only an athlete. I was like, a robot, only an athlete back in the day. Only training, training training. But I was always full of passions and hobbies.

    “I was doing businesses since I was a little girl. I was always into business and doing things. So, this is what I love,” added Jędrzejczyk. “Now people know that I’m not only high-quality athlete, they know that I’m high-quality business woman, and I’m high-quality role model, and I’m high-quality human being. That’s why they want to hang out with me, they want to do deals, they want to promote things…

    “What I’m trying to build, I’m not trying to only build business relationships, in every business relationship, I’m trying to bring friendship and family relationships. This is what’s important to me. I’m trying to extend my legacy, so I’m trying to build my own businesses as well.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZe7ByiOa7f/

    Having further developed her brand in her native Poland, Jędrzejczyk is now back on US soil and training at ATT ahead of her long-awaited return to the Octagon.

    With Esparza set to challenge for Namajunas’ gold next, the veteran will seemingly have to face another top contender for her comeback before jumping back to the title, as she’d hoped to do in March or April this year.

    Given Zhang’s two 2021 setbacks against “Thug Rose,” now may be the perfect time for her to run it back with Jędrzejczyk. And with the Pole seemingly down for a second scrap with “Magnum,” the ball appears to be in the UFC’s court.

    Given the way their first fight went, it’s hard to believe anyone would be turning their heads at the chance of seeing the pair share the cage again.

    Who would you like to see Joanna Jędrzejczyk face when she returns to the Octagon?

  • Marvin Vettori Blasts Paulo Costa After Recent Rematch Comments

    UFC middleweight contender Marvin Vettori isn’t buying the idea that he owes Paulo Costa a rematch after the Brazilian’s recent comments.

    Vettori defeated Costa in a light heavyweight bout at UFC Vegas 41 last year. It was a back-and-forth war from start to finish, but Vettori was seen as the more active fighter and earned the decision on the judges’ scorecards.

    It was a wild buildup to the fight as well, as Costa came into the pre-fight festivities overweight and unable to make the 185-pound limit. The UFC and Vettori agreed to make it a 205-pound matchup after concerns that the event may fall through.

    Costa has recently come out and said that he only wants a Vettori rematch for his next Octagon appearance. It’s unlikely that the UFC will meet his demands despite Vettori being the only opponent that he seems interested in at the moment.

    Costa’s disdain for Vettori has increased since their first fight, as he’s attacked Vettori and threatened to sideline him for a year in the event a rematch happens. During a recent tweet, Vettori responded to Costa’s recent interview comments.

    “You was in the cage with me 30 pounds heavier and for real I know a b**ch her name Felicia she hits hard than you,” Vettori tweeted.

    It’s unclear who Vettori will face next in his return to the cage. UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will face Robert Whittaker in a rematch at UFC 271, but the #2-ranked Vettori could open the discussion of possibly getting another shot at Adesanya with another win.

    However, UFC President Dana White stated that Costa will need to fight at light heavyweight going forward, a claim that received major pushback from Costa’s management. At present, it seems that Costa seems content in fighting at middleweight, but it’ll have to only happen against Vettori unless he changes his mind.

    Do you want to see Marvin Vettori vs. Paulo Costa again?

  • Jack Hermansson: Unfiltered Strickland Doesn’t Think Before He Speaks

    UFC middleweight Jack Hermansson isn’t sure what to completely make of Sean Strickland’s antics ahead of their matchup at UFC Vegas 47.

    Hermansson is looking to move one step closer to a potential title shot if he can get past Strickland this weekend. However, Strickland presents unique challenges inside and outside of the cage.

    Strickland has emerged as one of the most controversial figures in the UFC today and is seen by some as the ‘middleweight Colby Covington’ with some of his comments. He doesn’t care how people perceive him on social media or with his unusual post-fight interviews.

    Hermansson has never been one to engage in trash talk and often lets his solid grappling base do the talking for him. During a recent interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Hermansson gave his thoughts on Strickland’s persona.

    “A mix, maybe,” Hermansson said. “I think he’s probably a pretty nice guy. I think he’s a pretty nice guy. But then, just from who he is as a person, and it might be his own character, not somebody else’s, it’s just who he is, he’s very unfiltered. I tend to think a little bit before I speak, and I don’t think he does that [LAUGHS]. “

    Despite his controversial views, Strickland has been on fire since moving from welterweight to middleweight. He’s won five straight over the likes of Uriah Hall, Krzysztof Jotko, and Brendan Allen since the move to 185.

    Hermansson has been a mainstay in the UFC middleweight title picture but has yet to earn a shot at the belt. He’s previously called himself the toughest matchup for Israel Adesanya and will look to support that claim this weekend.

    What’s your prediction for Jack Hermansson vs. Sean Strickland?

  • Strickland Attempts To Clarify ‘Homophobic’ Comments: “I Love Gay Men”

    Sean Strickland has attempted to clean up some previously controversial remarks in a very Strickland-like fashion.

    Sean Strickland has emerged as a strong candidate if not clear-cut choice for the most outspoken fighter on the UFC roster. By now, it is obvious that whenever there is a microphone anywhere near Strickland’s vicinity, the general public should expect the unexpected and brace themselves for the unhinged.

    One can only imagine what a Sean Strickland podcast would sound like. As an active fighter alone, he has given his unfiltered comments on topics ranging from in-competition murder, out-of-competition murder, porn & masturbation, and childhood Neo-Nazism, just to name a few.

    By now, most regular followers of MMA News have grown accustomed to Strickland’s wild remarks, but there was one particular story that made more headlines than the usual head-turning Strickland story.

    Last December, Strickland stated that if he had a homosexual son, that would mean he has failed as a man. This statement was met with wide backlash, despite Strickland’s initial attempt to tamper down the controversy by saying he “supports gay men.”

    During a UFC Vegas 47 media scrum Wednesday, Strickland took another crack at clarifying his remarks, this after he described a reporter’s hair as “gay.”

    “By the way, when I make fun of gays, dude, I fucking love gay men,” Strickland explained. “Gay men are awesome. Lesbians, not so much. Lesbians hate me. Lesbians look at me like the guy that hurt them; I’m not the guy, I’m not your father. But gay men, gay men look at me like they wanna fuck me, and I respect that. You know, they compliment me, they slide in my DMs, I get some dick pics every now and then; I respect that shit. So, I’m not homophobic.”

    Controversies and off-color remarks aside, Sean Strickland is known for something else: being one of the best fighters in the middleweight division. At present, he is ranked #7, and that number would no doubt get a bump should he defeat the #6-ranked Jack Hermansson this Saturday.

    If he does, you can once again expect more uncensored and uncontrolled comments from Strickland while he is in celebration mode, which is when “Tarzan” is in his most uninhibited state.

    What do you make of Sean Strickland’s remarks on homophobia?

  • Manager Targets Immediate Gane/Ngannou Rematch In Paris

    MMA Factory Coach Fernand Lopez wants to see Ciryl Gane and UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou run it back in Paris, France.

    At UFC 270, Gane’s rapid rise from MMA newcomer to the top of the heavyweight food chain met its first hurdle. That hurdle? Former teammate and Cameroonian powerhouse Ngannou.

    In the opening two rounds, it looked like “Bon Gamin” was well on his way to outlasting “The Predator” and reaching the undisputed throne as an undefeated fighter. That all changed with one caught kick and one takedown.

    From rounds three to five, Ngannou imposed his wrestling will and maintained heavy top control. In doing so, he upset the odds and added the first blemish to the record of Gane. But much more than that, he had the last laugh in his bitter public feud with his former coach.

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

    In the build-up to UFC 270, Lopez unleashed a host of revelations about Ngannou’s time at Paris’ MMA Factory gym, from refusing to pay the membership fee to attempting to sabotage Gane’s UFC signing.

    While the hatchet has seemingly been buried in the aftermath of the pay-per-view, largely due to the peace-keeping mission of Kamaru Usman, Lopez doesn’t want the possibility of a rematch between Gane and Ngannou to similarly simmer down.

    Lopez: Close Fights Usually Get Rematches

    During an appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Lopez was asked what’s next for the former interim titleholder. While he acknowledged Jon Jones will be the promotion’s target, the 43-year-old admitted the ideal scenario for his party would see Ngannou and Gane run it back in France later this year.

    “I would like that fight with Francis to happen in France (next) if that’s possible. But, that’s the last thing the UFC is thinking right now,” said Lopez. “If they solve the problem with Francis, what they’d like to do, what everyone would like to have, is Jon Jones/Francis.

    “But again, as a manager, Ciryl made a lot of money for this fight (UFC 270), a lot; enough, actually,” added Lopez. “And he has time. We can wait six months, seven months. We have time to wait until maybe they can sort out the problem with Francis at some point. What I’m saying is that I don’t know about you, but I feel the fight was close, and when the fight is close, generally we’re talking about immediate rematches, which can make sense. But I’m realistic.”

    While Gane is a native of La-Roche-sur-Yon, France, Ngannou emerged from the streets of the country’s capital to make it as a successful mixed martial artist. With the interest in both men in the region, Lopez believes a rematch in Paris would be beyond huge.

    “If you ask me as a manager, I’m like, let’s go for the immediate rematch in Paris. If they fight in Paris, because of Ciryl, if they fight in Paris, Francis would make good money in Paris. I mean like, France is going nuts about this fight, African people are going crazy about this fight. Most of the followers of Francis are African people living in Paris or Europe. That would be bananas if they have this fight in France,” concluded Lopez.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZMLZdsMaT9/

    With the reception he received upon his arrival back in France, it’s clear Gane is immensely popular across the Atlantic and growing into a popular fan-favorite among the French population.

    While Ngannou certainly has his supporters there as well, he recently commented on the fickle nature of the French media, who, in his mind, brand him as French when he wins and Cameroonian when he loses.

    With the attitude of the media members who made the long trip to Las Vegas for UFC 270, which was shown during a heated back-and-forth between Ngannou and a French reporter at the press conference, it would be interesting to see how Ngannou is received and treated by the media if a rematch goes down in Paris.

    Would you like to see Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane run it back in Paris, France?

  • Khabib Responds To Jake Paul’s Challenge: “Come On”

    Khabib Nurmagomedov isn’t taking Jake Paul’s challenge all that seriously.

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov knows a trolljob when he hears one. When the Dagestani caught wind that Paul was teasing making a crossover into MMA, he offered to make his Eagle FC promotion the YouTuber’s MMA home. Paul then came back with the following counteroffer:

    “Deal,” Paul said. “Only if I fight you first.”

    Jake Paul has said in the past that Khabib is the only fighter that he would never troll and that if he ever did call him out, it would be respectful. So maybe this isn’t a trolljob after all but rather the respectful callout he prophesized last fall.

    When appearing on The Full Send Podcast, Khabib was asked to respond to Paul’s proposal. During his young career as an MMA promoter, the Dagestani has proven that he is fully committed to doing whatever it takes to grow the Eagle FC brand. But unretiring in order to fight an 0-0 Jake Paul is not a sacrifice this dedicated boss is willing to make.

    And Khabib believes that the former Disney actor is very fortunate that is the case.

    “Come on. Come on, Jake Paul. I don’t think so. In MMA, like couple minutes,” Khabib said of a potential bout between the two athletes.

    Khabib may be willing to give Paul an opportunity to gain experience in Eagle FC, but from the little bit of footage he’s seen, a competition between the two of them isn’t worthy of any serious deliberation.

    “He late a little bit. ’Cause I’m finished,” Khabib said. “Of course, they can think about this. I watched his—it was sparring or I watch some video (of him) doing MMA with someone. He have to learn a lot.”

    Khabib may be referring to a video Paul released of him training leg kicks. He may also be referring to a dated video of the YouTuber getting submitted by Bellator’s AJ Agazarm in 2017. Either way, the undefeated grappler thinks Paul would be better served fighting a more handpicked opponent that is more suitable for a beginner.

    “If he want, we can give him chance,” Khabib said. “We can sign him, and we can pay him. And we’ll see.”

    Would you have any interest in watching Khabib maul—I mean fight Jake Paul?

  • Adesanya: Robert Whittaker Is In For A ‘Rude Awakening’ At UFC 271

    Israel Adesanya is preparing a surprise for Robert Whittaker.

    A middleweight title fight rematch is on the horizon for UFC 271. Champion Israel Adesanya will be taking on Robert Whittaker in the main event of UFC 271 next Saturday. These two men have some history together, as they fought once before when the belt originally changed hands.

    Now with the second fight set, Adesanya isn’t going to be coming in with the same tactics that caught Whittaker the first time. No, he has a whole new set of skills that he will be utilizing.

    “Rob’s going to be in shock,” Adesanya told Combat TV (via MMA Junkie.) “He’s going to be in for a rude awakening when he feels me because the first time we didn’t clinch. I hope to clinch with him this time because every time they do it and they realize, ‘Oh he’s a lot stronger than –’ they all say that. They think they know how strong I am until they feel me, then they’re like, ‘Oh sh*t.’”

    Since the loss to Adesanya, Whittaker has won three in a row. In fact, the only loss Whittaker has taken in the last seven years was the one to Adesanya. After taking some time off, Whittaker is ready to take the title shot handed to him and return to New Zealand as the king of the 185-pound division. Whittaker will be eager to regain his lost title, but Adesayna will not be so quick to back down.

    “I’m not going to fight him the way I fought him the first time, and I know he’s not going to fight me the way he fought me the first time,” Adesanya said. “He’s a silly boy. If he thinks he has someone else’s blueprint to beat me, he’s a silly man. But his team’s smart, so that’s why I take him seriously. It’s because of his team. He, himself, he’s a silly boy.”

    Adesanya is undefeated at middleweight in his professional MMA career. His only loss came when he tried to go up and take the light heavyweight belt from Jan Blachowicz unsuccessfully. As the #3 pound-for-pound fighter in the world and at 32 years old, Adesanya is just getting started in the UFC.

    Do you think Israel Adesanya will be able to defeat Robert Whittaker again at UFC 271?

  • Jorge Masvidal “Exposes” Colby Covington With Video Release

    As far as Jorge Masvidal is concerned, Colby Covington has been officially exposed.

    The biggest theme heading into the UFC 272 main event between Masvidal and Colby Covington isn’t about two top contenders going at it. In fact, it isn’t about anything competitive or sportsmanlike at all. On the contrary, it is all the unsportsmanlike conduct that has helped create the true primary theme going into this grudge match: best friends turned bitter enemies.

    Tuesday, Masvidal promised to release an exposé of his former buddy, roommate, and training partner Covington. And boy, did he ever follow through on that promise last night.

    Below, you can view all five minutes and 48 seconds of Masvidal’s exposé. Here are some of the subjects you can expect to encounter during your viewing experience:

    • Who is the real “Street Judas” of this pairing?
    • The swift friend-to-foe switchup from Covington
    • “Lines you don’t cross” that were allegedly crossed
    • Former teammates’ and acquaintances’ testimonies on Covington’s character
    • General contradictions from Covington, such as his own standard of quality corner instructions and his opinion of Kamaru Usman.
    • Allegedly paid female “talent”
    • Confession to a fan that humility is “not what sells”
    • Back full circle to just who is the real “Street Judas”

    It should also be noted that this is all just Part 1 and that Masvidal intends on releasing additional installments at an undisclosed time.

    Without further ado and preview, you can view Part 1 of Jorge Masvidal’s exposé of Colby Covington below.

    What is your review on Jorge Masvidal’s mini-documentary/exposé of former best bud Colby Covington?

  • Ngannou: The Possibility Of Another Interim Title Fight Is Not An “Issue”

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou isn’t concerned about the promotion potentially going forward with another interim title bout.

    Ngannou defeated interim champ Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in his first title defense as the heavyweight champ. He pulled off an impressive comeback in the later rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory.

    Ngannou revealed during his post-fight interview that he suffered a significant knee injury in his training camp. He’s expected to undergo surgery on his right knee and miss at least nine months of competition, with a possible return at the end of the year.

    Ngannou’s planned prolonged absence has fueled speculation behind a potential Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic fight for the interim heavyweight title. During a recent interview on Bruce Buffer’s It’s Time podcast, Ngannou gave his reaction to the possibility of lightning striking twice.

    “In the past, they have shown in the heavyweight division they can wait for a year for a title defense,” Ngannou said. “We have been waiting for years. We have been having one title defense in the heavyweight division for a long time. So, I don’t think that’s an issue.”

    Ngannou defeated Miocic for the heavyweight title at UFC 260, knocking him out in the second round. He lost his previous first attempt at the title and Miocic back at UFC 220.

    Ngannou was expected to make his first title defense last year against Jones, but negotiations never materialized. Jones vacated the light heavyweight title in early 2020 to make a run at heavyweight.

    It’s unclear what the UFC plans to do with the heavyweight title picture going forward, but the champ isn’t worried about it and is focused on recovery.

    Who do you want to see Francis Ngannou eventually fight next?

  • After Six-Fight 2021, Chris Curtis Wants A Seven-Fight 2022

    Chris Curtis wants his 2022 to be even more active than his inhuman 2021.

    Curtis fought his way into the UFC last year and had a strong start in the promotion, although that was only part of his 2021 story.

    Curtis fought six times in the year in total, scoring four wins on the regional scene from January to July before joining the UFC roster. His momentum only continued from there, stopping Phil Hawes at UFC 268 and then defeating Brendan Allen only a month later.

    Most fighters don’t get the chance to fight six times in a year, and many are lucky enough to get three in. But after landing that high number of fights, Curtis says he wants to do even more in 2022.

    “I got six fights in last year, I want to get seven fights in this year,” said Curtis in an interview with The Schmo. “Fighting at 185 [pounds] means I don’t have to cut a lot of weight. Everything’s good. If I can stay healthy, I want to get seven wins this year. That’s the plan.”

    Curtis To Start 2022 Run Against Du Plessis

    Chris Curtis and Dricus Du Plessis
    Chris Curtis and Dricus Du Plessis (Photo Credit: Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC & Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)

    Curtis’ plan to potentially fight six times starts on April 9 when he faces Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 273. After being listed as an underdog for his first two UFC appearances, Curtis hopes that won’t be the case this third time.

    “I better not be an underdog [in] this fight. Both of my [UFC] wins are better than both of his wins. I’m gonna be pissed,” he said.

    As referenced by Curtis, Du Plessis has also only fought twice in the UFC. His run has been similarly explosive, stopping Markus Perez in 2020 and defeating Trevin Giles last year. Du Plessis was set to potentially score a big win in December when paired against Andre Muniz. However, that plan fizzled out after Du Plessis reportedly suffered an injury.

    Do you think the momentum of Chris Curtis can keep on going?

  • O’Malley Expects “Smart” Sterling To Have A Better Plan In Yan Rematch

    Rising UFC bantamweight star Sean O’Malley has given his take on the upcoming unification showdown between champion Aljamain Sterling and interim titleholder Petr Yan.

    Since their controversial clash at UFC 259 last March, which saw Sterling crowned champion via disqualification, a rematch between “Funk Master” and Yan has been inevitable.

    While it may have been initially delayed after Sterling underwent neck surgery and later pulled off the UFC 267 card last October, we finally appear set to see the two rivals settle their score inside the Octagon.

    After Alexander Volkanovski’s next defense was moved from UFC 272 to UFC 273, the upcoming bantamweight title fight went with it. Yan and Sterling will now throw down for all the marbles on April 9.

    O’Malley Believes Sterling Has The Skills To Beat Yan

    Given the fact Yan appeared to be on his way to a comfortable victory in their first clash and has since had interim gold wrapped around his waist following an impeccable performance against Cory Sandhagen in Abu Dhabi, it’s unsurprising that “No Mercy” is being considered the favorite ahead of the rematch.

    But while the Russian is in hot form and is yet to be beaten in the UFC outside of his DQ setback, one ranked 135lber is warning against counting Sterling out.

    During an appearance on Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast earlier this month, O’Malley insisted Sterling is too “smart” to make the same mistakes and follow the same game plan he brought into UFC 259 last year. While “Sugar” doesn’t necessarily believe “Funk Master” will beat Yan, he does believe the champ has the tools to do it.

    “I do-ish (see the rematch going down the same way). But I also think Aljamain is smart. He’s not a stupid guy. He’s very, very high level, his résumé speaks for itself,” O’Malley said. “I think he went in with the wrong game plan (at UFC 259). He went in and gassed out in a couple rounds. If you watch Petr’s fights, you know he’s gonna cruise for a little bit, try to figure you out, and then start putting on the pressure in the later rounds. He does that every fight.

    “Aljamain Sterling’s gotta see that, gotta recognize that, and come in with a different game plan,” added O’Malley. “I think Aljamain has skills, and he has the skills; he could beat Petr. I don’t necessarily see it happening, but I’m not counting him out. He’s a top, top bantamweight for a reason, and I think it’s gonna be a very interesting fight.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYLfci5rx4x/

    While his status as champion has been disputed and looked down upon by some, Sterling’s ability can’t be denied, as was proven during his run before facing Yan. His five straight victories prior to UFC 259 included triumphs against Sandhagen, Pedro Munhoz, Jimmie Rivera, and Cody Stamann.

    While Yan will be looking to regain the undisputed belt he doesn’t believe he rightfully lost, Sterling will be hoping to prove many in the MMA community wrong at UFC 273 and legitimize his place on the bantamweight mountaintop.

    Who do you think will leave UFC 273 as the undisputed bantamweight king, Aljamain Sterling or Petr Yan?

  • Quote: Harrison Is P4P Best Female Fighter Ever, Not Rousey/Nunes

    According to Dominance MMA Management CEO Ali Abdelaziz, Kayla Harrison is the pound-for-pound greatest female fighter of all time.

    In the space of three-and-a-half years, Harrison has rapidly grown from a newcomer to the sport to the hottest free agent in MMA. In doing so, she’s collected 12 wins, including five by knockout and five by submission, two PFL world championships, and a handsome $2 million in prize money.

    Having added those accolades to her already illustrious career in combat sports, which includes back-to-back Olympic gold medals at London 2012 and in Rio de Janeiro four years later, the 31-year-old has quickly entered the female GOAT conversation, at least according to her manager.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYrLabTh4XJ/

    While some believe she first has to prove herself in the UFC before surpassing the likes of former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and former two-division titleholder and reigning featherweight queen Amanda Nunes, Harrison’s manager sees things differently.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura, Abdelaziz, who also manages the likes of Kamaru Usman, Henry Cejudo, Justin Gaethje, and Khabib Nurmagomedov, claimed Harrison has already established herself as the best P4P female fighter we’ve ever seen enter the cage.

    “Listen, let’s make this clear today, Kayla Harrison is the pound-for-pound greatest female fighter we’ve ever seen,” said Abdelaziz. “It’s not Ronda, we’ve seen what happened to Amanda, it’s not Julianna Peña, it’s Kayla Harrison. This girl, she was born to collect gold. There’s not a woman on the planet, and some of the men too, born to beat Kayla Harrison.”

    PFL Is The “Frontrunner” For Harrison’s Signature

    Harrison has been a free agent ever since her dominant victory over Taylor Guardado at the 2021 PFL Finals last October. Having previously suggested the rising promotion would have to offer her a significantly more lucrative deal to retain her services, and after appearing at both Bellator and UFC events, it seemed an arrival on fresh land was likely.

    However, it now looks like fans could be set for another season of Harrison inside the PFL cage. During his conversation with Segura, Abdelaziz confirmed that the PFL is the frontrunner for her signature. However, he said nothing has been signed as of yet.

    “Right now, PFL is the frontrunner. I’ve seen a report that she’s signed with the PFL, that is not a correct,” asserted Abdelaziz. “She’s still a free agent. But at the end of the day, listen, PFL have been great to her. They’re being great to all of us… A couple things need to happen, and is in the process, and I think, you know, PFL is looking really good right now.”

    In another interview from Segura, Harrison herself confirmed the report, which came out a number of weeks ago. Despite revealing that the UFC had made a “good starting offer,” she suggested her immediate future will likely see her target a third PFL title and a third $1 million check.

    Do you think another season with the PFL is the best choice for Kayla Harrison’s career?

  • Coach: We Knew Ngannou’s Injury Was Leaked When The Odds Moved

    Francis Ngannou’s coach Eric Nicksick has revealed what convinced him and his team that the UFC heavyweight champion’s knee injury had been leaked prior to UFC 270.

    At the opening pay-per-view of 2022, Ngannou overcame adversity, pressure, and the odds to secure his status as the undisputed heavyweight king. In a battle against undefeated Frenchman Ciryl Gane, who was widely expected to bring a new breed of technical heavyweights to the top, “The Predator” adapted and re-strategized to hunt down his prey.

    After struggling to get close to Gane on the feet in the opening two rounds, Ngannou capitalized on a caught kick and took the fight to the ground. From there, he showed his improved wrestling game and maintained top control for much of the remaining minutes and, in doing so, secured a unanimous decision victory.

    As if the performance wasn’t impressive enough, Ngannou revealed in his post-fight interview that he’d fought through a torn MCL and damaged ACL. While rumors of a potential knee injury appeared to have been proven true when he entered the Octagon wearing knee wraps, not many would have expected the extent of the injury to have been as serious as it was.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZFgy3PsLf_/

    Nicksick Explains Why Ngannou’s Injury Was Always Going To Get Out

    Despite some rumors floating around, talk of a potential injury wasn’t as prevalent as many would have expected given the nature of it. That discussion came up during a recent episode of Bruce Buffer’s It’s Time! podcast. Co-host TJ De Santis questioned how the lines, which had Ngannou as an underdog, would have looked had news of the injury broke.

    Eric Nicksick, who appeared on the podcast alongside Ngannou and the champ’s manager Marquel Martin, pointed out that they knew people were aware of the damage prior to UFC 270. According to the Xtreme Couture coach, the leak was obvious once the betting lines began to shift.

    “They knew, TJ,” said Nicksick. “‘Cause I said to Marquel, ’cause we’re Vegas boys, I said to Marquel, like two weeks out, I go, ‘Hey, when we start seeing these lines move, the lines start moving, we’ll know that the word is out that he’s messed up.’ There’s enough eyes, enough people around, and it’s not like, malicious; it just happens to be that way.”

    Nicksick added that news of Ngannou’s hurt knee was always likely to get out, especially in Las Vegas.

    “If he’s at the PI getting his knee wrapped or he has a knee brace on, if one person sees it, he’s gonna tell three or five people,” added Nicksick. “And in Vegas, we know, we’re born and raised here, so they’re looking for any way they can to move that line. I told Marquel, ‘Hey, that line’s moving, the word is out.’”

    In late December, Ngannou was set as a narrow favorite by FanDuel, a line that flipped in the weeks prior to the event.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZISzJ7Prar/

    In the aftermath of 2022’s first UFC PPV, the seriousness of Ngannou’s injury was put into perspective. According to the Cameroonian, he’d been warned against fighting by a doctor due to the possibility of “irreversible damage.”

    Having bet on himself and on his knee, and won, Ngannou has emerged from the other side in a strong position, both in terms of his status in the heavyweight division and in contract negotiations with the UFC.

    What did you make of Francis Ngannou’s performance at UFC 270, especially given his knee injury?

  • Paul To Critics Who Doubt His Sincerity On Fighter Pay: “You’ll See”

    Jake Paul says he is genuine in his quest to improve fighter pay, despite what some think.

    Jake Paul is on a mission in trying to get other fighters more money. Since Paul jumped onto the boxing scene, he has been making headlines and money. He is already one of the most successful boxers in the world and wants to use his success to help out other fighters. He is often vocal about this cause, but that doesn’t stop others from doubting him.

    Paul spoke recently with MMA Fighting about his desire to help and to address those doubters who believe he is not actually trying to make a change.

    “You’ll see. Because I’m not letting off the gas anytime soon and I’ve spent a bunch of my own money on this matter and pushing for these things, and I wake up every day with it as a purpose on my mind,” Paul explained. “And I think I’ve done more than enough to show for women’s boxing, fighter pay, quality fighters, boxing promoters, I’ve done more than enough in terms of actions.

    “And even my cards previously, almost every fighter that’s been on it it’s their highest payday, always. So I’ve gotten Tyron Woodley his highest payday, Ben Askren his highest payday. So these fighters who are always mistreated—I’m taking action, and I’m backing it up, and I’m not letting up anytime soon, and I actually care. I actually give a fuck.”

    Paul has announced that he is already in talks with a lawyer about setting up a fighters union. His bouts against former UFC fighters Askren and Woodley did fetch them a giant payday, more than they received as UFC fighters. He has taken this as a personal mission, in which he has been targeting UFC president Dana White. Paul has been urging White to up paying for his fighters and even bought stock in the UFC’s parent company to try to insight change.

    “And it’s nothing to me. I like this. I enjoy this. I feel the responsibility to be a part of this movement, and it’s getting traction. And that’s exactly what I wanted. I’m excited to continue to be one of the leaders of this conversation. So for people that don’t think I’m serious about it: you’ll see.”

    Paul is helping to promote the upcoming boing match featuring Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano. In this bout, Paul claims that each fighter will be making one million dollars. If Paul’s words begin to turn to actions, he will be helping grow both the sport of boxing, for men and women and the sport of MMA. Only time will tell if he can get this all done.

    Do you think Jake Paul can help improve fighter pay in MMA and boxing?

  • Tai Tuivasa Admits To Accepting Derrick Lewis Fight While ‘Blind Drunk’

    UFC heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa has admitted to being “blind” drunk when he agreed to go toe-to-toe with Derrick Lewis at UFC 271 next weekend.

    In a rare example of a fight where a knockout is almost guaranteed, #3-ranked Lewis and #11-ranked Tuivasa will meet in Houston’s Toyota Center for an Octagon-sharing heavyweight collision on February 12.

    For “Bam Bam,” the co-main event contest will represent the opportunity for him to extend his win streak to five and climb to within touching distance of a title shot that was beyond unlikely just two years ago.

    Lewis, meanwhile, fell short of UFC gold again last August when he was finished by Ciryl Gane at UFC 265. Now, “The Black Beast” is after fun and pressure-free fights for the remainder of his UFC days. There aren’t many fighters who encapsulate the word “fun” quite like Tuivasa.

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

    While a clash with Lewis would be seen as a daunting task by most, and also a fantastic opportunity for Tuivasa to rise the ranks, “Bam Bam” has revealed he may not have been thinking clearly when he agreed to trade blows with the Louisiana native…

    “I was on the piss; I was blind [drunk],” Tuivasa revealed to ESPN. “I didn’t notice until the next morning that [UFC matchmaker] Mick Maynard messaged me and I had messaged back. He messaged, ‘Are you awake,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah.’ It was like 4:30 in the morning. And then I woke up to 20 missed calls from my manager, from my coach Sully [Shaun Sullivan] and sh*t like that, so I was like, ‘Something must have happened.’

    “And then it come up, and why not? Why wouldn’t I?” Tuivasa continued. “It’s a great opportunity. Obviously, he’s #2 or #3 or whatever he is. He’s a fan favorite; I’m a fan favorite. I really respect Derrick, what he’s done and the person he is… Why wouldn’t I say yes? I think it’s all win-win, it’s an opportunity for me, so I’m all in. And I think it’s my time, it’s my time to take over and become the new [revered] fighter of my generation, just like he was before me. I think it’s my time to take over.”

    While a fighter accepting a bout while five-plus beers deep would usually be surprising, this isn’t, for a few reasons.

    Firstly, one would imagine you’d have to be slightly intoxicated to accept a fight with Lewis. “The Black Beast” is the most prolific knockout artist in UFC history. Out of his 17 victories in the promotion, 12 have come via knockout. Not only is he a terrifying beast when the cage door shuts, but he’s currently a beast in form, having brutally knocked rising contender Chris Daukaus out cold less than two months ago.

    Secondly, Tuivasa is Tuivasa.

    I could almost leave it at that, but I’ll provide some context. “Bam Bam,” you could say, is partial to a beverage. Almost in the same way Tom Brady is partial to throwing a football…

    From the man who brings us copious amounts of shoeys after each victory and has even created his own drinking device called the “shoeyvasa,” is a drunk fight acceptance all too surprising? It seems like the classic Tuivasa fans have come to know and love.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CY9kbzsMZn0/

    Lewis Brands Tuivasa’s Shoeys As “Nasty”

    Tuivasa’s post-fight shoeys following his first-round KO triumphs over Greg Hardy and Augusto Sakai last year had Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena roaring and fans across the world entertained. But if Lewis could use one word to describe the beer-drinking practice, it would be “nasty.”

    During a recent interview on Fox Sports’ Main Event, “The Black Beast” praised Tuivasa for finishing Hardy last July, but also questioned his post-fight tradition. Those expecting a Lewis shoey anytime soon will be bitterly disappointed.

    “Yeah, he’s good man. I like him, I like Tai. And I really appreciate him knocking out Greg Hardy like he did in that fight. Greg was talking a lot of trash at me. So I appreciate him,” said Lewis. “But I just don’t like the shoe, the beer drinking out the shoe, what y’all do out there. I don’t like it, that’s nasty. My feet smell cheesy.”

    It seems like Lewis’ feet often get hot, as well as his balls…

    While Tuivasa has established the shoey as his trademark post-fight celebration, Lewis is yet to bring out a quirky tradition that involves the fans in attendance. That’s except for throwing his cup into the Apex crowd last time out in Vegas.

    How about a wager? If Tuivasa wins, Lewis has to do a shoey inside the Octagon, but if Lewis wins, Tuivasa has to take Lewis’ cup home? Although, knowing the Aussie’s care-free attitude, he’d probably frame it and hang it on his wall…

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 271, Tai Tuivasa or Derrick Lewis?

  • Pimblett Reveals Why He’s Glad Gordon Fight Didn’t Come To Fruition

    UFC lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett has explained why he’s partly pleased that a fight with previously-rumored opponent Jared Gordon didn’t come to fruition.

    2021 was certainly a breakout year for Pimblett on the global MMA stage. The former Cage Warriors champion made his long-awaited promotional debut on a European-heavy UFC Vegas 36 card last September. His first task was to dispatch Luigi Vendramini.

    After the opening exchanges, it looked like that was going to be a bigger challenge than first expected. After being rocked by some clean shots and taken down, the early momentum was with the Brazilian. That didn’t last. Making good on his pre-fight prediction, the Liverpudlian flipped the script towards the end of the first round and knocked Vendramini out.

    Now, after a longer-than-desired layoff, Pimblett is preparing for his sophomore Octagon outing. It’ll come in front of a home crowd at UFC London on March 19. In his way of a continued rise up the 155-pound ladder will be Rodrigo “Kazula” Vargas.

    Pimblett Doesn’t Want To Face UFC Vets Yet

    Prior to the official fight announcement, Paddy Pimblett was expected to face a lightweight he’d interacted with in the past and had expressed interest in facing, Jared Gordon. All signs pointed towards the matchup being made and UFC President Dana White confirmed as much.

    But after both parties disputed White’s remarks and denied that the fight had been offered to them, news broke that Pimblett’s return to action would come against 1-2 UFC fighter Vargas.

    While a clash with Gordon would have represented a big step-up in competition, as well as the chance to avenge his teammate Chris Fishgold’s 2020 defeat to “Flash,” Pimblett is actually glad he’s been booked against another relative newcomer instead.

    During a recent appearance on the UFC Unfiltered podcast, “The Baddy” suggested he’d rather wait to fight UFC veterans like Gordon until he secures a more lucrative contract with the promotion.

    “He (Gordon) never got floated at my team to be honest. No fighter actually got put forward until Rodrigo Vargas. The first opponent I got given was Rodrigo Vargas. But I would have happily fought Jared Gordon, but at the same time, I looked at it and he’s had nine UFC fights. How much money do you think he’s getting? He’s getting a lot more than me, lad. So, thinking about it that way, I’m glad I never ended up fighting Jared Gordon, ’cause I want a better and bigger contract before I fight people like that.”

    Having previously asserted he won’t be fighting any top-10 lightweight without a six-figure contract, it’s clear Pimblett will be attempting to bring a rising pay bracket with him as he jumps up the UFC ranks.

    https://twitter.com/theufcbaddy/status/1486745774444662787

    While he may be facing an arguably lesser level of competition than Gordon on March 19, Pimblett appears to harbor hope of facing “Flash” down the line, a sentiment shared by Gordon on social media.

    For now, “The Baddy” will hope to extend his winning start in the promotion with a triumph against Vargas and begin what he hopes to be a 3-0 year in MMA’s premier organization. Perhaps #2 or #3 can come against Gordon if Pimblett can get past “Kazula.”

    Would you like to see Paddy Pimblett and Jared Gordon share the Octagon down the line?

  • Costa Only Interested In Vettori Rematch, ‘I Want To End His Life’

    Paulo Costa has a score to settle with Marvin Vettori.

    Paulo Costa is looking for a fight, and there is only one that interests him. Costa is coming off a loss to Marvin Vettori, and that is the man who he is targeting now.

    Costa desperately wants to run it back with Vettori and gain some revenge in the process. Costa is asking the big boss to allow him a rematch against the only man besides the champion Israel Adesanya to hand him a loss.

    “I just said to let [UFC President] Dana White know,” Costa told Ag. Fight via MMA Fighting. “I’ll fight him now. It’s the only fight that interests me. No one else interests me. Unless it’s for the title, but I’m no fool. I’m not stupid to consider [a title fight] now. I want to fight him. He’s the only viable guy that interests me. If it’s not him, I’m not even interested in fighting. I let Dana White know that.”

    There is no love lost between these two. Leading up to the fight, there was trash talk exchanged, and then Costa showed up to fight week overweight. During fight week, he asked the UFC to change the bout to light heavyweight, which was granted but not without some criticism from Vettori and his team. Now, Costa is the one calling out Vettori and threatening harm.

    “I don’t respect him,” Costa said of Vettori. “I want to end his life. He’s an a-hole, a fool. He had this win over me and thinks he’s the man, but he’s an a-hole, a child. We see he’s a goof, he can’t even wear shorts the right way. There’s a photo of him with his shorts backward, and he still thinks he’s the man. But I’ll fight him again. I mean, at least I plan to…

    Paulo Costa Marvin Vettori
    PHOTO: MMA JUNKIE

    “I’m not saying I want to fight Vettori because he took my place in the ranking,” he continued. “It’s not about that. It’s because he’s an a**hole. I have to fight him. I have to erase this loss. I want to leave him sidelined for at least a year after the beating I give him. I want to hurt him. I’m angry.”

    In the aftermath of the fight at UFC Vegas 41, Costa dropped to #5 in the rankings and was briefly condemned to fight at 205 pounds going forward. As a result of his win, Vettori now sits in the #2 spot and could be next for the winner of the title fight scheduled at UFC 271.

    It seems unlikely that Vettori will agree to face Costa again so quickly after everything that transpired leading up to the last bout. The only way could be if Robert Whittaker is victorious against Israel Adesanya and the UFC books an immediate rematch between the two.

    Do you think Marvin Vettori should agree to face Paulo Costa again?

  • Ngannou: In France, I’m French When I Win & Cameroonian When I Lose

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou has suggested the media in France are very fickle when it comes to his representation of the European country.

    At the opening pay-per-view of 2022, two former teammates at Paris’ MMA Factory gym collided. On one side of the Octagon was a Cameroon native who built his life and career in France. Opposite him was a La Roche-sur-Yon native, born and bred in the west side of the nation.

    In the main event, it was Ngannou who emerged victoriously and left the cage as the undisputed heavyweight king. He did so despite carrying a torn MCL into the contest and following a difficult opening two rounds.

    After struggling on the feet against “Bon Gamin” for the first 10 minutes, “The Predator” adjusted his strategy and won the remaining three frames thanks to top control and an impressive display of wrestling.

    With the victory, Ngannou closed the book on his feud with former coach Fernand Lopez, defied the odds, and established a strong position for future negotiations with the UFC. A defeat may well have seen him depart the promotion.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZSIEpeL2SY/

    Ngannou: The French Media Wanted A Villain

    Given the two names involved in the headline clash, it’s unsurprising that French interest was at an all-time high ahead of UFC 270. But with Ngannou’s history and frequent praise of the opportunities he was given in France, it was perhaps surprising to see the attitude of some of the country’s media towards him.

    At the UFC 270 press conference during fight week, Ngannou had a heated exchange with a French reporter who asked him if he’d “brainwashed” his time at Paris’ MMA Factory gym out of his memory. The champ later took issue with another journalist who seemed to suggest Ngannou had described Gane as an easy opponent.

    During an episode of Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour in the week following the PPV event, Ngannou was asked why members of the French media pushed a negative narrative about him leading up to the contest.

    “It’s (attitude of the French media) because I was fighting a French guy,” Ngannou said. “That’s how it happens in France. In France, when you lost, you are Cameroonian; when you win, you’re French-Cameroonian or French. And this time I was fighting a real French guy, so they built up the story of the villain and the good guy. I mean, it’s just media. After the fight, a lot of them, they just changed their mind. Some people just wrote back the article, like, ‘A French-Cameroonian retained his title,’ all that kind of stuff. It’s the media, you can’t control that stuff.

    “But regardless of that, I know that I have a huge fanbase in France,” added Ngannou. “I have people in France who love me and that’s all that matters. That’s the people who I represent. In France, my fans, my friends, those who even became my family, you know, that’s why I’m happy about France.”

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

    Despite moving permanently to the United States to train at the Xtreme Couture gym, Ngannou has previously returned to France and certainly appears to appreciate the support he still receives from his fanbase across the Atlantic.

    It’ll be interesting to see how the French media approaches Ngannou’s next fight, and whether, like Ngannou says, they’ll follow a different narrative if he’s not up against a French national.

    What did you make of the French media’s attitude towards Francis Ngannou prior to UFC 270?

  • Chael Sonnen: Conor McGregor Needs To Give Us More Information

    Former two-division UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has pleaded with Conor McGregor to provide some more information surrounding his return to the Octagon.

    McGregor hasn’t been in action since July 2021. While he’d have hoped to climb back to the top of the lightweight division and perhaps have gold around his waist entering 2022, he was instead flung to the sidelines courtesy of a brutal broken leg at UFC 264.

    The injury marked his second defeat of the year, his second consecutive setback to Dustin Poirier, and his second TKO loss in six months. Understandably, that form has left many wondering whether we’ve seen the last of the Irishman at his best inside the cage.

    Nevertheless, McGregor seems as committed as ever and firmly on his road back to fighting. Having consistently updated fans on his recovery via social media, the former two-division champion is evidently nearing the end of his recovery and preparing to return to full MMA sparring.

    But with talk of his return rising to the surface, there’s one question still unanswered.

    Sonnen Tells McGregor To “Pick A Division”

    Over the course of his incredibly successful career in the sport, McGregor has reached the mountaintop of both the featherweight and lightweight divisions in the UFC, and had success at welterweight. That variety, coupled with his potential opponents and apparent bulked physique, has left some wondering what weight the “Notorious” megastar will step on the scale at next time out.

    During a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen discussed McGregor’s options, which include a tetralogy with “The Diamond” and a third clash with Stockton brawler Nate Diaz.

    “Nate Diaz’s last fight, you’ve got something special that deserves to be done just right,” said Sonnen. “Poirier vs. Conor works, I understand that but part four is a little weird. Particularly when two and three didn’t have a single round won by Conor. It was very uncompetitive.”

    But before considering which name is more likely and who we could see McGregor share the Octagon with next, Sonnen said the Irishman has to provide clarity on which weight class he’ll return in.

    “Conor’s got to give us a little more info too, he’s putting pictures out, he’s 190 pounds. Is he planning on stopping by 170? Is he planning on going back to 155? It just depends on the day that you talk to him.

    “Conor has been for a meaningful period of time and will live the rest of his career on the same unique spot that he monopolies. Which is, whatever he does, is going to work,” Sonnen added. “Does Conor have the same pursuit of getting back to a world championship? If that answer is yes, he has to pick a division.” (h/t Pundit Arena)

    While McGregor has consistently pursued a title fight at 155 pounds, especially following Charles Oliveira’s victory over Poirier at UFC 269, his social media posts have suggested a potential return to welterweight could be the leading option.

    One post, described by the likes of Joe Rogan as deceptive, showed a McGregor who’s packed on a significant amount of muscle. With his previous interactions with Kamaru Usman and a positive record at the weight, perhaps a 170-pound McGregor will be returning to action later this year.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZUlROcNLC-/

    While his return weight may still be up in the air, McGregor has once again confirmed his intention to make a comeback following his gruesome injury last year. In a recent upload, the Irishman promised to put the Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey back on the shelf and immerse himself fully in training in the coming months.

    It remains to be seen if that’ll be enough to bring back the “Notorious” fighter of old.

    Do you think Conor McGregor can make a successful comeback to the Octagon this year?

  • Rogan: Peña’s UFC 269 Upset Over Nunes Changed The World

    UFC color commentator Joe Rogan believes women’s bantamweight queen Julianna Peña changed the world with her victory over Amanda Nunes at UFC 269.

    At the final pay-per-view of 2021, Peña closed out the year by providing one of its most memorable moments. Prior to the event, “The Venezuelan Vixen” carried an air of confidence that has never been synonymous with opponents of Nunes, who was undefeated since 2014 at the time and reigned over both the 135 and 145-pound weight classes.

    Having been branded delusional by most, including the “Lioness,” Peña set out to prove herself right and her doubters wrong. In about as impressive fashion as she could, she did just that.

    After surviving the opening round, Peña brought a look out of Nunes that no one has managed to do since Cat Zingano eight years ago. After tiring the Brazilian out in a wild battle on the feet, Peña dragged her to the ground and submitted her.

    According to the new champ, Nunes got “exposed” at UFC 269.

    Rogan: Peña Showed What Is Possible

    The result was an upset felt around the world. From casual fans and hardcore fans to fighters and pundits, very few had seen it coming. That’s what made it arguably the biggest shock in UFC history.

    One man who recognized the momentous nature of the win was Joe Rogan. From his cageside seat, the renowned podcast host had a front-row view for what transpired. In his mind, the fight not only changed the landscape of the division and the promotion but the entire world.

    “It was almost like the world changed,” Rogan said while hosting Peña on an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience. “The whole world changed. Like, what is not possible is now possible.”

    Whilst the UFC 269 co-main event brought the MMA community one of the most memorable underdog triumphs the sport has ever seen, Rogan believes the fight itself also boasted everything required to make it a classic.

    The 54-year-old told the newly-crowned champion that her effort that night in Las Vegas created everything he and the rest of the fanbase would ever want from a matchup inside the Octagon.

    “That was one of the best fights I’ve ever seen. In terms of, what do you want out of a fight? You want to be completely immersed,” added Rogan. “The world goes away. All you’re thinking about is what’s happening right in front of you. And because of your effort, because of what you accomplished that night, you changed the way people think about what’s possible and not possible. That’s everything we want from a fight. Everything.

    “You were the underdog, you came in, you were counted out by so many people, you fought the greatest of all time, and you fucked her up. And the way you did it, the whole world—everybody that watched that was like, ‘Holy shit.’ The world is a different place now.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYHysQivvs7/

    Having ascended the 135-pound mountaintop, the next step for Peña will be to further tighten her hold on the belt by adding another blemish to Nunes’ record when they collide for their expected rematch later his year.

    But even if she is unable to do so, nobody will be able to take away her accomplishment and the incredible feat she achieved on December 11.

    What was your reaction when Julianna Peña ended the two-division dominance of Amanda Nunes at UFC 269?

  • Derek Brunson Shares His Theory For Why Cannonier Fight Was Pushed Back

    Derek Brunson is ready to step into the title fight at UFC 271.

    Derek Brunson has his next matchup all set to go, as he will be taking on Jared Cannonier at UFC 271 next weekend. That matchup could potentially decide the next title contender. However, Brunson may not need to wait that long.

    Brunson revealed to MMA Junkie that he will be serving as the unofficial backup to the title fight between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker who are headlining that card.

    The bout between Brunson and Cannonier was originally slated for UFC 270 that took place in January. The fight was switched to Feb 12. card at the last minute, and Brunson has now explained why he believes that is.

    “The UFC, I think they just wanted backups for the title fight in case someone went down, got injured, they have two guys, ’85-ers, #3- and #4-ranked guys that can jump in for a title shot,” Brunson said.

    Brunson is coming into this fight at UFC 271 having won his last five in the middleweight division. He is ranked fourth behind Cannonier, Marvin Vettori, and Whittaker. Even though he is ranked behind Cannonier, he could very well be the one to fill in since Cannonier recently lost to Whittaker. This is all subject to something going wrong with either Adesanya or Whittaker on that day. Either way, Brunson will be ready if his name is called.

    “For sure, I have been waiting for an opportunity, five in a row, I’ve been waiting for that title shot. So if the opportunity comes up, for sure,” he explained.

    Being able to jump right into a title fight situation would be ideal for Brunson. It would save him the trouble of having to beat Cannonier, which is a steep task. Cannonier is 3-1 in his last four, and since making his debut at middleweight, he has only lost to the former champ Whittaker. Cannonier holds wins over names like Anderson Silva and Kelvin Gastelum.

    How do you think Brunson would fare against either Adesanya or Whittaker in a fill-in situation?

  • Jake Paul Claims Big UFC Stars Have Reached Out About Diss Track

    YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul claims he has the support of some UFC fighters regarding his recent diss track aimed at UFC President Dana White.

    Paul continues to poke the bear when it comes to White and the issue of UFC fighter pay. He recently released a diss track aimed at the UFC headman regarding his treatment of the athletes.

    The Paul-White feud has become more intense in recent months, especially after the two of them challenged the other to voluntarily drug tests. Neither one went forward with the deal.

    During a recent interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Paul claimed that several anonymous UFC athletes have reached out to him following the diss track upload.

    “There are a lot of fighters, a lot of big fighters in the UFC who message me privately and say, ‘We love this. This is hilarious. Keep on going. But I can’t support this publicly,’” Paul said.

    Paul went on to address his reasoning behind his public criticism of the UFC brass and whether or not he gets bummed out when hearing these fighters are unable to be more vocal about their support for him.

    “No, they have to put food on their family’s table. And like I said earlier, I happen to have a platform to be able to do this. So I accept the responsibility, and I’m going to do it. I’ve made that decision. I’m going to war, and I’m not backing down no matter what happens. And I don’t need the fighters in the UFC to support this,” Paul said.

    Paul and his management are taking the fight directly to White and the UFC and have teased plans to create a potential fighter union in the future. This could potentially turn the tide and bring the controversy of fighter pay to the forefront.

    Paul is coming off of the most successful year of his boxing career to date, with wins over former UFC fighters Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren. While Paul remains a massive part of boxing, he says he isn’t giving up in his fight for the fair treatment of MMA fighters.

    Where do you stand on the Jake Paul-Dana White feud?