Following the criticism of the podcast, musicians and others decided to remove themselves from the platform. Roxane Gay, African-American and LGBTQ feminist, removed her podcast, The Roxane Gay Agenda. Additionally, two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Neil Young took his music off the streaming service.
Although many people want Rogan canceled, there are many people who stand with him. For instance, UFC President Dana White and Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña are on his side.
As is Caitlyn Jenner, former Olympic gold-medalist who transitioned to female in 2015.
Bye bye Leftover hippies from the 60’s boycotting @joerogan on Spotify. Nobody will miss you. Thank you @Spotify for standing up for Rogan!
“Bye Bye Leftover hippies from the 60’s boycotting @joerogan on Spotify. Nobody will miss you. thank you @Spotify for standing up for Rogan!,” Jenner tweeted on February 4.
Caitlyn’s support of the podcast might be a surprise, considering it has also been accused of spewing misinformation about the transgender community.
In the episode, Shrier describes transgenderism as a “social contagion”, among other things. Additionally, Caitlyn’s name is brought up when Rogan questions her need for surgery if she already felt like a woman.
However, Jenner’s support of Rogan may not come as a total shock to some members of the transgender community. During her candidacy to replace governor Gavin Newsome, Jenner sparked heavy negativity from the transgender community when she stated it is “unfair” to allow transgender women and girls in women’s sports.
Unfortunately for those who disagree with Joe Rogan and dislike his podcast, Spotify has yet to remove it from their service. Many deem Joe as “uncancelable” and believe the show is simply an outlet for the UFC commentator and comedian to voice his opinions while letting others’ be heard as well.
What are your thoughts on Caitlyn Jenner backing Joe Rogan?
Israel Adesanya isn’t feeling all the talk about Robert Whittaker and his improvements.
Israel Adesanya is preparing for a rematch with Robert Whittaker this coming Saturday night at UFC 271. Adesanya holds the win from the first meeting but a lot is being put on the improvements that Whittaker has made since their last meeting. Whittaker is 3-0 since his loss to Adesanya at UFC 243, and Adesanya has been hearing the growing buzz.
“Yes. Way too much,” Adesanya said of the weight being put on Whittaker’s improved skills (via MMA Fighting). “To the point where I’m like, did he invent a new move or something? Did he reinvent the jab or I don’t know what. He improved, yes, but not to the point where people have blown it up to be. The proportion. I think maybe people just have low standards, that’s all. I just have high standards.”
Adesanya was made some improvements himself since their last face-to-face in the OCtagon. However, he did experience his first loss when he decided to make a jump to light heavyweight and face off against Jan Blachowicz. Adesanya is still undefeated at middleweight, and he believes he still has what it takes to beat Whittaker and defend his title.
Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Whittaker is on a three-fight winning streak since losing the belt. He has faced some of the very best at 185 pounds and looked very good doing it. His last three were all decision victories over Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and Kelvin Gastelum. Even though Whittaker’s wins proved he can battle out a tough win, Adesanya is less than impressed.
“He played the game very well against all three opponents, I feel. At the same time, you put those three guys together, they don’t amount to me. The way they play the game, it’s not the same. So like I said, (Georges St-Pierre impression) ‘I was not impressed by your performance.’”
If Whittaker’s skills have improved, then that will be on display at UFC 271. Whittaker has been eager to finally get his rematch and potentially win back his lost UFC belt on Feb. 12. As for Adesanya, he certainly has the confidence going into this fight, but will his own skills hold up?
Who do you have winning the middleweight title at UFC 271, Adesanya or Whittaker?
As far as money goes, Joanna Jędrzejczyk does not have to fight. Still, she knows that she’s missed out on a lot of money in her UFC career. Jędrzejczyk defended the strawweight championship belt five times but did not feel she was getting paid her worth.
Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Photo Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
“You’ve got to get paid as much as you can from this place, this time, and this situation. I feel like, every time, in everything I do in my life, I’m trying to give as much and get as much. But I feel like I missed some things in my fighting career, and I could get even more. Like money-wise, money fights, fight money, maybe. I can’t complain, but I feel like I should get more,” Jędrzejczyk told Punchin’ In.
Conor Mcgregor also makes big money outside of the UFC and has continued to earn millions after both losses to Dustin Poirier. McGregor made more money losing both his fights in 2021 than Jędrzejczyk made as the winningest strawweight champion of all time.
Even the heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, took home only $600k after his successful title defense at UFC 270.
When fighters pour their blood, sweat, and tears into their performance, they can feel demeaned when they do not believe they are being paid sufficiently. That’s where the crucial negotiation aspect of the fight game comes in.
“Because when you fight for nothing, when you fight for no money, when they give you these big kinds of money and pay-per-view points, you’re so happy and you feel like, ‘Wow, I’m so lucky,’ but there is much more room to negotiate. But it’s all about the right people,” Jędrzejczyk continued.
We have not seen Joanna Jędrzejczyk since her loss against Zhang in 2020. Jędrzejczyk plans to fight twice this year in her anticipated return to Octagon activity.
Hopefully, the Polish fighter can negotiate a deal to her liking.
Are you excited to see Joanna Jędrzejczyk in the Octagon again?
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has given a firm and hilarious response to those suggesting a victory over Israel Adesanya is as simple as “take him down.”
While both men have been in fine form at 185 pounds since their meeting, racking up three wins each, Adesanya did suffer his first professional defeat in the period between his Whittaker matchups.
The first blemish on his record came last March in his pursuit of two-division championship glory. Against then-titleholder Jan Blachowicz, “The Last Stylebender” was beaten on the scorecards after being taken down and controlled in the championship rounds.
Why, then, are we still seeing the same hypothesis on Adesanya’s wrestling being thrown around? Whittaker believes it’s because those who haven’t fought professionally don’t have a grasp on the mechanics and mindset involved in fighting.
During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, “The Reaper” suggested there’s no way anyone who hasn’t competed at the highest level of fighting can comprehend the feeling of being in a scrap.
“I don’t think anyone, anyone who doesn’t fight at the highest level has any real grasp on what it feels like to be in a fight,” said Whittaker. “And I mean anyone, anyone who hasn’t fought at the highest level; they can’t fully grasp how hard it is to do certain things in a fight, or what’s going through your mind during a fight, or how high the stakes are, and how heavy the pressure is. Unless you fight at the highest level, nobody knows. You can’t know.”
With that sentiment in mind, it’s no surprise Whittaker is so frustrated at one portion of the MMA fanbase…
Whittaker: If It’s That Simple, Why Hasn’t Anybody Done It?
Taking the opportunity to vent his annoyance at one pre-UFC 271 narrative, Whittaker laid into those who continue to brand his path to victory against Adesanya as being as simple as a takedown.
Understandably, he said if it’s that simple, why have 20 middleweights failed to have their hand raised against Adesanya?
“People are saying, ‘You just gotta get him on his back.’ Why hasn’t anybody done it?! Why hasn’t anybody done it?! If it’s that simple, why has nobody in the history of Adesanya’s career just taken him down and held him down for five rounds? Why? Because he’s fucking hard to take down! You know what I mean? He is a nightmare to take down. He’s got long limbs, he’s got long arms, and I’m pretty sure he works a little bit of wrestling defense; I just have an inkling that’s what he does,” Whittaker added with sarcasm.
“When I see people just like, ‘Ah, it’s simple, you just take him down.’ Yeah, it is simple. You know what else would be simple? If I get a piece of paper and write down a game plan that says, ‘Punch him in the chin.’ That’s a simple game plan that is sure-fire to win,” Whittaker continued. “It’s a little harder to pull off, you know, when you have all the factors of a title fight going through that.”
Concluding his entertaining rant, Whittaker reminded the “just take Adesanya down” brigade that game plans are met with a moving opponent attempting to defend against it, something that is often not considered.
“Remember, it’s not like a game plan where you give it to someone and then all they have to do is execute that game plan on a dummy that isn’t moving; that isn’t trying to actively counter-act whatever the hell it is that you’re doing [LAUGHS]. I went on a bit of a rant there,” concluded Whittaker.
It’s safe to say that if you see Robert Whittaker walking around Houston this week, don’t say the words, “take Adesanya down” or “just do what Blachowicz did…”
Do you think Robert Whittaker has what it takes to dethrone Israel Adesanya?
Jake Paul thinks he has what it takes to eventually silence the doubters and become a boxing world champion someday.
Paul is coming off of an eventful 2021 in which he won three bouts in the ring. He started the year by knocking out former UFC welterweight Ben Askren followed by back-to-back wins over former UFC champion Tyron Woodley.
Paul was originally supposed to face Tommy Fury at the end of 2021 before Fury pulled out with an injury. Woodley stepped up to fight on short notice and Paul knocked him out in Round 6.
“I think boxers are easier to fight than MMA fighters,” Paul said. “They’re more predictable, and they don’t hit as hard, and they can’t take as big of a punch.”
Paul is anticipating a return to boxing later this year and has already called out top UFC stars for a boxing match, including Conor McGregor and Jorge Masvidal. Both fighters are still under contract with the UFC, so it’s highly unlikely that they’ll be able to fight him anytime soon.
One of the biggest criticisms of Paul’s fast rise in boxing has been his level of competition in the ring. While he’s put on impressive performances against elite athletes, he arguably has yet to put his true boxing skills to the test against a legitimate boxer.
UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman underwent surgery on a hand ligament but is expected to recover in time for International Fight Week.
Usman’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, broke the news to ESPN on Monday. Despite the operation, Usman is still targeting a return to the Octagon for UFC 276 on July 2.
Kamaru Usman had surgery to repair a ligament in his hand, his manager Ali Abdelaziz told @marc_raimondi.
Abdelaziz said Usman is targeting a return for International Fight Week at UFC 276 in T-Mobile Arena on July 2. pic.twitter.com/MQqd9srmJf
Usman is widely expected to face top contender Leon Edwards next, but nothing has been formally announced by the promotion. He’s coming off of an eventful 2021 in which he earned knockout wins over Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal, while also winning the rubber match with Colby Covington.
UFC President Dana White also shared a graphic photo of Usman’s operated hand in an Instagram post.
“Pound for pound best fighter in the world [Kamaru Usman] had hand ligament surgery today,” White said. “This is the before and after. See you soon CHAMP.”
White has recently confirmed that Usman will face Edwards next, despite the exact booking still under negotiation. It appears that UFC 276 could be the targeted date for the high-stakes welterweight rematch.
Usman claimed that he injured his hand during a sparring session with ferocious lightweight contender Justin Gaethje.
Usman has won 19 fights in a row and is undefeated in his UFC career. He’s widely regarded as one of the greatest champions in the promotion’s history.
Francis Ngannou has an incredible story from digging sand in Cameroon to leaving for France and eventually becoming UFC heavyweight champion. And with that, one manager says it’s impossible to not like him.
According to Ali Abdelaziz, who manages a ton of fighters like Kamaru Usman and Khabib Nurmagomedov, he says Ngannou’s story is incredible. He also considers the heavyweight champion to be one of the nicest people in the sport, so he says it’s impossible not to like him.
However, even with Ngannou’s freakish power and incredible story, he’s in a contract dispute with Dana White and the UFC. The president didn’t even wrap the belt around his waist at UFC 270. Yet, Abdelaziz believes White doesn’t dislike Ngannou.
Francis Ngannou (Image Credit: Frederick J. BROWN/AFP)
“You look at the story. The guy came form Cameroon, went to Morocco, got on a boat, a plastic boat to Europe, you know,” Abdelaziz said to MMAJunkie. “The man has a strong will. Dana White has been waiting 20 years for someone like Francis… This whole narrative that Dana White don’t like Francis or hates Francis, I think is wrong. It’s almost impossible not to like Francis. The guy, he puts on great shows, he’s a great human being.”
Francis Ngannou is coming off a decision victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 to defend his heavyweight title for the first time. He impressed many by using his wrestling to win the fight, a path to victory that not many people thought was going to happen.
With the win, he now has one fight left on his deal or can wait it out until the end of December. At this point, there have been no major progress on Ngannou re-signing with the UFC. Despite the standstill, Abdelaziz believes White doesn’t dislike Ngannou, as many think he does.
Do you think Francis Ngannou will re-sign with the UFC?
Anthony Johnson has put out a warning towards Bruce Buffer.
Anthony Johnson is coming to the defense of himself and all other former UFC fighters who have taken other opportunities. Recently, Bruce Buffer has come out and spoke about how he feels UFC fighters are not better off when they leave the organization. Johnson, who left the UFC back in Dec. of 2020, decided to sign with Bellator. He has found happiness in his new fight home and wants people to know that the UFC is not the end-all, be-all in fighting.
Buffer who was discussing the probability of Francis Ngnanou leaving the UFC in search of other fight opportunities, had this to say.
“No offense to other organizations, but you become irrelevant when you leave the UFC after a while,” Buffer said on his podcast (via MMA Mania). “Instead of losing in the UFC your contract is being ended in the UFC and you fall from the Octagon down into the Bellators.”
Johnson took offense to this since he is now one of the top light heavyweight fighters on the Bellator roster. Johnson has admitted to being happier with Bellator and having a better financial situation. Johnson took to Instagram to respond to Buffer.
“Bruce needs to stay off crack,” Johnson commented on a post. “How’s anything irrelevant when providing food and shelter for family? Oh, by the way, I got paid way more for moving to another organization. Bruce has his guaranteed money so he can talk,” Johnson finished. “Fighters have to wait and actually entertain people when they get the chance to make some money.”
More and more frequently, we are seeing former UFC fighters heading in a different direction when they become free agents. Some have decided to try their hand at boxing, like Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley. Others have proven that different MMA organizations could be a nice fit. Bellator is a common landing spot along with PFL and now Khabib Nurmagomedov’s MMA organization, Eagle FC.
Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields spoke on conflict with Jake Paul and seemed willing to drop their beef.
Since 2016, Claressa “T. Rex” Shields has dominated women’s boxing. She is the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic medals and has won multiple world championships in three separate weight classes.
12-0 in her professional boxing career, Claressa Shields is easily a revered champion. And in 2021, the superstar made a switch to mixed martial arts.
She won her MMA debut against Brittney Elkin by TKO at PFL 4 last June. However, later in the year, Shields lost via split decision against Abigail Montes, and immediately following that loss, Jake Paul had a few choice words.
“The only beef I have with Jake Paul is don’t ever disrespect me, you know what I’m sayin’? Like, he tried to kick me when I was down and also going into a new sport,” Shields said in an interview with TMZ Sports. “I lost a split decision. I didn’t get submitted, I didn’t get knocked out, I didn’t get beat up, it was a split. And I’m also brand new at MMA. And when he made that comment, calling me a loser and stuff, that’s what really made me want to fight him.
“And then it’s like, you can’t call me a loser because you don’t box better than me and you damn sure don’t do MMA better than me. You don’t do nothing better than me. That’s it. To kick somebody while they’re down but never give them their props when they’re up, that was kinda wack to me and that’s why I didn’t have no respect for him,” Shields explains on TMZ Sports.
“Let’s put this behind us and work together to continue to build women’s boxing,” Paul tweeted.
Recently, Jake Paul helped promote a highly anticipated boxing match between undisputed champions Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor, which Shields expressed an appreciation for and thus met Paul halfway in his olive-branch extension.
“But now, I just wish him the best,” Shields said. “I wish him the best. If he ever wanna spar, it’s always up in the air. It’s always an option. Because I do owe him a couple blows,” Shields said half-jokingly. “But other than that, I think what he’s doing for Amanda is great. I think him getting involved in helping the fight with Katie Taylor getting made is great for Amanda, and Katie, and it’s great for women’s boxing. So I appreciate him for that,” Shields continued.
Considering women’s boxing is a high priority for both athletes, perhaps their quarrel can now be swept under the rug.
Do you think this is the end of the Claressa Shields and Jake Paul beef?
UFC welterweight prospect Shavkat Rakhmonov is targeting a clash with the unorthodox Michel Pereira next.
Rakhmonov returned to action this past weekend at UFC Vegas 47 for his third Octagon outing. Having arrived on MMA’s biggest stage as a highly touted 13-0 prospect, the Kazakhstani made a splash on debut by submitting divisional veteran Alex Oliveira inside one round at UFC 254 in 2020.
After submitting Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Michel Prazeres in his sophomore appearance last June, Rakhmonov was presented with the challenge of Carlston Harris for his opening fight of 2022.
Venturing away from his imposing submission game, the 27-year-old put his knockout power and striking ability on full display inside Las Vegas’ Apex facility. After flooring his Guyanese opponent with a spinning hook kick, Rakhmonov swarmed Harris on the ground and knocked him out with some brutal ground-and-pound.
You're looking at a future contender at welterweight 😳
Rakhmonov Hopes To Add Another Brazilian To His Record
Having defeated two Brazilian natives and a longtime Brazilian resident fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rakhmonov is hoping to continue his decimation of the country’s welterweights in his next outing.
At the UFC Vegas 47 post-fight press conference, Rakhmonov called out a name not many seek to face, Michel Pereira. Having seen his Sanford MMA teammate Andre Fialho beaten by the Marabá native, “Nomad” wants his hands on “Demolidor” next.
“If you’re asking about who (is next), let’s give me Michel Pereira. He fought with my teammate Andre Fialho, so I want to fight with him.” (h/t MMA Junkie)
Pereira’s victory over Fialho at UFC 270 extends his win streak to four. Prior to his triumph over the Portuguese striker, the 28-year-old took home decision victories over Niko Price and Khaos Williams and submitted Zelim Imadaev. He was also well on his way to a triumph against Diego Sanchez before an illegal knee led to his disqualification.
If this matchup comes to fruition, on one side we’d have one of the most entertaining and unique fighters on the UFC roster, and on the other, one of the most highly-touted rising prospects in the promotion.
While Rakhmonov is undoubtedly one to watch moving forward, a victory over an established name like Pereira would certainly accelerate him towards the top.
Would you like to see Shavkat Rakhmonov face Michel Pereira next?
There may be a slew of UFC fighters who are against the idea of competing against Khamzat Chimaev, but Nick Maximov isn’t one of those guys.
Maximov seized the moment in his second career UFC fight at UFC Vegas 47. In his first promotional co-main event opportunity, he earned a largely dominant win over Punahele Soriano in which he scored a series of takedowns throughout the fight.
Maximov, a protege of Nick and Nate Diaz, wants tougher competition for his next Octagon appearance. At 24 years old, he’s widely regarded as one of the top middleweight prospects in the UFC.
Despite being just two fights into his UFC career, he’s open to the idea of facing the rising star Chimaev. During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Maximov promoted the idea of fighting Chimaev next.
“I think so, too,” Maximov said when asked about a fight with Chimaev making sense. “Khamzat’s fighting all these little a** guys but I’ll like to fight him next. He tries to call out Nate and Nick, it’s like fight me then. We’re both in the same boat… but why are people scared of him, know what I’m saying? He hasn’t fought any wrestlers. He’s a wrestler, but he hasn’t fought any wrestlers. So I’m like, ‘What the fuck?”
Maximov would then close with a final message for Chimaev.
“Fight me next then, because he hasn’t fought any wrestlers. He’s fought MMA fighters and I’m a martial artist who can wrestle. I just made the record [for takedowns] in my second UFC fight. In my second UFC fight, I was the co-main event, so who else is doing that?”
Chimaev is also undefeated in his professional MMA career and is coming off of another impressive finish over Li Jingliang at UFC 267. While nothing is set in stone just yet, he’s widely expected to face Gilbert Burns later this year.
If the Burns fight falls through, Chimaev seems to have a willing opponent in Maximov. As showcased during his UFC debut win at UFC 266 and his lopsided victory on Dana White’s Contender Series, Maximov may present the type of grappling challenge that Chimaev hasn’t faced yet.
Juliana Peña and Amanda Nunes had their first TUF faceoff earlier today.
The rivalry between newly crowned bantamweight champion Juliana Peña and former champion Amanda Nunes is beginning to heat up. Fresh off her victory over Nunes, Peña was gunning for another chance at the GOAT. Peña wants to prove that she is the best at 135 pounds beyond a reasonable doubt, and if beating Nunes again will solidify that, then she is ready.
Peña and Nunes were announced as coaches for the 30th season of TUF just recently. They have not begun filming yet, but the two were involved in a media day to promote the show. During the media day in Las Vegas, Nunes had the chance to come face to face with the only woman to have beaten her in seven years.
Julianna Peña and Amanda Nunes face off ahead of their Ultimate Fighter season and upcoming rematch. pic.twitter.com/tlsCGWB2Ji
During the face-off, Peña was wearing a black TUF jersey, showing that her chosen team will be the black team. Nunes was wearing red. The man in the middle of the faceoff, standing in for Dana White, was TUF alum Forrest Griffin. No words were spoken between the two, but Nunes was holding her featherweight belt while Peña donned her new bantamweight strap.
Peña’s UFC journey began when she was a member of the season 18 Ultimate Fighter cast. Peña won her season and now gets the chance to help others go down the path she has before.
This 30th season will feature men’s heavyweights and women’s flyweights battling it out for a UFC contract while locked away from the outside world. Since the inception of The Ultimate Fighter, many fighters featured on the show went on to have great UFC careers, with a few becoming champions.
The new season featuring Peña and Nunes begins Tuesday, May 3 on ESPN+.
Do you think Julianna Peña will be able to make in 2-0 against Amanda Nunes after this season of TUF?
Robert Whittaker’s coach Alex Prates has revealed how the former champion has grown into a “whole different beast” on the feet ahead of his rematch with Israel Adesanya.
At the start of 2019, Whittaker was on the UFC’s middleweight throne, riding a nine-fight win streak, and was unbeaten since 2014. That form came crashing to a halt at UFC 243 in Melbourne. Spoiling the champ’s homecoming, then-interim titleholder Adesanya showed his striking superiority by TKOing “The Reaper” in the second round.
But after taking a break from the sport and finding his love for martial arts again, Whittaker has returned to his best. In three outings since his title loss, the New Zealand-born Australian has outpointed Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and Kelvin Gastelum. In doing so, he’s secured a shot at redemption.
But while he was comfortably outstruck and pieced up by Adesanya, an elite striker who has since outpointed Yoel Romero and Marvin Vettori, and finished Paulo Costa, Whittaker’s team are confident the necessary adjustments have been made.
During an interview with Sherdog, Coach Alex Prates discussed the constant improvements Whittaker has been making between his recent appearances. With big progress in the last year, Prates says fans should expect to see the “best Robert Whittaker” to date this weekend.
“We started to adapt a little bit. I think we learn a lot from that loss to Israel. A few things that make Rob a very dangerous opponent… I think he was coming from nine wins in a row before he lost to Adesanya. We learned a lot,” said Prates. “When you get to a level of striking, a few things, the basics, have to be astounding. So we start to change a little bit, we start to adapt… get all the fundamentals right. He got better. He got a little bit better with Darren Till, he got better with Cannonier, he got better with Gastelum.
“But the biggest improvement, I have no doubt, the biggest improvement that was made in Robert’s game was in-between the last fight with Gastelum and this fight with Adesanya,” added Prates. “He’s probably gonna be, potentially, the best Robert Whittaker you guys have ever seen.”
While a number of factors have helped Whittaker expand his weaponry and fine-tune his arsenal, Prates says one addition to the team has made him a “whole different beast” on the feet. That helping hand has come from renowned Aussie boxing trainer Johnny Lewis.
With the aid of a trainer who’s coached six world champions, Prates believes Whittaker now has what it takes to match “The Last Stylebender” punch for punch.
“He’s sharp, his hands look sharp. We are having the help of a very famous boxing coach in Australia, Mr. Johnny Lewis,” Prates continued. “He’s a guy who trained six world champions. I think Johnny is about 70… He was retired but he came back to train a bronze medalist, that won the bronze medal for Australia in Rio and became professional.
“I know Johnny for a while few a through common friends. So I asked for a favor from him to oversee Rob’s boxing for this fight and he took us on board. I’m very grateful. And the results are showing. Rob’s hands… he looks a whole different beast now,” concluded Prates.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZkrMEtMmnH/
While Whittaker has undoubtedly improved and found the form of his life in his three fights since the crushing loss to Adesanya, whether he can hand the Nigerian-New Zealander his first defeat at middleweight is another question.
We’ll find out if he’s made enough of an adjustment on February 12.
Who do you think will leave UFC 271 with the middleweight gold, Robert Whittaker or Israel Adesanya?
That brings us to today’s story, featuring Sean Strickland and an adult film actress. As you can imagine from such a combination, the readers should brace themselves for the content ahead and reader discretion is advised.
As demonstrated with some of the above-mentioned headlines, Strickland has been quite unpredictable and outspoken over the previous year. In doing so, not only has he garnered the attention of the entire MMA community, but he also caught the eyes and ears of adult film star Karma RX.
Adult Film Star Karma RX At the Adult Video News Awards
Karma RX is an award-winning adult film actress who has appeared in over 150 films. At present, she has over 3 million followers on social media and a reported net worth of at least $5 million. However, life wasn’t always flashy and lavish for Karma RX.
Before her rise to X-rated fame, she struggled with meth addiction. She has been very open about her road to recovery with her fans and has thus served as an inspiration for many.
Strickland Nips Romance With Karma RX In The Bud
During his UFC Vegas 43 Octagon interview last year, Strickland stated that if it were not for MMA, he’d probably be somewhere“cooking meth in a trailer.” While Strickland did not explicitly state that he has battled meth addiction, apparently, something about this MMA “Tarzan” made Karma RX identify with him on some level, and the two later began flirting on social media last month.
Do we get married now or do I have to catch a charge first when I jealousy snap and kill someone? It's been awhile since I've fell in love with a toxic whore. I'm like a month flying into a flame..
Following his victory over Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 47 on Saturday, Strickland suggested that this flirtatious romance will be restricted to social media—for now.
“No, one of these days, maybe when she retires and I retire, we’ll get it going,” Strickland told reporters at the UFC Vegas 47 post-fight press conference when asked about a potential relationship with Karma RX. “But I mean, how do you—girl fuckin’ sucks dick for a living, bro. What do you say? Like, she just got a bunch of dudes cummin’ in her and you’re like, ‘Hey, wanna go on a date, babe? Wanna go get a steak dinner? As she’s cleaning off her lip.”
Despite his usual unfiltered and NSFW take on the latest subject at his disposal, Strickland did express some quasi-wholesome praise for the adult film star for her rags-to-riches story.
“But I will say one thing. Let me compliment my girl fuckin’ Karma. I wanna give her a compliment,” Strickland continued. “That girl’s life was way fuckin’ harder than me. And yeah, she does suck a little dick, but at the end of the day, that fuckin’ bitch makes more money than me, you, and the man with the gay haircut. I mean, in all fairness, she should be a meth addict in a fuckin’ dumpster. So a lot of people hate on Karma, but at the end of the day, man, girl’s fuckin’ doing well for herself.”
What say you? Would YOU date Karma RX while she is an active adult film star?
UFC heavyweight contender Tom Aspinall is raring to go in 2022 and plans on beginning a heavyweight takeover with a main event victory over Alexander Volkov at UFC London.
For Manchester’s Aspinall, the event will mark the first time he’s fought in front of a capacity UFC crowd, having defeated his first four opponents, Jake Collier, Alan Baudot, Andrei Arlovski, and Sergey Spivak, inside Las Vegas’ Apex facility and on Fight Island. What better way to arrive in front of a sold-out audience than in his home country?
Opposite him in the Octagon on March 19 will be a talented and unique Russian striker standing six feet and seven inches tall. Incredibly, UFC London will mark Volkov’s sixth main event in just 12 UFC appearances.
With Aspinall boasting an unblemished UFC record and getting set for his first headlining bout in the first quarter of this year, many expect the Englishman to replicate the 2021 of his French UFC peer. If he’s to do so, Aspinall will have to get past Volkov, a task the Manchester native is confident he can complete.
“These opportunities don’t come around all the time. I just feel like I’m ready, man. I just feel like this is my time man,” said Aspinall. “I just wanna go in there and show everybody just what I can really do, because everybody thinks they know what I’m good at and what I’m not good at, but nobody really knows. The only people who really know are the people around me. Mate, I’m gonna be up there and I’m gonna be flying the flag, and I’m gonna take over this shit.”
First Main Event ⭐️ First With Fans 🏟 First Top 10 Opponent 👊
Similar to UK stars like Arnold Allen, Paddy Pimblett, Jack Shore, Nathanial Wood, Mike Grundy, Molly McCann, and Muhammad Mokaev, Aspinall will be hoping to leave his mark when he enters the cage inside London’s O2 Arena on March 19.
Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC London in March, Tom Aspinall or Alexander Volkov?
This decision comes after Grammy-award-winning artist India Arie revealed that she had a private conversation with Spotify about the discrepancy between what Rogan is being paid while there are clips of him stating racially controversial remarks compared to what music artists and podcasters of colors are paid.
It is this perceived gap in pay and equity that prompted Arie to join Young and Mitchell in requesting her music be pulled from the platform.
India Arie, Credit: Getty Images
Over the weekend, two videos went viral, both of which Rogan has apologized for. The first video contained a compilation of Rogan saying “ni**er” without any full sentences or context included in the video. The second video had Rogan stating that it felt as though he and his friends were in “Planet of the Apes” when they unexpectedly arrived in an all-black neighborhood.
There was also a third video that has mostly flown under the radar, where Rogan implies that white people’s brains are superior to black people’s brains. The latter two videos were both very dated and over a decade old.
Following the snowstorm of criticism that came down on Rogan, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek released a memo to company employees. Here are the notes of what Ek wrote in the memo.
Expressed empathy for the Spotify team being stuck in the middle of Rogan’s controversies and stated that none of Rogan’s comments represent the values of the company.
Had conversations with Rogan and his team about past JRE episodes containing racially insensitive comments, with Rogan choosing to remove those episodes.
Stated that “silencing” Joe Rogan is not the answer
Clarified that Spotify is not the publisher of JRE but merely holds the exclusive license for the podcast.
$100 million investment into marginalized communities to broaden, not stifle, public discourse.
The remainder of the memo is used as a direct address to employees with the intention of boosting staff morale in the midst of the ongoing controversies and negative press.
Bellator heavyweight contender Cheick Kongo is looking to earn more than the heavyweight title in his upcoming rematch against Ryan Bader.
Kongo has proved that age may be just a number during his recent run-in Bellator. The 46-year-old has won 9 of his last 11 fights, including most recently against Sergei Kharitonov at Bellator 265.
Just minutes after Bader earned a unanimous decision victory against Valentin Moldavsky at Bellator 273, the promotion announced that Bader will defend his belt against Kongo in May at an event in Paris.
The Bader-Kongo rivalry is one of the most heated in recent Bellator history. The two top heavyweights fought to a no-contest after an accidental eye-poke by Bader stopped the fight. Bader later denied that he poked Kongo.
Kongo is looking to earn a decisive win this time against Bader. During a recent interview with Mirror, he revealed what he told Bader during their staredown following Bellator 273.
“I told him ‘karma is a b****’ and you did really good,” Kongo said. “I was impressed with his performance, it was a really good satisfaction. I wish he will be able to perform the same way [against me] but I’m going to kill you. When he left the cage, I told him ‘you better be ready, because I’m gonna murder you’. I wasn’t expecting to face him after three years, I thought it was just a utopia but they make it real. Now it’s happening. His salvation will probably for me to die with Covid or get hit by a car to not face me.”
Kongo will have the opportunity to exact his revenge against Bader in front of the hometown crowd in Paris. He has his own gym and team in France called “Kongo’s Smashin’ Club”, which features top prospects such as Djati Melan.
The Kongo-Bader rivalry doesn’t show any signs of cooling down anytime soon, and their fight is expected to be one of the most highly-anticipated in Bellator in 2022.
What is your prediction for Ryan Bader vs. Cheick Kongo 2?
Dustin Poirier isn’t certain what his fighting future holds but doubts it will involve a fourth fight against Conor McGregor.
Poirier is coming off a submission loss to Charles Oliveira for the lightweight title and hinted at retiring after the fight. He now took to social media to provide fans an update on his career where he says he isn’t sure if he will fight again but says if he does, it probably won’t be a fourth fight against McGregor.
“Probably not,” Poirier responded to a fan asking if he’ll face McGregor next.
Although Dustin Poirier says the fourth Conor McGregor is unlikely to happen, it is a fight the Irishman has expressed interest in.
They had their rematch at UFC 257, which Poirier won by second-round KO. The trilogy match happened in July. The bout ended when McGregor broke his leg, which is why he wants the fourth scrap.
Dana White also said after the event he’s open to doing the fight for the fourth time.
“It sucks,” White said after UFC 264. “It’s brutal. It’s not the way you want to see fights end. Dustin Poirier will fight for the title, and when Conor is healed and ready to go, you do the rematch, I guess. I don’t know. The fight didn’t get finished,” he said. “You can’t have a fight finish that way, so we’ll see how this whole thing plays out. Who knows how long Conor is out, so Poirier will do his thing until Conor’s ready.”
Although Poirier says he’s uncertain if the fourth McGregor fight happens, he is interested in it being in boxing.
UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski is hinting that a potential matchup against Henry Cejudo might’ve already come and gone.
Volkanovski is slated to face Chan Sung Jung, otherwise known as “The Korean Zombie” at UFC 273. Volkanovski was originally supposed to face Max Holloway in a trilogy next before Holloway suffered an injury shortly after the booking was announced.
One of the first names that put themselves in the conversation to step up and fight Volkanovski was Henry Cejudo. He has long hinted at a UFC comeback to challenge for the featherweight title and the chance to become a three-division world champion.
The two have gone back-and-forth in a series of interviews and social media posts, but a fight between them hasn’t materialized. UFC President Dana White has been non-committal regarding a potential superfight between Volkanovski and Cejudo.
“I don’t even mind the guy,” Volkanovski said. “Obviously, we have a bit of fun and he’s always trying to troll me and get under my skin and make that fight happen.
“Again, I get people who are going to say I’m running and whatnot. The UFC never brought up his name, ever. And it was never mentioned to me, it was never even close to an option. How am I going to take it seriously if the UFC doesn’t take it seriously? And I don’t even know if Henry is really taking it serious. But man, I like the guy. He’s got great skills. You’ve you’ve done great things in other divisions. And you retired, so it just doesn’t make sense.
“If there was ever a time that I was going to do it, it probably would be now,” Volkanovski added. “But again, the UFC weren’t going to bring it up. They’re thinking that what’s the point? You don’t deserve it. And then what if you do somehow get it done — you’re just going to retire and [drop the belt again]? Even though I heard Henry say, ‘Oh, if I do that, I’ll stay,’ I don’t think they believe that. But you wouldn’t have had to worry about that anyway.”
White has been critical of how Cejudo and his management have handled their desire for a fight with Volkanovski. Cejudo announced his retirement from MMA following his bantamweight title defense against Dominick Cruz at UFC 249.
Holloway has been cleared to resume training following his injury and could serve as the backup to UFC 273. While nothing is certain regarding the featherweight title picture, Holloway will more than likely get the Volkanovski/Korean Zombie winner next.
Meanwhile, it appears that the Volkanovski vs. Cejudo window for a fight has been closed, at least for now.
What is your prediction for a hypothetical fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Henry Cejudo?
UFC Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña has grinded her way to the top of women’s MMA, and she wants to be compensated for it.
Peña pulled off arguably the greatest upset in UFC history at UFC 269, dismantling Amanda Nunes on the feet and eventually securing a submission victory. After the win, she and UFC President Dana White began to hype up the idea of a rematch.
Last week, it was revealed that the rematch between Peña and Nunes will take place after they coach the next season of The Ultimate Fighter opposite one another. Prior to the announcement, White himself had already declared that the bout will be the biggest fight in women’s MMA history.
“What did (Dana White) say? The biggest women’s fight in history,” Peña said. “In history. So I mean, makes sense. You gotta have a dance partner. It takes two to tango. It’s not just a one-stop shop here. You have to have somebody that’s gonna wanna dance with you. And what better opponent than somebody that just beat you and just put a blemish on your gigantic record of being the greatest of all time?”
Peña went on to hint at her desire for a massive payday for the Nunes rematch, using White’s previous comments against him.
“Biggest fight in women’s history sounds pretty big to me,” Peña continued. “And he said Kayla Harrison fighting Amanda Nunes was like a mega-million dollar fight. He’s quoted as saying ‘mega-million dollar fight.’ So if that’s the case, then what is this? I think it’s bigger.”
It’s hard to debate against the Peña/Nunes rematch being among the biggest fights in women’s MMA history. And from the sounds of it, “The Venezuelan Vixen” wants to be given a massive paycheck for her part in it.
How big of a fight do you think the rematch between Julianna Peña and Amanda Nunes will be?
Since that fight, both men have been in fine form. The champion has successfully defended his belt against Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, and Marvin Vettori. Despite falling to his first loss in professional MMA when he attempted to challenge for Jan Blachowicz’s light heavyweight title last March, Adesanya has remained unbeaten at middleweight.
The pair will now share the Octagon for the second time inside Houston’s Toyota Center on February 12.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZKLJsqhWXG/
Adesanya Targets “Devastating” Finish
The consensus for the clash appears to be split. While some look at Adesanya’s 2019 victory over Whittaker and expect a similar level of dominance, others have pointed to the former titleholder’s form and fight IQ and suggested he’ll be bringing a much tougher test to the champ this time around.
While some fighters may fall victim to complacency when facing an opponent they’ve already comfortably had their hand raised against, Adesanya is not worried about that.
During a recent interview with Chisanga Malata, “The Last Stylebender” suggested his desire to finish the rematch in an even more devastating way is what motivates him ahead of 2022’s second pay-per-view card.
“That’s not been the case this time (complacency after UFC 243 win),” said Adesanya. “It’s actually made me more motivated to do it again and do it more decisively, if that’s even possible, which it is. That’s what my motivation is for this fight, that’s what got me up for this fight, was to do it again, and (in a) more devastating fashion.”
According to Whittaker, Adesanya’s latest defense against Vettori proved he was beatable at middleweight. The New Zealand-born Australian will hope to prove that to be the case when his chance for redemption arrives next weekend.
Who do you think will leave UFC 271 with the middleweight gold, Israel Adesanya or Robert Whittaker?
As Joe Rogan apologized over the weekend for past controversial remarks found in two viral videos containing podcast clips dating back several years, a third video also resurfaced.
Joe Rogan has found himself to be one of the most controversial figures in 2022 thus far. First, over 200 individuals wrote an open letter to Spotify calling on the company to take action against The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. This came after the December 31, 2021 episode featuring Dr. Robert Malone, who is specifically being accused of spreading misinformation regarding COVID-19.
The authors of the letter were soon joined by music legends Neil Young and Joni Mitchell in the shared belief that Rogan’s podcast is using the Spotify platform to spread “deadly misinformation” that is causing real harm to the general public. Both Young and Mitchell requested to have their music removed from Spotify in protest of Rogan’s continued presence on the app.
Rogan addressed these concerns in a video last week, where he apologized if he made anyone angry but insisted that it was not his intention to be controversial. He reiterated that his podcast is a place for multiple perspectives to be heard, even if he does not agree with each guest. He also expressed an openness to making changes to the presentation of his content, specifically the order in which guests are scheduled so that opposing views could potentially be heard in consecutive episodes.
Many people praised Rogan for his apology, with Chael Sonnen calling it a “home run.” Even Trevor Noah of The Daily Showpraised Rogan for much of what he had to say in the video. Rogan also had the backing of his many loyal supports and those who resist any strain of the “cancel culture” virus many believe is infecting American society.
Rogan Hit With A Second Controversy Over The Weekend
As Neil Young and Joni Mitchell requested to have their music removed from Spotify in protest of Rogan, another multi-time Grammy-award-winning artist, India Arie, added her name to the Spotify protest. However, Arie’s reason had nothing to do with COVID-19 misinformation and was based on very dated remarks from Rogan’s podcast that were unearthed.
The first video is a compilation of Rogan repeatedly saying the word “ni**er” with a hard “er.” The second video features Rogan comparing his arrival in an all-black neighborhood to landing in The Planet of the Apes.
Below, you can view both videos as well as India Arie’s explanation for why Rogan remaining on Spotify on such a lucrative deal is unacceptable when, as she claims, podcasters of color and music artists are being underpaid (right arrow leads to next video). (h/t Hollywood Unlocked)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZhNdCzL94g/
Of note, UFC fighter Curtis Blaydes was among the 27,000-plus individuals who liked the above post.
Rogan Issues Apology, Swarmed With Support From MMA Community
Rogan would soon address both videos in an apology released on his Instagram page over the weekend.
Rogan began by calling this situation “the most regretful and shameful thing” he’s ever had to discuss publicly. Rogan says that his use of “the N-word” was taken out of context by the video creator, whom he accuses of using handpicked clips from over a decade of podcast content. However, he made sure to point out that this was no excuse and that he should have never used the word for any reason, to begin with.
Regarding the Planet of the Apes remarks, Rogan stated the following:
“And there’s another clip that I have to address. There’s a clip from 11 years ago. I was telling a story on the podcast about how me and my friend Tommy and his girlfriend, we got really high, we were in Philadelphia, and we went to go see Planet of the Apes. And we didn’t know where we were going, we just got dropped off by a cab, and we got dropped off in this all-black neighborhood. And I was trying to make the story entertaining. And I said, ‘We got out, and it was like we were in Africa. It’s like we were in Planet of the Apes.’
“I did not, nor would I ever, say that black people are apes, but it sure fuckin’ sounded like that. And I immediately afterwards said, ‘That’s a racist thing to say. Planet of the Apes wasn‘t even in Africa.’ I was just saying, ‘There’s a lot of black people there.’
“Then, I went on to talk about what a positive experience it was and how much fun it was to go to see this movie in a black neighborhood. It wasn’t a racist story, but it sounded terrible. And like I said, you can have clunky stories about anything, but not about race.”
You can view the full apology below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZlnH8MAb8L/
Rogan was again praised for the apology, with many in the MMA community, including fighters, showering him with support.
This world and nation are in a strange place right now and the people who bring dialogue in seek of the truth are not our enemies. @joerogan is a friend with a huge heart for everyone. 👊🏽🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/nGJSUQv21w
“This world and nation are in a strange place right now and the people who bring dialogue in seek of the truth are not our enemies. @joerogan is a friend with a huge heart for everyone,” wrote Josh Thompson.
“I don’t feel Joe Rogan is racist, and I don’t need white people telling me what he says is supposed to offend me,” said UFC newcomer Terrance McKinney.
This is just a snapshot of the overwhelming support Rogan received from people in the MMA community of various races, genders, and political affiliations.
There was, however, a very prominent public figure who revoked his support for Rogan.
Dwayne Johnson Revokes Support For Joe Rogan, Third Controversial Video Resurfaces
Recently, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson expressed a desire to appear on Joe Rogan’s podcast as a show of support for Rogan during the Spotify “misinformation” controversy.
However, after the two aforementioned viral videos hit the web, best-selling author Don Winslow pressed the Hollywood superstar to denounce that support. Johnson accommodated this request after being further “educated” on Rogan’s past content.
Dear @donwinslow Thank you so much for this I hear you as well as everyone here 100% I was not aware of his N word use prior to my comments, but now I've become educated to his complete narrative. Learning moment for me.
“Dear @donwinslow Thank you so much for this I hear you as well as everyone here 100% I was not aware of his N word use prior to my comments, but now I’ve become educated to his complete narrative. Learning moment for me. Mahalo, brother and have a great & productive weekend. DJ” Johnson wrote.
Mr. Winslow referenced “many racist statements” regarding black people from Rogan, but he did not enumerate which statements he was referring to. While it is possible he was only mentioning the two video clips that went viral over the weekend, it is also possible that both Winslow and Johnson were made aware of a third video that also recently resurfaced.
In the video, Rogan implies that white people are genetically more intelligent than black people after a guest told him he has a black father and white mother. You can view that clip below.
I noticed this old post of mine is suddenly getting retweeted all over the place today. https://t.co/rbQRjG8pMZ
“Powerful combination, genetic-wise, right? You get the body of the black man, and you get the mind of the white man altogether in some strange combination. It doesn’t, by the way, mean that black people don’t have brains. It’s a different brain. Don’t get me wrong,” Rogan said.
Again, it is unclear if this is part of the “complete narrative” that Johnson was referring to, but there is no doubt that these remarks are racially charged and highly questionable.
The subject of white intellectual superiority over blacks dates back centuries and continues to be linked to white supremacy to this day. In fairness to Rogan, the above clip, not unlike the Planet of the Apes clip, is from many moons ago. But unlike the two videos Rogan addressed over the weekend, this video has not yet been addressed as of this writing, thus it is unclear if his views have changed or if he feels he was taken out of context by the isolated selection of this video clip.
It is also unknown what Rogan said immediately following this clip. However, based solely on the audio evidence at hand, at best, Rogan spouted historical stereotypes considered harmful, especially by people of color who have testified that they struggle against such perceptions in their daily lives.
While some may consider such a dated clip irrelevant and yet another example of “cancel culture,” clearly, as demonstrated by Dwayne Johnson’s and even Curtis Blaydes’ response to past clips of Rogan, there are many individuals and groups who take an interest in being fully aware of past questionable remarks made by someone. This is especially the case when the remarks are regarding race and if the individual in question has a large platform.
That said, as UFC President Dana White recently articulated, it’s highly unlikely that Rogan will be “canceled” in any impactful way, regardless of any past remarks. Even if he were to be removed from Spotify, Rogan still has the #1 podcast in the country, over 20 million social media followers, and a very wide-reaching and loyal fanbase. In addition, as demonstrated by the support received in recent days, he remains one of the most beloved members of the MMA community.
What are your thoughts on this third resurfaced video from Joe Rogan?
Fight week for UFC 271 has arrived, and arguably the most significant rematch in middleweight history lurks in the shadows.
At UFC 271, Robert Whittaker will seek redemption when he faces the only man to defeat him in five years and who broke his undefeated middleweight record: Israel Adesanya.
Whittaker did not only lose to Adesanya, but he also suffered only the second knockout in his 13-year MMA career in the defeat. Whittaker has since rebounded with three straight wins, but full redemption will not be had until he returns the favor and hands Adesanya his first loss in the middleweight division as well.
In the co-main event, we have a party that is all but guaranteed to be a knockout. This primetime bash will feature KO king Derrick Lewis taking on notorious banger Tai Tuivasa. You won’t want to blink in this one to find out who will literally be the last man standing after these heavyweight powers collide.
“For me, it’s all about the feeling, the feeling that I give people when I fight.” – Israel Adesanya
Israel Adesanya, Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports
In the Countdown video, Israel Adesanya walks the viewers through his psychology and motivation heading into the rematch against Robert Whittaker. Viewers are left well assured that Adesanya’s fire remains bright and is truly equipped to burn down yet another house.
“This next fight will be the biggest box to tick.” – Robert Whittaker
Robert Whittaker
Robert Whittaker has defeated everyone placed in front of him during his illustrious UFC career—except but one man. The Countdown video takes viewers through the resurrection of The Reaper and how his evolution has rebuilt a man who let the pressure lead to his collapse in their initial clash.
“It’s cool to have the most knockouts in UFC history. All these greats that came here before me, and they didn’t achieve what I did.” – Derrick Lewis
Derrick Lewis, Credit: AP Photo/John Locher
In the Countdown video, the knockout king is praised for his record-setting ways, but not unlike Robert Whittaker, “The Black Beast” is also in hot pursuit of redemption. After losing badly in his hometown to Ciryl Gane last year in one of the biggest fights of his career, Lewis will hope to ring in a much happier ending in his second homecoming within the past six months.
“I got a lot of respect for Derrick. I was growing up watching him. I just think it’s the passing of the torch now. Hand it over to me.” – Tai Tuivasa
Tai Tuivasa, Image Credit: Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
The Countdown video highlights Tai Tuivasa’s growth as a well-rounded mixed martial artist, which has led to “Bam Bam” winning four straight fights. However, it is also acknowledged that this is one fight where “well-roundedness” likely won’t be required.
UFC 271 takes place this Saturday, February 12, 2022, from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. You can find the full card and viewing information below followed by the UFC 271 Countdown video.
UFC 271 Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 10:00 PM ET)
UFC Middleweight Championship Bout: Israel Adesanya (c) vs. Robert Whittaker
UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington denies the notion that Jorge Masvidal has the support of former U.S. president Donald Trump.
After months and years of bad blood boiling between Covington and Masvidal, the two welterweights will go to battle at UFC 272. The former friends turned enemies will finally square off after a long period of fans clamoring for the matchup to happen.
Covington has long claimed that he’s Trump’s favorite fighter, despite not voting for him during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He did support Trump in 2020 and was a guest of his during one of the presidential debates against Joe Biden.
“I’m still team captain,” Covington said. “I’m still Jorge’s daddy, and he’s just following in the footsteps of his daddy. He wants to be just like me so much that he wants to do everything I do. But let’s be honest, did Jorge even vote for Donald Trump? Because I know I did. I’d love for the voters out there to go look it up and see if Jorge actually voted for Trump. I don’t know if they let felons vote for Trump. It’s good we have a felon on the Republican side because there’s so many felons and criminals on the liberal side.”
Covington and Masvidal are both coming off of losses to UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman in 2021. Masvidal got knocked out by Usman at UFC 261, while Covington lost in a title rematch at UFC 268.
In addition to the desire for both fighters to stay relevant in the welterweight title picture, bragging rights are on the line between Masvidal and Covington. Depending on how their fight plays out at UFC 272, this could be the first chapter to a potential all-time rivalry in the UFC.
What is your prediction for Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal?
The following article was published on this day two years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 6, 2020, 5:26 PM]
Headline: Khabib Compares Conor McGregor vs. Cowboy Cerrone To ‘Well-Organized Circus’
Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.
Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t believe Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone was fixed but he does feel the UFC did its best to ensure McGregor was made to look unstoppable.
McGregor shared the Octagon with Cerrone on Jan. 18. The welterweight bout served as UFC 246’s headliner. McGregor vs. Cerrone was held inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The “Notorious” one stopped “Cowboy” in 40 seconds via TKO.
Khabib Not Impressed By McGregor’s Win Over Cerrone
Speaking to reporters, Nurmagomedov explained why he compares McGregor vs. Cerrone to a “well-organized circus” (via RT News).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8LrJeyfCB0
“A big organization with a lot of history won’t take such risks,” he explained. “If someone finds out that the fight was fixed, it would be a huge blow to the UFC’s reputation. They picked a good opponent though – an opponent that never won anything serious. He could have kept winning and winning and when it came time for a big fight, and just gave up because he’s mentally weak. It’s just a well-organized circus.”
Nurmagomedov has his next title defense scheduled. He’ll put his UFC lightweight championship on the line against Tony Ferguson on April 18. The title clash will be the main event for UFC 249 inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
As for McGregor, UFC president Dana White has made it clear that he wants “Mystic Mac” to challenge the winner of Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson. McGregor doesn’t appear to want to wait that long and has been mulling a quick return to action.
The bad blood between Nurmagomedov and McGregor still lingers. The two were engaged in a heated feud that involved a confrontation between Team Khabib and Artem Lobov in a hotel lobby and a bus attack involving McGregor and his entourage. Ultimately, Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor back in Oct. 2018 and it led to a brawl in the crowd between both camps.
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