American Top Team founder Dan Lambert says the team began to turn against Colby Covington following his infamous roast of Brazil.
Covington’s shift from relatively unknown welterweight fighter to a professional wrestling-like heel occurred following his win over Demian Maia at UFC Sao Paulo in 2017. After earning a dominant unanimous decision victory, Covington used his post-fight interview to call out the Brazilian crowd as “filthy animals” during his Octagon chat with Daniel Cormier.
Covington had to be escorted out of the arena by groups of security personnel following the post-fight interview. Covington put a target on his back with his comments, including callouts from Belal Muhammad and Warlley Alves.
“Yeah, we had blowback immediately at the gym from some of those comments,” Lambert said of Covington. “Colby had never really caused much of a problem for other fighters at the gym leading up to that point. We obviously have a Brazilian presence at our gym with some other fighters and some coaches. I think most of them saw it for exactly what it was—just him trying to promote himself, but it’s not just how you see things in this business. These guys (Brazilians at ATT) are opening up their Instagram accounts and they’re getting direct messages from a million people in Brazil saying, ‘What are you doing you piece of [MUTED]? You’re gonna train this guy? You’re gonna work with this guy? You better step up and represent our country! What are you doing?’ So, they felt pressured.
As tensions escalated between Covington and his now-former Brazilian teammates, Lambert explained how he needed to hold a meeting to bring the team back together and have everyone on the same page.
“Basically, we just had a meeting at the gym, sat everybody down, and said, ‘Hey man, this is American Top Team here. I don’t care where you’re from or who you are. When you’re inside this gym, you’re here to do your job, and we’re a team. If anybody has an issue outside of the gym, or something somebody’s doing outside of the gym, that’s fine. But it stays outside the gym. Nobody’s too big to be asked to leave this gym.’ I think everybody brought into it and everybody understood it at the time.”
Covington has since doubled down onhis previous Brazil comments and isn’t apologetic for the post-fight interview. Covington will face former ATT teammate turned bitter rival Jorge Masvidal this weekend in the UFC 272 main event.
Did Colby Covington go too far with his Brazil comments?
Ukrainian-Armenian UFC fighter Liudvik Sholinian is stuck in Kyiv amidst the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Sholinian, a former The Ultimate Fighter Season 28 participant, is in danger of missing his upcoming fight at UFC London on March 19 against Nathaniel Wood. He most recently fell in his UFC debut against Jack Shore last September.
Russian and Ukrainian fighters, like Bellator champ Yaroslav Amosov, have both been impacted by the current crisis in Ukraine. UFC President Dana White recently alluded to potential issues for some fighters on the upcoming UFC London card.
“Basically, the situation right now is very stressful,” Sholinian said. “Everyone is on pins and needles. Everyone is staying indoors, trying to watch the news and follow everything that’s going on. Most of all, I’m at home with my family making sure they’re safe.
“I was actually looking forward to this fight. I’ve been training for it the hardest I’ve ever trained for a fight. As much as I’ve trained for this fight, it’s the last thing on my mind and I’m willing to give my entire career for this war to end today. Right now, I don’t think the discussion should be about the fight at all.”
Before getting his shot on TUF 28, Sholinian enjoyed success in smaller promotions such as LFA and Gladiator Challenge. He has accumulated a 9-2-1 professional record.
It’s unclear if Sholinian will be allowed to leave Ukraine for his upcoming fight. But for now, that appears to be the last thing on his mind.
What are your thoughts on the Russia/Ukraine conflict?
The UFC 272 weigh-in results are in, and every single fighter was on target ahead of the Las Vegas pay-per-view.
Tomorrow night, Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal will finally turn talk into violence when they settle their feud once and for all in front of a worldwide audience. Both fighters made weight without issue, as did every other competitor on the card.
That includes co-main eventers Rafael dos Anjos and Renato Moicano, who will be competing in a 160 lbs. catchweight bout in a short-notice bout. It also includes Edson Barboza and Bryce Mitchell, who will take the stage shortly before the two feature bouts of the evening.
Former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington is expecting a hungry Jorge Masvidal to enter the Octagon when they collide at UFC 272.
Covington will be taking on another fight involving bad blood something he has become accustomed to at this point. Yet, it appears to be at a boiling point between the two in the build-up to this bout as comes with the pair being former best friends.
With that, Covington is expecting Masvidal to be hungrier than ever when the two settle the score on March 5th. Speaking on the similarities between Masvidal and his last opponent Kamaru Usman to Yahoo Sports, Covington had the following to say.
“It’s tough to draw comparisons because we fight differently,” said Covington. “I’m a southpaw. Usman’s an orthodox. So I can’t take fights from different fights from the past and think that that’s gonna be the same guy. I think Jorges is gonna be hungrier for this fight than he’s ever been for any fight in the history of his career. So I don’t take much from those fights.”
The 34-year-old went toe-to-toe with Usman at UFC 268 in a competitive five-round fight. Where for the second time between the two, the UFC welterweight champion edged a decision victory over his foe. Despite the verdict, ‘Chaos’ still believes he had done enough on the night to earn the title.
“I know I went neck and neck with the pound-for-pound (best) fighter in the world. A lot of people in the world thought I won that fight. I thought I won rounds 3, 4, and 5. The people in the arena at Madison Square Garden thought I won three, four, and five.
Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington. Image Credit:
“It just sucks that the three stooges sitting cageside in the judges’ desk decided to score him winning by one (more) round against me, one little measly round. But he didn’t prove that he was some dominant pound-for-pound fighter, and I showed why I’m the #1 ranked fighter in the world,” said Covington.
It appears Covington is uninterested in facing Usman for a third time. With the #1 ranked UFC welterweight openly speaking of his interest in going up a weight class to face Israel Adesanya instead.
For now, Covington will have to remain focused if he is to get past the man labeled the ‘BMF’ in their grudge fight at UFC 272.
Who do you see coming out on top between Jorge Mascvidal an Colby Covington?
UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell is hopeful that Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal can bury the hatchet following their UFC 272 grudge match.
Covington and Masvidal, former friends and teammates turned bitter rivals, will square off in the main event of UFC 272. It is one of the few non-title UFC main events in recent memory.
The beef between Covington and Masvidal has turned from heated, to downright nasty ahead of their fight. Covington has invoked Masvidal’s family and ex-romantic partner while Masvidal has said that he intends to leave Covington in critical condition in their matchup.
“I kinda hate to see the personal attacks, you know what I mean?” Mitchell said. “I kinda hope after the fight they just kinda hug it out. But I hate to see all that personal—it gets so personal. Because I think, overall, they’re both probably pretty good people. And I don’t know who’s gonna win, brother.
Courtesy of Jorge Masvidal’s Instagram (via Daily Mail)
“I hope that both of those guys leave that cage healthy because they’re talking about wanting to kill each other and all that. And I hope that neither of them dies. I hope that both of those people goes home healthy. I know they have a lot of people that care about ‘em back home, so that’s what I hope.”
Mitchell will fight featherweight contender Edson Barboza in the lead up to the UFC 272 main event between Covington and Masvidal. He’s looking to get back in the win column after nearly two years away from the sport.
Covington and Masvidal have both spewed heated rhetoric during the buildup to their fight, but Mitchell is hopeful that after they get their aggression out of their system, they can patch things up.
Do you think Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington will be friends again at some point?
Now, nearly eight months beyond his gruesome injury, McGregor has stepped up talk of a return. Having kept fans updated on his recovery and return to training, McGregor has suggested he’ll come back with a vengeance later this year.
But despite riding a two-fight skid into 2022 and losing three of his last four outings, it’s seeming increasingly likely that we could see the “Notorious” megastar compete with gold on the line immediately.
“We will see what’s what with the lightweight division,” said White to The Underground. “It’s going to depend on who the champion is when Conor McGregor comes back, they have a say in it. What do they want to do? If it’s Oliveira who is still champion when Conor comes back, maybe Oliveira wants Conor we will see then.”
Following White’s latest comments, a wave of backlash was sent his way by some fans and pundits, many of whom suggested an immediate title shot for McGregor would be a ludicrous decision.
But according to the UFC President, being annoyed by it is even more ludicrous.
During a recent appearance on My Mom’s Basement with Robbie Fox, White responded to those slamming his recent remarks. After suggesting the media was to blame for asking about McGregor in the first place, the 52-year-old branded those frustrated by the possibility of a McGregor title shot as “idiots.”
“The problem is, every time I do a f*cking interview, all anybody wants to ask is, ‘You think Conor McGregor will get a f*cking title shot?’ That’s all they f*cking ask,” said White. “So, I’m gonna say, ‘Well Conor McGregor isn’t anywhere near coming back yet, so I don’t know, let’s see what happens..’ It’s a dumb f*cking question for the media to ask, but the media asks dumb f*cking sh*t all day, every day. That’s what happens.
“And anybody who’s p*ssed off because Conor might f*cking get (a title shot), you’re a f*cking idiot too. If that p*sses you off, Jesus Christ. Calm down, buddy,” concluded White.
Believing himself to be the rightful owner of the BMF title, UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has offered to vacate the belt just for this weekend’s UFC 272 main event.
Despite the absence of official gold, many have suggested a ceremonial strap should be on the line. In 2019, Masvidal took home the specially-created BMF belt following his victory over Nate Diaz.
After some brought up the possibility of the belt being on the line this weekend, “The Nigerian Nightmare” took to Twitter to offer a generous loan of it for UFC 272.
I will relinquish the BMF Belt just for this fight #UFC272
During an interview with TMZ Sports, the topic of adding the BMF strap to the mix at UFC 272 came up. In response, “Chaos” branded it a fake belt and claimed he’ll be carrying four titles with him to the cage on March 5.
“I have a real title; he has a fake title. I could care less about his title. I have all the titles that matter: the people’s champion, America’s champion, Donald Trump’s favorite fighter, and Miami’s title. So I’m gonna put ’em all on the line (at UFC 272) to show you why I’m the king of Miami.”
We can’t imagine Bruce Buffer will be including those titles in Covington’s pre-fight introduction…
UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev is waiting to wait as long as it takes for the next lightweight title shot in Abu Dhabi and not as a backup.
Makhachev has now won 10 in a row, with the latest coming against short-notice replacement Bobby Green at UFC Vegas 49 last weekend. It didn’t take long for Makhachev to get a feel for Green’s gameplan and to finish the fight on the ground.
Makhachev has emerged as arguably the top lightweight contender who could face the winner of Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje. Oliveira and Gaethje are slated to meet in the main event of UFC 274 on May 7.
One element of conversation has been who could serve as the backup for the UFC 274 main event. During his UFC Vegas 49 post-fight press conference, Makhachev appeared to downplay the idea of serving as the backup and weighing in.
“For step-in, we have some guys like dos Anjos or Michael Chandler,” Makhachev said. “But (I deserve the title shot). I have 10-fight streak. And last 11 months, I’m training so hard. Like next week, I’m ready for fight, like, next pay-per-view show. But I want to fight in Abu Dhabi because I have (many friends) who stay outside because they cannot come (to the UFC APEX). I want to fight for the title in Abu Dhabi. All my friends can come and support me inside.”
Makhachev has long called for the title shot but wants to be slated as the certain challenger and not utilized as a backup plan. He’s looking to continue the legacy of his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and reclaim the lightweight throne for Dagestan.
What is your prediction for Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje? How do you think Islam Makhachev would fare against both fighters?
UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal has put pen to paper on a new contract with the UFC that puts him in the top three highest earners in the organization.
‘Gamebred’ is taking on Colby Covington this weekend in the main event of UFC 272 as the two stars are set to settle their beef in the Octagon. Bad blood has boiled between the pair for a while now which has all come from the downfall of their friendship.
Courtesy of Jorge Masvidal’s Instagram (via Daily Mail)
Masvidal is one of the biggest stars in the UFC, mainly because of his BMF status which he earned with his victory over Nate Diaz at UFC 244. He is however coming off a two-fight losing streak with both of those defeats coming to UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
Speaking on his new contract, Masvidal posted the following on his social media.
“Thank you Hunter Campbell and @danawhite and my team @malkikawa @Abraham_kawa and @FirstRoundMgmt for making sure my kids will never go hungry again.”
With the announcement of his new contract made official, Masvidal now sits only behind Conor McGregor and Israel Adesanya on the highest-paid athletes’ list in the UFC. Being one of the UFC’s biggest draws has seen him earn the rare opportunity of headling a PPV card despite not fighting for a title at UFC 272.
Not to mention, Masvidal is a cover star for the organization’s video game ‘EA Sports UFC 4’ which was released in August 2020. The ‘BMF’ belt holder fronts the cover for the game alongside Adesanya.
Fans were surprised to hear the news of a new UFC contract for Masvidal, considering the UFC middleweight could extend his losing run on Saturday. Yet, Masvidal will remain a draw past UFC 272 with PPV fights against McGregor as well as a rematch with Diaz a possibility to consider in the making of his new deal.
UFC President Dana White is unsure whether or not Russia-based fighters will be able to compete at the upcoming UFC London card.
The UFC’s return to London is slated to take place on March 19 at the O2 Arena. The event will be headlined by a heavyweight matchup between Tom Aspinall and Russian contender Alexander Volkov.
Other British stars such as Paddy Pimblett and Arnold Allen will also be on the UFC London card. White has been waiting for months to bring the UFC not just to the U.K., but to the European continent in general.
During a recent interview with Barstool Sports, White gave an update on the status of Russian fighters competing at UFC London amidst the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
“Yeah, you know, it’s obviously gonna cause problems. But we’ll figure it out,” White said.
White went on to address whether or not he could contact U.S. President Joe Biden for some assistance to have the Russian fighters fight in London.
“No, I have Trump’s number, but I definitely don’t have Biden’s number.”
It’s unclear if the UFC will have a backup plan in case Volkov and others won’t be able to fight. Russian heavyweights Sergei Pavlovich and Shamil Abdurakhimov will also compete on the main card.
White sounds optimistic about making everything work for the upcoming UFC London card, but it’s clear that some hurdles remain just a few weeks before the event.
What fight are you most excited for at UFC London?
One thing that’s become clear, thanks to both the pre-fight insults and discussion of each other’s styles, is that both men enter the contest with the belief their history as training partners will give them an edge.
That narrative was recently evident when Masvidal discussed the weaknesses he hopes to exploit in his former friend’s game.
Masvidal: Covington Is “Fragile”
During a recent interview with ESPN’s Max Kellerman, Masvidal, who enters this Saturday’s event off the back of consecutive losses to reigning welterweight king Kamaru Usman, claimed he’s seen Covington’s fragility first hand.
That, as well as a power edge over the former interim titleholder, is something “Gamebred” plans to use to his advantage inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on March 5.
“(I can exploit) his heart, and he’s fragile. I know him. I have, just like he has things to say about me and math on me, I know him,” said Masvidal. “I remember the times that I hit him a little bit too hard in the body—he took his gloves off and had to walk out of the cage. He would tell trainers, ‘Ah, we don’t have to spar, me and Masvidal. We could wrestle all the time, but we don’t have to spar.’
“It shows on his record. He doesn’t hurt anybody. He doesn’t have any power,” added Masvidal. “I know what I have to do; just be a dog, be a dog that I’ve always been, and just get in front of his face, and let him have it.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CakZ10bI0qK/
While there may be the absence of a championship on the line this Saturday, the animosity between the two headliners more than makes up for it. With a place in title contention and bragging rights on the line, UFC 272’s main event promises to be a must-see affair.
Who do you think will win UFC 272’s blockbuster grudge match, Jorge Masvidal or Colby Covington?
UFC flyweight Mariya Agapova isn’t planning on fighting on emotion ahead of her grudge match against Maryna Moroz at UFC 272.
Agapova and Moroz used to be cordial as teammates at American Top Team in south Florida. But their respect for one another as teammates has fizzled out in recent years.
It all started when Moroz accused Agapova of struggling with drug addiction and jealousy, which allegedly led to her dismissal from ATT. Agapova has since denied Moroz’s claims and called her out following a win over Sabina Mazo last October.
Moroz has also claimed that Agapova attempted to injure her teammates during training. The two flyweights have a score to settle at UFC 272 following their series of back-and-forths.
During a recent interview with The AllStar, Agapova detailed how she plans to not fight on emotion against her ex-teammate turned adversary.
“I think, if I will be affected and mad, that might be her weapon,” Agapova said. “Because she’s purposely trying to drive me crazy. She post a lot of stories; she talking sh*t about me. She’s trying to make me mad because she knows if I get mad I will try to punch her hard and I will waste all my energy, and she will finish me like Shana Dobson. It’s what she wants. That’s why she’s trying to drive me crazy. But I (decided) I’m not going to play this game. I will be calm, cold, like an assassin, and I will open her weak places and hopefully finish her.”
Agapova vs. Moroz isn’t the only matchup between former ATT teammates on the card. The event will be headlined by a welterweight matchup between former friends turned bitter rivals Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal.
Aside from their beef, both Agapova and Moroz need a win to stay in the thick of things in the women’s flyweight division. Both women are coming into the matchup with plenty to prove and with long-term bragging rights on the line.
What is your prediction for Mariya Agapova vs. Maryna Moroz?
UFC 272 is now only one day away, and to help get you even more fired up for the grudge match of the century and all the other fight-night festivities, we’ve got some staff picks for you!
UFC 272 will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The main card begins at 10:00 PM ET, and the ESPN preliminary card kicks off at 8:00 PM. The early preliminary card starts at 6:00 PM.
The main event will feature the heavily anticipated grudge match between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal. In the co-main event, we have a short-notice five-rounder between former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos and Renato Moicano in a 160 lbs. catchweight bout.
Also on the main card, we have UFC veteran Edson Barboza going up against rising contender Bryce Mitchell. Kevin “Big Mouth” Holland will also make his return to the welterweight division against veteran Alex Oliveira. And kicking off the main card will be Sergey Spivak against Greg Hardy.
UFC 272 Staff Predictions
MMA News is the place to be for all the latest UFC 272 updates. I, Harvey Leonard, and Ed Carbajal have provided our picks for you.
Here is the full main card for UFC 272:
Welterweight Bout: Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal
Catchweight Bout: Rafael dos Anjos vs. Renato Moicano
Featherweight Bout: Edson Barboza vs. Bryce Mitchell
Welterweight Bout: Kevin Holland vs. Alex Oliveira
Heavyweight Bout: Sergey Spivak vs. Greg Hardy
Sergey Spivak vs. Greg Hardy
Serghei Spivac, Greg Hardy
Clyde Aidoo: Greg Hardy is 7-4 while Spivak is 13-3. This means not only does Spivak have more experience, but he also has a higher winning percentage. That fact is especially relevant when you consider that Hardy has lost to each of his toughest matchups, including every time he’s gone against someone who has been ranked.
This is a fight where I’m leaning more on data than any X’s and O’s and going with the more proven Spivak over Hardy, who has lost two straight by TKO. Meanwhile, Spivak has won three of his last four. The more I think about it, this is very curious matchmaking and a pretty tall task for the last fight on Hardy’s contract. (Prediction: Sergey Spivak)
Harvey Leonard: A strange main card opener to say the least. Given that we haven’t seen Spivak display one-punch KO power and that Hardy’s deficiencies on the ground are well-known, this one really could be as simple as one takedown being the deciding factor. Hardy will have opportunities to land the finishing blow he needs in the first round. But I think it’s more likely Spivak imposes his wrestling game in the second and either stops a fatigued Hardy on the ground or uses his grappling to secure a decision. (Prediction: Sergey Spivak)
Ed Carbajal: Hardy’s name seems to land him on the main card often, but that usually means he’s facing someone that has the same knockout power he does. Both men are coming off of losses, and Hardy’s last two are by T/KO. Spivak is as well-rounded as they come in this weight class and is the former World Warriors Fighting Championship heavyweight champ, so I think Spivak sends Hardy back to the prelims here. (Prediction: Sergey Spivak)
Consensus: 3-0 Spivak
Kevin Holland vs. Alex Oliveira
Kevin Holland and Alex Oliveira
Clyde Aidoo: Alex Oliveira is probably going to at least sample Holland’s takedown defense and put his jiu-jitsu skills to use, as it’s well known that Holland’s biggest bugaboo during his last two losses was due to wrestling deficiencies. Oliveira may be a proficient grappler, but I don’t think his wrestling skills will be the difference-maker in this bout, though, especially with Holland’s increased focus in this department. I’m expecting Holland to get the better on the feet with his funky striking and maybe even if the fight does hit the mat, Holland proved against Jacare Souza that he can not only survive but get the kill from any position. (Prediction: Kevin Holland)
Harvey Leonard: Given Holland’s two defeats in 2021, it’s expected Oliveira will employ a grappling-heavy approach. “Cowboy” is certainly well-rounded enough to cause the welterweight newcomer problems. But with a significant height advantage and the smaller stature of Oliveira compared to his recent opponents, Holland will have a much better chance at keeping the fight on the feet and utilizing his reach advantage. While Oliveira has the submission threat to secure a stoppage, I back “Big Mouth” to find his voice again, barring any weight-cut issues. (Prediction: Kevin Holland)
Ed Carbajal: Holland needs a win here to break the luck he’s been having in the cage; two losses and a no-contest aren’t necessarily great for his career. Oliveira is also in need of a win having lost his last three as well. Someone is going to break their streak, and it could be a coin-toss, but Holland isn’t easy to put away, so I’m leaning towards him. (Prediction: Kevin Holland)
Consensus: 3-0 Holland
Bryce Mitchell vs. Edson Barboza
Bryce Mitchell, Edson Barboza
Clyde Aidoo: This is a tough one because Edson Barboza was once known as having tremendous takedown defense, but his brutal, wrestling-based beatdowns at the hands of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Kevin Lee raised some questions. However, Khabib and Lee are both tremendous wrestlers on another level than Mitchell, even though Mitchell is an elite submission grappler.
If the fight hits the mat, I think Mitchell has a better chance of getting the submission than Barboza does of getting back up. However, can Mitchell get the veteran down? I’m going to bank on Barboza’s takedown defense holding up against a non-Khabib/Lee opponent in which case Mitchell would be in for either a very long night, or a very sudden blackout. (Prediction: Edson Barboza)
Harvey Leonard: While this will represent Mitchell’s toughest test to date, it will also signify Barboza’s first fight against a high-level grappler in a while. The Brazilian did defeat Makwan Amirkhani, but it’s perhaps a slight red flag that the Finland native was able to drag him down. Nevertheless, Barboza boasts a 78% takedown defense, and Mitchell hasn’t had to impose his largely one-dimensional game against an opponent anywhere near the quality of Barboza to date.
While the edge on the ground lies with “Thug Nasty,” the advantage on the feet is even more overwhelming on the other side. We’ve also seen Barboza’s ability to stop a level change in its tracks, as Beneil Dariush learned first-hand. If Barboza can utilize his classic kicks, keep Mitchell at a distance, and defend against the early takedown attempts, I think this step up in competition will prove too much for the 27-year-old. (Prediction: Edson Barboza)
Ed Carbajal: Justin Gaethje has gone on record to say Barboza was a fighter he tried to emulate and was nervous to fight when they eventually fought. That’s saying a lot here and while Mitchell might be the more popular fighter for UFC fans, Barboza’s experience and skill might be ahead of Mitchell’s. I’m going with Barboza in this one. (Prediction: Edson Barboza)
Consensus: Barboza 3-0
Renato Moicano vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Clyde Aidoo: This fight is probably a bit more competitive than some may think. With dos Anjos being a former champion who is still competing at a very high level and with a bit more meat on his résumé, Moicano might not be the sexy pick here, especially seeing as how he’s taking this fight on short notice. But like dos Anjos, Moicano has only lost to the best of the best. And at lightweight, Moicano has been very impressive, with a 3-1 record, all finishes, and his only loss coming to the lethal Rafael Fiziev.
I’m going to give the edge to dos Anjos because odds are he is more prepared for a five-round fight and has more experience under the bright lights in big-fight situations. (Prediction: Rafael dos Anjos)
Harvey Leonard: It’s always difficult to back someone entering a fight on four days’ notice, especially against an opponent with the experience and quality of RDA. Nevertheless, Moicano is a high-level BJJ black belt and displayed his well-rounded game against Hernandez at UFC 271.While RDA is no Hernandez, I fancy Moicano to make the most of this opportunity. He could also prove harder to prepare for than the initial Fiziev clash.
While the path to beating an elite striker like “Ataman” is clear, the route to victory against Moicano is harder to see, especially for a fighter who isn’t known for finding KOs, which appears to be Moicano’s major weakness. While five rounds on short notice is a concern, I back the younger Brazilian. (Prediction: Renato Moicano)
Ed Carbajal: This newly booked fight is a little different to call. Usually, a short-notice booking favors the prepared fighter, which is dos Anjos in this scenario. However, Moicano was not just sitting around. He just fought at UFC 271 where he won via second-round submission. Still, rushing into a fight after finishing one might mean he is still wearing some of the last camp into this short notice booking, so I think it’s still safe to go with dos Anjos here. (Predictions: Rafael dos Anjos)
Consensus: 2-1 dos Anjos
Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby Covington
Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington
Clyde Aidoo: I think Colby Covington beats any welterweight alive not named Kamaru Usman or (maybe) Khamzat Chimaev, so my confidence in Covington isn’t a slight on Masvidal but just a high valuation on Covington’s skill set. Masvidal is always live for the KO, but it’s going to take more than a “kneer’s chance” for me to pick against Covington here.
I don’t think any of the emotional build-up will play a role in the fight. Firstly, even Masvidal himself said he won’t approach the fight any differently. And even if he did, that would be more likely to have a negative effect than a positive one, as fighting with emotion is never advised.
If Masvidal doesn’t get this done within two rounds, his chances will fade drastically. Since Covington has only been TKO’d once (where he immediately returned to his feet) and because he is such an elite fighter with very high fight IQ, I think he avoids the KO, which means he drags the fight out. And that is when he will have a very noticeable advantage over his former teammate and bestie. (Prediction: Colby Covington)
Harvey Leonard: As has been pointed out during fight week, this is a striker vs. grappler contest with some added dynamics. Masvidal is the better striker, but Covington has shown he’s no slouch on the feet. Covington is the much better wrestler, but Masvidal has an impressive ability to return to his feet.
“Gamebred” is a fighter who can make things happen, as we saw against Askren. While a finishing blow can’t be ruled out, you’d expect that to be Masvidal’s path to victory. Against an imposing wrestler who has a proven chin, an Askren or Till-esque finish is perhaps unrealistic. With that in mind, the logical pick is Covington across five rounds, providing he sticks to his game plan. (Prediction: Colby Covington)
Ed Carbajal: This match has shadows of UFC 270’s main event where former training partners are facing each other after they parted ways from the gym they once were both members. MMA math does not work like real math, but both men have faced the mighty champion Kamaru Usman and lost. If that’s an indicator of how they’ll do against each other, Covington is the one to pick since he has fared better against the champion. (Prediction: Colby Covington)
Prediction: 3-0 Covington
That’ll do it for our UFC 272 staff picks! What do you think? Do your picks look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the UFC 271 undercard below.
UFC 272 Preliminary Card (ESPN, ESPN+, 8:00 PM ET
Jamie Mullarkey vs. Jalin Turner
Yan Xiaonan vs. Marina Rodriguez
Nicolae Negumereanu vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu
Mariya Agapova vs. Maryna Moroz
Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass, 4:00 PM ET)
Brian Kelleher vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
Tim Elliott vs. Tagir Ulanbekov
Erick Gonzalez vs. Devonte Smith
Dustin Jacoby vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com tomorrow for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 272!
Carla Esparza is a fierce opponent in the Octagon. Even the current strawweight champion, Rose Namajunas, was finished by Esparza when they fought back in 2014.
Similar to Namajunas, Xiaonan felt the loss was a lesson and showed where improvements need to be made.
Carla Esparza and Yan Xiaonan, Photo Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
“The biggest lesson is you have to be ready for a big fight like that. 100% ready. Another lesson is the direction—how you prepare for the fight. So, we had some problems on that in my last fight camp. So, yeah, everything, I learned a little bit of everything in that fight,” Xiaonan told LowKickMMA.
Most fighters will tell you that preparation for a fight is more important than the fight itself. You have to go into the ring mentally and physically fit enough to defeat your opponent.
A bad day can lead to a bad fight just as well as being undertrained. But losing can also be a humbling experience, and many fighters have come back stronger from it.
This Saturday, Xiaonan will face Brazil’s Marina Rodriguez at UFC 272. They hold spots in the top 5 of the strawweight rankings, and after their match, one will be much closer to the title shot.
What are your thoughts on how Yan Xiaonan reflects on her loss to Carla Esparza?
UFC 272 takes place Saturday, March 5, 2022, from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event will feature an epic grudge match between former best friends Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal. The trash talk has been at a fever pitch this fight week, and it reached a boiling point tonight during the pre-fight press conference.
Below, you can find some of the most memorable moments from today’s UFC 272 pre-fight press conference.
UFC welterweight Colby Covington has been met with a stern response after comparing upcoming opponent Jorge Masvidal to Fidel Castro.
It won’t come as a surprise to anyone that Covington has approached fight week for UFC 272 with his usual mindset. We’d have been stupid to expect anything else.
Ahead of the pair’s heated clash this Saturday, Covington once again hasn’t held back. That was evident at UFC 272 media day when he compared “Gamebred” with Fidel Castro, who was a Cuban revolutionary and leader of the Caribbean nation between 1959 and 2008.
“I never ask for handouts, I’m not like Jorge Masvidal. That guy is the definition of handouts,” Covington told reporters. “He used to use an Obama Phone. He used to food stamps from the government. He’s Fidel Castro junior. The guy is the definition of communism and here he is trying to act like he’s a right-winger now. It’s just funny, the hypocrisy.” (h/t The Mac Life)
Having previously attacked the entire nation of Brazil and used rival Kamaru Usman’s Nigerian heritage as an insult, it’s hardly surprising to see Covington go down the route of utilizing Masvidal’s background as a weapon.
Masvidal Fires Back: He Is Clearly Trying To Get Emotion Out Of Me
While Masvidal was born and raised in Miami, his father was Cuban. According to “Gamebred,” his father fled Cuba in a self-made raft at a young age. Masvidal has never shied away from criticizing the politics and regime his father’s country is run under.
With that in mind, Covington’s insult certainly crosses the line for Masvidal. During his own appearance at UFC 272 media day, the 37-year-old had the opportunity to respond.
Noting the immense pain caused to his family by the Castro rule, Masvidal described the deceased leader as the only person he dislikes more than Covington. With that said, “Gamebred” acknowledged that Covington used the comparison to try and force emotion out of him, something many have pointed out as a key factor heading into their main event bout.
“Due to Fidel Castro, family members of mine died,” Masvidal said. “My aunt is actually missing a breast because she tried to cross over from Cuba to Guantanamo Bay and the whole area is rigged with landmines. She’s now missing a tit because as she was crossing over, a landmine exploded.
“So for him to say that is clearly trying to get an emotion out of me and to get in the newspapers. The one person I dislike more than Colby Covington is no longer alive and it’s Fidel Castro,” concluded Masvidal.
Having previously referenced Masvidal’s family and children, it’s safe to say that there isn’t much left for Covington to comment on that could get under Masvidal’s skin. However, the topic of Castro and Cuba is clearly something the #6-ranked welterweight won’t entertain, and understandably.
While this grudge match certainly didn’t need more insults and back and forth to make it intriguing, that’s exactly what we’re getting so far in fight week. But when the cage door shuts, the time for talking will be over.
Heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury says his recent back-and-forth with Conor McGregor on social media wasn’t what most think it was.
McGregor and Fury recently went at it on social media after Fury posted a message of support for McGregor’s longtime rival Khabib Nurmagomedov. The two engaged in a bit of a roast fest on social media, and it seemed that there was genuine animosity between the two stars.
“Bit of a publicity stunt. Super Bowl weekend, all eyes on us,” Fury said.
Fury went on to clarify that he feels there’s no genuine hatred between him and McGregor.
“Beef? Man’s 10 stone. I’m 20 stone, behave yourselves. Only beef we would have is me eating him in a beef sandwich.”
McGregor is preparing for a return to the Octagon later this year against a to-be-named opponent. He has hinted that he will get a lightweight title shot upon his return to the UFC.
Fury and McGregor are arguably two of the most popular combat sports figures today but are also known for their attempts at mental warfare. Yet, it appears that Fury doesn’t hold any genuine dislike for McGregor.
What do you make of Tyson Fury’s reflections on his Twitter banter with Conor McGregor?
American Top Team founder Dan Lambert says the best outcome for his gym at UFC 272 would be a replica of Jorge Masvidal’s knockout of Ben Askren in 2019.
While ATT’s interest in this weekend’s pay-per-view recently increased with the late-notice addition of Brazil’s Renato Moicano to the card, the gym’s main attention will no doubt be on the headlining bout, which pits current influential member Masvidal against the ousted Colby Covington.
With that in mind, Dan Lambert, who founded the gym in 2001, is after a fast and emphatic victory for his man in Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena this Saturday.
Lambert: Quick KO For Masvidal Would Be “Satisfying” For ATT
During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Marc Raimondi, Lambert discussed the upcoming grudge match between one of his gym’s current fighters and perhaps the most notable former athlete, who he even used to manage.
Given Covington’s history with ATT, and feuds with the likes of Dustin Poirier and Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Lambert believes the best-case scenario for his gym would be a “satisfying” early finish, perhaps similar to the downfall of a certain “funky” former welterweight in 2019.
“I’d be lying if I said this was just another fight. We’ve got fights every week. This is a monstrous fight…You throw the personal side into it and it’s a monstrous fight,” said Lambert. “And I can’t help but look at what a fight like this means to the individual at our gym. This is a big fight. Jorge wins this fight, his career goes a certain way. Jorge loses this fight, it’s gonna go another way.
“Best outcome for us (ATT) would be Masvidal/Askren 2. That would be pretty satisfying for a lot of people at this gym,” Lambert continued. “It didn’t really seem realistic against somebody as good as Ben Askren. But I think Colby is a whole other level than that. Outside of Usman, Colby is gonna be favorited against everybody. So, yeah, it’s probably an unrealistic expectation to have a short fight like that. But I think it’s also an unrealistic expectation to think that Colby is gonna go in there and dominate Jorge.”
The source of Masvidal’s current stardom perhaps largely derived from one flying knee. At UFC 239 in July 2019, the Miami native was matched up with Ben Askren, who, at the time, boasted an unblemished 19-0 record and had emerged victorious in his promotional debut against Robbie Lawler four months prior.
UFC strawweight contender Michelle Waterson has to withdraw from her upcoming fight against Amanda Ribas due to a serious injury.
Waterson was supposed to face Ribas on the upcoming UFC 274 card before suffering an injury in her camp. The details of the injury aren’t, clear and it’s also uncertain if she’ll require surgery.
“I’m hoping, keeping my fingers crossed that it is a short break,” Waterson said. “It’s an injury that stopped me from training, and it’s heartbreaking. I was really excited to fight Amanda. I know she was very excited to fight, as well, so hopefully it’s a fight that we can still have. But if I don’t take care of this injury, it will turn into something that can be worse and career ending.” (h/t Yahoo Sports)
After getting word of Waterson’s withdrawal, Ribas posted a comment on the Instagram video in support of her originally scheduled opponent.
“Heyy Michelle!” Ribas said. “Good recovery for you. Hope we can reschedule soon.”
Waterson has lost three of her last four fights and has had four different fights canceled since early 2020. She fell to Marina Rodriguez via unanimous decision in a flyweight headliner last May.
What is your reaction to Michelle Waterson’s potentially career-ending injury?
UFC heavyweight Greg Hardy knows he has plenty of critics and haters, but he tends to tune them out entering fight week.
Hardy is set to face Sergey Spivak at UFC 272 and is looking to get back on track after back-to-back losses. He most recently fell to Tai Tuivasa at UFC 264 via first-round knockout.
Hardy transitioned from professional football to MMA in 2017 after a tumultuous end to his career on the gridiron. After two wins on Dana White’s Contender Series, he would eventually make his UFC debut in 2019, falling to Allen Crowder.
Despite the early setback, Hardy was able to get back on track with wins over the likes of Juan Adams and Yorgan De Castro.
Hardy came under fire in 2014 after he was arrested on domestic violence charges for beating his then-girlfriend. He was then found guilty to assaulting a female and communicating threats and had a 60-day jail sentence suspended.
Hardy’s out-of-competition setbacks have caused him to have quite the target on his back, especially in MMA.
“I tell myself that everyone loves me, and everyone loves me back,” Hardy said. “But the reality is, from what I’ve heard; internet, face-to-face: ‘F— Greg Hardy, he shouldn’t be in the league.’ My response is, I do what I want. I’m a super soldier, bro. I’m entertaining myself, I’m entertaining the fans, I love it. If you’re hating, that’s your right as an American citizen. Thank you for watching. Buy the ticket, though!”
Hardy is looking for his first win in nearly two years at UFC 272. His last win came against Maurice Greene in an impressive second-round TKO finish in October 2020.
What are your thoughts on Greg Hardy’s MMA career?
UFC featherweight contender Bryce Mitchell doesn’t care what you think of his recent rants about political issues.
Mitchell is set to face Edson Barboza on the UFC 272 main card this weekend. He’s looking forward to a triumphant return to the Octagon after nearly two years away from MMA action.
Mitchell has been in hot water in recent weeks following his viral interview with MMA journalist Ariel Helwani. Instead of it being a routine pre-fight interview, Mitchell used his time to criticize the U.S. Government and COVID-19 vaccines, among other issues.
Athletes speaking out on political issues has become more common during the current social climate. Mitchell isn’t alone in making his views readily available to the public. For instance, NBA superstar LeBron James began speaking out on issues regarding race and social justice just a few years back.
During his recent UFC 272 pre-fight press conference, Mitchell hit back at critics of his political views and him speaking out on civic issues.
“For me to be able to talk about something greater than fighting is more purposeful than anything I can talk about related to fighting,” Mitchell said. “And so I’m grateful to be able to do that. And a lot of people say, ‘Shut up and fight.’ Well, you know what? If you don’t want to hear that shit, turn off the TV and watch the fight. You don’t have to watch my interviews. Turn them off then.
“Instead of telling me to shut up, why don’t you just stop listening? Because there’s a lot of people that agree with what I’m saying about some of my political views, and I’m happy to talk about ’em and debate about ’em.”
James, like Mitchell, has been a target of some who feel athletes shouldn’t share their political and societal views on current issues. This comes after Fox News commentator Laura Ingraham scolded James to “shut up and dribble” back in 2018.
Mitchell has emerged as a polarizing figure in MMA and is allegedly not alone in his controversial views. Regardless, he’ll look to silence the critics and earn a big win over Barboza.
What are your opinions on Bryce Mitchell as a person and a fighter?
Because of the assault on Ukraine, World Taekwondo has taken away Vladimir Putin’s Honorary 9th Dan Taekwondo Black Belt he earned in 2013.
Many believe the current war in Europe is unnecessary and a selfish act of cruelty.
When World Taekwondo bestowed the 9th Dan Taekwondo belt upon Putin, the expectation was that he maintain the courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit that is learned through the Korean martial art. The high achievement is beyond some Taekwondo masters.
According to the President of World Taekwondo, Choue Chung-won, his recent actions prove the absence of the five principles of Taekwondo. And because of it, the organization has decided to take away the honorary belt.
“Peace is more precious than triumph” and the World Taekwondo values of respect and tolerance. In this regard, World Taekwondo has decided to withdraw the honorary 9th dan black belt conferred to Mr. Vladimir Putin in November 2013.”
In addition to stripping Putin’s belt, Russia and Belarus’s influence has been removed from the Olympics.
“In solidarity with the International Olympic Committee, no Russian or Belarusian national flags or anthems will be displayed or played at World Taekwondo events. World Taekwondo and the European Taekwondo Union will not organise or recognise Taekwondo events in Russia and Belarus.”
The decision adds to a long, growing list of sanctions against Russia.
For example, the International Judo Association suspended Putin as their honorary President and Ambassador. Additionally, sports organizations such as soccer, basketball, ice hockey, and many others have banned Russian athletes from competing.
Sadly, as Ukrainian citizens suffer, natives of Russia are also being held accountable for Vladimir Putin’s actions.
What are your thoughts on the sanctions against Vladimir Putin and Russia?
Colby Covington tells a different story of what went down between him and Jorge Masvidal at UFC 241.
Recently, Masvidal added some more heat to the rivalry by revealing details of the night Covington “snitched” on him to Dana White. According to “Gamebred,” when he confronted the former interim welterweight champion about some things he said online, Covington immediately spoke to Dana White about it.
However, Covington remembers the scenario a little differently. Here is what he said in an interview with ESPN MMA:
“Jorge was in the fifth row, he’s five row backs. I’m the champion at the time, so I’m first row, and I’m there to support my boy DC, the “Natty Goat”. You know, Daniel Cormier is the legend, the “Natty Goat.” I call him the “Natty Goat” for a reason. So, I’m there to support him in his fight versus Stipe Miocic, and I just hear rumbling behind me and people are shuffling, and I’m like what the [MUTED]. What’s going on back there? And then I see Jorge, and I’m like ‘Yo, what’s up man? What are you doing, dude?’ ‘Oh, I’m gonna [MUTED] you up for all the things you said. Let’s go outside. Let’s go, dude.’
There are many differences in their stories. For starters, Masvidal claims he tapped Covington on the shoulder and asked him to talk outside. But what happened next is where the two stories diverge wildly.
“And I’m like ‘Dude, you really want to go do this outside Jorge, I’m gonna dump you on your head. You’re not gonna have the UFC to pay your medical bills, so you really want to do this?’ And he’s just running his mouth from like the 4th of 5th row back. I’m in the front row, and I’m just like ‘Dude, act like a professional.’
“And that’s the whole thing, we’re at a UFC event, man, when have I ever laid hands on someone when I can beat up anybody in the crowd, any of the fighters—none of them can touch me. I’m the best fighter in the entire world. But I don’t do it ’cause I’m a professional. I handle my business in the cage. That’s where I do my business, in the UFC Octagon,” Covington continued.
Dana White Gets Involved In Covington/Masvidal Drama
Dana White, Photo Credit: Getty Images
Through Masvidal’s eyes, Covington ran and told Dana White after their interaction. However, Covington denies the entire thing.
Yes, he spoke to Dana White, but it was not to “snitch.” He says it was because White approached him about the ordeal.
“So Dana came over to me, he’s like ‘I don’t want any stuff messing up this event tonight. We need this fight to go through, and we don’t need anything to ruin it in the crowd.’ And he goes and tells Jorge the same exact thing. ‘Jorge, chill out, dude. You’re not gonna fight him, dude. You’re not gonna fight in the streets. You guys are professional cage fighters. You guys wanna fight, you can settle it in the Octagon.’”
A constant in their story is that Dana White did squash any potential scuffle, making it very clear to not fight at the event.
Obviously, nothing went down that night. But regardless of who is telling the truth, they will settle their conflict legally and in front of the entire world this Saturday, March 5.
What are your thoughts on Colby Covington’s version of what happened between him and Jorge Masvidal at UFC 241?
Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey is the latest UFC star to come to the defense of Cain Velasquez following his recent arrest for attempted murder.
Velasquez was arrested and charged with attempted murder among other charges for allegedly shooting the stepfather of an accused molester near San Jose, CA. Velasquez pursued Harry Eugene Goularte and went on a high-speed chase in footage just released to the public.
The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated for his wounds at a local hospital.
Velasquez is currently being held at a Bay Area prison without bail. He has been charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, assault with a firearm, and willfully discharging a firearm from a vehicle. He could face at least 20 years of jail time with a maximum life sentence also on the table.
In a recent tweet, Rousey came to the defense of Velasquez following his legal issues this week.
Velasquez last competed in the UFC against Francis Ngannou in 2019, suffering a first-round knockout loss. The investigation into the alleged shooting incident is ongoing.
What are your thoughts on the whole Cain Velasquez situation?
UFC welterweight Kevin Holland says he’s getting trolled harder than ever before after recent footage he published of himself beating up internet trolls.
The #14 ranked middleweight has taken on two internet trolls in the past month who had messaged him on Instagram asking to spar the UFC middleweight. Both got what was coming to them, as Holland dismantled the trolls with little to no effort.
The 29-year-old released the sparring footage onto his Instagram, showcasing him taking on the trolls in an attempt to ward off future haters who would be looking to potentially troll him. When Holland was asked at the UFC 272 media scrum whether he receives more or fewer trolls after the footage was released, he said.
“More, so that was the wrong answer for me on my behalf to beat up trolls because they started trolling even more. So yes, I’ve got my work cut out for me,” said Holland.
Kevin Holland, Derek Brunson, Credit: UFC Twitter
At UFC 272 Holland is making his welterweight debut, taking on Alex Oliveira in an attempt to rekindle the kind of form that saw him capture the attention of everyone in 2020. Speaking on taking on trolls in the training camp for his fight at UFC 272, Holland confirmed that waivers must be signed before the trolls are able to fight him with a special clause included…
“Yes, you’ve got to sign a waiver before you come in the gym period,” said Holland. “And you know, there is a little special thing in the waiver to make sure I can put you on the Only Fans. Ye, I’ve got a Kevin waiver.”
The ‘Trailblazer’ recently joined Only Fans where he exclusively revealed who his next opponent would be in Oliveira. Holland also made it free for fans to be able to subscribe to him on the platform in an interesting and unique move by the UFC fighter.
What do you make of Kevin Holland taking on internet trolls? Should Holland make it a series?
