MMA social media sensation Hasbulla Magomedov has been accused of a threatening message to a woman on Instagram and has been blocked.
Magomedov has skyrocketed in popularity over the past year, accumulating a massive following on various social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. He’s also formed relationships with some of the biggest names in the UFC; including UFC president Dana White and former champ Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Magomedov suffers from Dwarfism, a rare growth disorder. This hasn’t stopped him from picking fights online with various bloggers such as Abdu Rozik.
But Magomedov may have crossed the line this time, as he’s been accused of threatening to take an unknown woman’s life after she posted a video of his sister.
“I will not leave this girl alive until she apologizes to the whole of Instagram, because she filmed a video of my sister and posted it for the entire Instagram,” Magomedov is accused of writing. (h/t Lenta)
On a backup Instagram account, Magomedov alleged that he took the action of blocking his main account himself and not at the direction of the platform.
It’s unclear if Instagram will inflict further punishment towards Magomedov for the alleged incident, but it sounds like the Russian star is moving forward with his life and career in the entertainment business.
What are your thoughts on Hasbulla’s latest controversy?
Gervanta Davis has expressed a willingness to fight in the UFC—if the price is right.
Undefeated and multiple-time boxing world champion Gervonta Davis says he is open to fighting in the UFC. He wouldn’t necessarily be looking to make a career out of it like Claressa Shields is attempting to do at the moment. However, he wouldn’t be opposed to a quick cash grab if the right offer comes across his table (h/t LowkickMMA).
“I mean, if they pay me — I know they probably wouldn’t pay me like a boxer’s (purse) — like a boxing match, but if they paid me enough to where I’m comfortable with it, I’d fight an MMA fight,” Gervonta Davis said on the Full Send Podcast.
Davis does not see himself suffering this same fate because when it comes to wrestling, he’s got proper hood training.
“I gotta fight somebody like in my weight class,” Gervonta Davis said. “I don’t think somebody could get me, like somebody at my weight, can get me down and pin me, I don’t see that. ‘Cause, like — I’m from the hood, we used to wrestle. That’s what we do. First thing we do, we swing, and then from the swing, we picking you up and slamming you. Like, let’s just say, I’m fighting right now, on the street, I’m not gonna just straight box you, I’m gonna swing and then pick you up — you going in the air.”
Gervonta Davis last competed on June 26, defeating Mario Barrios by knockout. Davis’ next fight takes place this Sunday against Isaac Cruz in Los Angeles.
How do you think Gervonta Davis would fare in the UFC?
UFC bantamweight contender José Aldo has no intention of calling time on his career until he has gold wrapped around his waist again.
Also is widely regarded as the greatest featherweight of all time. Between 2011 and 2015, the Brazilian defended the 145-pound UFC title seven times, the most in the division’s history. Before falling to his first loss in the promotion at the hands of Conor McGregor, Aldo defeated names like Chad Mendes, Frankie Edgar, and Chan Sung Jung.
After going 3-4 at featherweight between 2015 and 2019, Aldo made the move down to 135 pounds. Following a controversial divisional-debut loss to Marlon Moraes, which many believe “Junior” won, Aldo fought Petr Yan for the vacant belt last July. He fell short of reaching a second mountaintop after being brutally finished in the fifth round.
But that hasn’t damaged the veteran’s title aspirations. Having gotten on the board in his new weight class with decision victories over Marlon Vera and Pedro Munhoz, Aldo will be looking to move one step closer to a second bantamweight title shot when he returns to action this weekend at UFC Vegas 44. In his way will be #4-ranked contender Rob Font.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWlmBcRNwRo/
Aldo Maintains Championship Aspirations
Despite recording back-to-back wins over a couple of well-established bantamweight contenders, not many believe Aldo can attain championship status again. The great Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired as an unbeaten lightweight champion following his victory over Justin Gaethje last year, even suggested it would be impossible for “Junior” to experience a second peak.
Nevertheless, that isn’t fazing Aldo. During UFC Vegas 44 media day, the Brazilian claimed he won’t be hanging up his gloves until he secures his place on the bantamweight throne. The 35-year-old cited Glover Teixeira’s recent light heavyweight championship crowning at UFC 267, which came two days after his 42nd birthday, as proof he can mount another run for gold.
“If you look at Glover Teixeira, I’m still a kid,” Aldo said. “I want to continue doing this and I’m not going to stop until I get this title and I’m going to continue fighting at this high level.” (h/t FanSided)
Given his emphatic defeat to Yan last summer, it stands to reason Aldo will need Aljamain Sterling to walk away from his unification bout against the Russian with the belt still in his possession. if that’s the case, and Aldo has his hand raised against Font and Dillashaw, perhaps there’s another title fight in the legend yet.
Do you believe José Aldo has what it takes to become a UFC champion again?
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is slated to face Robert Whittaker in a title rematch at UFC 271, but Adesanya’s coach says nothing is finalized and the fight could get pushed back.
Adesanya and Whittaker were expected to fight at the end of 2021, but contract negotiations never materialized. The fight was pushed back to UFC 271 in February at a location that has yet to be determined.
Now, coach Eugene Bareman says the fight could be in jeopardy of happening once again, and Adesanya and his team are unsure if Whittaker and his team will be ready to compete in just a matter of months.
“Rob and his people, his wonderful manager, can’t secure this fight and they’re panicking,” Bareman said in an interview with Submission Radio. “So, they put out these stupid tweets and this and that. It’s like, mate, just relax, boys. Just train. That’s all we’re doing. You guys do the same. Let us handle the business because you guys are incapable. That management team’s incapable. So, we’ll just handle the business side of things, and if this is the direction that the fight is going to go, towards Robert, then we’ll secure it for you. We’ll do your job for you. But stop with the social media stuff. Like, that doesn’t mean anything, it doesn’t do anything. It just shows your insecurity about the fight. Don’t worry. We’ll sort the fight out.”
Bareman went on to hint that Adesanya is also considering other options if the Whittaker rematch doesn’t happen right away.
“Maybe we’re working on something different. Maybe if we can delay this Robert fight by a few months, we can have it in a big stadium in Australia,” Bareman continued. “Maybe that’s the right thing to do. And that’s fine. Let’s get everybody around together and let’s push Robert back a bit. I’m sure Robert would love to do this fight in a massive stadium on home turf. Let’s put someone else in this February slot. You don’t know, and I’m not willing to confirm that.”
Israel Adesanya Has Looked Nearly Flawless Since Their First Matchup
UFC President Dana White and the rest of the brass have yet to confirm whether or not the UFC 271 matchup is at risk of cancelation. White has hinted that the Adesanya vs. Whittaker rematch could happen in Australia once again, as their first bout did.
Since earning the title over Whittaker at UFC 243, Adesanya has successfully defended the belt three times over Marvin Vettori, Paulo Costa, and Yoel Romero. Adesanya also challenged former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259, falling short by a unanimous decision.
Whittaker has gotten back on track as well since losing the title. He’s currently on a three-fight winning streak and most recently dominated Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Vegas 24.
There’s no love lost between Adesanya, Whittaker, and their respective teams. The two sides have gone back-and-forth on social media for months and Whittaker has shared his disdain for Adesanya.
It’s unclear whether or not UFC 271 is legitimately in trouble, but it sounds like Adesanya and coach Bareman are prepared to wait a bit longer for the rematch with Whittaker.
What is your prediction for the eventual rematch between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker?
At UFC Vegas 44, Brad Riddell will face Rafael Fiziev in the co-main event. Here is a look at his most recent performance against UFC veteran Drew Dober.
Coming into this fight, Dober had won three of his last four fights. He had racked up wins over Polo Reyes, Nasrat Haqparast, and Alexander Hernandez, with all three wins coming by way of KO/TKO. That momentum hit a snag, however, in his last fight prior to UFC 263, when he joined the long list of victims of Islam Makhachev at UFC 259.
Image Credit: Zuffa LLC
Brad Riddell, on the other hand, entered the fight with an undefeated UFC record of 3-0 and a professional record of 9-1. Riddell entered the promotion with a reputation as an experienced kickboxer, with an impressive record of 59-10 in the sport.
With Dober having three KO/TKOs out of his last four fights and Riddell using his striking expertise to outpoint each of his prior UFC opponents, fans were ready for a standup battle in what would be Riddell’s biggest test to date.
You can relive this lightweight contest in its entirety below.
UFC bantamweight contender Rob Font believes he’ll need a couple more victories before he earns a shot at 135-pound gold.
Since an inconsistent start in the promotion saw him go 5-3, which included losses to John Lineker, Pedro Munhoz, and Raphael Assunção, Font has been in fine form. After decision wins against Sergio Pettis and Ricky Simón put him back on track, the 34-year-old shot into contention with a TKO victory over former title challenger Marlon Moraes.
In a recent interview with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck, Font said that while his December 4 clash isn’t an interim title opportunity, which he was forced to turn down in October, Aldo is still a huge name that he hopes to use to cement himself further into contention.
“We had to turn it (UFC 267 interim title fight) down, but at the same time it was like, ‘This doesn’t work, but we might have something for you in a couple of weeks after that.’ I kind of had an idea it would be Aldo. So I was like, ‘Yeah, alright, that works, perfect.’ It’s not, obviously, an interim belt, but it’s just as big a name, just as big of a challenge, and it puts me right back into title contention. This’ll be my fifth win (in a row). You can’t deny I’m there (in contention).”
With a win, Font will add yet another former UFC titleholder to his résumé and extend his winning streak to five. Despite that, the #4-ranked contender doesn’t see himself getting a title shot with a victory over “Junior.”
“It’s weird, it’s tough, because the division’s all jacked up. You’ve got Sterling still out, I’m pretty sure Cory is still in the mix, obviously, even though he lost two in a row, and then you’ve got TJ (Dillashaw) coming back. So it’s like, even after this win, I still think I have one more before I even get like, a real title shot.”
Font Targets Dillashaw Or Loser Of Yan vs. Sterling 2
Having revealed his expectation that he’ll have to fight again before securing his first championship opportunity, Rob Font discussed the options he’ll have for 2022 if he emerges victorious on Saturday.
As well as the possibility of facing Cory Sandhagen, who was granted the interim title shot at UFC 267 after Font’s inability to make the date, the 34-year-old mentioned TJ Dillashaw or the loser of the inevitable unification fight between UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling and interim titleholder Petr Yan.
“It’s frustrating (the current bantamweight situation). It’d be more frustrating not knowing when I’m gonna fight. But at least I have options. I feel like I have options, as far as maybe fighting the loser of Aljamain and Yan fight or, you know, maybe get in there with TJ… That’s all cool, but I’ve still gotta win these fights; I’ve gotta win the Aldo fight. I feel like we’re there. I’ve got this fight, then one more fight, obviously Cory Sandhagen’s still out there, too. I just gotta go out there, do my job, and see how this all shapes out.”
Do you think Rob Font will move further into contention with a victory over José Aldo this weekend?
Jon Jones has sent a message loud and clear to his former coach Mike Winkeljohn: tread lightly.
In October, one of Jon Jones’s longtime coaches at JacksonWink MMA, Mike Winkeljohn, made the decision to ban Jones from the gym due to the domestic violence charges he is currently facing.
After a delayed period, Jones went absolutely scorched earth on his former coach, branding the man a “miserable bastard” and implying that he is a hypocrite for allowing a convicted rapist to train in the gym yet take such a strong stance against him.
Winkeljohn has not yet offered any public response to Jones, but just in case he gets any ideas, Jones issued a preemptive warning Thursday in a since-deleted tweet.
“I’m waiting for Wink to make a statement and try to deny any of my allegations, I’ll hit you guys with some more news. Some real juicy shit,” Jones vowed.
In another deleted tweet, Jones accused Winkeljohn of threatening to ban any gym member who trained with Donald Cerrone, another disgruntled ex-Jacksonwink MMA member. Jones stated that such childish and bitter behavior is affecting the livelihood of others, even though how they spend their time away from the gym do not directly concern Winkeljohn.
After exiting JacksonWink MMA, Jones has been spending time over in Arizona at Fight Ready, primarily under the mentorship of Henry Cejudo. Jones also recently announced that he would be training at a JacksonWink affiliate gym led by another longtime coach, Greg Jackson. It is unclear whether those plans have changed in light of this newfound feud with Winkeljohn or Jones’s increased time at Fight Ready.
Jon Jones last competed in February 2020 in the final defense of his light heavyweight championship against Dominick Reyes. Jones is now expected to debut in the heavyweight division in 2022. But first, he’ll have to answer for the aforementioned domestic violence charges, beginning with a court date scheduled for January 31.
What do you make of Jon Jones’s warning to Mike Winkeljohn?
Khamzat Chimaev is questioning the Diaz brothers’ gangster.
Khamzat Chimaev has reacted swiftly to Nate Diaz’s public rejection of a bout between the two. Chimaev is on pace to setting UFC call-out records, if they haven’t already been broken. Among the names Borz has wanted to smesh are both of the Diaz brothers.
Nonetheless, Nate Diaz publicly rejected the fight on Thursday, stating that Chimaev is a rookie with only four fights. Accordingly, the mere suggestion of him fighting Chimaev was disrespectful and that Borz should not speak his name.
Borz Continues To Speak Both Diaz Brothers’ Name
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Immediately after Diaz’s rejection, Chimaev took to his home away from home, Twitterland, to let his thoughts on the matter be known. The common theme to be found in the tweets below: Borz is not a believer of the Diaz brothers’ gangster reputation.
you are the easiest money for me thin @NateDiaz209 ⚰️🤪🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
“you are the easiest money for me thin @NateDiaz209“
say hello to your older brother, tell him not to be afraid of me, I don’t beat old people, he knows what I mean, in Vegas I just wanted to say hello well, poor man ran away 🤣@NateDiaz209
“say hello to your older brother, tell him not to be afraid of me, I don’t beat old people, he knows what I mean, in Vegas I just wanted to say hello well, poor man ran away @NateDiaz209.”
Chimaev would also share the following animation. This could very well be directed at the entire UFC welterweight division, which Dana White himself claims wants no part of Borz.
Khamzat Chimaev’s latest smeshing took place at UFC 267 in a swift, showboating domination of Li Jingliang. Since then, there have been reports of Chimaev being in talks to face the #2-ranked Gilbert Burns.
However, based on Chimaev’s incessant callouts and the shared frustrations between himself and Dana White, there is legitimate doubt on how far such talks have progressed.
Do you think Nate Diaz is showing a lack of ‘gangster’ by turning down Khamzat Chimaev’s challenge?
UFC bantamweight contender Rob Font believes he’ll be bringing a weapon to José Aldo that the former featherweight champion has never faced before.
The pair are set to collide in this weekend’s UFC Vegas 44 main event, which will be held in the familiar surroundings of the Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. For Font, Saturday’s clash will represent his second headliner of the year.
Since defeats to Pedro Munhoz and Raphael Assunção stalled his rise up the 135-pound ladder, Font has been unstoppable. In three straight wins, the 34-year-old defeated Sergio Pettis and Ricky Simón on the scorecards, and finished former title challenger Marlon Moraes.
With his place in the top five and title contention cemented, Font will look to jump one step closer to the throne with a victory over Aldo this weekend.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CW5-zkpNek9/
Font “Lives And Breathes” With His Jab
Aldo is widely regarded as the greatest featherweight of all time. The two-time and inaugural 145-pound titleholder defended the gold a record seven times between 2011 and 2015. In that period, he fended off the challenges of Chad Mendes, Frankie Edgar, and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung.
Given his upcoming foe’s success at featherweight, and reported weight struggles earlier in his career, Rob Font told MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck that he never thought a fight against Aldo was a possibility.
“I’d have thought you were crazy man (if you pitched a fight with Aldo years ago), especially (because) he was having trouble making weight for a little bit at 45, you know. There was a couple times where there was rumors that he wasn’t gonna make the weight and all that. So, I definitely wouldn’t have believed he’d make his way down to 35. I don’t know what he did with a nutritionist, if he got a nutritionist or whatever, but he’s making weight… Now we get to jump in there and mix it up, and become a legend.”
Despite his opponent’s immense experience, which has seen him rack up 37 professional fights across over 17 years in the sport, Font expects to have something new for Aldo. The Massachusetts native doubts that “Junior” has ever faced a jab quite like his.
“It’s crazy because he’s fought everybody you could think of, from Max Holloway to Volkanovski to Faber, back in the day with WEC. He’s seen it, done it, so there’s nothing that I can throw at him that he hasn’t seen, except for how consistent I am with my jab and how much I believe in it; how dedicated I am to it. I do believe that I’m really consistent and accurate with it, and I don’t think he’s ever fought anyone that lives and breathes with their jab.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWlmBcRNwRo/
As well as the blockbuster main event between Font and Aldo, a number of other matchups are set to thrill fans on Saturday night. In the co-main event, lightweight friends Brad Riddell and Rafael Fiziev will throw down in a fight many believe will earn the Fight of the Night honor.
Elsewhere, the likes of Jimmy Crute, Jamahal Hill, Alonzo Menifield, Mickey Gall, Louis Smolka, Clay Guida, and Brendan Allen will all be in action. It stands to reason they’ll set the table nicely for the night’s bantamweight main course.
Who do you think will have their hand raised in the UFC Vegas 44 main event, Rob Font or José Aldo?
Geoff Neal has experienced a bit of a rough patch ahead of his UFC 269 bout with Santiago Ponzinibbio.
Neal is looking to get back on track after losing two in a row for the first time in his career, by facing Ponzinibbio in the UFC’s final pay-per-view event of the year. However, he will be doing so just days after having spent time in jail following an arrest in Texas.
According to reports, Neal was picked up by the Texas Department of Public Safety at 3:47 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, November 25th, just 16 days before his upcoming bout at UFC 269. He was arrested on misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated and unlawful carrying a weapon.
Geoff Neal was then taken to the Collin County Jail, in McKinney, where he was processed. After facing a bail amount of $1,000 for each charge, he was released from jail just after 8 p.m., that very same day.
At the time of writing, it appears that Neal will still be facing Ponzinibbio on December 11th. Additionally, neither he nor the UFC has released an official statement regarding this incident.
Geoff Neal is in need of a big win, after suffering back-to-back losses to Stephen Thompson and Neil Magny, which derailed his seven-fight winning streak. Prior to that, he was in the ICU for about a week dealing with septicemia, a blood infection that could have easily cost him his life.
Time will tell if this incident in Texas will have any effect on Neal’s conditioning for the fight or is an indication of the way his training camp went.
UFC middleweight Jared Cannonier is confident he’ll become the first man to defeat “Blonde Brunson” when they collide at UFC 270.
The two top-five contenders are set to meet in an apparent title eliminator at the first pay-per-view of 2022. Having competed across three different weight classes in the UFC, a victory would likely lead to Cannonier’s first title shot on MMA’s biggest stage.
Since moving down to 185 pounds, “The Killa Gorilla” has gone 4-1. Three straight victories over David Branch, Anderson Silva, and Jack Hermansson established himself in the championship conversation. While a loss on the scorecards and a broken arm at the hands of former champ Robert Whittaker stalled his charge to the top, Cannonier revived his title aspirations with a main event win against perennial contender Kelvin Gastelum in August.
Brunson, meanwhile, has transcended from the status of divisional gatekeeper to contender with an impressive five-fight winning streak since a defeat to current champ Israel Adesanya. After decision triumphs over Elias Theodorou and Ian Heinisch, “Blonde Brunson” entered the scene and dominated Edmen Shahbazyan, Kevin Holland, and Darren Till. The veteran will be looking to secure a rematch with “The Last Stylebender” at Cannonier’s expense come January 22.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVyuh3ConYP/
Despite his opponent’s hot form, Cannonier is confident he’ll impose his will and end Brunson’s unbeaten run as a blonde fighter when they enter the Octagon together. In an interview with The Schmo, the 37-year-old revealed his intention to adjust Brunson’s new moniker in a brutal way.
“Get ready. I’m about to bust open this UFC middleweight division wide open as soon as I turn blonde Brunson into blood Brunson, because I’m gonna bloody him up, I’mma batter him up. Ground beef Brunson, whatever the hell you wanna call him, I’mma beat this man up. Then I’m gonna move on to my title, and I plan on doing the same thing to each and every person after that.”
Cannonier: I’m A Terrible Matchup For Brunson
Despite mostly being known for his standup skills, which has helped him record nine knockouts in his 19-fight professional career, Cannonier believes he has the grappling pedigree to hang with the best in that regard.
For that reason, “The Killa Gorilla” believes his all-round abilities make him a terrible matchup for Brunson, who has often been criticized for his technique on the feet.
“I think it’s a perfect matchup for me. It’s a classic grappler vs. predominant striker in myself. But I can grapple with the best as well. And I feel that, you know, this is a perfect matchup for me, a terrible matchup for him. So yeah, I plan on going in there and making that happen.”
UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen has given his prediction for the upcoming 135-pound main event between Rob Font and José Aldo.
The pair are set to headline next weekend’s UFC Vegas 44 event inside the UFC Apex facility. Font, who has surged up the rankings after an inconsistent start to his career in the promotion, will enter the clash riding a four-fight winning streak. Since losses to Pedro Munhoz and Raphael Assunção, the 34-year-old has outpointed Sergio Pettis, Ricky Simón, and Cody Garbrandt, and finished Marlon Moraes.
After three consecutive defeats, including an 0-2 start at bantamweight, Aldo rebounded with controlling decisions over Munhoz and Marlon Vera. He’ll look to continue his road back to UFC gold with a victory over #4-ranked Font.
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Sandhagen Confidently Backs Font
Sandhagen, a former interim title challenger and undoubtedly one of the top contenders in the bantamweight division, has given his take on next weekend’s main event. Speaking to MMA journalist James Lynch, “The Sandman,” who is yet to meet either man inside the Octagon, suggested there’s little chance of the former featherweight champion getting the job done on December 4.
“Yeah, that’s a good one. I think Font will win. Is that one a five-rounder? I definitely think Font would win that 9 times out of 10 in a five-rounder. (I’ve) definitely got Font.”
Given the fact Sandhagen, who sits at #3 on the bantamweight ladder, recently fell short of an interim title crowning against Petr Yan at UFC 267, and has already fought and lost to #2-ranked contender TJ Dillashaw, it seems inevitable the 29-year-old will be matched up with the Font vs. Aldo victor in 2022.
Do you agree with Cory Sandhagen? Will Rob Font defeat José Aldo at UFC Vegas 44?
Conor McGregor is feeling the holiday spirit, as the Irish star donated to Ian Coughlan’s cause after the fighter was left paralyzed during a training accident on July 31, 2021.
A somber tone filled the room when Ian Coughlan’s accident resulted in doctors telling him he may never walk again. During MMA practice, the fighter fell directly on his head in a freak accident. Just one second after the impact occurred, Ireland’s Ian Coughlan was completely paralyzed.
Doctors also indicated that Ian Coughlan would more than likely need carers to help with mundane, everyday tasks for the foreseeable future. In response to the tragic circumstances, supporters of Coughlan put together a GoFundMe. The effort is ongoing and he is accepting donations to help him recover from spinal damage.
Conor McGregor Donates To A Good Cause & Helps A Fellow Irishman
According to TMZ, Conor McGregor is donating $11,000 to help provide for the costs of stem cell treatments.
Guys let’s get together and support this young Irish fighter who suffered a terrible injury at a gym in Ireland. Coach John and the team at SBG are hosting a training day and my own recovery permitting, I hope to be in attendance. There will be signed fight wear also! ☘️ https://t.co/RipsCbKRIv
“Guys let’s get together and support this young Irish fighter who suffered a terrible injury at a gym in Ireland. Coach John and the team at SBG are hosting a training day and my own recovery permitting, I hope to be in attendance. There will be signed fight wear also!” Conor McGregor shared.
When Conor McGregor was made aware of the tragic accident, he immediately donated 10,000 euros ($11,339) after hearing the stem cell procedure could cost up to $80,000 USD. “The Notorious” donated the money on Thursday.
Conor McGregor and his coach, John Kavanagh will be hosting a fundraiser on Dec. 18 in Dublin to help support the young Irish fighter. Despite being away from competition healing up injuries, it appears McGregor still has some time to spread holiday joy.
UFC President Dana White believes former two-division champion Conor McGregor currently has as much desire to fight inside the Octagon as ever.
While McGregor’s global superstardom and prominence hasn’t dwindled, his form inside the Octagon has plummeted off a metaphorical cliff. By the end of 2016, the Irishman boasted a 9-1 UFC record and was the promotion’s first-ever simultaneous two-division champion. In just four fights since, which came in-between large periods of inactivity, McGregor has gone 1-3.
White Is Confident Motivation Isn’t An Issue For McGregor
Given his form in recent years, the severity of the injury he suffered in the trilogy fight with Poirier, and the immense wealth he already owns, many predicted we’d seen the last of the former double champ inside the Octagon. But if McGregor is to be believed, he’s as eager as ever to fight.
During a recent appearance on the Jim Rome Podcast, UFC kingpin Dana White said McGregor’s eagerness to return is genuine, and agreed that a return to sparring in the second quarter of 2022 is an accurate timeframe.
“Yeah, he’s chomping at the bit to get back in there and compete again. It’s gonna be a while before he can start to put some thwark on that leg so, April, for him to start training again in April, is probably about right.”
Busting the myth that McGregor has lost his Octagon appetite, White claimed the Irishman’s desire to fight at the highest level still exists.
“Listen, he obviously still has the desire to compete. You know, you don’t ever hear Conor going, ‘You know what, man? I just don’t have the desire for this anymore.’ Yes, he’s obviously very rich and he’s training like Rocky in Rocky 3, you know what I mean? But he still has the desire to compete and the desire to fight. We’ll see what happens.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CW-lAT3JoWC/
What’s certain is that McGregor won’t be short of options when his comeback is due. Aside from the lightweight title shot he desires, which could come in the form of a fourth clash with Poirier, and the fact virtually everyone would accept a fight with him, a number of contenders have made their desire to face him known.
UFC bantamweight contender Rob Font doesn’t see any path to victory for Aljamain Sterling in his unification bout with arch-rival Petr Yan.
Yan and Sterling met in the octagon earlier this year at UFC 259. At the time, the Russian was undefeated in the UFC and occupied the 135-pound throne. “Funkmaster,” meanwhile, entered his first championship opportunity off the back of a five-fight winning streak that included victories over Cody Stamann, Jimmie Rivera, Pedro Munhoz, and Cory Sandhagen.
After three rounds, Yan was firmly in the driving seat and looked on his way to a comfortable first defense. However, disaster struck for “No Mercy” in the fourth frame when he delivered an illegal knee to a downed Sterling. With the 32-year-old unable to continue, Yan was disqualified and the belt left the Apex in the possession of Sterling.
We have ourselves a new UFC bantamweight champion
What did you think of that strange, history-making ending? #UFC259
Since their controversial March clash, Sterling has been on the sidelines having undergone neck surgery. After being unable to put the strap on the line in a rematch with Yan at UFC 267 in October, the former champ met Cory Sandhagen in Abu Dhabi for interim gold.
Having left Fight Island with a belt around his waist again, courtesy of a five-round win against “The Sandman,” Yan has set up a blockbuster second fight with Sterling. And according to one top contender, who sees the Russian as the true bantamweight champion, he shouldn’t have much trouble unifying the titles.
During an interview with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck, the #4-ranked Rob Font discussed Yan’s incredible standup skills inside the Octagon, describing the interim titleholder as “on fire” right now.
“Petr Yan is real calculated. He’s real efficient with his movement and his energy, and he kinda has, almost like a boxer’s approach where he kinda like, I don’t wanna say takes a round off, but he kinda feels you out for the first round, and then out of nowhere just turns it up as far as the cardio and the pressure and the power that he throws. It’s almost like he’s touching, touching, touching, and then out of nowhere big shots come in.
“He’s accurate and he’s confident right now. He’s beating everybody, he basically was winning that last fight versus Aljamain and just beat Cory Sandhagen, so he’s confident. That guy’s on fire. There’s nothing but killers in this division, man.”
Turning his attention to Yan vs. Sterling 2, which is expected to go down in the first quarter of 2022, Font suggested “Funkmaster” has little chance of emerging victorious. The 34-year-old believes Sterling has no rhythm on the feet, and unless he’s improved his wrestling exponentially, will have nothing to trouble Yan.
“You know what it is, man? It’s kind of messed up like, he just doesn’t have any rhythm. Aljamain doesn’t have any rhythm. It’s the weirdest thing ever. He doesn’t know how to string together combinations. It’s either touch, touch, touch and a big shot, and if he doesn’t get a takedown it’s kinda like, it’s obvious what he’s tryna do. He’s not putting together crazy power shots, so it’s tough man. You got a guy like Yan and you’re not really hitting him with something he has to respect. Why would he (Yan) stop coming forward?
“Then you saw the wrestling, and if he’s (Sterling) not a total different fighter when it comes to that wrestling pace and getting those takedowns, I don’t see him just dominating the takedown either, so it’s kinda like, you know, anything can happen. I don’t think he’s got a puncher’s chance. I don’t see it happening. I think Yan wins a decision.”
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Given his place on the bantamweight ladder, Font will certainly be keeping a close eye on the division’s next title fight, especially if he extends his winning streak to five with a victory over José Aldo this weekend. The pair are set to meet in the main event of UFC Vegas 44 on Saturday.
Despite admitting he’ll likely have to win two more fights to secure a title shot, Font will be looking to set up a meeting with the champ for the second half of 2022.
Do you agree with Rob Font? Will Petr Yan exact his revenge on Aljamain Sterling in their rematch?
However, Diaz has been outspoken about his lack of desire to take that fight and spoke out about it once again while speaking with TMZ. Here, he explained that he felt it disrespectful for the UFC to offer him a fight against someone who has only had four fights in the UFC and that he instead wants someone in the top ten of either lightweight or welterweight.
“I’m trying to fight somebody in the UFC, like ASAP, but nobody don’t want to fight. I’ve been trying to get busy for a minute… Anybody in the top ten I’ve been trying to fight, you know, in any weight division, whoever want it. But they all want to keep their mouth shut, ’cause they’re all scared,” Diaz said.
“They’re coming at me with (Chimaev), and I’m like, don’t disrespect me like that. You’re going to try to offer me a rookie? I’m cool. You got four fights in the UFC, don’t even talk my name. Definitely do not even talk. Fight the newer guys in the UFC… There’s levels to this, and I don’t even want to here his name.”
That said, Nate Diaz did have someone in mind that Khamzat Chimaev could fight instead. He offered his teammate, undefeated Nick Maximov, who made his successful UFC debut at UFC 266 in September.
“Hey Khamzat, if you’re in there, don’t be a bitch. My boy’s right here (Maximov), fight him. Quit talking my name. And anybody in the higher level, even playing along with this Khamzat shit, you’re a bitch, too. Taking that shit.
“You’re a new rookie. Deal with new people. Don’t be talking my name.”
Nate Diaz ended the interview by saying that he hopes to be back in action at UFC 270, which takes place in his home state of California. It will be interesting to see if that comes together since he does not appear interested in being a part of the Khamzat Chimaev hype train.
A very exciting bantamweight matchup is in the works for March.
The UFC is beginning to book their spring events already and a top matchup between an exciting newbie and a battle-tested vet is in the works. A bantamweight matchup between Kris Moutinho and Guido Cannetti has been confirmed by MMA Junkie. The bout is being discussed for the March 12 UFC Fight Night card.
Moutinho made his UFC debut in July against Sean O’Malley. Although he lost that bout, he gained popularity due to his heart and fighting style along with his toughness. Moutinho is a product of Cage Fury Fighting Championship, a regional MMA organization out of the east coast that has produced many great UFC fighters over the years.
Moutinho was linked to a possible bout against Aaron Phillips for October but was forced out of that fight with an injury. Now he will take on the 41-year-old Cannetti in March.
Cannetti has been in the UFC since 2014. Cannetti fought twice for the promotion before being suspended for a failed USADA drug test. He returned in 2018 but has only won one fight since that time. He has lost his last three UFC bouts to Marlon Vera, Danaa Batgerel, and Mana Martinez. He will have his hands full with the young up-and-coming Moutinho.
The rest of the fight card for this March 12 event is yet to be determined. The only other bout slated for the event is a light heavyweight matchup between Thiago Santos and Magomed Ankalaev. The location of the event has not been announced as of yet but should be in Las Vegas at the UFC Apex.
How do you think will have their hand raised on March 12, Kris Moutinho or Guido Cannetti?
Former Invicta featherweight champion Felicia Spencer is calling it a career.
Felicia Spencer is getting ready to move on away from the fighting life. After six years as a professional fighter, Spencer has decided to announce her retirement from MMA. Spencer cited family and taking care of her mental health as some of the reasons when she spoke in an interview with Fight Bananas (h/t MMA Junkie).
“I have decided to stop pursuing this opportunity and have no intention to continue fighting,” Spencer said. “I felt as good as I’ve ever been in my last fight and know I could have more great performances. But after 18 fights, including a few wars, I know in my heart for my future mental health that I shouldn’t be in more of those wars.
“In the fight game, that isn’t guaranteed, and I’ve shown myself that I won’t give up in the cage, so I need to protect myself by just not stepping in there. I’m thinking about myself and family 25 years from now. Mental health is an important consideration in my family.”
Spencer came to the UFC in 2019 and added some much-needed talent to the small featherweight division. After a loss to Cris Cyborg, she earned her way back up the ranks and eventually got a title shot against champ Amanda Nunes. That fight didn’t go Spencer’s way but she did take the Nunes to the distance. Spencer’s last bout in the UFC was a win over Leah Letson just a few weeks ago.
Spencer was a staple of the featherweight division. The featherweight division is by far the smallest in the UFC, so much so that there are not even a top 15 listed in the rankings. With the departure of Spencer, this already minuscule division has shrunk and perhaps could be eliminated in the future. After the past few years, many of the ladies in the division have been released or moved down to bantamweight.
What was your favorite moment of Felicia Spencer’s MMA career?
UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno has revealed the important advice his fellow Mexican titleholder Canelo Alvarez gave him.
In one of the most heart-warming title wins of 2021, Moreno reached the 125-pound mountaintop at UFC 263 in June. It came just two years and six fights after he was released by the promotion following back-to-back losses against Sergio Pettis and Alexandre Pantoja.
Having returned to MMA’s biggest stage and built a three-fight winning streak that included triumphs over Kai Kara-France and Brandon Royval, Moreno earned a shot at Deiveson Figueiredo’s gold. At UFC 256 last December, the pair went to war in a Fight of the Year contender, which ended in a majority draw.
After injuries to Askar Askarov and Alexandre Pantoja prevented them from challenging for the title, Moreno will defend his belt for the first time in a trilogy fight against Figueiredo at UFC 270 on January 22.
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Moreno Learned A Thing Or Two From Boxing’s P4P King
Moreno will certainly be looking to put in a similar display when he shares the Octagon with Figueiredo for the third time. And a meeting with fellow Mexican champion Canelo Alvarez would certainly have done no harm to that quest.
A month out from his championship victory, Moreno joined boxing’s pound-for-pound best in the gym. Not only was it an opportunity for the flyweight champ to mingle with his nation’s top sportsman, but it was also a chance for him to learn from one of the greatest pugilists of all time.
“Yes, (it) was my first time (meeting Canelo). I just wanna say, that guy is amazing. He’s a really good guy because, a lot of people thing he’s a little bit like, I don’t know how you say in English, but a bad guy, not a good people, but the guy is serious, definitely is a little bit serious, but he’s very honest and he has a really good vibe. With him, and around him, all the people around him, it’s like, very professional, with really good vibes.”
If Brandon Moreno wasn't dangerous enough already, now he's in the gym, learning from @Canelo 😬
Canelo boasts a remarkable 57-1 record inside the squared circle. His only blemish came at the hands of the consensus greatest of all time Floyd Mayweather. Thanks to wins over the likes of Billy Joe Saunders, Gennady Golovkin, Amir Khan, and Sergey Kovalev, the Mexican became the first boxer in history to become an undisputed champion at super middleweight.
Given Canelo’s incredible success and accomplishments in the ring, it stands to reason not many are more qualified to give lessons on dealing with fame and championship glory. With that in mind, Moreno said the boxing great reminded him to remain focused on his career, even with the “luxury” that will begin to surround him.
“I talked a little bit with him, with Canelo. He give me some advice about, you know, about the success, about the glory, what happens when you have all this success, what happens with the people around you. (He said) ‘You need to be focused on the goal, and you need to be focused in your career with all the luxury around you.’ But man, now I know why the guy is the best in the world right now in boxing.”
With Canelo’s advice under his belt, Moreno will push forward with his reign atop the flyweight throne. Given Figueiredo’s work with former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo, it’ll seemingly be a battle of legends’ advice come January 22.
What do you make of Canelo’s advice for Brandon Moreno?
UFC President Dana White has described surging welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev as one of the “baddest dudes” he’s come across, and claimed nobody wants to face him inside the Octagon.
Not many fighters have transcended from relative obscurity to the brink of stardom in a more impressive and rapid way than Chimaev. In four UFC outings, “Borz” has built a reputation as an always-game, destructive, and dominant athlete, who is seemingly already inches away from a title shot.
After winning his opening three fights on MMA’s biggest stage against John Phillips, Rhys McKee, and Gerald Meerschaert within the space of 66 days, Chimaev found himself sidelined for over a year due to a tough battle with COVID-19. But when he returned at UFC 267, the Chechen-born Swede picked right back up from where he left off.
Maintaining his 100% finishing record in the UFC, Chimaev submitted ranked contender Li Jingliang inside the opening frame. After choking “The Leech” unconscious in Abu Dhabi, the undefeated 27-year-old it made it clear he was ready to “smash” anyone and everyone.
During a recent appearance on the Jim Rome Podcast, the UFC kingpin said that while no opponent has been made official, they’re hoping to confirm Chimaev’s next matchup soon.
“Khamzat Chimaev is one of the baddest dudes that I’ve ever come across. He is literally willing to fight anyone and doesn’t care what the timeframe is or any of that stuff… We’re working on (getting his next fight booked). Hopefully this week we’ll have an opponent for him.”
However, finding that foe is seemingly proving to be a tough task. White suggested that, understandably, not many are throwing their name into the hat to be matched up with the wrestling brute. That’s despite what some contenders may say on Twitter and Instagram.
“Nobody wants to fight this guy. Everybody wants to get out on social media and say this or that. But when it really comes down to it, nobody is trying to fight Khamzat Chimaev. I don’t blame them.” (h/t MMA Junkie)
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Despite initially confirming he was 100% down to organize Chimaev vs. Nate Diaz, the radio silence on that booking seems to suggest the Stockton native will face another name for the final fight of his UFC contract.
Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jan Blachowicz has addressed his UFC 267 loss to Glover Teixeira, claiming he’d have “lost to anybody” that night.
Blachowicz’s career has often been a tale of resurgence and beating the odds. Having had a veteran complete his journey at the Pole’s expense in October, the 38-year-old will have to dig deep and bounce back from a setback once again.
In 2017, a defeat to Patrick Cummins meant Blachowicz was 1-4 in his previous five fights and on the brink of being released from the UFC. From there, the Cieszyn native defeated the likes of Jared Cannonier, Jimi Manuwa, Luke Rockhold, and Corey Anderson on his way to a title shot. There, he defied the odds and finished Dominick Reyes to experience a heart-warming championship crowning.
Having defended the gold at UFC 259 earlier this year by becoming the first man to defeat middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya, Blachowicz faced his first challenge from the 205-pound roster in the form of 42-year-old light heavyweight mainstay Teixeira. Joining Randy Couture in the post-40 champions’ club, the Brazilian submitted Blachowicz in the second round in Abu Dhabi.
Given his run since a 2019 defeat to Thiago Santos, Blachowicz’s performance came as a surprise. Dominated in all realms, the Polish powerhouse was outclassed on the night. Now, in an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, the former champ has discussed what went wrong on Fight Island.
In simple terms, Blachowicz admitted that nothing went right on October 30. Despite that, he won’t wallow in self-pity and believes he has what it takes to bounce back in 2022.
“Everything goes wrong, you know. I shouldn’t fight that night. But what can I do? I can just, you know, (go) back to the training, back to the gym, train harder, and try to get that belt back, you know. And that’s it. I’m not gonna be sad, I’m not gonna be thinking about the fight because I don’t want to worsen my life about something like this. I think about the fight, why it goes wrong, but I don’t waste time to be sad. I will not hide under the bed and cry.”
Despite not going into detail on why he doesn’t think he should have fought, Blachowicz did suggest it was bad enough day for him that he’d have fallen to defeat against anybody.
“I wasn’t hurt, that was just bad day for me. I will, I think, I will lose with anybody that night, you know. I don’t want to explain myself. It wasn’t my night, that’s it. But sometimes I need something like this. Sometimes I think that I need to lose the fight; I need to do one step back to do two forward, you know. When you look to my career, always be like this. So I believe this time I learned something from this fight and I’m gonna be a better fighter. Same like Thiago Santos and different opponents who beat me.”
With the Austrian ranked at #3, it stands to reason a victory over the former champ will book his place opposite the winner of the likely next title fight between Teixeira and Jiří Procházka in late 2022. Blachowicz will be looking to spoil those plans for “Rocket” by securing his chance for redemption.
Do you think Jan Blachowicz can regain the light heavyweight title?
Dana White reveals he might have an idea for Leon Edwards.
The welterweight title picture seemed pretty clear for a bit. Kamaru Usman beat Colby Covington for the second time and Leon Edwards was going to fight Jorge Masvidal for the next contender spot. Although, now that Jorge Masvidal is injured, that could leave Edwards hanging in the balance. However, UFC president Dana White might have an idea up his sleeve.
JUST IN:
Per Dana White, the UFC is currently 'working on something' for Leon Edwards following Jorge Masvidal's withdrawal from their grudge match.
Will be interesting to see what that is as White also said they won't look to book champ Kamaru Usman until his hand is better. pic.twitter.com/crWkUGOYrB
“JUST IN: Per Dana White, the UFC is currently ‘working on something’ for Leon Edwards following Jorge Masvidal’s withdrawal from their grudge match. Will be interesting to see what that is as White also said they won’t look to book champ Kamaru Usman until his hand is better.”
According to MMA reporter Chisanga Malata, White has a plan for Edwards. However, with Usman out for an undisclosed amount of time, it could be interesting to see what is in store for him. He had been very adamant about only wanting a title shot even before he accepted the Masvidal fight. Now with Masvidal out, he has gone back to requiring the next title shot.
Edwards has had ten fights in a row without a loss. He did have a no-contest thrown in there after an accidental eye poke on Belal Muhammad. Many believed his last win over Nate Diaz in June should have sealed the deal on a title shot.
UFC lightweight contender Beneil Dariush has admitted he harbors some concern over the possibility of former two-division champion Conor McGregor jumping him in the queue for a title shot.
Given his hard-fought rise up the 155-pound ladder, it’s understandable Dariush wouldn’t be best pleased if the #9-ranked lightweight was granted a championship fight after back-to-back defeats in the division. While McGregor has been through large spells of inactivity, Dariush has been grinding inside the Octagon.
Since 2016, McGregor has had his hand raised once with a victory over Donald Cerrone at welterweight. In the same period, Dariush has built his entire active seven-fight winning streak. Victories over the likes of Thiago Moisés, Drew Dober, Drakkar Klose, Diego Ferreira, and Tony Ferguson have seen the Iranian-born American climb to the #3 spot in the rankings.
During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, Dariush admitted he remains concerned about the Irishman skipping the queue in order to face arch-rival Dustin Poirier for the fourth time. That, of course, also depends on “The Diamond” successfully dethroning Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 next weekend.
Dariush said that if he finds himself below McGregor the pecking order, even with a headlining win against Makhachev, he’ll be upset at the promotion for the first time ever, and claimed he’d be having stern words with UFC President Dana White.
“Yes, it’s definitely a concern. Because you know, I always make a joke about this but it’s true; Conor can make a highlight video of him training hard and (people will be) like, ‘Alright guys, title shot. Give the man a title shot. Look what he is doing. Look at the way he is hitting the bag or look at the way he’s, you know, pushing himself in the wheelchair.’ I don’t know man, he can do whatever he wants and he will get a title shot.
“It could happen but if it does happen, it’ll be the first time I’m upset with the UFC. And I’m gonna call Dana [White] personally and be like, ‘Listen buddy, you’re gonna triple my paycheck if we’re gonna do it this way. Because if you’re going to insult me this way, at least you’re gonna show me respect with your pocketbook.’”
Joe Rogan, Conor McGregor. Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
McGregor’s quest to regain the lightweight belt, which he won back in 2016 with a memorable victory over Eddie Alvarez inside Madison Square Garden, was firmly derailed this year.
While a knockout loss in January did damage to his pursuit of gold, a defeat at UFC 264 further affected his title aspirations, but also did some significant physical damage. After a gruesome broken leg, the Irishman has been on the sidelines ever since, and is expected to be out until deep into 2022.
How would you react if Conor McGregor was granted an immediate title shot upon his return from injury?
Aspen Ladd has her sights set on a return to bantamweight.
The past few months have been a bit drama-filled for UFC’s Aspen Ladd. She missed weight, made weight in another division, made some enemies, and lost a fight. Now, she is in the process of getting herself back on track and she has a good idea of where she would like to head next, back to bantamweight and against Miesha Tate.
“I think she’s definitely stirred the pot quite a bit,” Ladd said of Tate. “We all have life experiences, right? But without knowing what’s happened to another person, you can’t just apply, like, your triggers and what’s wrong with you to them. She has a tendency to see the world through what’s happened to her in the past.”
“I don’t want to talk sh-t, but I definitely want that fight,” Ladd said. “You said some things; let’s go handle this like adults here.”
Tate is coming off a loss to Ketlen Vieira on Nov. 20. This was the first loss suffered by Tate since returning to the UFC following the birth of her children and a brief retirement. Tate is currently sitting in the #7 spot of the official bantamweight rankings. With Ladd at number four, it could be a fight that Tate is willing to take.
Do you want to see Ladd and Tate settle their beef inside the Octagon?
There are plenty of cautionary tales in combat sports, but Khamzat Chimaev is being careful not to be one of them.
Chimaev has set the MMA world on fire with the utter dominance shown in his UFC career thus far. The undefeated Chechen prospect has burnt through his first four opponents in the promotion, only absorbing a combined total of two strikes across the bouts.
However, Chimaev knows that this might not last forever and that combat sports is a fickle mistress that may deliver fame and fortune but can take your soul in the process.
When asked in a recent interview with Hustle MMA about former boxing champion Mike Tyson, who has had notorious blotches on his life story, Chimaev said that he was a fan of Tyson, even through the different phases that “Iron” Mike went through in his life. He also knows that this situation could just as easily happen to him or anyone else.
“As a fighter, an athlete, I really like him. But I don’t like what all happened with him: the violence, the pills, the marijuana, then muslims, it’s strange. But I still respect him, both as a fighter and as a person. He went through a lot of things and because of this, he broke down, did a lot of bad things,” Chimaev said.
“Iron” Mike Tyson
“No one knows what will happen to me, it can happen to anyone. A good, normal person, but something happens and you end up in a mental hospital. Like (Tony) Ferguson, right? Something like that happened to him.”
It is good to see a fighter so early in his career, be so wary of the cautionary tales that combat sports so often provide. In addition to Mike Tyson, Khamzat Chimaev also referenced former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson, who notably went through something of a mental health crisis in 2019.
While this could be written off as a diss, it instead seems as if he is just conscious of the possible risks that happen as one rises in status and popularity.
