Derek Brunson is ready to step into the title fight at UFC 271.
Derek Brunson has his next matchup all set to go, as he will be taking on Jared Cannonier at UFC 271 next weekend. That matchup could potentially decide the next title contender. However, Brunson may not need to wait that long.
The bout between Brunson and Cannonier was originally slated for UFC 270 that took place in January. The fight was switched to Feb 12. card at the last minute, and Brunson has now explained why he believes that is.
“The UFC, I think they just wanted backups for the title fight in case someone went down, got injured, they have two guys, ’85-ers, #3- and #4-ranked guys that can jump in for a title shot,” Brunson said.
Brunson is coming into this fight at UFC 271 having won his last five in the middleweight division. He is ranked fourth behind Cannonier, Marvin Vettori, and Whittaker. Even though he is ranked behind Cannonier, he could very well be the one to fill in since Cannonier recently lost to Whittaker. This is all subject to something going wrong with either Adesanya or Whittaker on that day. Either way, Brunson will be ready if his name is called.
“For sure, I have been waiting for an opportunity, five in a row, I’ve been waiting for that title shot. So if the opportunity comes up, for sure,” he explained.
Being able to jump right into a title fight situation would be ideal for Brunson. It would save him the trouble of having to beat Cannonier, which is a steep task. Cannonier is 3-1 in his last four, and since making his debut at middleweight, he has only lost to the former champ Whittaker. Cannonier holds wins over names like Anderson Silva and Kelvin Gastelum.
How do you think Brunson would fare against either Adesanya or Whittaker in a fill-in situation?
Peter Queally witnessed a successful free workshop at his gym where 30 women showed up to participate.
On February 25, Queally will fight Kane Mousah on the main card at Bellator 275. The #6-ranked Bellator lightweight trains alongside UFC‘s Conor McGregor at Straight Blast Gym in Dublin, Ireland.
In between training for bouts, Queally coaches MMA at SBG. On January 22, he saw a massive turnout with 30 women present at his first free workshop.
Peter Queally and members of SBG, Photo Credit: Straight Blast Gym Facebook Page
The free class was in response to the killing of Ashling Murphy, another victim of gender-based violence. Her body was found in Tullamore on January 12.
Since the training session, Queally wants more women to get into MMA gyms. It is an empowering sport that teaches discipline along with the fundamentals to break your opponent.
Outside of self-defense, women can build their confidence and become healthier through MMA.
āTo be honest, these self-defence classes are good, but what a girl should do really is just join a gym, and start learning how to defend herself. And not only will she be able to defend herself, in the rare, rare case that something happens, but also sheāll develop confidence, become physically fit and make friends,” Queally explained toDublin Live.
Not to mention, a gym community is a safe place to practice and broaden social skills. Many people are shy and timid when starting at a new gym, or anywhere, but as their skills develop so does their self-esteem.
āI think women would benefit from this as well. Taking out the danger in society of being attacked, just having a bit more confidence is always a good thing. And the social aspect of it is great as well when youāre just making new friends, and all this different stuff,” Queally continued.
2022 is already proving to be a good year for women’s growth in MMA. Canada began its very first all-women MMA league, the PAWFC, which saw its first live event on January 15. And, last November, MMA legend Cris Cyborg helped get the ball rolling on Africa’s first MMA Women’s Commission.
Peter Queally’s workshop success puts more spotlight on introducing women to the sport.
What are your thoughts on the increasing growth of women in mixed martial arts?
YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul claims he has the support of some UFC fighters regarding his recent diss track aimed at UFC President Dana White.
Paul continues to poke the bear when it comes to White and the issue of UFC fighter pay. He recently released a diss track aimed at the UFC headman regarding his treatment of the athletes.
During a recent interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Paul claimed that several anonymous UFC athletes have reached out to him following the diss track upload.
āThere are a lot of fighters, a lot of big fighters in the UFC who message me privately and say, āWe love this. This is hilarious. Keep on going. But I canāt support this publicly,’ā Paul said.
Paul went on to address his reasoning behind his public criticism of the UFC brass and whether or not he gets bummed out when hearing these fighters are unable to be more vocal about their support for him.
āNo, they have to put food on their familyās table. And like I said earlier, I happen to have a platform to be able to do this. So I accept the responsibility, and Iām going to do it. Iāve made that decision. Iām going to war, and Iām not backing down no matter what happens. And I donāt need the fighters in the UFC to support this,” Paul said.
Paul and his management are taking the fight directly to White and the UFC and have teased plans to create a potential fighter union in the future. This could potentially turn the tide and bring the controversy of fighter pay to the forefront.
Paul is coming off of the most successful year of his boxing career to date, with wins over former UFC fighters Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren. While Paul remains a massive part of boxing, he says he isn’t giving up in his fight for the fair treatment of MMA fighters.
Where do you stand on the Jake Paul-Dana White feud?
Fan favorite and always-game UFC star Dan Hooker has questioned why fighters who are “young and healthy” turn down bouts.
If there’s ever been a fighter down for anyone and everyone, it’s “The Hangman.” Hooker has never shied away from an opponent, from the thankless task of welcoming three-time Bellator champion Michael Chandler to the UFC to a short-notice clash with fear-inducing Dagestani phenom Islam Makhachev.
Allen is currently 8-0 in the UFC, a record that includes wins against Makwan Amirkhani, Nik Lentz, and Sodiq Yusuff, and is ranked #7 at 145 pounds. However, he is yet to breakthrough as one of the bigger names on the roster.
But while that may have led to his downfall at lightweight, for the time being at least, Hooker isn’t planning on changing his strategy.
During a recent interview with John Hyon Ko for The AllStar, the New Zealander said the idea of turning down fights is “unfathomable” to him at this point in his career. While he’s healthy and young, he sees no reason not to accept opponents.
“I get in the gym and I have fun. You’re doing all this training, young and fit, make hay while the sun is shining,” said Hooker. “If I’m healthy I’ll take a fight. Turning down a fight while you’re young and healthy is just unfathomable to me. That’s not something I comprehend. If you’re fit and healthy, you see (some) like, ‘Wait, wait, wait, wait.’
“Man, it’s such a small period of time that you have the opportunity to go out there and be young, and get after it, and really chase goals, and do things. So, I’m just making the most of that. I’m definitely making the most of that,” concluded Hooker.
Hooker’s Remarks Come After Gillespie Was Accused Of Turning Down Fights
Following his first setback in professional MMA, a brutal knockout loss to Kevin Lee in 2019, Gillespie didn’t enter the Octagon for nearly two years. He returned at UFC Vegas 26 last May and finished Brazilian veteran Carlos Diego Ferreira via second-round TKO.
But without a fight booked since, it appears it could be another year gap between fights yet again for the top-10 155lber. While the UFC has to offer its fighters three bouts a year, Gregor Gillespie has fought just twice across the past three years.
In the mind of former UFC star-turned-MMA analyst Chael Sonnen, Gillespieās inactivity is his own fault. “The American Bad Guy” recently revealed he’d heard talk of “The Gift” turning down multiple opportunities and instead attempting to hand-pick Tony Ferguson as his next foe.
While Sonnen provided little evidence, a callout late last year from Arman Tsarukyan provided some legitimacy to the claim. In an Instagram post, the Armenian-Russian suggested he’d accepted an offer to face Gillespie from the UFC. However, with him now set to face a different opponent, it stands to reason Gillespie turned it down.
Ranked heavyweight Tom Aspinall is about to make the biggest jump of his MMA career thus far.
Aspinall is scheduled to headline a UFC card for the first time in his career in March, facing Alexander Volkov at the O2 Arena in London, England. The fight is a huge opportunity for Aspinall, who has yet to lose through four fights in the UFC.
Aspinall has said before that he wants his UFC career to be a slow climb to the top. However, recent changes in his personal life have made him want to speed up the process and jump at the big chances he gets.
The heavyweight prospect recently described why this ā180ā degree turn to his planning when interviewed on The MMA Hour.
āOn every interview that Iāve ever done basically I say that I want to take it slow and I want to take my time and all that. And Iām just doing a 180 on everybody. And I understand why people might find that a little bit confusing, but you know thereās a lot of stuff going on in my personal life and stuff. A few close people recently have passed away. Not so much close people but people that Iāve grown up with and stuff,ā said Aspinall. āAnd I just kind of realized, you know what, you get to live this life one time. Iāve been a fan of Alexander Volkov since he was in Bellator since he was Bellator champ, and you know, mate you donāt get these opportunities every day.ā
Aspinall joined the UFC roster just as the COVID-19 pandemic started to change how they operate. Because of this, his four-fight run with the promotion has taken place exclusively in studio settings.
That will change in his upcoming main event fight, as his bout against Volkov will be live in front of thousands in attendance. Aspinall was first set to make his UFC debut in London two years ago against Raphael Pessoa. However, COVID-19 forced that event as a whole to get thrown out. Two years later, Aspinall feels like the stars have aligned for him.
āIāve never fought in front of a UFC crowd before. I was supposed to fight in London two years ago when the show got canceled. And I just feel like it’s meant to be. It’s come full circle. They offered it [to] me and I just jumped on it, man.ā
While his position in the GOAT debate, both at welterweight and across all divisions, is up for debate, not many could build a solid case to dispute Usman’s status as P4P number one.
Since dominantly dethroning Tyron Woodley in 2019, the Nigerian-born star has gone on to defend the belt against Colby Covington, twice, Jorge Masvidal, twice, and Gilbert Burns.
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Having defeated the majority of top contenders before, and being set to continue his second lap around them in his next defense, expected to be versus Leon Edwards, Usman has considered pursuing success in other pastures and proving his P4P dominance.
āI was going to skip Israel (Adesanya) and go fight Jan at 205 (pounds),ā Usman said. āBecause Iām pound-for-pound, I want to prove it. No matter what weight it is, I thought he was a really good matchup for me.ā
While he didn’t write off the welterweight titleholder’s chances, the Czech knockout artist was surprised to hear Usman’s confidence of how a matchup with Blachowicz would go and suggested his speed and power wouldn’t translate well to light heavyweight.
“Man, Kamaru Usman? Woah. He will be the big challenge,” said ProchĆ”zka. “I don’t want to think about Kamaru Usman as an opponent right now, but I think he will be not so quick in our division, and the power, too, will be not on the same level like in our weight. He’s two weights under us, yes? Yeah, so that will be the challenge for him and a little problem.
“He will beat Jan, that’s what he said? Adesanya didn’t beat Jan, and he thinks he will do that?” ProchĆ”zka added. “That’s a big and strong word, man. I’m not in his position; he defended in his weight many times and he proved he is a very big name in the fights, but this is very strong.”
ProchƔzka May Become Champion Before An Usman Arrival
While he’s not interested in considering a potential clash with Usman down the line just yet, JiÅĆ ProchĆ”zka may be in a position to do so if he emerges triumphant in his next Octagon outing.
Since arriving in the UFC in 2020, ProchƔzka has lived up to his reputation; knockouts, elbows, crazy striking, and more knockouts.
While a victory will likely lead to a grudge match with Aleksandar RakiÄ or a bout with former champ Blachowicz, ProchĆ”zka may also have Usman’s name on his mind moving forward.
Should both men continue their winning ways in the promotion, and should Usman and Adesanya’s reluctance to fight remain, perhaps “The Nigerian Nightmare” will be forced to climb to light heavyweight in order to find two-division success.
If he does so, “Denisa” may be waiting…
How do you think Kamaru Usman would fare against JiÅĆ ProchĆ”zka at light heavyweight?
Claressa Shields has opened up on her recent comments about never wanting to appear on a Jake Paul undercard.
Shields and Paul have taken shots at one another ever since “The Problem Child” entered boxing. She also criticized any boxer for appearing on his undercard. But recently, it was revealed throughĀ a report in USA Today Sports that Shields’ representatives reached out to see if she can be on the same card as Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr., and Jake Paul vs. Nate Robinson.
“First of all, this isn’t aboutĀ Jake Paul, this is about Claressa Shields and Ema Kozin,” she explained at a press conference to promote her fight (via Mirror). “As it was said, I don’t email about this stuff – I have a manager and I have a promoter, their job is to make opportunities for me. What you need to know is I was supposed to be on a Mike Tyson and Roy Jones undercard, not ever under Jake Paul – let’s get that clear. I don’t know what the emails said, and I really don’t care, but we’re not going to talk about that and give him the shine of this press conference.”
Jake Paul, Claressa Shields (Image Credits: Mike Ehrmann/Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Shields does make a good point that Tyson-Jones Jr. was the main event so she wouldn’t have been on a Jake Paul undercard as Paul’s management claimed, even though Paul was on the card. Shields even threatened to sue Paul’s management for suggesting she requested to be on a Jake Paul card.
Claressa Shields later added that she was done talking about the subject and is only focusing on her title fight and remaining undefeated in boxing.
“This is about me, this is about Ema, this is about world titles, this is about elite boxers,” Shields later added. “I’m just going to leave that there. Dmitry [her promoter, who was on the call] doesn’t even need to speak on it, managers do their job, promoters do their job and fighters train to get ready for our fights.”
What do you make of these new comments from Claressa Shields?
UFC is targeting a high-level bantamweight bout for their May 21 main event.
The promotion is in the process of making a fight between Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira, per a report from Ariel Helwani. The fight is being lined up to headline a āFight Nightā card in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
The fight gives Vieira the chance to make another big move up the bantamweight division. While currently seated at #5 in the official UFC rankings, she is being paired against Holm, who is #2 at the moment.
Vieira picked up a big win in November, going five rounds to defeat former UFC Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate via unanimous decision. The bout stopped the climb of returning contender Tate, who was appearing for the second time since coming out of retirement.
The fight put Vieira back into the win column after suffering a loss earlier in the year to Yana Kunitskaya. It was also her debut in the main event spot of a UFC card.
Six months after Vieiraās last win over a former champ, she will get the opportunity to beat another.
Holly Holm Returning From Absence
Getty Images
Holly Holmās next appearance will mark her return to the cage, as she has been out of competition since October 2020. She was booked for two appearances in 2021, although both fell through due to suffering injuries.
Holm returns with some momentum, as she previously scored two victories in 2020. She started the year off with a win over Raquel Pennington. She later returned to go five rounds against Irene Aldana for a unanimous decision victory.
As previously mentioned, Vieira is only making her second headlining appearance. The same cannot be said for Holm, who has appeared in eight previous UFC main events.
Who do you see winning in a fight between Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira?
Kamaru Usman experienced a financial nightmare early in his career when he handed $60,000 to an “attractive” scammer.
As a novice investor, Usman trusted in his friend who brought his attention to the woman who would come to scam him out of his money. One minute he had the $60k in his hands, next it was gone to never be seen again.
āEverything I always heard, āYeah, you gotta put money in the market. You gotta invest in this; invest, invest.ā Iām like, āAlright.ā I didnāt really know what I was doing. So, a friend introduced me to some lady who invests for you. So, she approaches me. We have a conversation. We talk. She was attractive. Of course, nothing happened on that front. But she was attractive. So, it was very easy to be distracted. Give her about almost $60,000; havenāt seen that money since.
“Yeah. I donāt think I did my due diligence as far as the homework and the research behind this person. Gave her about 60 bands, and [the money] just flew away,ā Kamaru Usman told GQsports (h/t Mirror.)
Thankfully, the UFC Welterweight Champion has an exemplary fight IQ and was able to make the $60k back plus more throughout his career.
Since then, Usman has made millions and fortunately smarter investment decisions. He would go on to invest another $30,000 of his well-earned cash, which he reports has seen a positive return.
Kamaru Usman, Photo Credit: Getty Images
Kamaru Usman continues to dominate the welterweight division.
In 2019, Usman took out Tyron Woodley for the belt at UFC 235 and became the first African-born UFC champion.
And he continues to reign victorious. The UFC star made 2021 his year with three major wins. He defeated Gilbert Burns by 3rd round TKO, got a clean KO against BMF titleholder Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261, and finished the year with a unanimous win in the Colby Covington rematch.
As he remains undefeated in his UFC career, it is clear why “The Nigerian Nightmare” is the pound-for-pound king and why he wears the champion belt.
As with investing, Kamaru Usman learned from that setback and made smarter decisions from then on inside and outside of the Octagon.
MMA legend Randy Couture believes it will take the work of champions and stars like Francis Ngannou to make an impact in the fight for improved remuneration and contracts in the UFC.
At the promotion’s first pay-per-view of 2022, Ngannou made a statement in about as many ways as he could.
The Cameroonian’s UFC 270 clash with Ciryl Gane represented the last on his deal. While a win would grant him leverage and a strong standing in negotiations, a defeat could have signaled his last appearance in the Octagon.
Under that immense pressure, “The Predator” thrived. After a slow opening two rounds on the feet, Ngannou capitalized on the opportunity to incorporate his wrestling. When he found success in that realm, it was essentially all she wrote.
After controlling the final three frames, the heavyweight champ secured undisputed status and set in motion what will undoubtedly be an uncertain immediate future for him, but, crucially, one where he appears to have the upper hand.
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Couture Believes Ngannou & Co. Have An Important Role
One man who has praised Ngannou’s quest for contractual change is former three-time UFC heavyweight champion and two-time light heavyweight titleholder Randy Couture.
During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, “The Natural,” who was once in a similar position to Ngannou, lauded “The Predator” for using his voice to push for what is “right,” despite what he believes to be an inevitable court battle with the promotion looming down the line.
“I think, at the end of the day, Francis is a fighter. He wants to fight,” said Couture. “Here he is, at the top of the heap, pound-for-pound one of the best fighters in the world, certainly in the heavyweight division. I don’t think he wants to get involved in all this legal crap, but at the end of the day, right is right, and he’s willing to stand up and use his voice. I don’t see him giving in.
“It’s gonna be interesting how it plays out,” added Couture. “They’re gonna drag him to court and try to get him to spend as much money as they can get him to spend, and put that pressure on him that way, and get him to fold, get him to give it up and just go back to fighting. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out.”
The focus from fighter pay critics seems to be split. While some slam the UFC for paying the champion $600,000 whilst boxing heavyweights rake in millions, others focus on the lowest take-home sums on UFC cards, which feature some walking away with as little as $12,000.
Whilst acknowledging that a united front across all realms will be important, Couture believes it’s crucial that top stars like Ngannou lead the charge.
“It takes guys like Francis, those top-tier guys that have the potential to make those six-figure contracts in fighting. There aren’t very many of them. But if those guys are willing to put that on the line to change the sport, and we unite as a group of fighters, and developed and demand these minimum criteria, then I think the sport changes and for the better,” concluded Couture.
Francis Ngannou revealed the UFC threatened to sue him for alleged talks with Jake Paul's team…
The distractions Ngannou faced leading into a huge title fight made the win even more impressive. pic.twitter.com/B2mltWFTn2
While tensions already appeared high prior to Ngannou’s unification showdown with Gane, subsequent actions and revelations, including Dana White’s post-fight absences and news of legal threats sent to the champ’s team prior to the main event, have increased attention and focus on the dispute tenfold.
With neither party appearing to back down, it’ll be interesting to see which path this contractual dispute heads down in the coming weeks and months.
Do you agree with Randy Couture? Will it take the likes of Francis Ngannou standing up to the UFC to force change?
Dana White has a reason as to why Logan Paul allegedly hasn’t been paid by Floyd Mayweather for their exhibition out.
Paul recently came out and claimed he is still waiting to be paid by Mayweather for their June exhibition boxing bout. It was a very high-profile match that did very well on pay-per-view, but the YouTuber claims he hasn’t been paid. For White, he has a theory as to why Mayweather is keeping the money.
“You do these fights that are exhibitions or whatever, the commission isn’t overseeing it. Let’s say I did a fight with Mike [Tyson], I’ve got Mike fighting Francis or something, the athletic commission gets the money upfront, so they pay the fighters, they don’t have to wait.
Floyd Mayweather & Logan Paul (Photo: The Independent)
“That was the big problem in the past is that these boxing promoters would come in and they wouldn’t make as much money as they thought they were going to do,” White continued. “So they would stiff the fighters and not pay the guys and that’s why these regulations are in place in these different states. And that’s why, I don’t want to s*** on any of the other states, but you want to fight in like Nevada or California, the guys that have a strong athletic commission.”
Whether or not what Dana White is saying is true or not is uncertain. However, he does know a lot from running the UFC so it could be the case.
In their June fight, Logan Paul did better than expected and went all eight rounds with Floyd Mayweather. However, due to it being an exhibition no winner was announced.
What do you make of Dana White’s reason as to why Floyd Mayweather hasn’t paid Logan Paul?
Curtis Blaydes is looking for a dance partner in Ciryl Gane.
The UFC heavyweight division is really heating up. Champion Francis Ngannou is coming off a big title defense win over Ciryl Gane. He has been in contract negotiations with the UFC and will now need surgery.
These factors make his immediate future in the division unclear. If for some reason the UFC finds itself in need of another interim title or champion, it would be a good idea for the other top heavyweights to start marking their territory. That just might be what Curtis Blaydes is trying to do.
Blaydes took to social media in hopes of securing himself a match with the former challenger and interim titleholder Ciryl Gane.
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“This has to be the next logical matchup for the both of us @ufc #makessense #dancepartner #heavyweight #contenders,” Blaydes wrote.
Blaydes last fought back in September. He defeated Jairzinho Rozenstruik by unanimous decision and slipped himself into the number four spot in the rankings. The only men ahead of him are Derrick Lewis, Stipe Miocic, and Gane.
Blaydes suffered a loss by Lewis recently, and Miocic seems to be holding firm for a title shot. His calling for Gane is a great idea, especially while the division is in a sort of holding pattern.
If Blaydes can get a win over Gane, he would put himself in a great position. However, there are a few curveballs that could be awaiting the division.
If Ngannou sits out and the UFC does not do anything to strip him, then the top five might just have to fight amongst themselves to see who will be the contender when Ngannou returns. Also, Jon Jones is supposedly making his heavyweight debut soon but will most likely only do so for a title shot.
Either way, a win over Gane puts Blaydes exactly where he needs to be in order to get a title shot when his number is called. He just needs Gane to accept first.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has revealed what it would take for him to agree to a rescheduled boxing match with professional pugilist Tommy Fury.
From fighting fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib to challenging a former UFC champion, Paul’s venture into the combat sports realm has certainly picked up in recent months, both in terms of prominence and competition.
In his third professional fight last April, “The Problem Child” knocked out former ONE and Bellator welterweight titleholder Ben Askren. In another step-up four months later, Paul defeated former 170-pound UFC king Tyron Woodley on the scorecards.
With two victories over MMA fighters, Paul’s next test was set to see him stand face-to-face with a pro boxer for the first time. That collapsed when his scheduled December foe, the younger half-brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, withdrew due to injury.
In his place on short notice stepped in Woodley. While “The Chosen One” targeted redemption and revenge, he was instead left with a second consecutive loss to Paul and, courtesy of a brutal right hand, likely a headache…
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Paul Reveals The Fury Fight Isn’t Dead In The Water Just Yet
Since extending his record in the ring to 5-0, talk has turned to who could be the next man attempting to get rid of Jake Paul’s 0. One man who has consistently held his hand aloft is Tommy Fury.
But while Paul has previously appeared to hold no interest in re-booking his meeting in the squared circle with the Manchester native, he has now sprinkled some hope onto the matchup.
During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Paul suggested he’d be down to face Fury if he fights and defeats former opponent Woodley first.
āI sort of want him to fight Tyron Woodley and see what happens there,” said Paul. “Because I think Tyron would knock Tommy out. And so I almost wanna have them fight. Because Tommy, people only know him because of me. And so I want him to like, go get some of your own fans, or clout, or go do some other thing, and then maybe we could run it back after that.ā
Given his aspirations to climb the boxing ranks and become a champion, it remains to be seen if Fury will choose to delay those ambitions for two fights against a former UFC titleholder and a YouTuber-turned-boxer.
How do you think a boxing match between Tyron Woodley and Tommy Fury would play out?
Ali Abdelaziz has suggested the rumored fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns is much more “meaningful” for the welterweight division than the UFC 272 main event grudge match between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal.
After the withdrawal of Max Holloway saw some re-shuffling for the third and fourth pay-per-views of the year, UFC 272 was left without its originally scheduled bantamweight and featherweight title fights, and in need of a new headliner.
What better replacement than two former friends and teammates-turned bitter rivals hashing out their differences for five rounds?
During an interview with MMA Junkie, Abdelaziz, a renowned MMA manager, suggested that given both men are 0-2 against reigning champion Kamaru Usman, the UFC 272 main event lacks any real stakes in the context of the division. Instead, he believes one of his clients’ rumored next fight is the one to watch for at welterweight.
Talk of a fight between rising star Chimaev and #2-ranked contender Burns has existed for a while now and has certainly intensified in recent weeks. Abdelaziz, who manages “Durinho” and used to work with “Borz,” believes that matchup is much more meaningful than the March PPV main event.
“Listen, it doesn’t matter who Gilbert is gonna fight next. Gilbert, this is what he’s built for, he likes to fight. It can be anybody, Gilbert’s gonna put his hand up… If it’s Khamzat, Gilbert’s gonna fight Khamzat,” said Abdelaziz. “Great fight, I think it’s a great fight; one of the best. This is a meaningful fight. They’ve got the Masvidal and Colby (fight), I don’t think it’s a meaningful fight. I think Khamzat and Gilbert is a meaningful fight. Whoever wins can fight for the title. You’ve got the other two guys, they’re 0-2 against the champion.
“I think (Chimaev vs. Burns) is a meaningful fight for the division,” added Abdelaziz. “Gilbert is a very good test. Gilbert (was) very close to becoming a champion. He’s the only guy to ever come close to even wobbling Kamaru or punching him… But I think if this fight happens, Gilbert is in. And I know Khamzat is probably in, too. Now it’s up to the UFC. They have to pull the trigger and make this fight happen.”
Chimaev & Burns Seemingly Agreed To UFC 273 Clash
Reports suggesting the UFC was targeting Chimaev’s fifth Octagon outing to be against Burns first emerged towards the back end of last year. While they initially pointed towards a January clash, talk seemed to disappear for a number of weeks, leading many to believe the promotion had gone in a different direction.
But earlier this month, both the Brazilian and the Chechen-born Swede showed that the possibility of their booking was alive and well.
In a story posted to Instagram by Chimaev, private messages exchanged between the two welterweight contenders appeared to show them agreeing to a fight on April 9, a date slated to host the UFC 273 pay-per-view.
Gustafsson will make his heavyweight return after nearly two years away from the sport. He lost fought against former heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum at UFC Fight Island 3 via first-round submission.
Gustafsson announced his retirement from MMA following back-to-back losses at light heavyweight against Jon Jones and Anthony Smith. He quickly walked back on his previous retirement plans for a move to heavyweight.
Rothwell has won three of his last five fights but most recently got knocked out by Marcos Rogerio de Lima at UFC Vegas 42. Before that, he had picked up impressive wins over the likes of Stefan Struve and Ovince St. Preux.
Gustafsson made his UFC debut at light heavyweight at UFC 105, earning a first-round knockout over Jared Hamman. He would go on a run of six-straight wins before a controversial loss to Jones at UFC 165 for the 205-pound belt.
Despite the setback, Gustafsson remained in the light heavyweight title picture and would eventually earn a rematch with Jones at UFC 232. This time, it was a less competitive fight as Jones finished him in the third round.
It’s unclear how many fights Gustafsson has on his current UFC contract, but he’s looking to potentially earn one last run at a UFC title before his career comes to a close. As for Rothwell, he’s looking to prove that he remains a dangerous contender in the division.
What are your thoughts on Alexander Gustafsson vs. Ben Rothwell?
Renowned MMA journalist Ariel Helwani recently looked back on his “beef” with Donald Cerrone, suggesting it has certainly been squashed on his side.
Throughout his rise from budding journalist to one of the most well-known names in the world of MMA media, Helwani has clashed with a host of individuals. From recent interactions with Brendan Schaub and Dillon Danis to a feud with UFC President Dana White, one which led to him being stripped of his UFC press credentials, the Canadian has had a prominent presence in the sport, even beyond his coverage of it.
One other name Helwani has got on the wrong side of is veteran “Cowboy” Cerrone. The incident that sparked animosity occurred at the start of 2019, almost a year prior to the welterweight’s main event clash with Conor McGregor.
At the time, the fight was only rumored. But while the Colorado native had made his desire to face the Irishman known, Helwani wanted to see more fire in his eyes and more of the “old Cowboy.”
During an interview with Chael Sonnen, Cerrone took exception to Helwani’s comments. In a profanity-ridden rant, “Cowboy” unloaded on the reporter, threatening to “fuck him up.”
“You know what else I wanna tell you? When you fucking run into Ariel again, you can just backhand that little bitch for me. If he ever talks about me again, I’m gonna fuck him up, for real… I just saw the little piece that somebody sent me with him talking… motherfucker if you wanna see fire in my eyes bitch, I’ll fucking show you next time I see you… Who the fuck are you behind your microphone motherfucker. Get in there and do something with your life… Next time Ariel wants to have me as a guest, fuck you pussy, you’re dead to me.”
Now three years on from the incident, Helwani has addressed where his relationship with Cerrone currently sits. During a recent episode of The MMA Hour, the Canadian reporter was asked whether the beef has been squashed. In response, Helwani gave a run-down of how his comments about “Cowboy” had been misinterpreted.
“Does he have beef with me still? Maybe, but I haven’t reached out to him. Do I have beef with him? No. Cowboy got mad at me because I said something before, I think it was the Conor fight, no, he was trying to get the Conor fight, and I was saying like, ‘Where’s the old Cowboy? We need the old Cowboy.’ I was basically trying to do the promo that Vince McMahon gave Stone Cold Steve Austin during the invasion in 2001, where he’s like, ‘We need the old Stone Cold! We need the old…’ And I was trying to do that. He looked at it the wrong way and got really mad and said some things.”
Helwani added that while he certainly has no animosity towards the UFC legend and believes the beef has been squashed on his side, he doesn’t know if the same can be said for Cerrone.
“I saw him in Chicago. I went up to him and he didn’t wanna talk to me, so, no beef here. Does he have beef? I don’t know. In my mind, it’s squashed. Life’s too short for this nonsense. Come on.”
I donāt think Cerrone landed a punch. Maybe one. That couldnāt have gone any better for McGregor.
In the months after Cerrone and Helwani’s feud, a fight between the American and McGregor was announced, and the pair headlined UFC 246 in January 2020. While Helwani called for the old Cerrone pre-fight, he was likely left wanting the old Cerrone post-fight.
If Kevin Holland taught MMA fans anything recently, it’s don’t challenge professional fighters on the mats. But if there’s one person who goes against the grain and does what others warn against, it’s Steve-O.
From swimming in shark-infested waters with a hook in his mouth and wearing a jellyfish on his head like a sombrero to sending fireworks shooting out of his backside and being flung in the air like a yo-yo inside a portable toilet (don’t google this one, you’ve been warned), the Jackass star performs stunts and enters situations that would never end well for him.
We can also add ‘grappled a former UFC champion’ to that list.
In a 2020 video recently uploaded to Instagram by the Jackson Wink MMA gym, the 47-year-old can be seen grappling with former UFC women’s bantamweight champion and current #2-ranked 135-pound contender Holly Holm.
In a matter of seconds, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt drags Steve-O down with ease, takes his back, flattens him out, and sinks in a rear-naked choke.
Are we sure there’s no time to add this as a scene in the upcoming Jackass Forever film?
In a scene in the latest installment of the fan-favorite TV and film series, “The Predator,” who boasts the hardest recorded punch in history, delivered a shot flush to the gentleman’s area of “Danger” Ehren McGhehey.
For fans, specifically male ones, nothing is more painful to see in an MMA contest than a kick, knee, or punch to the cup. What’s that I hear you say? What could be worse?
How about a clean, fully-loaded shot to the crown jewels from a man capable of sleeping anybody on the planet with as much as a graze?
With another Jackass star falling at the hands of a UFC fighter, the question is, who’s next? How about a Brazilian jiu-jitsu match between Johnny Knoxville and Mackenzie Dern?
Who had it worse, Steve-O against Holly Holm or “Danger” Ehren against Francis Ngannou?
Jake Paul believes Dana White’s non-response to his diss track released last week had nothing to do with the cease-fire the UFC President recently declared.
Jake Paul vs. Dana White beef? That’s so 2021. At least that’s what Dana White pretty much said last month when he vowed never to speak of Paul again. But ever since White laid down his verbal weapons, Paul has only reloaded in his continued onslaught of White and his business practices.
The kill shot from the YouTuber came last week with the release of a Dana White diss track, which featured Paul raising the usual themes of UFC fighter pay, their absence of healthcare, and what he deems to be the promotion’s unethical business practices as depicted by a spoofed version of White.
In an appearance on The MMA Hour, Paul shared his theory on the real reason the world hasn’t heard any response from White in recent days.
āI think he learned his lesson when he responded a couple of weeks ago while I was on vacation,” Paul said. “He responded with his little selfie video where he was rabid as a crab and clearly pissed off. First of all, it brought more attention to everything, and then he made himself look really stupid. And I think he is now being advised to just not respond.ā
The video Paul is referencing is a social media post by White where he accused the YouTuber of refusing to respond to his challenge to get steroid tested for 2 years in return for cocaine testing White for 10 years.
Paul would then respond with a video of his own where he blasted White and called on the UFC boss to accept his terms: White could drug test him all he wants through USADA and Paul would retire from boxing altogether to fight in the UFC if White improved fighter pay and benefits.
Jorge Masvidal, Credit: Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
White wasn’t the only target in Paul’s diss track. Another person referenced was Jorge Masvidal, whom Paul has butted heads with as of late. He, too, has been rendered silent by the unreturnable heat discharged with the YouTuber’s bars, says Paul.
āAnd it silenced everyone,” Paul said of the song. “What could they say? The first line is, āFirst of all, Masvidal, you aināt rich; 50 fights for 5 mill that aināt shit.’ Like, whatās he gonna say? What can anybody say? I think it shut people up, and thereās a lot of important messages in there, and it spoke for itself.ā
Jake Paul does not currently have a fight booked. He most recently knocked out Tyron Woodley last December on pay-per-view.
Should Dana White, Jorge Masvidal, or anyone else targeted in Jake Paul’s diss track respond, we’ll be sure to bring you the dirt right here on MMANews.com.
Deiveson Figueiredoās team has an interest in a fourth fight against Brandon Moreno.
At UFC 270, Figueiredo regained the UFC flyweight championship with a decision victory over Moreno. That bout was their third time meeting in the cage since they first got paired up in late 2020.
After three meetings, a fourth one might be in the future. Figueiredo and his manager, Wallid Ismail, spoke about the possibility of a fourth fight recently. When weighing what would be next for his client, Ismail said whatever matchup makes the most money is their priority.
When putting those priorities first, Moreno remained as the optimal opponent for Figueiredo.
āThis is what he said. He wants to sell a lot of pay-per-views. He wants to show the world to respect the flyweight division,ā said Ismail on The MMA Hour. āHe wants somebody who knows how to sell, knows how to talk. This is what he keeps saying all the time: who sells better [is] going to be my opponent ā¦ Personally, I think the [next] fight is Moreno because no fight is going to sell more [than] that.ā
Figueiredo’s Manager: He Deserves āHistoricā Pay For Next Fight
Ismail believes that a potential fourth fight between Figueiredo and Moreno should give them bigger paydays.
āIf UFC want to do something historic, letās go pay historic money for [the] flyweight division,ā said Ismail.
For reference, Figueiredo was paid a flat rate of $150,000 for his appearance at UFC 270. Moreno, the champion heading into the fight, was given $200,000. Their previous meeting, which took place at UFC 263, saw Figueiredo reportedly take home $210,000.
When asked on The MMA Hour how much he would want for his next fight, Figueiredo suggested $1 million.
Would you be interested in seeing Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno for the fourth time?
“If this is the end, man, I’m happy. From where I came from, I have done a lot. Some people might not see that. But I have done it, and I am very happy about that. I’m proud of myself man. That might be my ego, but I’m proud of myself and of what I have achieved. I don’t want all this to like, take what I have, or to change me and my principles. My principle is still the same as day one,” Ngannou said.
Agreeably, the French-Cameroonian has much to be proud of and thankful for.
His journey began with very humble beginnings. Overcoming poverty, child labor, homelessness, and maintaining his determination to win through it all is a story that needs to be told.
A young Francis Ngannou, Photo Credit: FrancisNgannou.com
He worked in the sand mines at age 9 with his 11-year-old brother.
At age 25, Ngannou arrived in Paris by boat and headed straight to the gym. He had no money or possessions, just a dream–to become a world champion.
A stairwell in a parking lot was his home for two months until boxing coach, Didier Carmont, gave him the keys to an apartment. Carmont would prove to be a great friend and mentor to the future champion.
The way Francis was determined it is as if he knew he was destined for great things.
As a child, he called himself “American Boy” and had aspirations to become a citizen of the United States. And he achieved that dream through mixed martial arts.
It is truly inspiring to see someone with a deprived past create such a bright future for himself.
A True MMA King
Francis Ngannou showcased his many talents against “Bon Gamin” Ciryl Gane at UFC 270.
Just when you think Francis’ knockout ability is his sole power, he shocks the world with impeccable grappling skills. During the match, Ngannou lifted his 247 lb opponent and dropped him on more than one occasion.
Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane, Photo Credit: Zuffa LLC
Boxing was always the goal for Ngannou. When he arrived in Paris in 2013, he had zero knowledge of mixed martial arts. Carmont explained to him the gist of MMA and did some convincing to get Ngannou to consider the sport.
Fast forward to nine years later and he is the defending UFC heavyweight champion. Ngannou’s boxing, power, and added grappling make him a dangerous opponent in the cage.
Only three losses in his career, the hardest-hitting heavyweight knockout artist, a six-fight win streak, and a heavyweight champion title defender against a formerly 10-0 undefeated prospect: The man is a legend.
New Possibilities For Ngannou
Post-UFC 270, his first title defense, another heavyweight champion showed interest in a possible matchup.
Francis Ngannou’s original dream to become a world champion involved boxing. He grew up appreciating Mike Tyson and aspired to be like him. Thus, an opportunity to fight a boxing heavyweight champion must intrigue the knockout artist.
With or without the UFC, after his incredible win against Ciryl Gane, there is no way we have seen the last of Francis Ngannou, wherever that may be.
What do you wish to see happen next in Francis Ngannou’s combat sports journey?
Logan Paul accepted a callout from Brazilian comedian-turned-boxer, Whindersson Nunes.
Logan Paul is currently 0-1 in his professional boxing career after losing to YouTuber/rapper KSI in 2019. Since his exhibition bout against undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather in June 2021, Paul has yet to be seen in the ring.
After Nunes fought to a draw against former boxing champion Acelino Freitas, he called out the 26-year-old social media personality during the post-fight interview.
Soon after, Logan responded on Twitter in Portuguese. He is open to the fight but wants Nunes to keep in the gym.
āDear Whindersson. I accept your challenge. Keep training,ā Paul tweeted.
Like Paul, Nunes is an internet sensation.
At age 27, the Brazilian Youtube sensation has over 43 million subscribers on his Youtube channel. And in 2016, he was the most subscribed Brazilian Youtuber.
In addition to his comedy, Whindersson is a singer with music across many platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.
Similarly, Logan has a music career and millions of subscribers on his Youtube.
The two almost mirror each other on the internet, but Nunes has something the Paul brother does not. In 2019, Nunes won his amateur bout against Mario Silva. In contrast, Logan has yet to see a victory in his boxing career.
With agreeance on both sides, this is an opportunity for Logan to try to get a W on his record and a chance for Whindersson to gain a victory as a professional.
Currently, it is unclear if Paul and Nunes will actually go head-to-head, but MMA News will keep you posted if this bout is made official.
What do you think of Whindersson Nunes potentially being Logan Paul’s next opponent?
Jeremy Stephens has explained his recent move from the UFC to PFL.
News broke Monday that Stephens will join the 2022 PFL season, competing in their lightweight division. This comes after an incredibly extensive UFC run that lasted longer than a decade.
Due to the surprising news of Stephensā signing, many might have questions as to why the veteran made this move. According to Stephens himself, he claims that the move was due to how he was treated by some in the UFC. While he states his relationship with UFC President Dana White was fine, he vaguely suggested that others didnāt treat him how he wanted.
Stephens spoke about the change in a recent appearance on The MMA Hour.
āI just felt like after the certain situation with the push with Drakkar [Klose], a lot of people wanna blame Dana [White], Dana loves me. We have a good relationship. Thereās other people in power that I feel like were icing me out, not really trying to fight me? It is what it is, kinda didnāt go that way,ā said Stephens.
āWhatād you want me to say, could you have gotten me another fight, I was calling out Donald Cerrone [and] Michael Johnson was calling me out. I was calling for potential matchups in Jim Miller, Clay Guida, Iām like give me one of these guys. I still have legs, longevity the way I go out Iām still here. Iām just in a different organization now and thatās where I wanna go.
Stephens Hopes For More Fights In PFL
Image Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Stephens is hopeful about his PFL run, as he sees the promotion as a place where he can get what he wants. Among those wants is having a more active fight schedule.
āI want to go where Iām respected, where Iām gonna go in, get an opportunity and a chance and pull myself up from these losses. I canāt do that by fighting once a year and getting iced out. Itās like bro, I fight beast after beast. All Iām looking for is an opportunity and that opportunity came to PFL.ā
As for his first PFL opponent, Stephens isnāt sure yet. He said his promotional debut could be in April. That’s the same month that the PFL is set to kick off their 2022 season.
āYou know, Iām thinking end of April. I think thereās something going on. I’d like to say end of April, I donāt have a date or none of that, just stay tuned and thanks for the love.ā
Are you looking forward to Jeremy Stephens fighting in the PFL?
Court “The Crusher” McGee delivered a tearful message to those who struggle with drug addiction after a unanimous win at UFC Vegas 46.
With over a decade of sobriety, the American fighter is an inspiration to anyone dealing with drug abuse. Many people struggle with it or know someone who does. The disease has taken the lives of many and has changed the lives of those who won against it.
āOh man, youāre gonna make me tear up bro. (Tears up.) Great question, no. I didnāt give myself a shot, but the people around me believed in me, and the people that donāt have access to the recovery that I had access to, thatās who I fight forāto show them that itās possible, that recovery is possible, and that sobriety is possible, and that you can achieve incredible things one day at a time without a drink or drug.ā
Drug addiction is a crippling mental illness. The stigma surrounding drug abuse is enough reason for most to keep quiet about their inner struggles with it.
And fighting the battle alone can make it even more difficult. McGee was fortunate to have a great support system and took advantage of it.
“I had a great family. I have great, wonderful parents that are not alcoholic, I have support, I was never neglected, thereās no abuse, and I fell victim to it because I have the disease of addiction and thereās thousands and thousands if not millions of people that struggle with addiction daily in the United States, and so, that message of overcoming adversity, my life story, from homelessness, to heroin addiction, to overcoming that adversity, surrounding myself around people in long-term recovery, and then fighting at a local circuit, making it through the juvenile system, getting expunged, building relationships with my attorney general, Shawn Reyes whoās a close friend of mine[…]”
The UFC fighter created an outlet called MCGeeproject.org for anyone to reach out if they are interested in his motivational speeches. His one message is that recovery is always possible.
Overcome and Inspire
After two recent wins in the UFC, welterweight contender Court McGee continues to show progress.
McGee has struggled, yet conquered, and at 37-years-old, he has established a 22-10 professional record.
Court McGee, Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale, USA Today Sports
Other UFC fighters have also courageously spoken up about their battle with drug addiction.
“Boston Strong” Charles Rosa, who fought along with McGee on the preliminary card at UFC Vegas 46, was once a victim of drug addiction and lost both his brothers to the mental illness.
Charles Rosa, Photo Credit: UFC
Mixed martial arts gave Rosa a home. His brothers were his fighting role models, and whenever the featherweight gets in the cage, he gives his all for them.
Lightweight Terrance Mckinney once overdosed and often reminds his fans about the fatal moment via Twitter:
“5 years ago I overdosed and died (twice), 2 years ago I made it to UFC Contender Series and lost, but 3 weeks ago I made my debut and set a record. Don’t let mistakes and losses define you. Every day is a new chance to do better than you were,” reads the 27-year-old’s pinned tweet.
Terrance McKinney, Photo Credit: MMA Junkie USA Today SPorts
That record-setting debut stopped the show in 7 seconds of round 1 at UFC 263 last June.
But a win in the UFC cannot outweigh helping someone who is losing the battle against drug addiction.
When asked about the importance of making a difference versus getting a UFC title, McGee said:
āMan, nine years ago, maybe 10 years ago, I spoke with my first high school and I had a young kid come up to me struggling with addictionāthat kidās married, he worked on an Air-Force base, he had a little baby, and he keeps in touch with me. And as soon as that happened and he came forward and asked for help, I had already won[…]”
Sometimes, the mission is not always winning the gold. Of course, McGee wants to be the best fighter he can be, but taking a moment to inspire those around him appears to give him a purpose.
What are your thoughts on Court McGee’s inspiring story?
UFC welterweight Stephen Thompson doesn’t think it would be a good idea if Francis Ngannou parted ways with the UFC for a Tyson Fury fight.
Ngannou defeated Ciryl Gane in his first heavyweight title defense at UFC 270. After some early struggles in the fight, Ngannou was able to gain momentum with his grappling and coast to a unanimous decision win.
Ngannou has been at odds with the UFC brass over an ongoing contract dispute and has requested more leniency and freedom. More specifically, he wants to explore a potential boxing match against Fury shortly, after the two of them have gone back-and-forth on social media.
During a recent interview with MiddleEasy, Thompson explained why Ngannou should think twice before considering leaving his MMA home for a fight in the boxing ring.
“That’s one of the things with the UFC,” Thompson said. “[Ngannou’s] the baddest man on the planet. He is the biggest and baddest dude on the planet at this point, especially in MMA. And making, what they say he made, $600,000 or something like that? And you got other heavyweights in the boxing industry making $30 million, so I kind of see why he’s a little upset.
“But, this isn’t boxingā¦ If he’s not with the UFC, what’s he gonna do? Have that one fight with Tyson Fury and that’s it? Is he gonna go to heavyweight boxing? I think that would be a mistake for him, to be honest with you.”
Ngannou’s relationship with the UFC brass has become tense in recent months, and UFC President Dana White refused to put the belt around him at UFC 270. Ngannou has always been known to have some of the most powerful hands in MMA history and has flirted with a potential move to boxing.
It’s unclear if Ngannou will remain with the UFC past 2022, but Thompson thinks Ngannou may be making a mistake by leaving his throne in MMA to pursue a money fight in boxing.
Do you agree with Stephen Thompson that Francis Ngannou shouldn’t leave the UFC?
A photo of MMA fighter Aung La Nsang circulating on various social media platforms has been used as an accusation of joining an attempted Myanmar coup.
Nsang, a Sanford MMA product who competes in ONE Championship, posted a photo in 2019 of him holding a gun and getting ready to go shooting with friends in Las Vegas. The image resurfaced in 2022 as some supporters of a coup force have taken it out of context, accusing Nsang of joining their efforts.
“It is a great sign that Aung La joined in the fight to destroy military dogs. Every citizen who wishes for justice, join the fight,” one Facebook user commented on a shared image of Nsang. (h/t FactCheck)
Screenshotted by FactCheck from a since-deleted Facebook post
After earning the ONE light heavyweight championship over Alexandre Machado in 2018, he went on to defend the belt a few times before losing it to Reinier de Ridder in 2020. He most recently defeated Leandro Ataides last July via a first-round knockout.
Myanmar has been a troubled nation since the country’s military detained government officials in Feb. 2021. Instead of being for the coup, Nsang has been vocal in a series of social media posts and interviews against it.
