MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Ngannou Details Convo With Dana White, Clarifies Contract Status

    Francis Ngannou has revealed what was said in his recent conversation with Dana White and also clarified his contract status with the UFC if he defeats Ciryl Gane next weekend.

    As we approach the fight week for arguably one of the most anticipated heavyweight showdowns in UFC history, there is somehow a storyline attached to the bout with a public interest level right on par with that of the fight itself: Will this be Francis Ngannou’s final fight in the UFC?

    Francis Ngannou
    Image Credit: GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images

    That question goes beyond the natural ponderings that manifest whenever a fighter approaches the final fight on their contract. What makes this situation particularly unique is the fact that Ngannou is still a reigning UFC champion. So the urgency for the UFC to get a deal done would seem immense, lest they permit the possibility of a fighter exiting the promotion while still holding a title.

    Surely, it was this realization that helped inspire Dana White to meet with Ngannou for the first time in what Ngannou claims has been nearly four years. White briefly addressed the dinner meeting between the two recently, stating that the talk went well and that Ngannou simply needs to surround himself with better advisors.

    Speaking with ESPN Thursday, Ngannou shared more intimate details of their conversation.

    “It went pretty well,” Ngannou said about the meeting. “At this point, I’m not upset. I’m kind of chill about everything. And I went to him…we wished each other happy holidays, and I tell him my frustration. I expressed to him how I would like to stay in the UFC, but I don’t feel like the UFC still want me to stay. So I don’t feel (I’ve been) promoted anymore….I mean, maybe I’m wrong about that, but I didn’t see anything compared to what happened to different fighters.”

    When asked what Dana White said in response to this observation, Ngannou praised the UFC boss for being quick on his feet.

    “He bring up something really fast, and that’s why you know that Dana is very good,” Ngannou said with a smile. “He tell me like, ‘Yeah, we want you. Have you ever wanted to go somewhere and we didn’t take care of you?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, but I think it’s a little more than that.’”

    Ngannou Clarifies Contract Status, Won’t Fight Again On Current Deal

    Francis Ngannou
    PHOTO: MMA JUNKIE

    Ngannou did not suggest there was any resolution at the end of their discussion, which means that there remains the question of what happens if he wins next Saturday? Would he be obligated to remain under contract with the promotion indefinitely as a reigning champion? Would he be obligated to fight one more time or until he loses the title?

    According to Ngannou, neither of those options is true, but the Cameroonian did provide the two options that he says are present in the contract.

    “Contractually, it’s really hard to explain. The UFC contract is very tricky. And they have this string. They can pull the string from anyhow. And that’s why you sign a 40-month contract and you find yourself after four years still dealing with that, even though you have been active and everything. Contractually, that means I have executed the eight fights that was on my contract…

    “And the championship clause is (optional) because it says if at the end of this contract you’re a champion, you’re extended for three fights or one year.”

    Because Ngannou signed his current deal in December 2017, the one-year extension to his four-year deal would mean he would become a free agent in December of this year without any contractual obligation to fight again in the interim. In fact, Ngannou says that we most certainly would not see him compete again under his current deal, regardless of what happens next Saturday.

    “I would not fight for $500,000 or $600,000 anymore,” Ngannou declared. “I mean, it’s over. It’s over.”

    How do you predict this contract saga between Francis Ngannou and the UFC will play out?

  • Kevin Holland: Nick Diaz “Swung At Me” For Wearing The Same Shirt

    Ranked UFC middleweight Kevin Holland has described the time veteran fan-favorite Nick Diaz “swung” at him because of the shirt he was wearing.

    2021 was an unsuccessful year in regards to fighting for both Holland and Diaz. After an incredible five-victory 2020, “Trailblazer” entered it hoping to surge towards title contention. Instead, he fell to two defeats and was knocked unconscious by a clash of heads in his third outing.

    Diaz, meanwhile, returned to the Octagon for the first time in nearly seven years. His highly-anticipated comeback saw him re-visit a feud from 2004. In a rematch 17 years in the making, he faced Robbie Lawler on the UFC 266 main card last September.

    With his pre-fight antics and need for a late weight-class change, it was pretty apparent fans wouldn’t be seeing the Diaz of old in the cage. After a relentless pace in the opening two rounds, the Stockton native struggled to hang with “Ruthless” in the third and failed to return to his feet after being sent to the canvas by Lawler’s strikes.

    As surprising as it probably seems, Holland and Diaz do have a history of their own outside the Octagon. But while the clash of names may come as a shock, the scenario is about as classic Nick Diaz as it could be.

    During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Holland explained what happened when he first met Diaz in person at his Dana White’s Contender Series fight in 2018.

    After the former Strikeforce and WEC welterweight champion became agitated at the fact “Big Mouth” was apparently wearing “his shirt,” Holland says Diaz swung at him but failed to connect.

    “It was funny. I think he was pretty sauced at the time though, so, you know, it’s alright. At the time, I used to be sponsored by this company named Specimen, right. So I had this shirt on from Specimen, and he was like, ‘Hey, that’s my shirt.’ But I had walked past him and I was like, ‘Yo, what’s up, OG?’ I guess he probably thought somebody was coming up to him and fanboying over him, but I was talking to my coach, I call my coach ‘OG.’

    “I guess he felt some type of way. And he said something, so I said something back… He said like, that was his shirt, he was like, ‘You got on my fucking shirt,’ and I was like, ‘Bro, this ain’t your fucking shirt, what’re you talking about?’ I was like, ‘Bro, you must be fucked up.’ He was looking at me all crazy… Then, next thing I know, he like, swung at me… Fuck no (did he connect). I’m the type of person you takedown, not the type of person you hit in the face.”

    While Diaz’s Future is Uncertain, Holland Will Move Down To WW

    After Diaz’s return performance last September, many have called for the Stockton legend to hang up his gloves for good. But while that appears to be the general consensus, some are hoping to see the 38-year-old in action again in 2022. One of those names is Michael Bisping, who recently suggested Diaz should face Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in a clash of veterans.

    The future is a lot more certain for Holland. After failing to break into title contention at 185 pounds thanks to the roadblocks of Derek Brunson and Marvin Vettori, and with Kyle Daukaus pre-occupied for the coming months, “Trailblazer” is set to return to welterweight, a division he’s yet to test the waters of in the UFC, but a weight he went 4-1 at before signing with the promotion.

    In a matchup first announced on his newly-created OnlyFans, Holland will be welcomed to 170 pounds by Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira at UFC 272 on March 5.

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

    With their career trajectories on firmly different paths, it seems Holland and Diaz’s brief scuffle in 2018 will be the closest we get to the pair squaring off inside the Octagon.

    How do you think a fight in the Octagon between Kevin Holland and Nick Diaz would play out?

  • Gustafsson: Chimaev Has The Potential To Enter The GOAT Conversation

    Three-time UFC light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson believes Khamzat Chimaev has all the tools necessary to enter the GOAT debate in the future.

    Not many fighters have made as much of an impact in just four fights in the UFC as Chimaev has. After breaking a modern record for the fastest turnaround in-between wins on Fight Island in 2020, which came through dominant victories over John Phillips and Rhys McKee in the space of just 10 days, “Borz” added a third only 56 days after his debut by viciously knocking out middleweight veteran Gerald Meerschaert.

    To show just how high the UFC was on him following that, he was set to face top contender Leon Edwards. Due to COVID-19, that bout was booked and canceled three times. After overcoming his rough bout of the virus last year, Chimaev returned to the Octagon at UFC 267 in October.

    Bringing his hype train back on track in style, Chimaev controlled, took down, and choked out ranked contender Li Jingliang inside one round in Abu Dhabi. The performance certainly sent a message to those who doubted his championship credentials, a message he’ll look to send again when he returns to action this year.

    While some will point out he’s yet to face a top-10 opponent, fans and pundits can only base opinions on what they’ve seen, and that’s a newcomer notching up a perfect 4-0 record, with four first-round finishes, one against an established middleweight name and one over a top-15 welterweight, all while barely being touched at all by his opponents.

    With that in mind, it’s no surprise UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik named the continuing rise of “Borz” as his biggest question heading into 2022. But one man close to Chimaev believes he already has the answers.

    In an interview with ESPN MMA, Gustafsson, a teammate of the rising star over at the Allstars Training Center in Stockholm, Sweden, spoke highly of Chimaev. When asked whether his potential is as high as a future place in the GOAT conversation, “The Mauler” said that from what he’s seen in training and in the UFC, the 27-year-old has all the tools to reach that point.

    “That’s the level of potential (possible GOAT status), one hundred percent. He does all the things that if you do it right from the start, if he keeps doing what he’s doing now, he will be one of those guys one day, I’m one hundred percent sure of it. It is crazy when you say it, because Kamaru Usman is pound-for-pound the best guy out there right now, and I love the guy, but I’ve been sparring with so many guys, at heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, I’ve been sparring welterweights, this guy (Chimaev) just puts guys away on the mat, in the training sessions. This guy hits (with) too much precision, too much power.”

    Gustafsson Believes Chimaev Would Put Usman To Sleep

    If Chimaev is to break into the group of contenders for that throne, which includes stars like Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre, and Khabib Nurmagomedov, he’ll certainly have to reach the top of the welterweight mountain in the coming months or years. If he’s to do that, he’ll likely have to go through Kamaru Usman.

    While that seems a daunting task and one many may not give the Chechen-born Swede a massive chance of accomplishing, Gustafsson believes Chimaev would put “The Nigerian Nightmare” to sleep.

    “I think he’d put Kamaru Usman to sleep, honestly. I think if he just touches his chin, it’s a big chance that Kamaru Usman goes to sleep. I like Kamaru Usman, he’s a great champ and he’s just like, been breaking records. It’s a pleasure to see him fight. He’s very good, technical, I love his jab and his wrestling. You can see why he’s top.

    “But I just can’t see him taking Khamzat’s punches. I can’t see him taking his combinations. When it comes to wrestling… It would probably be one of the biggest fights in UFC history when it comes to that part. To see the technical side of the fight. I love Usman as a champ, but I think (Khamzat) would put him to sleep.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYL8h4XgBwP/

    Gustafsson’s theory may be tested as soon as the end of 2022. While Usman is likely to defend his gold against Edwards next, recent reports suggest Chimaev’s fifth Octagon outing will be coming against former title challenger Gilbert Burns at UFC 273.

    Given Burns’ place in the division, it stands to reason that clash will be a title eliminator. If “Borz” emerges victorious, we could be seeing him opposite Usman before the year is out.

    Do you think Khamzat Chimaev can find enough success in the UFC to join the GOAT debate?

  • Mendez: Khabib & Makhachev Would ‘Dominate’ Charles Oliveira

    Javier Mendez is confident that both of his pupils in Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev would beat Charles Oliveira with ease.

    Oliveira is the current UFC lightweight champion and defended his belt for the first time in December with a submission win over Dustin Poirier. He is now likely to face Justin Gaethje sometime in the spring or summer. And should he win that, a bout against the winner of Makhachev-Beneil Dariush will be next.

    Although Oliveira has looked dominant since he became the champ, American Kickboxing head coach Javier Mendez believes the former champ Nurmagomedov as well as Makhachev would be able to defeat the Brazilian.

    “I know they both would beat Charles, in my opinion… Stylistically wise, Islam could strike, he can kick. Khabib wasn’t a great kicker,” Mendez said on his YouTube channel. “Khabib would have to go straight to the grappling with Charles and probably dominate him there. As a matter of fact, I know he would. I know Khabib would dominate him there. And I kind of feel, my personal opinion, as great as Charles is, I think Islam would dominate him there too.”

    Charles Oliveira
    USA Today

    Of course, Nurmagomedov is retired and doesn’t seem too interested in ever returning to the Octagon again. However, there is a very real chance Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira fight in 2022 so we can see if the Dagestani fighter would really beat the Brazilian and become the new champion.

    In order for him to even get the title shot, he will need to defeat Dariush in the main event of a Fight Night card on February 26. This is easier said than done, as Dariush has been on an incredible run. However, Mendez believes it is only a matter of time before Makhachev does what his longtime friend and teammate did: become the undisputed UFC lightweight champion.

    Do you think Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov would beat Charles Oliveira?

  • Giga Chikadze Targets Submission Wins Soon, Wants To KO Kattar First

    UFC featherweight contender Giga Chikadze is looking to prove that he’s not just an elite striker but also a well-rounded mixed martial artist.

    Chikadze faces arguably the toughest test of his UFC career against Calvin Kattar at UFC Vegas 46. While Kattar is coming off of a tough loss to Max Holloway last year, he’s still regarded as one of the toughest brawlers in the featherweight division.

    Chikadze knocked out the always-dangerous Edson Barboza in his last Octagon appearance but also showcased an improved grappling skillset in the win. He nearly had Barboza in trouble on the ground before transitioning back to his striking base.

    During his UFC Vegas 46 pre-fight media scrum, Chikadze teased his game plan for his matchup with Kattar.

    “I feel like he’s going to mix it up with a bit of the wrestling,” Chikadze said. “I think that’s going to be his plan because he is from a wrestling background. Then he has some nice boxing techniques. Either he’s going to box with me, or he’s gonna wrestle with me.

    “Honestly, I really want to show the people how great my ground game became. I want to submit people eventually, very soon, and start submitting people. But because Calvin Kattar has never been knocked out, it gives me a little bit more motivation to finish him with striking.”

    Chikadze later explained why he moved away from his grappling in his last victory over Barboza.

    “Last time I really had the chance to finish Edson with submission, but like I said, I had to prove that I’m the best striker and this was the reason why I let it go. This time? I said that I’m the best boxer in the UFC too, so probably I’m gonna still go more to the strikes. But if I get a chance like I did with Edson, this time I’m not going to let it go.”

    Chikadze could be one win away from a featherweight title shot after going back-and-forth on social media with Alexander Volkanovski. If he’s able to continue to improve his overall game, he could be an unstoppable force at 145 pounds for years to come.

    What is your prediction for Giga Chikadze vs. Calvin Kattar?

  • Ciryl Gane Likens Francis Ngannou To Video Game “Final Boss”

    Ciryl Gane is looking to beat the “game” of the UFC.

    Recently, we had a UFC champion in Charles Oliveira crowned after a long, hard-fought road in the UFC. Ciryl Gane is not like that. He has only seven fights in the UFC, but he has made them all count.

    Now, he is getting ready to fight for his first undisputed UFC title against a familiar foe, his former training partner and the reigning heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Gane is aware that this fight with Ngannou is the most important of his career, and the way he is looking at it could win him the “game” of the UFC in a way.

    “For me, yes it’s (Ngannou fight) different than Derrick Lewis (at UFC 265), not because it’s Francis, but because it’s the champion, you see,” Gane explained on The MMA Hour. “And the champion is a really great fighter, with a lot of strength. I like to say that this is the ‘final boss’ (like in my) video games [LAUGHS]. It looks a little bit like that. So yes, this time, like every time, if I make a mistake, it’s gonna be okay, if I will make a mistake. If I lose, I’m really okay with that. Like every fight in my career it was like that, but this time I want to do the last step, you see, that’s why it’s a little bit different.”

    If Gane is feeling pressure heading into UFC 270, he is hiding it well. He has already proven that he is one of the best heavyweights in the sport as he is now holding the interim belt. He and his coach Fernand Lopez are very familiar with Ngannou and his fighting style. They all trained together for some time before Ngannou left. Lopez has spoken numerously about how they know Ngannou’s tendencies and are ready for his fighting style.

    Gane has yet to lose in his career. He burst onto the UFC scene just three years ago and has been turning heads ever since. If he can beat Ngannou and claim the heavyweight strap, that will not be the end of this “game.” In fact, Gane could find himself in a “murderers row” of fighters waiting to try their hand at the new boss. Waiting in the wings for the champion come Jan. 23 are former champion Stipe Miocic and former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

    Who do you think will win and become the UFC’s “final boss” at heavyweight on Jan. 22, Francis Ngannou or Ciryl Gane?

  • Giga Chikadze: Alexander Volkanovski Is The Easiest Fight In The Top 10

    UFC featherweight Giga Chikadze believes Alexander Volkanovski would be an easier opponent for him than any other contender in the division’s top 10.

    When Max Holloway withdrew from his scheduled trilogy clash with the reigning 145-pound king at UFC 272, Chikadze was one of the first to throw his name into the hat as the replacement. That’s despite the fact he has top-five contender Calvin Kattar lined up for what is his biggest UFC fight to date this weekend.

    After dispatching Edson Barboza with ease last August, “Ninja” has his chance to rise closer to contention in the UFC Vegas 46 headliner on Saturday night. But Chikadze, along with many in the MMA community, believes a victory should bring more than a rank rise. They think it should take the Georgian all the way to Volkanovski.

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

    Chikadze Isn’t Impressed By Volkanovski

    Like the other fighters willing to challenge the Australian, including Yair Rodríguez and former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo, Chikadze has seemingly been snubbed in favor of #4-ranked featherweight “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung. That’s despite the fact Chikadze boasts a seven-fight UFC win streak and has the chance to add the established name of Kattar to his record on January 15.

    After the champ made his desire to face fan-favorite brawler Korean Zombie known, the UFC has seemingly moved his next defense back to UFC 273 and added Jung to the contest, per Ariel Helwani.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin, Chikadze reacted to Zombie becoming the frontrunner for the replacement opportunity. According to the in-form Georgian, Volkanovski is avoiding him because he knows “Ninja” is the biggest threat to his reign.

    In contrast, Chikadze sees Volkanovski as the easiest opponent for him inside the featherweight top 10.

    “100% (Zombie fight) is easier. It’s (an) easier task for them, for Volkanovski,” said Chikadze. “I’ve been fighting these type of guys all my life and making my life with that. He knows that I’m, for him, the hardest and strongest fight. That’s why he’s trying to avoid me. I understand he wants to stay safe and make money and this, but I’m here to become the champion.

    “Honestly, for me, I think that’s the easiest fight in the top 10, bro. This guy cannot even reach me. When we stand together, what’s he gonna do? Some guys have a good submission (game), some guys have a good punch or a good technique, what does he have against me? Nothing.”

    Unfortunately for Chikadze and his fans, it appears the UFC has moved forward with plans for Volkanovski vs. Korean Zombie. Nevertheless, if the Tbilisi native puts in an impressive performance this weekend and perhaps becomes the first man to finish Kattar in the UFC, he’ll be a hard man to deny when it comes to the next shot at gold.

    Do you think Giga Chikadze deserves a title shot over The Korean Zombie?

  • Kattar Looks Forward To Round 6 With “Uncrowned Champ” Holloway

    Despite taking a beating against Max Holloway last year, Calvin Kattar is ready and willing for some more rounds with the former UFC featherweight champion.

    In the UFC Fight Island 7 headliner last January, Kattar had the chance to stake his claim for a title shot against former titleholder Holloway. But fresh off back-to-back losses to reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski, “Blessed” entered the Octagon that night with a point to prove. That point? “I’m the best boxer in the UFC.”

    Across 25 minutes, Holloway broke record after record. To name a few, the Hawaiian set the UFC records for most significant strikes landed, most significant strikes attempted, highest significant strike differential, and most strikes landed in a single round. The result of those feats was a unanimous decision victory for Holloway and a beaten and bloodied face for Kattar.

    Having sat out for the remainder of 2021, Kattar is set to return to the Octagon this weekend. Approaching the one-year anniversary of the memorable five-rounder, Kattar looked back on the clash during an appearance at UFC Vegas 46 media day on Wednesday.

    While giving credit to Holloway for what is widely regarded as the greatest performance in the promotion’s history, Kattar noted that he ended the main event just how he started it, on his feet.

    With that in mind, “The Boston Finisher” is eager for another crack at the #1-ranked featherweight contender down the line.

    “I look at it (the Holloway fight) as much as I want to. It didn’t work out my way, but like I said man, I finished that fight the way I started, on my two feet. Props to Max, he fought a helluva fight, and I definitely walked away from that fight with an understanding of, kinda, what he was doing and things I’ll take in with me for not only my next fight, but future fights. I look forward to a round six with the uncrowned champ.”

    Kattar Hopes To Rebound In UFC Vegas 46 Main Event

    First and foremost, Kattar’s focus will need to be on returning to the win column in this Saturday’s UFC Vegas 46 headliner. In yet another tough assignment, the 33-year-old will be opposite surging Georgian Giga Chikadze inside the Apex facility in Las Vegas.

    Chikadze, who currently sits at #8 in the division, broke into the title conversation with finishes of Cub Swanson and Edson Barboza in 2021.

    Having called out Volkanovski following Holloway’s withdrawal from his scheduled trilogy clash with the Australian, “Ninja” will be looking to secure a date with the champion with an impressive performance on January 15.

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

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC Vegas 46, Calvin Kattar or Giga Chikadze?

  • Bisping Thinks DC’s Assessment Of Jones’ HW Potential May Be Biased

    Daniel Cormier recently suggested Jon Jones can’t defeat Francis Ngannou or Ciryl Gane, an opinion former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping believes is wrong.

    Jones has been on the sidelines since he successfully defended the light heavyweight gold against Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 in February 2020. Despite an impressive performance from Reyes, “Bones” was awarded the nod on the scorecards. The win marked his third defense since winning the title for the second time with a win against Alexander Gustafsson in 2018.

    Believing he’d accomplished everything he could at 205 pounds and cleared out the top contenders in the division, Jones sought a fresh challenge: championship glory in a second division. But after a public despite with the UFC over pay, a potential clash with heavyweight champion Ngannou fell through and the GOAT contender was away from the Octagon for the entirety of 2021.

    Nevertheless, Jones’ bulk to heavyweight has been ongoing, and he now looks primed to make his divisional debut this year. In the minds of most, Jones will likely challenge the winner of next weekend’s unification fight between Ngannou and interim titleholder Gane.

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

    Jones’ former rival Cormier fully expects him to make his first appearance at heavyweight this year and believes he deserves to dictate the weight classes’ title picture. However, “DC” doesn’t expect the former two-time undisputed champ to defeat the elite in the division.

    During a recent episode of his ESPN show DC & RC, the former heavyweight and light heavyweight king, who knows a thing or two about achieving two-division glory, claimed Jones’ layoff would play a major factor in fights against Ngannou and Gane, two names he doesn’t think Jones can beat.

    “I believe that Jon Jones will fight at heavyweight and he’ll fight for the belt, but he’ll lose to Ciryl Gane or Francis Ngannou,” Cormier said. “I just think that the time away, with the weight difference, and those guys being who they are, that’s the problem. It’s not that Jones has gotten worse; it’s just that these guys are a different level of heavyweight.” (h/t MMA Junkie)

    Bisping’s Opinion Differs From His Broadcast Colleague’s

    One man who clearly disagrees with Daniel Cormier’s take is his fellow UFC color commentator Michael Bisping. Responding to the remarks in a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, “The Count” suggested Cormier’s comments may have been “skewed” due to his bitter rivalry with Jones.

    “He (Cormier) came out today and made a statement that said, ‘Jon Jones will never become the heavyweight champion…’ I think I gotta disagree with Daniel Cormier here,” said Bisping. “Because he does know him, and because they have that history, and because they don’t like one another, I believe that maybe that’s skewing the judgment of DC just a little bit here.”

    For Bisping, given that Jones is one of the greatest of all time and still under the age of 35, the recent layoff won’t play a massive part in his performances when he returns. Despite admitting the two titleholders at heavyweight are phenomenal fighters, the Englishman doesn’t believe Jones can be counted out given what he’s accomplished in his career to date.

    “We’re talking, regardless of his behaviour outside the Octagon, and regardless of the steroid test… the reality is, if you look at the performances, he’s potentially the greatest of all time,” added Bisping. “He’s beat everybody at their own style. He would make a point of doing that, he would beat them at their very own style. He’s not even 35 yet, so there’s no way he’s going to show up ‘old.’

    “Ciryl Gane is unbelievable, Francis Ngannou is unbelievable, they’re gonna fight next weekend, I don’t know who’s gonna win that fight… But still, Jon Jones is out there. Jon Jones has a resume. Jon Jones is one of the best to ever do it. So to say that he can’t come back after all this time and beat those guys, I don’t think I agree… To say he has no chance, I don’t think that’s right,” concluded Bisping.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXxpEd7j3PX/

    With any luck, Jones’ return will remain on track and either Bisping or Cormier will be proved right in the coming months. No doubt the victor of that debate will be eager to rub it in when they share the commentary desk after Jones’ return.

    Who do you agree with, Michael Bisping or Daniel Cormier?

  • Dustin Poirier Looks Ripped Ahead Of Potential Welterweight Move

    Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier is looking big ahead of a potential move to 170 pounds.

    Poirier is coming off of a disappointing loss to Charles Oliveira for the lightweight title at UFC 269. After getting off to a good start in the opening minutes, he struggled with Oliveira’s grappling and was eventually submitted in Round 3.

    Poirier has admitted to being at a bit of a crossroads in his MMA career. He’s alluded to a move to welterweight as the cut to 155 pounds becomes more difficult at this stage in his life.

    While Poirier doesn’t have a fight lined up just yet, he looks to be getting in possibly the best shape of his life ahead of his Octagon return. He showed off his physical gains in a recent Instagram post.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYozrcfrt41/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “Bulking SZN,” Poirier said in the post’s caption.

    Dustin Poirier Remains Interested In A Nate Diaz Fight

    One name who has piqued Poirier’s interest is Nate Diaz. Shortly after his loss to Oliveira, Poirier pointed to Diaz as the one opponent who would excite him for a quick turnaround in the UFC.

    Poirier and Diaz have gone at it on social media for years, as talks of a fight between them continue to ramp up. The two former lightweight contenders were supposed to fight in 2018 before fight negotiations fell through.

    Despite the challenge of getting Diaz to the negotiating table proving to be difficult, Poirier remains optimistic about a fight with his Stockton-based rival. Both men are coming off of tough losses, and the winner of the matchup could get right back on track at welterweight.

    How do you think Dustin Poirier would perform at welterweight?

  • Daniel Cormier Has No Interest In Training Jake Paul At AKA

    Daniel Cormier is not keen on the idea of Jake Paul joining his gym.

    Jake Paul has taken the world of boxing by storm. He might be one of the most talked-about fighters on the planet. Now, he is teasing a transition to MMA and wants to train at one of the best gyms in the country, American Kickboxing Academy (AKA). That gym is home to some of the best the UFC has ever seen, including Khabib Nurmagomeodv, Cain Velasquez, and Daniel Cormier.

    Recently, AKA Head Coach Javier Mendez spoke about Paul possibly joining the gym. He expressed admiration for what Paul has done to get his fight career off the ground but also mentioned that the team needs to vote on him joining and if anyone is against it he would not be welcome. One man is already speaking out against the move. That man is Daniel Cormier.

    “No, I have no interest in that,” Cormier told The Schmo on his Youtube channel. “It seems like a lot of ploys, right? It’s always ploys. I don’t know how true much of it is, but it seems like a ploy to me, so I’m not going to play that game.”

    Paul and Cormier have had their share of public trash talking. Cormier was critical of Paul and his boxing skills, so Paul offered to fight Cormier. Cormier responded that he would face Paul but only in an MMA fight. Now that Paul is actually planning a go at MMA, perhaps training with a man you want to fight is not a good idea.

    Cormier is retired from MMA and is likely not going to fight Paul at all. However, retired fighters are exactly who Paul targets. And with the amount of money offered in Paul’s bouts, Cormier, who has a huge weight advantage, might just be persuaded to take one more fight.

    Do you think Daniel Cormier would ever fight Jake Paul in MMA or boxing?

  • Submission Expert Muniz To Fans: Don’t Be Surprised When I Get My KO

    André Muniz doesn’t just break arms, he has knockout power, too.

    #13 middleweight contender André “Sergipano” Muniz is coming into the new year hot with another first-round armbar submission.

    Fans watched the armbar from the edge of their seats that night in December in anticipation of Muniz possibly fracturing Anders’ arm, as he did to one of the best grapplers in UFC history, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, back in May at UFC 262.

    Andre Muniz and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza Photo Credit: Getty Images

    Triangle choke, guillotine choke, arm-triangle choke, armbar—the list of beautifully executed submissions just gets longer for the brutal middleweight.

    But do not let the 15 wins by submission sway you from his ability to knock an opponent out. As of now, Muniz has only 4 knockout wins, none of which are in the UFC, but that coulbe subject to change this year.

    “This is all the result of very hard work, and people, don’t be surprised when I get my knockout because I’ve got really heavy hands, too. I’m working to get a knockout besides the submissions,” Muniz told MMA Junkie after winning their award for 2021 submission of the year.

    But we should expect to see a different winning approach at his next UFC bout.

    Who Is Up First?

    Andre Muniz, Daniel Oliveira, Photo Credit: Alan Oliveira

    “Sergipano” is no stranger to a knockout win. In 2013, he put Daniel Oliveira on the ground in round 1 at Watch Out Combat Show 24 and delivered a vicious pounding of punches to Joao Paulo Dos Santos in 2017.

    So, who will be the first UFC knockout win for the Brazilian?

    At UFC 269 Andre Muniz got his third round one submission win against Eryk “Ya Boi” Anders and has since already called out prospect fighters for his next bout in the Octagon.

    Andre Muniz and Eryk Anders, Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie USA Today Sports

    Not trying to jump the gun, Muniz wants either Darren Till or Uriah Hall, the #8 and #9 middleweight contenders, as his first opponent.

    With six straight impressive wins in the UFC, the 21-4-0 fighter is speeding through the middleweight rankings and has already proven to be a solid competitor in the division. Now, André Muiz may give it his all to soon show us the greatness of his knockout ability.

    Do you think André Muniz can knock out UFC competition?

  • ONE CEO Disagrees With How White Does Business, Open To A Fight

    Chatri Sityodtong doesn’t agree with how Dana White runs the UFC.

    Sityodtong, the CEO of ONE Championship, is all about martial arts and respect, and he doesn’t like when his fighters talk trash. White and the UFC, however, embrace trash-talking because it helps sell pay-per-views. That is one of the things Sityodtong doesn’t like about how the UFC is run.

    “I think he is an outstanding businessman,” Sityodtong said on The MMA Hour. “I don’t necessarily agree with the way he does things, but obviously he’s built UFC into a phenomenal company. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts. But I don’t think he knows anything about martial arts. I don’t think he knows anything about fighting. I think he’s a fan, so I have differences. I come from the martial arts community. I come from the martial arts background. And how I treat my athletes, they are my peers. I come from the community. It’s very, very different.

    “I think if you’ve never been punched in the face or choked out, you can disrespect people publicly [with your comments],” Sityodtong continued. “But if you have had lifelong hard training — I just say we have stylistic differences. I don’t particularly respect the way he talks down to athletes.”

    Chatri Sityodtong (Image Credit: Paul Miller/Bloomberg)

    With Chatri Sityodtong disagreeing with how Dana White runs the UFC and him claiming White doesn’t know martial arts, he says he is open to a fight with him. They are both over 50-years-old, but Sityodtong is confident he would beat the American with ease.

    “I’m a lifelong martial artist,” Sityodtong said about a fight with White. “I’ve been doing Muay Thai for 35 years and I’m a jiu-jitsu brown belt. I train five, six times a week. If there’s a fight with someone my age, why not? I’m 50, turning 51 this year. I train five, six days a week, one or two hours every day.”

    Although Sityodtong is open to a fight against White, it is highly unlikely the bout happens. White is just focused on running the UFC, and he doesn’t gain anything by fighting the ONE CEO. Nevertheless, Sityodtong’s remarks are sure to get more people talking about him and his promotion.

    What do you make of Chatri Sityodtong calling out Dana White for a fight?

  • Sean O’Malley’s 2023 Plans: Fat Contract & Killing Spree

    UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley has revealed his ambitions for the near future, which sees focus on a massive 12 months in 2023.

    2021 was a big year for O’Malley. Heading into it, “Sugar’ was riding his first professional loss, a TKO defeat at the hands of Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 252 in August 2020. In the 17 months since that setback, O’Malley has built a three-fight win streak, recorded three finishes, earned three post-fight $50,000 bonuses, and entered the bantamweight rankings.

    After rebounding at UFC 260 last March with a brutal third-round knockout against Thomas Almeida, O’Malley began another streak four months later by stopping promotional newcomer Kris Moutinho at UFC 264.

    Closing out his successful and lucrative 2021, the 27-year-old knocked out formerly-ranked Brazilian Raulian Paiva at UFC 269 last month.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXuGuo5Dtff/

    O’Malley Forecasts A Big Year

    After a triumphant 2021 and securing his place at #12 on the 135-pound ladder, most have been eagerly anticipating O’Malley’s first appearance of what looked set to be a big 12 months for “Sugar.” However, due to a thumb injury and his desire to fight at a Las Vegas pay-per-view, O’Malley believes he could be on the sidelines until the summer.

    With that lesser level of activity, which O’Malley believes could see him fight twice in 2022, the Montana native has targeted 2023 as his big year.

    During a recent episode of his YouTube podcast, the rising bantamweight star outlined his goals for the next two years: two fights in 2022, then a lucrative new contract, and a “killing spree” at 135 pounds the following year.

    “Ideally, I get three fights in a year. That’s kind of where my head’s at. I don’t know if it’s (because I want) more money, I think it’s competition. I love competing. But I just want to get back in the game and improve. So if I only get two–if I get one in July and November, December… I might only get two this year, fight out the contract, then boom: 2023, fat f**king contract and go on a killing spree.” (h/t Essentially Sports)

    While O’Malley is targeting big things in 2023, there’s no doubt he can still accomplish a lot in two fights across the next 12 months. While his next opponent is seemingly far from being decided, O’Malley has consistently expressed his desire to face fellow surging striker Adrian Yanez.

    What do you make of Sean O’Malley’s 2023 goals?

  • Watch: Amanda Nunes Takes A Spill While Holding Baby Raegan

    The Nunes family had a brief scare recently when Amanda Nunes fell while holding her toddler daughter Reagan.

    Fortunately, no one was injured in the fall. In fact, Amanda’s wife Nina got a good laugh out of the entire episode. You can watch the video and see Nina Nunes’ written reaction below.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYh1XvyJZOM/

    “Raegan was not injured in the making of this video. Amanda’s ass may hurt a little.
    Also, I have probably watched this 1000 times. ???,” Nina Nunes wrote.

    The Nunes family welcomed baby Reagan into their household last September, thus making Amanda Nunes the first mother champion in the UFC. That topic was briefly disputed by new bantamweight champion Julianna Peña, who called herself the first “mom champ” after submitting Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 last month.

    Peña would then walk back these remarks, stating they were taken out of context and that she was referring to being the first woman to become UFC champion who had given birth. She also acknowledged that Amanda is a true mom champ. Nevertheless, both Amanda and Nina Nunes still took issue with Peña’s remarks when they addressed her comments.

    Amanda Nunes and Julianna Peña will more than likely have another opportunity to express themselves in a way that leaves no room for misunderstanding: the ultimate proving ground of the UFC Octagon. Dana White and both mom champs have already signed off on the idea. If and when that rematch does take place, you can expect a happy and healthy Reagan to be in the warm grasp of Nina Nunes as part of the jam-packed audience.

  • Medical Coalition Writes Letter To Spotify About Rogan Misinformation

    A coalition of over 200 medical professionals and educators have written an open letter to Spotify to implement a “misinformation policy” in response to content disseminated on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

    The impetus behind the letter was the December 31, 2021 episode featuring Dr. Robert Malone. In the letter, the authors accuse Spotify of failing to “mitigate the spread of misinformation” by allowing such episodes to stream to an estimated audience of over 11 million people.

    The letter accuses Malone of “promoting baseless conspiracy theories” and claims “the JRE has a concerning history of broadcasting misinformation, particularly regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.”

    The letter would also accuse Rogan of repeatedly spreading “misleading and false claims on his podcast, provoking distrust in science and medicine.” The authors argue that Rogan has “discouraged vaccination in young people and children, incorrectly claimed that mRNA vaccines are ‘gene therapy,’ promoted off-label use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 (contrary to FDA warnings), and spread a number of unsubstantiated conspiracy theories.”

    The authors proceed to argue that such information is particularly harmful due to the demographic of the podcast. They state that the average age of JRE listeners is 24 years old and that this is concerning because “unvaccinated 12-34-year-olds are 12 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID than those who are fully vaccinated.”

    The impassioned letter continues by stating that medical professionals are directly impacted by the content shared on the JRE podcast, as they have to work overtime to repair “the public’s damaged understanding of science and medicine.”

    “This is not only a scientific or medical concern; it is a sociological issue of devastating proportions and Spotify is responsible for allowing this activity to thrive on its platform,” the letter concludes.

    You can view the full letter here.

    What is your reaction to this letter about The Joe Rogan Experience podcast?

  • UFC Vegas 46 Down Two Bouts, Sees One Replaced

    UFC’s January 15th card has suffered a few changes just a few days before it is set to happen.

    The upcoming “Fight Night” card lost two matchups Wednesday, although one of them has already been accounted for with a new short-notice opponent.

    Undisclosed reasons have forced former CFFC Bantamweight Champion Saidyokub Kakhramonov out of his fight against Brian Kelleher, per a report from MyMMANews.com.

    UFC is currently in talks to replace Kakhramonov with Kevin Croom. News of the new matchup was first reported by Damon Martin of MMA Fighting, saying it has not been finalized but is near completion.

    The potential matchup gives Croom a chance to score his first UFC win. His last appearance was a loss to Alex Caceres in February 2021. Croom is going from one veteran opponent to another with this matchup of him against Kelleher.

    Kelleher returned to the win column in his last showing, going three rounds against Domingo Pilarte for a unanimous decision win in August.

    Juarez vs. Demopoulos Moved To UFC 270

    Saturday’s card also lost a fight between strawweights Silvana Gomez Juarez and Vanessa Demopoulos, per MMA Fighting. The matchup is now expected to happen a week later, taking place at UFC 270 on January 22nd.

    Both fighters will be competing for their first UFC win. Demopoulos, a former LFA Strawweight Champion, lost her promotional debut to JJ Aldrich in August. Two months later, Juarez lost her respective UFC debut against Loopy Godinez.

    The recent changes bring Saturday’s UFC card down to 10 bouts in total. It has suffered numerous changes throughout the week, including the departure of a co-main event fight between Michel Pereira and Muslim Salikhov. Pereira has since been matched against UFC newcomer Andre Fialho for the pay-per-view card later this month.

    UFC’s January 15th card is currently set to be headlined by featherweights Giga Chikadze and Calvin Kattar.

    What do you think about these recent changes? Do you like the new bantamweight matchup?

  • Kelvin Gastelum vs. Nassourdine Imavov Targeted For UFC 273 On April 9

    Middleweight contenders Kelvin Gastelum and Nassourdine Imavov are set to collide at UFC 273 on April 9.

    In the latest of a string of additions to 2022’s fourth pay-per-view card, former interim title challenger Gastelum and rising Frenchman Imavov will clash with a place in the 185-pound top 10 on the line, per ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto.

    In his first appearance of 2022, Gastelum will be in desperate need of a rebound win. Since a Fight of the Year interim championship fight with Israel Adesanya in 2019, The Ultimate Fighter 17 winner has struggled for form and consistency.

    Defeats to Darren Till, Jack Hermansson, Robert Whittaker, and Jared Cannonier since UFC 236 have left Gastelum with a 1-5 record in his last six Octagon outings. His sole victory in that period came against the unranked Ian Heinisch last February.

    Imavov, meanwhile, is going in the opposite direction on the middleweight ladder. Whilst his upcoming opponent has slipped to #10 in the rankings, the Dagestan-born French fighter has risen into the top 15 thanks to back-to-back wins against Heinisch and Edmen Shahbzayan.

    Against “The Golden Boy” at UFC 268 last November, the “Russian Sniper” established himself as a contender with a brutal TKO from the crucifix position.

    On April 9, Gastelum will be looking to return the win column and begin his ascent back to the top. Despite his veteran status in the promotion, the Californian is still only 30 and has plenty of time to resurrect his ambitions in the UFC.

    For Imavov, who is five years Gastelum’s younger, this matchup represents the chance for him to break into the middleweight top 10 and take a big step further towards title contention, something the MMA Factory product will hope to welcome in with open arms at UFC 273.

    Listed below are the fights expected to take place at UFC 273:

    Alexander Volkanovski (C) vs. The Korean Zombie (featherweight title fight)

    Aljamain Sterling (C) vs. Petr Yan (IC) (bantamweight unification title fight)

    Kelvin Gastelum vs. Nassourdine Imavov (middleweight)

    Mackenzie Dern vs. Tecia Torres (women’s strawweight)

    Mickey Gall vs. Mike Malott (welterweight)

    Irene Aldana vs. Aspen Ladd (women’s bantamweight)

    Pat Sabatini vs. Gavin Tucker (featherweight)

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 273, Kelvin Gastelum or Nassourdine Imavov?

  • Peña Details Fight With Male Co-Worker That Left Her With 11 Stitches

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña has detailed the alley fight she had with a co-worker that helped shape the confidence she boasts today.

    That self-belief was on full display in the build-up to her latest appearance inside the Octagon. After getting her wish of a meeting in the cage with Amanda Nunes, a wish that confused some given the Brazilian’s utter dominance in the years prior, Peña had her chance to shock the world at UFC 269 last month.

    While most doubted her chances, “The Venezuelan Vixen” was sure of her abilities. She made good on her pre-fight prediction in the final pay-per-view co-main event of the year. Executing her game plan to perfection, she tired out the then-double champion on the feet, dragged her to the mat, and submitted her in the second round.

    Peña Reveals The Source Of Her Confidence

    While fans, fighters, and pundits in attendance at the T-Mobile Arena and in their homes were left blown away by arguably the greatest upset in UFC history, the newly crowned champ wasn’t surprised. Throughout fight week, Peña’s message was simple: I know something everyone else doesn’t.

    While some, including Nunes, put that high level of confidence down to delusion, “The Venezuelan Vixen” proved herself right on December 11. Now, over a month beyond her memorable title-winning performance, the 32-year-old has explained where her immense self-belief derives from.

    During an interview with the New York Post, the 135-pound queen narrated the story of a wild alley fight she had with a male colleague while she was working as a food expediter at a local eatery called The Onion. Far from her performances nowadays, Peña was left on the wrong side of the result on that occasion.

    “I fought a dude in an alley and got my left eye swollen shut for three days. It needed 11 stitches,” she explained.

    At The Onion, Peña worked alongside an individual she’d previously encountered while employed as a supervisor at a pizza restaurant in Spokane. As far as friendly co-workers go, the man certainly didn’t fit into that category.

    “He was just a nuisance. I constantly had to tell him what to do. I had to cut people from their shifts depending on how busy they were, and the second I could let anybody go, it would be him. I’d be like, ‘Get out of here.’”

    Like in many workplaces, banter and back and forth between colleagues was a mainstay at The Onion. That was the case with Peña despite the fact she was still in training. But when her troublesome co-worker boasted of a fighting superiority, Peña, who was evidently gritty and tough from a young age, wasn’t about to back down.

    “The management staff would always egg him on, being like, ‘Don’t mess with her. She’ll kick your ass,’ instead of telling him to knock it off or you’ll get fired,” Peña said.

    “I had just started training at that point. We would banter back and forth. He would literally be like, ‘I would lay you out and I won’t even feel bad about it.’ I’d respond, ‘Bring it the fuck on.’

    “We went out back and he knocked me down three times,” she recalled. “He punched me right in the eye. I dropped. I say this because I remember it like it was yesterday. I popped right back up. I swear to God I popped right back up. I went to attack again. Boom! He dropped me right again. Same spot in the eye. I popped right back up again and went to attack him. Boom! Right in the eye, and I dropped, and was like, ‘Fuck you!’ and I walked away.”

    Despite taking a beating on that day, Peña says her perseverance and her ability to continue bouncing right back to her feet shaped the confidence she carries with her today; the confidence that has helped mold her into a UFC champion.

    “Being able to pop back up like I did, and fight through that adversity, knowing that guy wasn’t gonna put me down, to me gave me confidence,” she said. “And, on top of that, getting the shit kicked out of me from my brothers and sisters my whole life.”

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

    So while she has her family, coaches, and team to thank for her ongoing success in the sport of MMA, Peña also appears to have a trouble-making former colleague to show gratitude to for aiding her journey to the top.

    How do you think the colleague would fare now inside the Octagon with UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña?

  • Conor McGregor’s Black Forge Inn Pub Hit With Two Petrol Bombs

    A police investigation is ongoing after two petrol bombs were thrown at Conor McGregor’s Black Forge Inn Pub overnight.

    According to an initial report from The Sun, the two bombs were found on the premises following the criminal incident. Fortunately, there was no damage caused, but local police are encouraging any potential witnesses to come forward with information to assist with the investigation. They are also seeking dashcam footage to help identify the perpetrators.

    McGregor purchased the pub for £2million last year. This also happens to be the same pub where McGregor assaulted an older patron, an incident for which he was later fined 1,000 euros. Soon after making this purchase, McGregor provided a video tour of the rebranded and remodeled establishment.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CRetei6JwVz/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=004bb3f1-a1dc-4f8c-9d52-a217f5752ff6

    McGregor’s business savvy has earned him the #1 spot on Forbes’ 2021 Highest-Paid Athletes List after he sold the majority stake of his Proper No. Twelve whiskey company.

    McGregor is universally regarded as the biggest superstar in UFC history. His most recent bout saw him lose to Dustin Poirier via doctor’s stoppage after breaking his leg. He is expected to make his Octagon return later this year.

    MMA News will keep you updated as more information becomes available on this developing story.

  • Paddy Pimblett Would Choose Anfield Main Event Over UFC Title Win

    UFC lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett has revealed he’d choose a main event fight at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium over a championship.

    Pimblett burst onto the scene as a highly-touted prospect last year with an impressive debut performance. After signing with MMA’s premier organization following a successful career in the renowned Cage Warriors promotion, where he held the featherweight title, “The Baddy” made his first appearance in the UFC Vegas 36 main card opener last September.

    Despite facing early adversity against Luigi Vendramini, which saw him appear to be rocked by a clean right hand, the Liverpool native recovered well to make good on his pre-fight promise of a first-round finish. With an onslaught of punches late in the opening frame, Pimblett slumped his Brazilian opponent against the cage.

    As well as a memorable first performance in the Octagon, Pimblett made his presence in the 155-pound weight class further known shortly after with an entertaining post-fight interview.

    Pimblett Boasts Hometown Aspirations

    For Pimblett, the success he’s beginning to realize is no surprise. He’s always believed it was his destiny to find glory on the regional scene, make his way to the UFC, and surge up the promotion’s ladder.

    While he’s certainly still early into his UFC tenure, Pimblett is not shy about making his visions and ambitions clear. As well as a 3-0 record in 2022, “The Baddy” has his sights set on main-eventing a UFC card at the home of Liverpool Football Club, Anfield Stadium.

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA, Pimblett discussed his ultimate aspiration on MMA’s biggest stage, suggesting it’s likely to take place in two or three years’ time. While he acknowledges he’s not yet in a position to make demands, the Liverpudlian expects to be walking out in front of up to 80,000 of his own people after making his way towards the lightweight rankings.

    “I’ll be honest with you, that’s (Anfield main event) not gonna be until like ’24, ’25 that. I’m gonna win three fights in ’22, and then I can start demanding it when I’m 4-0 in the UFC and I’m working towards a ranking. That’s when I can start saying it. But they’re not gonna give me it until I’m in like, the top 10 or if I can have one contender fight, or something like that; I know they’re not. Cause it’s going to be like 70,000 people, lad, 80,000 people. It’s gonna be sick.

    “That’s happening. I’ve said it. People were asking me on me Twitch last night, people kept saying, ‘It’s gonna be like a UFC Liverpool (like in) London, why don’t they just do it in the Echo Arena?’ And I’m like, ‘Because it’s too small.’ I filled the Echo Arena out on me own, for Cage Warriors, never-mind with the UFC name attached to it and all the high-profile fights fighting on it, like (Darren) Till, Molly (McCann), and (Tom) Aspinall. It’s gonna need a football stadium.”

    To give some context to how much he wants the Anfield main event to happen, Pimblett was asked whether he’d choose that or a title-winning performance in the UFC. For the 27-year-old, the answer was simple: the option that creates the biggest legacy for himself in the city of Liverpool.

    “I’d probably pick Anfield (over a UFC title). Because that’s for my people. That’ll be my people there watching me… Obviously, I’m in this to become a UFC world champion. I’m in this sport for the legacy; the name you leave behind. I’m not really in it for the money. I’m in it for the legacy and what I leave behind. But I think I’d leave a better legacy in my city if I headlined at Anfield and won a fight, rather than winning a title abroad. So I’d rather do that for my own people.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CTwe7L0sDbm/

    While he’s certainly a few wins and a few jumps up the lightweight ladder away from main event status, not least in a stadium the size of Anfield, Pimblett will be hoping to take the next step towards it when he enters the Octagon for the second time and the first time in 2022.

    While an opponent is yet to be announced, Pimblett expects to fight on the March 19 UFC Fight Night card, an event expected to mark the promotion’s return to London, England. A recent back and forth on Twitter suggested the Englishman may be matched up with Jared Gordon.

    Do you think Paddy Pimblett’s dream of headlining a UFC event at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool can come to fruition?

  • Giga Chikadze Says He’s Lost Respect For Volkanovski For “Cheap Move”

    UFC featherweight contender Giga Chikadze is no longer a fan of Alexander Volkanovski after recent tensions between the two top 145 pounders.

    Chikadze had called for the next title shot against Volkanovski after the champion’s original UFC 272 opponent, Max Holloway, pulled out with an injury. Volkanovski and the UFC opted to go with Chan Sung Jung, otherwise known as ‘The Korean Zombie’, as a replacement.

    Chikadze volunteered to make a quick turnaround from his upcoming fight to fill in against Volkanovski, but the UFC had other plans.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Chikadze was asked about whether or not he had lost respect for Volkanovski.

    “Absolutely, yeah,” Chikadze said. “Before that, I kind of messaged him after his last fight, I congratulated him,” said Chikadze. “Brother, this (Volkanovski’s response to me on Twitter) is a cheap move for me to see. He messages me, he tweeted that I’m fighting a top five or something, and like, I lost a lot of respect for him. And plus, bro, I’m not here for respect and all this stuff. No friends for me. These guys, I’m here to take over everybody, smash, you know, I don’t need extra friends here. I feel like these people are trying to take my dreams, so I’m gonna fight them.”

    Giga Chikadze Could Be On The Verge Of A Bout With Volkanovski

    Chikadze will face Calvin Kattar in a second straight main event at UFC Vegas 46 this weekend. In his last fight, he put on a dominant performance over Edson Barboza and ended up earning TKO victory.

    Chikadze has long been considered by many to be the dark horse of the featherweight division. After losing out on a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, he’s won nine fights in a row over the likes of Cub Swanson, Omar Morales, and Barboza. For these reasons, Dana White allegedly told Chikadze that he’s close to earning the next shot. Another impressive win over Kattar is the first step to making that happen.

    How do you think a Giga Chikadze vs. Alexander Volkanovski fight would play out?

  • Sean O’Malley: “I Feel Bad” For Cody Garbrandt

    Sean O’Malley went from trash-talking Cody Garbrandt to now feeling sympathy towards him.

    Sean O’Malley is coming off a great win at UFC 269. At that same event, former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt lost his flyweight fight against Kai Kara-France. Leading up to that UFC 269 event, Garbrandt and O’Malley were trash-talking towards each other, and it seemed like they would like to fight in the future. However, O’Malley’s feelings towards Garbrandt have changed.

    “After Cody got knocked out, I got asked at the press conference, ‘What do you wanna say?’ And I just, I feel bad for him,” O’Malley told Michael Bisping on his podcast. “He’s lost a lot of fights in a row, and I don’t really have anything negative to say about him.”

    O’Malley has found himself in the top fifteen on that bantamweight rankings for the first time in his UFC career. He has caught heat in the past for not facing ranked opponents, and when he was targeting a former champion in Garbrandt that, might have been his way of proving the haters wrong. Now, Garbrandt is no longer ranked in any division and O’Malley is looking towards other opponent options.

    “It’s just tough. I go out there and beat him, I do not see it doing much for me right now… He’s 1-6 or something in his last seven,” O’Malley said. “I think he’s won one fight since 2017. I go out there and beat him, it doesn’t really do what it would’ve three or four fights ago. I go out there and lose to Cody, who’s 1-7 and got knocked out, that does a lot of negative damage towards me. I just don’t think that’s realistically the next fight.”

    O’Malley is right about Garbrandt having only won a single fight in his last six. Since losing the bantamweight belt, he has had a hard time inside the Octagon. It is unclear at this time if he will remain at flyweight or revert back to 135 pounds. Either way, it is highly unlikely he will face off against O’Malley next based on these latest comments.

    What do you think Cody Garbrandt should do going forward?

  • Tai Tuivasa Shares Prediction For Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane Title Fight

    Tai Tuivasa believes Ciryl Gane is the real deal and is the new breed of heavyweights, but isn’t sure if he beats Francis Ngannou this soon.

    In the main event of UFC 270, Francis Ngannou is looking to defend his heavyweight title for the first time against the interim champ, Ciryl Gane. It’s a fascinating fight due to the fact they are former training partners and both are phenomenal fighters.

    Ngannou has the one-punch KO power while Gane is a technical striker and is hard to hit. Gane has rarely been touched in the UFC, but Ngannou only needs to land one. For Tuivasa, he believes Gane has the skills to avoid that shot.

    “Yeah, they are two freaks. You know what I mean. I think I have said the other day…I think if Ciryl plays the long game at points and can stay away from Francis, I think he might win over the five rounds,” Tuivasa said on InsideFighting (via Sportskeeda). “But that’s harder than it sounds, you know what I mean. If Francis touches him or lands one of those massive shots, I think we’ve all seen what Fancis does. He might put him out. Like, that’s, again, another 50-50.

    “Ciryl’s a nice guy, but I think Francis might get it. I’m not sure but I’m gonna go with Francis. But Ciryl Gane is a new breed of heavyweights for sure.”

    Francis Ngannou, Ciryl Gane
    Francis Ngannou, Ciryl Gane

    The current betting odds have the fight between Ngannou and Gane as a pick’em, so Tuivasa is right in saying it is a 50-50 fight and a hard one to call. But, we will all find out on January 22 who becomes the new heavyweight champ.

    Tai Tuivasa, meanwhile, is coming off a KO win over Augusto Sakai at UFC 269 to make him the 11th-ranked heavyweight. He’s now riding a four-fight winning streak as he also KO’d Greg Hardy in July and Harry Hunsucker in March. To start 2022, he will be facing Derrick Lewis next month at UFC 271.

    Who do you think wins between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane?

  • Robert Whittaker Explains The Predicament Kelvin Gastelum Is In

    Former UFC Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker views fierce competition as the main hurdle in Kelvin Gastelum‘s career.

    #1 middleweight contender Robert Whittaker will go against Israel Adesanya in a rematch at UFC 271 this February to reclaim the championship. He knows firsthand what it is like to lose to “The Last Stylebender” and refuses to let it be his downfall.

    Robert Whittaker (left) and Israel Adesanya / Photo Credit: Michael Dodge/EPA

    Since the UFC 243 loss, the New Zealand-born fighter has been on a winning streak, including a win against Gastelum and the middleweight division’s #3-ranked fighter Jared Cannonier, who bested Gastelum by unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 43.

    In contrast, Kelvin Gastelum has experienced a setback after his loss to Israel Adesanya back in 2019 and questions his place in his current weight class.

    “I don’t see him going back down to 170. He’s a thick dude. He hits like a ton of bricks as well. I don’t see him going down to 170. He’s just in that awkward spot that I think a lot of guys get in, where they find it hard, they’re coming up against the highest tier up at the top of the ladder, but they crush a lot of the dudes coming up onto the ladder. So he’s kind of getting caught in that gatekeeping sort of spot,” Whittaker said about Gastelum in a recent interview with MMA Junkie.

    The middleweight division certainly is home to some incredible UFC talent such as Sean Strickland, Jack Hermansson, Derek Brunson, and, of course, Israel Adesanya. Every fighter is hungry to be the champion. And with only one win out of his last six fights, Kelvin Gastelum may have a long journey ahead.

    But despite the defeats, “The Reaper” had nothing other than positive things to say about the #10 middleweight:

    “I’ve got a lot of love for that guy, I really like him. I’ve got a lot of respect for him as well. He’s had a bit of a rough skid lately, just because he’s been fighting hard guys. He’s been fighting top-tier opponents. It is not easy… fighting, playing, and trying to advance up in the top five. It is hard. Everyone up there is the best in the world. Everyone up there could be the next champ. We’ve seen that with him. He’s been fighting the highest-quality opponents,” Whittaker told MMA Junkie.

    Kelvin Gastelum
    Image Credit: Steve Marcus/Getty Images

    Struggling to make weight caused Gastelum’s move up to the middleweight division in 2016. But following his Ultimate Fighter 17 win in 2013, Kelvin Gastelum sped through the welterweight rankings. Despite fewer losses at 170 and talks of hiring a dietician to help maintain his weight, we may see Gastelum in a welterweight bout in 2022.

    With seven knockouts under his name, the veteran fighter possesses the potential to move back up in the rankings just like other fighters have done in the past, Whittaker believes.

    “He’s my age, I think, so he’s got years to evolve and change his game, and to develop new skillsets. I see him developing himself and coming back with better versions of himself. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Kelvin Gastelum,” Whittaker continued.

    What do you think is next for Kelvin Gastelum?