After arriving as an undefeated prospect, eventually, the 27-year-old fell to a majority decision against Sergey Spivak on debut. But in his following three appearances, including a memorable scrap against Justin Tafa on Fight Island, the Brazilian got back on track with three consecutive triumphs on the judges’ scorecards.
It’s fair to say that run of success has come to a crashing halt.
“Boi” tested positive for the anabolic agent boldenone and its metabolites in relation to his co-main event clash with Arlovski at UFC Vegas 40. With that revelation, which Felipe’s team branded as a “huge surprise,” the Feira de Santana native will be unable to compete until April 16, 2023.
The Nevada Athletic Commission announced today that UFC heavyweight Carlos Felipe has been suspended 18 months due to a failed drug test ❌ pic.twitter.com/c3AWPund0f
While most have expressed their disappointment and disdain at the failed drug test, Tuivasa sent Felipe a message during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour: get a refund.
When discussing Felipe’s case, “Bam Bam” questioned how Felipe could have tested positive for steroids given his size, although he said it in a less polite way…
“Yeah, f*ck that, how did he get done for steroids? He’s fat as sh*t. That’s like f*cking me getting done for steroids or some sh*t like that,” Tuivasa said. “How the hell did that happen?”
Comparing his own size with that of Felipe, Tuivasa claimed if he used performance-enhancing drugs and remained in the same shape, he’d be requesting his money back.
“F*ck, I’d be calling my dealer up and getting a refund or something [LAUGHS]. Imagine that, f*cking what.”
This isn’t the first time Tuivasa has commented on Felipe’s troubles. In an Instagram post uploaded a number of weeks ago, the #11-ranked heavyweight contender mocked “Boi,” pointing out that he lost to “an old man” in Arlovski while using PEDs.
Bobby Green was spitting motivation at UFC 271 media day.
Bobby Green is one of the most entertaining fighters on the UFC 271 lineup. Many fighters will attest that you won’t find Green trash-talking or making a scene when interacting with his peers. Instead, most of the time, he is spilling words of wisdom and trying to help others out.
This week at the UFC 271 fight week media day, Green was no different. He spent his time in front of the cameras trying to lift up anyone who might be feeling down. He was using his time to motivate those who might need help. He has often used his own life as a blueprint on who no matter how low you are, you can get out of it.
“People think I’m just some dude who has money and cocky, but nah, I was like you, I was poor, I was homeless,” Green explained. “I dealt with death, I dealt with struggle, and that’s why I’m here for is to show people that I can be that same kind of person who was just like you, depressed, I can be that same person who was just like you and been through struggles and get up and change your whole life. And I really thank the UFC for doing that.”
Green has been a part of the UFC lightweight division since 2013. He came to the UFC and won his debut and a performance bonus for his submission victory that night. Green has seen some ups and downs in his UFC career, but he will remain with the UFC for the foreseeable future. Green accounts his loyalty to the fact that the UFC helped him out in one of his darkest times.
“My brother had died and I didn’t have enough money to pay for his funeral, the UFC paid for that,” Green said. “That’s why I’m so loyal to them. They were doing things for me that no company has ever did. They put the money in for my brother’s funeral and they took care of that so I will always be loyal to them and thankful, thank you, Dana, thank you, Sean, for everything you have done.”
Green will be facing Nasrat Haqparast on the main card portion of UFC 271. Green is coming off a first-round TKO victory over Al Iaquinta at UFC 268 back in November. That win broke a two-fight losing streak for Green.
What do you think of the UFC helping Bobby Green out when his brother passed away?
Joe Rogan is sticking with Spotify because they stuck with him.
Joe Rogan has been in some hot water recently. The podcaster and UFC commentator found himself on the verge of being canceled when videos of him making controversial race-related remarks went viral. Rogan released an apology video but many were still calling for his streaming platform Spotify to release him.
In the midst of all this, Rogan began to receive offers from other services. One, in particular, Rumble, a self-proclaimed “rights management video platform” offered Rogan $100 million to make the switch to them. Rumble is the home of UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal and his vlog.
The CEO of Rumble offered this statement, “We stand with you, your guests, and your legion of fans in desire for real conversation,” he said via Hollywood Reporter. “How about you bring all your shows to Rumble, both new and old, with no censorship, for $100 million bucks over four years? This is our chance to save the world. And yes, this is totally legit.”
In light of all this drama, Rogan has returned to stand-up comedy where he used himself as the punchline to his jokes. He spoke about the controversy and his loyalty to Spotify.
“I talk sh-t for a living — that’s why this is so baffling to me,” he said. “If you’re taking vaccine advice from me, is that really my fault? What dumb sh-t were you about to do when my stupid idea sounded better? ‘You know that dude who made people eat animal d–ks on TV? How does he feel about medicine?’ If you want my advice, don’t take my advice.”
“Spotify has hung in with me, inexplicably, let’s see what happens.”
Rogan’s issues have not been addressed by his UFC employers publically. There is no reason to believe at this time that he will be released from his commentating duties. The last UFC event Rogan was a part of was UFC 270.
Retiring UFC women’s flyweight Roxanne Modafferi has admitted she’s felt “muscled” around by the rising crop of young fighters in her recent Octagon outings.
This weekend, 44-fight MMA veteran Modafferi will close out her lengthy career in the sport. Having competed at the highest levels since her 2003 debut, including title challenges in the UFC, Strikeforce, and Invicta FC, “The Happy Warrior” will hang up her gloves on the pay-per-view main stage in Houston.
While “King Casey” will hope to continue her march up the 125-pound ladder and maintain her 100% finishing rate in the UFC, Modafferi will look to cause one last upset before exiting the crazy world of active competition for good.
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Interestingly, Modafferi’s task this weekend represents one of the reasons behind her decision to call an end to her career.
While she got the better of 23-year-old Maycee Barber and 32-year-old Andrea Lee in 2020, the 39-year-old says she’s begun to feel “muscled” around by the younger generation in her recent appearances, something she’s seen as a sign her time is up.
“I feel like these young whippersnappers are coming up and like, I’m still working hard, I’m still trying to get stronger, but I feel like all these young guys are starting to kind of muscle me around a little bit,” Modafferi said in an interview with MMA Junkie. “I was not that happy with my performance in the last several fights.”
The rise of young and upcoming prospects marks just one of many reasons Modafferi has decided now is the right time to retire.
“Now I have found the love of my life in (fellow fighter) Chris Roman. So maybe I can think about having a family now. Like, that was never an option before. I’ve been single for like decades, but you know, now I can actually think about that, so yeah.“
Modafferi Is Proud Of Her Accomplishments In MMA
Despite not having a major piece of gold wrapped around her waist and boasting a visibly mixed record, Modafferi is proud of what she’s accomplished over her 17 years in the sport of MMA.
For the Delaware native, the goal was always to make it to the big leagues and compete inside the UFC Octagon. Rather than a crucial part of her journey, becoming champion would simply have been an added bonus.
“My goal (was) basically get to the UFC, right?,” Modafferi said. “So I basically achieved my life goal because my life goal was never to be champion because that was not an option. But then when the opportunity presented itself, I was like, ‘Cool, let’s try it.’
“But I really achieved my life goal – fighting in the UFC. I fought like 11 times in the UFC. Like, it’s awesome. I’m just so happy thinking about it. I didn’t win all of them, but I did my best,” Modafferi concluded.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXnCtw7sHZu/
This Saturday will see Modafferi walk to the Octagon for the final time. As one-half of the only women’s fight on the UFC 271 card, all eyes will be on “The Happy Warrior” in that regard.
Do you think Roxanne Modafferi can end her career on a high by defeating Casey O’Neill at UFC 271 this weekend?
Heading into their rematch at UFC 271, Robert Whittaker is in a different headspace than he was two years ago.
“Bobby Knuckles” Whittaker has his chance at redemption this Saturday in a rematch against UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya. When they last headlined at UFC 243, there was a lot of commotion going into the fight.
The event took place in Australia, Whittaker’s native home, which fueled a rivalry with his New Zealander opponent. It’s a sigh of relief for Whittaker to not deal with the pressure of home court again, as this fight will take place in Houston, Texas.
Bad blood weighed heavy in their last battle. This time, it is strictly a moment to prove who is the better fighter. Whittaker claims to know Adesanya’s game and can prove “The Last Style Bender” is “beatable”.
Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, Photo Credit: Michael Dodge/EPA
He will enter battle with the championship on his mind and his ego in check. Pre-fight tension carried a lot of weight in their first match, but Whittaker is not falling for any media traps this second go-around.
“This one is completely different. I feel there’s an underlying sense of mutual respect. We’re both the best in the game. He’s the champ and I’m #1, and we’ve ran through everybody else. I think there’s a certain level of mutual respect that comes from that.
“I think the fact that the New Zealand/Australia rivalry isn’t so much getting thrown at everybody’s faces here; understanding that this is Australia and New Zealand taking over the world sort of thing. In saying that, we’re not mates. Far from it. But I just don’t think because we’re in Houston and the media is not angling that rivalry, the fight isn’t personal,” Whittaker explained to Submission Radio.
Whittaker took home three impressive victories to get back to Adesanya after their 2019 bout. He learned from his “reckless” mistakes in the first encounter and plans to turn things around in the rematch.
In comparison, since UFC 243, Adesanya defended his belt three times and took home one lost to Jan Blachowicz in a bout for the light heavyweight title.
Both fighters simply want to win. They have devastated the competition as champion and #1 contender to make it back to this point. Of course, “Izzy” wants to keep his belt, and Whittaker never wanted it taken from him. And on February 12, Whittaker will look to seize his opportunity to even the score with Adesanya and reclaim the middleweight crown.
Do you think Robert Whittaker will once again become Middleweight Champion at UFC 271?
UFC heavyweight Derrick Lewis has proposed an alternative celebration to the shoey if he emerges victorious over upcoming opponent Tai Tuivasa at UFC 271 this weekend
In Saturday’s co-main event, we’ll see a collision of many things. As well as the incredible meeting of power that will take place when Tuivasa and Lewis share the Octagon inside Houston’s Toyota Center, we’ll also see two of the most entertaining and universally loved fighters on the roster compete.
“The Black Beast” will be looking to carry the momentum of his impressive main event rebound performance last time out. At UFC Vegas 45 in December, Lewis quickly moved past his disappointing interim title loss to Ciryl Gane by brutally knocking out rising contender Chris Daukaus.
“Bam Bam,” meanwhile, will be looking to extend his four-fight win streak and take a significant leap up the ladder. The #11-ranked heavyweight has knocked out Stefan Struve, Harry Hunsucker, Greg Hardy, and Augusto Sakai since falling to a three-fight skid in 2019.
Despite two vicious KOs in 2021, the main attraction of Tuivasa’s latest wins have been his infamous shoeys, performed both atop the cage wall and throughout the crowd on his way to the back.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXXY0h7pD-m/
Ahead of Tuivasa and Lewis’ clash, one thing has appeared certain: a knockout.
But while it seemed we’d only be getting treated to another entertaining display of post-fight beer-drinking if the Australian powerhouse gets the finish, the Houston native has proposed a unique celebration of his own.
While it involves a different utensil, it’s certainly just as, if not more, nasty.
While he shut the door on the idea of a shoey, which he’s previously made his views on very clear, “The Black Beast” proposed a follow-up on his cup throw from UFC Vegas 45. But instead of throwing the cup to the crowd, how about a refreshing beverage from inside of it? Lewis said he’d be open to doing just that on the condition that he gets his arm raised Saturday.
“Nah, I can’t do nothing like that (a shoey), nah. I’d say I’ll take my cup off and drink beer out of that. That’s as far as I’ll go.”
While Lewis says that’s as far as he’d go, one has to wonder how much further than drinking a beer from a used cup he could go…
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZPqYULhg8F/
What have we learned from this? When it comes to beer and feet, Lewis says a big no; but with beer and balls, the answer is absolutely.
What would you rather see at UFC 271, a traditional Tai Tuivasa shoey or an unorthodox Derrick Lewis cup shoey?
An intergender matchup between Aleksandra Stepakova and Grigory Chistyakov raised many eyebrows around the sport of MMA.
EFC featured the matchup between female strawweight MMA fighter Stepakova against male heavyweight Chistyakov. To the surprise of many, Stepakova was able to go the distance and land a few brutal blows on the much larger and different gendered Chistyakov.
Chistyakov had his way early, pinning Stepakova against the fence and not allowing her to get free in the early minutes. However, Stepakova was able to break free and briefly find her footing with her striking.
Chistyakov entered the bout with no professional experience in MMA. Stepakova, on the other hand, made one professional appearance before the event. She lost via third-round TKO against Daria Bankina at Opiot Challenge 112 in Moscow, RU.
Robert Whittaker feels he is at his best and has the game plan to beat Adesanya this time around, but Adesanya does not agree.
Adesanya is certain that Whittaker will be quitting in their upcoming fight and is predicting exactly when that will happen. He spoke to ESPN about the precise moment he feels he’ll take away Whittaker’s spirit.
“When he finds out he can’t grapple with me,” Adesanya said. “When he can’t outgrapple me. I want him to scramble with me. I really want to see. He’s a good scrambler. Even with the Romero fight, there’s certain positions in there where he was able to scramble. But man, you guys don’t understand. When I was young, I was the guy (who people said) ‘He’s got it. This guy’s gonna be great. And I always knew that about myself.”
There wasn’t much grappling in the first meeting between these two, but Adesanya thinks that will be different this time out. He ended Whittaker’s night early by KO at UFC 243, but the New Zealand native has strung together three solid wins since then. In a day when many champions get an immediate rematch when they lose their title, Whittaker instead to the scenic route back to a title shot.
Adesanya suffered his only loss recently when he fought Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight title. Whittaker thinks he can take some cues from Blachowicz and use his ground game over Adesanya. Adesanya is preparing for this and is ready to show that he can dominate on the ground as well.
Do you think Adesanya will be victorious once again against a grapplingWhittaker?
Joe Rogan is hitting back at criticisms of his apology for a viral video that showed him repeatedly using a racial slur in past podcast episodes.
Rogan has been under fire in recent weeks on a variety of issues. Many subscribers and musical artists on Spotify have called for him to be canceled after past race-related remarks along with alleged misinformation regarding COVID-19 vaccines.
Shortly after a compilation of Rogan saying the ‘N-Word’ went viral courtesy of musical artist India Arie, Rogan took to Instagram to apologize for his past racial slur use. This prompted some, including former U.S. president Donald Trump, to question why Rogan felt the need to apologize for past statements published without context.
During a recent stand-up comedy performance at the Vulcan Gas Company in Austin, TX, Rogan addressed critics of his recent apology video. The following was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
“You should apologize if you regret something,” Rogan said. “This idea that you should never apologize. Like if you regret something, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with apologizing…
“Somebody made a compilation of every time I said that word over 14 years and they put it on YouTube, and it turned out that was racist as f*ck. Even to me!” (h/t MMA Fighting)
Many UFC fighters, including former champion Rashad Evans, have come to the defense of Rogan after the racial slur-filled video went viral. Rogan is expected to remain on the commentary team for the upcoming UFC 271 pay-per-view, headlined by a middleweight title fight between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker.
These two are fresh off their bout against each other where Peña dethroned Nunes. A rematch will be set for the conclusion of the season. After spending several weeks in close proximity to each other, the tension is bound to get heavy.
The Ultimate Fighter show is known to have quite a bit of drama. The contestants are stuck in a house together for weeks with no contact with the outside world. Add on top of that weight cutting constantly and having to fight each other. All of these factors make for some loose cannons and drama starting at a moment’s notice.
However, it is not only the cast that has beefed with each other. Many times it is the coaches who are at each other throats.
In the case of TJ Dillashaw and Cody Grabrandt, they were literally at each other’s throats, as in grabbing each other by the throat. There has been some pushing and shoving between coaches since the very early days of TUF, but if any roughness starts this season, Peña claims it will not start it on her end.
“Listen, it’s not gonna come from me on my side,” Peña told the media (via The Mac Life.) “I mean, if she wants to throw some ‘punches,’ we can do that. Trust me, nobody puts baby in a corner. I will be fighting back with everything that I have. I’m not gonna be pulling any shenanigans, and I don’t anticipate that I’m gonna be being that person. But if they come at me, then we’re gonna have a different story, obviously.”
These two had their first faceoff since Peña won the belt from Nunes a few months ago. The face-off was very subdued and neither of them began trash-talking or shoving. All seems calm right now, but tempers could rise after the fights begin on the show and in the UFC APEX.
Do you think there will be drama between Juliana Peña and Amanda Nunes on TUF?
UFC middleweight Derek Brunson has revealed he’s planning on retiring after two more appearances inside the Octagon.
Brunson’s recent form has certainly been one of the more surprising stories of resurgence in recent memory. Entering 2019, the North Carolina native, who’s been a part of the UFC roster since 2012, was 2-4.
A pair of two-fight skids, which featured defeats to reigning champion Israel Adesanya, former titleholder Robert Whittaker, GOAT contender Anderson Silva, and Brazilian grappling legend Ronaldo Souza, were separated by triumphs over Dan Kelly and Lyoto Machida.
After rebounding with wins against Elias Theodorou and Ian Heinisch, Brunson hit the form of his life following his transition to the now-infamous “Blonde Brunson.” Since making the hair alteration, the 38-year-old has finished Edmen Shahbazyan and Darren Till and outpointed Kevin Holland, all three of which came in main event contests.
After confirming that a championship opportunity is the only fight he’ll accept if he’s victorious over Cannonier, Brunson laid out his retirement plan, and it’s one that is perhaps further along than most would have expected.
“I’m gonna sit and wait for a title fight after I win this fight. For sure. I’ve done everything I needed to do in this division,” said Brunson. “Honestly, I plan on fighting two more times. I feel like I’m lucky and blessed to like, fight in the UFC 20 times, and I’m super smart and got a good brain in my head, so I don’t wanna fight until I can’t fight no more. I’m in the best shape. I’m feeling good. So that’s all I’m thinking about right now; beat Cannonier, beat Izzy, and riding out. That’s it.”
Brunson went on to confirm that regardless of the situation, he’s limiting himself to two more Octagon outings. He cited his desire for more family time and his target of retiring without accumulating significant damage as the reasons behind his decision.
“Just two more times. You know, I spend a lot of time getting ready for these fights away from my family and stuff, and I’m 38,” Brunson continued. “I’m missing like, soccer games and stuff like that for my daughters. So, that’s more important to me than chasing money and stuff like that. I’ve been smart with my money, made enough money.
“I have no excuses. I’m in really good shape. I feel really good. I’m motivated. I don’t even plan on losing. But I just know that you can’t do combat sports forever, and end peacefully. I feel like I’ve got a super good brain, my head is good, no injuries, nothing. I think finish my goal, finish my task, complete the mission, get the title, and be like, ‘Peace, I’m out,’” Brunson concluded.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYM7iRlvcTh/
With toes dipping in the realms of real estate, gym ownership, fight promotion, and management, Brunson certainly won’t be short of new ventures and exciting possibilities moving forward when he does call an end to his fighting career.
Do you think Derek Brunson has what it takes to beat Jared Cannonier and dethrone Israel Adesanya?
After her victory against Amanda Nunes at UFC 269, Julianna Peña claimed her spot as “first mom champ”.
Peña stopped the show in round 2 by rear-naked choke and accomplished the greatest feats of her MMA career: defeating Amanda Nunes. “The Venezuelan Vixen” became the new bantamweight queen and noted another title for herself in a post-fight interview.
January of 2018 marks the birth month of Peña’s first child. Peña gave birth by C-section and claims that makes her the first mom champion. This is in contrast to Nunes, who supported her wife Nina Nunes throughout the pregnancy and delivery.
Since Peña’s statements made in December, she has clarified the meaning of her words. The bantamweight champion is not discrediting “The Lioness” as a mom or as a mom champ, but she believes since she birthed her daughter, that is deserving of separate recognition.
And Nunes’s views have not changed. During a recent media scrum, she touched on the subject again.
“Honestly, how Julianna carried herself, I know that was coming from her. That don’t bother me that much. If I want, I can have a baby. I don’t have any problem. But I had to post something because when me and Nina went through the IVF process, I saw how many mothers were sitting down crying next to me because they’re not able to have a baby. They have to go through another way to be able to feel that love from a child and give it back,” said Nunes.
Amanda, Nina, and Ragean Ann Nunes / Julianna Peña and Issa Cruz; Photo Credit: Getty / Instagram
Agreeably, Peña needed to recover after her C-section birth to daughter Issa Cruz before getting back in the cage. However, the issues surrounding motherhood make it a sensitive subject for millions of people.
“So, when I heard that from her, I was like, ‘Now I have to (respond)…’ There are a lot of people that can not have a baby. So, that was my way to step in and say like, ‘Okay, you’re a mother, cool, you delivered your baby, but there are a lot of people who are not able to.’ You have to really say those things in a different way because there are a lot of people sensitive about that subject. As a champion as well, I have to be able to stand out and voice something,” Nunes continued.
At some point in 2022, both champions will meet in the Octagon again. Perhaps the motherhood controversy is adding more heat to their anticipated rematch.
What are your thoughts on Amanda Nunes’s approach to Julianna Peña’s comments?
Israel Adesanya will be staying with the UFC for the foreseeable future.
It was well known that Adesanya could fight out his UFC contract this year, but on Wednesday, it was revealed the middleweight champion has re-signed with the promotion. His management company, Paradigm, announced via a press release the middleweight champ has signed a new multi-fight deal with the promotion that will make him “one of the top paid athletes in the history of mixed martial arts.”
This is no doubt good news for everyone involved as since joining the UFC, Adesanya has become a fan-favorite and a massive star. With him re-signing, he will have at least several more fights inside the Octagon.
Israel Adesanya (Image Credit: Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC)
“My prediction is that I am going to f*ck Whittaker up, again,” Adesanya said to the Stake. “He can’t stand with me, so I know he will be forced to grapple. Last time he said ‘Kevin Gastelum has given the blueprint on how to beat Adesanya’ and now he’s saying ‘Jan has given the blueprint’… he needs to write his own blueprint. If he wants to copy someone else’s work, then by all means try, because it went so well last time for him when we fought… There has been no cutting corners this time. It’s made me even more motivated to do it again and do it more decisively if that’s even possible. That is my motivation for this fight, to get up and beat him again in an even more devastating fashion.”
Adesanya is coming off a decision win over Marvin Vettori at UFC 263 in June. The victory got him back into the win column after suffering a decision loss to Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 for the light heavyweight strap.
What do you make of Israel Adesanya re-signing with the UFC?
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans thinks Joe Rogan saying a racial slur on his podcast in the past is wrong, but he isn’t racist.
Evans and Rogan go back years from their respective time together in the UFC. Rogan has been a longtime color commentator for the promotion while Evans began his championship run after winning The Ultimate Fighter 2.
Rogan has been under heavy fire from all sides as of late, particularly following a video compilation of him saying the ‘N-Word’ went viral on social media. During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Evans showed support for his longtime friend and answered whether or not Rogan has racial prejudice.
“It’s very tough for me,” Evans said. “That compilation of the ‘N-Word’ it really is hard to go against that. But I know Joe, and I know the kind of person Joe is, and Joe’s never gave me any kinda feeling or any kind of indication that he’s racist or anything like that. I believe that people make some off-kilter remarks sometimes. And when you’re a comedian, you’re used to doing that.
“Not to excuse any of this, but at the same time when you go back that far, I’m sure there’s going to be a compilation of a lot of unfavorable things that people have said that can come back and bite them.”
Many former and current UFC fighters have spoken out of defense and support for Rogan after the video went viral. The UFC still plans on having Rogan on the UFC 271 commentary team this weekend.
Do you agree with Rashad Evans regarding Joe Rogan?
UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has sent an emphatic response to rival Max Holloway’s request to be backup for the UFC 273 title fight.
Volkanovski and Holloway were set to collide for a trilogy clash at UFC 272 on March 5. However, mere days after news of the matchup broke, “Blessed” was forced to withdraw after aggravating a previous injury. That led to a search for a new championship challenger and the announcement of a new date for the Australian’s next defense – UFC 273 on April 9.
Taking to Twitter, Volkanovski lambasted Holloway, accusing him of faking his injury. He ended the rant by seemingly declining the Hawaiian’s backup request.
@BlessedMMA wants to be the backup fighter for the fight he was originally scheduled to fight.🤦🏻♂️ so in other words…he was never injured. Just hoping he doesn’t have to fight me or fight me while I’m preparing for someone…but hey “if you ain’t cheating you ain’t trying”😆…NO
“@BlessedMMA wants to be the backup fighter for the fight he was originally scheduled to fight. so in other words…he was never injured. Just hoping he doesn’t have to fight me or fight me while I’m preparing for someone…but hey ‘if you ain’t cheating you ain’t trying’…NO”
Holloway’s injury and subsequent recovery have clearly fueled that hypothesis in the mind of the featherweight king.
Volkanovski Has His Sights Set On The Zombie
After the Holloway scrap fell through, the UFC and Volkanovski were certainly not short on potential replacement opponents. From Giga Chikadze and Yair Rodriguez to Josh Emmett and Henry Cejudo, a heap of names wanted a shot at the 33-year-old’s belt.
While it stands to reason the victor will face the challenge of Holloway later in the year, Volkanovski is clearly skeptical of that happening if he has his hand raised on April 9.
Who do you think will leave UFC 273 with featherweight gold, Alexander Volkanovski or “The Korean Zombie?”
The BOAT is the Best of All Time. Unlike the GOAT, you aren’t bound by the laws of longevity. There’s no need to wait for a decade or more to begin a conversation that you can plainly see is going to happen anyway. Nope, you can strictly go by talent and the likelihood to win any given contest, no matter the circumstances.
This week in BOAT talk, Chael Sonnen tackles the debate of Anderson Silva vs. Israel Adesanya for middleweight supremacy.
Last week, Daniel Cormier gave his take on just who is the middleweight GOAT. Seeing as how the majority of people define a “GOAT” to be the man who has the most accomplishments in a given field, Cormier considered it an insult to rank anyone over Anderson Silva, who has the most successful title defenses in UFC middleweight history. Below, you can find Mr. Cormier’s argument.
“No. Dude, Anderson Silva existed. Anderson Silva existed. Like, I don’t get this recency bias that fans have,” Cormier said during a recent episode of DC&RC. “Honestly RC, I think the word ‘GOAT’ gets thrown around way too easy in fight sports. The only person that doesn’t get passed is Muhammad Ali and there have been some really impressive fighters, but people recognize what Muhammad Ali was. Anderson Silva was to MMA what Muhammad Ali was to boxing. No, [Israel Adesanya] has some work to do to catch Anderson.” (h/t SportsKeeda)
Chael Sonnen Takes Cormier To Task For MW GOAT Take
Chael Sonnen, Daniel Cormier
Chael Sonnen feels as strong about this debate as Cormier, only he is taking the opposite side. Both Sonnen and Cormier have competed against Anderson Silva before. Sonnen fell short twice while Cormier defeated Silva at UFC 200. Sonnen believes that victory is the most logical explanation for DC placing Silva over Adesanya despite the fact that he feels “The Last Style Bender” squashed The Spider’s place as MW GOAT.
“(Cormier) said that other people come up to him all the time and ask him about Adesanya. And then they, in their question about Adesanya, say to him, ‘Is he the greatest of all time?’ Daniel pushed back and said, ‘Time out. Recency bias aside, Anderson Silva existed. Anderson Silva is the greatest of all time.’ He then went on to talk about (how) we always do that. We always pass up somebody with somebody new, and the only sports figure in history that that hasn’t happened to is Muhammad Ali.’ What in the BLEEP is Daniel Cormier talking about?!” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel.
“There is nothing on that that is accurate. There is no way that Daniel believes it, except Daniel fought Anderson Silva and would like to pad his own résumé so he wants to have beaten the greatest of all time (is) all I can think. Or, he didn’t have enough time to think about the question. There is zero truth to it.”
Sonnen would also use Muhammad Ali as an example of erroneous usage of the “GOAT” label. Sonnen argued that if we were to poll trainers and boxers of 2022 who they watched film on to improve their technique and skillset, it wouldn’t be Muhammad Ali.
Sonnen would go on to shoot down common arguments found in GOAT debates where the losing fighter is granted an “out-of-prime” exception.
“Look, if we are at least down to Adesanya and Anderson, we’ve done a good and fair job as a community. Because those are the two. I will tell you this: they fought. And it was a good fight. Adesanya won two rounds to one. Everybody saw it the same as the judges. Adesanya won 1 and 3; Anderson won number 2. It was a valiant effort by Anderson. It was closer than any of us thought that it was gonna be. It was a great fight. But that still answers the question, if you’re being fair. If you want to be unfair and your side doesn’t win, you (say), ‘Well, he wasn’t in his prime.’ Shut up with all that. Just stop. Stop.”
Fabricio Werdum vs. Fedor Emelianenko, Image Credit: Associated Press
One person who is often granted an out-of-prime exemption is heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko. Those who argue he is the heavyweight or overall MMA GOAT dismiss losses to names like Dan Henderson, Fabricio Werdum, and Antonio Silva because Fedor (who was in his early-mid 30s at the time of those losses) was out of his prime. Sonnen appears to believe that Anderson Silva is being granted this same exemption when it comes to his loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 234.
There is just one problem with Sonnen’s take. For the most part, the vast majority of people do not define GOAT the way he seems to. It is clear that what Sonnen is arguing is that Israel Adesanya is the BOAT. He is arguing that Adesanya is a better, not more accomplished, fighter than Silva. He believes that Israel Adesanya is more likely to win any given fight, and that Adesanya further proved his superiority by defeating Silva head-to-head, thus closing the door on any credible debate on the matter.
If Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen had a face-to-face debate on this issue, I can assure you that they would talk in circles. The reason being that they are debating two different things. Daniel Cormier is having a GOAT debate while Chael Sonnen is having a BOAT debate.
Folks, there are over 500,000 words in the English language. That number changes every year, and each year brings new additions. It wasn’t too long ago that “GOAT” was added to the English and sports lexicon. When there are so many words in just one language, this can only be possible when there are several words that have very similar meanings but with the slightest of alterations.
It is undebatable that “BOAT” is one of those words; that it has a clear difference in meaning than GOAT; and most importantly, that we need to finally add it to the English and sports lexicon.
Julianna Peña has wrapped up her COVID-19 investigation.
During her recent appearance on The Joe RoganExperience podcast, Julianna Peña opened up on a wide range of issues, and she even brushed up on her informal career as an investigative reporter.
MMA News covered Peña’s initial dabbling into the journalism field when she was hot on the case of Amanda Nunes’ UFC 265 pull-out. She ultimately concluded that Nunes pulled out because she was ill-prepared for the original fight date of August 7, 2020. In fact, throughout the course of her investigation, Peña determined that Nunes was more than likely never stricken with the coronavirus at all, despite that being the reported reason for her withdrawal.
This would not be the end of Peña’s remarks connected to COVID-19. Peña would revert to her investigative ways on the JRE where she addressed many subjects and theories pertaining to the pandemic.
On Mask Efficacy
“For me, I don’t put on a mask unless somebody asks me. I’m like, “That’s over. Come on,” Peña said.
When asked what kind of mask she was referring to, she replied, “Gas masks. I don’t know. I’m sick of this. I’m seriously so sick of it.”
Peña would later point to a specific demonstration that she feels debunks the protection efficacy of masks.
“Have you seen that guy where he takes a pool from a vape pen on the outside and then just like clouds and plumes of smoke coming out? It’s like, what is it really protecting?”
On Her Experience With COVID-19
“Fine,” Peña said of her bout with the virus. “I mean, I had the chills. It started with the headache, and I had a massive headache for two days. I couldn’t understand what was going on…and I had the chills day three. It was freezing. I had sweatpants on, everything, and three blankets, and I was still shivering cold. I think day four or five, I lost taste and smell, and then I had a very mild cough, and then it was gone.”
Exposing The COVID-19 “Conspiracy”
“I’m a massive conspiracy theorist on this whole thing, and I have been since the very beginning. I’m like, ‘This is just a money grab. They’re trying to kill us, and this is ridiculous.”
After Rogan was taken aback by these remarks, Peña would swiftly present her supporting evidence.
“Well, remember [Dr. Peter] McCullough said that there’s a specific plant that’s growing somewhere and then one day they were all burned, gone. He said that there was like a field of this medicine somewhere else and then when they went to go back for it, it was all burned down.”
“Well, at this point, I don’t even think it’s a conspiracy anymore with all the other stuff that’s happening. It’s like, no, this is reality.”
Conclusions
After receiving backlash for her conspiracy theory, Peña took the time to clarify and apologize for her remarks during a recent media scrum, thus bringing a close to her COVID-19 investigation.
“My words were a little bit misconstrued,” Peña said. “I am tired. I am exhausted. We are going on this pandemic two years, going on three years now. I just want things to go back to normal. I realize that they probably won’t. I didn’t mean to come across as insensitive, especially for the fact that I had COVID. Everybody that I know had COVID. I lost my aunt in Venezuela. I lost many people that were near and dear to me. It absolutely is real.
“I’m just angry, and frustrated, and exhausted over the whole situation because I just am wanting things to go back to normal. And so if I offended anybody by my comments on COVID, please, I would like to apologize. That was not, by any means, what I meant to say. I just meant to say that I’m frustrated with the way that the world is right now.”
Peña’s stint as a rogue investigative reporter may be off to a rocky start yet, but her career as a professional cage fighter is going quite swimmingly. “The Venezuelan Vixen” sits as your reigning, defending UFC women’s bantamweight champion after pulling off arguably the biggest win of 2021 when she unseated Amanda Nunes from the throne at UFC 269.
A rematch between the two is set for later this year at the conclusion of TUF 30, a season where both women will serve as head coaches.
UFC middleweight contender Sean Strickland is as game as anyone when it comes to fighting, but not when it comes to fighting his friends.
Strickland passed arguably the biggest test of his fighting career at UFC Vegas 47, outpacing Jack Hermansson en route to a unanimous decision win. His boxing led the dance once again as he overwhelmed Hermansson with his jab and combinations.
Strickland appears to be just one fight away from a potential title shot at 185 pounds, shortly after making the move from welterweight to middleweight full-time. Israel Adesanya will face Robert Whittaker in a title rematch at UFC 271 and the next title shot is arguably still up in the air.
Strickland is in a peculiar position in the middleweight division, but there’s one fighter who he’d rather not risk friendship in favor of competition.
“Yeah, Marvin Vettori, he’s a good buddy of mine,” Strickland said during his UFC Vegas 47 post-fight presser. “I actually helped him train for Costa and Jack. So I mean, I was his main training partner. That’s a fight I wouldn’t want to fight.
“They actually asked me when Costa drank too many wine and cookies, they offered me a lot of money to take his fight on a day notice. And I called Marvin and I was like, ‘Marvin, they’re offering me a lot of fuckin’ money. I have to say yes. Marvin being a good friend, he was like, ‘Dude, yes. I can’t blame you for saying yes.’ So that situation, I said yes, but if it’s just for what I’m making, I would rather bow my head. I’d let Marvin get another title shot before I fight him.”
Marvin Vettori was slated to face Paulo Costa in a middleweight headliner at UFC Vegas 41. However, Costa entered fight week about 30 pounds overweight, and the bout was moved to a light heavyweight fight on short notice.
Up until then, it was unclear if the UFC was planning to move forward with the bout. According to Strickland, the UFC involved him in their backup plans.
Strickland has been criticized by some UFC fans and pundits regarding his pre and post-fight verbal banter. But even he has limits when it comes to his desired opponents.
Who do you want to see Sean Strickland fight next?
Ige is coming off a Fight of the Year contender against Josh Emmett at UFC 269, despite losing via unanimous decision. He’s lost two of his last three, including to featherweight title challenger Chan Sung Jung last June.
If the booking is confirmed, this will easily be the toughest test of the upstart Evloev’s young career in the Octagon. He’s undefeated in his UFC tenure and will enter the fight with a 15-0 professional record.
Despite his recent losing skid, Ige remains one of the toughest featherweights in the UFC. He began his Octagon tenure on a six-fight winning streak after losing his debut against Julio Arce at UFC 220.
During that streak, Ige picked up dominant wins over the likes of Mirsad Bektic and Edson Barboza. The Dana White’s Contender Series alum is still just entering the prime of his MMA career and has the chance to replicate his previous successes.
Interesting featherweight fight is being finalized for June 4, per sources. Dan Ige (@Dynamitedan808) vs. Movsar Evloev (@MovsarUFC). Nos. 9 and 13 in the division, currently. Biggest test for Evloev so far.
Evloev has emerged as arguably one of the top prospects in the UFC. He most recently picked up wins in impressive fashion over fellow prospect Hakeem Dawodu and also MMA veteran Nik Lentz. Dan Ige could present some interesting challenges for Evloev, particularly with his striking.
It’s unclear if the fight will be booked for a UFC Fight Night event or a pay-per-view card. But regardless, it’s a massive fight that is sure to garner the attention of fans.
What are your thoughts on this featherweight matchup?
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña is hoping to turn the attention to her first title defense following her incredible crowning at UFC 269 last month.
Despite being over a month removed from her gold-winning performance at the final pay-per-view of 2021, talk of Peña’s upset win in Las Vegas has barely died down. At UFC 269, she was tasked with ending the 12-fight win streak of then-two-division titleholder Amanda Nunes, and with becoming the first woman to defeat the Brazilian since 2014.
On paper? A difficult, if not impossible, task. In reality? A task Peña expected to complete.
With the majority of fans and pundits not giving her a chance, “The Venezuelan Vixen” entered the Octagon and delivered the performance of a lifetime. After escaping the opening round, Peña turned the heat up on a fatigued and visibly wobbly “Lioness.”
Given the feat Peña achieved, one that is widely considered the greatest upset in UFC history, it’s no surprise that questions about her reaction to the result and thoughts on becoming champion are still ever-present in her interviews.
However, Peña wants talk to turn to her next step; defending the gold for the first time in a rematch against Nunes.
In an interview with Caroline Pearce for BT Sport, the champion suggested she’s keen to move forward and focus on the first challenge to her reign, which will come after a stint coaching this year’s season of The Ultimate Fighter alongside the “Lioness.”
“I feel exactly the same. I expected to win that night. I expect to win in the future. It was what I expected from myself, so it wasn’t a surprise to me. I just wanna talk about moving forward, what’s gonna happen, and getting this rematch underneath my belt… I would love to stay active.”
With the inevitable back and forth that comes with a TUF season, it stands to reason their second clash will be a fiery affair.
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Having been the consensus female fighter of the year in 2021, Peña will look to create a similarly successful 2022, which will need to start with a second victory over the woman most regard as the greatest female fighter of all time.
Do you think Julianna Peña can defeat Amanda Nunes for a second time when they meet for a rematch later this year?
Now less than a month away from the long-anticipated clash between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington, “Gamebred” took a break from training to deliver a personal message to his former teammate.
At UFC 272, the talk between Covington and Masvidal will come to an end with the two ex-besties settling their differences with their fists and every functional limb. The pre-fight buildup for this contest had already been established long before the bout was announced, as the two outspoken personalities have been bickering back and forth since their falling out three years ago.
“At the homing temple, home to some real motherfuckers left and right. I’m not the only one here that’s a bad motherfucker. Many bad motherfuckers here. Bring out your bitch ass that got kicked out from here. Damn it. I know it hurts every time you see that shit. I know what a sensitive bitch you are and how you read comments and cry. I can’t imagine, every time you see this symbol (pans to ATT logo), it just hurts, man.
“Keep talking shit, though. I can’t wait, man. March 5 is getting closer, so is this knee to your temple. Not only am I gonna break your face in a very violent way, but the UFC’s gonna see you as such a liability that they’re gonna kick you out, bro. And you’re just gonna be back to Indian reservations where you can fight, maybe you can co-main event or some shit like that because I don’t even think you can main event after I’m done with you in any show.
“I’m gonna fuck you up, man. Keep talking that shit, though, man. March 5 can’t come close enough.”
Masvidal would then close with a remix of his buddy Yoel Romer’s famous “See you soon, boi” catchphrase:
“See you soon, bitch,” Masvidal concluded. “Never forget.”
Masvidal was sure to tag Covington to better ensure that his message arrives safely at his former roommate’s doorstep. Covington has been relatively quiet by his standards since this grudge match was announced, but you can expect that to change dramatically in the coming weeks.
While that has not been confirmed by Trump, one thing that has been confirmed is that this score between these two enemies will be settled on March 5. And there is one thing that Masvidal said that needs no confirmation and is a straight fact:
March 5 can’t come soon enough.
What are your thoughts on Jorge Masvidal’s message to Colby Covington?
45th President of the United States Donald Trump believes Joe Rogan should man up and stop apologizing.
Joe Rogan has come under fire for allegedly spreading and facilitating “deadly misinformation” on his Joe Rogan Experience podcast. These accusations have led to Rock & Roll Music Hall of Famers Neil Young and Joni Mitchell requesting to have their music pulled from Spotify as a response to the podcast remaining on the streaming platform.
In response, Rogan clarified the objective of the podcast is not to be controversial or intentionally present contrarian views. Instead, it is used as a platform for various voices to engage in an open exchange of ideas, opinions, and viewpoints, even when Rogan himself doesn’t agree with a guest. Rogan apologized if he made anyone angry, stating this was not and has never been his intention.
Over the weekend, Rogan found himself in hot water again. This time, past race-related remarks came back to haunt the versatile public figure when it was revealed that he has said “n***er” multiple times throughout the history of his podcast.
Another video resurfaced where he said he was in “Planet of the Apes” when he arrived in an all-black neighborhood. Rogan apologized for both videos and insisted that he did not and would not ever intentionally express anything racist for the sake of entertainment or for any other reason.
Donald Trump Has Heard Enough
Donald Trump, Getty Images
Former US President Donald J. Trump has heard enough. In a statement released Monday night, he issued the following response to Rogan’s trifecta of apologies:
“Joe Rogan is an interesting and popular guy, but he’s got to stop apologizing to the Fake News and Radical Left maniacs and lunatics.
“How many ways can you say you’re sorry? Joe, just go about what you do so well and don’t let them make you look weak and frightened. That’s not you and it never will be!”
Before and during his presidency, Trump was often praised for his ability to say what he feels without standing on ceremony and being politically correct like other politicians. However, even Trump has apologized on rare occasions.
Regarding the issues of COVID-19, while Rogan has spoken about alternative ways to combat the virus, Trump has come out and vouched for the efficacy of the vaccines. From a policy standpoint, you can learn more about his thoughts and actions connected to the COVID-19 pandemic here.
However, Trump has always scoffed at and denied this categorization. In fact, in addition to touting his notable African-American supporters, he has claimed that no one has done more for black people except for perhaps Abraham Lincoln. You can view a recap of Trump’s policies in connection to the African-Americans here.
Trump has attended UFC events in the past, so perhaps he will be there and reveal which of the two fighters has his backing. And should one of the two fighters get blatantly snubbed in the process, they shouldn’t hold their breath on an apology.
What are your thoughts on Donald Trump’s statement regarding the Joe Rogan controversy?
At UFC 263, Brandon Moreno defeated Deiveson Figueiredo and became the first Mexican-born UFC champion.
Brandon Moreno at UFC 263, Photo Credit: Getty Images
On January 22, “The Assassin Baby” had his first opportunity to defend the flyweight throne, but lost by a unanimous decision. Figueiredo took back the belt, and now Moreno is more determined to win the championship.
But for Moreno, regaining the belt is about much more than owning the flyweight champion title. As Mexico’s first and only UFC champion, Moreno carries a lot of weight on his shoulders.
“Man, right now, my fire is like, wow, I feel like I’m more (hungry) right now in myself, and more right now because I lost the title. I need to fix something, I need to do something in my life. I want that title back. I’m hungry because I wanna do a lot of huge things in my life, for my family, for my country. Last fight (UFC 263), with the title, the mixed martial arts in Mexico grow a lot. I need to keep working on that. Obviously, I’m very, in some points, very selfish. I want to keep doing everything for myself and my family. But, if I can help my country to do something and help other kids to accomplish their dreams, I will,” Moreno told Teddy Atlas on The Fight.
And after such a close decision, 48-47 by all judges, we will more than likely be seeing Figueiredo vs Moreno 4.
Being the world champion comes with heavy responsibility, especially if you are the first in your country to accomplish it. Moreno shares that record with Kamaru Usman, who became Africa’s first UFC champion in 2019.
A champion has the power to promote positive change. People who grew up in a similar lifestyle or culture to Moreno now have someone to look up to because something they thought impossible has just been achieved.
And to balance training, family life, and being the world champion is no easy task, yet some fighters make it look easy.
Amanda Nunes, Kamaru Usman, Julianna Pena; Photo Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC / Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC / Instagram
For example, Amanda Nunes and her wife have a baby girl. Kamaru Usman also has a wife and a daughter to build a future for. And Women’s Bantamweight Champion, Julianna Pena, is also a mom.
Now that Moreno has experienced failure and being a champion, reevaluating his focus could be what puts him back on top of his game.
Since 2020, Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo have only seen each other as opponents in the cage.
The flyweights spent 13 rounds together in the Octagon.
Their first fight at UFC 256 ended in a draw. They would fight again to settle the draw at UFC 263 in 2021. “The Assassin Baby” finished “Dues Da Guerra” by rear-naked choke in round 3 and became the new flyweight champion.
It was a major feat for himself and Mexico, which never saw a UFC champion until that moment.
Deiveson Figueiredo obviously wanted the belt back. Before UFC 270 began, the Brazilian let everyone know he wanted the trilogy to avenge his loss. And when their last bout was won by unanimous decision, the belt returned to Figureido.
Should this bout take place, it will be the first time in UFC history that two fighters compete against each other for a world title four times. But the question is, will the fight take place immediately, as their sequel and trilogy bouts did? That question remains unanswered.
How soon do you want to see Brandon Moreno fight Deiveson Figueiredo again for the flyweight belt?
At the final pay-per-view of 2021, then-two-division UFC champion Nunes looked to extend her win streak to 13 and maintain her dominance over the 135-pound weight class.
Hoping to hand the “Lioness” her first defeat since 2014 was Peña, an outspoken and confident challenger who represented a pre-fight approach we hadn’t seen versus Nunes for some time.
In addition to the damage done to her training and routine by the pair’s canceled bout in August, which came after Nunes returned a positive COVID-19 test, the Brazilian has revealed she was suffering through injuries before and during her clash with “The Venezuelan Vixen.”
Those factors led to what Nunes described as a “mess” of a pre-fight camp, and ultimately a defeated performance at UFC 269.
“Honestly, I feel like it was a combination of a lot of things,” Nunes said during a recent media scrum. “You know, we were going through a lot of things before the fight, especially injuries and trying to train with injuries, all those things. I think I look back on my training camp preparing for Julianna; it was a mess. If you look back, the first fight (booking), I had Covid. I was doing good in that camp, and then I get Covid, and I have to stop; to really start over.
“Finally, I start over, I get a couple issues that I had to go through with it, but I (didn’t) wanna let that fight go again,” Nunes added. “So I thought it wouldn’t look good if I let that fight fall through one more time… I didn’t have a very good camp. That is the honest thing.”
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With the pair set for a coaching stint on TUF before their intriguing rematch, Nunes will hope to make it to her chance for redemption at 100%. If she does so, Peña will certainly have a tough opening defense for her newly begun reign atop the bantamweight mountain.
Do you think Amanda Nunes will exact revenge on Julianna Peña in their rematch?
Bareman: Adesanya Is “One Hundred Percent” Under-Promoted
Adesanya’s opening title defense of 2022 will come just three weeks after his African counterpart Francis Ngannou pushed through a heap of adversity to keep hold of his title at UFC 270. One of the main narratives heading into the opening pay-per-view of the year was a perceived under-appreciation and disrespect towards “The Predator.”
That sentiment has now been shared by the coach of Adesanya.
During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Bareman, who also coaches the likes of Dan Hooker, Kai Kara-France, and Brad Riddell, was asked whether he thought the UFC’s promotion of the 185-pound king was lacking.
While the 42-year-old New Zealander was clearly hesitant to criticize the organization, he did suggest the sentiment was the “correct observation.”
“You are correct; a hundred percent correct. But I’m not, at the moment, willing to talk about this particular subject,” said Bareman. “At the moment, I’m sorry, boys. I can’t. It’s one hundred percent the correct observation. The correct observation – He’s not being nowhere near pushed the way he should. But there’s stuff that I can’t talk about regarding that. So, I’ll just leave it as a no comment. But your assumption is correct. They can (promote Adesanya more). At least I agree with that.” (h/t Sportskeeda)
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With Ngannou standing firm on his demands and potentially leaving the UFC to explore free agency at the end of the year, it’s hard not to wonder whether Bareman’s comments are a sentiment shared by Adesanya himself, who is also likely to fight out his deal this year.
