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  • Chandler Gives The Edge To “Confident” Oliveira Over Gaethje

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler has revealed he’s picking champion Charles Oliveira to emerge victorious over Justin Gaethje at UFC 274.

    Despite riding an eight-fight win streak this time last year, which included triumphs over Kevin Lee and Tony Ferguson, not many would have expected Oliveira to accomplish the feats he did in 2021.

    After Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement, “Do Bronx” found himself opposite relative newcomer Chandler in a battle for 155-pound gold at UFC 262. After five minutes of main event action, Oliveira had been knocked down, beaten, and almost finished. Less than 20 seconds into round two, though, and the Brazilian turned the tide and TKO’d the former Bellator champion.

    While the championship crowning was heart-warming and an incredible resurrection from his previous inconsistencies, it hadn’t done enough to earn favorite status for his opening defense against Dustin Poirier. But at UFC 269, Oliveira upset the odds yet again, submitting “The Diamond” in the third round.

    The reigning lightweight king will look to extend his reign this year by defeating dangerous top contender Gaethje. The pair are slated to meet at UFC 274 on May 7.

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

    Chandler: Oliveira Has Come Back From The Dead

    Gaethje secured his position as number one contender over the likes of Beneil Dariush and Islam Makhachev by getting the better of Chandler in a Fight of the Year-worthy contest last November at UFC 268. Having failed to reach the undisputed throne in a unification showdown against Khabib in 2019, “The Highlight” will hope it’s second-time lucky later this year.

    But in his way will be a veteran of the sport who has proven everyone wrong in his recent outings. During an episode of DC & RC, Chandler praised Oliveira’s resurgence from a 10-8-1 record in his first 19 Octagon appearances to 10-0 since his loss to Paul Felder in 2017.

    “I think a lot of people would agree with me when I say that I would not have given Charles Oliveira a chance at beating Justin Gaethje up until about the last 12 months,” said Chandler. “Charles Oliveira has come back, essentially from the dead; resurrected his career from the dead.

    Charles Oliveira
    Sports Illustrated

    “He was spotty up and down, could never be relied upon when it came to performances, and just, the way that he has turned into a deadly striker, as well as one of the greatest submission artists that the sport has ever seen, as well as going out there and finishing myself, going out there and finishing Dustin Poirier; that kind of stuff comes with a little bit of added extra confidence with each time he steps inside of the Octagon,” added Chandler.

    Having faced both men in 2021, the #5-ranked Chandler is in a unique position to provide a prediction for the next lightweight title clash. While he knows full well how dangerous Gaethje can be, “Iron” believes Oliveira has “too many tools.”

    “I think he’s gonna be the most confident Charles Oliveira that we have ever seen, after the year of 2021 that we just saw and him gaining that title and then defending that title, when he steps inside the Octagon against Justin Gaethje. But Justin Gaethje, we all know he’s a killer.

    “I think it’s an extremely exciting fight. I still think I give the edge to Charles Oliveira, to be honest. He just has too many tools. And we all know how Justin Gaethje can win. But Charles Oliveira has also proven a lot of us and a lot of the doubters wrong, that he can be in there in those wars. He’s a lot tougher and a lot more resilient than we thought he was,” concluded Chandler.

    While Oliveira’s reign advances towards a date with the #1-ranked lightweight on May 7, Chandler will be hoping to secure a potential rematch against either man in his own next appearance against Tony Ferguson on the same date.

    Should the 35-year-old’s prediction come true at UFC 274, perhaps he’ll have the chance to exact revenge on Oliveira for their UFC 262 clash before the year is out.

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 274, Charles Oliveira or Justin Gaethje?

  • Paddy Pimblett Details Altercation With “Hand Sanitizer Boy” Topuria

    Lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett has detailed his hotel altercation with fellow UFC London competitor Ilia Topuria, and even debuted a new nickname for the Georgian.

    This weekend sees the UFC return to England’s capital for the first time since 2019. In two notable main card lightweight scraps, Paddy Pimblett will be making his sophomore appearance in the Octagon, while #15-ranked featherweight Topuria will be competing at 155 pounds for the first time.

    Sharing the cage with Topuria in the main card opener will be Englishman Jai Herbert. Three fights later, “The Baddy,” who is expected to be showered with perhaps the loudest cheers of the night, will collide with Rodrigo “Kazula” Vargas.

    While they may be preparing for different opponents, Pimblett and Topuria nearly got into full-blown fight themselves at the fighter hotel on Tuesday, which was apparently over a tweet posted by the Brit in 2021.

    In a video recorded by a member of Topuria’s entourage, the Georgian can be seen approaching the Liverpudlian. The pair were split after a number of thrown items and insults were exchanged.

    During his appearance at media day on Wednesday, Pimblett gave his side of the story, channeling his inner-Colby Covington with a new nickname for Topuria.

    “Who’s that? Oh, hand sanitizer boy? Is that who you mean? Yeah, that’s his name from now on,” said Pimblett. “Don’t refer to him as his name lad, his name’s hand sanitizer. It got bounced off his head. But I don’t concern myself with none of that lad. He wanted to come at me and try to act hard, and he got put in his place.

    “I was stood there, on me own, and there was about six of them. And he done nothing,” Pimblett continued. “If he wanted to do something, he would’ve come around the table and tried to have a fight with me. But he didn’t. He stood on the other side of the table because he knows what’s good for him.”

    After confirming that Topuria approached him prior to the incident, Pimblett branded the Georgian’s actions as “little man syndrome.”

    “As soon as he come out of those double doors he snarled me. So I looked at him and said, ‘What?’” Pimblett recalled. “And then he walked towards me and I said, ‘What’s happening lad?’ And then as he got close to me, he like, swiped a slap at me. Obviously lad, if you raise your hand to me, I’m gonna do something.

    “I stepped back and picked the hand sanitizer up and bounced it off his head. He swung… I moved out of the way with a bit of ease. He’s just got a little bit of small man syndrome. He’s only 5’7″, isn’t he?”

    Pimblett Explains Why He Didn’t Let Topuria Clash Escalate

    Despite the launching of sanitary objects and a few loose swings from Topuria, the pair’s altercation didn’t quite reach the point where fists connected.

    Pimblett explained that, with an exciting appearance at UFC London looming, he couldn’t risk losing his spot on the card, either through injury or disciplinary actions.

    “I wasn’t punching him because I’m not breaking my hand and not being able to fight and earn my money on the weekend… I can’t let something like that happen lad. I can’t start throwing punches and get cut off the card… Especially (against) someone so meaningless. Who even is he? Seriously, who is Mr. Hand Sanitizer? He’s a no one.”

    https://twitter.com/theufcbaddy/status/1504024299224584195

    While the interaction remains a hot topic, both Pimblett and Topuria will be looking to turn their full attention to the task at hand this Saturday. if both are victorious, perhaps we’ll see them share the Octagon down the line.

    Would you like to see Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria settle their differences inside the Octagon?

  • Sonnen: Volkanovski Validated McGregor’s Return To The Title Picture

    Chael Sonnen has suggested reigning UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has validated an immediate return to title contention for Conor McGregor.

    McGregor hasn’t been in action since suffering a brutal leg break at UFC 264 last July. The injury, which resulted in a TKO loss, marked his second defeat to Dustin Poirier in 2021 and his third setback in four appearances.

    Despite that, as the Irishman edges closer towards a much-anticipated return, it’s appearing more and more likely that we may see the former two-division UFC champion competing for gold in his first fight back.

    That discussion picked up when UFC President Dana White slammed those criticizing the idea of a McGregor title shot and announced the promotion’s intention to re-book the Islam Makhachev vs. Beneil Dariush bout. According to many, including Joe Rogan, that announcement has left the door open for the Dublin native to return to the championship picture later this year.

    In a recent exclusive interview with MMA News, 145-pound king Volkanovski discussed McGregor, labeling him a dream opponent, not only due to his stardom and the money involved but for his quest to best every former featherweight champ.

    “Obviously, Conor’s always gonna get his name out there,” Volkanovski said. “You’ve gotta remember, he was a featherweight, he was a champion of my division. So, I’ve taken out the featherweight champs, so to take out, the only one left, isn’t he? Yeah, it’s just Conor. There was me, (José) Aldo, Max (Holloway), and Conor. So it makes a lot of sense. Obviously, it would be a dream. And then I’ve taken out all the other champs in my division. So that would be incredible.”

    While at first glance, the remarks perhaps appear harmless and to simply be a casual comment on a dream matchup, former middleweight and light heavyweight UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has suggested Volkanovski’s words could mean a lot in the context of McGregor’s return.

    Sonnen Suggests Volkanovski Co-Signed A McGregor Title Shot

    In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen discussed Volkanovski’s comments. He claimed that the Australian had, whether by intention or not, provided validation for a potential McGregor title shot.

    “There is an ongoing conversation of should Conor McGregor be able to return off of a loss, off of a previous loss, off of an injury, and fight for a world championship,” said Sonnen. “There seems to be a very meaningful discussion, which got supported when Islam Makhachev got re-booked against Dariush.

    “Many people are pushing back on it, saying Conor should not be able to come off a loss into a world championship fight… It doesn’t sound like Volkanovski agrees with you,” noted Sonnen. “Volkanovski, whether he meant to or not, just gave validation, as a sitting champion of the world, that Conor McGregor can, in fact, come right back into a world title fight.”

    Conor McGregor
    Conor McGregor (Photo: Sportsfile)

    Sonnen did, however, acknowledge Volkanovski’s words came from his own desire to meet McGregor, which, at featherweight at least, is unlikely. Nevertheless, the 44-year-old claimed that the Aussie’s quote, given his place at the champions’ table, means something, regardless of which title conversation McGregor is in.

    “Volkanovski, of course, was personalizing and talking about him(self), and I don’t think Conor’s gonna be making featherweight any time soon,” admitted Sonnen. “But set that aside, you now have a world champion, whether he intended to or not, that just co-signed the statement that Conor McGregor qualifies for a world title fight upon his return. One world champion, one sitting and reigning world champion, has got to speak for how many of us? What’s his opinion worth? He’s got skin in the game. He’s got credibility.

    “You’ve now got somebody with a seat at the head table, who is saying that Conor should qualify based on his laurels, based on the success that he has had before. I don’t disagree with that, I don’t disagree with that at all,” Sonnen concluded.

    Do you agree with Chael Sonnen? Did Alexander Volkanovski’s comments validate a title shot for Conor McGregor?

  • Renato Moicano Told Corner Not To Stop RDA Fight At UFC 272

    UFC lightweight Renato Moicano has revealed that he told his corner not to stop his UFC 272 co-main event fight against Rafael dos Anjos.

    At this month’s pay-per-view, Moicano earned the respect of the masses by going 25 minutes with former champion dos Anjos on just four days’ notice. The Brazilian’s opportunity arose when Rafael Fiziev tested positive for COVID-19 at the start of fight week.

    Despite having some luck on the feet, Moicano was ultimately heavily beaten, both on the scorecards and physically. The tole on his body appeared so bad that many, including ‘RDA’ himself, believe the fight shouldn’t have seen the later rounds.

    Despite making it to the judges’ scorecards, some believe the decision to allow Moicano to fight beyond the third frame was irresponsible on the part of referee Marc Goddard, the cageside doctor, and the Brazilian’s American Top Team corner.

    That sentiment certainly wasn’t shared by Moicano, who suggested the opportunity to continue allowed him to show what he’s made of.

    Nevertheless, Moicano admitted he wouldn’t have been annoyed had cornerman Marcos DaMatta thrown in the towel, as color commentator Michael Bisping suggested he should have.

    “The fifth round was my best round because I was already tired and the ref asked me if the fight kept going like that, he would stop it,” Moicano explained. “I knew I had to give everything I had and gave all my energy to knock him out and I showed a lot of heart. They could not take this from me. It was good for me because I took the fight on such short notice (that) if they stopped it, I would’ve been really upset.

    “The cornerman has to know their fighters and the corner asked me if I was in the fight, and I said yes, I still wanted to fight. They told me to go out there and try to win and that is what I did. If I said I wasn’t ready or I’m done, he would’ve stopped it, but I told him I’m still in the fight. But, if he decided to throw the towel, I’m not going to be mad because he cares about me.” (h/t BJPenn.com)

    Moicano: UFC Turned Down 3-Round Request

    With the clash between ‘RDA’ and Fiziev originally being slated for a UFC Fight Night headliner in February, it had been kept as five rounds after being delayed to UFC 272. Despite the late call-up for Moicano, the co-main remained set for 25 minutes.

    It turns out that was in spite of a request from Moicano’s team. The Brasilia native confirmed to BJPenn.com that a pursuit of a three-round bout failed during negotiations with the promotion.

    “I asked for it to be three rounds and that’s what we wanted, but at the end of the day, I knew they wanted it to be five rounds,” Moicano said. “With that, I was willing to take the chance because he is a big name, a former champion, and a top contender.”

    Having taken the fight with the five-round stipulation attached, Moicano says he knew his conditioning would prove to be an issue if dos Anjos managed to impose a wrestling attack.

    Once that happened, Moicano says he anticipated a long night.

    “I was a little bit worried as I knew I couldn’t wrestle as going into the fight, I was focused on striking all five rounds as I didn’t have the energy to take him down,” Moicano added about his cardio. “If I missed a shot, I would be exhausted. I did what I could with what I had. It was a mental game for me as I knew I couldn’t put a high pace or get takedowns or grapple.

    “After he got the first takedown, I thought, ‘Man, this is going to be a long night,’” Moicano said. “In the back of my head, I thought he would shoot for the takedown but I didn’t know for sure. When I hit him and he took me down, I thought this would be hard because I didn’t have enough training to prepare for his wrestling.”

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

    Do you think the UFC 272 co-main event should have been stopped?

  • Volkanovski On “Bullsh*t” Velasquez Arrest: “He’s Paying A Crazy Price”

    UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski believes the recently incarcerated Cain Velasquez is “paying a crazy price” following his arrest.

    While fights continue each weekend, trash talk flies, and signings and extensions hit the headlines, one story has gripped the entire MMA and combat sport community in recent weeks.

    Velasquez, a former two-time UFC heavyweight titleholder and widely-respected mixed martial artist, was arrested on February 28 for attempted, premeditated murder. The arrest and charge came after Velasquez allegedly pursued and intended on shooting a man named Henry Goularte, who’s accused of molesting one of Velasquez’s young relatives.

    After reportedly shooting and injuring the man’s stepfather, Velasquez was arrested, charged, and later denied bail by Judge Shelyna Brown, much to the fury of his attorney and supporters.

    In recent days and weeks, a host of fighters, pundits and personalities have flocked to support the former UFC star. Per ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, the likes of Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier, Scott Coker, Kamaru Usman, and Brandon Moreno have all penned letters of support for Velasquez to the Santa Clara County Superior Court.

    Now, the UFC’s 145-pound kingpin has given his thoughts on the tragic incident. Like many, Volkanovski has highlighted what he perceives to be an injustice.

    Volkanovski: Velasquez Case Shows The Law Can Be Pretty Messed Up

    During an exclusive interview with MMA News, Volkanovski, who holds gold in the promotion Velasquez twice ruled in, suggested the Californian is paying a “crazy” price for his actions, something that he believes shows a clear double standard in how these cases are handled.

    “Yeah, it is unfortunate. You see some people doing shit like that and they almost get (just) a slap on the wrist,” Volkanovski said during his conversation with James Lynch. “And then you see someone like that, who in the heat of the moment, you can see the emotions that would’ve been involved in something like that.

    “Then he’s gonna be paying a crazy price, when these other guys get a slap on the wrist, which is just complete bullshit. Obviously, someone’s not gonna be thinking completely straight when some shit like that happens.”

    While a host of names have spoken out against Velasquez’s detainment, perhaps the most prominent was the UFC President. Describing the incident as “horrible,” White claimed Velasquez simply did what everyone, especially parents, says they would in that situation.

    According to Volkanovski, a father himself, White’s take was exactly right.

    “This hits close to home. Anyone with a kid is gonna know. I think Dana hit the nail on the head,” Volkanovski further told MMA News. “He did exactly what everyone says that they would do if they were in that situation. That’s true. It’s ridiculous. Obviously, laws are laws, but, I mean, some things need to come into play.

    “You can’t treat this as just a crazy act of madness. Let’s be real. He would’ve been emotionally unstable in that situation. That has to come into play, especially when your kid is involved… I’m hoping he doesn’t get in too much trouble for it. I don’t know. The law can be pretty messed up sometimes,” concluded Volkanovski.

    If found guilty of the charges, Velasquez is facing 20 years in prison. His next court date is April 12, per court records.

    Do you agree with Alexander Volkanovski’s take on the arrest and imprisonment of Cain Velasquez?

  • Dan Hooker Details Big Weight Lifted Off His Shoulders For UFC London

    Ahead of UFC London, fan favorite Dan Hooker has revealed one heavy weight that’s been lifted off his shoulders since his last Octagon appearance.

    This weekend sees a host of returns. While the promotion is returning to England’s capital for the first time since 2019, Hooker will be heading back to the featherweight division for the first time since transitioning to lightweight in 2017.

    A 7-1 start at 155 pounds seemingly suggested “The Hangman” had found his ideal division and was set to make a run for gold. But three defeats in his last four fights have forced a change.

    Despite feeling he can still compete with the best at lightweight, Hooker acknowledged that he can’t contend there until the landscape at the top changes. With that in mind, he’s ready to return to a weight he believes he can thrive at.

    In the UFC London co-main event this Saturday, the New Zealander will jump straight into the mix against #7-ranked contender Arnold Allen.

    While a return to his old stomping ground is reason enough to be excited, on March 19, Hooker will be fighting for the first time without the cloud of travel uncertainty looming overhead.

    Hooker Excited To Embrace Post-Fight “Freedom”

    Fighters across the world have dealt with adversity throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. But not many have had the kind of struggles that have plagued Dan Hooker.

    Those issues were well publicized prior to UFC 266 last September. Hooker, who fought and defeated Haqparast at the US-held event, was forced to train away from his gym due to the lockdown in place at the time, even encountering the police when he attempted to use his facility.

    Coupled with that were visa issues. When the veteran made a social media appeal calling for the process to be completed in time for the event, it seemed his fight was in jeopardy. Eventually, he made it to America the day before the weigh-ins.

    As if that wasn’t hard enough, Hooker has also spent extended periods away from his family due to his inability to re-enter the country following his bouts. However, that is no longer the case.

    During an appearance on The MMA Hour on Monday, Hooker revealed his relief at the opening of borders in New Zealand for the country’s citizens.

    “Freedom. We’re like, we’re back. There’s (still) restrictions, but not to our training. Our training will never be shut down again. We’re through it. Our border is now open for New Zealand citizens, so I can go and fight, and I can come home, which is just unreal. It’s unreal the weight that that lifts off your shoulders.”

    While he often appeared calm and unfazed by his lengthy stays in the US and away from his wife and child, “The Hangman” admitted it played on his mind during his fights.

    “You play it pretty cool when people are like, ‘Oh, you’re gonna go over and fight and then you’re not gonna be home for four months,’ and you’re like, ‘Yeah, yeah. I’m not gonna think about that.’ Of course, that plays on your mind when you’re fighting, especially—I’m not saying it’s any kind of excuse, but with the kind of fights I get myself into take a certain amount of time to recover from, months.

    Dan Hooker says City Kickboxing will likely relocate from New Zealand due to lockdown rules: 'Our hand is forced' - Opera News
    Dan Hooker

    “And that’s the part of fighting that people don’t see. They see you on the television and a couple days after the fight, every now and then when you post something on social media, but I’ve had some fights in my career that have taken months to recover from. Being back home, being on your couch, being surrounded by your friends, your family, having my child there, my wife there; that is everything. That helps you heal.”

    Following his clash at UFC London, Hooker will be able to immediately fly out and reunite with his family, who he’s yet to see in 2022.

    “Of course, it would play on your mind when you’re going away to fight and you can’t do any of that, you can’t see any of those people, and you’re going to be stranded in a foreign country with no friendly faces for months on end. It definitely changes the ingredients. But now it’s all changed. We’re back to normal. I fly straight back home. It’s just like, a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca1hxwEBQ8c/

    With travel stress gone and the anticipation for a new venture at featherweight, we could well see a new Dan Hooker take to the cage on March 19. If he makes a successful return to the division, featherweight will have the addition of another top contender.

    Do you expect Dan Hooker to make a successful return to featherweight by defeating Arnold Allen this weekend?

  • White Explains Why McGregor/Paul Is An Unrealistic Fight, Paul Responds

    In among his first comments addressing Jake Paul since vowing to never speak of him again, UFC President Dana White has explained why a fight between Conor McGregor and the YouTuber is “probably not” going to happen.

    So far in his 5-0 boxing career, Paul has knocked out two former UFC welterweights, one of which held gold on MMA’s biggest stage between 2016 and 2019. But while his MMA foes have, to date, been retired or released following a losing skid, “The Problem Child” has often set his sights on bigger fish.

    As opponents have changed, rivalries developed, and his influence in combat sports has grown, one thing has remained a constant in Paul’s career: callouts to “The Notorious” McGregor.

    Paul’s interest and mentions of a potential clash are seemingly increasing with every step closer to a return the Irishman makes. The former two-division champion has been out of action since breaking his leg last July.

    One man who will need to give the go-ahead should the YouTuber-turned-boxer throw down with McGregor is Dana White. While the UFC President has previously co-promoted a crossover fight involving McGregor, he recently provided a negative assessment of the chances of Paul getting his wish down the line.

    White Not “Completely Closed Off” To Paul vs. McGregor

    Unsurprisingly, the topic came up during an appearance White made on the Impaulsive podcast, hosted by Jake’s brother, Logan Paul.

    When asked if he could see a McGregor vs. Paul event in the future, White suggested that while he won’t shut the door on anything, it’s unlikely.

    “Probably not (happening), no. I’m never completely closed off to anything. I used to say that about things, but I don’t say that anymore. Cause you never know, you never know what could happen,” said White.

    The crossover market has grown exponentially in recent years, with Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, and Frank Mir all representing former UFC stars who have dipped their toes into the boxing ring.

    Despite helping start the trend with the 2017 ‘Money Fight’ between McGregor and Floyd Mayweather, as well as bringing some notable professional wrestling stars to the Octagon, White says UFC bookings involving internet stars like the Pauls goes against his promotion’s main goal: pitting the best against the best.

    “Everything we do kills the bottom. I mean, we have the most successful combat sports business of all time. What we do here is completely different than what him (Logan Paul) and his brother are doing,” claimed White. “I’m looking for the absolute best in the world. These guys who have trained their whole lives, they fight at these smaller shows, and then they make it to the UFC, and we put the best against the best.

    Breaking Down Why Brock Lesnar vs. CM Punk Was Match of the Year | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights
    CM Punk, Brock Lesnar

    “It’s just not what you do. There’s a market for what you guys do and there’s money to be made in it. I’m not saying that I don’t do those types of thing,” White continued. “I brought Brock (Lesnar) in. But Brock won the heavyweight championship. I brought CM Punk in, that one didn’t work out as well as Brock [LAUGHS]. It’s not like I don’t try to do these—the Floyd/Conor fight, you know? The fans wanted to see it; everybody wanted to see it. That’s why it took on a life of its own. Floyd and I got together and figured it out, it made sense, and we did it.”

    Even if that level of interest was there for a McGregor vs. Paul bout, White explained why the pair’s size difference would make it an unrealistic matchup.

    “Well, he shouldn’t even be fighting Conor McGregor. These guys (Pauls) are fucking huge, he’s (Jake) fucking huge. What’s your brother, 6’1″? 210 (pounds)? Conor McGregor’s 155 pounds… There’s weight classes for a reason.”

    Paul Responds To White’s Comments On McGregor Fight

    White also went on to suggest that even fighting at welterweight is a stretch for McGregor, something Paul later disputed on Twitter. He called for a fight with the Dublin native at 175 pounds.

    Interestingly, during his conversation with White, Logan suggested his brother couldn’t make 170 pounds to meet McGregor for a welterweight bout. With that in mind, 175 would perhaps be a stretch for “The Problem Child,” who weighed in for his rematch with Woodley at 191.6 pounds.

    How do you think a fight between Conor McGregor and Jake Paul would play out?

  • Fury Sends Encouraging Message To Aspinall Ahead Of UFC London

    Ahead of Tom Aspinall’s upcoming UFC London main event, boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has sent him a motivational message.

    This Saturday, Tom Aspinall faces Alexander Volkov at UFC London. Aspinall (11-2) possesses a strong record leading up to his match with the 6 foot 7 “Drago.” Additionally, none of his professional fights have gone to a decision.

    At just 28 years of age, the English fighter has racked up nothing but nasty early-round submissions and knockouts. Aspinall’s last seven, back-to-back victories mostly ended in TKOs, one including a leg injury when he fought with Cage Warriors.

    In his last dominant performance, he ended Sergey Spivak with a vicious combo of punches and elbows.

    Tom Aspinall and Sergey Spivak
    Tom Aspinall and Sergey Spivak at UFC Fight Night 191, Photo Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

    Clearly, Aspinall is capable of destroying his opponents, but in case he needs some extra encouragement, WBC Champion Tyson Fury, who defends his title again next month, wished his friend good luck and clear instructions on how to deal with Volkov.

    “Hey Tyson Fury, here. I just want to wish my buddy Tom Aspinall all the best in his upcoming UFC heavyweight fight. Good luck, Tom. Do the business. Smash his face in. Get up there, my boy, all the way to the mother(beep) bank, man, do it.”

    Having “The Gypsy King” offer words of encouragement before a big fight carries some world champion weight to it. And it may be necessary as Aspinall faces an opponent with a very experienced career.

    Russian-born Alexander Volkov has accumulated 22 knockouts in his 34 wins. His most recent fight was a loss to the #1 heavyweight contender, Ciryl Gane.

    Both fighters enter their match with a win, but can Volkov end Aspinall’s devastating seven-fight win streak, or will Aspinall “smash his face in” and continue on his path of victory?

    What are your thoughts on Tyson Fury’s message to Tom Aspinall?

  • Major Update On Potential Kamaru Usman/Canelo Álvarez Clash

    Canelo Álvarez’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, is open to potentially negotiating a crossover match with UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.

    Usman teased the idea of a potential fight against Canelo in the leadup to his fight against Colby Covington at UFC 268. After defeating Covington for a second time, the interest in a matchup with Álvarez has remained afloat.

    Álvarez is getting ready for his fight against Dmitry Bivol for the WBA super light heavyweight title on May 7 in Las Vegas. At the same time, he also hasn’t dismissed the idea of a big-money fight with Usman happening in the future.

    During a recent appearance on The DAZN Boxing Show, Hearn addressed the potential of a Usman vs. Canelo fight coming to fruition.

    “He’s under contract with UFC, but if Dana White wants to do it, we’d love to discuss it,” Hearn said. (h/t Mirror)

    Usman’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has already communicated his interest in a matchup with Álvarez. He went as far as predicting that Usman would defeat the boxing superstar inside of three rounds.

    While Usman and Canelo’s respective management teams seem on board with the prospect of a fight, UFC President Dana White and his promotion could be a major hurdle. White has shut down the idea of a Usman vs. Canelo fight, although he has been known to change his mind on various topics.

    Usman and Canelo are both considered at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings in their respective disciplines. Usman is likely to face Leon Edwards in the UFC later this year but may focus on a potential fight with Canelo with a win.

    Do you think we’ll see Kamaru Usman vs. Canelo Álvarez at some point?

  • Kayla Harrison Says UFC Made Her A Historic Offer During Free Agency

    Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison has detailed the negotiations that took place and the offer she received from the UFC during her time as a free agent.

    While the past six months have seen new stories and headlines develop, one constant point of discussion has been the future of Harrison.

    Following her victory over Taylor Guardado in October, a triumph that extended her unbeaten record to 12-0 and secured her second consecutive PFL lightweight championship, the Ohio native entered the uncertain waters of free agency.

    From the UFC to Bellator, the two-time Olympic gold medalist certainly wasn’t short of offers. According to her manager, the WWE even reached out over a potential signing.

    But after back and forth rumors, changes, and appearances at various promotions, it was announced last week that Harrison had signed a multi-year deal and would be staying put in the PFL cage.

    Despite the final weeks of her free agency suggesting either a signing with Bellator or another stint with PFL, Harrison recently revealed she had positive discussions with the UFC.

    Harrison Also Received ‘First-Of-Its-Kind’ Offer From UFC

    In the aftermath of her signing, both Harrison and her manager Ali Abdelaziz have boasted about the special nature of her contract, which Abdelaziz claims makes her the highest-paid female mixed martial artist of all time.

    As it turns out, that wasn’t the only special deal on her table.

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Marc Raimondi, Harrison detailed the negotiations that took place between her team and the UFC, revealing that the Dana White-led promotion also sent a ‘first-of-its-kind’ deal her way.

    “There were good interactions (with the UFC). It was a great deal (that they offered). And I think, again, I was very pleased to hear that it’s an offer that hasn’t really happened before,” said Harrison.

    Ultimately, the 31-year-old cited different guarantees and timing as the reasons why the UFC’s offer wasn’t further assessed.

    “But I think that the guarantee is a little bit different. I don’t really know how to say this. It was a great offer, but getting into all the moving parts, getting into behind the scenes, getting into all the little things that people may not understand or know about—it didn’t make sense and the timing wasn’t right. And also, it didn’t matter because PFL would’ve matched that one,” Harrison concluded.

    For now, at least, fans will continue seeing Harrison in the PFL. While she plans on making a run for her third straight championship in this year’s season, the former judoka is targeting big fights in 2023.

    If she continues running through her competition, it remains possible that the 31-year-old will eventually enter the Octagon or mix it up with rival Cris Cyborg over in Bellator.

    Who would you have liked to see Kayla Harrison put pen-to-paper with? Are you happy to see her back in the PFL?

  • Amateur MMA Fighter Dies Two Days After Debut

    Christian Lubenga, 27, passed away in the hospital after his first MMA fight.

    Tragically, father and mixed martial artist Christian Lubenga has died following his amateur debut at AMMO Fight League 10. The event took place on March 12 at the Big E in Springfield, Massachusetts.

    Lubenga lost the match in the 3rd round via TKO delivered by his opponent Cody McCracken. After the match, he was taken to the hospital and unfortunately passed on Monday.

    The death comes as a shock to his family and friends, coaches, and teammates. Lubenga’s gym, Black Wolf Martial Arts, located in Orange, Connecticut, released a touching statement about the fighter’s death:

    “We are at a loss of words. This is what a nightmare looks like…. It can’t even be properly articulated with words and on a social media post nonetheless. We wanted to give the family some time to make their own decisions about how to go public with this before we spoke on it out of respect. While we ourselves are grieving and it’s difficult to even type this out we felt it appropriate to take a moment to say a few things.

    Christian Lubenga
    Christian Lubenga

    “Christian wasn’t just any student. Christian was the kind of human who brought life and light into any room he walked into. Christian was our family. We shared laughs, stories, blood, sweat, tears. He’s the kind of person I aspire to be like and I wish more people were like him. Polite, professional, humble, always kind to everyone no matter what. We spent hundreds of thousands of hours together doing the things we were passionate about. Christian was a true martial artist in every aspect of the word and a true warrior. We love you Christian. We all love you.” (h/t Fall River Reporter)

    His family awaits the Medical Examiner to perform the autopsy and determine the cause of death.

    Lubenga had aspirations to be the next UFC Champion of Congolese descent. He studied Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, Boxing, and Capoeira at the University of Bridgeport.

    In addition to his martial arts journey, Lubenga was a father and graduate student with a Master’s degree in Computer Sytems Analysis.

  • Chris Curtis Out Of UFC 273, Du Plessis Now Faces Anthony Hernandez

    Chris Curtis has been forced to withdraw from his UFC 273 fight against Dricus Du Plessis.

    According to MMAFighting’s Mike Heck, Curtis had to pull out but Du Plessis will now face Anthony Hernandez at UFC 273 on April 9 in Jacksonville. Hernandez was supposed to fight Albert Duraev, but the Russian was also forced off the card, MMAFighting reports.

    Chris Curtis (28-8) made his long-awaited UFC debut back in November at UFC 268 and he scored an upset first-round knockout over Phil Hawes. He then returned three weeks later and TKO’d Brendan Allen in another upset win. The 34-year-old went 6-0 in 2021 and before signing in the UFC fought for promotions like PFL, XMMA, and CES among others. He also competed on the Contender Series and got a third-round KO but was not offered a contract.

    Dricus Du Plessis (16-2) is also 2-0 in the UFC and coming off a vicious KO win over Trevin Giles back at UFC 264. In his debut, he scored a first-round KO over Markus Perez. Before signing with the Las Vegas-based promotion, he was the EFC welterweight and middleweight champion. He also held the KSW welterweight title.

    With Curtis being out, Du Plessis will now face Anthony Hernandez, who’s 8-2 as a pro and coming off a massive upset win over Rodolfo Vieira via submission back at UFC 258. He’s currently just 2-2 in the UFC with his other win over Jun Yong Park while his losses were to Kevin Holland Markus Perez.

    With Du Plessis now facing Hernandez, UFC 273 is as follows:

    • Alex Volkanovski vs. Korean Zombie
    • Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan
    • Gilbert Burns vs. Khamzat Chimaev
    • Mackenzie Dern vs. Tecia Torres
    • Kelvin Gastelum vs. Nassourdine Imavov
    • Ian Garry vs. Darian Weeks
    • Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Marcin Tybura
    • Irene Aladana vs. Aspen Ladd
    • Vinc Pichel vs. Mark O. Madsen
    • Dricus Du Plessis vs. Anthony Hernandez
    • Pat Sabatini vs. Gavin Tucker
    • Mike Malott vs. Mickey Gall
    • Julio Arce vs. Daniel Santos
    • Kay Hansen vs. Piera Rodriguez

    Who do you think will win, Dricus Du Plessis or Anthony Hernandez?

  • Sanchez On MMA Future Following Eagle FC Loss: “This Is Just The Start”

    Former UFC fighter Diego Sanchez seems optimistic about his fighting future despite a tough loss to Kevin Lee in his Eagle FC debut.

    Sanchez went toe-to-toe with the former UFC interim title challenger Lee at Eagle FC 46. He made his first appearance at 165 pounds after fighting at different weight classes throughout his career in MMA.

    Sanchez signed with Eagle FC following a controversial end to his UFC career. Despite being 40 years old, he showed up to fight week in good physical shape and challenged Lee in multiple facets of the bout.

    In a post-fight interview with MMA journalist Helen Yee, Sanchez provided clarity on his future and sounded far from a defeated fighter.

    “My body’s starting to feel better and I’m just coming into form,” Sanchez said. “I think this is just the start of the comeback. I got these two other fights, and I only got three weeks on the mitts with my new coach Frank Lester. So we’re going to put some work in, develop some styles, develop some concepts and principles on our own and we’re gonna do good. We’re gonna come back and be victorious.”

    Sanchez is regarded as a pioneer in the sport after winning Season of The Ultimate Fighter. He has competed against some of the top fighters in the UFC, including BJ Penn and Gilbert Melendez.

    Sanchez has two more fights left on his deal with Eagle FC and appears willing to fulfill the terms of the contract.

    Sanchez suffered from a tough bout with COVID-19 and a split from controversial coach Joshua Fabia last year. However, he appears to be in good spirits ahead of his MMA return.

    Who do you want to see Diego Sanchez fight next in Eagle FC?

  • MMA Fighter Cody East Behind Bars For Alleged Domestic Violence

    Cody East is back behind bars following an alleged domestic violence incident between him and his wife over the weekend in New Mexico.

    According to Albuquerque, NM television news station KRQE, East has been charged with child abuse, false imprisonment, and battery after the incident.

    The MMA fighter East allegedly got into a fight with his wife and is also accused of refusing to let their children out of his car. He was arrested for similar charges back in 2017 after kneeing his then-girlfriend and threatening to kill her 10-year-old boy.

    East was also charged with aggravated battery against a family member back in 2016 and was also arrested on two prior domestic violence charges between 2006 and 2010.

    East is a former UFC heavyweight who lost back-to-back fights to Curtis Blaydes and Walt Harris during his time with the promotion. He’s also competed in smaller promotions such as Legacy and King of the Cage.

    East last competed in MMA at RUF MMA 41, losing to Michael Quintero via first-round knockout. His last win of any kind came in a kickboxing match at SCL 74 against Jared Torgeson.

    What are your thoughts on Cody East’s latest arrest?

  • Conor McGregor Sends Donation To Couple Hurt In Pedestrian-Car Crash

    Conor McGregor has earned loads of money over his illustrious career, and he recently donated to help a couple suffering from a recent accident.

    Mick and Michelle Cardiff were out for a leisurely walk when a car involved in an accident swerved off the road and hit both of them. Mick underwent a leg amputation while Michelle has undergone a slew of surgeries stemming from the accident near Dublin, IE.

    As has become increasingly more common in recent years, friends and family of the Cardiff’s made a GoFundMe page to help with the medical expenses. The goal of €40,000 was surpassed after McGregor covered half of the desired fund with a €20,000 donation.

    Michelle & Mick Cardiff

    This isn’t the first time that McGregor has used his large fortune to help those less financially capable. Last December, he donated $11,000 to help support a Bellator MMA fighter who was paralyzed from a training accident last summer.

    Before that, McGregor helped an Irish woman with a €10,000 donation during her battle with breast cancer. The 35-year-old Gemma Devoy has recently begun chemotherapy, largely due to McGregor’s generosity.

    McGregor was named to the Forbes’ highest-earning athlete of 2021, despite competing just twice last year in back-to-back losses to Dustin Poirier. He’s currently working towards a return to the UFC Octagon later this year, potentially as soon as this summer.

    Do you believe Conor McGregor does not get enough recognition for his charitable donations?

  • Watch: Paddy Pimblett & Ilia Topuria Involved In Backstage Altercation

    UFC fighters Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria may not be fighting each other this weekend at UFC London, but that didn’t stop them at the fighter hotel.

    Pimblett will face Kazula Vargas in his second fight in the UFC’s lightweight division, in front of what should be a raucous crowd at The O2 Arena in London. He won his UFC debut over Luigi Vendramini last September.

    This will also be Pimblett’s first fight in the UK since he fought in Cage Warriors.

    Topuria will also fight at lightweight at UFC London despite competing at featherweight for the majority of his career. He’ll face rising British MMA prospect, Jai Herbert, on the main card.

    In a video of the incident, Topuria appears to throw a punch at Pimblett while he and his team passed him before personnel intervened and separated the two fighters.

    Topuria shared footage of the incident in a recent tweet and sent a message to Pimblett.

    “I wanted you!” Topuria said. “This is what happens when you disrespect me and my country! You saw me and wanted to greet me because you shit your pants… and you should thank my team because of it wasn’t for them separating me, I would have taken your head off.”

    Topuria’s animosity towards Pimblett appears to stem from Pimblett’s previous comments about the country of Georgia, Topuria’s home nation. UFC fighter Liana Jojua highlighted Pimblett’s comments in a tweet last April.

    “Lad how stupid are these Georgians man,” Pimblett appears to tweet. “No wonder the Russians terrorise their lives.”

    The UFC has yet to issue a statement on the near-brawl and both Pimblett and Topuria will remain on the main card for UFC London. Both lightweights could be on a collision course if both continue their recent winning ways.

    What is your reaction to this Paddy Pimblett/Ilia Topuria altercation?

  • Volkanovski On Dream McGregor Clash: “I’d Fight Him At Any Weight”

    UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is eying a matchup with Conor McGregor before he eventually calls it quits.

    Volkanovski is set to make his next featherweight title defense against Chan Sung Jung (otherwise known as ‘The Korean Zombie’) in the upcoming UFC 273 headliner. He’s coming off of a largely dominant win over Brian Ortega at UFC 266.

    Volkanovski was supposed to face Max Holloway next before Holloway pulled out with an injury. Jung is the next man up, but a fight with McGregor remains on the 145-pound champion’s mind.

    In an exclusive interview with MMA News’ James Lynch, Volkanovski spoke about what the effect would be of a McGregor fight for his legacy.

    “Obviously, Conor’s always gonna get his name out there,” Volkanovski said. “You’ve gotta remember, he was a featherweight, he was a champion of my division. So, I’ve taken out the featherweight champs, so to take out, the only one left, isn’t he? Yeah, it’s just Conor. There was me, Aldo, Max, and Conor. So it makes a lot of sense. Obviously, it would be a dream. And then I’ve taken out all the other champs in my division. So that would be incredible.

    Conor McGregor
    Conor McGregor (Photo: Sportsfile)

    “You talk about the payday and the circus around it would be great, but at the same time, when you talk about legacy that’s definitely—and he’s undefeated at featherweight, too. So that’d mean something.”

    McGregor hasn’t competed at featherweight since he won the unified title over José Aldo at UFC 194. He went on to fight at welterweight and lightweight, eventually earning the 155-pound title over Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205.

    Volkanovski fought at welterweight and lightweight to begin his professional career on the Australian regional scene, but a majority of his career has been at featherweight. Volkanovski went on to allude to the flexibility when it comes to the weight class that a McGregor fight would be competed at.

    “I don’t think he’s making featherweight anytime soon [LAUGHS]. Obviously, with that fight, you’d do it at any weight. I’d do that at welterweight if I had to, whatever. We’ll see. I’ll just worry about Zombie, cause Zombie’s in front of me, and we’ll see. You might get some drunk tweets from Conor again and maybe we can ride off that, see what happens from there… 100% I would (fight McGregor at welterweight). I’d fight him at any weight.”

    Volkanovski earned the featherweight title over Holloway at UFC 245, before winning a controversial split decision in an immediate rematch at UFC 251. He’s arguably one of the greatest featherweights in UFC history and continues to climb the ranks in the all-time great discussion.

    McGregor is targeting a return to the Octagon later this year after a nasty leg break at UFC 264. It’s unclear what weight McGregor will fight at for his return, but a fight with Volkanovski may not be out of the cards as soon as this year.

    You can view MMA News’ full interview with Alexander Volkanovski below!

    Do you think we’ll ever see Alexander Volkanovski vs. Conor McGregor?

  • Tai Tuivasa Sends “Idiot” Greg Hardy Some Employment Advice

    UFC heavyweight Tai Tuivasa recently offered his thoughts on the future of Greg Hardy following the former NFL defensive end’s third straight loss.

    After joining the UFC three fights into his MMA career, which came after a departure from the NFL, Hardy’s future in the cage looked promising. But since a victory over Juan Adams in 2019 extended his Octagon start to 2-0, it’s been largely downhill.

    2-4-1 in his last seven, Hardy has tasted defeat to names like Marcin Tybura and Alexander Volkov. His two victories in that period have come against Maurice Greene and Yorgan de Castro, both of whom have since been let go after losing streaks.

    It appears “Prince of War” has now met the same fate. At UFC 272 earlier this month, Hardy hoped to rebound against Sergey Spivak. Instead, the pay-per-view main card opened with another first-round stoppage loss for the 33-year-old.

    This past weekend, Hardy appeared to announce his release from MMA’s premier promotion, confirming a departure many had expected following UFC 272.

    But Hardy doesn’t need to fear because one man is already looking out for his future endeavors, although it’s probably not someone prepared to offer him a glittering reference…

    Tuivasa Plays Headhunter For Fast Food Chain

    Tai Tuivasa and Greg Hardy met inside the Octagon last July at UFC 264. In a crazy fight for as long as it lasted, the Tennessee native rocked the Australian, before being knocked out himself after rushing in to find the finish.

    “Bam Bam” drew headlines for not only the KO, but his walkout music and post-fight shoeys. His popularity has since increased, as has the speed with which he’s rising the heavyweight ladder.

    But despite being knocked out, Hardy continued his war of words with Tuivasa, claiming the now-#3-ranked heavyweight “cowarded” out of a brawl at UFC 264. Even as recently as UFC 272 fight week, “Prince of War” had Tuivasa’s name on his lips, this time to slam the Aussie for not wanting a rematch.

    While Hardy hasn’t shied away from insulting him, Tuivasa has still been generous enough to offer his foe some employment advice, which may come in handy given the latest developments.

    Prior to Hardy’s apparent release, Tuivasa encouraged his former opponent to swap the MMA gloves for a spatula, and the punching for some flipping…

    “How can he talk smack when he just got smacked again?” Tuivasa said of Hardy’s pre-UFC 272 trash talk during an appearance on The MMA Hour. “He’s an idiot. He should go bloody work at a McDonalds or something.”

    There we have it. Recently made redundant? Let go by your employers? In search of a new career path? Give Tuivasa a call.

    Perhaps if you’re not on the wrong side of “Bam Bam,” you may do better than McDonalds. If you buy one of his Shoeyvasas, maybe he’ll even line you up for a CEO position.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CY0vqf0NwT5/

    What’s next for Greg Hardy following his UFC release?

  • Volkanovski On Future Hooker Fight: If We Need To Do It, We’ll Do It

    UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has discussed City Kickboxing teammate Dan Hooker’s return to featherweight and the prospect of facing him down the line.

    Volkanovski has ruled over the 145-pound weight class since dethroning Max Holloway in late 2019. In defending his title twice, first in a rematch with “Blessed” and then in a grudge match with Brian Ortega, the Australian has extended his win streak in professional MMA to 20 and his unblemished UFC record to 10-0.

    While there remain a number of challenges for “The Great” to see off, including upcoming opponent “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung, Volkanovski will soon see a new name enter the shark tank at featherweight.

    After a struggle for form at lightweight, Hooker, who, like Volkanovski, fights under the City Kickboxing banner, will be returning to 145 pounds this weekend. Soon after his transition down a class became public knowledge, “The Hangman” gave his thoughts on a potential meeting with teammate Volkanovski, suggesting they’d cross that bridge when they get to it.

    Now, in an exclusive interview with MMA News, the champion has shared a similar sentiment to Hooker’s.

    He claimed that if necessary, the pair would throw down inside the cage, an admission that’s rare in this day and age, with the likes of Gilbert Burns and Vicente Luque, and Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya shutting the door on the possibility of facing each other due to personal relationships.

    “It doesn’t really cross your mind until people ask you about it, really. At the same time, this is a sport,” Volkanovski told MMA News’ James Lynch. “You can’t expect these guys not to be in your division. Now he’s chose that division and he thinks that’s the best decision for his career, and I support that.

    “Whatever happens, if further down the track we need to do it, then we’ll do it, you know. That’s just how it is. That’s fine. That’s all good. I wish nothing but the best for him and I’m sure he wishes nothing but the best for me. So, if our paths do cross, we’ll worry about that then,” concluded Volkanovski.

    Hooker’s First Step To Contention Takes Place This Weekend

    After a test weight cut appeared to confirm his departure from the lightweight division late last year, the announcement of a featherweight opponent hammered home Hooker’s return to 145 pounds.

    Despite his hopes to fight “The Korean Zombie” or Brian Ortega, the New Zealander has had to settle for a lesser name, but certainly not a decline in competition. In the co-main event at UFC London this weekend, Hooker will enter the cage with rising contender Arnold Allen.

    “Almighty” Allen is unbeaten at 8-0 in the UFC and has risen to #7 in the rankings following triumphs over Nik Lentz and Sodiq Yusuff in recent years. While he’ll look to further his stock with the addition of an established name to his résumé, Hooker will be targeting an immediate arrival into the title conversation.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbFtqHPP8tP/

    Would you like to see Alexander Volkanovski and Dan Hooker share the Octagon down the line?

  • Kevin Holland Helps Stop Active Shooter At Houston-Area Restaurant

    UFC welterweight Kevin Holland continues stopping crime in his native Houston, TX after halting an alleged shooting at a local sushi restaurant.

    Holland and another MMA fighter, Patrick Robinson, were out to eat at RA Sushi late Monday night when an unidentified suspect fired a shot into the air near the bar area around 11:30 p.m. This is when Holland, Robinson, and a third diner charged at the suspect and apprehended him.

    According to Houston Police, there were an estimated 40-50 people inside the restaurant at the time of the shooting. Remarkably, none of the customers were injured.

    Police say the 24-year-old suspect had a warrant out for his arrest after failing to appear in court on a separate criminal mischief charge.

    Shortly after police officers arrived, Holland posted a reaction to his social media accounts, as shared by MMA Junkie.

    This isn’t the first time that Holland has used his MMA training to stop local crime. Last October, he helped apprehend an alleged carjacker in a vehicle and foot chase.

    Holland has also shown he’s unafraid of online trolls, inviting multiple harassers to his gym before tapping them out and hitting them with nasty strikes. He has also claimed that his recent confrontations with some trolls have only fueled their fire and made the challenges more frequent.

    Holland rose to fame after an electric 2020 in which he won five straight fights at middleweight. This included vicious knockouts over the likes of Jacare Souza and Joaquin Buckley.

    After going winless in three straight bouts in 2021, he rebounded in a big way to begin 2022 with a TKO of Alex Oliveira at UFC 272. This was his welterweight debut after making the move down from 185 to 170 pounds.

    In addition to his Octagon accolades, it’s apparent that Holland isn’t afraid to make a difference in his local community. He and Robinson’s heroic actions at the scene of an active shooter saved countless lives.

    What is your reaction to Kevin Holland’s latest heroic actions?

  • Quote: Nobody Needs Covington As Much As Adesanya

    Chael Sonnen believes that Israel Adesanya needs Colby Covington to draw more eyeballs to a title fight involving the champion at middleweight.

    With Adesanya’s last two fights being rematches which had the champion as a clear favourite, the UFC middleweight division is starting to become less appealing with every title fight. Whittaker did challenge with the latest title shot but yet he ultimately still fell short with nobody seemingly having the answer to Adesanya’s dominance.

    Covington has spoken of his interest in going up to face the UFC middleweight champion. The #1 ranked UFC welterweight believes his wrestling could be a determining factor in how a fight may play out against Adesanya. (h/t MMA Fighting)

    “I think he needs to go up to 185,” Sonnen told The Chael Sonnen Show on ESPN+ show. “Look, Colby has called out three guys in the last two weeks: He, of course, called out Kamaru Usman; he called out Israel Adesanya; and he called out Dustin Poirier. Now you’ve got to understand, the one thing those three guys have in common is they all have world championship belts somewhere on the mantle at home. These are hard callouts by ‘Chaos,’ but ‘Chaos,’ who’s obviously a No. 1 contender, does not get a fight for a championship. It’s a tough spot.

    Colby Covington
    Colby Covington

    “So he’s saying, ‘Look, I’m even willing to leave the division. Let me take this golden ticket of No. 1 contender and let me cash it in at 185 pounds.’ And quite frankly, nobody needs Colby as bad as Izzy Adesanya. I don’t know if Israel is aware of that yet, but he’s starting to fight people that aren’t doing their job in the media, that aren’t bringing the attention, that aren’t helping the brand and making the marquee fight as big as it could be. I think if Izzy stood back and saw what Colby has to offer, that’s gonna be a partner that he would like to do business with.”

    Covington moving up to middleweight to face Adesanya may well be a possibility for the future. But for now, it appears that Jared Cannonier is next in line at 185lbs for a title shot. Meaning the former UFC interim welterweight champion may have to settle for a grudge match with Dustin Poirier instead or face another opponent at 170lbs.

    Should ‘The Killa Gorilla’ be tamed and dealt with convincingly by the middleweight champion then a new face at middleweight may emerge next. However, UFC President Dana White has stated that Covington would not receive an immediate title shot at Adesanya should he move up.

    For the most part, the current set of contenders at middleweight seem almost too respectful towards the champion that title fights in the division become less appealing for fans. While we all know the level of confidence Covington has that he will play down any possibility of the champion beating him.

    With what we have previously seen of the American’s trash talk we can for sure expect some heated back-and-forth exchanges should a fight ever emerge between the two.

    Do you think we ever see Covington fight Adesanya for the UFC middleweight belt?

  • Maryna Moroz Reveals Details Of Family Situation In Ukraine

    Ukrainian UFC warrior Maryna Moroz remains stateside while her friends and family try to protect themselves against Russian military attacks.

    While Moroz prepared for her fight against former training partner and rival Mariya Agapova, a war started in her country. On the night of UFC 272, she prove the strength of her people, as she told the public she would.

    Maryna Moroz and Mariya Agapova
    (David Becker/Getty Images)

    Agapova fell prey to “The Iron Lady’s” strength and was defeated in round 2 via an arm-triangle choke. It was not only a win to end their bitter rivalry, but also a victory for her home.

    After her incredible win, she gave an emotional speech. Through several tearful interviews, she expressed concern for her loved ones and her opposition towards Vladimir Putin and the war.

    Moroz knows her fellow Ukrainians are dying, and sadly, she still receives news of friends succumbing to the tragic attacks. Additionally, she knows that although her family is struggling they are staying in Ukraine to fight.

    “My sister and my mother take guns for protection, for not war, for protection, home protection, country, because Russian come and start like terrorist. Kill everybody, kill kids, and last news today I see 82 kids die, and I so cry. Every day I’m using pills because I’m nervous, cry, I cannot stop, I feel like almost my family dying and my country dying. It’s so scary,” Moroz explained in an interview with Fox News.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxtT-98r3lc&t=2s

    The concern for her people builds as the conflict in Europe worsens.

    Moroz now holds a 3-fight win streak. After settling her rivalry with Agapova, fans of the sole female Ukrainian UFC fighter surely anticipate her next match in the Octagon, but there is uncertainty surrounding her next bout amid current events.

    What are your thoughts on Maryna Moroz’s family staying in Ukraine during the conflict in Europe?

  • Colby Covington Banishes Jorge Masvidal From The City Of Miami

    Colby Covington has ordered Jorge Masvidal to leave the city of Miami immediately.

    When a fight has two years’ worth of trash talk leading in, you can expect there to be some post-fight gloating to match it, especially if the winner’s name is Colby Covington.

    Covington hasn’t exactly earned a reputation for being the most humble of competitors on the UFC roster. Prior to his UFC 272 bout against former roommate and teammate Jorge Masvidal, Covington was already making bold predictions for how the fight would play out.

    Now that the fight has come and gone and Covington is satisfied with the unanimous decision victory, he’s not being coy about reminding the world of the fight’s outcome.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca2s6lCOYmq/

    One of the claims made by Covington prior to the fight was that he was putting four titles on the line. One of those titles was the “Miami title,” with Covington proclaiming himself to be the “King of Miami.”

    Now that he has turned in a successful title defense, if you will, his next act as “king” is to banish Masvidal from the city he has called home for his entire life.

    This means no more luscious Miami beaches, no more home games for the #1-ranked Miami Heat, no more intoxicating nightlife down at South Beach, etc. And should Masvidal not obey Covington’s order, the self-proclaimed king warns of a harsh penalty.

    “I’m the king of Miami now. Jorge needs to leave the city,” Covington ordered at the UFC 272 post-fight press conference.

    “It’s not big enough for the two of us. So he needs to leave or he’s gonna get sparked again.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca5DUZHuArW/

    Although Drizzy Drake coughed up $275,000 in a losing bet on Masvidal to defeat Covington, it’s a lock bet that Masvidal will not obey the self-proclaimed “king.”

    In fact, Masvidal has already said that he would still love nothing more than to finish this rivalry on the streets once and for all by doing what he failed to do at UFC 272: break Covington’s face.

    Do you believe we’ve seen the end of the Colby Covington/Jorge Masvidal rivalry?

  • MMA Fighter Chris Shaw Brutally Attacks Home Invader With Hammer

    IMF Muay Thai World Champion Chris Shaw sent a thief who tried to break into his home to the hospital after assaulting him with a hammer.

    On August 11, 2020, George Halliday, age 45, stole a few tools from Shaw’s van, then attempted to break into his house in Johnstone, Renfrewshire. Halliday was diagnosed with PTSD in 2017 and began struggling with heroin addiction after enduring a vicious attack in 2010.

    George Halliday, Photo Credit: Daily Record

    When Shaw awoke from the strange noise, he chased Halliday down, clad in just his boxer shorts and flip-flops.

    Reportedly, the MMA fighter had a hammer while Halliday was equipped with a chisel and saw. Neighbors heard Shaw screaming as he ran down the street.

    And as the chase came to a close, Shaw hit the thief and he plummeted to the ground. The 31-year-old veteran fighter proceeded to strike Halliday with the hammer, then delivered punches and kicks that left the home invader a bloody mess.

    Moments later, Paisley Sherrif Police arrested Shaw. Severe injuries from the attack put Halliday in the hospital.

    On March 11, Chris pleaded guilty to the assault charges against him and awaits sentencing next month.

    Halliday pleaded guilty after his attack to multiple charges, including breaking into Shaw’s van, stealing from it, and attempting to break into his home.

    Currently, Shaw is the only Scottish fighter signed to ONE Championship. He is a fierce competitor in the featherweight division, who has racked up 39 wins in his professional MMA career.

    His last bout was a test of his talents. At the end of February, he faced off against Vladimir Kuzmin in a kickboxing match.

    The jaw-dropping slugfest wowed the crowd as both opponents landed back-to-back shots. Shaw fought formidably, but, in the end, Kuzmin won by unanimous victory.

    Chris Shaw and Vladimir Kuzmin
    Chris Shaw and Vladimir Kuzmin, Photo Credit: ONE Championship

    What are your thoughts on the Chris Shaw case?

  • Daniel Cormier Writes Letter To Court In Support Of Cain Velasquez

    Former UFC multi-division champion Daniel Cormier wrote a letter to Santa Clara County Superior Court in support of Cain Velasquez.

    Cormier and Velasquez have been friends for years, stemming from their time as teammates at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, CA. They helped one another get ready for various title fights in the UFC during their times competing in the Octagon.

    Just weeks ago, Velasquez was arrested on an attempted murder charge for allegedly attempting to kill the alleged molester of one of his younger relatives. After chasing down Henry Goularte with his SUV, he shot and accidentally hit Goularte’s stepfather, with the victim suffering non-life-threatening injuries.

    If convicted, Velasquez could face a minimum of 20 years in prison for attempted murder and other various charges relating to the incident.

    cain velasquez mugshot
    Cain Velasquez Mugshot

    Many around the MMA community have spoken in support of Velasquez in recent weeks. UFC President Dana White, and former and current fighters such as Khabib Nurmagomedov and Colby Covington, have spoken out in favor of Velasquez for his actions.

    In a letter obtained by ESPN, Cormier spoke about his former AKA teammate Velasquez in a positive light in a hinted ask for leniency.

    “Cain has helped me on more occasions than I can count,” Cormier said. “Like me, he is a father and husband so he knows the demand of trying to do it all. Throughout the years, he has traveled with me, supported me, and even helped me prepare for a coaching job at the high school while I retired from my fighter career. Cain has taken it upon himself to help every chance he gets. During the pandemic when many gyms and restaurants were closed, Cain opened his home and provided a place for wrestlers to train and eat. He even housed them.”

    Goularte is under investigation for an alleged lewd act upon a child under the age of 14. He was released from temporary custody on Feb. 25 and has been sentenced to home detention.

    Cormier has had a lot to deal with in recent weeks. His mother also passed away in his hometown of Lafayette, LA and he has taken a leave of absence from his UFC broadcasting obligations.

    Velasquez has also recently been denied bail and is scheduled to reappear in court on April 12.

    What is your reaction to Daniel Cormier’s letter in support of Cain Velasquez?