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  • Thiago Alves Shares Mike Perry’s Interest In BKFC Showdown

    Thiago Alves is looking for the biggest fight possible.

    Thiago Alves has been a professional fighter since 2001. He has been involved in some very exciting matchups over the years. Now that he has 38 professional MMA fights and two bare-knuckle fights on his résumé, he isn’t looking to slow down. In fact, Alves is looking for the biggest fight he can get. Right now, that might be a bout with Mike Perry.

    Alves spent fourteen years in the UFC. Following his release, Alves decided to sign a contract with BKFC. He has found success in BKFC and is now the middleweight champion. Bare-knuckle fighting has found its niche in combat sports and now has a real following.

    More former UFC fighters are heading that way, and maybe the most popular among them is Mike Perry. Perry just had his first fight with BKFC and Alves was watching.

    “He looked good. He’s not going to look that good against me though,” Alves told TMZ Sports via MiddleEasy. “I hope we can make this fight happen. It was supposed to happen in 2017. I’m looking forward to that knuckling up.”

    Alves is looking to take on Perry in his next fight. Perry was also interested in this matchup as well, so the odds of it happening seem pretty good. Alves believes that this could be the biggest fight in BKFC yet.

    “Without a doubt [it will be the biggest fight ever]. Mike Perry is like the new generation, you know, he has a lot of hype behind him. Didn’t do as much as I’ve done in the sport, you know, I’ve been a lot longer than he has, but as right now, I don’t see any bigger fight in the making for the organization,” Alves said. “So, Dave Feldman, let’s make it happen!”

    Perry got himself back in the win column with his BKFC win over former UFC fighter Julian Lane. Perry’s appearance in BKFC is a sort of reawakening for his career that didn’t end too well with the UFC. If this is the biggest fight to make going forward, it should be something on the horizon in 2022.

    Would you want to see this potential matchup between Thiago Alves and Mike Perry?

  • Henry Cejudo Puts Himself Above GSP In UFC GOAT Conversation

    Former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo holds himself in high regard, even higher than the legend Georges St-Pierre.

    Cejudo hasn’t fought in the Octagon since defeating Dominick Cruz at UFC 249. He announced his retirement in his post-fight interview but has since hinted at a UFC comeback.

    Similar to St-Pierre’s title win over Michael Bisping, Cejudo has alluded to a matchup one division up against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Cejudo threw his name into the conversation to fill in against Volkanovski before the UFC opted to book Chan Sung Jung for the bout.

    Nowadays, Cejudo remains a fixture of MMA culture. He has coached multiple current and former UFC champions such as Deiveson Figueiredo and Jon Jones, along with podcasting.

    During a recent segment of The Triple C & Schmo Show, Cejudo listed his top-5 UFC fighters of all time and put himself above St-Pierre in the discussion.

    “These are my top five. No. 1 Jon Jones. No. 2 Demetrious Johnson. No. 3 Anderson Silva. And you know what, I’ve been thinking about it a lot Schmo, I am actually No. 4. I used to put GSP there, but I am actually No. 4, just for the fact that I won both my bouts with [the] two greatests. Just because Bisping had a championship at that time doesn’t mean he was the best in the world.

    Canadian Georges St-Pierre wins in his return to UFC | Offside
    Georges St-Pierre

    “I literally beat the best guys in the world. I beat three Hall of Famers in my last four fights. Demetrious Johnson, TJ Dillashaw, and Dominick Cruz. I am gonna have to put myself in that GOAT mountain man. I used to think more of GSP. But in reality, I just feel he cherry picked, man, with all the due respect to the legend. So, I am gonna have to put him at No. 5.” (h/t SportsKeeda)

    St-Pierre went back into retirement following his win over Bisping at UFC 217. He teased a potential matchup with Khabib Nurmagomedov in recent years, but the fight never materialized.

    Cejudo has the chance to prove his ranking of himself if he’s able to become a three-division champion. For now, it’s unclear if he’ll ever return to the cage.

    What are your thoughts on Henry Cejudo’s Top-5 all-time list?

  • Archives: Conor McGregor Speaks On Preparing For Life After UFC (2020)

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Two Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 26, 2020, 6:09 PM]

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Conor McGregor has spoken out on an athlete’s life following their careers in sports.

    McGregor has become the most popular figure in all of mixed martial arts. His reach has gone beyond fans of the sport and he has transitioned to the mainstream media. The “Notorious” one has taken advantage of the opportunity with his whiskey brand and his August McGregor lifestyle brand.

    Conor McGregor Discusses Life After UFC

    McGregor is still a viable competitor but he knows that the time on a fighter’s career doesn’t last forever. Speaking to The Mac Life, McGregor talked about the steps he’s taken to ensure he’s well off after he hangs up his gloves (h/t LowKickMMA.com).

    “Athletic life is short right? As cruel as it sounds no-one really cares about the athlete post-career. I mean it’s as simple as that and that’s not just fighting it’s in any sport. So, I have studied many athletes’ careers both in combat sport and in professional sport and just analyzed it. I saw the do’s and the don’t and things that can create an afterlife in the game. For, me I’ve just gone down things I’m passionate about. I went down the fight game because I’m passionate about it – I wouldn’t have reached the levels I’ve reached in the fight game without having passion for it. And the whiskey game, the fashion game you know.”

    McGregor went on to say that he’s fortunate enough to be able to explore options outside of fighting. McGregor has already made an impact with his Proper No. 12 Irish Whiskey brand. An ad for the whiskey was even placed on the canvas for the big heavyweight boxing rematch between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.

    But as long as McGregor is still fighting, fans will continue to speculate what’s next for him. ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reports that the UFC is having early talks of booking McGregor to compete this summer. The candidates for his opponent are said to be Justin Gaethje and Nate Diaz.

  • Israel Adesanya Names Retired Boxer As #1 Dream Matchup

    UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya would’ve loved to have tested himself against boxing legend Prince Naseem Hamed in the ring.

    Adesanya is fresh off his unanimous decision win over Robert Whittaker in their title rematch at UFC 271. Adesanya is undefeated at middleweight since signing with the UFC back in 2018.

    In addition to being one of the best fighters in the world, Adesanya is also a student of the fight game. He has followed boxing and MMA for years and has implemented skills from other legends into his repertoire.

    During a recent interview with SunSport, Adesanya named Hamed as the one fighter he would’ve wanted to go back in time and fight.

    “I would’ve liked to have fought Prince Naseem Hamed.

    Prince Naseem Hamed deserves HOF election
    Prince Naseem Hamed, Credit: AP2001

    “Just because I liked the style [he had]. His cadence, his rhythm, his showmanship. Everything.

    “So I would’ve liked to have tested myself against that guy.” (h/t The Sun)

    Hamed earned the WBO featherweight title and the WBC super-bantamweight title during his illustrious career. He retired in 2002 following his win over Manuel Calvo in front of a raucous crowd in London, UK.

    Adesanya has recently signed a new mega-deal with the UFC that is alleged to be one of the most lucrative in UFC history. He’s anticipating a return later this year – details on Israel Adesanya’s next fight.

    You can check out some of Prince Naseem Hamed’s highlights below! (h/t shaheer09shaheer)

    How do you think this fight between Israel Adesanya and Prince Naseem Hamed would’ve played out?

  • Archives: Shevchenko Says Nicco Montano “Cannot Escape” (2018)

    When it comes to facing Valentina Shevchenko, Nicco Montano did, in fact, “escape,” despite Shevchenko’s vow to the contrary that she wouldn’t. Her alleged ‘getaway’ cost her the flyweight championship, however, and inevitably led to the dominant reign of Shevchenko’s still going strong today.

    The following article is presented in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Four Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 26, 2018, 9:40 AM]

    Author: Ian Carey

    Valentina Shevchenko believes UFC flyweight champion, Nicco Montano, is all out of reasons not to fight her. She is coming for her title.

    29-year-old, Nicco Montano, won the 26th season of the Ultimate Fighter and the UFC women’s flyweight championship in December. She was scheduled to face Sijara Eubanks in the finals of the tournament but a harsh weight cut caused a last-minute opponent change. Loveable MMA veteran, Roxanne Modafferi, was given the opportunity but ultimately dropped a unanimous decision to Montano.

    UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Nicco Montano

    Montano is a Navajo Nation member from the community of Lukachukai. After winning the championship in December, she was honored by the Navajo Nation with a plaque and ceremony at the 23rd Navajo Nation ceremony.

    After winning the title, however, Montano stated that neither Shevchenko nor Paige VanZant (who has also been looking for a title shot at 125lbs) has earned a title fight.

    “I’m definitely not scared because it’s the name of the game. You want to fight the best so that you can prove to everybody else that you are the best, but right now the best is not Shevchenko at ‘25. She hasn’t fought at that weight. It’s not Paige VanZant, she hasn’t fought at that weight either. So I think it’s pretty silly and I’m a person who wants fair fights and so I just don’t think they are deserving of it right now.”

    Valentina Shevchenko

    At the time Montano made the above comments, Shevchenko had not fought at 125lbs in the UFC. That changed on February 3rd, 2018, when she submitted Priscila Cachoeira in her flyweight debut.

    “I did fight at 125, I did my job, I did everything. So she just doesn’t have a reason to decline the fight.” – Valentina Shevchenko

    Shevchenko appeared on the MMA Hour recently and went into further detail regarding a potential bout against Montano.

    “Let’s see how she will act, because no one has heard [anything] about her, she’s not saying [anything] until now,” Shevchenko said. “Let’s see how she responds. But my opinion, if she is holding the belt, she has to defend it. She cannot just escape, and she cannot just find another reason to not fight or fight with another opponent.”

    Originally it was believed Montano was targetting a fight with Sijara Eubanks for her first defence. Eubanks is now scheduled against Lauren Murphy for June 1st, however. It appears the UFC is looking at Shevchenko vs Montano to take place later this year.

    “She’s holding the belt,” Shevchenko said. “This is everything.”

  • Archives: McGregor Proves Popularity Not So Much About Winning (2019)

    The following article was published on this day three years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 26, 2019, 1:52 PM]

    Headline: Quote: Conor McGregor Proves Popularity “Not So Much About Winning”

    Conor McGregor is undoubtedly the most popular figure in mixed martial arts. None of the losses suffered to Nate Diaz, Khabib Nurmagomedov, or a boxing loss to Floyd Mayweather in 2017 have changed that fact.

    One fighter who has done nothing but win in recent years but historically struggled with popularity is Tyron Woodley. Woodley believes that Conor McGregor is living proof that, unlike other sports, MMA is not about statistics or your record, but about the spectacle: (via MMA Fighting)

    “This is a person that, I don’t give stats, he’s lost a few times and won a few times,” Woodley said of Conor McGregor at a media lunch scrum this week. “But look at his mystique he has. So it’s telling you it’s not so much about winning. It’s about the showmanship. It’s about what you bring to the table. It’s about making people give a f*ck. You gotta find a way to do both. You gotta find a way to do both of it. You’ve got to find a way to make people invested, want to see me lose, want to see me win.”

    Though Woodley believes Conor McGregor exemplifies this reality the most, he believes there are several other lower scale examples of how styles don’t just, as they say, “make” fights, but the right style ensures that there will be more fights to make for the athlete:

    “We saw with [Keith] Jardine, we saw with so many fighters forever that, subpar, .500 records that stayed around that, then you have a guy who lose maybe one fight and they’re gone,” Woodley said. “And I just think that, when you look at a sport? Think about basketball. It don’t matter if you wear a pimped out custom suit, talk the most sh*t as possible, if you can shoot a three, you can shoot a three. How many times you seen Steph Curry talking crap? You get paid the big bucks based on how you deliver out on the court.”

    “If you go out there and you punch and you bleed and you brawl and you go back and forth, you really can’t lose in that situation,” Woodley said. “You can get your ass whupped and knocked out, but if you fought to a point where everyone was like ‘oh my god, he’s so tough,’ not only with the fighters and the fans but the promotion, you’ve kind of almost put yourself in the mold where they’re going to keep you.”

    Do you agree with Tyron Woodley? Is popularity in MMA based more on fighting style and spectacle than wins and losses? And is Conor McGregor an example of this?

  • Francis Ngannou Thinks The Hype Got To Ciryl Gane Before UFC 270

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou thinks the pre-UFC 270 hype got in Ciryl Gane’s head ahead of their fight.

    Ngannou earned a unanimous decision win at UFC 270 over Gane, but it was anything but easy. Entering the cage with a significant knee injury, Ngannou didn’t use his striking as much and instead utilized his improved grappling, especially in the later rounds.

    Ngannou vs. Gane was arguably the most highly-anticipated heavyweight title clash in UFC history. While the fight itself wasn’t as much of a barn-burner as many expected, it was a technical showcase from both fighters.

    The pre-fight hype included the relationship between Ngannou and his former MMA Factory head coach, Fernand Lopez, along with his past sparring sessions with Gane. Many believed Gane had the perfect skillset to dethrone Ngannou, especially on the feet.

    During a recent Q+A on his YouTube channel, Ngannou spoke about what he thinks went wrong for Gane at UFC 270.

    “The weak spot, I hoped that before the fight was that he’d really listen and believe to what they were saying in the media,” Ngannou said. “He did believe everything in the media was saying at some point, and that’s why even at the press conference or at the faceoff face-to-face, I’m like ‘I really like you, don’t just let this get in your mind’. Not only for this fight, because what would’ve happened if he won this fight? Then they would keep telling him the same thing until he face the same situation with somebody.”

    Gane has hinted that he hopes Ngannou will stay with the UFC long-term so that he can get a potential rematch in the future. Ngannou is expected to miss a majority of 2022 after undergoing surgery on his injured knee.

    In the meantime, the UFC could potentially schedule another interim title fight later this year. Gane could win a pair of fights and work his way back to potential vengeance against Ngannou.

    What do you think is next for Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane?

  • Archives: Woodley Reveals How He Lost $10,000 Waiting On USADA (2019)

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Three Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 26, 2019, 1:12 PM]

    Headline: Tyron Woodley Reveals How He Lost $10,000 Waiting On A Random USADA Drug Test

    Author: Damon Martin

    UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley has always been proud to compete as a clean athlete, which is why he fully supports the random drug testing done by USADA.

    As the enforcers of the UFC’s anti-doping policy, USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) is in charge of randomly testing fighters at any time, place or occasion without much notice before making an appearance to draw blood or urine.

    Woodley has always tested clean throughout his career while remaining one of the most tested athletes on the UFC roster. He was even given an award for a consecutive streak of clean tests under the UFC’s anti-doping policy.

    Unfortunately, Woodley found out just how random the testing can be earlier this year when he received a call to submit a sample while he was traveling to Atlanta to take part in the Super Bowl festivities ahead of the game between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams.

    “They tested me Super Bowl weekend, the lady came to me, bless her soul, cause I said a few unchoice words to her with respect. She came to test me at 12 a.m. on Super Bowl weekend knowing the reason I was in Atlanta was probably for Super Bowl and I had some appearances that I was supposed to be at,” Woodley revealed during a media luncheon ahead of UFC 235.

    “I had an event with Devonte Freeman and Meek Mill I was supposed to be at. An event with Ludacris and Snoop Dogg and I was in the hotel waiting on her to come in 45-minutes of traffic to test me. So she tested me around 1 a.m. and I missed those events.”

    According to Woodley, he asked the person sent to collect his sample if there was any way this could be done in the morning so he wouldn’t miss his appearances but that was not allowed.

    Woodley then revealed that the tester told him she couldn’t make it to collect his sample earlier because she had an event of her own that couldn’t be missed.

    “I said I have an event I have to go to that I’m missing money because I’m supposed to be there,” Woodley said. “She said ‘well I can meet you there’, I said ‘no, you can’t get in, you can’t be on the list’.

    “So I had to wait there and she tested me at 1 a.m. and I was not happy.”

    Because the person collecting his sample was stuck in traffic for 45 minutes, Woodley had to wait in his hotel for over an hour until she arrived to test him.

    Woodley ultimately missed his events that night and according to the reigning welterweight champion it cost him a hefty paycheck.

    “[I lost] about $10,000,” Woodley revealed. “So USADA I’m not happy right now.”

  • Archives: Arianny Celeste Calls Rousey A Bully, Rousey Responds (2015)

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Seven Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 26, 2015, 12:54 PM]

    UFC Octagon girl Arianny Celeste is not taking kindly to Ronda Rousey’s recent statement that fighters should make more than UFC’s Octagon girls.

    The longtime UFC employee told the folks at MMA Junkie Radio earlier this week that Rousey is a “big bully” who “continuously picks on me..” Rousey, however, has a different take.

    “What did I say that was a bully?” Rousey said at a recent media scrum, which you can watch above via MMAFighting.com. “That the fighters should get paid more than the ring girls? How does that make me a bully? That makes me f*cking right. I’m sorry, but she wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for the fighters. She wouldn’t. You think her walking in circles around the two guys or two girls out there fighting for their lives is worth more? Think she works harder than they do?”

    In 2012, Rousey took some shots at Celeste when the two were both ranked in Maxim’s Hot 100 list. Rousey, who was not in the UFC at the time, stated the following:

    “It would have been really funny if I’d beaten Arianny Celeste, because that would be like a triathlete coming along and beating the runners in a marathon,” Rousey said at the time. “Like, ‘Haha, it’s your job to show your t*ts – I do that better than you!’ Maybe next year. She’s only getting older, and I’m reaching my prime.”

    During her radio appearance earlier this week, Celeste elaborated on her position, explaining why she tries to separate herself from the “MMA world.”

    “I’m not going to talk about her because I’m not a fighter,” Celeste said. “I’m not going to waste my time. I actually don’t talk about anyone. It blows my mind that someone who doesn’t even know me continuously picks on me. And that’s all I see her as: a big bully.”

    Rousey feels Celeste is taking things personally, and offered a bit of advice for the UFC employee.

    “You know what would have been the best thing for her to say?” Rousey said. “‘Oh my God, you know, these fighters work so hard and I wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for them. I just admire them so much. And yeah, I definitely think that they should get paid more than anybody in the arena tonight.’ There ya go. That’s a PR lesson for her.”

    While Rousey may not be Celeste’s biggest fan, she did explain that she has no issue with Octagon girls in general, pointing out the fact that she has respect for UFC Octagon girl Brittney Palmer.

    “She went and became a ring card girl to pay her way through art school and become a renowned artist,” Rousey said. “And her being ring card girl helps her promote her art. If you’re working at Hooters because you’re trying to pay your way through medical school, then f*ckin’ work it girl. I respect the hustle. But don’t think you’re hot sh*t just because you work at Hooters. Use it to further yourself in life; don’t think that you’re awesome just because you do that. I’m sorry, but I’m not impressed with the job in itself.”

    Rousey makes her Octagon return at UFC 184 this Saturday night in Los Angeles, California, as she defends the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship against undefeated number one contender Cat Zingano.

  • Green Not Expecting Title Shot With Makhachev Win: “I’m Not Stupid”

    Bobby Green isn’t expecting a title shot, even if he pulls off a massive upset and beats Islam Makhachev tonight at UFC Vegas 49.

    Green is stepping up on 10 days’ notice to take on Makhachev after Beneil Dariush was forced out of the bout due to an injury. The fight will take place at a 160lbs catchweight, and even though Makhachev is fighting a short-notice replacement, many still believe he will get the title shot due to his win streak.

    However, should Green win, he doesn’t believe he will get the title shot.

    “I’m not stupid. I know this is a business. I know that the UFC are the storytellers. They write the story. They don’t tell you who you goin’, and where it’s goin’, and how it’s goin’. I’m just here to play my part. That’s it,” Green said on The MMA Hour. “And so I don’t believe there will be a title shot next. People would be pissed. ‘He just jumped over everybody and blah, blah, blah.

    Bobby Green, Nasrat Haqparast
    © Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

    “‘And it doesn’t make sense. And he wasn’t ranked, and blah, blah, blah. And he only has two or three wins (in a row) and blah, blah, blah.’ They’re gonna have every excuse of why I shouldn’t (receive a title shot). And I don’t care. I just want you to put me in front of somebody next and keep this money rollin’ in. That’s all it’s about is money, OK? That’s it.”

    Bobby Green just fought at UFC 271 and defeated Nasrat Haqparast by decision. It was his second win in a row as he scored a TKO victory over Al Iaquinta at UFC 268 prior to that. Green has been in the UFC since 2013, and this will be his first main event. Should he win, this will easily be the biggest win of his career and possibly put him in the top 5 at lightweight.

    Do you think Bobby Green would deserve a title shot with a win over Islam Makhachev?

  • Check Out Last-Minute Betting Odds For UFC Vegas 49

    The final UFC Vegas 49 betting odds are in for as this event is quickly approaching for the Las Vegas-based promotion. 

    The event is here, and it goes down tonight (Saturday, February 26, 2022) from Las Vegas, Nevada at the UFC Apex facility.

    Islam Makhachev vs. Bobby Green in a catchweight bout will headline the show. In the co-main event, Wellington Turman vs. Misha Cirkunov in a middleweight bout will take place.

    Rounding out the main card is Ji Yeon Kim vs. Priscila Cachoeira in a women’s flyweight fight, Arman Tsarukyan vs. Joel Alvarez in a lightweight bout, and Armen Petrosyan vs. Gregory Rodrigues in a middleweight bout. 

    According to oddsmakers, Islam is a -800 favorite over Green, who is a +550 underdog. Other odds for the main card include Turman being a +105 underdog against Cirkunov, who is a -115 favorite. Here are the full betting odds: 

    Main Card (7 PM ET, ESPN+)

    Islam Makhachev (-800) vs. Bobby Green (+550)

    Misha Cirkunov (-115) vs. Wellington Turman (+105)

    Ji Yeon Kim (-165) vs. Priscila Cachoeira (+145)

    Arman Tsarukyan (-225) vs. Joel Alvarez (+185)

    Gregory Rodrigues (-155) vs. Armen Petrosyan (+135)

    Preliminary Card (4 PM ET, ESPN+)

    Ignacio Bahamondes (-220) vs. Rongzhu (+180)

    Josiane Nunes (-200) vs. Ramona Pascual (+170)

    Fares Ziam (-120) vs. Terrance McKinney (EVEN)

    Jonathan Martinez (-235) vs. Alejandro Perez (+190)

    Ramiz Brahimaj (-365) vs. Micheal Gilmore (+280)

    Carlos Hernandez (-125) vs. Victor Altamirano (+105)

  • WATCH: UFC Vegas 49 Post-Fight Press Conference Live Stream

    The UFC Vegas 49 post-fight press conference will be live once the action concludes.

    In the headliner, Islam Makhachev and Bobby Green will collide in a catchweight clash. UFC Vegas 49’s co-main event will see a clash between Wellington Turman and Misha Cirkunov. More action will also be featured on the main card as Ji Yeon Kim shares the Octagon with Priscila Cachoeira. 

    The fighters from both the main and co-main events are expected to attend the post-fight press conference barring any hospital visits. Of course anyone else on the card who has a breakout performance could also attend the presser.

    MMA News will be providing live coverage of the UFC Vegas 49 card. Be sure to check back here for the post-fight presser with a tentative start time of 10:15 p.m. ET.

    Let us know your big takeaways once the UFC Vegas 49 post-fight press conference.

  • Peña: I Know The Mistakes I Need To Correct Before Nunes Rematch

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Julianna Peña is looking ahead to her rematch with Amanda Nunes, and knows there are some areas of her game she needs to fix before their second clash.

    At UFC 269, the final pay-per-view of 2021, Peña closed out a memorable year for MMA’s premier promotion in style. In the co-main event, she had her long-awaited title shot against then-two-division titleholder Nunes. Prior to December, the “Lioness” boasted a 12-fight win streak and was unbeaten since 2014.

    While most expected that impressive run of form to continue into 2022, “The Venezuelan Vixen” had other plans.

    After evading Nunes’ intent to finish in the opening round, Peña put her own game plan into action, taking the fight to the Brazilian on the feet, before dragging her to the mat and submitting a visibly fatigued and disheartened Nunes.

    Peña Acknowledges Title-Winning Performance Wasn’t Perfect

    While the memory of her remarkable ascent to the bantamweight throne remains fresh and spoken about in most interviews, Peña is beginning to adjust her focus towards her next task: a second victory over Nunes.

    Shortly after the shocking result, Dana White made it clear the reigning featherweight queen would be offered an immediate chance at redemption at 135 pounds, something she welcomed with open arms.

    With her first defense and rematch with Nunes on the horizon, “The Venezuelan Vixen” knows she has to make adjustments to her game, and has acknowledged that she made some “very big mistakes” at UFC 269.

    “I would say I’ve watched (UFC 269 fight) at least four times. As far as my assessment, there’s definitely some very big mistakes that I made, and I’m looking to correct those,” Peña told BT Sport’s Caroline Pearce. “I’m already starting my training camp, I’m trying to get back in shape right now. I’m gonna give myself one last hurrah to keep my hair down tonight, and then after that it’s straight business.

    “I got dumped in the first round and that really pissed my coaches off,” added Peña. “So, I just need to make sure I don’t get dumped again in the next fight. Aside from that, I think, hey, it’s fighting, mistakes are going to happen.”

    In a perfect world, Peña says her first defense will come after a stint coaching the next season of The Ultimate Fighter opposite Nunes. With Ariel Helwani reporting that the pair are the front-runners to do so this year, it seems she may get her wish.

    How do you think the expected rematch between Julianna Peña and Amanda Nunes will play out?

  • Islam Makhachev Explains Why Charles Oliveira Would Be An Easy Fight

    Islam Makhachev believes his wrestling skills outmatch the lightweight champion’s, which makes it a good, yet easy fight for him.

    The #4 lightweight contender faces off against Bobby Green in a catchweight bout this Saturday, February 26. Green is Beniel Dariush’s replacement, as Dariush suffered an injury a week before the match.

    Makhachev and Green head into their battle with back-to-back impressive wins. Fans anticipate what both fighters will bring to the cage at UFC Fight Night 202.

    Islam Makhachev and Bobby Green
    Islam Makhachev and Bobby Green, Photo Credit: UFC/Twitter

    Some tension has built up leading to their match. For instance, Green says he will be the first fighter to give Makhachev a “real” fight. And Makhachev laughed at Bobby Green’s wrestling skills.

    But that comes as no surprise. Being the wrestling sensation that Makhachev is, he puts his wrestling skills well above many fighters.

    In his last nine straight wins, he racked up four different submissions. Last year alone, he won all of his fights by submission, which includes a kimura to take out Dan Hooker in the first round.

    Though Makhachev credits “Do Bronx” for his striking and grappling, his success leads him to believe he can put Charles Oliveira down with ease in an eventual matchup.

    “It’s gonna be good fight because we almost have same style,” Makhachev said during a UFC Vegas 49 media scrum. He have good grappling skills, he have good striking, and it’s gonna be good fight. And I don’t think it’s gonna be hard for me. I can take him out, take him down easy because I know he don’t have good wrestling skills. But his grappling skills—high level. And we will see who’s better there,” said Makhachev in a pre-fight interview.

    Currently, Oliveira has the most submission wins and finishes in UFC history and has 20 submissions in his entire MMA career. As of now, Makhachev has 10.

    By the time these two amazing grapplers reach each other those numbers can certainly change.

    Oliveira has an upcoming title defense against Justin Gaethje in May. And before that, Makhachev fights for his chance to increase his win streak to ten straight wins.

    Both fights will determine if Makhachev and Oliveira will test their skills against one another in the near future.

    How do you think Islam Makhachev matches up against Charles Oliveira?

  • Colby Covington Open To Adesanya Matchup After Masvidal Fight

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington is open to a shot at middleweight champion Israel Adesanya after a win at UFC 272.

    Covington is slated to face his former friend and teammate Jorge Masvidal in a grudge match at UFC 272. The headliner has been a highly anticipated matchup for months and a fight that the fans have wanted for a long time.

    Covington and Masvidal have both lost to UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman twice, which makes their respective prospects for another title run a bit questionable. Covington in particular has teased competing at multiple weight classes in the past.

    Those ambitions remain. During a recent interview with Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole, Covington hinted at what could be next for him following UFC 272, including a matchup with Adesanya.

    “I’m not opposed to going up to 185 and beating up Stylebender,” Covington said. “That guy, he’s not a well-rounded fighter. He can’t keep up with my pace. I know I can take him down and drown him. So there’s a lot of options for me out there.”

    Covington has also expressed a profound interest in a third fight with Usman along with a potential matchup with another former teammate of his in Dustin Poirier.

    Adesanya earned the middleweight title over Robert Whittaker at UFC 243 before earning dominant wins over Paulo Costa and Marvin Vettori. He rematched Whittaker at UFC 271 and won the bout via a unanimous decision.

    First thing’s first for Covington. He and Masvidal have gone at it on social media for years and will settle their beef in the Octagon at UFC 272. Depending on how it plays out, a matchup with Adesanya may not be outside of the realm of possibility.

    Who do you want Colby Covington to face after UFC 272?

  • Former MMA Fighter Josh Bitterman Is Running For Congress

    Former MMA fighter Josh Bitterman is running a campaign to sit in Congress for Michigan’s 11th District.

    Bitterman had a 9-1 record in his 10 amateur fights. Now, at 41-years-old, his name is heard in politics.

    The election is for the 11th District which includes four towns/cities in Michigan: Farmington Hills, Oak Park, Pontiac, and West Bloomfield Township. Bitterman plans to win the position from current seatholder U.S. Representative Haley Stevens.

    Stevens won the election back in 2017 and ended the Republican influence that held the position for many years.

    As a small business owner and native of West Bloomfield Township, Bitterman believes he has a strong chance to put Republicans back in the seat for the district.

    Bitterman joins the ranks of other MMA fighters who have run or are currently running for Congress, including Royce White, who will run against Ilhan Omar for the Minnesota Congress seat.

    https://youtu.be/59wT_Ag4zLk

    What do you make of the growing list of MMA fighters entering politics?

  • Bellator 275 Results & Highlights: Mousasi TKOs Vanderford

    Bellator 275 went down at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland today with a middleweight title fight between Gegard Mousasi and Bellator MMA’s No. 1 ranked middleweight,  Austin Vanderford.

    The 31-year-old Vanderford is known to casual fans of the sport for being the husband of Paige VanZant, but for anyone that has been paying attention, he’s definitely a world-class fighter.

    Mousasi is only a few years older than Vanderford but his experience in mixed martial arts competition was considered a key factor by pundits ahead of his title defense against Vandeford at Bellator 275.

    You can peep the highlights from the main event below followed by the Bellator 275 quick results!

    Gegard Mousasi def. Austin Vanderford

    https://twitter.com/VMSportIE/status/1497353383627403274

    Bellator 275 Quick Results

    Main Card

    Gegard Mousasi def. Austin Vanderford via TKO (punches): R1, 1:25

    Sinead Kavanagh def. Leah McCourt via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)

    Ciaran Clarke def. Abou Tounkara via TKO (shoulder injury): R1, 5:00

    Khasan Magomedsharipov def. Jose Sanchez via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27×2)

    Jornel Lugo def. Brian Moore via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)

    Preliminary Card

    Brett Johns def. Khurshed Kakhorov via TKO (strikes): R3, 3:00

    Davy Gallon def. Charlie Leary via TKO (punches): R2, 3:01

    Stephanie Page def. Danni McCormack via TKO: R1, 1:46

    Darragh Kelly def. Junior Morgan via submission (guillotine choke): R1, 1:47

    Vladimir Tokov def. Daniele Scatizzi via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

    Gokhan Saricam def. Kirill Sidelnikov via unanimous decision (30-27×3)

    Nathan Kelly def. Scott Pedersen via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)

    Lee Hammond def. Jamie Hay via TKO: R1, 3:32

  • Darren Till and Khamzat Chimaev Help Feed The Homeless In Sweden

    Darren Till and Khamzat Chimaev are helping out the less fortunate.

    Darren Till is looking to improve his fight skills. He has been training in Stockholm, Sweden with Khamzat Chimaev. The two have been posting pictures of themselves together and have quickly become one of the most liked new UFC friendships. Till is known as a bit of a joker on social media and seems happy to be a part of Chimeav’s training crew.

    Recently, Till and Chimaev took their new friendship outside the gym to make a difference in the Stockholm community. The video was posted by FrontkickOnline that shows Till and Chimaev handing out meals to people in need. They handed out food and drinks alongside fellow Swedish fighter Reza Madadi to the people in Stockholm.

    This isn’t the first time Chimaev was seen doing something like this. He likes to help those in need when he can. He was seen giving food to a homeless man when he was in Vegas preparing for his fight against Gerald Meerschaert.

    Both men have been training together at Allstar Training Center in Stockholm. Neither man has a fight on the schedule at the moment, but there have been some talks.

    Chimaev has been rumored to be fighting Gilbert Burns in his next time out but nothing is official at the moment. Chimaev has been eagerly wanting a top-ranked opponent and if the deal with Burns can be done, he would put himself in a great position with a win.

    As for Till, he has had some trouble lately. He has lost two in a row and four of his last five. Till was at one time recently considered the top prospect in the welterweight division and fought for a title. He has since fallen off a bit and began trying his skills at middleweight. He is now ranked eighth at middleweight and could be looking to improve upon this position with the help of Chimaev and the team.

    What do you think of Darren Till and Khamzat Chimaev’s friendship?

  • Shogun Rua vs. Ovince St. Preux 2 Targeted For UFC 274

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua will make his return to the cage later this year against Ovince St. Preux.

    The fight booking was first reported by MMA journalist Marcel Dorff.

    Rua has previously stated that he intends on fighting at least two more times before calling it a career. The 40-year-old last fought against Paul Craig at UFC 255, losing via second-round knockout.

    Rua earned the UFC light heavyweight title after defeating Lyoto Machida at UFC 113. He would go on to lose the belt to Jon Jones in his first title defense at UFC 128.

    St. Preux has spent time at light heavyweight and heavyweight since losing in an interim title fight against Jones at UFC 197. He has lost three of his last four fights in the cage, including most recently against heavyweight contender Tanner Boser last June.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CaamnpSMws7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    St. Preux and Rua have previously battled in the Octagon in their tenures with the promotion. St. Preux knocked out Rua in just 34 seconds in a UFC Fight Night event in late 2014.

    St. Preux went on to earn dominant wins over Patrick Cummins and Rafael Cavalcante before losing to Jones for the interim light heavyweight belt.

    Both Rua and St. Preux are looking to get back in the win column before their respective careers come to a close. UFC 274 will be headlined by a lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje.

    What is your prediction for Shogun Rua vs. Ovince St. Preux?

  • Smith: Rockhold Is ‘Not Good Enough To Beat Anybody Worth A F**k’

    Anthony Smith has continued to take shots at Luke Rockhold.

    After Smith fought Jon Jones, Rockhold began blasting “Lionheart” for being a bad middleweight that was able to get a title shot. That began a feud as Smith told him to move up so they can fight. And after Rockhold did move up and got KO’d by Jan Blachowicz, their rivalry only increased.

    Now, as Rockhold is angling to face Paulo Costa next time out, Smith doesn’t think it is a good idea, as he thinks the former champ would get knocked out.

    “He’s not able to stay awake at work… He falls asleep on the job all the time. But it’s just like he sucks now. And ok that’s a lie,” Smith said on Michael Bisping’s podcast (via Sportskeeda). “I don’t want to put it out there like that. I think he’s very skilled. He’s super dangerous, he’s got insane kicks, he’s got good power, he’s an insane wrestler, he’s a fantastic guy on top. But defensively, he’s not good enough to beat anybody worth a f**k.”

    Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    Given both Smith and Rockhold do not have a fight booked, perhaps this recent trash-talk will allow this fight to happen. It would be a big fight, as it could headline a Fight Night card or be on a pay-per-view, as the two don’t like one another. However, Rockhold has made it clear he isn’t interested in fighting at light heavyweight.

    Anthony Smith is coming off a submission win over Ryan Spann, which was his third win in a row as he also beat Jimmy Crute and Devin Clark. He’s currently ranked fourth at light heavyweight while Luke Rockhold has not fought since UFC 239, where he was KO’d by Jan Blachowicz.

    Do you agree with Anthony Smith’s harsh assessment of Luke Rockhold?

  • Masvidal Says Fight Against Jake Paul Could Only Happen On The Streets

    As of now, Jorge Masvidal has no plans to get in the ring with undefeated Youtube Star turned boxer, Jake Paul.

    On March 5, MMA fans get to see what could be the grudge match of the year. Masvidal will take on rival and former American Top Team training partner Colby Covington.

    The main event is hyped by pre-fight tension. And when Masvidal fights, there has to be a big check involved. And according to Masvidal, Paul does not have the lucrative pull to book a fight with him.

    The #6 welterweight has fought many big names and made a lot of money in his 50-fight career. Unless the payout is massive, Masvidal considers a fight with Paul a waste of his time.

    “I’ll fight him right now, you know, on my way to the gym. But I prepared my whole life to fight the best of the best. He’s not the best of the best… I’m not doing charity. You’re selling 70,000 PPVs, there’s nothing to talk about. He had a street team handing out free tickets at the event for people to go to the event…” said Masvidal in his interview with Audacy.

    Both times, Masvidal predicted Woodley would defeat Paul. After beating him a second time, the Paul brother called out ” Gamebred” and his former opponent Nate Diaz.

    Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley
    Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley, Photo Credit: Chris O’Meara/Associated Press

    Even then, Masvidal’s main argument for the rejection was that Paul simply cannot afford him. That being said, once Paul’s numbers go up, Masvidal claims he will gladly take on the Ohio-born boxer.

    Jake has done a lot in the past months with remaining undefeated and promoting one of the most anticipated women’s boxing matches ever between Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor. Perhaps a more lucrative future is ahead and he will one day gain Masvidal’s attention to settle their conflict in the ring.

    What are your thoughts on Jorge Masvidal not wanting to fight Jake Paul?

  • Ben Askren and Jamahal Hill Get Into Twitter Spat Over Walker Trolls

    Jamahal Hill has come to Johnny Walker’s defense against Ben Askren.

    Following his win at UFC Vegas 48, Jamahal Hill has been riding high. His opponent, Johnny Walker, however, has not been. Walker has been taking many shots from internet trolls regarding his loss and memes of his knockout have been circulating. Walker and his fiancée both issued statements asking fans to leave them alone and to address the hardships that come after a public loss like Walker experienced.

    Fighters being trolled is not new, unfortunately. Many times when a fighter loses via knockout, the image of them on the Octagon floor becomes viral. One man who knows this feeling well is Ben Askren. He became the subject of such ridicule when he lost to Jorge Masvidal. Now, he has taken to Twitter himself to mock Walker and his response to the situation.

    “We all know what we signed up for. Fighters need to quit being little babies about people making fun of them on Twitter,” Askren wrote.

    Jamahal Hill Claps Back At Askren

    This message by Askren was following Hill coming to the defense of Walker. He put out his own message to fans warning them about the effects of their words and asking people to be kind. Askren did not embrace this message, instead took to mocking it instead.

    To this end, Hill did not back down. He shot back at Askren in a series of his own Tweets.

    “If you knew what u signed up for why did u retire after a year in the ufc? U couldn’t handle the heat and ran!!” Hill wrote. “I don’t need fans to love me, I love me some me!! But your a b–ch if your ok with ppl harassing your family. I would expect u to understand a alphas mind!!”

    These two continue to go back and forth. Askren is no longer fighting, and it is unlikely that this feud will amount to anything, but Hill has been relentless in his attack on Askren.

    What do you think of this spat between Ben Askren and Jamahal Hill?

  • UFC Vegas 49: Makhachev vs. Green Weigh-In Results & Preview

    The UFC Vegas 49 weigh-in results are in, and we’ve got the scoop for you down below!

    At UFC Vegas 49, Bobby Green will have quite the first-time main event experience when he takes on Islam Makhachev. Both fighters made weight for their 160 lbs. catchweight bout. Ironically, although it was Green who is stepping in on short notice, he came in two pounds lighter (158) than Makhachev (160).

    Not unlike these two athletes, all but one fighter successfully made weight today. The lone exception being Rong Zhu, who came in four pounds over the lightweight limit ahead of his bout against Ignacio Bahamondes. As a result, Zhu was fined 40% of his fight purse and the bout will proceed as scheduled.

    The night’s co-main event will feature Wellington Turman taking on Misha Cirkunov. Another fight to watch will feature MMA News’ #71-ranked fighter of 2021, Arman Tsarukyan, who will be taking on the surging Joel Álvarez, who enters with a three-fight win streak with 16 of his 19 career wins by submission.

    Main Event Preview

    Bobby Green, Islam Makhachev
    Bobby Green, Islam Makhachev

    MMA fans thought they’d be witnessing a title eliminator between Beneil Dariush (#3) and Islam Makhachev (#4) tomorrow night. Instead, Makhachev will be taking on the last-minute replacement of Bobby Green. Green believes that no title eliminator is called for in his pursuit of being the lightweight BMF, for he has already earned that title.

    As for his lightweight peers, Green has instructed them to take notes on how a gangster approaches the fight game both inside and outside of the cage, even against someone as dominant as Islam Makhachev.

    For Green, he says the real test isn’t to get his hand raised tomorrow night against the dominant Makhachev but to make sure the fans go home happy. Tomorrow night, Green plans to become the first person to put Makhachev in a true fight. Indeed, the veteran says that a fight is what viewers can expect as opposed to a wrestling match.

    As one could imagine, Makhachev has other ideas. He believes that he will have no problems taking Green down and submitting him, as evident by his roasting of Green’s wrestling acumen.

    After Dariush’s withdrawal, Makhachev had tried to fight a list of names that he says went on ghost mode. But with the replacement, nothing has changed for Makhachev. His game plan is always the same: pressure, wrestle, and submit. And he now plans on sprinkling in some trash talk along the way, to which Green says he has no problem engaging in as well.

    But judging from today’s face-off, the two aren’t waiting until tomorrow night to begin their trash-talking.

    UFC Vegas 49 Weigh-In Results & Viewing Information

    UFC Vegas 49 takes place Saturday, February 26, 2022, from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. The entire card will stream on ESPN+, with the preliminary card kicking off at 4 PM ET and the main card starting at 7 PM ET.

    You can view the full card and weigh-in results below, courtesy of UFC.com.

    MAIN CARD

    Main Event – Catchweight Bout (160-lbs): Islam Makhachev (160)    Bobby Green (158)

    Co-Main Event – Middleweight Bout: Misha Cirkunov (185.5) vs Wellington Turman (185)

    Women’s Flyweight Bout: Ji Yeon Kim (126) vs Priscila Cachoeira (125)

    Lightweight Bout: Arman Tsarukyan (156) vs Joel Alvarez (156)

    Middleweight Bout: Armen Petrosyan (186) vs Gregory Rodrigues (186)

    PRELIMS

    Lightweight Bout: Rong Zhu (160)* vs Ignacio Bahamondes (154.5)

    Women’s Featherweight Bout: Josiane Nunes (145.5) vs Ramona Pascual (146)

    Lightweight Bout: Terrance McKinney (156) vs Fares Ziam (155)

    Featherweight Bout: Alejandro Perez (144.5) vs Jonathan Martinez (144)

    Welterweight Bout: Ramiz Brahimaj (170.5) vs Micheal Gillmore (170.5)

    Flyweight Bout: Victor Altamirano (123) vs Carlos Hernandez (125)

    *Rong Zhu weighed in above the lightweight limit as a result, he was fined 40% of his show money.

    Be sure to keep it locked right here on MMANews.com tomorrow night for full coverage of UFC Vegas 49: Makhachev vs. Green!

  • Dale Brown Says Other UFC Fighters Have Reached Out For Cornering

    Detroit Urban Survival Commander, Dale Brown surprised everyone when he was in Joaquin Buckley’s corner.

    Brown was considered a joke to many on social media for his defense techniques, but Buckely wanted to see it first-hand. After going to Brown and working with him, he began gaining respect for him and ended up having him in his corner for his UFC Vegas 48 fight against Abdul Razak Alhassan.

    Buckley ended up winning the fight by split decision and Brown says the KO artists used some of his techniques in the scrap.

    “I will say he did use some techniques that are associated with my training,” Brown said to TMZ Sports.

    With Dale Brown now being 1-0 as a cornerman, he says other UFC fighters have reached out about him training them.

    “We’ve had several just the past couple of days reaching out, emailing, texting, trying to reach out and see if they can come by the facility and see what we can do to coordinate and collaborate,” Brown said.

    However, even though several UFC fighters have reached out to him, Brown says he will only work with Buckley, as he is loyal to him.

    “We’re #teamBuckley so that’s not gonna happen,” Brown said.

    With Buckley beating Alhassan with Brown in his corner, he improved to 14-4 as a pro and is riding a two-fight winning streak. He’s also 4-2 inside the Octagon. But with him getting the win, perhaps he goes back to the D.U.S.T. commander next time out. As the old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and Buckley had success against Alhassan so perhaps he runs back his exact same corner for his next fight.

    What do you make of Dale Brown saying other UFC fighters have reached out to train him?

  • Green Responds To Makhachev’s Plans Of Trash-Talking During Fight

    Islam Makhachev plans on chatting it up with Booby Green on the canvas at UFC Vegas 49.

    Islam Makhachev will be headlining the upcoming UFC Vegas 49 card this weekend against Bobby Green. There has been a lot of talk about Makhachev and his position in the UFC lightweight rankings lately. On Saturday night, it will be Makhachev who plans on doing the talking once the two hit the mat.

    “We’re gonna talk inside the cage. I’m gonna take him down, then tell him, ‘Hey, let’s go. Get up. Yeah, I’m gonna talk,” Makhachev explained during media day (MMA Junkie). “He gonna talk with me when we beginning, striking, but when I’m gonna take him down, I’m gonna ask him a couple questions.”

    Makhachev is undefeated in his last nine fights. His last three wins all came by submission. He is excellent on the ground and is the protégé of one of the greatest wrestlers in UFC history, Khabib Nurmagomedov. And Makhachev shows just how much he’s learned whenever he is in the cage. Makhachev is often compared to Nurmagomedov in terms of fighting style, and Green also sees another resemblance.

    Green Responds To Makhachev’s Plans

    Bobby Green
    Bobby Green, Image Credit: Hans Gutknecht/Los Angeles Daily News

    “I think that’s kinda dope. I think it’s dope,” Green said. “Say what you gotta say, brother. Nobody’s holding you back from your words. Say what you say. You are kinda stealing from your big brother Khabib. That was his shit. So you jockin’ his swag.”

    Green is stepping into this fight with Makhachev on short notice. Makhachev’s original opponent, Beneil Dariush, was injured and Green decided to make the quick turnaround and fight. He last secure a win just 12 days ago when he defeated Nasrat Haqparast by unanimous decision at UFC 271. Green has been in the UFC since 2013 and has dealt with his fair share of wrestlers. He was never been submitted in his UFC career.

    Do you think Makhachev’s takedown-and-talk strategy will have an effect on Bobby Green?