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  • Francis Ngannou Teases Big Surprises Ahead Of Ciryl Gane Matchup

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou may have some surprises in store for Ciryl Gane during their clash at UFC 270.

    Ngannou will make his first heavyweight title defense against the interim champ Gane to kick-off 2022. This is his first fight in the Octagon since earning the belt over Stipe Miocic in a vicious knockout at UFC 260 last year.

    Ngannou has always been known for his knockout power, but his takedown defense and overall grappling showed big gains in his last fight. While he’ll always be a striker first, he’s looking to prove that he’s not one-dimensional in his approach.

    During a recent interview with MMA journalist Megan Olivi, Ngannou tells fans to expect the unexpected at UFC 270.

    ā€œIā€™m cooking something that Iā€™m gonna surprise people with. They think they have seen a lot of my tools, and Iā€™m coming up with something. Having those short fights never really (gave) me an opportunity to showcase what Iā€™m capable of. And I think this might be the opportunity, and Iā€™m getting ready for that, January 22. Itā€™s gonna be like a (completely) different fighter in the best way.

    Francis Ngannou
    Francis Ngannou (Image Credit: Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

    “Obviously, the powerā€™s still gonna be there. I wonā€™t take that off. Itā€™s a good thing to always have in your pocket in case you need it. Because even though I want to really (put on a show), I wonā€™t say no to a knockout, even if it comes in the first minute. So January 22, youā€™re gonna understand why Iā€™m the champ.ā€

    Ngannou will more than likely need a balanced approach to his fight with Gane. A former teammate of his at MMA Factory, Gane has shown a diverse skillset in recent wins over Derrick Lewis and Junior dos Santos. His movement has been compared to that of a modern-day welterweight.

    Things have become tense between Ngannou and his former coach Fernand Lopez, but Gane recently assured fans that there’s no bad blood between the two heavyweight titans. If the recent buildup and interviews are any indication, Ngannou and Gane look to put on an all-time classic at UFC 270.

    What is your prediction for Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane?

  • Alex Pereira Claims He Made Israel Adesanya Cry Following Knockout

    UFC middleweight Alex Pereira says he made champion Israel Adesanya cry after knocking him out during their time competing in Glory Kickboxing.

    Pereira is coming off an impressive UFC debut at UFC 268, as he finished Andreas Michailidis with a flying knee and punches in Round 2. Pereira, a former multi-division kickboxing world champion, signed with the UFC last year in a full-time transition to MMA.

    To go along with his incredible combat accolades, he’s also the only man ever to finish Adesanya in any sport. He defeated Adesanya via unanimous decision in 2016 before knocking him out in the rematch in 2017 at Glory of Heroes 7.

    During an interview with PVT’s Marcelo Alonso, Pereira revealed how he shook Adesanya’s confidence following the finish.

    “I donā€™t know if with his friends, right, with the people close to him, heā€™s that arrogant guy, that annoying guy, because every time I met the guy, it was all that arrogance, that ego, he was always like that,” Pereira said. “Since our first fight in China, he was a guy who pissed me off a lot, from the weigh-in to the fight. Even losing, when there was the rematch here in Brazil he made a post that I donā€™t really remember, but it was something like ā€˜Iā€™ll have to beat Pereira in his backyard and then run out of the favelaā€™. It was something like that, right?

    “I only saw him at the weigh-in and the fight. After the fight I saw him crying outside in Ibirapuera. Sitting on a low wall with his trainer – thatā€™s it.” (h/t SportsKeeda)

    Pereira and Adesanya could be on a collision course once again in the UFC. Adesanya will face former champion Robert Whittaker in a rematch at UFC 271, but the door remains open in the middleweight title picture.

    Adesanya has also previously said that he expects to meet Pereira once again, this time in the Octagon.

    If Pereira can continue his winning ways, he could earn the opportunity to defeat Adesanya for the third time. But this time, Adesanya will have more tools at his disposal in MMA.

    Do you think we’ll see Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya in the UFC?

  • Ngannou Felt As If He Was Fighting Miocic In His Mind During UFC 226

    The fight with Stipe Miocic took a toll on Francis Ngannou’s mind.

    Francis Ngannou is the UFC heavyweight champion and is a force to be reckoned with. He is lined up for his first title defense against interim champion Ciryl Gane, but in the leadup, Ngannou can’t help but think back to his first shot at the title, his 2018 loss to Stipe Miocic. Ngannou reminisced about this while speaking with Daniel Cormier.

    “The whole Derrick Lewis fight, I was [thinking] like, ā€˜OK, donā€™t rush. I mean, I remember in the Octagon in front of Derrick Lewis, was telling myself, ā€˜Donā€™t rush. Calm down,” Ngannou said. “Donā€™t rush. Donā€™t rush. You have all the time. You have all the time. Until three rounds.”

    The loss against Miocic at UFC 220 was the first of Ngannou’s UFC career. The loss put a halt to the hype train that Ngannou had been riding up until that point. The knockout machine was put through five tough rounds against Miocic, unlike any fight he had been in up to that point. It seemed that the mental toll it took on him continued through his next fight.

    Derrick Lewis believes Francis Ngannou
    Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

     ā€œI swear to God, at the end of the fight, I thought it was like maybe the second round or something,” He explained. “I wasnā€™t even there. Because I was still fighting Stipe in my mind. I was just like, ā€œCalm down, youā€™re gonna cut him. Youā€™re gonna have time. Take your time.ā€™ So time was going by, and I wasnā€™t realizing how fast time was going. I was like, ā€˜Iā€™m goodā€™ until like, ā€˜Oh, this is the end?ā€™ I was even surprised.ā€

    The loss to Miocic and Lewis are the only two stains of Ngannou’s UFC resume to this point. Ngannou got back on track against Curtis Blaydes and racked up four more wins. He found his way back up to Miocic, and this time would not be denied. Ngannou is the champ now and plans to stay there for quite some time. He will have his first test as champ on Jan. 22 at UFC 270.

    What do you think of Ngannou’s mindset and the toll the fight with Stipe Miocic took on him?

  • Covington Backs “Efficient” Gane To Show Ngannou’s Quit At UFC 270

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington has given his prediction for the upcoming UFC 270 heavyweight main event between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane.

    Covington, who knows a thing or two about championship headliners, will no doubt be watching intently like the rest of the MMA community when two of the world’s best heavyweights meet inside the Octagon. The collision is fueled by gym drama, a contractual dispute, and a clash of styles.

    Ngannou, the reigning champion, will be defending his gold for the first time on January 22. He won the belt in a rematch with Stipe Miocic last March. However, he’s been on the sidelines ever since, embroiled in a public feud with the UFC over his treatment and current deal.

    While “The Predator” has been occupied by matters away from the cage, Gane has been climbing the ranks and putting himself in position to dethrone his former MMA factory teammate. With three main event wins in 2021, “Bon Gamin” extended his unblemished record to 10-0 and had interim gold wrapped around his waist as an unbeaten fighter.

    Covington: Gane Will Wear Ngannou Down

    The first pay-per-view main event of 2022 will pit together the classic heavyweight style versus the new breed. The question is, can Ngannou’s immense power get the better of Gane’s technical skill and hit and not be hit mindset? Colby “Chaos” Covington has provided his answer.

    Speaking to combat sports journalist Helen Yee, the former interim welterweight titleholder suggested Gane will be able to use his footwork and efficient style to tire out “The Predator,” who will no doubt be looking to wind up for a big KO shot throughout.

    “That’s a tough one (to predict). I think Ciryl will get him. I think that his footwork and the way he moves around, kickboxes, and he’s really efficient with his energy. He’s not like, looking to load up and knock you out like Francis is. I think he’ll wear Francis out.”

    Covington also cited Ngannou’s loss to Miocic at UFC 220 in 2018 as evidence the champ has quit in him, something he believes “Bon Gamin” will show come January 22.

    “We’ve seen in the past that Francis has that quit in him. The first Stipe fight he had a lot of quit in him, and he put his head down and you could just see he gassed out. All that muscle, you need a lot of oxygen to get to that muscle. My official prediction, I think Gane gets the heavyweight title.”

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

    Having already joined the likes of Cain Velasquez, Israel Adesanya, and Khabib Nurmagomedov in the elite club of undefeated titleholders, Gane will look to go one step further later this month by becoming the first French-born undisputed champion in UFC history.

    Do you agree with Colby Covington’s prediction for Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane?

  • MMA Fighter Alleges Promotion’s Terrorism Ties Prevented His Payment

    MMA fighter Marcus Davis, who recently made his MMA return at Premier FC 32, allegedly didn’t get paid for his first-round finish in November.

    The 48-year-old Davis, who was a mainstay in the UFC’s welterweight division between 2006 and 2010, had made his return to the cage after a seven-year absence. Despite being long past his physical prime, Davis looked like he hadn’t missed a second of the action as he submitted Stephen Stengel in minutes.

    But Davis isn’t happy with the way he’s been treated in the days and weeks since his return. In a recent thread on Facebook, the MMA fighter accused Premier FC of failing to pay him for his win for circumstances outside of his control.

    “Zero, been two months, haven’t paid me 1 cent,” Davis said when asked if he’d been paid. “They ghosted me for the past 25 days. I reached out to them today to let them know I was going public. Only to have the CEO threaten me with an attorney if I spoke out. The claim is they took on an investor that after his check cleared the bank, the fed froze the account because the investor had ties to terrorism.”

    During his time with the UFC, Davis had fought some of the best at 170 pounds, including Nate Diaz at UFC 118. He also earned wins over the likes of Chris Lytle and Paul Kelly in the Octagon.

    The promotion has yet to respond to Davis’ comments and it’s unclear if he’ll ultimately be compensated for his latest victory.

    You can view Davis’ first-round victory at the Premier FC 32 event below via Marcus Davis’ YouTube channel.

    What is your reaction to these wild allegations of an MMA promotion failing to pay a fighter due to an investor being tied to terrorism?

  • Mike Tyson Denies Reports Of Jake Paul Fight

    If youā€™re interested in seeing a boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, donā€™t get too excited.

    The boxing legend recently took to social media to deny reports of a potential fight between them. Tyson took to Twitter on Monday in response to a report, stating that he didnā€™t even know about this matchup. He also claimed he recently saw Paul in person and that discussions of a fight didnā€™t come up.

    ā€œThis is [fight] new to me,ā€ said Tyson on social media. ā€œI saw Jake in St. Barths and he never mentioned it.ā€

    Tyson was replying to a report released earlier today by The Sun Online that stated Tyson and Paul had verbally agreed to fight

    Jake Paul is coming off an active 2021 campaign. First, he knocked out Ben Askren in April before fighting Tyron Woodley twice before the close of the year. First, he defeated Woodley via split decision in August. Then, he knocked out the former UFC champion on December 18.

    Jake Paul, Tyron Woodley
    Jake Paul, Tyron Woodley, Credit: AP Photo

    Earlier boxing appearances saw him knock out former NBA player Nate Robinson in November 2020 and another KO win over YouTuber AnEsonGib in January of the same year.

    Tyson, a former heavyweight prizefighter with a decorated record, last fought as a pro in 2005. However, he made his return to action in 2020, fighting fellow legend Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition contest. The fight didnā€™t count towards either fighterā€™s pro records, but was scored a draw after eight rounds of action.

    After the fight, Tyson mentioned his plans to keep his fighting career going.

    Tyson, now 55 years old, is best recognized for his run as a heavyweight champion in the 1980s and 1990s.

    Do you see a fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson as plausible?

  • Chael Sonnen Applauds Masvidal For Risking It All In Covington Fight

    Chael Sonnen has praised Jorge Masvidal for taking the very risky fight against Colby Covington.

    In the main event of UFC 272 on March 5, Masvidal and Covington will finally settle their differences. It’s a highly-anticipated bout as they used to be roommates and close friends; however, they had a massive falling out and have taken shots at one another for years now.

    For Sonnen, he says he is surprised “Gamebred” took this fight, as it is a tough matchup for him coming off two losses in a row and with very high stakes.

    “In all fairness, I really got to show respect to Masvidal because this is a career-ending fight,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel (via Sportskeeda). “It is that big of a deal, there will be that much attention and that much focus and that much hatred going into this battle. Jorge, who is the second biggest draw in combat [sports] right now who’s coming off of two defeats.

    Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington
    Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington

    “If he goes out there and he gets taken down and he gets mauled for 25 minutes, it is going to take a lot of luster off of the shine that is the second biggest draw [in MMA], the BMF, Jorge Masvidal. It’s a big deal and Jorge signed up anyway. God damn, I respect that,” Sonnen concluded.

    Jorge Masvidal was a massive star in 2019 as he scored a KO win over Darren Till, the flying knee KO over Ben Askren, and a TKO win over Nate Diaz to win the BMF belt. Since then, however, he has lost two straight to Kamaru Usman for the belt, including the last being by KO, which many viewed as the knockout of the year in 2021.

    If Masvidal loses to Covington, it would be three straight and would likely signal the end of his time as a top contender. It would also hurt his damage as a superstar, which is the chief reason Chael Sonnen is praising Gamebred for taking this scrap.

    Are you surprised Jorge Masvidal accepted the fight against Colby Covington?

  • Figueiredo On Anaheim, CA: “I Go There To Take Brandon Moreno’s Head”

    UFC flyweight Deiveson Figueiredo says he’s going to take 125-pound champion Brandon Moreno’s head off when they meet for the third time at UFC 270.

    In 2020, Figueiredo ascended the flyweight mountaintop and looked set for a long reign on the throne. “Deus Da Guerra” brutally finished Joseph Benavidez twice to win gold. The second win was required after the Brazilian missed weight the first time, leaving the title vacant until the summer rematch.

    After comfortably defending his title against Alex Perez, Figueiredo established himself as one of the most dominant and imposing champions in the UFC. But then came Moreno. In their December 2020 Fight of the Year contender, the Mexican fought to a draw, securing a second opportunity in mid-2021.

    At UFC 263 last June, Moreno dominated Figueiredo and choked him out in the third round. The heart-warming crowning saw “The Assassin Baby” become the first Mexican-born fighter to earn champion status in the UFC.

    Moreno was initially primed to defend his belt for the first time against former rival Alexandre Pantoja. However, when the #3-ranked contender wasn’t ready for December, the initial targeted date, Figueiredo secured his much-desired shot at redemption. The pair will meet again later this month in the UFC 270 co-main event.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CVY_1xfPR4y/

    Figueiredo Promises The Return Of A “Killer” At UFC 270

    Given the emphatic nature of his defeat to Moreno last year, Figueiredo should perhaps feel fortunate to find himself in a position to challenge for the belt immediately. Many, including the champ, believed he needed to register a victory over another top contender before jumping back to the front of the queue.

    Nevertheless, with his chance for revenge secured, Figueiredo intends on taking full advantage. During an interview with The Schmo, the Brazilian claimed he’ll take Moreno’s head off when they meet on January 22.

    “You know, my second fight (with Moreno) I was not good. I did not feel good. But now, with new training, I’m gonna be great,” Figueiredo said via translator Wallid Ismail. “I’m gonna take Brandon Moreno’s head off. This fight is going to be a wonderful fight. I’m very motivated… It’s gonna be the revenge, it’s gonna be big revenge… I’m gonna take his head off and I’m gonna make him pay.”

    Discussing how the trilogy contest will differ from the 2021 rematch, Figueiredo suggested Moreno makes a lot of mistakes, something he believes he’s been able to identify during his time at Fight Ready with Henry Cejudo.

    That, coupled with better preparation and his belief that the weight cut will go a lot smoother, makes “Deus Da Guerra” confident he’ll leave California’s Honda Center with gold around his waist again.

    “Brandon Moreno does a lot of mistakes… this fight’s gonna be completely different. Because now (I have) more time to train, to lose the weight in the right way… This is going to be historic because this is going to be the revenge…

    “I’m going to fight in California, It’s going to be a different place. I’m very confident the people of California are gonna like me because they like my style. I’m a killer. I go there to take Brandon Moreno’s head.”

    While Moreno and Figueiredo will complete their trilogy in the UFC 270 co-main event, the headliner will see another blockbuster clash. In a heavyweight unification bout, champion Francis Ngannou will face interim titleholder and former teammate Ciryl Gane.

    There aren’t many better matchups to set the stage for a main event like that than an animosity-filled trilogy bout…

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 270, Deiveson Figueiredo or Brandon Moreno?

  • Amanda Nunes Exits American Top Team Following UFC 269 Loss

    Amanda Nunes is making a change following her upset loss to Julianna PeƱa at UFC 269 last month, as the former double-champion has decided to exit American Top Team.

    At UFC 269, PeƱa shocked the world when she submitted Nunes to become the new UFC women’s bantamweight champion. Following the loss, Nunes immediately expressed interest in running it back.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXbl4W_PS62/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=626c4c55-2d7a-4383-a4b0-9e47711c5d6f

    ā€œYou think Iā€™m going to go out unbalanced. I undoubtedly accept the rematch. Give me a little time to get my shit together and I will be back better than ever,” Nunes wrote in an Instagram post.

    Now, according to a Combate report, part of that process of getting everything together will include Nunes exiting American Top Team.

    Nunes joined the gym in 2014 as a 9-4 professional. The following year, she began a run that saw her go undefeated for six years, with a 12-0 record, world championships in two weight classes, and multiple title defenses in both the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. That record under ATT remained unblemished up until UFC 269 last month when Nunes dropped her bantamweight title to PeƱa.

    Coincidentally, prior to the first cancellation between Nunes and PeƱa, PeƱa questioned whether Nunes really had COVID-19, partially because she heard that Nunes had not been training at ATT ahead of the fight. Her conversation with gym owner Dan Lambert only further convinced PeƱa that Nunes was MIA at ATT last summer. Ultimately, the fight would get rebooked for UFC 269, where PeƱa took home the bantamweight gold.

    Julianna Pena saw Zac Efron staring at her before UFC shocker
    Getty Images

    Now, as she did in 2014, Nunes will look to restart with another clean slate by creating her own team. There is currently no word on if any of the coaches at ATT will be working alongside her in this new project. It was also reported that Amanda’s wife Nina Nunes will be exiting ATT for this new gym as well.

    American Top Team is one of the most renowned MMA gyms in the world. Over the years, it has hosted former UFC champions Tyron Woodley, Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Junior dos Santos, and Andre Arlovski. Today, it is still the home to names like Dustin Poirier, Jorge Masvidal, Kayla Harrison, and reigning light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira.

    What do you make of Amanda Nunes’ decision to exit American Top Team after eight years?

  • Katlyn Chookagian Becomes A Free Agent After UFC Vegas 46 Win

    Katlyn Chookagian fought out her contract at UFC Vegas 46 on Saturday night.

    Chookagian was rematching Jennifer Maia where she picked up another decision win in a solid performance. It was Chookagian’s 10th UFC win, which all have come by decision, and cemented herself as one of the top contenders at flyweight. However, after her win, she revealed that was the last fight of her deal and the UFC declined to offer a new contract before the scrap.

    ā€œThis was the last fight on my contract, and usually when you have one more, they renegotiate your contract,ā€ Chookagian said at the post-fight press conference. ā€œSo when they offered this fight, Iā€™m like, ā€˜Oh, Iā€™m up for negotiation for a new contract,ā€™ and they were like, ā€˜Oh no, we want you to fight this [contract] out.ā€™

    ā€œThat doesnā€™t necessarily mean theyā€™re going to cut me, but itā€™s usually not good news. Hopefully with this performance, Iā€™d like to think they want to keep me. I want to stay here. So hopefully I proved that tonight,” Chookagian continued.

    Image Credit: Katlyn Chookagian Instagram

    Katlyn Chookagian is currently ranked second at women’s flyweight and is on a three-fight winning streak. Before beating Maia for the second time, she defeated Viviane Araujo and Cynthia Calvillo. She’s currently 10-4 in the UFC and has fought for UFC gold once losing by TKO to Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 247.

    With her not being under contract, the hope for Chookagian is to reach a deal soon which would lead her to get another crack at the belt.

    ā€œI think the UFC needs to re-sign me before I think about [a title shot],ā€ Chookagian said. ā€œIā€™m on a three-fight win streak, all top-five opponents, so I would hope they re-sign me. They didnā€™t want to extend my contract before this fight, so hopefully I proved I belong here. Iā€™m No. 2 in the division. Iā€™ve been No. 2 or No. 1 for three or four years since the division started. I have as many wins as Valentina [Shevchenko]. Iā€™ve beaten probably more top-10 fighters than any other fighter in the UFC, male or female. This is my 14th fight. I think all but two, maybe three, were all top-10 opponents.

    ā€œSo I think I earned my spot here in the UFC,” she concluded. “So hopefully I get that call next week. I just hope that Iā€™m still a UFC fighter after this performance… Iā€™m a fighter. Iā€™ll keep fighting no matter what, but I want to stay in the UFC, for sure.ā€

    Do you think the UFC will re-sign Katlyn Chookagian?

  • Tommy Fury: The Ball Is In Jake Paul’s Court

    Tommy Fury is still interested in fighting Jake Paul next.

    Fury, the half-brother of heavyweight champion, Tyson, was set to box Paul in the main event of a Showtime boxing pay-per-view in December in Tampa. However, less than two weeks before the fight, the Brit was forced out of the bout citing a chest infection and a broken rib.

    With Fury being out, Paul then rematched Tyron Woodley who he subsequently knocked out in the sixth round. Since then, Tommy Fury has made it clear he wants that fight back and says the ball is in Jake Paul’s court to make it happen.

    “Make no mistake, that’s the fight I want next and I’ll always be checking in with my team every day to see where we’re up to with that,” Fury said on The MMA Hour. “But there comes a time where I have my own career. My goal still doesn’t change. My goal is to be a champion in this sport and, believe it or not, fighting Jake Paul doesn’t give me that at all. Fighting Jake Paul will never make me a champion in boxing. So, Jake Paul, yeah it’s a great fight, it’s a big fight, but it doesn’t really make me achieve my dreams.

    Jake Paul, Tommy Fury
    Jake Paul, Tommy Fury (Image Credits: Mike Ehrmann/Jason Miller/Getty Images)

    “So at the end of the day, I’ll wait for a certain amount of time. I’m trying my best to get this fight back on track,” Fury continued. “You talk to anybody, this is the fight I wan. I’ll wait for him an amount of time, it comes off, great, if it doesn’t, I will resume my career and start winning some titles. That’s just the way life is.

    “The ball is in Jake Paul’s court now. I’m doing everything I can with my team to get this fight rescheduled.”

    Jake Paul had said he wanted to take some time off after his last win so whether or not the Tommy Fury fight will be rescheduled is uncertain. If it isn’t, the 7-0 boxer in Fury will look to make his return in the spring as he looks to eventually become a world champion.

    Do you think we will see Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury next?

  • Kattar Warned Chikadze About Overlooking Him Prior To UFC Vegas 46

    At UFC Vegas 46, Calvin Kattar decimated Giga Chikadze and spoiled any hopes the Georgian had of fighting for the title next.

    Prior to and during fight week, much of the talk had surrounded Chikadze’s calls for a championship opportunity. After Max Holloway withdrew from his scheduled trilogy clash with Alexander Volkanovski, “Ninja” was one of the first to throw his name into the hat to replace “Blessed.”

    When “The Korean Zombie” was touted as the likely candidate to face the champion next, Chikadze claimed he’d lost respect for the champion and even suggested Volkanovksi would be his easiest opponent inside the 145-pound top 10. But through all that talk, one man is being forgotten: Calvin Kattar.

    This past weekend, “The Boston Finisher” brutally beat and bust open Chikadze’s face across five rounds. With vicious elbows and clinical boxing, Kattar won every round on the judges’ scorecards and made amends for his own beating at the hands of Holloway last January.

    Don’t Overlook Kattar

    With the result, Kattar shot back towards contention and stalled the surging rise of Chikadze, who was previously riding high off the back of a main event win against Edson Barboza.

    But while many had expected “Ninja” to move past Kattar and stake his claim for a title shot, the message from fans and pundits since Saturday’s headliner has been: Don’t look past what’s in front of you. That message had already been said loud and clear at UFC Vegas 46 media day last Wednesday.

    After asserting that Chikadze’s focus on gold and exchanges with the titleholder had no effect on him, Kattar warned the #8-ranked contender that setting his sights on anyone other than him would be a “big mistake.”

    “No, not one bit man. I can’t really control that, so I try not to put too much energy into it. Only thing I can control is me and my opponent Saturday night. For him to be focusing on anybody else would be a big mistake,” Kattar said.

    Given the state of Chikadze’s face after 25 minutes of action, it’s safe to say Kattar’s warning was well placed…

    While his toughness has never been in doubt, Kattar certainly had his title credentials and place among the featherweight elite questioned following his defeat on Fight Island last year. But at UFC Vegas 46, “The Boston Finisher” answered those questions with sharp elbows and crisp punches.

    With a relieving rebound win after a year away from action, Kattar will now look to carry his momentum into another big fight, perhaps this time against a fellow top-five contender. Two men currently stand out as possible next opponents.

    Brian Ortega was the last man to challenge for the title and could provide a thrilling matchup with Kattar. While he’d be looking to rebound and stay in the title conversation, the Methuen native would hope to book a date with the champ by defeating the two-time title challenger

    Yair Rodriguez is also in a similar situation. He returned last November and despite performing well against Holloway, he missed out on the chance to challenge Volkanovski after a narrow defeat on the scorecards. With both losing to Holloway in 2021, a clash between Kattar and Rodriguez makes sense.

    Who would you like to see Calvin Kattar face next?

  • Blaydes: Miocic’s Win Over Ngannou More Impressive Than UFC 260 KO

    Curtis Blaydes is not giving Francis Ngannou heavyweight GOAT status just yet.

    With a very exciting heavyweight title fight coming up on Jan. 22, featuring champ Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane, another heavyweight is giving his thoughts on the division. Curtis Blaydes sat down with MMA News to discuss what he makes of the champion and the rest of his possible competition.

    Blaydes spoke a bit about the differences between Ngannou and former champion Stipe Miocic. Blaydes isn’t ready to give the title of GOAT to Ngannou just yet and even feels that Miocic’s win over Ngannou was more impressive to him than Ngannou’s win over Miocic.

    “No, no. That still goes to Stipeā€¦ Ngannou has not done enough, in my opinion, to be the greatest ever,” Blaydes said. “He’s very, very good, but when we’re talking the GOAT, you have to start to nitpick, and I’m gonna nitpick,” said Blaydes. “He’s lost rounds. Like, he got owned when he fought Stipe the first time. That wasn’t a good look. He got owned. I’ve never seen, even when Stipe lost, he never got owned. Like, he got knocked out by Ngannou; at heavyweight, anybody can get knocked out.

    “I’m a lot more impressed by decisions. I know that’s weird to say, that a unanimous decision is more impressive than a knockout, but at heavyweight, anybody can get knocked out,” added Blaydes. “That’s just what heavyweights do. But for you to skillfully beat a guy for five rounds, that’s very impressive. I’ve yet to see a Ngannou do that. He hasn’t had to do that yet, but I don’t think he has that ability. I don’t think he wants to be in the Octagon for five rounds. He knows that’s not how he wins.”

    Blaydes is currently ranked fourth in the heavyweight division. He has only lost one fight in his last six and holds wins over Alexander Volkov and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Blaydes could find himself next in line for a title shot if Ngannou wins.

    Of course, there are other people in the mix, as Jon Jones’ heavyweight debut is looming and Stipe Miocic is still in the picture as well. Perhaps Blades could be matched up with Miocic sometime soon.

    What do you think about Blaydes’ perception of Miocic and Ngannou?

  • O’Malley: Yan & Sterling Aren’t Big Enough To Main Event A PPV

    UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley doesn’t believe champion Aljamain Sterling and interim titleholder Petr Yan are “big enough” to headline a pay-per-view.

    The much-anticipated rematch between Sterling and Yan, originally scheduled for UFC 267 last October, was set to go down at UFC 272 in March. After they were to unify the bantamweight title in the co-main, Alexander Volkanovski was targeted to defend his featherweight belt against Max Holloway in the main event.

    But after Holloway withdrew through injury and the trilogy clash was off, Volkanovski’s next appearance, expected to be against “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung, was moved back a month to UFC 273. Following that fight to April was the bantamweight unification bout.

    With both title fights pushed back, UFC 272 will now be headlined by a non-title grudge match between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington.

    O’Malley: “They Need Big Daddy”

    During a recent episode of his YouTube podcast, #12-ranked bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley commented on the adjusted schedule. His takeaway from the decision to move Sterling and Yan’s rematch to UFC 273 was that the pair simply aren’t big enough to headline a pay-per-view.

    O’Malley’s solution to the bantamweight division not boasting PPV-headline names? “Big daddy.”

    “You know what’s crazy to me? Well, I don’t know if it’s crazy or not. Petr and Aljo can’t main event their own pay-per-view. So their main event [Volkanovski vs. Holloway 3] pulled out. They couldn’t just, ‘Ah, we’ll be main event.’ They’re not big enough. It’s weird. The best division in the UFC, maybe, and they can’t even headline their own pay-per-view. They need big daddy.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYLfci5rx4x/

    Sterling won the title last March at UFC 259. Despite being behind in the fight heading into the fourth round, an illegal knee from Yan saw “Funk Master” become the first UFC champion to be crowned via disqualification.

    After lingering issues from neck surgery forced him out of UFC 267, Yan faced Cory Sandhagen in Abu Dhabi and won interim gold, setting up a unification showdown with his arch-rival in 2022.

    Do you agree with Sean O’Malley’s assertion that Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan aren’t big enough names to headline their own pay-per-view?

  • Giga Chikadze: I Would Beat Calvin Kattar 9 Times Out of 10

    Giga Chikadze’s confidence remains intact after his brutal defeat to Calvin Kattar last Saturday at UFC Vegas 46.

    At UFC Vegas 46, Calvin Kattar showed his resilience by rebounding from the year-opening card of last year that saw him take a savage beating from Max Holloway. This time, it was him dishing out the beating across five rounds to kick off the year, with Chikadze’s face at the conclusion of the bout telling the tale of how the fight transpired.

    Giga Chikadze Suffers Gruesome Injuries in Fight Against Calvin Kattar, Sent to Hospital After UFC Vegas 46 - Sportsmanor
    Giga Chikadze

    Seeing as how, prior to UFC Vegas 46, Chikadze was vocal about fighting Alexander Volkanovski for the title next, including preemptively requesting to replace Max Holloway against him this spring, many people thought this was a humbling experience for Chikadze.

    One notable person to react to Chikadze’s loss was Chan Sung Jung, aka “The Korean Zombie,” who was ultimately chosen to replace Holloway for the featherweight title fight in a move that Chikadze criticized as Volkanovski selecting the easy fight. After Chikadze’s loss on Saturday, Jung hit him with the ol’ face-palm emoji on social media.

    Chikadze would issue the following statement in response to the criticism he received immediately following the fight and also addressed The Korean Zombie’s reaction to his defeat.

    Giga Chikadzeā€™s Instagram

    Thank you my real supporters! I love you all and owe you speed comeback. Lot of fake people around, but it’s okay. Also fuck you Korean Zombie! Be happy with someoneā€™s (loss) you cheap fuck,” Chikadze wrote.

    Chikadze Remains Confident Despite “Mistake,” Warns Future Opponents

    Giga Chikadze
    MMA Fighting

    Giga Chikadze would have much more to say later in a Facebook Live after the fight. The Georgian chalked the loss up to an error on his part and vowed to return after making the necessary adjustments.

    ā€œIt is what it is,ā€ Chikadze said on Facebook Live. ā€œIt was not my day, but itā€™s okay. Sometimes it happens, shit. It was a good fight. My opponent showed up good. I made mistake…

    ā€œIā€™m gonna recover a little bit, guys. I know you guys are following my journey, and this is a part of the journey. When I signed up for the sport, I knew this was a part (of it). I fucked up last night, but itā€™s all good. Itā€™s a journey. Iā€™m learning from this, and next time, Iā€™m gonna come back so much stronger. I already feel bad for my future opponents. Iā€™m gonna learn a lot from this one; trust me on that.ā€

    Chikadze also displayed the same confidence about a future matchup against Kattar that he had coming into their UFC Vegas 46 bout. In fact, the Georgian would imply that Kattar’s victory Saturday was tantamount to a fluke based on him chalking the loss up to a mistake and considering his assessment of how a 10-fight series between them would play out.

    ā€œI feel like if I would fight with this guy 10 times, 9 I would win,ā€ Chikadze said. ā€œThat would be the one I would lose and that was last night. It is what it is. I made mistake and Iā€™m paying now with it. Itā€™s all good. Guys, Iā€™m unbreakable. Remember this shit, Georgians always unbreakable. This is how we fight, until the fucking end.ā€

    What are your thoughts on Giga Chikadze’s comments following UFC Vegas 46?

  • Ciryl Gane Assures It Isn’t Personal Between Him And Francis Ngannou

    UFC interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane says despite the tense UFC 270 buildup, he doesn’t have anything against Francis Ngannou.

    Gane is set to face Ngannou in arguably the best heavyweight fight in UFC history at UFC 270. He earned the interim title at UFC 265 over Derrick Lewis in a dominant performance.

    During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Gane shared his thoughts on Ngannou as a person after things have become tense leading up to the event.

    “We’ll shake hands before, during, and after the fight,” Gane said. “I have nothing against him. He’s just my opponent, I have no deal with him. Just an opponent, that’s it.”

    Ciryl Gane’s Coach Has The Most Beef With Francis Ngannou

    Gane and Ngannou used to train together at MMA Factory in France, and leaked sparring footage is part of what has caused a rift between Ngannou and his former coach, Fernand Lopez. In a variety of interviews, Lopez has attacked Ngannou’s character and added more spice to the buildup.

    Ngannou has gone on the record saying he has no relationship with his former coach after allegedly being close for years. Lopez went as far as calling Ngannou a “f**king liar” over his denial of alleged Gane sabotage.

    The speculation in regards to Ngannou and Lopez’s relationship began after the two sides had an awkward run-in backstage at UFC 268. While Ngannou and Gane have each denied that this fight isn’t personal for them, it’s hard to doubt that there won’t be a bit of extra motivation for each man to get their hand raised.

    What is your prediction for Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane?

  • Julianna PeƱa: Amanda Nunes Got “Exposed” At UFC 269

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna PeƱa believes she exposed Amanda Nunes in the UFC 269 co-main event last month.

    Delusion, no chance, underdog, zero hope, inevitable loss. What do those words and terms have in common? They’re all along the lines of how most in the MMA community described PeƱa’s pre-fight confidence and chances of victory on December 11.

    That didn’t affect the challenger. She knew something most didn’t. Her self-belief and predictions weren’t an attempt at motivating herself for an uphill battle. They were the truth. In her mind, the performance she delivered at UFC 269 wasn’t shocking; it wasn’t the greatest upset in UFC history,;it wasn’t an underdog triumph; it was as expected.

    Despite that, for most fans and pundits, PeƱa’s seasonal submission success against the “Lioness”, which ended Nunes’ dominant reign over the 135-pound weight class, lengthy win streak, and seven-year unbeaten run, will go down in the history books as one of the biggest shocks the Octagon has ever played host to.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYHysQivvs7/

    PeƱa Doesn’t Think Nunes Underestimated Her

    For many, whether fans of Nunes or adamant believers in the reigning featherweight titleholder’s superiority, the nature of the loss is up in the air. As well as claims the Brazilian quit after being taken to waters she hadn’t swum in since 2014, some have suggested the former bantamweight queen simply underestimated “The Venezuelan Vixen.”

    For the new champ, the answers to that are: wrong and wrong.

    Having already attempted to bust the myths surrounding her fight-winning choke, which she says was drilled in the training room prior to UFC 269, PeƱa has now denied the narrative that Nunes underestimated the threat she posed on December 11.

    In reality, she believes the consensus female GOAT was simply exposed inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    “I think Amanda was prepared for the best version of Julianna that she was gonna see. She was ready,” PeƱa told the New York Post. “I said six months prior to the fight exactly what I was gonna do. I exposed her and I even gave her the message prior to the fight that thatā€™s what I was gonna do. She didnā€™t underestimate me at all. She trained her ass off and was adamant, in her mind, to win the fight no matter what. She just got exposed, and thatā€™s kind of what it was.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXulK21Duae/

    While the discussion around her championship-winning performance is likely to continue given the way she toppled the “Lioness” of the top step, PeƱa will seemingly have the chance to further legitimize her place on the bantamweight throne in an immediate rematch later this year.

    After UFC President Dana White revealed the former champ would be offered a quick chance for redemption, Nunes wasted no time in accepting and promising resurrection in 2022.

    Do you agree with Julianna PeƱa? Did she expose Amanda Nunes at UFC 269?

  • The Countdown To UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane Officially Begins

    The fight week of the first UFC pay-per-view of 2022 is upon us, as we are now days away from an epic heavyweight showdown for the ages at UFC 270.

    At UFC 270, the UFC heavyweight championship will be unified when undisputed champion Francis Ngannou and interim champ Ciryl Gane take center stage in Anaheim California’s Honda Center. “The Predator” will now experience what it feels like to be the hunted as he will look to make his first successful title defense. In order to do so, he’ll try to be the first man to reveal a chink in Bon Gamin’s armor and hand the Frenchman his first career loss.

    In the co-main event, we see a flyweight championship trilogy between champion Brandon Moreno and ex-champion Deiveson Figueiredo. The first fight was considered arguably the best flyweight bout of all time. The sequel, however, served as a coming-out party for Mexico’s Brandon Moreno. Will Figueiredo spoil this party, or will Tijuana rejoice once again?

    The UFCā€™s countdown video sets the stage for both title fights.

    UFC 270 Ngannou vs. Gane: Countdown

    ā€œI know and he knows thereā€™s only one thing that can happen if I connect with him: knock him out.ā€ – Francis Ngannou

    Francis Ngannou
    Image Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    As Francis Ngannou seeks his 13th career knockout against a former sparring partner, the countdown episode tells the story of the Cameroonian’s history with Gane and the soured relationship Ngannou has with his ex-coach and Gane’s current coach, Fernand Lopez.

    ā€œThe footwork, the speed, precision, the cardioā€¦every fight, I bring this in the cage.ā€ – Ciryl Gane

    Ciryl Gane
    ESPN

    The post-modern MMA project that is Ciryl Gane has his toughest assignment to date in champion Francis Ngannou. In the countdown video, Gane’s unique skill set and familiarity with Ngannou are documented as well as the swollen confidence Fernand Lopez has in his fighter.

    ā€œSometimes I feel all the weight of my country on my shoulders.ā€ – Brandon Moreno

    Brandon Moreno
    Brandon Moreno, Credit: AFP

    At UFC 263, Brandon Moreno became the first Mexican UFC champion. The countdown video takes you through his range of emotions and how his nation joined him in celebrating his historic achievement.

    ā€œIā€™m going to be more technical, quicker, and more explosive, ready to finish him.ā€ – Deiveson Figueiredo

    Midnight Mania! Deiveson Figueiredo considering Bantamweight move following title loss - MMAmania.com
    Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

    Deiveson Figueiredo has vengeance on his mind heading into UFC 270. In the countdown video, we get a glimpse into the measures the Brazilian have taken to ensure there is a different result come Saturday night, including enlisting the services of former flyweight champion, “Triple C” Henry Cejudo.

    UFC 270 takes place this Saturday, January 22, from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. You can find the full card and viewing information below.

    UFC 270 Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 10:00 PM ET)

    • UFC Heavyweight Championship Bout: Francis Ngannou (c) vs. Ciryl Gane (ic)
    • UFC Flyweight Championship Bout: Brandon Moreno (c) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
    • Welterweight: Michel Pereira vs. Andre Fialho
    • Bantamweight: Cody Stamann vs. Said Nurmagomedov
    • Middleweight: Rodolfo Vieira vs. Wellington Turman

    UFC 270 Preliminary Card (ESPN2, ESPN+, 8:00 PM ET)

    • Featherweight: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Jourdain
    • Bantamweight: Raoni Barcelos vs. Victor Henry
    • Welterweight: Trevin Giles vs. Michael Morales
    • Welterweight: Jack Della Maddalena vs. Pete Rodriguez

    UFC 270 Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+, UFC Fight Pass, 6:00 PM ET)

    • Bantamweight: Tony Gravely vs. Saimon Oliveira
    • Strawweight: Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Silvana Gomez Juarez
    • Lightweight: Matt Frevola vs. Genaro Valdez
    • Womenā€™s Flyweight: Kay Hansen vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius

    And without further ado, you can view the official UFC 270 Countdown video below!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE7FYeUKU9g

  • Yaroslav Amosov vs. Michael Page Set For Bellator Headliner In London

    After 17 fights in the promotion, England’s Michael “Venom” Page is finally set for his first world title fight in Bellator.

    On social media today, Bellator Europe announced that Page will challenge for Yaroslav Amosov’s welterweight gold in the main event of Bellator London. The promotion’s trip across the Atlantic is set for Friday, May 13, and will see fights go down from inside The SSE Arena, Wembley.

    Page boasts an impressive 20-1 record in professional MMA and has long been a top contender in Bellator’s 170-pound weight class. Since his one and only defeat, a knockout loss to former three-time titleholder Douglas Lima in 2019, MVP has been on a tear.

    In his last six fights, Page has gone 6-0, recorded two first-round knockouts, and avenged his setback against Lima. In the main event of Bellator 267 last October, an event that represented the promotion’s return to the UK for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, “Venom” secured a split decision triumph over “The Phenom”. He’ll hope to replicate that London success when he returns to his country’s capital on May 13.

    In his way of championship glory will be Amosov, an unbeaten Ukrainian who reached the top of the welterweight mountain after seven fights in Bellator. After victories over the likes of David Rickles, Ed Ruth, and Logan Storey, “Dynamo” had his chance to fight for gold at Bellator 260 last June. In a mightily impressive performance, Amosov dethroned Lima after securing a unanimous decision win.

    Across his unblemished 26-0 record, Amosov has recorded 10 submission and nine knockouts. But despite his finishing record, the 28-year-old has gone the distance in three of his last four appearances. Page will be looking to save the judges some work by adding a 13th knockout to his own rƩsumƩ when he enters the cage with Amosov.

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

    While Page had initially called for a trilogy clash with Lima over a title shot, the Englishman certainly won’t be disappointed to have his chance to further cement his legacy as one of Bellator’s greats.

    Who do you think will leave Bellator London with the welterweight title, Yaroslav Amosov or Michael Page?

  • Francis Ngannou Says Therapist Warned Him About Fernand Lopez Years Ago

    Francis Ngannou has known that his ex-coach would be a problem for years.

    Francis Ngannou is getting ready to defend his heavyweight belt for the very first time this Saturday at UFC 270. He will be facing off against interim champion Ciryl Gane. Ngannou and Gane have a common bond. They used to be training partners, and Gane is still coached by Ngannou’s former head coach Fernand Lopez.

    In the leadup to this fight, Lopez has been trying everything he can think of to get in the head of Ngannou. There has been some drama between Lopez and his former student. Ngannou isn’t all that surprised by this tactic taken by Lopez and says he knew that it would be a problem back a few years ago.

    “I won’t say I’m surprised knowing the person (Lopez). I always knew that something like this could come from him,” Ngannou said in an interview with UFC’s Megan Olivi. “I was in Paris two years ago after the Derrick Lewis fight, and I was dealing with some personal stuff on my end.

    Francis Ngannou Fernand Lopez
    (via Francis Ngannou’s social media)

    “I was so in the bad place that I decided to see a psychiatrist. If you look at the psychiatrist’s notes, it’s funny because even two years ago she pointed out Fernand as a problem and to watch out. I thought she was like, crazy. She started to break it down and put it on the note. Now I think she was all right.”

    Ngannou has had to deal with a lot leading up to this fight. He has been having some negotiation problems with the UFC and could be getting ready to leave the organization. Add in all the trouble he has had to deal with from Lopez, including threatening to leak a sparring video of him and Gane sparring.

    Ngannou might not only be fighting for his UFC belt on Jan. 22 but also perhaps his peace of mind. He will be looking to put Gane, Lopez, and possibly the UFC behind him.

    What do you think of a therapist warning Ngannou to watch out for Lopez?

  • Lobov Reveals The Two Things That Would Bring Him Out Of Retirement

    Former UFC featherweight and Bare Knuckle FC star Artem Lobov has admitted there are two scenarios that could draw him out of retirement.

    Over the course of his 11-year career in professional combat sports, Lobov became one of the most popular and recognizable names. Whether through his fighting style, appearance on The Ultimate Fighter, or connection to Conor McGregor and the SBC Ireland team, every fan knows “The Russian Hammer.”

    After leaving mixed martial arts with a 13-15-1 record, a rƩsumƩ that includes two UFC victories, following his defeat to Michael Johnson in 2018, Lobov turned his attention to bare-knuckle boxing.

    After signing a lucrative deal with BKFC, the Russian star won his opening two bouts with the promotion, first against Jason Knight and then against legendary former boxing champion Pauli Malignaggi just two months later.

    But after back-to-back losses to Knight and Denys Berinchyk, the latter of which took place under the promotional banner of Mahatch FC, Lobov took a realistic look at his career, aspirations, and responsibilities. He decided to call time on his career last July, a week after his final appearance in combat sports.

    Lobov Admits Path Back To Action Exists

    After the announcement, many in the community reflected on Lobov’s memorable career as they bid farewell to a combat sports mainstay. While the 35-year-old doesn’t see himself breaking his promise to himself and darting in and out of retirement, he has provided some hope for fans who wish to see him back in action.

    During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Lobov laid out two scenarios that would clench his fists and bring him back to the cage or ring. As unlikely as they seem, the answer will certainly instil some hope into the hearts of his loyal fanbase.

    “I gave myself a promise, ‘Artem, you will not go back in there, no matter what. Fucking make it elsewhere now, it doesn’t matter what happens, it doesn’t matter how much you want to go back in there. Do not go back in there.’

    “There’s only two ways that I go back to fighting; the (Zubaira) Tukhugov fight, that goes without retirement, I don’t care If I am retired or not, I always want that fight, no matter what,” Lobov continued. “And, if somebody wants to make my dreams come true and offer me seven figures, well then it’s going to change things up… seven figures could allow you to set up your financial future for the family, and that’s a big thing for me, of course. And open up a lot of doors as well. I would consider coming back for those reasons.”

    Lobov and Tukhugov were set to collide back at UFC Fight Night 138 in October 2018. The clash would have extended the fiery rivalry between Khabib Nurmagoemdov’s camp and that of Conor McGregor.

    However, two weeks prior at UFC 229, the groups were engaged in a post-fight brawl following Khabib’s submission victory over “The Notorious” Irishman. Heavily involved, and even throwing punches at McGregor, was Tukhugov. The Dagestani was removed from his fight with Lobov, who went on to face Johnson instead.

    Given the feud the two sides shared a number of years ago, it’s unsurprising Lobov would still be willing to exact some revenge for his former teammate by entering the cage with Tukhugov.

    As for the other return scenario, money is money, who could blame him?

    Would you like to see Artem Lobov fight again?

  • Tuivasa Explains How He’s Making The Shoey Accessible To Grandmas

    UFC heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa has become famed for his post-fight shoeys, and he’s now hoping to spread the beer-drinking practice to all walks of society.

    Not many fighters are as universally loved among all corners of the UFC fanbase as Tuivasa. According to Sean O’Malley, “Bam Bam” is, in fact, the only one to boast such popularity.

    The Australian powerhouse combines a unique spectrum of characteristics we all love: knockout power, charisma, fun, alcohol, and ’90s pop music walkouts (depending on if you’re an Aqua fan).

    While he’s able to deliver laughter before he enters the cage, when the Octagon door shuts, Tuivasa is as dangerous and hard-hitting as they come, something he’s put on full display in his recent outings.

    Since losing three-in-a-row between 2018 and 2019, “Bam Bam” has been on a tear. On his way to #11 in the rankings, he’s left the dazed and unconscious frames of Stefan Struve, Harry Hunsucker, Greg Hardy, and Augusto Sakai in his wake.

    The one constant after each victory? A shoey.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXXY0h7pD-m/

    Tuivasa Wants Everyone To Embrace The Shoey

    Having seen the crowd embrace his post-fight traditions with shoeys of their own inside the arenas, and in one case at UFC 269, a full-on beer shower (what were you thinking, sir?), Tuivasa is now looking to spread the dirty beer-filled tradition throughout the community. And by “throughout,” we mean throughout…

    Having sobered up from the copious amount of shoeys he chugged on his way from the Octagon to the back inside the T-Mobile Arena last month, Tuivasa has put his business hat on to create a device capable of providing the shoey experience to all. Its name? The Shoeyvasa.

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

    Having debuted the hilarious drinking tool on his Instagram, Tuivasa discussed the creation during a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour. The ambition, according to the Australian, was to provide a shoey utensil for everyone, including the grandmas and the aunties of the world.

    “That’s the Shoeyvasa. It’s a little drinking device I’ve come up with. It’ll be on sale soon. The thing is, right, a lot of people don’t wanna do shoeys out of dirty shoes. There’s a bit of a barrier there. I wanted to make the shoes available for everyone, grandmas, moms, aunties, you know what I mean? You just put your beer can or your beer bong in the end, then you’ve got the funnel, and it’s like a beer bong. You just crack away. It’s not available yet, but follow my Shoeyvasa page and it’ll be there soon,” said Tuivasa.

    Conor McGregor has his whiskey, Dustin Poirier has his hot sauce, Tuivasa has a shoey-replica drinking device…

    Will you be purchasing a ‘Shoeyvasa’ in 2022?

  • Archives: White Says Khabib Has Temporarily Lifted Retirement (2021)

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

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 16, 2021, 4:10 PM]

    Headline: Khabib Temporarily Lifts Retirement Pending UFC 257 Performances

    We finally know the outcome of Dana White’s meeting with Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    Khabib Nurmagomedovā€™s shocking MMA retirement may be over almost as abruptly as it was announced. Yesterday, Khabib and Dana White had their long-anticipated meeting to confirm whether or not he was retired. The idea to have the meeting was brought up by Dana White when he believed the retirement may have been an emotional decision.

    ā€œWell, like I said, I thought that, in his last fight, his father had passed away, heā€™d been away from his family during that time, he got injured while he was training, and I thought that he made an emotional decision,ā€ Dana White said on the UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar broadcast. ā€œThere was no reason to make a hasty decision like that then. We didnā€™t have to. I talked to him. I told him to take his time. We would get together later on. And last night, we did.ā€

    Dana White Reveals Khabib’s Decision

    White would go on to tell us the specifics of what was said in the meeting, but unfortunately, there still is no definitive answer on whether or not Khabib will fight again. But based on Whiteā€™s paraphrasing of Khabib, it seems much more likely than not that weā€™ll see the champion defend the lightweight title again.

    ā€œAnd basically, the way that he feels right now is heā€™s accomplished everything heā€™s set out to accomplish. He thought that Oliveira looked really good in his last fight against Tony Ferguson. So next Saturday, we got the McGregor/Poirier fight and Chandler/Hooker on there.

    ā€œSo his words to me were, ā€˜Iā€™m gonna watch this fight.ā€™ He said, ā€˜I would never tie up the division. I would never tie up the division, hold the belt, keep the belt away from anybody else. These guys do something spectacular, show me something spectacular, and make me want to come back and fight.ā€™ā€

    Charles Oliveira defeated Tony Ferguson at UFC 256 and is currently ranked #3. Michael Chandler, of course, is unranked and may only able to make it up to #6 if he defeats Dan Hooker, who currently occupies that position.  As for the UFC 257 headliners, Conor McGregor is ranked #4, and Dustin Poirier is ranked #1, so those two names may be in the best position to get the next crack at Khabib in terms of rankings in case you needed any more reason to watch that epic rematch.

    UFC 257 takes place next Saturday, January 23, 2021 streaming live on ESPN+.

    Whatā€™s your take on the outcome of the Dana White/Khabib meeting?

  • Kevin Holland Reveals OnlyFans Aspirations

    UFC fighter Kevin Holland has a plan in place to continue to build his brand outside of the Octagon in 2022.

    Holland is set to make his UFC return at 170 pounds at UFC 272 against Alex Oliveira. This is his first fight since his controversial no-contest against Kyle Daukaus in October.

    Holland is looking to get back in the win column after going home without a victory over his last three fights. Before the Daukaus fight, he lost back-to-back unanimous decisions to top middleweight contenders Derek Brunson and Marvin Vettori.

    Lots of things are changing in Holland’s MMA career, including a drop to welterweight from middleweight. Standing at 6’3″, he’ll easily be one of the biggest welterweights in the division as he gets set to make his 170-pound debut.

    During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Holland revealed that he’s also planning on a pursuit on the adult site OnlyFans to help support his income.

    “It’s pretty cool,” Holland said. “I’ll probably put some of my gaming content up there so I can still smoke while playing games, so on and so forth. I can just be who I wanna be on OnlyFans, without having to worry about being kicked offā€¦ It’s free, you don’t have to pay. So, I’m gonna drop, kinda like, a day in the life type thing. So when I drop that, I’ll probably do the first couple of episodes free, and then if everybody likes it, you know what I mean, I’ll probably do a small subscription to the page. I’ll try and keep it real cheap. I got 4,000 fans on there. If I can do a dollar a fan, that’d be crazy.”

    Holland’s comments come just weeks after former UFC bantamweight champion Miesha Tate shut down the idea of making an OnlyFans account. She has since clarified her comments in which she alluded to it as a “desperate” career path.

    OnlyFans is often used to post mature content, but it sounds like Holland intends to use his account to stream video games and chat with his fanbase. As he gets ready for a potentially eventful 2022, he seems to be in a great place in and out of the cage.

    How do you think Kevin Holland will do at welterweight?

  • Dana White: People Forgot How Good Calvin Kattar Is

    UFC President Dana White thinks the public counted out Calvin Kattar ahead of his main event bout against Giga Chikadze.

    Kattar walked away with a unanimous decision win over Chikadze on Saturday night, clearing scorecards after a brawl against a fellow ranked featherweight. The win saw him emerge as the better striker, hurting Chikadze with a high volume of shots.

    This impressive showing from Kattar came after a week where Chikadze was viewed by many as the expected winner. He was even in discussion to step in on short notice to replace Max Holloway in a title fight against Alexander Volkanovski.

    White feels that people didnā€™t give Kattar enough of a chance before the fight. He discussed how we have seen Kattarā€™s toughness in his previous appearance and how he has proven himself before.

    ā€œItā€™s almost like everybody forgot about Calvin Kattar and [his fight against] Max Holloway. Everybody counted him out tonight. I thought that the spinning elbow he landed changed the fight. I think that first round wrestling tired them out,ā€ said White, speaking at the post-fight press conference on Saturday.

    ā€œThey just dug in and went to war ā€¦ [Kattar] kept constant pressure on him. He stayed in his face. He kept him moving backwards. It looked like Giga was out of it halfway through the second round.ā€

    White: Kattar’s Layoff Helped Him

    The win on Saturday night was Kattarā€™s first appearance in nearly a year. He was fighting for the first time in 364 days, appearing for the first time since he was on the losing side of a dominant performance by Max Holloway.

    White thought the extensive break for Kattar worked in his favor because of how his last fight went.

    ā€œI think after that fight he had with Max [Holloway], you gotta take a year off. I think you have to ā€¦ He absolutely, positively needed to take that time off,ā€ said White.

    Do you feel people counted out Calvin Kattar?