Jake Paul has been an advocate for fighter pay, and that has only intensified over the recent days and weeks.
Paul has taken shots at Dana White for nearly a year now on how little fighters are getting paid in the UFC. Over the past few days, he gave White an offer to increase minimum pay and give fighters health care among other things. And if White complied, Paul would retire from boxing and fight Jorge Masvidal in the UFC.
Happy new year @danawhite. Here is a real challenge for you…
I will immediately retire from boxing and fight Jorge Masvidal in the UFC if you agree to: pic.twitter.com/bJScDVITvL
“Happy new year Dana White. Here is a real challenge for you… I will immediately retire from boxing and fight Jorge Masvidal in the UFC if you agree to:
1) Increase min fighter pay per fight to $50K (it’s $12K now) 2) Guarantee UFC fighters 50% of UFC annual revenues ($1bn in 2021) 3) Provide longterm healthcare to all fighters (you previously said brain damage is part of the gig…imagine the NFL said that). There are many UFC alums who have publicly said they are suffering from brain damage
You have 5 days to accept and to implement the above by March 31, 2022. Once implemented I will immediately retire from boxing, enter USADA and agree to a 1 fight deal with UFC to fight weak chin Jorge
To all UFC fighters — time to take a stand and create value for yourselves and peers. You deserve higher pay, you deserve long term healthcare and above all you deserve freedom. Support each other. I am not your enemy, I am your advocate…who selfishly wants to KO a few of you to make some big bank.”
White, of course, did not agree to that and instead blasted Paul with accusations of steroid abuse. So the YouTuber-turned-boxer created a poll on Twitter asking fans which perk for UFC fighters takes higher priority.
Dana White has 2 days left to respond to my offer but not a peep. Dana Dana Dana?
“Dana White has 2 days left to respond to my offer but not a peep. Dana Dana Dana? What y’all think Dana should do more,” with the two options being to give fighters healthcare and increase minimum pay.
At the time of this writing, healthcare was leading with the way with nearly 58% of the votes, with 38,000 people voting.
To some, that may come as a surprise, as fighter pay is the big talking point; however, healthcare is something many people, including Paul, believe should be included for UFC fighters, especially after their career is done.
At this point, it seems like the feud between Jake Paul and Dana White is not ending anytime soon.
UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou won’t allow himself to divert from the gameplan ahead of his UFC 270 clash with Ciryl Gane.
Ngannou will make his first title defense against Gane, a former teammate of his while they were at MMA Factory in France. He’s been at an impasse with the UFC brass amidst an ongoing contract dispute but is ready to defend his belt at the UFC’s first pay-per-view event of 2022.
“I think Francis did a lot these last years, and he proved he improved and he’s more intelligent,” Gane said in an interview with BT Sport. “And that’s great. He’s well-rounded now. And I think it’s gonna be more like that. Because he (knows) I can manage the power. I think he knows I can manage the power.”
During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Ngannou responded to Gane’s remarks and thinks his prediction was a bit forced.
“That’s probably his prediction because he has nowhere else to go,” Ngannou said.
“He has nothing else to do. Instead of expecting to jump around and waiting for the decision, I’m sure he’s going to be like, ‘I’m going to take him to the long rounds, the deep water’ and all this. That can be his only prediction, which could be very contrary of my prediction, which is knocking him out.”
Francis Ngannou Vs. Ciryl Gane Wasn’t Expected To Happen Next
Gane earned the title shot after winning the interim heavyweight title over Derrick Lewis at UFC 265. He was able to stifle Lewis on the feet and control the pace of the fight, eventually earning a TKO finish.
Ngannou was widely expected to face Jon Jones for his first title defense after earning the belt over Stipe Miocic. The UFC then targeted a matchup between him and Lewis, but contract negotiations stalled as Ngannou asked for more money.
The Ngannou vs. Gane matchup pits two of the most elite strikers in MMA against one another. If Ngannou were to lose to Gane, his UFC future could be uncertain as he would then enter free agency.
What is your prediction for Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane?
The former bantamweight champion has since claimed that he used EPO to assist in his weight cut to 125 pounds and wasn’t meant to give him an added boost in the cage. He was tested 25 times by USADA over the past year.
Dillashaw & Costa Both Fought Once In 2021
Cory Sandhagen and TJ Dillashaw
Dillashaw made his long-awaited return to the cage in 2021 against rising bantamweight Cory Sandhagen, earning a split-decision win in a Fight of the Year contender.
Costa was tested 23 times in 2021, which could be seen as a bit surprising given his relative inactivity in the UFC over the past few years. He faced Marvin Vettori in a catchweight bout in his lone fight of the year, losing via a unanimous decision in a back-and-forth contest.
Just above Dillashaw and Costa on the list was Misha Cirkunov, as the middleweight and former light heavyweight was tested by USADA on 27 separate occasions.
As the new year begins, Dillashaw looks to earn another bantamweight title shot, while Costa is looking to get back on track in the middleweight conversation.
What are your predictions for TJ Dillashaw and Paulo Costa in 2022?
Mike Perry and Julian Lane will be settling their beef at the February 19 Knucklemania event in Hollywood, Florida.
Tuesday, MMA reporter Chris Taylor first broke the news of this upcoming scrap, and it has since been confirmed by multiple sources. This announcement comes after Lane was unwilling to take no for an answer after challenging Perry to a fight earlier this year.
How This Odd Pairing Came Together
In October, Mike Perry announced that he would be joining the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship ranks. Here’s some of what Perry had to say in the official press release that announced his arrival:
“I will dismantle the opposition and reach the glory I have longed for my entire life. I will be crowned king of the streets and king of combat sports! They will make me a Platinum Crown and carry me on the bloody backs of my defeated rivals! I am here to go straight to the top and make anyone think twice about entering my world! BKFC is my world!”
Within hours of this announcement, former Ultimate Fighter contest Julian Lane, aka the ‘Let me bang, bro’ guy of MMA lore, volunteered to be the first man to “oppose” Perry in the BKFC. Unfortunately, Lane’s desire to bang was rebuffed, just like long times.
At BKFC Tampa last month, Perry made an appearance to do some commentary. However, he was being harassed by Lane, who was throwing material at Perry from the audience. This led to Perry exiting the commentating table to confront him.
UFC middleweight Marvin Vettori has invited Jake Paul to a private sparring session.
Jake Paul has made no secret of his preference to face MMA fighters throughout his boxing career. Two of his viral KOs came against former champions of the sport in Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley. He has also set his sights on potential boxing matches against Jorge Masvidal, Nate Diaz, and Kamaru Usman, among others.
One name that isn’t on the list but would like to box Paul is “The Italian Dream” Marvin Vettori. Tuesday, Vettori posted the following challenge to Paul with a video attached of his colleagues discussing the potential session.
Hei Fake Paul @jakepaul let’s set up a sparring. I’ll match any bet you want. You claim anybody, anytime, anywhere but you won’t go further then 6 rounds I promise you that. Put your nuts on the table, I wanna feel if you can really box.#FakePaul#theitaliandreampic.twitter.com/0FBuSzAGu2
“Hei Fake Paul @jakepaul let’s set up a sparring. I’ll match any bet you want. You claim anybody, anytime, anywhere but you won’t go further then 6 rounds I promise you that. Put your nuts on the table, I wanna feel if you can really box.”
Ironically, it was just last year that Vettori blasted the media for its ongoing coverage of Paul. Yet, surely the outspoken middleweight must know that such a challenge, with Paul’s name directly attached to it, would receive wide attention and go viral.
In any event, Vettori is not the only person to express an eagerness to spar Jake Paul. In the case of Claressa Shields, not only did she invite Paul to spar with her, she even proposed putting up $100,000 in a winner-take-all encounter. The YouTuber never responded to the “GWOAT’s” challenge, nor has he responded to Vettori’s as of this writing.
Paul most recently knocked out Tyron Woodley in their rematch on December 18 to advance his boxing record to 5-0. Marvin Vettori last competed in October with a unanimous decision victory over Paulo Costa.
Who do you think would win in a boxing match between Jake Paul and Marvin Vettori?
UFC Hall-of-Famer Michael Bisping has suggested a potential opponent for veteran fan favourite Nick Diaz if he returns to the Octagon this year.
Diaz’s highly-anticipated 2021 comeback wasn’t the return many had envisioned. After nearly seven years away from the sport, a hiatus that began following his 2015 clash with Anderson Silva, the older Diaz brother ran it back with former foe Robbie Lawler at UFC 266 in September.
The pair first collided way back in 2004 at the UFC 47 event. While Diaz recorded a memorable knockout win in that clash, their rematch was to end significantly different.
In the eyes of many, including UFC President Dana White, Diaz’s 2021 defeat should mark the end of the veteran’s memorable career. But while that seems to be the general consensus, not everyone leans the same way.
One prominent member of the MMA community hoping to see Diaz fight this year is former middleweight titleholder Michael Bisping. During a recent YouTube Q&A, “The Count” expressed that feeling, and even named a fellow UFC veteran Diaz could face if he returns to the Octagon in the coming months.
“I would like to see him fight and I would like to see Cowboy [Donald Cerrone]. That’s a really good suggestion but it looks like Cowboy’s fighting Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett.” (h/t Sportskeeda)
Like Diaz, Cerrone is another long-serving UFC star who appears well-past his prime and on his way out of the sport in the near future. Although there has been no official confirmation, recent rumors have hinted towards a March clash between “Cowboy” and rising star Pimblett.
Should that prove to be just conjecture, perhaps the UFC will pair Cerrone up with a fighter on the opposite end of their career to “The Baddy.” Not many fill that criteria better than Diaz.
Do you agree with Michael Bisping? Would you like to see Nick Diaz fight Donald Cerrone in 2022?
UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira hasn’t received Dustin Poirier’s promised donation yet, despite their post-UFC 269 conversations.
Oliveira defeated Poirier in the main event of UFC 269 via third-round submission, locking in a standing rear-naked choke in his first title defense. He had earned the belt after defeating Michael Chandler earlier this year.
Following their lightweight title fight, Poirier told Oliveira that he intends to donate $20,000 to a charity of Oliveira’s choice in his hometown of Sao Paulo, BR.
“I just tell people that the money didn’t arrive yet, but if Dustin really wants to make a donation and needs those bureaucracy documents, I´ll pick some local social project in my area,” Oliveira said. “The most important thing is helping people who need to be helped, but to tell you the truth, after all the headaches I´ve been dealing with due to that Octagon proposal, I really don’t know if it was good or not.”
Dustin Poirier Is Working With Charles Oliveira’s Team
After getting word of Oliveira’s comments, Poirier assured that he intends to live up to his promise and help the champ’s community.
For anyone asking about the $20k donation I promised, of course I'm going to honor it! We have been in contact with Charles and his team. We are waiting for them to figure out what project they want it donated to.
“For anyone asking about the $20k donation I promised, of course, I’m going to honor it!” Poirier said. “We have been in contact with Charles and his team. We are waiting for them to figure out what project they want it donated to.”
This isn’t the first time that Poirier has been involved in a donation-related controversy. Ahead of his trilogy with Conor McGregor, Poirier had accused the Irishman of failing to follow up on his promised donation to his charity, sparking a feud between the two lightweights.
It appears that Poirier intends to live up to his end of the deal, but it’s a bit surprising that it hasn’t come to fruition just yet after earlier tensions with McGregor regarding a similar issue.
What are your thoughts on this latest donation debacle?
UFC light heavyweight contender Jamahal Hill believes Aleksandar Rakić should be challenging champion Glover Teixeira next instead of Jiří Procházka.
While Rakić has been in the UFC since 2017, Procházka only arrived on MMA’s biggest stage last year. But in the short period of time he’s been a part of the promotion’s light heavyweight roster, “Denisa” has made a monumental impact, one that’s seen him surpass Rakić in the rankings.
In his debut, Procházka brutally knocked out former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir on Fight Island. Having broken onto the scene in impactful fashion, the Czech star went one step further in his second appearance, breaking into title contention with an even more vicious KO, this time against Dominick Reyes.
Not many people have secured a main event slot in just their sophomore outing, and even fewer have cemented their status as number one contender without even making three walks to the Octagon. But despite his impressive start in the UFC, not everyone believes he’s done enough to earn a spot at the front of the queue.
According to Hill, who is tipped as a future star at 205 pounds and currently sits at #12 in the rankings, Rakić deserves to be fighting for gold next over his European peer.
“I mean, both have a case, I guess. Me, personally, I think it should be Rakić, just because Rakić has been here longer,” Hill told The Hannibal TV. “Who’s had the most success at his weight? Who’s done the more things to put themselves into championship position? I think that’s Rakić. Jiří came in and beat two guys that were on losing streaks.”
Rakić Will Have To Go Through A Former Champion To Reach Gold
Since joining the UFC, Rakić has gone 6-1. However, most believe the Austrian should boast a perfect record in the promotion. His sole loss, a split decision defeat to Oezdemir in 2019, was highly controversial, and most believe he was the rightful winner.
Since that setback, “Rocket” has got back on track with consecutive successes against former title challengers Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos. In the eyes of many, those victories, coupled with his triumphs over the likes of Jimi Manuwa and Devin Clark, should have been enough to book him a date with the champion. That’s without even mentioning the suggestion that Procházka turned down offers to face the 29-year-old.
Instead, Rakić will have to go through former champion Jan Blachowicz if he is to earn a title shot in 2022. The Polish powerhouse was dethroned by Teixeira at UFC 267 and will be looking to secure a chance at redemption by stalling the charge of his fellow European.
The pair are set to headline the March 26 UFC Fight Night. The winner is expected to challenge the victor of the likely championship clash between Teixeira and Procházka.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXWW0DMpUsz/
Do you agree with Jamahal Hill? Should Aleksandar Rakić be fighting for the title next instead of Jiří Procházka?
Priscila Cachoeira’s manager, Wallid Ismail, says she wasn’t intentionally eye-gouging during her December fight against Gillian Robertson.
The controversy around Cachoeira’s fight comes from the ending sequence while she was in a rear-naked choke. She reached up to Robertson’s head while in the choke, with her fingers making contact with Roberton’s eyes at times. Cachoeira was submitted by Robertson in the closing seconds of the first round.
Ismail, a former UFC fighter in his own right, echoes Cachoeira’s claim that her movement towards the eyes of Robertson only happened accidentally during the sequence. He criticized those who thought otherwise in a recent interview:
“It was cowardice from the press and everyone who attacked her. She didn’t put her finger in the opponent’s eye on purpose. She just tried to push her away in the heat of the fight,” said Ismail, in an interview with Sherdog.com. “People who work in the UFC come from the fighting business, they know what I mean. We are already talking about her next fight and Priscila will return to [the] win column.”
Recent Loss Put Cachoeira Back Into Losing Ways
Image Credit: Via WMMA Rankings
Cachoeira’s loss at UFC 269 broke a two-fight winning streak she had attained. This included two finish wins, defeating Gina Mazany in May 2021, and stopping Shana Dobson a year before then.
The result kept her promotional record negative, now sitting at two wins and four losses in total. Cachoeira’s start in the UFC was rough, losing three times between 2018 and 2019. This included a fight against now UFC Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko, which concluded via second-round submission.
As stated above, Ismail says they are currently working on a new fight for Cachoeira. In the new year, she will have a chance to turn around her UFC run.
What’s your take on the controversy? Do you think Cachoeira was intentionally trying to gouge the eyes of Robertson?
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker supports Jake Paul’s idea of the UFC brass providing healthcare to its fighters as well as other changes.
Whittaker is set to face middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in a title rematch next month at UFC 271. He has managed to get back to the title shot after winning three straight bouts, including most recently against Kelvin Gastelum and Jared Cannonier.
Paul recently offered to retire from boxing and sign a one-fight deal with the UFC if company president Dana White meets certain demands. This includes long-term healthcare for fighters, along with increasing fighter pay.
During a recent interview with Mirror, Whittaker praised the idea of giving UFC fighters additional benefits that extend long after their careers are over.
“It’s hard to say, all the chips are in the company’s playing field,” Whittaker said. “I would certainly love some healthcare, I would love that long-term post-fighting career security and I’m sure every fighter would. I would like different things to change.
Robert Whittaker (Photo: Fernando Quiles Jr./MMA News)
“But I’m not crying over spilt milk, it is what it is. I’m very blessed to be able to do what I do for a living anyway. Instead of asking for what I don’t have, I’m grateful for what I do have.”
In a preliminary response to Paul’s challenge, White hit back at Paul and accused him of steroid use. Paul had previously accused White of using cocaine without sufficient evidence.
Many fighters, including Whittaker and UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal, have called for changes to be made to how fighters are treated by the promotion. The ongoing debate over UFC fighter pay has ramped up over the past year.
It’s unclear if the UFC has any upcoming plans to add benefits for its fighters, but Whittaker is certainly on board with Paul regarding long-term health care.
Do you think UFC fighters should receive long-term healthcare?
UFC light heavyweight Johnny Walker has revealed he’s tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time since the pandemic caused havoc around the world.
But days prior to the clash, Walker revealed the fight, which took place on the 19th, had initially been scheduled for the 5th. The bout was pushed back owing to a positive Covid test for Walker while he was in Ireland. The 29-year-old believes he likely caught it while traveling to Dublin to train at John Kavanagh’s SBG Ireland gym.
Fast forward nearly a year-and-a-half, to a time when the new Omicron variant is threatening to cause further havoc, and Walker has found himself back in isolation following a positive result.
Taking to his Instagram on Sunday, the #10-ranked light heavyweight contender revealed the news and described his current case as similar to his first in terms of symptoms. He also confirmed he’d been vaccinated in late 2021.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYO866UNAhR/
“COVID 2, Johnny 0. Second time testing positive, I took the Johnson vaccine two months ago and was still infected. I felt the same symptoms last time, which are just that of a flu.
“Well, I’m at rest and taking advantage of the opportunity I’m recording everything to post on my YouTube channel, supplements, diet, symptoms. If you want to stay on top of everything I’ll post it weekly, the link is in my bio, subscribe there, it’s free. Don’t forget your mask. My new year was quarantined.”
What’s Next For Johnny Walker?
In March 2019, Walker was arguably one of the hottest rising prospects in the UFC. After earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, the Brazilian entered the promotion with consecutive first-round knockouts. He made that three when he finished Misha Cirkunov with a brutal flying knee at UFC 235.
But Walker’s fortunes changed pretty quick. In fact, they did so about 10 seconds after his fight with Cirkunov ended when a worm celebration left him sidelined with a dislocated shoulder. Upon his return, the Rio de Janeiro native fell to back-to-back losses for the first time in his career. Those defeats came against Corey Anderson and Nikita Krylov.
Despite rebounding against Spann, Walker failed to carry that momentum into his main event debut. In a lackluster clash with former title challenger Thiago Santos in October 2021, the 29-year-old was outpointed across five frames.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXQ3GePt7g1/
With three losses in his last four Octagon outings, Walker’s next appearance is crucial in keeping his place inside the 205-pound top 10. But the tough tests look set to continue for the SBG Ireland product. Recent reports suggest the UFC is targeting a matchup between Walker and Jamahal Hill.
While Walker will be looking to return the win column this year, Hill will be hoping to continue his form, which saw him finish Jimmy Crute in the opening round last month. The #12-ranked contender’s victory over the Australian marked an impressive rebound from his sole MMA loss against Paul Craig last year, which saw him suffer a gruesome dislocated elbow.
How do you think Johnny Walker would fare against Jamahal Hill?
Paddy Pimblett has hinted that he’ll return to action on the card expected to take place in London in March, but it seemingly won’t be against Donald Cerrone.
In mid-2021, Pimblett had signed for MMA’s premier organization and the hype surrounding his UFC debut was rising. That first appearance finally happened at UFC Vegas 36 in September. At a European-heavy event, he joined UK stars Darren Till and Tom Aspinall on the main card.
Ahead of his first Octagon outing, Pimblett repeatedly promised to knock Luigi Vendramini out inside the first round. In the early exchanges, in which “The Baddy” appeared to be rocked and was taken down, that prediction looked unlikely.
Pimblett Says “He’ll Take Someone’s head off” In The O2
Since Pimblett’s debut victory, there’s been plenty of speculation about his second fight and next opponent. The most prominent rumor surrounded a potential clash with UFC veteran Donald Cerrone. Talk of that clash first appeared after Chael Sonnen suggested “Cowboy” had told him of his interest in facing the young Liverpudlian.
But during a recent appearance on Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast, Pimblett said there’s no truth to the idea he’ll be facing Cerrone in early March, suggesting it would make no sense for the promotion to book him on a US card just weeks before they reportedly head to his home country of England.
“It’s going round everywhere, but there’s no truth to it. Nothing on my end. Do you really think that the UFC are gonna put me on a card on the 5th of March in Vegas when they’re doing London on the 19th? It doesn’t make sense… I think that was just Chael having a little go for some clickbait or something. It started with Chael.”
While it appears Cerrone won’t be the opponent, Pimblett is certainly eager to make the London walk on March 19. He further told Bisping that an appearance on the card, which is already set to feature his teammate Molly McCann and fellow UK prospect Jack Shore, is “happening.”
“I would like to fight in London, in front of my home crowd. It would be sick… That’s what I’m guessing (will happen) and that’s what I’ve been told, that me and Molly will be fighting on the same card… That’s happening. I’m gonna take someone’s head off again in the O2. I’ll announce myself once again.”
Despite the UFC’s expected return to London being just over two months away, Pimblett says he’s yet to hear anything from the promotion regarding a potential opponent. But whoever he’s matched up with, the fight is certain to have an electric crowd watching on inside the O2 arena if the London card comes to fruition.
Who would you like to see Paddy Pimblett face if the UFC returns to London for the March 19 card?
Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has accepted a fight with Nate Diaz on just weeks’ notice if Diaz wants it.
Poirier is coming off of his lightweight title loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 269. It was the second time in his career that he fell short of the lightweight title after losing previously to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019.
But Poirier appears to already be thinking about what’s next in his UFC career and has recently alluded to a move to welterweight. Just days after the loss to Oliveira, Poirier named Diaz as the one opponent who would excite him for his next trip to the Octagon.
The two have gone back-and-forth on social media for years, stemming from their scheduled fight that fell apart in 2018. Poirier and Diaz have teased a potential fight for the start of 2022, and according to Poirier, he’s been issued an official bout agreement to make it happen.
Dustin Poirier Is Waiting For Nate Diaz To Sign The Contract
Nate Diaz, Dustin Poirier (Image Credits: Steven Ryan/Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
During a recent interview with Teddy Atlas, Poirier revealed that he’s received an offer to fight Diaz with a notice of just six weeks.
“Honestly – another thing that kinda got that flame going is a couple of days ago, I got a phone call – but I can’t talk about it,” Poirier said. “It’s a very short notice thing. Something I would hate to do is stack things against myself and take a fight on short notice, but, we’ll see what happens, man. I don’t want to give too much ‘cause I don’t know what I can say. No contract has been signed yet, but if this goes go through, I’m gonna take it. I said yes, now we’re waiting on him.” (h/t LowKickMMA)
It’s unclear if Diaz will ultimately agree to fight Poirier after saying that Poirier wasn’t worthy of fighting him. Diaz most recently fought Leon Edwards at UFC 263 and has been waiting for an opponent ever since for his return.
Assuming that Poirier is correct, it sounds like the Diaz fight has a 50-50 chance of actually coming to fruition. Now, we await Diaz’s response and whether or not he’ll sign off on the short-notice bout.
Do you think Dustin Poirier vs. Nate Diaz will happen in 2022?
Kron Gracie hasn’t fought in the UFC in more than two years, and it’s unclear when he’ll return after his first professional MMA loss to Cub Swanson.
Kron’s father, Rickson is arguably one of the greatest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners as part of the famous Gracie legacy. Rickson has been a mainstay in Kron’s corner during his professional MMA career.
Kron followed up an impressive UFC debut against Alex Caceres with a disappointing loss to Swanson. While he had his moments throughout the fight, Swanson proved to be the more experienced MMA fighter and earned a unanimous decision victory.
Things seemed tense between the father-son duo following the loss to Swanson. Rickson was frustrated with the lack of adjustments that Kron made in the fight overall. Following the bout, Swanson had advised Kron to humble himself in the face of defeat.
During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Rickson provided an update on Kron’s status in the sport and potential return to the Octagon.
“Right now we’re giving each other some space, you know?” Rickson said when asked about Kron. “We had some small arguments and now he’s moved to Montana, he’s with his new gym there, he’s training. I don’t know exactly what his plans are for MMA, but I root for him.
“I know he has great potential, not only as a fighter but also as a great teacher, a great man. I’m rooting for him, and I’m also curious, like everybody else, to know what he’ll do next.” (h/t Bloody Elbow)
Before signing with the UFC, Kron had enjoyed success in Rizin and Real Fight Championship, earning four-straight submission wins. His loss to Swanson was the first time in his MMA career that a fight of his had gone the distance.
The 33-year-old featherweight has also previously worked with Nick and Nate Diaz in California to prepare for his MMA fights. It’s unclear if Kron intends on training with the Diaz brothers for an eventual return.
Living up to the Gracie tradition in MMA has proven not to be an easy feat for Kron, and it’s unclear if he’ll return to the Octagon for a chance at redemption.
Do you think Kron Gracie will eventually return to the UFC/MMA?
Happy New Year, fight fans! To kick off our 20th anniversary, we will be rolling out the MMA News Top 100 UFC fighters of 2021 throughout the month of January as voted on by our panel.
This list is NOT solely based on fights and performances of 2021. Being active in 2021 is what QUALIFIES one to make the list. Instead of only considering performances of the year, we are taking a holistic look at who is the better overall fighter exiting 2021 based on our selected criteria. A full explanation of the criteria can be found below.
1: Career Trajectory/Recent Performances (50%)
Where are the fighters trending right now? How much evidence-backed momentum do they have?
2: Career Success/Body of Work (25%)
Championships, wins, résumé, etc.
3: Likelihood To Be The Betting Favorite In Any Fight In 2021 (25%)
This was determined using past betting history, betting lines during 2021, and the projected odds moving forward as determined by the panel. This category is being used to get a gauge of the talent level the public feels the fighter is/was at.
Be sure to keep checking back right here at MMANews.com for frequent updates to this list throughout the month of January as we continue to update this list!
#100: Erin Blanchfield
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Reasoning Behind Ranking: With a Cold-Blooded performance over Miranda Maverick and five straight wins overall, the career trajectory category was the strongest reason behind her placement in the top 100.
Heading into 2022: At only 22 years old, Erin Blanchfield is arguably the biggest prospect at flyweight and perhaps all of the UFC’s women’s divisions, not just for the year ahead but for far beyond. Sitting at #100, the stage is set for Blanchfield to continue marching straight ahead with ice in her veins before possibly making the biggest jump of any fighter from this year’s placement to the next.
#99: Casey O’Neill
Casey O’Neill
Reasoning Behind Ranking: “King” Casey O’Neill has big plans to rule the fight game, and after going 3-0 in 2021 with three finishes, the 24-year-old may be well on her way. With a composure far beyond her years, O’Neill seems to welcome the pressure without folding a single crease and has been a blueprint of what a true MMA prospect looks like.
Heading Into 2022: O’Neill (#15) is in no hurry to rise up the ranks and is taking it one step at a time. Her next fight is scheduled against Roxanne Modafferi on February 12.
#98: Jack Shore
Reasoning Behind Ranking: Undefeated after 15 professional fights and a 4-0 UFC record, Jack Shore looks like he has it all. Former UFC champion Michael Bisping has compared Shore to Georges St-Pierre himself, which is some high praise coming from a high place. At 26 years old, we’ve only caught a whiff of Shore’s potential, so his number could be much higher in the 2022 MMA News rankings.
Heading Into 2022: Shore was originally slated to face fellow undefeated fighter Umar Nurmagomedov in his first bout of 2022 but will now be tasked with another Russian, Timur Valiev. This will be a stiff test for Shore, as he looks to shift his hype train into a Supersonic helicopter.
#97: Tyron Woodley
Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Reasoning Behind Ranking: As will often be the case in these rankings, body of work and résumé plays a role in ranking position over prospects still on the rise, not only because they are more proven but because if they were placed against similar competition as most prospects, someone like Tyron Woodley would still be expected to win despite his decline.
However, that decline is very real and noticeable, with “The Chosen One” losing four consecutive bouts, not counting the Paul boxing losses. This losing streak and rapid fall from grace are why the former champion only barely made the list.
Heading Into 2022: Tyron Woodley may or may not compete in MMA this year, but he has expressed an interest to do so and to have an active 2022. And even if it does not and cannot come against Jake Paul, Woodley will no doubt be entering the new year with Revenge on his mind.
#96: Lerone Murphy
Lerone Murphy, Getty Images
Reasoning Behind Ranking: Lerone Murphy is undefeated and has maintained his flawless record after four UFC fights against some stiff competition. In 2020, Murphy earned Performance of the Night with his TKO win over formerly ranked featherweight Ricardo Ramos. In 2021, he defeated proven veteran Douglas Silva de Andrade as well as earned a KO win over Makwan Amirkhani.
Heading Into 2022: Thus far, Murphy has given no indication that he will be denied heading into 2022. He is likely one win away from finding himself in the featherweight rankings and could very well be deep in the top 10 by the end of the year and earn himself a much higher place on next year’s MMA News Top 100 list!
#95: Sodiq Yusuff
Sodiq Yusuff, Image: James Elsby-USA TODAY Sports
Reasoning Behind Ranking: “Super” Sodiq Yusuff has a UFC record of 4-1, with the one loss coming against a fighter in Arnold Allen who has not lost in eight years. In two of his four UFC wins, Yusuff displayed just how much power this one man has.
With his measured approach and calculated cruelty, the 28-year-old Yusuff has proven to be one of the top prospects at featherweight.
Heading Into 2022: Yusuff enters the year ranked #12 at featherweight. There are currently rumblings that Yusuff will be making his first Octagon appearance of the year against “Bruce Leeroy” Alex Caceres.
#94: Cody Garbrandt
Cody Garbrandt (Image Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Reasoning Behind Ranking: While it is no secret that Cody Garbrandt has had his share of struggles as of late, there is also no denying that he’s made a big noise during his seven-year UFC run. This includes becoming bantamweight champion after a career-defining victory over arguably the greatest bantamweight of all time, Dominick Cruz.
Additionally, Garbrandt was able to make the cut due to his most recent victory being only two fights ago in a devastating KO over Raphael Assuncao that won him performance of the night. Garbrandt also made the list due to him being the betting favorite in two of his last three fights (category #3).
Heading Into 2022: Entering 2022, Garbrandt has lost five of his last six fights, which definitely makes his placement on the list up for debate. However, Garbrandt is always one win or KO away from showing that it’s not too late for this 30-year-old to recapture his glory days. And if he has it this way, that KO will come against “Suga” Sean O’Malley.
#93: Pedro Munhoz
Pedro Munhoz vs. Cody Garbrandt, UFC 235
Reasoning Behind Ranking: Pedro Munhoz remains a top-10 bantamweight in the UFC, but he only falls at #94 due to the Brazilian losing two consecutive fights via unanimous decision (José Aldo, Dominick Cruz) and losing four of his last fight fights.
However, Munhoz does have a victory this year over Jimmie Rivera in what was a Fight of the Night winner. He also holds an impressive KO victory over our #94-ranked fighter, former champion Cody Garbrandt on his résumé as well as a win over another fighter who will appear later in these rankings, Rob Font.
Heading Into 2022: Coming off a loss to Dominick Cruz at UFC 269 to end 2021, the 35-year-old Munhoz will fight to keep his spot in the bantamweight top 10 and prove that he’s still a Young Punisher who is ready to start killin’ ’em again. There is currently no word yet on who the first man in that potential murder lineup will be.
#92: Darren Till
Darren Till, Image Credit: 2018 Alex Livesey – Zuffa LLC
Reasoning Behind Ranking: Darren Till has lost four of his last five fights and narrowly made the top 100 due to holding two wins over other fighters ranked on this list and his likelihood to be the betting favorite in 2021 compared to others. Additionally, Till has a very high unlikelihood to ever be a heavy underdog due to his technical fighting style, which often has opponents fighting at his pace.
If you need another reason for Till making the list at #92, one need only look at the night he gave former champion and pound-for-pound ranked Robert Whittaker all he can handle just one fight ago, taking two rounds on all three of the judges’ scorecard. Not many fighters have the ability to do that or the potential for greatness that still remain within this 29-year-old.
It’s also worth remembering that Till has only fought the best of the best over the past three years, which leaves him more open to setbacks than many prospects who’ve seen more recent success but against lower competition.
Heading Into 2022: Darren Till enters the year still ranked as the #8 middleweight in the UFC. His next fight remains unclear at this time, but there have been informal talks of a potential fight against Uriah Hall.
#91: Tony Ferguson
Tony Ferguson
Reasoning Behind Ranking: It wasn’t too long ago that a #91 placement for Tony Ferguson would seem blasphemous. Today, after suffering three bad losses in a row, the ranking will likely warrant some explanation and be considered too high by some readers.
Tony Ferguson’s recent struggles are clearly behind the low ranking, but how did Ferguson make the list at all? Well, in category #2, which factors in career body of work and résumé, Ferguson remains tied for the most consecutive victories in lightweight history. In terms of category #3, which factors in respect from bettors and oddsmakers, Ferguson was a betting favorite against current champion Charles Oliveira in December 2020, and he was only a +130 underdog against #3-ranked Beneil Dariush in his most recent fight.
Finally, in terms of the most heavily weighted category of recent performances, while it’s true Ferguson’s defeats were one-sided, they came against the current champion, the current #1 contender (Justin Gaethje), and the current #3 contender (Beneil Dariush).
Furthermore, a strong case can be made that Ferguson’s fight against Gaethje was more competitive than the prevailing narrative would have you believe. After all, Gaethje may very well have been saved by the bell after a devastating uppercut to close out the second round.
Heading Into 2022: Tony Ferguson is still ranked at #7 in one of the deepest divisions in the UFC despite his recent struggles. Far from considering retirement, El Cucuy is eying a potential bout against Michael Chandler to kick off 2022 and get back in the win column to prove that the Boogeyman’s party has just begun.
Stay tuned to find out who is next on the MMA News Top 100 Fighters Of 2021 in Part 2!
MMA fighter Radek Roušal was recently barred from competing in Czech organization Oktagon MMA due to his visible neo-Nazi tattoos.
Roušal was scheduled to make his MMA debut against Nikolas Krivák in a last-minute booking, but the bout was called off when officials noticed a depiction of Adolf Hitler tattooed on Roušal’s right hand. Additionally, Roušal had a tattoo of an SS (Schutzstaffel) officer, which was a corps of political soldiers of the Nazi party.
Oktagon MMA promoter Ondřej Novotný addressed his reaction when he observed Roušal’s controversial body art.
“This doesn’t exist for you come up to us and look like this,” Novotný told idnes.cz. “We have it in the contract, we could give him a fine. Even on the chest, he has (apparently the cap of an SS officer, the skull could also refer to the Death Skull Unit of the SS organization responsible for managing the extermination camps). Whatsoever!… We didn’t study what it looked like, nor did the photographers and cameramen notice. No one had talked about it before… We didn’t know about it, certainly not.”
Roušal & His Team Share Their Side Of The Story
Roušal did not deny the presence of neo-Nazi tattoos on his person, but he chalked it up to bad decisions made during a naive, desperate, and vulnerable stage of his life.
“I grew up in a problematic community of people that gave rise to this tattoo,” he explained. “At that time, I did not know what to do with life, I was young and this tattoo was stupid. Later, I started doing martial arts, which led me to a completely different life and view of the world. I have more tattoos that I regret, I’ll gradually re-tattoo them all.”
Novotný rejected this explanation when it was told to him directly from Roušal.
“He explained it to me,” adds Novotný. “I told him he was crazy. I’m not a tattoo expert, but how long can it take to re-tattoo this? Two days? It’s nice that he basically distanced himself from it, I trust him and I’m able to understand everything, but this is not and it can be done faster.”
Roušal’s gym Muay Thai Brno also issued a statement on the matter, which addressed the matter of having the tattoos removed.
“Radek and I have been dealing with the situation and the tattoo removal, which, according to his words, originated years ago in youthful indiscretion, has been ordered for a long time with a deadline for January. However, the offer for the match came at the last minute, before its removal.
“Our gym is unequivocally against manifestations of any racial or other discrimination and intolerance. We meet people of all nationalities and skin colors, we cooperate with various non-profit organizations, including those dedicated to working with minorities. At the same time, we also lend a helping hand to those who can learn from their mistakes and mistakes.”
Roušal remains 0-0 as an MMA fighter and is 0-1 as a kickboxer. His tale shares similarities with the story of UFC flyweight Andrea Lee’s ex-coach and estranged husband, Donny Aaron, who also has neo-Nazi tattoos.
At the time, Lee defended Aaron’s character in the middle of the controversy; yet, Aaron stated that he would not get the tattoos removed. Lee and Aaron are no longer together after Aaron was charged with domestic battery abuse against Lee.
Undefeated UFC welterweight Sean Brady believes a fight with Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson is the only matchup that makes sense for him next.
After a perfect 4-0 start on MMA’s biggest stage, which included a 2021 submission victory over Jake Matthews, Brady had his chance to break into the group of contenders at UFC Vegas 43 in November. He faced the challenge of promotional veteran Michael Chiesa, a man who boasts the names of Neil Magny, Rafael dos Anjos, and Beneil Dariush on his résumé.
In a controlling performance, Brady extended his unblemished record to 15-0 with a unanimous decision triumph over “Maverick.” In doing so, he rose to #9 in the UFC welterweight rankings. With that in mind, he’s targeting a big name for his next Octagon outing.
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Brady Hopes To Use Thompson As A Stepping Stone Up The WW Ladder
While Brady surged up the welterweight ladder in 2021, one top veteran went in the opposite direction. At the start of the year, Stephen Thompson was riding a two-fight win streak and, as one of the few high-ranked names yet to challenge Kamaru Usman, had aspirations of a title shot.
Fast forward to the start of 2022 and the script has flipped for “Wonderboy.” Defeats to Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad have left him in need of a rebound performance to keep his hopes of a third championship opportunity alive.
During a recent interview with The Schmo, Brady offered to give Thompson that chance. Discussing his options in 2022, the 29-year-old suggested there aren’t many beyond “Wonderboy.”
“It’s a weird division,” Brady said. “Honestly, I’m nine, Wonderboy’s seven, I don’t really see any other options right now. I know the guys in the top five, they only want guys higher than them or a title fight, and then Neil Magny and me are training partners, we’re not fighting each other, and there’s Masvidal; I’m realistic, I know I’m not getting that fight. So I think me and Wonderboy would be a great fight.”
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With Brady evidently ruling out a clash with teammate Magny, that leaves the UFC with two pairs of training partners refusing to fight inside the 170-pound top 10, top-five contenders Burns and Vicente Luque being the other.
Nevertheless, should Brady fight and beat Thompson, avoiding a clash with “The Haitian Sensation” shouldn’t be an issue, as he’ll be well on his way towards title contention and not far from a shot at “The Nigerian Nightmare.”
How do you think a fight between Sean Brady and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson would play out?
Joanna Jędrzejczyk claims she could be fighting for the world title next if she wanted, but she has no intentions of sitting out for the required wait time.
Former UFC strawweight queen Joanna Jędrzejczyk has not competed since March 2020 in her Fight of the Year-qualifying war against Zhang Weili. Zhang barely squeaked out a split-decision victory and went on to battle Rose Namajunas in back-to-back title fights that saw Zhang come up short both times.
Meanwhile, Jędrzejczyk has been inactive since this classic struggle, waiting for the most suitable moment to make her long-awaited return. First, Jędrzejczyk expressed that she was not interested in competing while there were still no fans allowed in arenas due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She then voiced discontent with her current UFC contract, even though company president Dana White used her as an example of fighter wealth present on the company roster.
Joanna Jędrzejczyk Claims She Could Fight For Title In November/December
TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 8: Joanna Jedrzejczyk of Poland enters the ring prior to her fight against Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan in a flyweight bout during the UFC 231 event at Scotiabank Arena on December 8, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Last November, Jędrzejczyk did name three potential names for her return fight, however. She expressed interest in facing either the winner or loser of the Namajunas/Zhang rematch at UFC 268 or Carla Esparza. With Esparza now being pegged as next in line for Namajunas, that leaves Zhang.
Jędrzejczyk acknowledges this as her most likely next fight but also claimed that she could be fighting for the world title in the fourth quarter of 2022 if she so chose (via BBC Sport).
“I thought it might be Carla Esparza, but it’s been confirmed she is next to fight for the championship,” Jędrzejczyk told Polish TV show Kanal Sportowy recently. There was also [Maria] Rodriguez, but she fights [Xiaonan] Yan in March so that leaves Weili.
“I don’t see any other fight. [UFC president] Dana [White] made me an offer to fight for the championship, but I would have to wait until November [or] December and I don’t want to wait. I want to fight.”
Due to her inactivity, Jędrzejczyk is currently no longer in the strawweight rankings. She has lost two of her last three fights and four out of her last six. She also holds two title-fight losses to current champion Rose Namajunas.
What are your thoughts on Joanna Jędrzejczyk’s claim that she was offered to fight for the title at the end of 2022?
Paulo Costa’s manager insists that “Borrachinha” is staying put in the middleweight division.
It was unclear if Costa could handle the weight at 205 and make it all five rounds against Vettori. As commentator Michael Bisping mentioned early in round one, “I’m tellin’ ya, Paulo Costa’s fading already…” Dana White echoed these comments in the post-fight show. However, “Borrachinha” hung around after everything “The Italian Dream” unleashed.
The days leading up to UFC Vegas 41 kept MMA fans confused and Marvin Vettori frustrated as to whether the fight would happen at middleweight or catchweight, but despite the one-sided weight hurdles, both men put on an outstanding battle, throwing heavy attacks until the final bell. The pre-fight tension certainly let everyone know these two meant business, and it was an exciting matchup to see.
Photo Credit: MMA Fighting
After Costa failed to make weight for a middleweight fight—moving the fight from 185 to landing at 205 pounds—and did not take home the victory against Vettori, Dana White made the call to move him to light heavyweight.
“He’s a light heavyweight,” said White. “I mean, you guys saw him tonight. He’s massive.”
Costa’s Manager Claims Costa Will Remain At Middleweight
Despite White’s insistence that Costa move to 205 permanently, Costa’s manager, Wallid Ismail, remains determined to see his fighter become a champion at middleweight and claims White’s notion of Costa moving up a weight class has changed since the post-fight conference.
“The UFC is not the biggest fighting company in the world by chance,” Ismail told Sherdog.com. “They know that ‘Borrachinha’ was injured and that’s why he had problems with his weight. There is no doubt his next fight will take place in the middleweight division.”
So why was it difficult for Costa to make weight? He initially kept the MMA world in the dark about why he could not hit the 185lb mark. It was only during the post-fight press conference that Costa informed us about his weight-cut journey, in which he reported he “needed to stop some weeks in training” due to an injury to his left bicep.
Of course, Vettori shunned the excuse, claiming this explanation didn’t make any sense and that he didn’t buy Costa’s explanation.
Either way, Costa, now 13-2-0, is headed into a new UFC journey after his loss to Marvin Vettori, 18-5-1, during UFC Vegas 41 on October 23, moving down to #5 in the UFC middleweight rankings.
We now anticipate what comes next for “Borrachinha” and whether or not he will indeed remain in the middleweight division.
Do you think Paulo Costa should compete at middleweight or light heavyweight moving forward?
UFC Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou packs a heavy punch and knows a thing or two about striking.
In a Youtube video posted to his channel last Thursday, Ngannou came out and labeled potential foe Jon Jones as the best striker in MMA. Ngannou also talked about his most challenging fight, which was his first fight against Stipe Miocic; who the #1 trash talker in the sport is; the state of boxing; and who he thinks is the best striker in the sport. You can hear his explanation behind his best striker pick below.
“If I’m about to say the best striker for MMA striking it would still be Jon Jones,” said Ngannou. “For MMA striking, I would give it to Jon Jones. Because, like, with his elbow and all of that stuff he does.. the oblique kick, all those stuff. For MMA, it’s the perfect striking.”
Ngannou and Jones have had a little history with one another. The two were in talks of fighting in a blockbuster mega-fight before it got shut down due to failed contract negotiations between Jones and the UFC.
Ngannou also said that Gane, who he will be fighting on January 22nd is the best kickboxer in MMA.
“But if we go kickboxing style, then I think it will be Gane,” Ngannou said.
Ngannou and interim heavyweight champion Gane used to be former teammates and sparring partners. When the two step foot in the Octagon in a few weeks, the undisputed heavyweight champion will be crowned. This will be the first title fight of 2022 and Ngannou’s first title defense since becoming the champion last March when he KO’d Stipe Miocic.
You can hear Ngannou’s thoughts on the other range of topics he covered in the video below.
Undisputed Lightweight Champion Katie Taylor has praised Claressa Shields for her venture into MMA but believes the unified middleweight titleholder should now focus solely on her boxing career.
Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the only boxer in history to hold all four major world titles simultaneously across two weight classes, tested the waters of mixed martial arts as part of the rising PFL promotion in 2021. Having built an unblemished 11-0 record in the squared circle, “T-Rex” looked to create similar success in the cage.
Last June, Shields got off to a winning start in her new sport, recovering from two dropped rounds to TKO Brittney Elkin in the third on debut. But while she was able to overcome her ground deficiencies in her first appearance, the 26-year-old was unable to do the same in her second outing.
At the PFL Finale in October, Shields suffered her first professional loss in combat sports. She fell on the wrong side of a split decision against Abigail Montes after failing to prevent her opponent’s takedowns and keep the fight on the feet.
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Taylor Gives Her Take On Shields’ Two-Sport Venture
But one of her fellow pound-for-pound boxing stars Katie Taylor believes a return to MMA wouldn’t be wise. Speaking during an appearance on The MMA Hour, the Irish champion credited Shields for taking on the cross-over challenger. However, “KT” believes she should now streamline all her efforts towards her career in the ring.
“I definitely didn’t expect (Shields to fight in MMA). But I thought it was a fantastic challenge for her to take on because boxing and MMA are two completely different sports. It’s very, very hard for anyone in boxing to cross over because, obviously, we have no ground game.
“If anybody got me to the ground, for example, it would be a huge problem for me. I think obviously you always have a puncher’s chance maybe, but it’s a priority — it’s very, very hard to stay on your feet. So I think it was an admirable challenge for her to take on. But I would love for her just to focus on boxing now.”
Taylor’s plea for Shields to leave her MMA career in the past, for now at least, comes ahead of what looks to be a busy year in boxing for the “GWOAT.”
Shields was initially set to return to the sport to defend her middleweight belts against Slovenia’s Ema Kozin later this month. However, with the British Boxing Board of Control announcing the suspension of the sport in the UK due to COVID-19, the status of that clash, scheduled for Cardiff, Wales, is uncertain.
Beyond that, Shields looks set for a blockbuster undisputed middleweight showdown with England’s Savannah Marshall later this year. With exciting challenges ahead of her in boxing, Taylor believes her immediate future is best set in the squared circle and nowhere else.
“There’s a lot of big fights out there for her,” Taylor said. “The likes of Savannah Marshall, who’s a fantastic world champion fighter, and I think Savannah actually beat her as an amateur fighter, so that is a huge, huge, huge fight for them. It’s probably one of the biggest fights in women’s boxing.” (h/t Boxing Scene)
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Do you agree with Katie Taylor? Should Claressa Shields focus on her career inside the ring?
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping thinks he would get the last laugh against Georges St-Pierre if they were to fight again.
Bisping made his second title defense against the returning St-Pierre at UFC 217. After going back-and-forth on the feet, St-Pierre would eventually get the fight to the ground and put Bisping to sleep with a rear-naked choke.
Despite being the larger man in the matchup, Bisping appeared to have issues with St-Pierre’s athleticism and grappling throughout the fight. Bisping would go on to lose to Kelvin Gastelum following the title loss, before retiring shortly afterward.
Bisping has transitioned to a career in broadcasting as a part of the UFC on ESPN crew. But he feels if he were to get a rematch against St-Pierre, things would’ve gone differently.
Michael Bisping Believes He Would ‘Smash’ Georges St-Pierre
“I would smash him,” Bisping said during a recent Q+A. “I would have smashed him that night (UFC 217) but I was injured. I was very injured and–I had one eye, and I had my ribs torn.
“You know what, and to be honest, I’m not diminishing Georges–I was impaired in that fight, I was injured and whatever. Yeah, there was nothing that really troubled me–until the shot that dropped me. I mean, we knew going into it he’d be a tremendous wrestler and that was a big part of the training camp. I couldn’t move well because of my ribs. Georges was aggressive in that fight, but he never really hurt me till the third round, when obviously he caught me with that left hook. It was a great shot and he choked me out, so God bless him for that one.” (h/t LowKickMMA)
Both athletes are in their 40s now and haven’t expressed significant interest in returning to MMA anytime soon. For now, it remains speculative as to how a Bisping vs. St-Pierre rematch would’ve played out.
What are your thoughts on Michael Bisping’s comments?
Former UFC fighter Mark Hunt has proposed a potential fight with UFC’s top figures to potentially drop his lawsuit against them.
Hunt has been in a legal battle with the UFC for years. He first took them to court over his 2017 bout against Brock Lesnar. He alleged that the promotion knew Lesnar was taking performance-enhancing substances but allowed him to fight Hunt anyway.
Hunt recently issued a statement online saying he is willing to drop his lawsuit if he loses a fight to Dana White, Frank, and Lorenzo Fertitta. On the flip side, he wants a win for him to mean UFC would pay talent they have “ripped off.”
“Mark the super Samoan vs Dana the parasite White Lorenzo Fertita and Frank Fertita,” Hunt began in an Instagram post. “5 rounds mma these losers @danawhite frank Fertita Lorenzo Fertita has sucked the life out of so many fighters him and his scum friends -u win I drop the law suit-I win u pay every fighter u have ripped off since @ufc started now who would pay to see that.”
Hunt Recently Ordered To Pay Nearly $400k In Legal Fees For UFC
The United States District Court in Nevada recently ordered Hunt to pay nearly $400,000 to cover UFC’s legal fees. The ruling for Hunt to pay legal fees was made months back and was uncovered recently by Combat Sports Law.
The order for Hunt to pay the fees was made due to a part of Hunt’s contract with the UFC, which allows them to be awarded money for “its attorney’s fees and costs” if they are the “prevailing party” in a lawsuit. UFC was able to dismiss numerous motions in the case.
“Because I find that UFC is entitled to attorneys’ fees and costs under the parties’ agreement, its request is reasonable, and its motion is ripe, I grant UFC’s motion in its entirety,” said the Nevada court in a document dated March 25th, 2021.
Light heavyweights Johnny Walker and Jamahal Hill are set to clash on Feb. 19 at UFC Fight Night 202 in Las Vegas.
MMAFighting.com broke the news today that the two would be added to the February fight night, which will be the fifth event of the 2022 year.
Walker, the 10th ranked light heavyweight, only fought once last year in a bout where he lost to former title challenger Thiago Santos via unanimous decision. Walker will be looking to get in the victory column for the first time in over a year. His last victory came on September 19, 2020, against Ryan Spann by KO.
It was also reported that Walker has signed a new six-fight contract with the UFC.
As for Hill, the #12-ranked light heavyweight, he will be looking to pick up his second win in a three-month span as he was victorious in his last fight against Jimmy Crute, who he knocked out in less than a minute at UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo. Prior to his last victory, Hill tasted defeat for the first time in his career as he was submitted by Paul Craig.
A victory for either fighter should put them a step closer to a title shot, and this fight has the potential to be a fight of the night candidate.
Who do you think will win between Johnny Walker and Jamahal Hill?
Anthony Johnson may not fight again for a little while.
Johnson was supposed to face Vadim Nemkov in the light heavyweight semifinals but was forced to pull out of the fight with an undisclosed illness. Now, according to Bellator President Scott Coker, “Rumble” is still dealing with that and remains out.
“I talked to him about a week ago and we had a very good conversation,” Bellator president Coker told MMA Junkie. “Without getting too much into his medical condition, he’s got to worry just about being healthy first. Fighting will always be there. I told him to keep doing what he’s doing, keep listening to the doctors and keep at it. We’re going to be here, we’re not going anywhere. If you get cleared at some point, we’ll definitely have you back.
Image Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea of USA Today Sports
“I think he has a little ways to go, to be honest, and we’re going to be there rooting him on. But until he gets clearance – I don’t look at it like he’s going to be fighting in six months or four months or eight months,” Coker continued about Johnson. “Let him take his time, let him get healthy and when he gets healthy we can have a conversation. If it’s a year from now, 18 months from now, or six months from now, we’ll get at it. But until then, he’s got to heal up and get healthy because there’s so much more in life than just fighting. I want him to have a long, healthy life and that’s the most important thing.”
Anthony Johnson had a successful Bellator debut back in May at Bellator 221, where he knocked out Jose Augusto in the opening round of the grand prix. It marked his first fight since UFC 210 where he was submitted by Daniel Cormier for the UFC’s light heavyweight title.
In his career, Rumble holds notable wins over Glover Teixeira, Ryan Bader, Alexander Gustafsson, Andrei Arlovski, Phil Davis, and Jimi Manuwa. He is also a fan-favorite due to his one-punch KO power, so the hope is he will be able to fight sometime in 2022.
Who would you like to see Anthony Johnson fight when he returns?
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