Daniel Cormier thinks Jon Jones could be next for the heavyweight title.
Daniel Cormier knows what it is like to be the UFC heavyweight champion. Now as a retired fighter and UFC analyst, Cormier is on the outside looking in. With a heavyweight championship bout happening in just a few weeks, the future of the division is now a topic of conversation. Cormier believes that the winner between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 will find themselves matched up with Jon Jones next.
“Honestly, it’s just a matter of when Jones gets there,” Cormier told The Schmo. “And rightfully so.
“For all that he’s done at 205, when he goes to heavyweight, it is his matchup to turn down. It has to be for Jon Jones and what he decides to do.”
Jon Jones was the longtime king at light heavyweight. He decided to make the move to heavyweight back in May of 2020 but has yet to do so. He is working on his physique and putting on weight to get ready for his heavyweight debut.
Last year, there was some UFC negotiation trouble and legal trouble that made Jones’ return to the cage unclear. However, with all this Jones drama, Cormier still thinks it will be him next in line anyway, not former two-time champion Stipe Miocic.
“As much as Stipe is probably deserving, are we talking deserving, or what is going to happen?” Cormier explained. “Because even though Stipe is deserving, Jones makes it known that he is at heavyweight and ready to fight he’s going to be the guy who gets the title fight.”
Stipe Miocic is itching at another chance at Ngannou or whoever is holding the belt come Jan. 23. Miocic was the longest-running UFC heavyweight champion and has been waiting for a shot to show that he is still champion material. Miocic was overlooked when the UFC decided to make the interim title and now might be waiting even longer if Jones jumps the line.
Do you agree with Cormier that Jones will get a title shot before Stipe Miocic?
Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane has responded to Francis Ngannou’s suggestion that the UFC set up their awkward backstage interaction in November.
Ngannou and Gane are set to headline the UFC 270 pay-per-view on January 22. Their collision course was set up after “Bon Gamin” won interim gold against Derrick Lewis at UFC 265 last August. Having not competed since his title-winning performance last March, the upcoming clash of former teammates will be Ngannou’s first defense.
The meeting in question took place at Madison Square Garden on November 5. While Ngannou was in attendance to support his friend and fellow African champion Kamaru Usman, Gane and Lopez were cornering rising middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov.
After Imavov defeated Edmen Shahbazyan, the MMA Factory group was backstage when “The Predator” was filmed walking towards them. Instead of acknowledging his former coach and training partners, the heavyweight titleholder strode past, a move that was later criticized by both Gane and Lopez.
“There was this lady taking us to our seat. And she was bringing us to this section, and then they talked to her over the radio. And then [she said], ‘Oh, sorry, I’m wrong.’ So she turned around and we get back [and Gane and Lopez are standing right there]. I mean, tell me how this can be a coincidence.”
Discussing his upcoming opponent’s claim that the UFC 268 interaction could have been created by the promotion, the Frenchman asserted the theory is “wrong.”
“The people like to say everything was managed for this meeting (to happen), and that’s wrong. I think it’s wrong,” said Gane. “Because there are no cameras, there are nobody, and we just did a lot of interviews for Nassourdine Imavov, and we were just waiting for the elevators and at the same time, he comes, at the same time. There was no camera, when the people say Francis hung out by the elevator, the guy (filming) picked up his phone and just do that (started recording). It was a phone, it was not a camera, it was not something like that. For me, I’m not sure it was (a controlled meeting).”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWo0AecBPon/
While the UFC is set to return this weekend with a card headlined by Giga Chikadze and Calvin Kattar, most of the January intrigue is pointed towards the battle of former teammates and different heavyweight styles a week later.
Fight Ready striking coach Eddie Cha has revealed the stylistic advantage he believes could give “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung the edge if he challenges Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title.
Mere days ago, the promotion’s plans for March’s UFC 272 were revealed. Completing a blockbuster trilogy, Volkanovski looked set to defend his belt against Max Holloway, who has impressed in two main event wins since his back-to-back losses against the Australian.
But after aggravating a previous injury, news broke that “Blessed” had been forced to withdraw from the contest. We want to say that fight joy has never been provided and taken away so drastically and quickly, but for UFC fans, especially during the pandemic, this is nothing new.
It didn’t take long for a number of featherweight contenders to throw their names in the hat to replace Holloway. As well as top-10 145lbers Yair Rodriguez and Giga Chikadze, former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo once again staked his claim for the chance to win a third divisional gold in the promotion.
With Zombie’s replacement opportunity all but officially confirmed, the 34-year-old’s coach Eddie Cha spoke exclusively to MMA News. As well as discussing the latest developments in the featherweight title picture, Cha spoke about a possible Cejudo return, Deiveson Figueiredo’s preparation ahead of UFC 270, and Zhang Weili’s expected return to the Fight Ready gym.
Cha: Zombie Has A Great Chance Of Beating Volkanovski
While some see Zombie as the correct replacement for Holloway, many in the MMA community have claimed Chikadze should be thrust to the title should he defeat Calvin Kattar in this weekend’s main event. However, with the Georgian sat at #8 in the rankings, compared to Zombie’s #4 spot, and the South Korean’s 3-1 record since 2018, it’s hard to brand the veteran as undeserving.
Along the same lines, many expect the likes of Chikadze and Rodriguez to pose a greater threat to Volkanovski than Zombie. But one man who’s consistently worked with the 34-year-old in the gym and throughout his career believes he may shock the world when he enters the Octagon with the Aussie titleholder.
Naming his height advantage and prior success against shorter fighters as evidence, which includes knockouts of Frankie Edgar and Dennis Bermudez, Cha told MMA News’ James Lynch that Zombie has a “great chance” of taking the title from Volkanovski.
“I think Volkanovski is an unbelievable champion. I think he’s been underestimated the last few fights. But now, he’s not. Everybody knows how good he is. But, as far as stylistically, Zombie does so well against shorter fighters. I really kinda like this fight; I think anybody does when it comes to a title shot, but I really think he has a great chance of winning that fight.”
With Glover Teixeira dethroning Jan Blachowicz last October and Julianna Peña shocking the world by submitting Amanda Nunes in December, 2021 had its fair share of upsets. If Cha and The Korean Zombie have their way, the name Chan Sung Jung will be on the Upset of the Year nominee list at the end of 2022.
Do you think The Korean Zombie has what it takes to dethrone Alexander Volkanovski?
Renowned MMA journalist Ariel Helwani has discussed the possibility of a mass departure of the UFC’s top stars taking place in the promotion this year.
With the success of celebrity boxing, among other factors, the sport of MMA has moved into a climate where fighter pay is at the forefront of the agenda.
Since then, however, the UFC has chosen to increase pay-per-view prices and keep the lesser-regarded fighters in the promotion on as low as $12,000 per fight.
With the UFC also distributing one of the lowest percentages of its profits to its athletes among the top sports leagues and companies in the United States, it’s no surprise some stars believe they’re owed more, both in terms of money and treatment.
Still, despite the criticism on the matter, White maintains the debate is as simple as ‘it’s only bad if you lose’.
In recent months and years, we’ve seen the likes of Jon Jones express their dismay at the money they’re receiving. In response to Jones requesting more remuneration to face Francis Ngannou in what would have arguably been one of the biggest fights in history, the UFC seemingly abandoned plans for the showdown, leading to Jones spending the entirety of 2021 on the sidelines.
The last I spoke with @UFC about my salary there was no negotiating. If that ever changes, i’d love to come back and compete again as a heavyweight. Until then, I’ll be enjoying Ufc has a fan and doing my best to take care of my family and community https://t.co/NoTTpRTMH0
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that talk of a number of stars moving into free agency instead of signing new contracts has hit the surface. This year, we could see Ngannou, Israel Adesanya, Nate Diaz, and Conor McGregor all complete the final bouts on their active deals.
In a recent episode of The MMA Hour, host Helwani discussed the possibility of those names choosing to test the waters of free agency rather than re-sign with the UFC.
“That’s another interesting story to follow in 2022, Israel Adesanya’s contract. Not quite at the point of Nathan (Diaz’s), I think there’s a couple (fights) left, but that’s an interesting one to follow. Could you imagine in 2022, we are facing a potential scenario where Izzy might reach the end of his contract, Diaz reaches the end of his contract, Conor McGregor reaches the end of his contract, Francis Ngannou reaches the end of his contract. Think about that for a second. Think about how big those names are. Think about the power that they have. It could be fascinating times.”
As Helwani later pointed out, the UFC usually re-signs its fighters before they reach the final appearance on their contracts. While the unranked Charles Jourdain recently dipped his toes into the market before choosing to sign another UFC deal, Helwani questioned the impact it would have if the biggest stars in the promotion chose to follow suit.
“The brilliance of the UFC is they don’t let the fighters get to the end because they know they wanna lock them up before they get to the end, before they’re able to test those waters, those free-agent waters. But what if they want to? What if they play their cards right and they get to the point where they can? Fascinating times.”
Ngannou Could Depart The UFC If He Loses At UFC 270
The biggest contractual story in the UFC right now surrounds the status of UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou. Remarkably, “The Predator” is heading into a blockbuster unification title fight against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 with a possible departure from the promotion looming.
If Ngannou loses on January 22, he will be out of contract and free to take his power elsewhere. If he wins, he’ll be contractually obliged to defend the title again.
With an increasing number of fighters now questioning their pay and contracts in comparison to the likes of YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, one of the promotion’s top champions potentially about to fight out his deal, and a number of the UFC’s top stars one or two fights away from a similar situation, will we see a new tone set in regards to testing free agency before re-signing? Only time will tell.
Do you think we could see some UFC stars fight out their contracts and explore free agency in the near future?
Mackenzie Dern will have the chance to rebound on April 9 when she takes on the in-form Tecia Torres at UFC 273.
The bout, which has been rumoured for a number of days, was confirmed by Torres today in a post on Twitter. The #7-ranked strawweight contender is clearly excited to have the opportunity to break into the 115-pound top five when she enters the Octagon with Dern.
“I got my Top 5 fight. Cracking into that Top 5 April 9th at #UFC273“
Torres will be riding a three-fight win streak into the contest. Since defeats to Jéssica Andrade, Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Zhang Weili, and Marina Rodriguez between 2018 and 2019 left her on a four-fight losing skid, “The Tiny Tornado” has returned to form.
Along with a TKO (doctor’s stoppage) against Sam Hughes, Torres has recorded two unanimous decision triumphs, most recently against Angela Hill at UFC 265 last August. She’ll hope to break back into title contention at UFC 273.
Dern, meanwhile, will be hoping to rebound on April 9 by stalling the charge of her strawweight peer. Like Torres, the Brazilian also has a loss to Rodriguez on her record. But while her upcoming opponent’s loss extended her woes at the time, Dern’s main event defeat to her compatriot last October halted her surge towards the gold and ended her win streak.
Nevertheless, Dern’s form beforehand can’t be forgotten. After returning from pregnancy in mid-2020, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt put her talents on the ground on full display, submitting Hannah Cifers and Randa Markos with brutal armbars. She extended her win streak to three by outpointing Virna Jandiroba on the feet at UFC 256. At the age of 28, Dern’s potential remains high, and she’ll look to show her improvements and re-rail her train to the top at the April pay-per-view.
Leon Edwards had to add his two cents in when Covington vs. Masvidal was announced.
Some big news was announced on Tuesday afternoon as UFC 272 had a new headliner. In a surprising twist, the event will now have a non-title fight featuring Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal as the main event. Fight fans all over the world began to express either their interest or disappointment in this match-up. Leon Edwards was the latter group.
“2 bums coming off losses,” Edwards wrote on Twitter.
Edwards, Masvidal, and Covington have all been circling the top of the welterweight division. There may have been a time in the past year that they were all rumored to be fighting one another.
Edwards has been vocal about wanting a title shot, especially once Masvidal was forced out of their fight with an injury. Now with Masvidal and Covington locked up, that could mean Edwards finally gets the shot at Usman he has been wanting.
Another reason this matchup is abnormal is, as Edwards pointed out, both men are coming off losses. This type of bout is not usually considered for a PPV main event, but the background between the two fighters and their growing animosity makes it a very compelling fight for most fans.
Usman is coming off a win over Covington in November. Following that win, he stated that he would like to take some time off to spend with family. A return date has not been mentioned, but perhaps he could be ready to face Edwards in the summer.
Do you like Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal as the non-title fight main event of UFC 272 in March?
UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler believes Dustin Poirier “ate his words” at UFC 269 after describing the vacant title fight at UFC 262 as a clash for “fool’s gold.”
At the start of 2021, the future of the lightweight division was uncertain. But after Khabib Nurmagomedov committed to his retirement by vacating the gold and Poirier pursued a third fight with Conor McGregor, the path was laid out.
While “The Diamond” and the “Notorious” Irishman faced off in a title eliminator at UFC 264, a champion was crowned two months prior at UFC 262. The main event pitched Charles Oliveira against former three-time Bellator champion Chandler.
In the aftermath of the final pay-per-view of 2021, Chandler wasted no time in criticizing the fallen challenger. In a couple of posts on Twitter, “Iron” suggested Poirier “quit” in his main event clash against Oliveira.
Discussing where his comments came from, Chandler brought up the fact Poirier had described the title as “fool’s gold” when he fought Oliveira for it last May. Given the fact the former interim titleholder then went on to lose to “Do Bronx,” Chandler believes Poirier ate his words at UFC 269.
“The reason I was critical of Dustin Poirier has been his dismissal and just downright disrespectful of me when I came into the UFC lightweight division,” claimed Chandler. “Even after Dustin made the decision that he didn’t wanna fight for the UFC title and he wanted to hold out for the money fight against Conor, when me and Oliveira were next in line and we said yes and we were gonna fight, instead of just saying, ‘Hey, I decided to fight Conor and let these guys fight for the title,’ he called the title ‘fool’s gold,’ and I think that was part of it.
“That’s what he called the title that Charles Oliveira won, and then Charles Oliveira went out there and finished him,” added Chandler. “My only regret was that I didn’t type in ‘fool’s gold’ somewhere in that statement because that was exactly what Dustin Poirier called the title that me and Charles Oliveira fought for. Dustin Poirier decided to take the money fight with Conor, which I don’t blame him (for) whatsoever, but that’s the decision you make, so don’t go ahead and discredit the guys who are fighting for the title and call the title ‘fool’s gold.’
“So the ‘fool’s gold’ champion Charles Oliveira went out there and finished Dustin Poirier, which is just a little bit ironic… I think Dustin Poirier ate his words that night.”
I would never ever quit…I went out on my shield after being separated from consciousness, congrats to Oliveira… #ufc269
In 2022, both Chandler and Poirier have their eyes on possible opponents but are yet to have one set in stone. Whilst “The Diamond” has his sights set on a welterweight clash with Nate Diaz, a prospect that also entices Chandler, “Iron” is looking at potential matchups with Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson.
But outside of these possibilities, Chandler is also open to settling his score with Poirier inside the Octagon. Given their exciting and fan-friendly styles, the fight would undoubtedly be highly anticipated and highlight entertaining.
Would you like to see Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier share the Octagon in 2022?
Jake Paul seems intent on transitioning to MMA in the future, and his boxing coach BJ Flores is optimistic about his chances in the cage.
Paul most recently knocked out former UFC champion Tyron Woodley in the sixth round of their rematch. Leading up to the fight, he hinted at a future move to MMA after he gets a few more boxing fights on his record.
In the meantime, Paul has been calling out some of MMA’s biggest stars, including Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor. Before his wins over Woodley, he earned a vicious knockout over former Bellator champion Ben Askren.
“He’s just a well-rounded kid,” Flores said. “If he wants to learn how to kick, if he wants to do an MMA fight, [Paul should] do it 100%.”
“I’ll help any way I can, anywhere possible. Like it’s not about me, it’s about him. If that’s the direction he wants to go, no problem. He’ll be good at anything he does, trust me.” (h/t MiddleEasy)
Jake Paul Has Been In Talks With American Kickboxing Academy
Paul revealed that he’s been in contact with the American Kickboxing Academy, the home of former champions Daniel Cormier and Khabib Nurmagomedov, to eventually train MMA. It’s unclear when he’ll begin his planned move to the cage.
Paul has also been a vocal component of the UFC fighter pay issue. He’s poked at UFC president Dana White for underpaying fighters and not giving the roster long-term health care benefits.
Paul has taken the boxing world by storm over the past year, and he has the potential to attract a lot of attention in a possible move to MMA.
The battle of two undefeated featherweights Movsar Evloev and Ilia Topuria has been canceled after Evloev was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a positive COVID-19 test.
Soon after news of Evloev’s withdrawal became known, Topuria was immediately hot on the trail in pursuit of a replacement.
Bad news! @MovsarUFC is out. We already knew that this was gonna happen. @Dynamitedan808, are you up for a fight? Let me know ASAP and if you are down, hope to see you January 22. Let’s go!
“Bad news! @MovsarUFC is out. We already knew that this was gonna happen. @Dynamitedan808, are you up for a fight? Let me know ASAP and if you are down, hope to see you January 22. Let’s go!”
The 24-year-old was ranked 15th at featherweight not too long ago and is 3-0 in the UFC. He made his debut on short notice back on Fight Island in October of 2020 as he beat Youssef Zalal by decision. In his next fight, he scored another highlight-reel vicious KO over Damon Jackson last December.
Movsar Evloev (15-0) last fought back at UFC 263 as he beat Hakeem Dawdou by decision it was his fifth fight inside the Octagon. The 27-year-old gas beat Nik Lentz by split decision, Mike Grundy, Enrique Barzola, and Seung Woo Choi, all by decision in the UFC. He’s currently the 13th-ranked featherweight and is the former M-1 bantamweight champion.
There is no word on if Topuria will remain on the card as he wishes or if this fight will be rescheduled.
With this cancellation the updated UFC 270 lineup is as follows:
UFC Heavyweight Championship Bout: Francis Ngannou (c) vs. Ciryl Gane
UFC Flyweight Championship Bout: Brandon Moreno (c) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
Petr Yan has his theory on why the UFC opted to move his scheduled rematch with Aljamain Sterling from UFC 272 to the UFC 273 co-main.
Yan lost his bantamweight title to Sterling at UFC 259 after landing an illegal knee to a grounded Sterling late in the fight. Sterling would earn the title via disqualification and the saga began regarding rematch talks.
Sterling and Yan were originally scheduled to square off at UFC 267, but Sterling pulled out due to lingering health issues. Yan would go on to fight and defeat Cory Sandhagen for the interim belt at UFC 267.
After they were originally scheduled once again to battle at UFC 272, the fight has now been pushed back to UFC 273. The two sides have gone at it on social media regarding the reasoning for the delay, with Sterling accusing Yan of being responsible for it.
The two went at it on Twitter regarding the situation, with Yan citing Sterling as the reasoning.
Pathetic liar desperately trying to look good and control the narrative but it won’t work. I’m vaccinated and ready to bash you anywhere even tomorrow. UFC simply doesn’t want fake champion to headline the event. https://t.co/aPG3WECd5m
“Pathetic liar desperately trying to look good and control the narrative but it won’t work. I’m vaccinated and ready to bash you anywhere even tomorrow. UFC simply doesn’t want fake champion to headline the event,” Yan tweeted.
The UFC and president Dana White haven’t come out publically and explained the fight getting pushed back. Yan’s attack prompted a brutal response from Sterling.
Lmao I’m only repeating what I was told from the bosses 🤷🏾♂️. Don’t get your potato tits in a twist! I’d happily fuc k you up tmw too. That can easily be arranged. Мышь https://t.co/lI4IuU2pYA
“Lmao I’m only repeating what I was told from the bosses. Don’t get your potato tits in a twist! I’d happily fuck you up tmw too. That can easily be arranged.”
The bantamweight title picture has been searching for clarity ever since Sterling controversially earned the belt. The UFC’s feelings about the situation can be attributed to Yan being on the pound-for-pound list while the champion Sterling is notably absent.
For now, it appears that the Sterling-Yan rematch is set to happen at UFC 273, and fans will need to keep their fingers crossed regarding any potential shakeups between now and then.
What is your prediction for the Petr Yan-Aljamain Sterling rematch?
After an impressive victory over Carlos Diego Ferreira last May, Gregor, “The Gift” Gillespie is still without a fight booked to start 2022.
After Gillespie’s victory over Ferreira, he was offered fights, but none of them interested him due to his hopes of climbing the ladder to a title shot. The 35-year-old wanted a fight with Ferguson because he said everyone else in the division at the time was already booked.
In an interview with MMAJunkie, Gillespie addressed his frustration regarding this fight not coming together and him remaining without an opponent.
“Yeah, super frustrating. I’ve been radio silent for the last five or six years. I don’t call people out. I’ve been pretty adamant about not doing that,” said Gillespie.
Gillespie also addressed his frustration via a video posted to his Instagram a few days ago about how Tony Ferguson turned down a fight with him. Gillespie had previously challenged Ferguson on December 14th with a friendly call-out on his Instagram page. Yet, Ferguson never responded.
Gillespie is especially frustrated about Ferguson eying a fight against Michael Chandler instead of him.
“He doesn’t want the fight and then I see him calling out Chandler and that really pissed me off,” Gillespie said. “Like you know, the ‘wrestler-wrestling season.’ Come on, give me a break. Chandler’s a great wrestler, but he doesn’t wrestle in his fights. In my last fight, I wrestled more than Mike Chandler has done in his last 10 fights.”
Gillespie has a valid opinion when it comes to wrestling, as he’s a former D-1 NCAA champion. Gillespie even defeated Michael Chandler in the 2009 NCAA Championship wrestling tournament.
“I’m the wrestler in that division. I did beat Mike Chandler. Not a lot of people know that it wasn’t a really close match,” Gillespie said, regarding his MD 10-2 victory over Chandler.
Who do you think Gregor Gillespie should fight next?
UFC lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett has revealed his lofty aspirations for the year ahead, and they include a perfect record and a rise to stardom.
Pimblett, a former Cage Warriors featherweight champion, arrived on MMA’s biggest stage last year with a memorable debut performance. After signing months prior, “The Baddy” made his long-awaited first appearance on the UFC Vegas 36 main card in September.
The man looking to stall his rise was Luigi Vendramini. In the opening exchanges, it looked like he was on his way to doing so. The Brazilian landed some hard shots, including a right hand that appeared to stun Pimblett.
However, when the Liverpudlian found his rhythm, the end came shortly after for Vendramini. Delivering on his pre-fight promise, Pimblett secured the first-round knockout, before sending a warning to the rest of the lightweights in his post-fight interview.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXll_-KsgqK/
Pimblett Sees Big Things For Himself In 2022
While Pimblett had hoped to fit his sophomore appearance into 2021, sponsorships and other matters required his attention, delaying his second UFC appearance until this year. And while his next opponent is yet to be announced, “The Baddy” boasts lofty ambitions for 2022.
During an interview with ESPN MMA, Pimblett suggested he’ll be going 3-0 inside the Octagon this year. Not only that, the charismatic 27-year-old believes he will have established himself as the second biggest box office draw in the UFC before the start of 2023.
“I think I’m gonna go 3-0 in the UFC and I’m gonna become the biggest box-office name they’ve got, besides Conor McGregor,” said Pimblett. “Besides him, I’m gonna be the biggest box office name, because he is the name. I know for a fact If I fought him, it would be the most box-offices sold ever, ever. Without a shadow of a doubt. Because people wanna see him get beat and people wanna see him win, and people wanna see me get beat, people wanna see me win.”
Explaining why he believes he’ll reach a level of stardom behind only that of McGregor, Pimblett had a simple answer: because he’s “The Baddy.”
“Cause I’m ‘The Baddy.’ Lad, I’ve got a little saying lately, everyone loves ‘The Baddy,’ everyone lad. It’s boss, it’s a great feeling, to be honest,” claimed Pimblett.
Paddy Pimblett and Jared Gordon appear to be planning a March meeting in London 👀
After his post-fight callout was accepted by Pimblett last year, it appeared Jared Gordon was set to be lined up as the next UFC litmus test for “The Baddy.” While talk of that clash had seemingly died down, recent comments from both men suggest that could be the next fight added to the expected UFC London card.
While a win over an established name like Gordon would do wonders for Pimblett’s standing at 155 pounds, he’ll be needing some more victories to make his 2022 predictions come true.
Can you see Paddy Pimblett’s predictions for his career coming true this year?
Calvin Kattar was one of the few featherweights who did not put his name in the hat to replace Max Holloway to fight Alexander Volkanovski for the belt.
Volkanovski was supposed to defend his belt in a trilogy match against Holloway at UFC 272 in March. Unfortunately, the Hawaiian was forced out of the bout. After that, several featherweights like Giga Chikadze, Korean Zombie, Josh Emmett, and Yair Rodríguez all called for the fight.
For Kattar, however, he didn’t see a reason to call for the fight, especially when he has a scrap coming up.
“Yeah, man, talk is cheap,” Kattar said on BetQL Tapped Out. “I’m trying to go out next week and earn it…Him throwing his name in the hat, it’d be a shame if I went out and ruined his plans, you know?”
Calvin Kattar & Max Holloway (Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Kattar is set to headline UFC Vegas 46 this Saturday against Giga Chikadze in a battle of top-10 featherweights. The winner could very well be in title contention, and that is all Kattar is focused on, not trying to call out the champ for a bout in March.
“All I know is a W gets me that much closer,” Kattar said. “You only get closer off wins. And some of these guys calling for the title shot off losses, it doesn’t really make sense to me. Yeah, it happens every now and then, but go out and win some shit and then talk.”
Calvin Kattar is currently ranked fifth at featherweight and is coming off a beatdown loss to Max Holloway in January last year. The loss dropped him to 22-5 as a pro and he’s 6-3 in the UFC with wins over Shane Burgos, Dan Ige, Jeremy Stephens, Andre Fili, and Ricardo Lamas among others.
Do you think Calvin Kattar will beat Giga Chikadze in the main event of UFC Vegas 46?
Three-time UFC light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson has revealed just how much power rising welterweight star Khamzat Chimaev has in his hands.
It’s safe to say that not many prospects are as highly touted and talked about as Chimaev. It’s probably the case that in just four UFC outings, he’s already broken through the prospect status and emerged as legitimate contender at 170 pounds. That’s an incredible feat given he’s fought just once in the past year.
In 2020, “Borz” established his name in emphatic fashion, recording three wins in just 66 days. In the space of just 10, he brutally dominated John Phillips and Rhys McKee on Fight Island. A couple of months later, he slept middleweight veteran Gerald Meerschaert.
After a battle with COVID-19 stalled his rise, Chimaev picked up where he left off when he made his return last October at UFC 267. Against ranked contender Li Jingliang, the Chechen-born Swede re-railed his hype train by choking out “The Leech” inside the opening frame.
THE HYPE IS REAL!!!!!!!!@KChimaev is a baaaaaaad man 😤
The #11-ranked contender’s hype is undoubtedly mostly down to his vicious and controlling wrestling game, which has seen him rag-doll three of his four opponents in the UFC to date. However, Chimaev’s KO of Meerschaert gave a glimpse of his striking abilities, something his teammate Gustafsson believes is just as dangerous as his ground game.
Speaking during a recent interview with ESPN MMA, “The Mauler,” who trains with Chimaev at Stockholm’s Allstars Training Center, suggested “Borz” hits as hard as a 205lber. Proving context to his training partner’s power, Gustafsson revealed Chimaev has actually knocked people out with his jabs in the gym.
“His striking… He hits like a light heavyweight. He hits hard. He’s very explosive. He boxes very fast with his hands, and with speed comes power and good precision,” said Gustafsson. “I’ve seen this guy knock people out with a jab in training. So, you need to keep your guard up when you spar with this guy.”
If Chimaev is as well-rounded as Gustafsson suggests, a claim that’s hard to argue against given what we’ve seen from the Chechen-born Swede in the Octagon so far, it’s certainly a scary prospect for the rest of the welterweight division.
While the rising star’s next opponent is yet to be announced, recent reports suggest he’ll be facing top-five contender Gilbert Burns in what will likely be a title eliminator. That matchup is apparently slated for UFC 273 on April 9. For those who still doubt Chimaev’s title credentials, an impressive performance against “Durinho” should convert them into believers.
Given what we’ve heard from Gustafsson, perhaps Chimaev can knock Burns and Usman out in 2022 and secure his place on the welterweight throne. His teammates are certainly high on him, but it remains to be seen if he can prove them right against the elite at 170 pounds.
Do you think Khamzat Chimaev has what it takes to knock Kamaru Usman out?
The Korean Zombie has been selected to replace Max Holloway as UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski’s next title defense.
Shortly after news broke that Holloway was out of his UFC 272 fight against Volkanovski, people started to wonder what will be next for the champion. Many names were suggested for Volkanovski, with Chan Sung Jung, better known as The Korean Zombie, being one of them.
Now, according to MMA reporter Ariel Helwani, the bout is a “done deal” to take place on the April 9th pay-per-view. It was also revealed that Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan II will take place on this same card.
This is a fight that the champion himself pushed for after Holloway withdrew from the bout.
“Let’s do this!! #UFC272” Volkanovski tweeted last week.
Volkanovsk’s canceled defense against Holloway would have been a trilogy fight. His second fight against Holloway came in 2020 and saw him defend his belt for the first time in split-decision fashion.
Volkanovski has since defended his belt again, going five rounds against Brian Ortega for a scorecard victory.
The Korean Zombie made a clear push towards a title fight in 2019, attaining first-round wins over Renato Moicano and Frankie Edgar. That momentum was later stopped by Ortega, who beat him in the main event of a show in 2020.
Zombie has since bounced back with a big win, beating Dan Ige via unanimous decision in June 2021.
Who do you think will win this featherweight title fight between Alexander Volkanovski and The Korean Zombie?
Rivals are set to clash in the main event of UFC 272, as Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington have been paired against one another.
The welterweight bout was first reported by Brett Okamoto of ESPN. While contracts have yet to be signed for the fight, it is “nearly finalized,” per the report. Should it be completed, it would headline a pay-per-view card that is set to happen on March 5th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
The matchup marks the first time that either Covington or Masvidal will compete since losing a title fight to current UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman.
Covington was the more recent of the two to meet Usman. He fought the current champ in November, losing a unanimous decision after five rounds of action. That fight was his second time meeting him, with their first bout being a fifth-round stoppage victory for Usman in late 2019.
Masvidal met Usman in both of his more recent bouts. His first fight, a meeting against him in 2020, saw him come in on short notice and lose a decision. Masvidal was knocked out the next time around, as Usman stopped him in the second round of a 2021 bout.
UFC 272 Sees Big Changes
Dustin Poirier, Max Holloway, Image Credit: AFP
UFC was originally planning two title fights for UFC 272, with the top of their featherweight and bantamweight divisions competing. However, after Max Holloway pulled out of his title bout against Alexander Volkanovski and Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan’s rematch also experiencing roadblocks, both belts will now be on the line in April.
For now at least, UFC 272 is a rare card that includes no title fights. This was seen twice in the 2021 schedule. Both times, lightweights Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor met in the main event of numbered cards.
Who do you see winning in a fight between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington?
UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou has flirted with the idea of boxing against Tyson Fury, but Sean O’Malley doesn’t like his odds.
Ngannou is set to face Ciryl Gane for the unified UFC heavyweight title at UFC 270. It’s been quite the buildup to the fight, featuring his strained relationship with his former coach Fernand Lopez.
After winning his trilogy with Deontay Wilder, Fury is widely expected to face Dillian Whyte next after a mandatory negotiation order. It’s unclear if and when the fight will happen as an official date hasn’t been targeted.
During a recent episode of his podcast, O’Malley explained why he feels Ngannou wouldn’t match up well against Fury.
“Ngannou vs. Fury potential boxing fight. If I’m being real, I’ve seen Ngannou throw [punches] like he doesn’t have a lot of boxing skills,” O’Malley said. “If you see how he throws some of his punches, it’s not like a good one too. It’s not even close [to Fury’s level]. With that being said, he could still catch him. He’s got that much f***ing power. Ngannou’s probably got more power than Wilder I’d say… So if they’re in a boxing ring, Francis is so big and terrifying but Tyson Fury would probably piece him up.”
After the negotiations with Whyte stalled, Fury and Ngannou have gone at it on social media for a potential crossover fight. Ngannou, who has long hinted at a move to boxing, has publicly entertained the idea of fighting Fury.
Ngannou has been at odds with the UFC brass for months over an ongoing contract dispute. While UFC President Dana White has expressed recent optimism regarding a new contract for Ngannou, it’s unclear if a deal will get done with one fight left.
O’Malley is arguably one of the best strikers in MMA today and seems to know what he’s talking about when it comes to the boxing aspect of fighting. Ngannou vs. Fury may or may not happen, but O’Malley certainly thinks that Ngannou should stay away from the potential matchup.
How do you think a Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou matchup would play out?
Mendes signed a multi-fight deal with BKFC despite still being technically under contract with the UFC. Shortly after signing with BKFC, he praised the UFC for allowing him to continue this new chapter in his fight career.
Mendes is expected to face Joshuah Alvarez in a 155-pound bout on Feb. 19 in Hollywood, FL. BKFC has yet to make an official announcement of the booking and Mendes’ opponent for his debut.
Alvarez fell in his BKFC debut last November to Arthur Walcott-Ceesay.
Chad Mendes Makes His Fighting Return After Lengthy Absence
Mendes had a bit of a rocky exit from the UFC after losing multiple featherweight title shots. Following his loss to Frankie Edgar in late 2015, he was served with a two-year USADA suspension after an out-of-competition test found growth hormone in Mendes’ system.
Mendes would eventually return in July 2018 to earn a first-round knockout over Myles Jury. He would then go on to lose to current featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 232.
After his loss to Volkanovski, Mendes announced his retirement from MMA. During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, he announced his return to fighting in bare-knuckle, with an eventual return to MMA still on the table.
At 36 years old, Mendes still has the opportunity to fight at an elite level. He’ll look to silence the doubters next month in the BKFC ring.
How do you think Chad Mendes will do in bare knuckle?
Giga Chikadze is using some words from the boss as motivation.
This Saturday night, Giga Chikadze will be facing arguably the toughest test yet of his UFC career when he fights Calvin Kattar in the main event of UFC Vegas 46. Coming into this match-up, Chikadze feels he is close to a title shot and, with a win, will surely be campaigning for one. And he will be walking into the Octagon with some motivation he received from UFC President Dana White.
“I even had a quick chat with Dana since I was at the P.I.,” Chikadze told MMA Junkie. “We had some interactions there. He said, ‘You’re right there. Handle your business and then we’ll talk after.’ (I have) even more motivation from that, I guess.”
Chikadze is coming into this bout with Kattar having won every fight he has had in the UFC. He made his promotional debut in Sept. 2019 and has been working his way up to the top. His last three wins were all TKO victories, and each earned him a performance bonus. He is now ranked eighth in the division. And with a victory over Kattar this Saturday, he should find himself ranked in the top five.
“I just want to warn everybody that I have a fight this weekend,” Chikadze said. “I’ll be knocking out people that no one would believe I was going to knock them out – in a minute, in a striking way, in this, in that. I just want them to open their eyes and watch this weekend very well, and after this make a decision. I’m just concentrating to perform the best I’ve ever been.”
Kattar is not an easy opponent for anyone. He is coming off a loss against former champion Max Holloway in a Fight of the Night performance. Prior to that, he had two straight wins over top opponents and is currently sitting in the number five spot in the rankings. This bout between Kattar and Chikadze could hold title implications now that Holloway is out of his title shot against Alexader Volkanovski.
Do you think Giga Chikadze has what it takes to beat Calvin Kattar and fight for a title?
UFC welterweight prospect Michel Pereira will fight at UFC Vegas 46 after all, as Andre Fialho will step up as a fill-in for Muslim Salikhov.
Salikhov pulled out just days before the fight due to an undisclosed illness, as first reported by MMA Fighting. The promotion had been rushing in recent days to find an opponent for Pereira ahead of his originally scheduled co-main event slot.
Fialho is an intriguing welterweight prospect who has won four-straight fights in smaller promotions overseas such as UAE Warriors and XMMA. He last fought in October in a first-round knockout over Stefan Sekulić.
Pereira is arguably one of the most exciting strikers in the welterweight division, with an unusual style and wild techniques. He’s won three fights in a row in an impressive fashion over Niko Price, Khaos Williams, and Zelim Imadaev.
Before his recent stint in UAE Warriors, Fialho had made the rounds in Bellator, PFL, and Legacy. He’s earned wins over former UFC standout James Vick and AJ Matthews.
Fialho should present a tough challenge to Pereira on short notice, as he’s accumulated 11 of his 14 wins by knockout. All four of his consecutive wins have been finished within two rounds.
After his recent wins, Pereira has called out Nate Diaz on numerous occasions, despite not getting a clear response from the Stockton native. Another impressive win over a tough prospect such as Fialho would further propel him into welterweight contention.
Are you excited about Michel Pereira’s return to the Octagon?
Rising UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley has revealed why he expects to fall short of another three-fight year in 2022.
Whilst not matching the years the likes of Charles Oliveira and Kamaru Usman had inside the Octagon in 2021, O’Malley certainly increased his stock and hype with victories over three unranked opponents
Heading into the year, “Sugar” was looking to rebound from his first loss in professional MMA, a setback that came against Marlon “Chito” Vera in August 2020 at UFC 252. In his first appearance of 2021, O’Malley returned to the win column by brutally knocking out the once-highly-touted prospect Thomas Almeida at UFC 260.
Fast forward four months and the 27-year-old was back on a winning streak. After the withdrawal of Louis Smolka, O’Malley was matched up with promotional newcomer Kris Moutinho at UFC 264. On his way to a third-round TKO triumph, the Montana native put in a record-breaking striking performance.
In his third fight of the year, O’Malley recorded his third finish and secured his third post-fight bonus of 2021. At UFC 269, he knocked out formerly ranked bantamweight Raulian Paiva inside the opening round.
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O’Malley Says Injury Will Likely Prevent Another 3-Fight Year
Since returning from injury and a USADA suspension in 2020, O’Malley has been an active presence in the division, competing six times since March 2020. However, “Sugar” believes his two-year streak of fitting three fights into both 2020 and 2021 will end in 2022.
During a recent interview with Michael Bisping, O’Malley was seen wearing a cast after injuring his thumb in his last outing against Paiva. Despite being set to get the cast off in the coming days, the #12-ranked bantamweight won’t be rushing back into camp, a level of caution he expects to limit his activity to two appearances in the Octagon across the next 12 months.
“The last two years, I’ve gotten three fights in each year. I think that’s kind of a good pace right now. I’m thinking this year, 2022, I really wanna get three fights in, but I don’t wanna force anything. So, you know, this year might only allow for two, just kind of considering where my thumb’s at right now. It’s not bad, I get the cast off next week, but I don’t wanna push or force any training camps or anything.”
With O’Malley admitting he’s unlikely to make the UFC 272 card in March, “Sugar” expects to wait for the next pay-per-view scheduled for Las Vegas before returning.
With UFC 273 set for New York and rumors that UFC 274 could signal the promotion’s return to Brazil, fans may be waiting until early summer before seeing O’Malley back inside the cage.
Who would you like to see Sean O’Malley face next?
UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler is hoping to test his skills at welterweight, and has thrown his name into the hat to face Nate Diaz.
Since arriving in the Octagon last year, Chandler has grown into both a fan favorite and legitimate contender in the 155-pound division. In just three fights, the former three-time Bellator champion has fought for the title and been involved in a consensus Fight of the Year clash against Justin Gaethje in Madison Square Garden.
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Despite now boasting a negative 1-2 record in the UFC, Chandler remains one of the top fighters at 155 pounds, and not many other stars will attract as much attention with their outings as he will in 2022. While he’s currently taking an extended break from the Octagon, he’s also not shied away from interacting with potential next opponents.
Chandler Adds New Name To His List Of Potential Opponents
During an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Chandler suggested a potential matchup with Nate Diaz has been flying under the radar. Nevertheless, he believes that clash needs to happen while both men remain in the promotion.
“Nate Diaz, nobody’s ever talked about me and Nate Diaz fighting, but for some reason I’m like, ‘I feel like me and Nate Diaz should probably share the Octagon at some point.’ And obviously… I know his contract is coming to a close, he’s looking at fighting Poirier, that’s the fight he says he wants, but then he called the UFC and the UFC said, ‘Poirier sucks.’ [LAUGHS]. That tweet was genius.”
If the bout does come to fruition, Chandler has no doubts it would mark his debut at welterweight. Discussing whether that could signal a permanent move up to 170 pounds, Chandler admitted he’d like to avoid making the cut to 155 pounds unless it’s to fight for the title or to face McGregor.
“Yeah, we’ll throw Nate Diaz’s name in the hat. And I’d love to fight at 170 instead of 155, I’ll tell you that much. Definitely when I fight Diaz, it’s gonna be at 170, for sure. I’ve been competing in the 150s since I was a senior in high school… That 150-something is not very fun. Health-wise, it’s one of the things that makes it hard in this sport.
“When I got done with this last fight, I said I don’t want to make 155 unless it was Conor or for the title. Obviously I lost that fight, I’m not fighting for the title next, and Conor could be a long shot at this point… We’ll see what happens, I definitely don’t wanna make 155 but I’m a man of my word and I signed a contract at 155 pounds.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWlVrnzpEAr/
It’s clear that Michael Chandler has a lot of options and a lot of ambitions in the UFC. And while he’s taking the necessary time to recover form his last fight, we can expect to see “Iron” back in a big fight, on a big card, and with big implications later this year.
Would you like to see Michael Chandler face Nate Diaz at welterweight?
UPDATE: The rematch will officially take place at UFC 273 on April 9 per a Tuesday report from MMA journalist Ariel Helwani.
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Aljamain Sterling confirmed reports that his rematch with Petr Yan at UFC 272 may get pushed back to April.
Sterling got the belt via disqualification after Yan landed an illegal knee at UFC 259. The UFC has attempted to put the rematch together on multiple occasions, but injuries and other issues have come to the surface.
Sterling and Yan were supposed to fight at UFC 267 before Sterling pulled out due to lingering health issues. Yan would then fight and beat Cory Sandhagen for the interim bantamweight title.
During a recent post on social media, Sterling confirmed rumors that the Yan rematch may be in jeopardy once again.
“Yes, they’re talking about pushing my fight back to April,” Sterling said. “Not because of me. This is what I was told: [Mocking] ‘Yan isn’t vaccinated so he can’t fight in March’.
“I actually respect his gangster. If this is the real reason, I actually respect his stance. I respect it, but it doesn’t make any sense. And I’m making fun of it because it’s like, is he going to be vaccinated in April? I don’t think so. So what are we doing?
“I just want to know when we’re fighting. It’s about time we get to punch each other in the face. So, hopefully, we can figure this out sooner rather than later, unify these belts and figure out who is really the guy.”
The tension between Sterling and Yan has skyrocketed in recent months. Sterling has accused Yan of using performance-enhancing drugs, which Yan has vehemently denied.
Since the time of their first matchup, the UFC’s bantamweight division has grown into arguably the most stacked division in the sport. The title picture is in desperate need of clarity, beginning with the second chapter of Sterling vs. Yan.
As of now, it appears that the fight could likely get pushed back to UFC 273 in April, which is slated to be the promotion’s pay-per-view in Brooklyn, NY. Therefore, fans may have to wait a little longer to see these two rivals go to battle once again.
What is your reaction to the Aljamain Sterling/Petr Yan rematch getting pushed back once again?
Jake Paul has been teasing a transition to MMA, which he recently stated would include training with AKA.
Jake Paul has taken the world of boxing by storm. He burst onto the scene and began to dismantle former UFC fighters one by one. Now, he is teasing a transition to MMA to continue his rise in combat sports.
Recently, he teased that he will be joining the top MMA gym American Kickboxing Academy (AKA). This is the home gym for UFC greats Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier, and Cain Velasquez. Head coach of AKA Javier Mendez addressed this rumor of Paul joining the team in an interview with The Schmo.
“It could happen. But like anybody, we have to go through all the coaches and all the fighters that are here,” Mendez explained. “And anybody that’s a famous athlete like him, they would go through the routine that everybody does. So he would have to get voted by everybody—not everybody. If there’s one person in particular that doesn’t want him here for that particular reason, he can’t be here.”
Although Mendez is impressed with what Paul has been able to do so far in the boxing world, that doesn’t mean he will have the same effect in MMA. AKA has been the home to many top-ranked UFC fighters over the years but the addition of Paul could make some new waves for the gym. Mendez likes the fire Paul has lit for himself so far but says there have yet to be any actual discussions of Paul joining the team.
“First of all, he’s never asked. What he’s done is he’s marketed himself out there beautifully,” Mendez said. “I love the plug he gave us. I think it was a fantastic plug, and I think he is a fantastic person, and I think that he markets himself fantastic. I love what he does. He creates interest. How could you not like a guy who creates interest?”
Although there seems to be some level of interest from both parties, the deal to have Paul join the likes of Nurmagmoedov is far from set. Paul was involved with a public spat with AKA alum Daniel Cormier last year. The animosity between these two could be one thing that prevents the YouTuber from joining the AKA ranks, as everyone at AKA would have to sign off on his membership.
“I sent him a text of encouragement, a heartfelt message. I felt it was the right type of message to send because it was legit,” Mendez said. “And he, in turn, returned the favor by talking about training with us. But the reality is that no matter who you are, it could be the greatest fighter whatever you still have to go through the team to consent to train with us.”
Would you like to see Paul join AKA and begin his MMA career under Mendez and Nurmagomedov?
Khamzat Chimaev was involved in an incident at an MMA event.
According to several reports, Chimaev was sitting in the front row to cheer on one of his teammates. After the ref called the fight off, the Swede then jumped the rails to make his way toward the cage to protest the stoppage.
Security was quick to get Chimaev and intervened, but a small scuffle did happen.
The good news is, no one was hurt in the altercation, and security was able to calm Chimaev down rather quickly.
The 10-0 Khamzat Chimaev is currently the 11th-ranked welterweight and is coming off a submission win over Li Jingliang at UFC 267 in the first round. It was his fourth win inside the Octagon as he also has a one-punch KO win over Gerald Meerschaert and stoppage wins over Rhys McKee and John Phillips in 10 days.
Chimaev does not have his next fight booked, but many are hoping he gets a title shot sometime soon. As it stands, a bout against Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 appears the most likely scenario.
Chimaev has been considered one of the most feared men in the UFC. Dana White has claimed that other welterweights do not want to fight him, while Chael Sonnen believes he’s already psychologically defeated the entire division.
“There’s a lot of ways to beat a guy, but if you can do it psychologically and you never have to get out there,” Sonnen explained on his Beyond the Fight show. “Dan Henderson had a great line one time, which is Dan was in a bar with somebody, and the guy said, ‘Hey, Dan. If I get in some trouble, you know, will you walk over there, beat this guy down for me?’ And Dan simply said, ‘Why do I need to beat him down when I can stare him down?’ And that rule of life doesn’t go away…”
“You can stare a guy down, and he backs down; it is the art of war because the great generals never fire a shot,” Sonnen said. “They don’t need to. They align their troops and make the other people retreat. And if Chimaev is successfully doing that – If less than 20 minutes of action, three double-legs, a rear-naked choke, and a left hook – If that’s going to scare an entire division away in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, then shame on them. Fair play by Chimaev.”
What do you make of Khamzat Chimaev being restrained by security?
