The entire MMA world was abuzz over Ronda Rousey’s second KO straight loss in what would ultimately be her final bout in the UFC. Among those to chime in was Bellator’s Michael Venom Page (MVP).
The following article was published five years ago today. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.
On This Day Five Years Ago…
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 1, 2017, 3:25 PM]
Headline: Michael Page Pokes Fun at Ronda Rousey With Dance
Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.
It’s no secret that Bellator’s Michael Page is flashy and flamboyant. The welterweight has turned some heads with his fighting style and highlight-reel knockouts. His stunning flying knee knockout of Evangelista Santos caused “Cyborg” to suffer a fractured skull.
“Venom’s” flashiness has transitioned outside the cage. He took to his Instagram account to ring in the new year. He has created a new “Do the Rousey” dance. In the video, Page mocks “Rowdy’s” defense in her women’s bantamweight title fight against Amanda Nunes at UFC 207.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30XOnleTw_w
Rousey was starched by “The Lioness” in 48 seconds at the final Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event of 2016. It was “Rowdy’s” first bout since she was knocked out by Holly Holm in Nov. 2015. Following her second straight knockout defeat, the Internet has exploded with jokes and memes at her expense.
Count “MVP” in as one of those taking full advantage.
Page has yet to taste defeat with a 12-0 record and has competed for Bellator eight times. While Page is known for his exciting style, his last bout with Fernando Gonzalez was seen by many as a snoozer. “Venom” walked away with a split decision win.
Anthony Smith doesn’t understand the backlash to his commentary on fights.
When Anthony Smith isn’t in the cage beating down top-tier fighters, the Texas native often finds himself working the UFC’s broadcast desk. Between fights, Smith breaks down and gives his predictions on the upcoming bouts. Typically, he’s joined by Michael Eaves, Chael Sonnen, and Rashad Evans, among others.
While the desk job may seem a little cushier than throwing blows in the cage, it comes with its own downsides. One of those is that he frequently upsets fans and fellow fighters with his words (h/t MMA Fighting).
“It’s so weird,” Smith said while appearing on The Fighter vs. The Writer. “I’ve seen comments and gotten tagged in stuff where people actually say ‘why is Anthony Smith just up there running his mouth all the time!’ It is the weirdest comment when people say that or I’ll hear things from other gyms where a guy is all pissed off and mad about what I said. He’s like ‘he’s always up there talking sh*t.’
“I don’t know if you guys know this — I get paid a lot of money to just run my mouth and give my opinion. That’s why I’m up there running my mouth all the time. That’s literally my job. I’m paid to answer the questions that people ask me. I don’t know what they expect. I’m not going to bullsh*t you and I’ve always told fighters if you guys have issues with something I say, I’m an open book. If you want to come talk about it, I’ll tell you why I said it and I’ll give you my analysis. Text me. I’ll tell you.”
Anthony Smith finishes Ryan Spann
In picking fights, Smith is always going to have to pick someone to lose. For fighters who pay attention to his analyses, it may ruffle some feathers. Others surely understand the job and let the predictions roll off their back.
People may berate Smith for his commentary, but it’s hard to downplay his fighting skills. The UFC has Smith ranked at #4in his division. He’s currently on a three-fight win streak, with each of those victories coming via stoppage. Most recently, “Lionheart” made quick work of Ryan Spann in their main event in September of last year.
After Ronda Rousey was knocked out for the second time after once being viewed as an unstoppable force, everyone in the MMA community pondered what might be next for her and where she’d go from there. That includes former light heavyweight king Jon Jones.
Rousey has not competed since the loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in 2016.
The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
On This Day Five Years Ago…
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 1, 2017, 11:28 AM]
Headline: Jon Jones On Ronda Rousey’s Loss: “What She Does Next Will Truly Determine Her Legacy”
Author: Matt Boone
Many have reacted to the second professional MMA loss UFC mega-star Ronda Rousey suffered at the hands of UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes in their 48-second main event at UFC 207 this past Friday night, the latest of which is a teammate of the first woman that handed Rousey the taste of defeat, Holly Holm, as Jon “Bones” Jones has chimed in with his thoughts on the matter.
Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, who is currently serving a one-year suspension for testing positive ahead of his scheduled rematch with Daniel Cormier at the landmark UFC 200 event in July of 2016, took to social media this weekend where he posted a series of tweets to Rousey regarding her loss to Nunes.
“My advice to Ronda [Rousey] would be to pick yourself up and try again,” wrote Jones. “I believe Rousey will be a champion for the rest of her life, even if she never wins another fight I think it’s important for Ronda to show her fans how great she truly is by displaying her courage and giving it another try.”
Jones continued, “What she does next will truly determine her legacy. I really hope she chooses to be a unbroken. Her story doesn’t have to be over here. I also still believe she beats 90% of the division. Lots of ass kicking still to be done, lots of money to be made.”
Agreeing with what has been a big part of the story coming out of both of her losses, Jones pointed to the team and coaches Rousey currently works with as something that he feels would be wise to address if she were to consider a return to the Octagon.
“Maybe she just needs to [compliment] her coach with an MMA family,” Jones continued. “Maybe she should join one of the bigger MMA teams. Being around other bad asses and constantly sharing your spotlight could be good for you [in] so many ways.”
“They can improve on your humility,” said Jones. “Constantly being humbled is never a bad thing in a sport like this.”
For video highlights of Ronda Rousey’s 48-second TKO loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 from this past Friday night, click here. You can also view Jones’ tweets below.
My advice to Ronda would be to pick yourself up and try again.
Francis Ngannou’s coach knows that Ciryl Gane is a tough opponent for the champ.
A UFC heavyweight championship unification bout is on the horizon. Champion Francis Ngannou will be taking on interim champion Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 on Jan. 22. This is a very important fight for both men, but maybe more so for Ngannou. This will be his first title defense and could have a huge impact on his future with the UFC.
His coach Eric Nicksick spoke to Morning Kombat to break down what he feels is Gane’s biggest threat.
“I think his [Ciryl Gane’s] composure, I think his efficiency,” Nicksick said (via Sportskeeda). “I think efficiency comes to mind when I see him. I was more impressed with his [Alexander] Volkov fight than anything [else]. I thought Volkov was gonna pose the biggest challenge. I wanted to see what he did with Volkov and he answered all those questions. So, when I look at Gane, I see a very efficient striker, very fluid, light on his feet.”
“Maybe try to get him out of his element in some regards,” Nicksick said. “Make it uncomfortable for him so he just doesn’t have that fluidity throughout his rounds. We’re gonna have to do some things to make him feel panicked and I think those are gonna be our biggest challenges to be quite honest with you.”
Gane is coming into this bout undefeated. He only began his professional MMA career back in 2018. He has won 10 fights in a row and has now worked his way up to the UFC title shot. His rise in the division is reminiscent of Ngannou, who won his first six in the UFC as a prospect on the rise. Ngannou lost in his first UFC title shot; will the same fate come to Gane?
Will Francis Nagnnou or Ciryl Gane walk away with the UFC heavyweight title around their waist at UFC 270?
The Pulse of MMA: Fan Reactions To The Sport’s Biggest Stories
In this installment of The Pulse of MMA, we look at the raw, unfiltered reactions from MMA fans to the UFC‘s nominations for Best Event of 2021.
It’s the last week of 2021, which means it’s time to start looking back at the biggest and best moments of the year. Right now, that means taking a peek at the UFC’s nominations for the best event of the year.
There were four events nominated for the honor. Below, you can find the fast results for each event, followed by a brief video recap, then we’ll see what the Pulse of MMA had to say when they let their voices be heard.
Former two-division UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has described the upcoming unification showdown between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane as the “biggest” and most “compelling” heavyweight fight of all time.
The two behemoths are set to open the UFC’s pay-per-view account for 2022 in style, headlining January 22’s UFC 270 event. When a champion and interim titleholder collide, the stakes are always that much higher. But for this one, they’re through the roof.
Ngannou has held the title since March 2021, when he dethroned Stipe Miocic with a brutal second-round knockout. After being unable to return to the US for an August defence against Derrick Lewis, Gane was drafted in for an interim title clash with “The Black Beast,” much to the fury of Ngannou and his management team.
By dominating Lewis in the UFC 265 main event, Gane set up a blockbuster unification clash with “The Predator,” whom he used to train with at Paris’ MMA Factory gym. The heavyweight landscape will alter one way or another at UFC 270, but it could drastically shift should “Bon Gamin” emerge victorious.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWpzhxhMECx/
Sonnen Reveals What Ngannou/Gane Has That No Other HW Fight Did
There are a number of storylines at play heading into the next PPV headliner. While Ngannou’s feud with his former coach and Gane’s current mentor Fernand Lopez is providing a nice narrative, as is the champ’s frustration at the creation of interim gold, chief among them is Ngannou’s current contractual situation.
Discussing the fractious relationship between the promotion and one of its top titleholders in a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Chael Sonnen suggested the uncertainty surrounding Ngannou’s future has helped make his clash with Gane the biggest, most interesting, and most compelling heavyweight fight of all time.
“I believe by the time Francis gets in there with Gane, I think when this promotion is done, when we get excited and when we all get told this story over these next three weeks, I think it’s going to be the biggest heavyweight fight of all time. Not the biggest fight of all time. It’s not going to beat UFC 100. It’s not gonna beat a Conor McGregor (fight). I think it’s going to be the biggest heavyweight fight of all time.
“It is, for sure, the most interesting. It is, for sure, the most compelling. It, for sure, comes with the most at stake here. Where Francis’ contract stands and what Francis wants to do within the organization as the champion, whether he wins or he loses, he brings those pressures with him. That story alone is better than any heavyweight story I’ve ever been told, and I’m not even starting the story of this fight… I submit to you that no other heavyweight fight has ever gone off in this particular situation, where the heavyweight champion himself, is looking to fulfil a contract and say, ‘Adios.’ The pressure that comes with that alone is more compelling than any other heavyweight fight we’ve had.”
Despite White’s latest remarks, it appears things are far from being sorted with regards to Ngannou’s contract. With all the factors at play leading up to UFC 270, the main event and the aftermath of it is set to be an intriguing affair.
Do you agree with Chael Sonnen? Is Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane the biggest and most compelling heavyweight fight of all time?
UFC featherweight contender Chan Sung Jung believes Dana White would not hesitate to bring the Paul brothers to the UFC if the opportunity presented itself.
After making their names in the rapidly rising YouTube scene, Logan and Jake Paul have made a successful crossover to combat sports. While Logan tested the professional waters against fellow internet star KSI and faced one of the greatest of all time in Floyd Mayweather, Jake has been building a record and attempting to legitimize his venture to the ring.
After knocking out YouTube peer AnEsonGib and former NBA star Nate Robinson, “The Problem Child” boosted his competition to experienced combat sports veterans. In 2021, he knocked out former ONE and Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren before edging past former UFC titleholder Tyron Woodley on the scorecards.
After his chance to add the first professional boxer to his record fell through with Tommy Fury’s withdrawal, Paul ran it back with Woodley on December 18. In brutal fashion, Paul sent “The Chosen One” face first into the canvas. While many still doubt his ability to challenge the pros, no one can question Paul’s power and fundamental skills.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXp11JYOGY4/
Zombie Sees A UFC Future For The Paul’s
Following his second triumph over a former UFC champion, Paul called out Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal, two of the biggest stars in the world’s premier MMA organization. It wasn’t the first time the 34-year-old has had the UFC on his mind.
The Ohio native has consistently slammed Dana White for the promotion’s fighter pay structure, set his sights on the likes of Kamaru Usman, Conor McGregor, and Michael Bisping, and even had a face-to-face with Daniel Cormier at UFC 261. But despite the evident bad blood, one former title challenger believes the UFC would welcome Jake and his brother Logan to the promotion with “open arms.”
In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung addressed the Paul brothers’ success in the squared circle. Considering the business acumen of White, the #4-ranked UFC featherweight doesn’t believe bad relations would get in the way of the YouTubers-turned-boxers making their way to the Octagon.
“I think that’s what they are planning on doing. Logan did say he was retiring from boxing. I am not sure if Logan and Jake are on good terms with Dana White. There was a shade being thrown around by Jake on Twitter. Will the UFC take Logan and Jake Paul in? With open arms. Dana White is a smart businessman and he’ll do whatever is good for business.” (h/t Calf Kicker)
The Paul brothers are yet to show any real interest in testing their skills inside the cage rather than the ring. Jake seems content on inviting top UFC names over to boxing, and given his results so far and the lucrative paychecks, who can blame him?
Nevertheless, should their success and the attention they garner continue to skyrocket, perhaps the UFC President will decide to dip his feet into the crossover market. For now, at least, White will seemingly continue to brush aside talk of doing business with the Paul brothers.
Do you agree with “The Korean Zombie?” Would Dana White welcome the Paul brothers to the UFC?
The Pulse of MMA: Fan Reactions To The Sport’s Biggest Stories
In this installment of The Pulse of MMA, we look at the raw, unfiltered reactions from MMA fans to the most desired matchups heading into 2022!
Heading into the new year always brings limitless possibilities that feed the imagination. Who will be the divisional champions at the end of the year? Who will be some of the new faces and breakout stars that emerge? And of course, what are the biggest fights that await?
Well, we will have to wait until we learn the answers to the questions. In the meantime, one can dream.
Below, MMA Twitter responded to the UFC’s question of what is on their dream fight wish list of 2022. Check out some of the responses below.
Dustin Poirier vs Nate Diaz Charles Oliveira vs Conor McGregor (Charles earned his red panty night payday, Justin can wait). Volkanovski vs Holloway 3 Yair Rodriguez vs Brian Ortega Arnold Allen vs Josh Emmett Sodiq Yusuff vs Shane Burgos
Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane Nate Diaz vs Dustin Poirier Justin Gaethje vs Michael Chandler 2 Charles Oliveira vs Conor McGregor Justin Gaethje vs Conor McGregor Kumara Usman vs Khamzat Chimaev Israel Adesanya vs Khamzat Chimaev Juliana Peña vs Amanda Nunes 2
Colby vs Jorge (TUF) Conor vs Chandler Gaethje vs Charles Jones vs Stipe Francis vs Stipe 3 Jones vs Gane Vicente Luque vs Khamzat Khamzat vs Neil Magny /Belal Muhammad. Julianna Pena vs Amanda Nunes 2 Kayla Harrisson vs Amanda Nunes (45er) Rose vs Esparza.
Mcgregor vs. Ferguson LW Covington vs. Masvidal WW Jones vs. Ngannou HW Title Poirier vs. Chandler LW GSP vs. Usman WW Title Adesanya vs. Teixiera LHW Title Oliveira (no matter Gaethje result) vs. Makachev (or Khabib should he unretire) LW
UFC President Dana White and newly-crowned UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña have recalled their first meeting back in 2013.
After just over seven years in the world’s premier MMA organization, Peña secured her first title shot this year. But when that opportunity is against Amanda Nunes, the outcome usually seems set in stone. After all, the “Lioness” had reigned over two divisions for years, was undefeated since 2014, and had fought off the challenges of names like Ronda Rousey, Valentina Shevchenko, and Holly Holm.
While most expected her name to be added to the list of the Brazilian’s fallen foes, “The Venezuelan Vixen” knew something most didn’t. Entering the contest with a confident aura not many associate with an opponent of Nunes, Peña shocked the world by executing her game plan to perfection, hurting and tiring the consensus female GOAT on the feet before submitting her on the ground in the second round.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXmaaWsOw5r/
Following the incredible result, which is largely being seen as the greatest upset in UFC history, Dana White has consistently praised the new titleholder and provided a further glimpse into Peña’s immense confidence and self-belief, something many branded as delusional prior to UFC 269.
During the post-fight press conference for the final pay-per-view of the year, White detailed the first time he met the 32-year-old Washington native. According to the UFC President, the champ predicted her future success then and there.
“I had my kids in some jiu-jitsu tournament when they were little. And the first time I ever met Julianna Peña, she walked up to me, and introduced herself and told me who she was. And she said, ‘I’m gonna fight for you someday and I’m gonna be a world champion’—when I met her. So she’s always been like that. And yeah, she did it, man. She did it—in spectacular fashion.”
Pena Kept Her Promise
Julianna Pena
During her own appearance at the post-fight presser, Peña gave her recount of the meeting. Whilst confirming that she did make the UFC kingpin a promise, “The Venezuelan Vixen” said she told White she would win The Ultimate Fighter.
Having proven herself right shortly after with victory in season 18 of TUF, she’s now also fulfilled the promise White believes she made in the same meeting with her title crowning earlier this month.
“Yeah, so it was about 2013. Dana had recently allowed women to fight inside the UFC and that they were gonna have their very first Ultimate Fighter house. So I came down early to help actually Miesha get ready to train for Cat Zingano. And there were the tryouts for The Ultimate Fighter. And I caught, again, heard a rumor that he was gonna be at Syndicate gym. So I took a taxi, I went to Syndicate, and I saw him in the corner, and I walked right up to him and I said, ‘My name is Julianna Peña, and I’m gonna win The Ultimate Fighter.’ And he was like, [CHUCKLES] ‘Alright.’
“And so, yeah, when I won The Ultimate Fighter, that was great. That was how the first encounter that I ever had with Dana. And I’ve been telling him, too, I’m literally telling him all the time, ‘I want that fight. I want that fight. Give me that fight.’ And I think maybe, subconsciously, he was just trying to protect me. Like, ‘No, you don’t want that fight,’ you know? He’s trying to be like, ‘Trust me. You don’t want that fight.’ But I’ve been gunning for it this entire time, and he finally gave me the opportunity, the opportunity that I’ve been asking for. And I’m just (eternally) grateful for him giving me that chance. He gave me my shot, and I’m so happy for that.”
Having secured the bantamweight throne, the next step for Peña will be to further legitimize her place atop the mountain and prove her dominance over Nunes through a rematch in 2022.
Muhammad joined the elite at 170 pounds with an emphatic performance at the final UFC event of 2021. In the co-main event slot, “Remember The Name” faced divisional veteran and elite striker Stephen Thompson.
Despite being controlled in his previous fight with Gilbert Burns, many expected “Wonderboy” to get his championship charge back on track by halting the surge of Muhammad. Instead, the 38-year-old fell to back-to-back losses for the second time in his career and slid further away from a third UFC title shot.
Muhammad Explains Why Masvidal Should Accept A Fight With Him
Since extending his unbeaten streak to seven, Belal Muhammad hasn’t shied away from pushing for his next opponent. Having expressed interest in facing surging brute Khamzat Chimaev, top contender Colby Covington, and running it back with Leon Edwards, the 33-year-old has now trained his aim on Jorge Masvidal.
During an interview with TMZ Sports, Muhammad made his desire to stay active and fight for a title shot clear. To achieve that, he believes he should go through “Gamebred” next.
Explaining why the matchup makes sense for Masvidal, Muhammad suggested a victory for the Miami native would allow him the chance to make up for some prior losses.
“I brought up Masvidal. (I’m) right ahead of him. He fought for the title twice, I just beat Maia, who fought for the title twice, I beat Wonderboy, who fought for the title twice, I’ll take Masvidal, who fought for the title twice. I beat two guys that beat him already back-to-back. So maybe for him, beating me would erase those two losses a little bit. I think that fight really makes sense.
“Obviously, big-name value fight (is against) Masvidal. He’s been saying he wants to fight guys that will get him to a title shot, I think fighting a guy like me, who’s right above him, #5, makes a lot of sense… Me against him would be a really good fight, and stylistically, I think think it’s a great fight, and personally, too… My manager slapped his manager in the face, I used to be with his manager but my team fired him, so there’s some stuff there. We could make something out of that one.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CX1Hq8KLocu/
While it remains to be seen whether Masvidal would be willing to drop his pursuit of clashes with arch-nemesis Edwards and former teammate Covington in favor of a fight with Muhammad, the clash certainly makes sense in terms of rankings. It would also achieve his goal of bringing him closer to a trilogy with Kamaru Usman should he emerge victorious over “Remember The Name.”
How do you think a fight between Belal Muhammad and Jorge Masvidal would play out?
The colorful bantamweight is a talented prospect in a division full of killers. Besides a loss to Marlon Vera in 2020, O’Malley has looked great in his UFC run. “Suga” shows solid power and pinpoint accuracy in his bouts.
Yet, as many on the internet will quickly point out, O’Malley hasn’t exactly faced the stiffest competition. But that seemed to be neither here nor there, for the flashy fighter recently took to Instagram to proclaim himself the “Fighter of the Year.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXeN9KAPago/
“2021 fighter of the year. Thanks ??
UFC 260 3rd round KO-Bonus
UFC 264 3rd round KO-Bonus
UFC 269 1st round KO-Bonus” .
In a later appearance on The Full Send Podcast, O’Malley admitted he was intentionally trying to rile people up by making this claim and gave his nod to Kamaru Usman as the true fighter of the year.
How Does The Suga Show Compare?
Of course, when deciding who should be crowned “Fighter of the Year,” one has to dig a bit into the competition faced.
O’Malley fought zero ranked opponents in 2021. Thomas Almeida was on a three-fight losing streak when he met the 27-year-old striker. Chris Moutinho had never fought on the big stage and was brought in as a late replacement, even though multiple UFC-proven fighters offered to step up on short notice for the bout.
O’Malley’s most recent victim, Raulian Paiva, was on a three-fight win streak, but the undersized bantamweight had bounced between 125lbs. and 135lbs. over the last few years. All in all, it’s easy to see that O’Malley was trolling with his Instagram post.
There are no easy fights in a promotion like the UFC, but there are levels to this stuff. Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman also went 3-0 in 2021. His current run saw him knockout Jorge Masvidal, Gilbert Burns and take a decision over Colby Covington.
Another fighter that comes to mind for his 2021 streak is Charles Oliveira. The lightweight champ overcame adversity in bouts with Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier to win and then defend his UFC gold.
UFC President Dana White thinks “Fight of the Year” isn’t up for debate this year.
White recently revealed that his favorite fight from 2021 was the back-and-forth brawl between Michael Chandler and Justin Gaethje from UFC 268. The stand-up lightweight battle took a Madison Square Garden crowd by storm earlier this year. The bout saw the ranked fighters willfully trade wailing punches on one another for three rounds.
Gaethje walked away with the win against Chandler, earning a unanimous scorecard nod in the end. The fan-friendly fight was a big victory for Gaethje, potentially placing himself as the next contender for UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira to face.
UFC President White didn’t hesitate to call the fight the best that has taken place this year.
“That’s a no brainer. Off the top of my head right here asking me that question, it would have to be Gaethje/Chandler,” said White in an interview with Barstool Sports. “It was insane. The fact that it was at MSG, the fans were absolutely f*cking insane, and just everything with that fight.”
Justin Gaethje, Michael Chandler, Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
White later reflected on how the fight was so impactful to the live New York crowd that it tired out the live crowd. This caused the follow-up act, a fast-paced fight between featherweights Shane Burgos and Billy Quarantillo, to not elicit much of a reaction from the audience.
The bout was another example of Gaethje’s tough striking style that often sees him consume damage en route to breaking the will of his opponent. Gaethje was ending an absence from the cage with the fight. He was appearing for the first time since he lost a title fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254.
UFC President Dana White believes his promotion’s product is consistently better than what boxing competitors are offering.
White recently explained why he believes the UFC to be the top combat sports program out there. He mainly discussed how he feels his promotion is putting out the most entertaining events due to high-level fights and unexpected upsets.
His recent appearance on podcast THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas saw him show what he likes about the UFC and what he hates about current boxing events.
“Every week we put on fights with the best versus the best. And many times, the massive underdogs in this sport wins,” said White on THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas. “Which makes this sport fun [and] exciting. You get these ‘holy s***’ moments. And more importantly, it makes it very fun to bet on too.”
White Rips Boxing In Recent Rant
Image Credit: The Mega Agency
White ranted about flaws he sees in boxing. He said he is “brutally honest” about the sport, as it is something he enjoys. After all, he found time for the most recent Canelo Alvarez bout while he went head-to-head on TV with UFC 268 in November.
When ranting about boxing, he claimed that promoters aren’t focused on entertaining fans.
“Every time they put on a fight it’s like a ‘going out of business’ sale. ‘How much can we steal from everybody?’ And every time you turn off the TV, you’re pissed you stayed home and watched the fight. You wished you did something else,” said White.
While boxing has its problems, UFC certainly isn’t a flawless product either.
Do you agree with White’s claim that his promotion is currently outdoing major boxing promoters?
UFC middleweight prospect Kevin Holland thinks Khamzat Chimaev is for real and could present issues to some of the best fighters in the UFC.
Holland is looking to return sometime in January or February after multiple attempts at rebooking his fight with Kyle Daukaus have failed. He and Chimaev are two of the brightest young prospects on the UFC roster.
Holland, like many of his other UFC colleagues, hasn’t ignored what Chimaev has been able to do in the Octagon so far. During an interview with MMA journalist Helen Yee, Holland spoke about what impresses him about Chimaev’s rise.
“I think he’s big for welterweight,” Holland said. “He’s big for welterweight. He’s gonna give everybody problems, you know what I mean. The way he went through Jingliang. Man, that was crazy. It’s like, if you doubted him before that, it’s kinda hard to doubt him after that. I think he’s doing pretty good.”
“We were talking about it, me and my manager, and then me and one of my coaches, and honestly, I think that he gets straight to the title,” Holland said. “One more win and he gets a title shot. The motherf*cker’s just rag-dolling people. So, yeah, be good to see.”
Chimaev is coming off arguably the biggest win over his career at UFC 267 over Li Jingliang. He’s anticipating a return to the Octagon in early 2022 against a top contender.
Meanwhile, Holland is planning to commit to the welterweight division next year. While there’s respect for Chimaev from Holland, the two young UFC stars could be on a collision course if both find their footing in the welterweight division.
UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou has revealed another pillar that could stand in the way of a potential contract extension with the UFC.
Not many heavyweight fights have had stakes as high as the upcoming unification title fight between Ngannou and Ciryl Gane. Without even delving into the Cameroonian’s contractual status, an enticing backstory has always existed: ‘Coach Fernand Lopez brings a new threat to take down his former student-turned-foe…’
Ngannou Won’t Let The UFC Stand In The Way Of His Boxing Aspirations
With the January 22 headliner marking the final appearance on Ngannou’s contract should he be defeated by his French heavyweight rival, the build-up to the first pay-per-view of 2022 has largely surrounded the public feud and negotiations between the titleholder, his management, and MMA’s premier organization.
During an interview with TMZ Sports, Ngannou reiterated his intention to try his hand at boxing, a future venture he’s consistently expressed his desire to pursue. Hoping to see how his power crosses over into the squared circle, the powerhouse suggested he wants to test himself against two of the top heavyweight boxers in the world.
“Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder. I would like to test myself to that level. It’s not the same sport, although I’m the champion, I’m in the top in this division. At the end of the day, it’s just about like trained hands, trained punches, having a good delivery system to produce bombs, and I’m sure that if I deliver my own punch, it’s pretty good, I can make some damage.”
With that in mind, Ngannou won’t be letting his UFC career hamper his ambitions in the ring. If he’s to re-sign with the promotion in the coming weeks, “The Predator” wants the option to transition to boxing to be a part of any new deal, which is a seemingly ambitious ask given White’s reluctance to allow his athletes to compete elsewhere.
“It’s always been down the line. This is something I’m not taking my eyes off of,” Ngannou said. “It’s gonna happen, either way. Even if, when the UFC and I finalize a deal, the boxing part has to be into it because I can’t see myself retire without boxing.” (h/t LowKick MMA)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CX1cUuqICq6/
Despite his uncertain future and ongoing negotiations with the UFC, not to mention his apparent increasing boxing ambitions, Ngannou will need to have his focus streamlined on the immediate task in front of him. That’s to unify the heavyweight belts by stalling the surge of undefeated interim champion Gane.
Beyond that, not much is known about who Ngannou could face and whether he will re-sign with the UFC, but what appears certain is we’ll be seeing the Cameroonian behemoth inside the squared circle before his career is done.
How do you think Francis Ngannou would fare in the ring against Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder?
Michael Chandler thinks Charles Oliveira’s 2021 run of two title fight wins secured him Fighter of the Year status.
Chandler recently joined The Fighter vs. The Writershow to discuss his personal fighter of the year. He gave the award to UFC Lightweight Champion Oliveira, claiming his two high-profile wins in the division in 2021.
Chandler sees those victories as what puts him ahead of the pack for this year.
Oliveira became a UFC champion in May, stopping Chandler in the second round to claim a vacant belt. He returned seven months later to beat Dustin Poirier, stopping him in the second round with a rear-naked choke.
“Watching what Charles Oliveira has done this year, claiming gold and then defending it against one of the best to ever do it, one of the greatest lightweights of all time [who] will inevitably be a UFC Hall of Famer, Dustin Poirier. So hat’s off to him, he would be my pick for fighter of the year,” said Chandler.
Chandler: Oliveira Takes Award Over Welterweight Champ Usman
Getty Images
When asked about runners-up for this year’s fighter of the year award, Chandler compared Oliveira to dominant UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman. While Usman had a highly successful year with three wins, Chandler thought the “unexpected” factor of Oliveira’s success is what earned him the award in the end.
“Unfortunately, it’s almost as if we expected Kamaru [Usman] to be that dominant … When it comes to exceeding expectations and that feeling you get when you say ‘man what that guy did, that makes him fighter of the year,’ that for me is Charles Oliveira because I feel it was unexpected,” said Chandler. “Would we ever have thought Charles Oliveira would be the champion a year [or] a year-and-a-half ago?”
Who is your 2021 Fighter of the Year? Do you agree with what Michael Chandler said?
In September, Jon Jones was arrested on charges of battery domestic violence and injuring/tampering with a vehicle. On December 14, those charges were resolved, with the domestic violence charge being dropped and Jones being fined $750 in restitution fees for damaging a police vehicle.
Before the world became privy to Jones’ legal update, the former light heavyweight king was well aware of his unfettered state. A day after his court date, he was right back in the gym, seeking to rebound from an inactive yet tumultuous 2021 and make 2022 a clean start in a new division with some fresh gold.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXhOaYSvHgQ/
“I said I’ll be the champion in 2022, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I feel like I’m jumping up three weight classes, going from competing at 205 pounds to 265 pounds is no easy task. Nothing great happened overnight, I’m patient and I’m working my ass off every day towards my goals,” Jones posted to Instagram.
Jon Jones’ 2022 plans include an expectation of challenging the winner of UFC 270’s main event between Francis Ngannou(c) and Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title. Jones has not competed since February 2020 and announced his move to heavyweight that summer.
Since then, Jones has been actively updating his progress on social media and has also experienced a change in gym scenery. After a highly publicized split with JacksonWink MMA, Jones is now dividing his time between a JacksonWink affiliate gym and Train Ready in Arizona alongside “Triple C” Henry Cejudo.
Do you think Jon Jones will become the UFC heavyweight champion in 2022?
UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington claims he used to dominate former teammate Dustin Poirier so much in training that he’d “leave the gym crying.”
The rivalry between Covington and Poirier, who used to train together at Florida’s American Top Team gym, has existed for a number of years. It continues to grow with each social media exchange and interview, something that was evident when “Chaos” spoke with MMA News’ James Lynch.
Covington Claims He Was “Smacking” Poirier For Years
Given the animosity that exists between the pair, it seemed like Covington and Poirier were forging a path towards an inevitable grudge match inside the Octagon. The feud’s history can be traced back to their time at ATT. After the welterweight star went into attack mode following his departure, the foundation was laid.
With that in mind, you’d expect Poirier to want to get his hands on the former interim 170-pound titleholder. After “The Diamond” teased a move up to welterweight, it appeared the door was open for the two stars to settle their score inside the cage.
Covington told MMA News that he experienced enough success against Poirier in the gym to not care if his foe hangs up the gloves without facing him. According to the 33-year-old, he used to “smack” the Louisianan around so much that he’d leave the gym in tears.
“I used to smack him around so many times in sparring back in the day. I mean, for years, smacking him. He’d literally leave the gym crying. He’d go to Make Brown, just crying, ‘I can’t beat him, why’s his cardio so good, why does he just keep punching me in the face, I can’t do it.’
“I’ve had him literally leaving the gym more time than I can count on both hands. So I’ve already embarrassed him. He knows who daddy is. He knows who the real champ is. He knows who’s better. I wouldn’t care (if I never get to fight Poirier in the Octagon).”
Colby Covington, Dustin Poirier (Image Credit: @colbycovmma on Instagram)
Poirier, meanwhile, has suggested he may never fight at lightweight again, and recently saw a potential clash with Nate Diaz seemingly fall through. Should he commit to a welterweight switch in the coming months, perhaps we will see him collide with Covington after all.
How do you think a fight between Colby Covington and Dustin Poirier would play out?
UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya wants fans to know his value.
The champ’s return to the cage was announced by the UFC earlier this month. The promotion said Saturday that Adesanya is currently scheduled to meet Robert Whittaker in a rematch at UFC 271. However, a cryptic tweet of the baseball cap emoji from Adesanya, signaling the phrase “cap,” a slang term for “lying,” made people wonder if the fight will happen after all.
The current champ took to social media Monday to urge fans that they should watch him fight live if they ever have the opportunity.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXbuCUNPUbC/
“I said it years ago, if you had a chance to go watch me fight live locally you should have,” said Adesanya via Instagram. “I’m saying it again, if you have a chance to watch me fight live anywhere on earth…do so!! I’ve had well over a hundred fights and I don’t feel like I’ve lost a step. I’ve gained more understanding for the game at 32 years young as a martial artist.”
Adesanya’s combat sports career has already been thorough thus far, spanning multiple styles and taking place across the globe. Along with his MMA career of over 20 fights, Adesanya has fought as a pro in kickboxing and boxing.
Image Credit: Carmen Mandato/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
While Adesanya highlighted his experience of over 100 appearances between MMA, kickboxing and boxing, he doesn’t see himself leaving combat sports anytime soon. He also hyped up his future fights, claiming his fights will be remembered for decades to come.
“My appearances in the octagon for the next few years will be something you will wanna tell your grandkids about being there live!! Watching me dismantle foe after foe leaving bodies everywhere I go. So yea…I’m “looking for a fight!” as they say.”
Adesanya’s MMA record currently has just one blemish through 22 appearances. He defended his belt for the third time earlier this year, going five rounds against Marvin Vettori for a decision win. As we head into 2022, it’ll be exciting to see what history “The Last Stylebender” has in store for fight fans.
Do you think the best has yet to come for UFC Champion Israel Adesanya?
Rising UFC bantamweight star Sean O’Malley is hoping to make a similarly-sized splash in the business world as Conor McGregor but through a different product.
Despite a relatively short career in the Octagon so far, O’Malley has already grown into one of the most recognized personalities in the UFC. Whether through his eccentric fight week attire, his charisma, his slick striking style, or a combination of them all, fans certainly tune in to see “The Suga Show.”
Since his rise up the bantamweight ladder stalled at the hands of Marlon Vera in 2020, O’Malley has been back to his best. In 2021, “Sugar” went 3-0 with victories over Thomas Almeida, Kris Moutinho, and Raulian Paiva. In the final pay-per-view of the year, the Montana native closed out a perfect 12 months by delivering a highlight-reel knockout against the formerly-ranked Paiva.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXuGuo5Dtff/
O’Malley Targets Success Inside & Outside The Octagon
But while UFC glory is first and foremost for O’Malley, he’s also looking to make a lucrative impact in the business world.
While he wasn’t the first to mix fighting with other money-making ventures, Conor McGregor has found success doing so like no one before him. From his Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey to his McGregor Fast training system, the Irishman has taken new industries by storm and lined his pockets nicely in the process.
Looking to follow in the footsteps of the fighter he described as the only person he’s ever looked up to, O’Malley has his own plans for building a multi-million dollar business empire. But while the bulk of that success came through whiskey for McGregor, “Sugar” is targeting the marijuana scene.
During an appearance on the Full Send Podcast, O’Malley revealed his aspirations and explained why developing his own marijuana strain will be a tough challenge.
“I think the big one, the one that’ll probably be the biggest, hasn’t happened yet. And that’s gonna be a strain, a certain strain, the ‘Sugar strain,’ and it’s getting into that business, like, we’ve tried it a couple times, but it’s tough. There’s a lot of things you’ve gotta figure out; laws, federal laws. The weed game’s tough. I think that’s definitely something I wanna get into. But you have to pick the right people, the right partners.
“I think that’s gonna be similar to the whiskey, Conor’s whiskey. I think that could be my fucking-my $100 million business. We’ve tried to (do it already) and it’s tough… I’m waiting for the right people to come around.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CULbplJLUMR/
O’Malley and McGregor interacted for the first time at a Dallas Cowboys game earlier this year. With the Irishman apparently complimenting the bantamweight’s performance at UFC 264, perhaps he’ll be willing to lend some tips to the rising 27-year-old as he looks to make his mark in both the fighting and business realms.
Do you think Sean O’Malley can emulate the business success of Conor McGregor?
We’ve got some of the best UFC commentary reactions of 2021 ready to serve right up to you as we close out this memorable year!
2021 is in the books, and as always, the year contained its fair share of memorable, jaw-dropping moments. Arguably more than any other sport, MMA elicits that “oh, my god” response from fans on a regular basis.
But the commentators themselves are also fans. And even when on duty, it’s hard to stifle those natural, human, fanlike responses when something out of the ordinary or downright historic takes place.
In 2021, the MMA world came out of their seats when Julianna Peña defeated Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 in one of the greatest upsets of all time. They came unglued when “Thug Rose” knocked out Zhang Weili with a gorgeous head kick just one minute into their bout.
And who can forget one of the candidates for KO of the year? When the “wrestler” Kamaru Usman knocked out the bare-knuckle streetifghting legend Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal with one of the most well-timed and well-placed right hands you will ever see?
There were these moments in so many more in 2021. Below, you can relive some of those great moments and also experience them vicariously through the UFC commentators, who were every bit the fans as each of you.
While many have touted UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev as a future champion, former interim title challenger Kevin Lee isn’t convinced.
Chimaev burst onto the scene in 2020, and despite a brief pause in his rise, “Borz” is well and truly back on the welterweight agenda.
The Chechen-born Swede made his initial splash on Fight Island with two wins in the space of 10 days, a modern UFC record. He added a third to his tally two months later when he knocked out middleweight veteran Gerald Meerschaert on his US debut. For the next year, Chimaev was forced to the sidelines by a troubling case of COVID-19.
Now ranked just outside the top 10 in the welterweight rankings, many are expecting Chimaev to secure a title shot with one or two more impressive victories. And despite the dominance of Kamaru Usman, “Borz” is being tipped by some as the man who can dethrone “The Nigerian Nightmare.”
One fighter who doesn’t share that sentiment is Kevin Lee. The former UFC Welterweight, who recently signed for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC promotion, hasn’t boarded the Chimaev hype train and is not impressed by the up-and-comer. According to “The Motown Phenom,” Chimaev is yet to do anything special.
“I think he’s just getting a lot of buzz,” Lee said during an appearance on The Schmozone podcast. “People see him beat Li Jingliang and all of a sudden he’s like, the new God or something. I’ve been in the gyms with both these guys, so he’s alright. But he’s alright, you know. He’s not doing nothing that’s like crazy or anything. Honestly, he doesn’t really impress me too much. He’s just aggressive.”
Lee, who fell short of interim lightweight gold against Tony Ferguson in 2017, will be looking to pursue title glory elsewhere after seven years in the UFC. Chimaev, meanwhile, will be looking to achieve more success on MMA’s biggest stage than “The Motown Phenom” ultimately managed to.
Do you agree with Kevin Lee or are you aboard the Khamzat Chimaev hype train?
Ranked light heavyweights Ion Cutelaba and Ryan Spann are expected to meet at UFC’s February 26th event.
MMA Island is reporting that a booking between Cutelaba and Spann is currently in the process of being finalized. Should it be made official, it would join a “Fight Night” card that doesn’t have a confirmed location currently.
Cutelaba and Spann are currently on the edge of the UFC’s 205-pound rankings. Cutelaba has the chance to hop up a few spots with a win, as he currently sits 15th while Spann is placed in 13th.
Spann Coming Off Main Event Loss
Spann lost a high-profile bout last time around, getting submitted by Anthony Smith in September. His loss to the former title challenger was set for five rounds but only went into the fourth minute. Smith was able to finish the bout with ground and pound strikes.
The fight was only Spann’s second loss since joining the UFC roster in 2018. It was also his debut appearance in the main event slot of a UFC card.
He had picked up a statement win earlier in 2021, putting away Misha Cirkunov within one round.
Cutelaba Riding Momentum Of Win
Photo Credit: UFC
Cutelaba scored his first victory in nearly two years recently, going the distance against Devin Clark for a decision win. This came after a bumpy stretch that saw him lose two bouts to Magomed Ankalaev and take a draw against Dustin Jacoby.
Not only did Cutelaba go winless between 2020 and most of 2021, but he also had five different bookings scrapped in that time. The victory last time around put Cutelaba back onto the right track and evened his UFC record at five wins and losses each.
Who do you see winning in a fight between Ion Cutelaba and Ryan Spann?
Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier has named Umar Nurmagomedov as the 2021 UFC debutant who impressed him the most.
Umar, the cousin of former undefeated UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, made his first appearance in the Octagon in the promotion’s second card of the year. Before establishing his name on MMA’s biggest stage, the 25-year-old had built an unblemished 12-0 record that included six submission triumphs.
At UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Magny on Abu Dhabi’s Fight Island, Nurmagomedov returned to action for the first time since 2019, squaring off against Kazakhstan’s Sergey Morozov, who was also debuting that night. With “The Eagle” in his corner, the Russian prospect got off to the perfect start in the UFC, submitting Morozov with a second-round rear-naked choke.
For color commentator Cormier, who trained at American Kickboxing Academy alongside Khabib and the UFC’s large Dagestani contingent, Umar made the biggest splash out of any debuting UFC prospect in 2021. That’s despite a host of exciting new talents making themselves known in the Octagon across the last 12 months.
Among them are Ireland’s Ian Garry and England’s Paddy Pimblett. While Garry, tipped by many to be the next Conor McGregor, delivered a highlight-reel knockout against Jordan Williams at Madison Square Garden in November, Pimblett delivered on his promise to finish Luigi Vendramini inside one round two months prior.
But despite both men finishing their opponents inside the opening frame, the pair experienced early adversity and perhaps displayed less sound defense than Nurmagomedov.
Speaking on a recent episode of DC & RC, Cormier cited the less-clean nature of Pimblett and Garry’s debuts as his reason for choosing the Russian.
“He (Pimblett) got hurt. Great performance, but he got hurt. I think I’m gonna do Ian Garry, was Ian Garry hurt? I think Ian Garry got hurt… I’m tapping out, only because they got hurt a little, but still, very impressed by Paddy, and very, very impressed by Ian Garry.
“This guy, this guy right here (Umar Nurmagomedov). That’s the guy that had the most impressive debut for a prospect. But I forgot about it. Like John said on ABC, it seems so far away. But you remember, Ryan. You remember Umar Nurmagomedov, right? Yes. Him taking the guy down, and choking him out; the whole thing, right? ‘I made my debut better than Khabib,’ that’s the performance. That’s the one. And guess what? He was clean. That’s the performance for me that I’m gonna say was the most elite prospect debut in the UFC.” (h/t Sportskeeda)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKRjRF9r4yS/
Having not appeared since his debut victory in January, Umar looked set for the chance to continue his rise up the bantamweight ladder in the first quarter of 2022. The 25-year-old was booked to face UK prospect Jack Shore on the March 19 UFC Fight Night card. The event is expected to signal the promotion’s return to London, England.
However, Nurmagomedov has been forced to withdraw and has been replaced by his compatriot Timur Valiev. With that in mind, the wait for the highly-touted prospect’s return goes on.
Which UFC prospect impressed you the most in their debut this year?
UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou is well aware of the threat upcoming opponent Ciryl Gane poses, but he’s confident he’ll end the Frenchman’s hype at UFC 270.
Whilst also marking the first pay-per-view of 2022, the January 22 card will feature Ngannou’s first title defense.
After tearing through Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik, “The Predator” had his second shot at Stipe Miocic’s title. Having fallen short in 2018, many questioned whether the behemoth had made the necessary adjustments to battle the then-champion’s wrestling offense.
Despite Ngannou’s dominant form and scary knockouts across the past three years, many believe Gane has the necessary tools to dethrone the Cameroonian. “The Predator” has witnessed his rival’s talent first hand and is not afraid of admitting the challenge he’s facing.
“He’s good and he’s just going to get better. He’s good. He’s talented, that’s for sure, and that’s the reason why he’s there, where he’s at,” Ngannou said on his YouTube channel.
However, while he’s happy to give Gane credit where it’s due, he simply believes he’s better and will have the necessary edge to get the job done on January 22.
“Right now? I’m just better, man, I’m just the man that’s going to stop the hype, and I can’t wait to get to this fight because what’s really funny about this is everybody that talks about this fight hypes him up.” (h/t Daily Mail)
While Ngannou’s hypothesis is yet to boast evidence, he’ll have the chance to provide some when he enters the Octagon with Gane at UFC 270.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22410463/ExvzEAjU8AEWOCT.jpeg)
