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  • Sean O’Malley: The UFC Could Lose Its Top Stars & Still Be The Best

    Rising UFC bantamweight star Sean O’Malley believes the UFC would remain the best MMA promotion, even if its top stars departed.

    Not too long ago, serious talk surrounding fighter pay and the possibility of elite stars exploring free agency would have been largely unheard of, bar a few “rebels” in that regard. Now, the topic is one of the most widely debated and discussed in the sport by fans, pundits, and fighters.

    The man behind the latest surge for additional contractual benefits is “the baddest man on the planet,” Francis Ngannou. Leading up to the first pay-per-view of 2022, the heavyweight champion’s quarrel with the UFC was public, with his manager suggesting it goes far beyond just money.

    Ngannou’s unification showdown with Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 represented the last fight on his deal. While a defeat would have likely seen him depart the promotion, a victory would secure a strong negotiation position, both in the context of his own desires, and the greater pursuit of improved contracts for fighters on MMA’s biggest stage.

    After five rounds in Anaheim, “The Predator” accomplished the latter.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZFVJznP7iU/

    From Dana White’s Octagon and press conference absence following the main event to the revelations since, including a legal threat sent to Ngannou’s team prior to the event and the undisputed titleholder’s willingness to do “whatever it takes” to get what he wants, it’s clear the tension and uncertainty around Ngannou’s future have intensified since UFC 270.

    With the promotion facing the possible departure of its heavyweight champ later this year, renowned MMA journalist Ariel Helwani pondered whether this could set the tone and get the ball rolling for a mass exodus of UFC stars.

    Israel Adesanya, Nate Diaz, and Conor McGregor are likely to fight out their active deals this year. With that in mind, Helwani questioned what would happen if they all decided to test the waters of free agency.

    According to Sean O’Malley, not much…

    During a recent episode of his YouTube podcast, the #12-ranked 135lber suggested the UFC could lose all of its top stars and still remain the best promotion in the sport of MMA.

    “The UFC could lose all those motherf*****s and still be the best,” said O’Malley. “They’ll still have the biggest names, still do the biggest numbers, it’s crazy… I think the UFC does it the best.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    O’Malley Defended Dana White On Fighter Pay

    O’Malley’s comments come after he defended Dana White and the UFC’s stance amid the rising controversy on the current fighter pay structure.

    While many point to the discrepancy between MMA and boxing, and the fact the lowest purses on UFC cards see fighters walk away with as little as $12,000, “Sugar” thinks the debate is as simple as ‘take home what you bring in’.

    “Dude, like I don’t even blame Dana. It’s like, some of these f*cking people have zero following. They’re not making the UFC one hundred thousand,” O’Malley said during an episode of the TimboSugarShow. “I mean, they’re not making the UFC fifty thousand. They’re not making the UFC any money really. But that’s from a business perspective, from Dana’s business perspective, I can see that.” 

    O’Malley was last in action at UFC 269 in December, where he impressively finished Raulian Paiva via first-round TKO. As well as earning a place in the rankings, the Montana native seemingly secured a handsome pay rise, as teased by Dana White in the aftermath of the event.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CY4im9ZviMk/

    While Ngannou and perhaps a number of others will be considering a move away from the UFC this year, one man who appears more than happy with his current situation is O’Malley. If a mass exodus of stars does happen, “Sugar” certainly expects to still be part of the “best” promotion in MMA.

    Do you agree with Sean O’Malley? Could the UFC lose its top stars and remain the MMA leader?

  • Archives: Tuivasa Rips ‘Steroid-Injecting Muppet’ Junior dos Santos (2018)

    Recently, Tai Tuivasa expressed his shock that Carlos Felipe got flagged for steroid use. To quote the bewildered Aussie, “How did he get done for steroids? He’s fat as shit!”

    But when it came to Junior dos Santos four years ago, Tuivasa had no trouble believing that JDS was a cheater. And in response to some criticisms from dos Santos, Tuivasa decided to share that belief with the world.

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

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED OCTOBER 25, 2018, 4:50 PM]

    Headline: Tai Tuivasa Rips ‘Steroid-Injecting Muppet’ Junior dos Santos

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Tai Tuivasa has fired back at Junior dos Santos.

    Tuivasa and dos Santos will collide on Dec. 2 in the main event of UFC Adelaide. The action will take place inside the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in Adelaide, Australia. It’s a huge opportunity for Tuivasa, who is the 11th ranked UFC heavyweight, while dos Santos sits at the seventh spot.

    Tai Tuivasa Slams JDS Over Recent Comments

    In a recent interview, dos Santos made an odd remark about Tuivasa. He criticized “Bam Bam” for having UFC announcer Bruce Buffer say he represents street fighting. The harsh and bizarre critique prompted Tuivasa to blast dos Santos in a recent interview with Sporting News:

    “I was giving him credit for being a great, but he can go f**k himself now, Just because of what Bruce Buffer said? As if I’m gonna say I’m a black belt or something. Calling someone a coward is a bit shallow from a steroid injecting little muppet like that. He can say whatever he wants to say, as long he brings it. It’s all gonna happen anyway, regardless of what any of us says. But to be calling someone a coward is shallow coming from a cheater. Make sure you’re not juiced up.”

    UFC Adelaide will also see Mark Hunt look to rebound from his submission loss to Aleksei Oleinik last month. To do so, he’ll need to get past Justin Willis, who has gone 3-0 inside the Octagon.

    Do you think Junior dos Santos is reaching with his criticism of Tai Tuivasa?

  • Poirier: Oliveira Has More Ways To Win Than Gaethje

    Former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has given his thoughts on the upcoming title fight between reigning 155-pound king Charles Oliveira and challenger Justin Gaethje.

    In a year full of memorable crownings, including Glover Teixeira at light heavyweight and Brandon Moreno at flyweight, it was perhaps the triumph of Oliveira that represented the greatest resurgence. From 10-8-1 in his first 19 Octagon outings, “Do Bronx” has built a 10-fight win streak, culminating in championship glory and a successful defense.

    Despite coming back from extreme adversity against Michael Chandler at UFC 262 to secure his place on the throne, Oliveira was still doubted by many, with his toughness coming into question.

    He proved his naysayers wrong at the final pay-per-view of 2021 by retaining the gold with a third-round submission victory over Poirier, who was coming off consecutive wins against former two-division champ Conor McGregor.

    Having further legitimized his reign, Oliveira’s first test of 2022 will come against a contender who’s previously been vocal about the Brazilian’s apparent “quit.”

    At UFC 274, Gaethje, who previously failed to reach the undisputed mountaintop against Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019, will have his second chance to mount the throne. “The Highlight” secured the shot with victory in a FOTY-worthy clash against Chandler last November.

    Poirier: “It’s An Interesting Fight”

    Having defeated Gaethje in 2018 and gone 11 minutes with Oliveira just two months ago, Poirier is in a unique position to analyze and predict this year’s first lightweight title clash.

    During an interview with Robby Clark for InsideFighting, “The Diamond” discussed the may pay-per-view showdown. He suggested that while Gaethje has the power and striking prowess to finish anyone, that will be his sole way to leave the Octagon with the belt on May 7.

    In comparison, Poirier believes Oliveira has multiple ways to emerge victorious and defend his title for a second time.

    “You know, Charles has more ways to wins. Justin has to knock him out. I think Charles can knock Justin out, Charles can submit him, Charles can win a decision; he has more ways to win,” said Poirier. That’s not saying that Gaethje won’t knock him out.

    “Charles is a guy who gets hit a lot. In his last two fights, he’s touched the canvas in both fights,” added Poirier. “And Gaethje’s a guy that if he gets you hurt, he usually puts you away, and he has big power. So, if you’re able to get touched, you might not recover. It’s an interesting fight. But Charles has more ways to win.”

    In his last two outings, Oliveira has recovered from knockdowns to find a finish. Whether or not he can do that against an instinctive killer like “The Highlight” remains to be seen.

    While Oliveira will hope to prove he can withstand his opponent’s power later this year, Gaethje will be looking to prove his theory on the Brazilian champion’s grit to be true.

    Who do you think will leave UFC 274 with the lightweight title, Charles Oliveira or Justin Gaethje?

  • Archives: Derrick Lewis Says He Was Happy To See UFC 229 Brawl (2018)

    Tonight at UFC 271, Derrick Lewis will almost surely engage in a brawl when he faces Tai Tuivasa in the co-main event. But at UFC 229, he was happy just watching one.

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

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED OCTOBER 7, 2018, 1:07 PM]

    Headline: Derrick Lewis Says He Was Happy To See UFC 229 Brawl

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Derrick Lewis says he didn’t mind watching the UFC 229 brawl and he actually enjoyed it.

    Lewis competed on the main card of UFC 229 last night (Oct. 6). The action took place inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. “The Black Beast” took on Alexander Volkov. After being down in the fight and needing a Hail Mary, Lewis knocked out Volkov with just 11 seconds left in the fight.

    Derrick Lewis Appreciates A Brawl

    Lewis certainly isn’t fazed when a fight breaks loose. That’s what happened at the conclusion of UFC 229 as Nurmagomedov hopped into the crowd and attacked Dillon Danis. Members of Nurmagomedov’s team also brawled with McGregor inside the Octagon. During the FOX Sports 1 post-fight show, Lewis said he liked what he saw (via Bloody Elbow):

    “I thought it was entertaining. I was happy to see it. I thought [Nurmagomedov and McGregor] were gonna get the bonus, so I’m sure Dana White is gonna take the bonus from Khabib for that. Hopefully they give it to me.”

    Lewis got his wish as UFC president Dana White revealed during the post-fight press conference that “The Black Beast” earned a $50,000 bonus for “Performance of The Night.” Not only did Nurmagomedov not get a bonus, but his $2 million salary is being withheld by the Nevada State Athletic commission. On top of that, White said that he isn’t ruling out stripping Nurmagomedov of the UFC lightweight title pending the NSAC’s potential punishment.

    Do you think Khabib Nurmagomedov would’ve received a bonus if not for the UFC 229 brawl?

  • Usman On Why He Considered LHW Jump: “It’s Jan”

    UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has shed some more light on why he considered challenging for former light heavyweight king Jan Blachowicz’s title.

    Since ascending to the 170-pound mountaintop in 2019, an achievement that came through a dominant five-round performance against Tyron Woodley, Usman has firmly established himself as one of the most dominant champions in the UFC, in a one-on-one race for welterweight GOAT status, and arguably in the conversation for the greatest of all time, period.

    Having beaten off two challenges each from Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal and finishing Gilbert Burns, “The Nigerian Nightmare” sits comfortably on the welterweight throne, but also with the pound-for-pound crown in his possession.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZb1zYVLjab/

    Looking to prove and demonstrate his P4P dominance, Usman recently revealed he’d considered jumping two divisions to light heavyweight to challenge Polish powerhouse Blachowicz, who, at the time, reigned over the 205-pound landscape.

    Since that revelation, a number of contenders have given their thoughts on how Usman would fare in their home turf. While the upcoming title challenger Jiří Procházka suggested “The Nigerian Nightmare” would lack his usual speed and power, the rising Jamahal Hill told MMA News that Usman would be “tiny” for a light heavyweight.

    Usman’s Two-Division Aspirations Derived From One Matchup

    Now, as the discussion surrounding a potential pursuit of glory at a second weight continues, Usman has clarified his comments.

    During an interview with CBS Sports, the welterweight titleholder explained that his desire to jump up to 205 pounds derived from his feelings towards a fight against Blachowicz, an opponent he believes he’d match up well with.

    “I was very serious. I got some flak for it, and people were thinking, ‘Oh, no, he’s just saying this.’ No, I was very serious,” said Usman. “Because Israel Adesanya is the middleweight champion and Jan Blachowicz was the light heavyweight champion, I saw that matchup and I said, ‘Hey, that’s a fight that I can deal with. It’s Jan. 

    “No disrespect to Jan. I think he’s a great competitor, he’s a very powerful guy, he’s got a lot of power in his hands, but I thought that was a matchup that favored me,” Usman added. “I thought if I had skipped the middleweight class, went up to light heavyweight, I definitely would be a champ-champ. But unfortunately, he’s no longer the champ, so I will stay put where I am, and we’ll have that conversation if it happens.”

    With compatriot and friend Israel Adesanya on the middleweight throne, any push for champ-champ status would have to see Usman skip the 185-pound class.

    However, with Blachowicz losing the gold to veteran Brazilian Glover Teixeira at UFC 267 last October, it remains to be seen whether or not Usman fancies his chances against light heavyweights beyond the recently-dethroned Blachowicz.

    How do you think Kamaru Usman would have fared against then-champion Jan Blachowicz in 2021?

  • (Archives) Adesanya: Anderson Silva Is Not Chuck Liddell (2018)

    Three years ago, the MMA world was concerned about a 48-year-old Chuck Liddell fighting after being knocked out by Tito Ortiz. Many of those concerns were also placed on then-43-year-old Anderson Silva in 2018 when he was scheduled to face a rising Israel Adesanya. However, Adesanya believed these concerns were misplaced for a reason as simple as it sounds:

    Anderson Silva is not Chuck Liddell.

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

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 30, 2018, 8:01 AM]

    Headline: Israel Adesanya: Anderson Silva Is Not Chuck Liddell

    Perhaps announcing the return of 43-year-old Anderson Silva to go against a young, lethal rising contender could have been timed better, with the MMA world still reeling from the knockout of 48-year-old Chuck Liddell last weekend at the hands of rival Tito Ortiz.

    To be sure, Liddell’s brutal knockout serves as a precautionary tale for promoters, athletic commissions, and matchmakers on how to handle aging fighters. But if you ask Israel Adesanya, who will be sharing the Octagon with his hero Anderson Silva at UFC 234, any comparison between Anderson Silva and Chuck Liddell in 2018 are without grounds:

    “Look, he’s not Chuck Liddell,” Adesanya said in an interview with Submission Radio. “Because of (Liddell/Ortiz 3), people are like, oh, how dare you? He’s 43! Look, the last time I remember he was finished was when he broke his leg. He hasn’t been losing badly. He beat Derek Brunson. It was a close fight, I guess, but yeah. I think he’s just been bored.”

    It was Anderson Silva who was originally not on board with the bout, but when the green light for the bout was granted by “The Spider,” Adesanya’s disappointment swiftly turned to enthusiasm:

    “Initially, I was disappointed because I was like, man, this was the guy who liked the big challenges…the ‘great show,” like he used to say. ‘I want a great show.’ And then, he said no to me. I’m like, man, maybe he doesn’t have it anymore.

    “And then, he came back last Sunday, and I was like, yep, I want to do it. I’m like, they must have made him an offer he can’t refuse. Instantly, I knew it was like, title shot.

    “I’m going to be the guy to bring the best out of him. You’re going to see a different Anderson, the Anderson of old, if you will.”

    Do you agree with Israel Adesanya? Does Anderson Silva still have enough to pose a legitimate threat for him at UFC 234?

  • Nunes Tells Peña To Enjoy Champion Status While It Lasts

    Amanda Nunes has warned UFC Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña to enjoy her title reign while it lasts.

    The war of words ahead of their highly anticipated rematch has already begun with Nunes giving some advice to her foe as well as a warning that she will regain her belt when the time comes.

    “That Belt’s Mine. I’m Coming For It”

    From Amanda Nunes’ Twitter

    The UFC recently announced the 30th season of its The Ultimate Fighter series, which will be starring the bantamweight stars. Both fighters will coach the season, which involves contestants of fighters from both heavyweight and women’s flyweight weight classes.

    During a recent media scrum ahead of UFC 271, Nunes spoke to reporters regarding the recent TUF announcement as well as reflecting on her loss at UFC 269.

    The current UFC featherweight champion is expecting Peña to exchange words with her on the series making for a more heated rivalry come the rematch.

    “Yeah. I always expect that she’s talking,” Nunes said. “Actually, she has changed a little bit. She wants to look like the nice champion now.

    “So, I give her a little bit of credit (for) slowing down a little bit. Because when you have that thing, it’s not like, a simple thing. You have to really be careful and think about what comes out your mouth. I’ve paid for that before.”

    She continued to go into detail on how different life is as a champion once the belt has been captured while also warning Peña that she will be coming for the belt when the time comes.


    “You have a lot of people who look up to you,” continued Nunes. “You’re in the public eyes now. I’ve been there before and I know how exciting it is, like TV shows; all those things. I know she’s very excited about all those things. But at the end of the day, you have to keep up with that, and I know in the rematch we’re gonna take that back. She’s having a good time right now.

    “Enjoy every single day with that belt because that belt’s mine. I’m coming for it”

    While having lost her bantamweight belt, Nunes still remains a champion at featherweight, meaning their rematch—which is set to happen sometime later this year—will be a head-to-head, champion vs champion clash in what will be one of the biggest women’s MMA fights in history.

    Do you agree with Amanda Nunes that Juliana Peña’s reign as champion will soon be over?

  • Archives: Joe Rogan Discusses Interviewing Fighters After Bouts (2019)

    Joe Rogan will not be interviewing any fighters tonight at UFC 271 because he will not be on commentating duty. There were rumors that Rogan was replaced by ESPN due to his recent controversies, particularly viral race-related remarks from the past, but the UFC has reported that it is really due to a scheduling conflict. It should be noted that in recent years, Rogan has missed the occasional UFC pay-per-view due to such conflicts.

    In the following article published on this day three years ago, Rogan opened up on interviewing UFC fighters after bouts. It is presented to you in its original, unfiltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Three Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 12, 2019, 3:49 PM]

    Headline: Joe Rogan Discusses Interviewing UFC Fighters After Bouts

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) color commentator Joe Rogan has revealed the goal of interviewing fighters after their bouts.

    Rogan has been with the UFC since 1997, so going in-depth on the background and styles of fighters is nothing new to him. Upon his transition as a color commentator, Rogan eventually found himself interviewing athletes inside the Octagon right after their bouts. It’s a task that Rogan has proved to be more than capable of handling for years.

    Joe Rogan Talks Interviewing UFC Fighters

    On an edition of “The Joe Rogan Experience,” the UFC color commentator spoke on his interviews (via BJPenn.com):

    “One thing that I hope the fighters realize is that what I’m trying to do is only get them to express themselves. I want them to shine. I really genuinely want them — they won this big fight! I want them to express themselves. I want them to maybe maximize their marketing, their marketing ability, and just tell the world how they feel. That’s an incredibly unusual experience to win a big fight in the cage on pay-per-view in front of millions of people… My goal is only to try to get them communicate better and to let them know that I’m there to support them.”

    The UFC recently posted a tribute video to Rogan for being a part of the promotion for 22 years. While Rogan has scaled back on his commentary duties, he has no plans to retire anytime soon.

    Do you think Joe Rogan does a good job interviewing the fighters after their bouts?

  • The Pulse of MMA: Fans Brace For Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa Collision

    The Pulse of MMA: Fan Reactions To The Sport’s Biggest Stories

    In this installment of The Pulse of MMA, we dive into the raw, unfiltered reactions of MMA fans as they await the upcoming clash between Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa.

    Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa Set For UFC 271

    Tai Tuivasa, Derrick Lewis
    Tai Tuivasa, Derrick Lewis

    Tonight at UFC 271, Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa will face off, and conventional wisdom holds that one of the two men will not maintain consciousness when these powerhouses collide.

    Derrick Lewis already holds the UFC knockout record, and he could begin to distance himself from future threats to his spot, such as perhaps Tai Tuivasa, by earning another KO here. Lewis has expressed that there is no greater satisfaction than knocking a grown man out. Will he experience it again tonight at the expense of “Bam Bam?”

    For Tai Tuivasa, a victory over Lewis likely would mean a spot in the top 5 of the heavyweight division. Currently, Lewis is ranked at #3 while Tuivasa is ranked at #11. But this fight is more about putting on a show for the fans than about numbers and rankings. And the fans are more than ready for the action to begin.

    As the hours close in on this fan-friendly banger, here is how The Pulse of MMA is bracing for the fight.

    https://twitter.com/WOCmain/status/1492287338927603712
    https://twitter.com/PhilWill1989/status/1492307371493711874
    https://twitter.com/23pBandit/status/1492290911014989831
    https://twitter.com/ArkansasMind/status/1491749239738834946
    https://twitter.com/camilo_catano1/status/1492317232017379332

    Want to weigh in on the sport’s biggest stories? Be sure to follow us on Twitter and let your voice be heard!

  • WATCH: UFC 271 Post-Fight Press Conference Live Stream

    The UFC 271 post-fight press conference will be live once the action concludes.

    In the headliner, Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker will collide in a middleweight title clash. UFC 271’s co-main event will see a heavyweight clash between Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa. More action will also be featured on the main card as Derek Brunson shares the Octagon with Jared Cannonier. 

    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 271 card. Be sure to check back here for the post-fight presser with a tentative start time of 12:15 a.m. ET.

    Let us know your big takeaways once the UFC 271 post-fight press conference.

  • Check Out Last-Minute Betting Odds For UFC 271

    The final UFC 271 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 12, 2022) from Las Vegas, Nevada at the UFC Apex facility.

    The headliner will feature a slugfest with Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker in a middleweight title showdown. Moving things along, Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa goes down in a heavyweight fight. 

    Rounding out the main card is Derek Brunson vs. Jared Cannonier, Kyler Phillips vs. Marcelo Rojo, and Bobby Green vs. Nasrat Haqparast.

    According to oddsmakers, Adesanya is a -280 favorite over Whittaker, who is a +225 underdog. Other odds for the main card include Tuivasa being a +155 underdog against Lewis, who is a -180 favorite. Here are the full betting odds: 

    Main Card

    Israel Adesanya (-280) vs. Robert Whittaker (+225)

    Derrick Lewis (-180) vs. Tai Tuivasa (+155)

    Jared Cannonier (-165) vs. Derek Brunson (+145)

    Kyler Phillips (-400) vs. Marcelo Rojo (+300)

    Bobby Green (-140) vs. Nasrat Haqparast (+120)

    Preliminary Card

    Andrei Arlovski (-145) vs. Jared Vanderaa (+125)

    Casey O’Neill (-380) vs. Roxanne Modafferi (+290)

    Alex Perez (-380) vs. Matt Schnell (+290)

    Maxim Grishin (-170) vs. William Knight (+150)

    Ronnie Lawrence (-305) vs. Mana Martinez (+240)

    Renato Moicano (-170) vs. Alex Hernandez (+150)

    Carlos Ulberg (-235) vs. Fabio Cherant (+190)

    A.J. Dobson (-115) vs. Jacob Malkoun (-105)

    Sergey Morozov (-210) vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade (+175)

    Jeremiah Wells (-235) vs. Mike Mathetha (+190)

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Vs. Max Holloway Set For Metaverse Fight

    Former UFC champions Khabib Nurmagomedov and Max Holloway will finally face off in the Octagon.

    Well, sort of.

    Nurmagomedov and Holloway will participate in what’s being advertised as the first Metaverse fight in world history on February 12. Viewers will be able to attend the event by purchasing at least one Legionfarm NFT.

    Nurmagomedov’s former American Kickboxing Academy teammates, Daniel Cormier and Islam Makhachev will be featured guests at the event. Cormier will then turn around and be part of the UFC 271 commentary team in Houston, TX.

    Holloway confirmed the news in a recent Instagram post.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ0P90UvjpI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “Are you ready to make history?” Holloway said. “On February 12, Legionfarm, a place where gamers meet and play with PRO players, will be hosting an epic event in Mozilla Hubs Metaverse with the First Metaverse Fight in the history of the Earth between Khabib Nurmagomedov and me. And you are invited to witness it.” (h/t MMA Mania)

    Holloway and Nurmagomedov nearly squared off in the UFC Octagon at UFC 223. This was after Nurmagomedov’s original opponent, Tony Ferguson, pulled out with an injury just days before the event.

    Holloway was then ruled physically unfit to compete on short notice against Nurmagomedov and Al Iaquinta ended up getting the title shot. Nurmagomedov defeated him via a unanimous decision to earn the lightweight title.

    Nurmagomedov has retired from professional MMA and currently promotes Eagle FC. Holloway is looking to earn another featherweight title shot in 2022.

    UFC President Dana White has previously teased that his promotion will hold a fight in the Metaverse at some point. The Nurmagomedov vs. Holloway event appears to be completely separate from that declaration.

    Will you attend the Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Max Holloway Metaverse fight?

  • Jan Blachowicz Hopes To Avoid Surgery For Spinal Disease

    Jan Blachowicz hopes medicine and weeks of rehab will be enough to avoid surgery for cervical disc complications.

    The Polish fighter was on a three-fight win streak before becoming the light heavyweight champion in 2020. He then successfully defended the title for the first time against middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

    He was then scheduled to defend the belt a second time against Glover Texiera. The 42-year-old Brazilian closed the main event early in round 2 by rear-naked choke, thus becoming the new light heavyweight champion.

    Glover Teixeria and Jan Blachowicz
    Glover Teixeria and Jan Blachowicz, Photo Credit: Chris Unger

    It was a monumental moment for Teixeria, but Blachowicz was in a poor state of mind during the fight. Jan gave a vague explanation of why he had a “bad day” on the night of UFC 267 but claims he would have lost to anyone that night.

    Though Blachowicz did not quit after the loss. A match on March 26 against #3 light heavyweight contender Aleksandar Rakic was in the works for the former champion.

    However, Blachowicz reports medical issues that will halt his 2022 comeback, according to MMA reporter Ariel Helwani.

    “I asked Jan Blachowicz how he was feeling recently. He told me he has ‘cervical spine discopathy,’ which, according to Spine-Health.com, is a ‘degenerative disc disease’ and a common cause of neck pain and radiating arm pain. It develops when one or more of the cushioning discs in the cervical spine starts to break down due to wear and tear. Cervical degenerative disc disease is diagnosed when a damaged disc in the spine becomes symptomatic,” Helwani wrote on his Substack.

    No venue is set in stone for the March bout, but health issues will require a replacement for Jan.

    Jan needs about 4-5 weeks of rehab and medicine to hopefully evade going into surgery.

    What are your thoughts on Jan Blachowicz’s diagnosis?

  • Whittaker Names His Three All-Time Favorite Fighters

    Robert Whittaker has dropped his top-three favorite fighters list.

    At UFC 271, Robert Whittaker will look to carve his name in the history books by becoming a two-time UFC middleweight champion. But not only is Whittaker an elite fighter, but he is also a fan.

    In an interview with RT Sport MMA, Robert Whittaker named a few fighters he puts above all others.

    “Georges St-Pierre, Khabib, and probably Emelianenko. I was trying to think of fighters that were complete. I feel like that is what makes a true mixed martial artist. That’s what sets them higher than everybody else; set them as the champions that they were. Honestly, those three guys hit every one of the boxes,” Whittaker told RT Sport MMA.

    Many conversations in MMA begin with these respected names. All three fighters have incredible professional records and are veterans of the sport. They definitely set a champion standard.

    Whittaker ended a nine-fight win streak when he fought Israel Adesanya in 2019 but is undefeated since then. Avenging a loss to one of the greatest fighters in the league would be another gold star on Whittaker’s résumé and could put him in the GOAT category among his favorite fighters.

    And according to his team, UFC fans should prepare to see a different monster in the Octagon on February 12.

    Whittaker’s Top 3

    Georges St. Pierre, Photo Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

    GSP is a stellar addition to the list. He is a part of the two-division champion circle at middleweight and welterweight.

    He defended his welterweight title nine times and retired in 2013 as the welterweight champion. After leaving the UFC, St. Pierre proved he has not lost his touch by subbing Michael Bisping by rear-naked choke in 2017. The short-lived comeback headlined UFC 217.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov, Photo Credit: Zuffa LLC

    It is difficult to discuss the lightweight division without hearing Khabib’s name.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov is undefeated across several platforms in his MMA career. The Russian fighter was a grappling sensation in the Octagon and headlined numerous UFC events.

    He defeated Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje before–all by submission–before retiring from the UFC. Since retiring from MMA, Khabib coaches and represents his own fighting promotion, Eagel FC.

    Fedor Emelianenko, Photo Credit: Getty Images

    The list ends with heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko.

    “The Last Emperor” is a dominant force in the cage and moves smoothly at over 230 pounds. 31 out of his 40 wins are by knockout and submission. The heavyweight has seen only 6 losses in his 46 fights. Currently, Fedor is on a 2-fight win streak in Bellator and will soon have his final bout.

    The list is impressive, indeed. These well-rounded fighters are considered GOAT status in the sport. Stand-up game, grapple game, submissions, knockouts—they have it all.

    Who are your favorite fighters of all time?

  • Transgender MMA Fighter Fallon Fox Rejects Suspicious Documentary Offer

    Retired trans MMA fighter Fallon Fox turns down an offer to be part of a documentary called the “Gender Unity Project”.

    Fox is the first openly transgender fighter. She had a successful MMA run with 5 wins and only 1 loss in her professional career.

    Not a single one of her fights went to decision. Following her last win in 2014 versus Tamikka Brents, she retired.

    Fallon Fox and Allanna Jones
    Fallon Fox and Allanna Jones, Photo Credit: Brayden Titley

    As a transgender fighter, Fox was no stranger to criticism within the sport. UFC commentator Joe Rogan had an issue with her competing in the women’s division. Likewise, Ronda Rousey believes it is unfair to allow a male-born transgender fighter in the women’s league.

    Fox tries to educate people about the community. As an activist for trans rights, she recently brought some data to the surface to insist that transgender athletes do not have the upper hand.

    The documentary may have been a chance to shed some more positive light on transgender persons, however; Fox felt the proposal was disingenuous.

    After a video call, she deemed the team “sketchy and ignorant of trans issues,” according to Blade.

    Suspicion rose around conservative podcast host Matt Walsh and his team when transgender activist Eli Erlick called them out via Twitter. Erlick became suspicious after a “film student” named “Makenna Lynn” contacted her last month.

    Through research, Erlick allegedly discovered Walsh and his podcast team are trying to scam transgender activists into appearing on a documentary called “Gender Unity Project.”

    Matt Walsh
    Matt Walsh, Photo Credit: Fox News

    Numerous people were contacted for the documentary, including the mother of a transgender teenager, Debi Jackson, and transgender MMA fighter Alanna McLaughlin.

    Debi’s daughter, Avery Jackson, appeared on the cover of National Geographic when she was just 9 years old and became the first transgender to be on the cover of the historical magazine.

    McLaughlin is also an advocate for trans rights and won her MMA debut by submission last September.

    Since the callout on Twitter, Walsh has yet to make any statements in regards to the accusations.

    What are your thoughts on Matt Walsh potentially creating a documentary scam targeting the transgender community?

  • Paddy Pimblett Believes Jake Paul’s Fighter Pay Talk Is For Publicity

    Paddy Pimblett doesn’t think Jake Paul is sincere about wanting to change fighter pay.

    Recently, fighters like Anthony Smith have come out and said they believe Paul truly wants fighters to make more. However, Pimblett along with Al Iaquinta doesn’t think that is true, as he thinks the YouTuber-turned-boxer is only doing it for clout.

    “I’ll be honest, that’s the thing that pi**ed me off. He’s going on, he’s trying to act like a martyr, like he’s helping MMA fighters,” Pimblett said on his YouTube channel (via Sportskeeda). “He’s not, lad. He’s just doing that for his won publicity… That’s why the only thing that’s pi**ing me off about it, people are like, ‘Aah, he’s actually being good for MMA fighters.’ He’s not. He just wants to make a show of Dana White and that’s the perfect way of doing it.”

    Jake Paul
    Complex

    Jake Paul has taken shots at Dana White throughout his time in combat sports, which has even gotten a response from the UFC boss. He also said he would retire from boxing if White made the minimum pay $50k, which has not happened. But for Paddy Pimblett, he believes Paul is only doing this for his own benefit.

    Meanwhile, Paul has also said things that seem hard to believe, like him taking an MMA fight. Pimblett says there’s no shot that happens.

    “The way he’s saying, ‘I’m gonna end up getting in the cage.’ You’re not, lad,” Pimblett added. “You’re not, stop lying. If you wanna have an MMA fight, I’ll fight you in my ma’s garden tomorrow. You know what I mean?”

    Whether or not Jake Paul is actually serious is still unknown. The YouTuber along with some MMA fighters says he is while Pimblett, among countless others, doesn’t think he cares at all.

    As for Pimblett, he will return to the Octagon at UFC London on March 19 against Kazula Vargas.

    Do you agree with Paddy Pimblett over his comments about Jake Paul?

  • MMA Fighter Snaps Her Opponent’s Arm During Kimura Submission

    Female MMA fighter Hannah Sharp ended up walking away with more than just a win during a recent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament.

    The sheer brutality of MMA was on full display as Sharp attempted a Kimura submission on her opponent at a Sub Spectrum competition. Sharp, out of Renzo Gracie Portland, dominated the entire 135-pound bracket of the tournament but also ended up dislocating one of her opponent’s elbows.

    Watch the incident below.

    Sharp has competed on Submission Underground before and is 1-2 on the professional grappling scene. She most recently fell to Ffion Davies at the IBJJF No-Gi World Championships last October.

    The injury sustained by Sharp’s opponent is similar to that of Jerome Rivera during his fight against Brandon Royval at LFA 39. Rivera dislocated his elbow during a takedown attempt from Royval.

    What is your reaction to the result of Hannah Sharp’s submission attempt?

  • UFC 271 Storylines & Final Comprehensive Preview

    We’ve got a full, comprehensive breakdown of all the storylines heading into tomorrow night’s UFC 271 event along with the final face-offs.

    UFC 271 goes down tomorrow night, February 12, 2022. The action kicks off at 6:00 PM ET on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass, followed by the ESPN prelims at 8:00 PM. The main card begins at 10:00 PM ET on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

    We’ve got a preview of the entire card and the storylines attached to each fight below capped off with the face-offs. And be sure to check out our staff predictions for the event right here!

    Jeremiah Wells (9-2) vs. Mike Mathetha (3-0)

    Jeremiah Wells enters the fight on a three-fight winning streak after having KO’d Warrley Alves in his debut and showing no trace of UFC jitters in the process.

    Standing across from him is Mike “Blood Diamond” Mathetha, who has over 60 fights of kickboxing experience. He is a teammate of Israel Adesanya, and Chael Sonnen broke down the significance of his UFC signing here.

    Wells enters the fight as a -235 favorite, the comeback on the undefeated and less-MMA-experienced Mathetha is +190.

    You can check out the face-offs between these two competitors below.

    Douglas Silva de Andrade (27-4) vs. Sergey Morozov (17-5)

    Silva de Andrade is a 15-year fight veteran who has alternated wins and losses since 2016. He won his first Performance of the Night in his last fight with a KO of Gaetano Pirrello in the first round. de Andrade holds a quietly amazing record of 27-4.

    Sergey Morozov is 8-2 in his last 10 fights, with the only two losses coming to the highly touted Umar Nurmagomedov and Movsar Evloev outside of the UFC. Morozov most recently defeated Khalid Taha via decision in July. You can peep some of Morozov’s highlights right here.

    Below, you can catch the final faceoff between these two athletes.

    A.J. Dobson (6-0) vs. Jacob Malkoun (5-1)

    A.J. Dobson earned his UFC contract with first-round submission on Dana White’s Contender Series. Five of his six wins came via first-round finish, with three KO/TKOs and three submissions. You can watch AJ Dobson Contender Series, Next Level here.

    Jacob Malkoun is 1-1 in the UFC after defeating Abdul Razak Alhassan most recently last April via decision. Prior to that, he lost to Phil Hawes. Of note, Malkoun attempted 24 takedowns against Alhassan. So hard-hitter A.J. Dobson may need to pack in his wrestling shoes for this one.

    You can catch the final face-off between these two below.

    Carlos Ulberg (3-1) vs. Fabio Cherant (7-3)

    Carlos Ulberg enters the fight as a -235 favorite over Fabio Cherant. Ulberg earned his contract from Contender Series via 2020 KO, and all three of his wins have come via KO.

    Fabio Cherant is off to a rocky 0-2 start in the UFC, first being submitted by Alonzo Menifeld and then being knocked out by William Knight. To help turn his UFC fortunes, Cherant has been putting in time training at Sanford MMA and Fight Ready. You can learn more about Cherant via his LFA Diaries here.

    Leomana Martinez (9-2) vs. Ronnie Lawrence (7-1)

    Ronnie Lawrence comes in as one of the biggest favorites on the card at -305, with the comeback on Leomana Martinez being +240. Lawrence is on a four-fight winning streak and made the UFC’s “Fighters You Should Know” list for this card. He won his UFC debut via TKO in February over Vince Cachero. You can expect Lawrence to carry with him his wrestling, relentless takedown attempts, and a gas tank that never goes on empty.

    Leomana Martinez is on a three-fight winning streak after being submitted on Contender Series in 2020. At UFC 271, Martinez will be competing in his hometown of Houston. So you can be sure he’ll be looking to leave a memorable impression, such as a KO like this one over Casey Jones.

    You can catch the final face-offs between these fighters below.

    William Knight (11-2) vs. Maxim Grishin (31-9-2)

    Maxim Grishin is 1-2 in the UFC and most recently lost to Dustin Jacoby via unanimous decision. Prior to his UFC debut, Grishin had not lost in his last nine fights and not since 2016. You can peep some of Grishin’s highlights here.

    William Knight is 3-1 in the UFC after earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. He knocked out Fabio Cherant to win Performance of the Night in August 2021 and most recently defeated Alonzo Menifeld via unanimous decision in December. He is coming into this fight on short notice.

    You can catch the face-off between Knight and Grishin below.

    Kyler Phillips (9-2) vs. Marcelo Rojo (16-7)

    In his last outing, Kyler Phillips lost to Raulian Paiva via unanimous decision in July 2021 in a Fight of the Night. Before that, he defeated prospect Song Yadong via unanimous decision. He is 3-1 in the UFC, including an impressive 2020 finish over Cameron Else.

    Marcelo Rojo is 0-1 in the UFC after being knocked out by Charles Jourdain in the third round. He’s 1-2 in his last three fights, with 14 of his 16 wins by stoppage. You can peep the best of Marcelo Rojo here.

    Roxanne Modafferi (25-19) vs. Casey O’Neill (8-0)

    In this, her retirement fight, “The Happy Warrior” enters the Octagon as a woman who is ready for the next generation to take over. As she prepares to bid farewell against one of the members of that incoming generation, you can check out a career retrospective of Roxanne Modafferi here.

    The Rise of “King” Casey O’Neil has contained all three UFC wins by finish, most recently winning Performance of the Night in TKO of Antonina Shevchenko. O’Neill ranked #99 on the MMA News Top 100 Fighters of 2021 list, and a win here would be a step towards a higher number on next year’s list.

    O’Neill is aware of Modaferri’s plans to try everything she’s ever wanted to in an MMA fight before, but according to “King” Casey, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. After this fight, O’Neill would like to finish competing against every single ranked flyweight in the top 15 before getting a title shot.

    But first, she has to deal with the exiting “Happy Warrior.” You can catch their face-off below.

    Andrei Arlovski (32-20) vs. Jared Vanderaa (12-6)

    At 43 years old, Andrei Arlovski still finds himself as the favorite (-145) going up against a younger opponent in 29-year-old Jared Vanderra. Arlovski has won his last two fights, first over Chase Sherman and then over Carlos Felipe. Here is a look back at some of Arlovski’s greatest moments as we await yet another Octagon walk for the legend tomorrow.

    After earning a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020, Vanderaa has gone on to have a 1-2 record in the UFC. Most recently, he lost to Alexander Romanov via TKO in October 2021. Prior to that, he won Fight of the Night in a decision win over Justin Tafa.

    You can catch the face-off of these two heavyweights below.

    Bobby Green (-140) vs. Nasrat Haqparast (+120)

    Bobby Green last won Performance of the Night in knocking out Al Iaquinta at UFC 268. This was his first stoppage since 2013. Prior to that win, he also won Fight of the Night in a loss to Rafael Fiziev at UFC 265.

    We’ve seen Green compete in the UFC for nearly a full decade. After the UFC’s kind gesture of paying his brother’s funeral costs, Green maintains that he intends to remain loyal to the promotion throughout his career. Judging from his last performance against Iaquinta, that career may have many chapters to come.

    The next one comes against Nasrat Haqparast, who most recently lost to Dan Hooker via unanimous decision at UFC 266. Haqparast is 5-3 in the UFC, with one of those wins being a vicious KO of Joaquim Silva in 2019.

    You can catch the very fiesty face-off between these two fighters below.

    Alexander Hernandez (13-4)  vs. Renato Moicano (15-4)

    Alexander Hernandez has alternated wins and losses since 2018. You couldn’t tell judging from his most recent performance, though, where he knocked out Mike Breeden last October. Hernandez owns two Performance of the Night wins and is 5-3 in the UFC. Hernandez was unhappy to be on the prelims, so now we’ll see what he does after being bumped up on the main card against Renato Moicano.

    Renato Moicano is 2-1 at lightweight after once being ranked in the featherweight top 5. Most recently, Moicano submitted Jai Herbert in June 2021. His losses in the UFC have only come against killers: Brian Ortega, José Aldo, The Korean Zombie, and Rafael Fiziev.

    Check out the face-off between these two competitors below, which includes Moicano leaving Hernandez hanging…

    Jared Cannonier (-165) vs. Derek Brunson (+145)

    Two top-5 middleweights go at it in what is widely being viewed as a title eliminator. Cannonier rejects the idea that this is a “striker vs. grappler” match and is also not buying into the “Blonde Brunson” hype. In fact, he intends to wipe out the entire gimmick and turn “Blonde Brunson” into “Blood Brunson” at UFC 271.

    Brunson has also come with his share of trash talk heading this bout. After roasting Jared Cannonier as MMA’s answer to The Nutty Professor, he also said that Cannonier would need to be perfect and lucky to score the victory tomorrow night.

    If Brunson gets the win that he is clearly anticipating, he will have completed one leg of his retirement tour, which would include one final fight against whoever is middleweight champion.

    This bout will also feature two top-50 athletes on The MMA News Top 100 Fighters of 2021 list. Brunson was ranked four spots ahead of Cannonier, so “The Killa Gorilla” can show that our panel was a little bit off in this key middleweight clash tomorrow night.

    Here is the final face-off between these two top-5ers:

    Derrick Lewis (26-8) vs. Tai Tuivasa (14-3)

    Do. Not. Blink. Because one of these two men is almost certain to go to sleep.

    Derrick Lewis (#3) has won five of his last six fights. The UFC’s KO king most recently slept Chris Daukaus last December after losing an interim title fight against Ciryl Gane at UFC 265 in his own backyard. Now, “The Black Beast” is back in Houston and ready for redemption.

    For Tai Tuivasa (#11), this is a massive opportunity. He’s on a four-fight winning streak, with all coming by KO. Not only that, but only one of his career wins has not come by KO. If Tuivasa adds Lewis to the list, he may very well crack the heavyweight top 5 and enter the world-title conversation.

    Tuivasa already confessed to accepting this fight while “blind drunk.” And win or lose, it’s safe to say “Bam Bam” will get drunk yet again. The question is, will it be him or a reluctant Black Beast who is doing a cup shoey after the fight?

    This bout features two more fighters featured on our 2021 year-end list. We’ll see how they begin their 2022 campaign tomorrow.

    You can check out the final face-off between these two bangers below.

    Israel Adesanya (21-1) vs. Robert Whittaker (23-5)

    Finally, we have the rematch between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker that is three years in the making. Whittaker has admitted that he was not in the right headspace going into the initial fight between these two. Adesanya has insisted that this is what he had said all along prior to their fight.

    Since claiming the second-round TKO at UFC 243, Adesanya hasn’t been shy about bragging about the victory and revisiting that night. According to the middleweight champion, he humbled Whittaker inside the Marvel Stadium in 2019.

    It should come as no surprise that Whittaker isn’t a fan of comments like these, and he’s gone as far as to say that he flat out doesn’t like Adesanay’s character and the way he conducts himself.

    But all that matters is what will take place inside the Octagon. And since his loss to Adesanya three years ago, Whittaker has revealed the changes he has made. However, despite many people praising Whittaker for his improvements, Izzy doesn’t get all the fuss and believes this narrative is being overblown. Whatever improvements Whittaker has or hasn’t made, Adesanya has tricks up his sleeves to shut Whittaker down, including a strategic choice of hairstyle.

    Adesanya has also pinpointed what he believes to be the precise moment he will break Robert Whittaker’s spirit during the bout, which is when Whittaker learns that he can’t outgrapple him. Whittaker has addressed this assumption that this is what he will try to do, even unloading on the “Just Take Adesanya Down” brigade leading up to the fight.

    Unlike in their first encounter, Robert Whittaker feels he is now in the proper state of mind for the task at hand and isn’t concerned about the outside noise. As for Adesanya, as confident as he is, even he has privately admitted that he is nervous coming into the rematch.

    The champion’s main motivation heading into tomorrow is to not only overcome those nerves but outdo his performance against Whittaker at UFC 243—and in so doing, send Whittaker back to that dark place.

    Check out the final face-off between these two rivals below along with their closing remarks.

    To view the full UFC 271 Ceremonial Weigh-in, you can do so right here. And please be sure to keep it locked on MMANews.com tomorrow for full, live coverage of UFC 271!

  • Swanson Was Not A Fan Of Hernandez’s Prelim Complaints

    UFC featherweight Cub Swanson sent some advice to Alexander Hernandez after the lightweight complained about his original placement on this Saturday’s UFC 271 card.

    Entering 2019, Hernandez was a highly-touted and fast-rising prospect following victories over current top-five contender Beneil Dariush and Olivier Aubin-Mercier in his first two Octagon outings.

    But since then, “The Great” has exchanged wins and losses, going 3-3 in his last six. After rebounding from his latest setback against Thiago Moisés with a first-round knockout against Mike Breeden last October, Hernandez will be looking to begin his first win streak since 2018 when he returns to action this weekend.

    In his way of doing so will be another of the promotion’s once-thought-to-be future stars who’s been unable to reach his potential, Renato Moicano.

    While the Brazilian does boast UFC triumphs over Calvin Kattar, Jeremy Stephens, and Zubaira Tukhugov, defeats at the hands of Brian Ortega, José Aldo, “The Korean Zombie,” and Rafael Fiziev have prevented the 32-year-old from breaking into contention.

    Having returned to form last time out with a second-round submission against Jai Herbert, Moicano will look to continue his momentum at UFC 271.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CVd5myLJ4iU/

    Despite this matchup pitting two recognizable names against each other, it initially found itself on this weekend’s early prelims, before being bumped to the main card following post-weigh-in alterations.

    While some would be eager to impress on the grand stage of a pay-per-view card wherever their placement on it, Hernandez was less than pleased before the change.

    “Man, I’m fired the f*ck up because of the amount of disrespect that the UFC is showing me on this card,” Hernandez told MMA Fighting on the We Got Next podcast. “We have to wait four months and then I’m on the early f*cking prelims. I mean, that incites such a rage in me so I’m coming to make a statement. I’m so fired up about that. I’m so pissed off and I’m so motivated, so I’m really eager to make a statement.”

    Hernandez went on to suggest that those who were above him in the previous bout order are “statistically” below him in the promotion. That, coupled with the fact his home in San Antonio is less than 200 miles from the location of UFC 271, left the 29-year-old incredibly “frustrated” at his position.

    “I’m in my state, I’m practically in my city, the only other guy [from] there [fighting outside of the early prelims] is Derrick Lewis—and rightfully so, he’s the co-main,” Hernandez added. “But how the f*ck did I get on the early, early prelims? It’s not even the prelims. Not on the main card, not on the [ESPN] prelims, it’s my peers that are barely above me, or people that are statistically below that are above me [on the card]. I’m frustrated, plus we’re in Texas.

    “I’m gonna go out there, please the 15 people in the audience, get my 20-30 homies hyped. I’m gonna take out Moicano and make a statement and let them know not to discredit, or disrespect me like that again. I’m so fired up about it.”

    Swanson Sends Hernandez Some Advice

    After receiving some heavy criticism for his comments from fans, it didn’t take long for one of Hernandez’s UFC peers to give his take.

    In a tweet, featherweight veteran Cub Swanson cited the example of his rise from the early prelims to a main event spot in the space of two fights as the reason Hernandez shouldn’t have looked down on his place on the UFC 271 card.

    “I once got bumped from Co-main to FightPass prelims. Instead of complaining, I made it a point to hype up FightPass. I ended up getting a handwritten letter from the UFC thanking me and I headlined a card two fights later.”

    Wherever his placement on the card, whether on the early prelims as initially planned or on the main card as is now set, one thing has always been clear ahead of Hernandez’s first appearance of 2022: a win is crucial.

    With that sentiment being similar across the cage in Moicano’s corner, this clash should provide an intriguing affair inside Houston’s Toyota Center.

    What’s your take on Alexander Hernandez’s comments? Should he have followed the mindset of Cub Swanson?

  • Lewis: The Satisfaction Of A KO Is One Of The Best Feelings In The World

    Derrick Lewis is never happier than after delivering a fresh knockout.

    “The Black Beast” Derrick Lewis is one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC. His ability to end a fight with his fists is like no other. It’s not just that Lewis has great knockout power, it’s that he loves to use it.

    Lewis is getting ready for his next fight against another string striker in Tai Tuivasa at UFC 271, and although it might be smart to look for a submission in this bout, Lewis explains why that is unlikely.

    “I would [look for a submission]. But I get so much more satisfaction if I knock somebody out,” Lewis said at UFC 271 media day via MMA Junkie. “It’s way more (satisfying)… It’s like, one of the best feelings in the world. Submission is cool and all that, but the satisfaction is not there. There’s way more satisfaction whenever you knock a grown man out.”

    Derrick Lewis makes
    Image via UFC broadcast

    Lewis’ last four fights all finished in KO or TKO. Although he was on the losing side of one of those, it just goes to show how his fighting style is. He is a strong competitor on the feet and is constantly looking to win the fight with one shot.

    Tuivasa has that same trait. “Bam Bam” has four wins in a row by KO. At UFC 271, both men will likely be looking for the finish, and that’s what makes this fight so much fun.

    Lewis has had his shots at a UFC title and another one may not get granted. Being aware of this, Lewis is just looking to go in there and have fun. And if knocking people out is fun to him, he has had the time of his life inside the UFC Octagon.

    Do you think it would be smart for Lewis to try for a knockout against Tua Tuivasa?

  • Adesanya Says Strickland Fight Would “Make A Lot Of Money”

    Israel Adesanya admits that a fight against Sean Strickland interests him.

    Israel Adesanya is the UFC middleweight champion. Being the champion comes with having a target on your back. Although he is already matched up with Robert Whittaker for this weekend’s UFC 271, there are already people calling for the next shot. One of those people calling for their shot is Sean Strickland.

    Sean Strickland
    Sean Strickland (Image Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

    Strickland is coming off a split decision victory over Jack Hermansson just last week, and he’s been turning heads both inside the cage and out.

    Strickland has been vocal about wanting a shot at Adesanya in his next time out and could have the résumé to prove it. Strickland has won six fights in a row and has risen to the #6 spot in the rankings.

    In addition to his skills and win streak, Strickland has become more well-known around the MMA-sphere. Strickland has been making wild claims about his desire to cause harm to people and has been seen in sparring videos doing so.

    Strickland’s odd behavior has made him the target of headlines and the saying “all news is good news” might fit him perfectly. Because all the attention has gotten him on Adesanya’s radar.

    When asked about a possible matchup with Strickland, Adesanya had this to say:

    “I like fresh meat. I like fresh blood,” Adesanya said during a UFC 271 media day scrum. “And we’ll see. We’ll see after this weekend. I gotta see what Bumson and Cannonier do this weekend, and we’ll see.

    “That’s gonna make a lot of money if me and him actually get to fight. Trust. [LAUGHS] I’m a bit of a troll, but I keep it under wraps. But yeah, if that happens, it happens. But we’ll see after this weekend.”

    Although interest from both parties might be there, it seems unlikely that Strickland will be next in line. Adesanya was right when he mentioned Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier. Both men could be the logical next choice with a win at UFC 271.

    As for Strickland and Adesanya, they might get the chance to meet in the future—or if Adesanya loses on Saturday night.

    Would you like to see Sean Strickland step up to fight Israel Adesanya?

  • Tuivasa Turns The Tables On Lewis’ ‘Cup Shoey’ Proposal

    UFC heavyweight Tai Tuivasa has turned the heat up on the UFC 271 ‘shoey’ stakes by offering to drink a beer from Derrick Lewis’ cup.

    Has there ever been a matchup in the UFC where the possible post-fight celebration was talked about as much as it has been ahead of Tuivasa vs. Lewis?

    In the UFC 271 co-main event this weekend, we’ll see the UFC’s most prolific knockout artist face one of the hardest-hitting heavyweights, who’s on a knockout trail that’s left unconscious bodies in his wake.

    But what is the leading narrative ahead of this Octagon-shaking collision? Drinking beer from a shoe. Actually, scratch that, from a cup…

    In 2021, Tuivasa accomplished many things. He brought ’90’s pop back on the agenda with his memorable walkout anthems, he developed into a bona fide contender by extending his win streak to four with brutal KOs of Greg Hardy and Augusto Sakai, he cemented himself as perhaps the most universally loved athlete on the UFC roster, and he brought the ‘shoey’ into the mainstream.

    What has last year’s success brought him in 2022? Well, aside from his own business venture in the form of the ‘shoeyvasa’, a date with “The Black Beast.”

    Ahead of the highly-anticipated heavyweight bout, which represents a big opportunity for the 28-year-old to throw his name into the title conversation, Lewis hinted he could match Tuivasa’s trademark celebration with his own interesting take on the beer-drinking practice.

    Carrying on from his UFC Vegas 45 cup throw, the two-time title challenger suggested he could treat himself to a beer from inside his own groin guard if he’s successful in front of his home crowd on Saturday night.

    Having heard that proposal, Tuivasa went one better at UFC 271 media day on Wednesday. Wanting some of that “latte” action, as Lewis described it, “Bam Bam” said he was keen to chug a beverage from Lewis’ cup.

    “He can throw it to me when I win and I’ll do a cuppy out of his ball guard then [LAUGHS]. I’m keen.”

    Judging by Lewis’ response, the Australian appears to have found his American UFC peer’s line…

    Lewis On Tuivasa’s ‘Cuppy’ Request: “That Guy’s Nasty”

    During his own media day appearance, Lewis was told about Tuivasa’s willingness for a warm-ball “Black Beast” special (don’t expect to see that in your local anytime soon…).

    It’s fair to say the 37-year-old will be keeping his guard firmly inside his shorts if the Aussie gets the win on Saturday night.

    “Oh, that guy’s nasty man, I can’t do that,” said Lewis. “I don’t know. USADA needa be knocking on his door all the time, he’s gotta be taking something for his immune system. That is just nasty.”

    Whatever happens, it seems fans can be sure of a few things come fight night; a KO/TKO, a can of beer entering the Octagon in the aftermath, and either a ‘shoey’ or a ‘cuppy’. Outside of that, we could see a new contender enter the heavyweight fray or an eight-year UFC veteran maintain his place among the heavyweight elite.

    The term “people’s main event” gets thrown around more and more these days, but not many matchups embody the phrase quite like the UFC 271 co-main.

    Who do you think will be left celebrating with a ‘shoey’ or ‘cuppy’ in the UFC 271 co-main event, Tai Tuivasa or Derrick Lewis?

  • Usman To Attend UFC 272 To Watch Sons Covington/Masvidal Fight

    UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman will be cageside to watch his rivals Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington fight at UFC 272.

    Usman is coming off an electric 2021 inside the Octagon, in which he successfully defended his welterweight title three times. He earned TKO wins over Gilbert Burns and Masvidal, along with another unanimous decision win in a rematch against Covington.

    Usman has become the UFC’s pound-for-pound best after a remarkable rise to the title. Now, he’s no longer the hunter and is now hunted when it comes to the welterweight title picture.

    Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington
    Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington

    Covington and Masvidal, former American Top Team teammates and friends turned enemies, will square off in the main event of UFC 272. During a recent interview with CBS Sports on the Super Bowl 56 Media Row, Usman gave his thoughts on the UFC 272 headliner.

    “It’s a good fight. It’s an intriguing fight,” Usman said. “Other than the Francis Ngannou fight (UFC 270), I haven’t really been to an event to sit and watch in a while. It’s one that I will be there to watch. It’s a great one. I’ll just be sitting there like a proud dad watching my sons fight and do what they do. So I’m excited to watch that one.”

    Usman successfully underwent surgery on a torn ligament in his hand after suffering an injury during his rematch with Covington. Luckily, he won’t miss much time and is targeting a return in July for the UFC’s International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

    As for his next opponent, Usman is widely expected to face Leon Edwards next. The two of them battled earlier in their careers, with Usman earning a unanimous decision victory in 2015.

    Both Masvidal and Covington are looking to get back in the title picture and earn a possible third fight down the line against Usman. But first, they’ll need to settle their beef inside the Octagon at UFC 272.

    What is your prediction for Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby Covington?

  • Izzy Glad Whittaker Came Out Of ‘Dark Place,’ Plans To Send Him Back

    Israel Adesanya is planning to send Robert Whittaker back to a dark place.

    Israel Adesanya is flying high coming into his next title fight. He is undefeated in the middleweight division, he is facing a fighter who he has already beaten, and he has just signed a new contract with the UFC. During media day for the upcoming rematch against Robert Whittaker, Adesanya seemed in high spirits, but when asked about Whittaker’s past, he got a bit dark.

    After their first meeting, Whittaker took some time away from the Octagon. He had just lost his championship title and needed some time to away from the sport.

    Since then, he has returned with a new sense of competitiveness. But during his time away, he was admittedly in a bad place. Whittaker has been vocal bout his struggles since his return and even Adesanya can relate.

    “I do empathize with what he said. Who brought this up to me? I can’t remember. I think I saw it on Instagram. He talked about his dark place he went to after the last time I beat him,” Adesanya said. “I (and everyone) has been there in their own personal way, so I understand, and I empathize when you don’t want to get up and all that stuff and you lose motivation.

    “So yeah, I’m glad he’s pulled himself out of it. I’m glad he’s feeling much better (and that) he’s a better man, better fighter….so yeah, (I’ll) take him to the dark place again.”

    Even though Adesanya understands where Whittaker was in those bad moments, he doesn’t hold back on wanting to send him there again.

    The first meeting at UFC 243 was over in just two rounds when Adesanya handed Whittaker the KO loss. Much has been put on Whittaker since that last bout and the improvements he has made in his fighting. Adesanya isn’t falling for the hype and plans on ending Whittaker once again at UFC 271.

    Do you think Israel Adesanya will accomplish his task against Whittaker at UFC 271?

  • UFC 271 Weigh-In Results: One Huge Miss, One Fight Scrapped

    The weigh-in results for UFC 271: Adesanya vs. Whittaker II have been logged, and we’ve got the details for you below.

    At UFC 271, Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker will compete in a rematch of their 2019 battle inside Marvel Stadium. The co-main event will see heavy hitters Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa bang it out. All four men are cleared and ready to go after making weight for tomorrow night’s showcase.

    Everyone else on the card has made weight also, save Alex Perez and William Knight. Perez missed weight by two pounds for his flyweight bout against Matt Schnell, and that fight has been canceled for the fourth time.

    William Knight missed the light heavyweight limit by a whopping 12 pounds ahead of his bout against Maxim Grishin, and Knight will be fined 40% of his purse as the fight shifts over to heavyweight.

    Before we get to the weigh-in results, be sure to check out our staff predictions here and the highlights from last night’s pre-fight press conference here.

    The UFC hosted a live UFC 271 weigh-in show, which you can view right here. And you can catch the full card for UFC 271 as well as all the viewing information below, courtesy of UFC.com.

    UFC 271 Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 10:00 PM ET)

    Main Event – Middleweight Title Bout: Israel Adesanya (184) vs Robert Whittaker (184)

    Co-Main Event – Heavyweight Bout: Derrick Lewis (266) vs Tai Tuivasa (265)

    Middleweight Bout: Jared Cannonier (185) vs Derek Brunson (185.5)

    Lightweight Bout: Alexander Hernandez (156) vs Renato Moicano (156)

    Lightweight Bout: Bobby Green (155.5) vs Nasrat Haqparast (156)

    UFC 271 Preliminary Card (ESPN, ESPN+, 8:00 PM ET)

    Heavyweight Bout: Andrei Arlovski (246) vs Jared Vanderaa (265)

    Women’s Flyweight Bout: Roxanne Modaferri (126) vs Casey O’Neil (125.5)

    Bantamweight Bout: Kyler Phillips (136) vs Marcelo Rojo (136)

    Light Heavyweight Bout: William Knight* (218) vs Maxim Grishin (206)

    UFC 271 Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+, UFC Fight Pass, 6:00 PM ET)

    Bantamweight Bout: Mana Martinez (136) vs Ronnie Lawrence (136)

    Light Heavyweight Bout: Carlos Ulberg (204) vs Fabio Cherant (206)

    Middleweight Bout: AJ Dobson (185) vs Jacob Malkoun (186)

    Bantamweight Bout: Douglas Silva De Andrade (136) vs Sergey Morozov (135)

    Welterweight Bout: Jeremiah Wells (170.5) vs Blood Diamond (170)