MMA News

Category: News

Stay up-to-date with the latest MMA news from around the globe. Our comprehensive feed covers all major promotions.

  • Poirier & Diaz Set Their Sights On January Clash In Twitter Exchange

    UFC stars Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz have seemingly agreed to come to blows in January after the Stockton native responded to the former interim lightweight champion’s callout.

    Poirier’s enthusiastic push for a long-desired meeting in the Octagon with Diaz comes just days out from his second failed attempt at reaching the lightweight mountaintop. Having previously fallen short against the great Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019, Poirier’s second opportunity to culminate his inspirational journey arrived at UFC 269 last weekend.

    Unlike his clash with “The Eagle,” the Louisianan challenged champion Charles Oliveira as the favorite. Nevertheless, the Brazilian’s story of upsetting the odds entered another chapter, as he submitted Poirier in the third round with a rear-naked choke, a painfully similar scenario for the #2-ranked lightweight contender.

    Following the loss, Poirier made an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour. The 32-year-old was initially emotional and distraught about the defeat and couldn’t even confirm if he’d fight again.

    But when the direction steered towards an opponent that could re-motivate him, Poirier appeared to find a new lease of Octagon life when the thought of facing fan-favorite Diaz arrived in his head. After suggesting he may never make the cut to 155 pounds again, Poirier named the veteran Stockton brawler as the one name that would get him excited to compete again.

    “When I’ve been lying down, thinking about fights, nothing gets me excited—unless Nate Diaz wants to fight. If he wants to fight, that gets me excited.”

    An Immediate Rebound Opportunity For Poirier?

    The change in Poirier’s tone when a potential Diaz clash came up was noticeable, and the former interim titleholder wasted no time in doubling down on his willingness for a quick turnaround against the 36-year-old.

    Taking to Twitter, Poirier still had Diaz’s name on his mind in the hours after his initial comments.

    “Nathaniel?”

    It didn’t take long for Diaz to react to Poirier’s interview, and he did so with an even better response than fans would have hoped for. Not only did he accept the challenge, but The Ultimate Fighter 5 winner proposed they throw down next month.

    “I’ll fight Dp in January don’t be a scared lil bitch this time now or never.”

    If the fight comes together, it will be one that is three years in the making, and with a built-in backstory. The pair were originally set to collide at UFC 230 in 2018. The bout fell through at late notice, however. While the pair have continued to exchange words since, it appeared their chance to settle their differences in the Octagon had passed.

    But with the fight well and truly back on the radar, it seems fans may not have to wait long for the feud to reach the cage. Following Diaz’s response, Poirier went one better, suggesting he’d even fight him this month, a statement of intent the Stockton native wasn’t entertaining.

    “I’ll fight you this month,” Poirier wrote. Doubting that, Diaz responded, “Ur full of shit.”

    Fighters expressing their willingness to face each other on social media is nothing new, and the genuine nature of the exchanges is often hard to see. However, that doesn’t appear to be the case here. Ariel Helwani confirmed as much following their posts on social media.

    Taking to his own Twitter account, the renowned MMA journalist claimed both men are “legitimately serious” about facing each other in January.

    “Both @NateDiaz209 and @DustinPoirier are legitimately serious about fighting each other next month, I’m told. Both would accept the fight right away for January.”

    With Dustin Poirier’s desire to mount another challenge looking distant at the moment and his interest in a move up to welterweight made clear in previous interviews, it seems like the right time for “The Diamond” to test the waters at 170 pounds. And what better first challenge than a blockbuster matchup against former rival and always-entertaining slugger Nate Diaz?

    How do you think a welterweight fight between Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz would play out?

  • Jon Jones’ Battery Domestic Violence Charge Has Been Dismissed

    The latest criminal charges brought against Jon Jones have been resolved.

    In September, Jon Jones was arrested for battery domestic violence and injuring and tampering with a vehicle. According to Las Vegas court records, Jones pleaded no contest Tuesday to the vehicle-related charges stemming from him headbutting a police car while being detained. As a result, he was ordered to pay a restitution fee of $750 for damages caused to the vehicle.

    Additionally, the domestic violence charge brought against him has been dismissed. The court ordered Jones to attend anger management counseling, but this has already been completed.

    Following the September arrest, Jones made a vow to “remove alcohol from his life forever.” Last month, he celebrated 60 days of sobriety. He has also posted updates of his personal relationship with fiancée Jessie Moses after allegedly assaulting her during the Las Vegas incident. The pair has presented a united front and remains committed to their relationship moving forward.

    Jon Jones is widely considered to be one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. He holds the record for most UFC light heavyweight title defenses, and his only career loss was in a controversial disqualification against Matt Hamill in 2009.

    With these charges now behind him, Jones is free and clear to return to the Octagon in 2022, as he has repeatedly expressed to be his intention. Jones has stated that he expects to face the winner of the UFC 270 title-unification bout between undisputed champion Francis Ngannou and interim champion Ciryl Gane slated for January 22.

    MMA News will keep you in the loop on any additional updates regarding Jon Jones’ next bout as he prepares to make his heavyweight debut in 2022.

  • Jorge Masvidal Roasts Nate Diaz For ‘Ironic’ Diss Of Dustin Poirier

    It seems that Jorge Masvidal is looking to reignite a rivalry with Nate Diaz.

    Masvidal and Diaz squared off in 2019, for the specially crafter BMF title. And while the belt ended with a win for “Gamebred” after a doctor’s stoppage, they have constantly flirted with the idea of fight each other again. Over the years, they have gone back and forth on a few occasions, with talks even developing of a rematch at various points.

    Now it seems that they are going at it once more, this time stemming from a tweet that Nate Diaz posted after Masvidal’s American Top Team teammate Dustin Poirier got submitted by Charles Oliveira at UFC 269. Diaz seemed to mock the lightweight title challenger for losing both of his championship attempts by rear-nake choke, implying that he did not learn anything.

    “These guys don’t get any better ?” Diaz wrote.

    This prompted a response from Jorge Masvidal a few days after this tweet. The BMF champ lambasted the Stockton native for criticizing a fighter for not improving while he has had his own notable defensive flaws for years.

    “Just came across this and it’s so ironic that the individual who can’t block low kicks high kicks or mid kicks is talking shit about fighters getting better #canyouevenspelldoubleleg” Masvidal quipped.

    With Jorge Masvidal opening this can of worms again, it is hard not to wonder if he is trying to secure a fight with Diaz after his attempted rebound against Leon Edwards fell apart due to injury. Whether it be this or “Gamebred” just defending his teammate, it is never boring to see these two squabble online.

  • Hardy Still Hopes To Fight Woodley In 2022 Despite Paul Rematch

    Despite Tyron Woodley being set to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul for a second time this weekend, his fellow former UFC welterweight Dan Hardy still hopes to fight him in 2022.

    Woodley, a former UFC Welterweight Champion, departed MMA’s biggest stage after losing four fights on the bounce. After an unlikely feud with Paul developed following the internet personality’s boxing match with Woodley’s teammate Ben Askren, “The Chosen One” put his reputation on the line by throwing on the gloves for a bout with “The Problem Child.”

    After a largely uneventful eight rounds, the combat sports community was left disappointed as Woodley fell on the wrong side of a split decision. Despite his calls for a rematch, which culminated in him seemingly honoring a pre-fight tattoo bet, Woodley appeared to be left out in the cold by Paul, who suggested he’d never run it back with the 39-year-old.

    Fast forward less than four months and Paul vs. Woodley 2 is set for December 18 courtesy of Tommy Fury pulling out of his grudge match with the Cleveland native.

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

    Hardy Says “There’s Still Time” To Make Woodley Fight Happen

    Tyron Woodley’s second clash with the YouTube sensation comes after he’d appeared set to face former UFC analyst Dan Hardy. In recent months, the pair have developed a rivalry thanks to some exchanges on social media. Reports in November suggested the two former 170-pound UFC stars were preparing to meet in the ring early in 2022.

    With the latest revelation, it stands to reason that this clash could be in jeopardy, especially if Woodley emerges victorious on December 18 and sets up a trilogy match with Paul. But despite surprisingly rooting for his foe, Hardy still believes he could be standing face-to-face with Woodley next year.

    During an appearance on Submission Radio, “The Outlaw” suggested his planned matchup with Woodley, which was looking good for March, still has time to go ahead.

    “It makes sense as to why he’s gone a bit quiet with the other promoter that we’ve been speaking to. Because, you know, they probably had him in reserve thinking one of these guys might fall out anyway. But, you know, the fight that we were talking about is in March, so there’s still time to make that happen… If he wants to fight, I’ll fight him. As long as he knows that’s the facts then I’m happy. He knows that there’s a contract on the table, and if he doesn’t sign it, then he knows the reasons why and they’re between him and himself.”

    Tyron Woodley has since come out and stated that a fight against Hardy does not excite him, thus throwing even more cold water on this bout taking place. Still, who’d have thought that a Jake Paul performance in the ring would play a factor in whether or not we see Dan Hardy, who hasn’t competed since 2012, and a former UFC champion throwing on the boxing gloves? What a bizarre state combat sports is in.

    Would you like to see Dan Hardy and Tyron Woodley settle their differences inside the squared circle next year?

  • Kevin Lee Will Be Paid Exclusively In Bitcoin For Eagle FC Fights

    Kevin Lee’s four-fight contract with Eagle FC will be paid to him exclusively through cryptocurrency Bitcoin.

    After being paid in money during his long UFC career, Lee will be taking a unique route to kick off his partnership with Eagle FC.

    Lee’s deal with Eagle FC was first announced Wednesday. His signing came just more than a week after his UFC career had an abrupt end. The promotion reportedly cut him from their roster in late November, ending an 18-fight run in the Octagon.

    Lee described his new deal as a lucrative first in the sport.

    “To be the first MMA fighter who has a deal worth millions of dollars in Bitcoin, the first one, there was some appeal to that for me,” said Lee in an interview on The MMA Hour.

    Lee: Bitcoin Saved Me Before

    Kevin Lee
    Kevin Lee (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

    Lee’s interest in cryptocurrency is in part due to how it has helped him before. Lee described in his interview how an investment he made into Bitcoin four years ago allowed him to make money while he was dealing with injuries last year.

    “After my fight with Tony [Ferguson], I invested in Bitcoin all the way back then. Honestly, when I had the knee surgeries, it saved my a**. Because I forgot about that money, but then when Bitcoin blew back up, that gave me some money to live off of. So it’s something that I really believe in and that’s honestly gonna be the big future.”

    Lee’s new contract is part of a slowly growing trend seen around sports. NFL player Sean Culkin announced earlier this year that he will have a contract that is exclusively paid in Bitcoin. He is the first fighter in NFL’s history to do so.

    Jorge Masvidal’s bare-knuckle MMA promotion Gamebred Fighting Championship has utilized cryptocurrency in the past, using it to hand out performance bonuses after events.

    Do you expect more fighters to ask for cryptocurrency-based contracts in the future?

  • Stephen Thompson Wants To Become The Oldest Fighter In UFC History

    Stephen Thompson hopes his already illustrious MMA career can be record-breaking by the time he retires.

    The experienced UFC welterweight said recently that he wants to compete for many years to come, hoping to eventually become the oldest fighter in the promotion’s history.

    Thompson still has a long way to go before he can call himself the oldest to grace the UFC octagon. For example, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture was 47 years old when he fought in his final MMA bout, losing to Lyoto Machida in 2011.

    Nonetheless, the way Thompson feels now indicates that he has a lot left in the tank. He revealed his optimistic career aspirations in a recent interview on The MMA Hour.

    “I want to break records, man. I wanna be the oldest guy who ever fought in the UFC. They are going to have to bring out a senior division or something,” he said, joking in his interview. “It’s the plan. I will do this as long as my body will let me or when my dad says I’m done.” (H/T Sportskeeda)

    The fighting style of Thompson could potentially be a contributing factor for his longevity in the sport. The karate-base fighter has only been finished in one of his fights and has taken little damage in many of his other showings.

    Thompson Isn’t Going Anywhere Soon

    Stephen Thompson, Belal Muhammad
    Stephen Thompson, Belal Muhammad (Image Credits: Jeff Bottari/Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)

    Also in the interview, Thompson gave credit to his team for how he is currently progressing as a fighter.

    “I have always loved fighting, but I never thought that I would be where I am today and still feeling the way I do. And obviously, that has a lot to do with the coaches and the way I’m training so hats off to those guys.”

    It’s uncertain whether Thompson can become the oldest fighter in UFC’s history. However, it’s safe to say the welterweight likely won’t be departing the sport soon. Thompson’s management announced earlier this week that he reached a new deal that will keep him on the UFC roster.

    Thompson said on The MMA Hour that his new contract is a six-fight deal.

    Thompson will return to the Octagon this Saturday when he faces rising contender Belal Muhammad. The co-main event fight is part of UFC’s final event of the year.

    Do you think Stephen Thompson can become one of the oldest fighters in UFC history?

  • Darren Till: Oliveira Would Beat Any LW In The World, Including Khabib

    Darren Till believes Charles Oliveira would beat Khabib Nurmagomedov after he cemented himself as the UFC’s top lightweight on Saturday night.

    In the main event of UFC 269, Oliveira defended his lightweight strap for the first time as he submitted Dustin Poirier in the third round. In the lead-up to the fight, many claimed Poirier was the real lightweight champ after the Brazilian won the vacant title by knocking out Michael Chandler.

    Yet, Oliveira proved just how good he is as he was showed off his durable and then submitted Poirier to defend his belt. The victory extended his winning streak to 10 fights. For Darren Till, he believes Oliveira is the best lightweight and would beat Nurmagomedov.

    “I know what I possess inside me. I know why all these people believe in me and why I should believe in myself, because of how f*cking good I know I am,” Till said to MMAFighting. “That’s all it is, a few little tweaks and a few little adjustments and I’m right back there. Trust me, I’ll be right back there breaking records and beating all the best. To take example by Charles Oliveira, look again at the weekend.

    Charles Oliveira finishes Dustin Poirier with standing rear-naked choke to retain lightweight title in UFC 269 main event - MMA Fighting
    Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

    “He was the underdog going into the fight, and you can ask any c**t, I love Dustin Poirier, I’ve known the guy for years, he’s a great guy,” Till continued. “But anyone who asked me, I would say, ‘Oliveira’s gonna win the fight.’ I tell you mate, he’s the best lightweight on the planet right now, including Khabib. He’s the best lightweight on the planet, trust me.”

    Although Darren Till believes Charles Oliveira is better than Khabib Nurmagomedov, unfortunately, at this time it won’t ever be proven. “The Eagle” is retired and it seems certain he won’t ever come back again. However, if Oliveira continues to win, there is no question that Till won’t be the only fighter to think “Do Bronx” would beat Nurmagomedov.

    Do you think Charles Oliveira would beat Khabib Nurmagomedov?

  • Poirier Only Excited For Nate Diaz Bout, May Never Fight At LW Again

    Dustin Poirier may be in store for some wholesale changes to his career after losing to Charles Oliveira at UFC 269, including a new division with an ‘exciting’ first opponent.

    At UFC 269, Dustin Poirier hoped to finally reach the mountaintop and become a UFC champion. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be, and he lost via rear-naked choke for the second time when bidding to become the undisputed lightweight champion.

    Four days removed from the event, Poirier appeared on The MMA Hour to reflect on the loss and what may be next for him. One revelation made by Poirier is that a strong part of him feels he will never have the opportunity to become the lightweight champion again. As he alluded to at the post-fight press conference, that uncertainty is rooted in questions of desire, not his abilities.

    “I don’t know if I’m gonna make that cut again,” Poirier said about a potential quick path back to a lightweight title shot. “I might never fight at 155 pounds again. I don’t know the future.”

    Poirier recalled back to when he chose to make the move from featherweight to lightweight in 2015, a decision brought about by very similar circumstances.

    “Yeah, that’s kinda what nudged me to go over the edge to go to ‘55 when I was at ‘45. I was close to a title shot then I lost to Conor in 2014, and I knew  I would have to make that cut three, four, fight more times, whatever it would be to get another title shot, and I just didn’t have it in me to do it.

    DraftKings fantasy MMA daily picks: UFC Fight Night 94, Poirier vs. Johnson
    Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

    “And here I am at ’55, and I’m thinking, like, well, if I gotta fight two, three more times to get a title shot, I don’t know if I wanna live those training camps on low calories pushing my body like that. I’d rather just do it and have fun because I love what I’m doing, making it as enjoyable as possible instead of sacrificing and hurting every day in camp because I’m low in calories.”

    The One Fight That Gets Dustin Poirier Excited

    Dustin Poirier Nate Diaz
    (via AP & Zuffa LLC)

    During the interview, Poirier confessed that he does not know what the future holds for him. He is not fully certain when or even if he will fight again. Looking at the landscape at both lightweight and welterweight, nothing particularly gets the veteran’s motor running—that is except for one guy from Stockton, California.

    “When I’ve been lying down, thinking about fights, nothing gets me excited—unless Nate Diaz wants to fight. If he wants to fight, that gets me excited.”

    Diaz and Poirier were booked to fight in 2018 at UFC 230, but that fight fell through for unconfirmed reasons. Since then, the two have occasionally chirped back and forth at one another on social media. Most recently, Diaz threw a shot at a downed Poirier immediately following the Louisianian’s loss to Oliveira.

    Earlier this year, Diaz revealed that he is still keen on the idea of fighting Poirier, and that interest has always been returned. Diaz’s current contract with the UFC has been extended, which buys him and the UFC more time to land the perfect opponent for the final fight on his current deal. So all things considered, now may be as good a time as there ever will be to finally settle some unfinished business.

    Would YOU be excited to see Dustin Poirier vs. Nate Diaz in 2022?

  • Woodley Says Paul Is In His DMs, But ‘Disrespect Won’t Be Tolerated’

    This time around, Tyron Woodley is ready for all of the antics of Jake Paul.

    Woodley agreed to step up on short notice in replacing an injured Tommy Fury to have a rematch with Paul after their first fight resulted in a loss for the former UFC welterweight champion. It initially seemed that his decision to get Paul’s name tattooed on his finger in exchange for a rematch was for naught. However, the stars aligned and now he will have the opportunity for redemption.

    Heading into this bout, Woodley is approaching things with a completely different mindset than the first fight. Speaking in a recent interview with Submission Radio, he said that he is going into this rematch very aware of the antics that Jake Paul will try to use, saying that he is already getting DMs from the YouTuber.

    “I expect him to try to do something to ruffle my feathers. He’s a kid, you know what I mean? That’s what I’ve also gotta remember. There’s gonna be antics, he’s already started social media stuff, he’s sending me DMs,” Woodley said. “I’m already expecting that. But disrespect won’t be tolerated. So if they do that again, last time they got a warning, this time there’s gonna be action. So I don’t think that’s gonna happen. But I do expect shenanigans. I expect him to do some BS at the press conference.”

    It will be curious to see how this press conference goes between Tyron Woodley and Jake Paul, and if there are any sort of altercations that happen as a result of it. That said, it does seem unlikely that either man would do something to put this fight in serious jeopardy, no matter what antics are being used.

    Jake Paul vs Tyron Woodley 2 goes down this weekend, December 18th, and you can watch the full interview with the former champ in the video below:

  • Kayla Harrison: Nunes “Starches” Peña 9 Times Out Of 10

    Despite giving props to Julianna Peña for her victory over Amanda Nunes, two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison is confident the newly-crowned UFC bantamweight queen wouldn’t be able to repeat it.

    Nunes, Harrison’s American Top Team teammate, saw her 12-fight win streak and reign over the 135-pound weight class collapse in the co-main event of UFC 269 last weekend. Having defeated the likes of Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, and Holly Holm, and ascended the mountaintop of two divisions, it was the unlikely challenge of Peña that proved to be the David to her Goliath.

    But if you ask “The Venezuelan Vixen,” there was nothing surprising about the result on December 11. She predicted it throughout fight week. Her confidence was struck down by most, including Nunes, who branded her “delusional.”

    On fight night, Peña brought the heat to the “Lioness” on the feet, piecing her up with her jab, before forcing the action to the mat and securing her place on the throne with a submission triumph.

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

    Harrison, who considers Nunes to be a friend, as well as training partner, was in attendance for the demise of the 33-year-old’s dominance at bantamweight. In an interview with TMZ Sports, the unbeaten lightweight star expressed her sadness at seeing Nunes defeated.

    “I was heartbroken, obviously, for my teammate and my friend. I have a lot of respect for Amanda. I help her train, I’ve trained with her, she’s helped me, you know, we’re teammates, I would consider her a friend, so first and foremost, I was heartbroken for her.”

    Nevertheless, Harrison maintained that the loss wasn’t something we’d see often. The two-time Olympic gold medalist suggested Nunes would have no trouble dispatching Peña 90% of the time.

    “I still think that if they fought 10 times, nine times out of 10 Amanda starches her. But sometimes it’s just not your night, no matter what yo do, no matter how hard you prepare, no matter how good you feel or how confident you are, sometimes things just don’t go your way. That’s the craziness of this sport.”

    Harrison Promises Peña A “2-For-1 ATT Special If She Keeps Talking”

    Harrison’s theory could well be put to the test in 2022. After Dana White confirmed the former champ has the option for a rematch on the table if she wants it, both Nunes and the newly-crowned titleholder suggested it makes sense. However, Peña could be facing more than just a “Lioness” if she continues down her current path.

    Following her title crowning, Peña discussed the possibility of facing Harrison. Dismissing the threat of the Ohio native, “The Venezuelan Vixen” branded the PFL champ, who she said has only fought in the “B-leagues” the “lesser of the training partners” at ATT.

    In response, Harrison said that if she’s not careful, Peña could be the recipient of a special offer out of the famed Florida-based gym.

    “I think that she (Nunes) takes a little time off, she relaxes, she spends time with her family, with her daughter, with her wife, and then we get right back at it. I talked to her that night, I was like, ‘This puta’s about to get a 2-for-1 ATT special if she keeps talking.’”

    Given their current weight discrepancy, which has the pair fighting 20 pounds apart, a Harrison vs. Peña matchup seems unlikely unless the UFC champ chooses to move up to featherweight. With that in mind, the more likely bout is seemingly a championship clash between the two ATT teammates.

    With Nunes still in possession of the 145-pound gold, and Harrison’s free agency status leaving the door open for a move to the UFC, we could see the two friends collide down the line.

    Do you agree with Kayla Harrison? Would Amanda Nunes beat Julianna Peña nine times out of 10?

  • Derek Brunson vs. Jared Cannonier Moved To UFC 271 In February

    The middleweight title eliminator between Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier has been moved to UFC 271 on February 12.

    ESPN was the first to report the new date for the bout. The event is set to be headlined by Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker and is scheduled to take place in the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

    Barring the unexpected, this match will be widely viewed as a #1-contender bout to determine who faces the winner of Adesanya/Whittaker 2, with one of the two men potentially acting as a replacement option for the main event.

    Both Brunson and Cannonier have compelling arguments for a title shot. In Brunson’s case, he is currently riding an impressive five-fight winning streak, including most recently finishing former UFC title challenger Darren Till in September. For Cannonier, he was victorious in a bout in August in defeating Kelvin Gastelum, thus making it four wins out of his last five fights.

    With this adjustment, here is the updated lineup for UFC 271:

    UFC Middleweight Championship Bout: Israel Adesanya(c) vs. Robert Whittaker

    Jared Cannonier vs. Derek Brunson

    Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell

    Alexander Hernandez vs. Renato Moicano

    Roxanne Modafferi vs. Casey O’Neill

    Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Sergey Morozov

    Mark Madsen vs. Vinc Pichel

    Fabio Cherant vs. Carlos Ulberg

    Orion Cosce vs. Mike Mathetha

    Maxim Grishin vs. Ed Herman

    Ronnie Lawrence vs. Mana Martinez

    AJ Dobson vs. Jacob Malkoun

    Who do you think will emerge victorious in this middleweight title eliminator between Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier?

  • PFL Commits To Holding Events In Africa And Europe In 2022

    The Professional Fighters League (PFL) will be branching out beyond North America in 2022, with plans to hold events in Africa and Europe.

    The PFL is one of the fastest-growing MMA promotions in the world. Ever since adopting its season-themed approach to the sport, the PFL has begun airing on ESPN and has become the home to stars of yesterday and tomorrow, with names like Rory MacDonald, Anthony Pettis, Kayla Harrison, and Claressa Shields competing in the promotion. With the $1 million prize offered to the winner of each division’s tournament, the PFL is expected to continue attracting big names for several years to come.

    As the promotion continues to grow, one of its New Year’s resolutions is to continue its expansion onto new soil. This includes Africa, a continent that has given birth to UFC champions Kamaru Usman, Israel Adesanya, and Francis Ngannou. Yet, according to PFL CEO Peter Murray, the PFL will be putting on events in Africa before the UFC does.

    “We’ll be making announcements in the first quarter of 2022,” Murray said. “What I can tell you is we’re committed to Africa as a priority market, to develop and grow the sport – at the pro level, at the grassroots level,” Murray told The Independent.

    “We’re committed to expanding PFL distribution throughout the continent in 2022, and we’re also committed to staging events in Africa in 2022. So, the plans are firm, it’s just a matter of finalising partnerships and rolling out those details. But come first quarter, we’ll be in a better position to share some context on that.”

    Murray also plans on making a splash in the European market next year as well, with the continent figuring largely into the promotion’s 2022 plans.

    “With respect to Europe, and in particular the UK, we’re excited about staging events,” Murray said. “We’ll have a new premium distribution partner in the UK in 2022 – critically important for the PFL – so we expect to tick the box on both distribution and live events in the UK next year.”

    The PFL is currently being distributed in 160 countries. In addition to these expansion plans, the PFL has also recently announced a “Challenger Series” that will serve as a scouting mechanism for new talent, similar to Dana White’s Contender Series. With all these changes coming down the pike, 2022 figures to be a very ambitious year for the North American promotion.

  • Charles Oliveira Approves Conor McGregor’s Request For LW Title Shot

    UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira has given the green light for his red-panty night.

    Conor McGregor has let it be known that when he makes his return to the Octagon, he expects to be greeted with a world title shot. Being that McGregor is currently ranked down at #9 and has not won a fight since January 2020, not everyone is taking his expectation seriously. However, one of the only people whose opinion matters, Charles Oliveira himself, is very much on board with the idea.

    “If I had the chance [in the past] to fight for the belt or fight Conor, everybody knows I’d fight for the belt,” Oliveira told MMA Fighting through translation. “That already happened, I’m the champion now. The champion has a name and his name is Charles Oliveira, Charles ‘do Bronx.’ If I had the chance to fight Conor for money today, I would. The belt is mine and continues being mine. We’ll continue building our legacy and making history.”

    With Oliveira being the undisputed UFC lightweight champion, he certainly has a say in what is next for him. UFC President Dana White has already confirmed that the current plan is for Oliveira to defend his title against Justin Gaethje next. But if the choice were Oliveira’s, the champion insists that he’s no dummy and would opt for the cash grab.

    “If I had the opportunity to fight Conor, I would definitely fight Conor. The belt is mine regardless. The division has to get by and wait a little bit. There’s nothing else to do. We have to think about our families, our children, think about what we can do down the line.”

    Oliveira would have little sympathy for his lightweight peers if McGregor jumped the line because they weren’t willing to give him an opportunity before he became champion. That being said, Oliveira doesn’t intend on lobbying for the McGregor fight and will continue to be a company man and fight whomever the promotion wants him to, including #1 contender Justin Gaethje.

    “That happened to me,” Oliveira said. “I was the No. 7 in the rankings and wanted to fight [top contenders] and they didn’t want to. The champion has a name now, we’re part of the same organization, and I’ll fight whoever the UFC puts against me. If they say it’s Conor, I’ll fight him. If they say it’s Justin, I’ll fight him. I just want to go home now and get some rest with my daughter and go back to the cage as soon as possible.”

    What would be your reaction if Conor McGregor skipped the line to a title shot against Charles Oliveira?

  • Vicente Luque On Chimaev Fight: All He Has To Do Is Say My Name

    UFC welterweight contender Vicente Luque has welcomed a fight against rising star Khamzat Chimaev, saying the decision to sign the contract would be “simple” for him.

    Luque has been on an impressive rise up the 170-pound ladder. Since a 2017 loss to the #3-ranked Leon Edwards, the Brazilian has gone 10-1, defeating the likes of Niko Price, Bryan Barberena, Mike Perry, and Randy Brown, and losing to only Stephen Thompson.

    Since his setback to “Wonderboy,” Luque has won four straight, including 2021 victories over former champion Tyron Woodley and then-top-five contender Michael Chiesa. His victory over “Maverick,” which came at UFC 265 in August, saw “The Silent Assassin” expertly reverse position to submit Chiesa with a D’Arce choke.

    Luque Places The Ball In Chimaev’s Court

    After his latest victory, Vicente Luque continued his callouts of fan-favorite Nate Diaz, with the Stockton native even appearing to publicly accept the fight. But with talk of that clash disappearing, the 30-year-old is now on the hunt for other potential foes, and he’s certainly not afraid of anyone, not even an undefeated brute outside the top 10.

    After making a splash in the UFC last year, Khamzat Chimaev was forced to the sidelines with a bad bout of COVID-19. When he returned at UFC 267 in October, “Borz” immediately entered the rankings and the title conversation with a first-round domination of Li Jingliang.

    Reports initially suggested the promotion was targeting a matchup between Chimaev and #2-ranked contender Gilbert Burns. However, it’s now a teammate of “Durinho” pushing for a clash with the Chechen-born Swede.

    During an Instagram live session, Luque started by praising his welterweight peer and acknowledged why there is so much hype surrounding his blossoming career. However, that doesn’t put him off entering the Octagon with Chimaev. The Brazilian said he’d have no problem accepting the fight and encouraged “Borz” to call out his name.

    “I sure understand the hype behind it. He looks great in fights, he seems like a really strong guy. He goes in there and finishes every fight. So I understand the hype, I understand why the UFC wants to put you in big fights. Many people ask me about this fight (against Chimaev). And I’m here. If he mentions my name – because I didn’t hear him say my name – if he says my name and the UFC sends me the contract, I’m going to sign that contract. This is simple for me.

    “But he didn’t mention my name. I think he said, ‘Anyone in the top.’ Well, when someone mentions my name and asks for this fight, I’m going to do it for sure. I think it’s a great fight, it’s an exciting fight. He’s a monster. He goes in there and tries to finish the opponent every second. It’s not much different from what I do. It would be a great fight, that’s for sure. If he wants to, if he warns the UFC and if they warn me, we’ll do it,” he concluded. (h/t ESPN)

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXMv0dRopmj/

    It’s perhaps unsurprising that one of the welterweights open to fighting Chimaev is Luque. “The Silent Assassin” has built a reputation as an always-game individual who doesn’t hesitate when it comes to accepting fights—unless it’s against his teammate Burns, of course.

    Now that Luque has joined Neil Magny in calling out “Borz,” the idea that top contenders in the 170-pound weight class are avoiding him, a narrative pushed by many, including Derek Brunson, has perhaps lost its legs.

    How do you think a fight between Vicente Luque and Khamzat Chimaev would play out?

  • GSP’s Coach Accuses Schools of “Feminizing Men” With LGBTQ Material

    Firas Zahabi, coach of UFC Hall of Famer Georges St-Pierre, is accusing schools of attempting to “feminize our men.”

    Best known for his leadership of TriStar gym and as GSP’s head coach, Firas Zahabi has always been an outspoken individual. He would continue this characteristic with high amplitude in some recent remarks made about the curriculum of his son’s school.

    According to Zahabi, his son’s exposure to LGBTQ-related material is an example of schools, or society as a whole, attempting to emasculate men (transcription via Bloody Elbow).

    “It’s become encouraged now to feminize men,” Zahabi said during an episode of The 3Muslims podcast (h/t r/MMAPoliticsAndCulture).

    Zahabi would then share a story in an attempt to illustrate his point. According to the MMA coach, a movie featuring a homosexual couple was played in his son’s classroom. His son found humor in the situation, but Zahabi was unamused.

    “One of my sons, on Valentine’s Day, they showed him a movie about one guy falling in love with another. My kids, they’re open books—so my son is like, ‘I watched this movie and two guys were kissing each other so me and my friend were laughing and everybody got angry with us. They were telling me it’s normal, it’s normal.’

    Firas Zahabi
    Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    “The teacher was telling my son, it’s ok [to be gay]. Well, that’s pretty weird, man. Kids haven’t even gotten through puberty yet. I send my kid to school to math, science, history, philosophy, ethics…the basics. Why are you showing them on Valentine’s Day, a story about a man with another man?”

    Zahabi would then express that he and his family have no issue acknowledging the existence of homosexuals. However, when it comes to the Zahabi household, the MMA coach gave his son an assignment to personally deliver to his teacher the next time he arrives in that classroom.

    “Now listen, there are gay people in the world. I tell my kids that there are gay people. You will see them. But we are not gay. That is what I told them, straight up, and I’m not ashamed. I told them ‘tell your teacher you’re heterosexual, and if he has a problem with that, to call me.”

    Coach Firas Zahabi continues to run the TriStar Gym, as he has since he purchased the gym in 2008. Aside from GSP, some other notable fighters to train at TrisStar on a full-time basis include Rory MacDonald, Kenny Florian, Johnny Walker, and Arnold Allen.

    What is your reaction to these comments from Firas Zahabi?

  • Kevin Lee Signs With Khabib’s Eagle FC Promotion After UFC Release

    Kevin Lee has a new home after his UFC release.

    As initially reported by MMA Fighting on Wednesday, Kevin Lee has signed with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC promotion following his UFC release last month. Eagle FC will also create a 165-lb division, something Lee had lobbied for throughout his UFC run. The 29-year-old went 11-7 in the UFC and currently has a professional record of 18-7.

    Kevin Lee and Khabib Nurmagomedov have a one-sided history of Lee calling out Khabib for a fight for years. In a true case of irony, Lee will ultimately fight for Khabib instead of against him. Lee currently does not have an Eagle FC debut date or opponent set at this time.

    Lee made his UFC in 2014. After losing his debut to Al Iaquinta, Lee strung together four consecutive victories before his next defeat to Leonardo Santo at UFC 194.

    UFC Fight Night 106 results: Kevin Lee stuns Brazilian fans, taps out Francisco Trinaldo | MMA Junkie
    Kevin Lee vs. Francisco Trinaldo. Image Credit: Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports

    After this loss, Lee would win his next five fights, including two Performance of the Night bonuses for his rear-naked choke victories over Magomed Mustafaev in 2016 and Michael Chiesa in 2017. The victory over Chiesa was Lee’s first main event in the promotion.

    Lee would go 2-5 in his next seven bouts, including a 2017 loss to Tony Ferguson in an interim lightweight title fight and another loss to Al Iaquinta, losing his welterweight debut to Rafael dos Anjos, and most recently losing to Daniel Rodriguez back in August.

    What are your thoughts on Kevin Lee’s decision to sign with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC promotion?

  • Peña To Sleepers: “I Am Very Proud To Say I Woke You Up”

    Julianna Peña hopes her recent win over Amanda Nunes can teach doubters a lesson.

    The newly crowned UFC Bantamweight Champion Peña is well aware that the fight world didn’t expect her to come out on top against Amanda Nunes at UFC 269. But after securing a shocking second-round rear naked choke submission win over the weekend, Peña is happy to tell everyone they made a mistake by not giving her a chance.

    Peña attributes a large part of her success to a positive mindset heading into the fight. She says she had confidence from the start and was able to put aside the vocal skepticism that was placed upon her.

    “The message to those people is that I just proved that it can be done, you know what I mean? It’s the power of the mind. It’s the power of your faith. And it’s the power of your desire and your willpower and your determination,” Peña said on The MMA Hour. “I know that people were sleeping on me. I know that people have tried to cast me and throw me in a box as this underdog. But I know one thing for sure. If you have two girls, whether they sit in the bottom of the seed or the top of the seed, if you have two girls that are willing and able to sign on the dotted line and fight, you have a fight.

    “And as long as you fight and you go out there and prove how big your dog is, then that’s all that matters. Fighting in a steel cage is very simple. It’s a fistfight in a steel cage. Anything can happen, and anything is possible.”

    Peña Wants Story To Be Seen In The Bigger Picture

    Julianna Pena
    Julianna Pena (Image Credit: Getty Images/Carmen Mandato)

    Peña doesn’t want her win to just be a story about herself. Instead, she hopes that her victory can teach people to not count out others, or even themselves.

    “The word ‘impossible’ literally is broken down to ‘I’m possible.’ And I have always believed in myself and my ability. I have just always been so loud about wanting a shot. Just somebody give me a shot. Give me an opportunity. Give me my chance. Everybody else has gotten their chances and no one will give me my chance. And that’s why I was so frustrated because I felt like I’ve been doing this for as long as the division has been open and screaming and kicking and punching and screaming for my shot and no one would give me the opportunity.

    “So to finally get that opportunity and for all those people that were sleeping on me, I am very proud to say I woke you up, and I hope that this is a lesson learned for anybody that has ever doubted me or doubted themselves.”

    Did you count Julianna Peña out before her fight against Amanda Nunes?

  • Watch: Brazilian Mayor Battles Political Rival In Full-On MMA Fight

    There’s at least one politician who followed through on giving the people what they want.

    At UFC 269, Charles Oliveira defeated Dustin Poirier in a lightweight tussle and Julianna Peña pulled off one of the biggest upset in years when she defeated Amanda Nunes—mere exhibitions compared to the real smackdown last Saturday: a Brazilian mayor taking on a disgruntled political rival!

    Imagine a council meeting where a mayor challenges a political rival to do something about it if he doesn’t like his policies. That’s essentially what took place in Borba, Brazil, with mayor Simao Peixoto (39) and his future opponent, Erineu Alvas Da Silva (44), aka “Mirico.”

    As the story goes, Da Silva posted a video online in September criticizing the mayor’s job performance. Instead of wasting his time with those pointless “debates” and “negotiations,” the fine mayor opted for a good-ol-fashioned exchange of fisticuffs instead of ideas.

    Specifically, Peixoto challenged Da Silva to an MMA fight. You can peep the challenge below.

    After the fight was accepted, naturally, the mayor had to put in the hard training for the fight of his life, which was set to take place not at the ballots but in a cage.

    The MMA fight was scheduled for three rounds, and the mayor would get the victory in the end via split decision. And much like most MMA-related feuds, the bad blood ended in mutual respect after sharing the cage together, with the two men embracing after the fight.

    Without further ado, you can peep the action below!

  • Training Partner: Jake Paul Is Really Good For A YouTuber But Still Green

    Jake Paul’s training partners have shared some intel on the YouTuber’s progression into the world of professional boxing.

    This Saturday (Dec. 18), Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley will compete in a rematch of their August 29 bout that saw Paul take home a split-decision victory. Thus far, Paul is 4-0 as a professional, with wins also over AnEsonGib, Nate Robinson, and Ben Askren.

    Ahead of Paul/Woodley 2, several training partners of Paul were interviewed about how the YouTuber is coming along in his new career venture. Here are some notable quotes (via The Sun).

    “He’s got good speed and good reactions. He’s naturally born with speed, explosiveness and reactions, that’s what you’re born with.” – Muhsin Cason

    Muhsin Cason went from bouncer to boxer, is sparring partner of Jake Paul and KSI and brother to ex-champ Hasim Rahman
    J’Leon Love, Jake Paul and Muhsin Cason 

    “I hit him with some clean shots, he didn’t care, threw some shots back, slipping, moving, his jab is good.” – Jake Bostwick

    Jake Paul pictured with sparring partner Jake Bostwick
    Jake Paul, Jake Bostwick

    “He seems relaxed and composed which is really good. He has a great right hand, great right hand, very strong, to the body or head.” – Ahmed Elbiali

    Jake Paul trolls Ben Askren's coach with prank call pretending to be ESPN - Dexerto
    Jake Paul, Logan Paul

    “I was like a lot of people at the beginning, thinking these guys are just YouTubers, Jake and Logan. But to be in camp with them, to see them training hard everyday, training like world-class boxers, I was surprised and very, very shocked. – Jean Pascal


    Logan Paul is 'more natural' boxer but Jake is 'better technically' as sparring partner Jean Pascal compares brothers
    Jean Pascal, Jake Paul

    Jake Paul “Really Good For A YouTuber,” Still Green

    14-0 light heavyweight Robin Safar also had complimentary things to say about Paul. Although he admits Paul still has a lot of work to do, that is to be expected for a boxer with only four pro fights. Safar detailed his experience sparring with Paul and how he views the YouTuber’s current development stage.

    “I feel like when I sparred him, he was developing his ring IQ, he was trying to think in the ring,” Safar said. “He’s a good kid and he’s got ambition for what he’s doing, he’s determined and I believe anybody can do anything in life, no matter who you are or what your background is.

    “Jake is still green, but for being green he’s good. I think he’s really good. He’s really good for a YouTuber. He’s a smart kid because he wouldn’t be in the position he is today if he wasn’t. In boxing, you’ve got to have a brain and I know Jake’s got it.

    “If he can use his IQ the way he does outside of boxing, in the ring, and add the determination and ambition, he can be really good.” – Robin safar

    Below, you can find footage posted on Safar’s Instagram page of Jake Paul sparring.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ_m8jpl371/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=cf6c0fef-8988-4998-a3d9-4d5d7d8fd7df

    Jake Paul will be getting more live, in-ring experience this Saturday on pay-per-view when he faces former UFC champion Tyron Woodley. The event will take place  at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida and will be broadcast on Showtime PPV in the US and on Fite TV in the UK.

    How do you think Jake Paul will perform in the rematch against Tyron Woodley this Saturday?

  • Gegard Mousasi Defends MW Title Against Austin Vanderford Feb. 25

    Gegard Mousasi will attempt to pick up a fourth consecutive victory against the undefeated Austin Vanderford in February.

    As originally reported by MMA Junkie, Mousasi is set to defend against Vanderford inside the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. Mousasi is ranked #4 in the Bellator pound-for-pound rankings. Vanderford is the #1-ranked middleweight.

    At Bellator 250, Gegard Mousasi became a two-time Bellator middleweight champion when he defeated Douglas Lima to capture the vacant title. Earlier this year, the 57-fight veteran successfully defended his title with a TKO victory over John Salter. The 36-year-old champion has a promotional record of 6-1 after joining the promotion in 2017. Throughout his lengthy MMA career, Mousasi has defeated names such as Chris Weidman, Rory MacDonald, Dan Henderson, and Thiago Santos, to name a few.

    Mousasi will be tasked with trying to hand Austin Vanderford the first loss of his professional career. Vanderford may be best known for being the husband of Paige VanZant, but he is making quite the name for himself with his work inside of the cage. 6 of Vanderford’s 11 wins have come under the Bellator umbrella. Most recently, Vanderford defeated veteran Fabian Edwards at Bellator 259.

    MMA News will be bringing you full coverage of this Bellator event when that February night arrives. In the meantime, let us hear your predictions! Does Gegard Mousasi pick up a second consecutive title defense, or does Austin Vanderford remain undefeated while picking up championship gold?

  • Diego Ferreira Reveals He’s Signed A New 5-Fight UFC Contract

    UFC lightweight veteran Diego Ferreira has revealed that he recently signed a new five-fight deal with MMA’s premier promotion.

    Ferreira, the current #12 contender in the 155-pound weight class, is set to be in action for the third time this year next weekend at UFC Vegas 45. On the final UFC card of 2021, the Brazilian will face rising prospect Mateusz Gamrot, who’s jumped onto the scene with victories over Scott Holtzman and Jeremy Stephens, the latter of which came via a brutal kimura submission in July.

    Ahead of the main card clash, MMA News’ James Lynch spoke with Ferreira about a variety of topics, including his upcoming opponent, the recent shoulder injury that saw him withdraw from a scheduled bout against Grant Dawson, and his latest training camp.

    During the interaction, Ferreira updated MMA News on his current contractual situation in the UFC. The 36-year-old revealed he recently put pen to paper on a new deal that will see him compete in the Octagon at least a further five times.

    “I think I have five more. (I) just signed (for) five more. Yeah, just re-signed my contract, I think I have five more if I’m not wrong. I just talked to coach Sayif (Saud) to see, but I already re-signed again, five more fights… (it feels) super. It feels, I gotta say, it feels like they really watch out for me, and now I just need to go over there and impress… To get there is easy, to stay in there, to stay between the sharks and the lions, it’s tough. I really enjoyed to get re-signed and have another chance. I gotta put everything on the line.”

    Ferreira Hopes To Snap Losing Skid On December 18

    When he enters the Octagon with Gamrot next Saturday, Ferreira will be hoping to avoid an 0-3 record in 2021. In his first appearance of the year, the Brazilian faced surging contender Beneil Dariush for the second time. In a competitive affair, the Iranian-born American fell on the right side of a split decision. Dariush now sits at #3 in the division and is preparing for a likely title eliminator against Islam Makhachev.

    Ferreira fell to consecutive losses for the first time since 2015 three months later when he was TKO’d by the returning Gregor Gillespie. Despite back-to-back setbacks, Ferreira entered the year on a six-fight win streak, which included a victory over former champion Anthony Pettis. He’ll be looking to re-find that form this weekend ahead of an important 2022.

    Having only lost to Dariush, Gillespie, and Dustin Poirier in his 21-fight career, Ferreira remains one of the most battle-tested names in the lightweight rankings, and represents a challenge that won’t be easy for the likes of Gamrot, who are looking to forge their own path towards the top 10 with victories over the division’s stalwarts.

    Who would you still like to see Diego Ferreira face in the UFC?

  • Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell Rebooked For UFC 271 on February 12

    Top-10 flyweights Alex Perez and Matt Schnell will meet on February 12.

    As announced in a UFC press release, former title challenger Alex Perez will compete for the first time in over a year when he takes on Matt Schnell at UFC 271. This will be the fifth time this fight has been booked this calendar year. The latest attempt to see this fight was for this past weekend’s UFC 269. However, Schnell had to withdraw due to medical reasons.

    Alex Perez (24-6) last competed at UFC 255 against then-flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. Perez earned this shot by defeating three consecutive opponents, including two finishes in a row over Jordan Espinosa (triangle choke) and Jussier Formiga (TKO). Perez fell short in his bid to unseat Figueiredo, but the 29-year-old will march forward onto his next assignment in veteran Matt Schnell.

    Matt Schnell (15-6) has had mixed results as of late, going 2-2 in his last four bouts. In his most recent contest, Schnell fell to Rogério Bontorin at UFC 262 in May. From 2017-2019, Schnell enjoyed a four-fight winning streak with victories over Marco Beltrán, Naoki Inoue, Louis Smolka, and Jordan Espinosa. 8 of Schnell’s 15 career wins have come by submission.

    The main event for UFC 271 has been announced to feature middleweight champion Israel Adesanya defending his title against former champion Robert Whittaker in a rematch of their 2019 showcase inside the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.

    With this addition, here is the updated lineup for UFC 271:

    UFC Middleweight Championship Bout: Israel Adesanya(c) vs. Robert Whittaker

    Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell

    Alexander Hernandez vs. Renato Moicano

    Roxanne Modafferi vs. Casey O’Neill

    Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Sergey Morozov

    Mark Madsen vs. Vinc Pichel

    Fabio Cherant vs. Carlos Ulberg

    Orion Cosce vs. Mike Mathetha

    Maxim Grishin vs. Ed Herman

    Ronnie Lawrence vs. Mana Martinez

    AJ Dobson vs. Jacob Malkoun

    MMA News will keep you updated on all the latest updates concerning the UFC 271 event.

  • McGregor Again Mocks Dagestan In Response To Makhachev

    UFC lightweight contenders Conor McGregor and Islam Makhachev are it again on Twitter, this time regarding McGregor’s planned title shot.

    McGregor and Makhachev, to the surprise of no one, are not exactly the best of friends. McGregor has had arguably one of the most intense beefs in UFC history with Makhachev’s teammate, Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    But things turned up a notch in light of McGregor’s recent claims that he’s going to get an immediate title shot upon his Octagon return. He’s still recovering from a leg injury he suffered against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 and is planning a return bout for some time in 2022.

    McGregor has called out lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in recent days, with the champion responding that he could be ready to go as soon as this weekend. Makhachev, who is arguably just one win away from a title shot in his own right, blasted McGregor for attempting to cut the line.

    “Your fight is on February 30th,” Makhachev said.

    In a since-deleted tweet, McGregor turned it up to 11 by once again accusing Makhachev’s home nation of Dagestan of promoting a culture of inbreeding.

    @TheNotoriousMMA on Twitter (Screenshot)

    Conor McGregor, Islam Makhachev Could Be On Collision Course in 2022

    McGregor remains adamant that he’s in the thick of things in the UFC lightweight title picture, despite losing back-to-back fights to Poirier. He is currently listed as the No. 9 UFC lightweight in the latest rankings.

    Makhachev, at No. 4, is slated to face Beneil Dariush in a lightweight showcase in February. He has won nine fights in a row and is coming off of arguably the best performance of his career against Dan Hooker at UFC 267.

    A UFC pay-per-view featuring McGregor and Makhachev could potentially happen sooner rather than later, and will certainly stoke the flames of McGregor’s hostility towards Dagestanis. Depending on who the promotion opts to match McGregor up with in his return, he could face Makhachev shortly.

    Who do you want to see Conor McGregor fight next in his return?

  • From ‘Barbie Girl’ To Brutal KO, Tai Tuivasa Explains His Walkout

    UFC heavyweight Tai Tuivasa has provided some reasoning behind his UFC 269 walkout this past weekend in Las Vegas.

    After viciously knocking out Stefan Struve, Harry Hunsucker, and Greg Hardy, all of whom fell in the first round, Tuivasa had his chance to rise further up the rankings at the final pay-per-view of the year on Saturday night.

    With another memorable finish, Tuivasa did just that, sleeping Augusto Sakai in an awkward position against the cage. The victory saw another shoey takeover in front of a sold-out crowd, secured a second consecutive Performance of the Night bonus for Tuivasa, and helped “Bam Bam” move up to #11 in the heavyweight rankings.

    Brutal, right? So brutal that you’d be hard-pressed to find a scarier finisher who vibes to ’90s pop music on his way to the Octagon.

    Before erupting the T-Mobile Arena at UFC 264 by knocking out Hardy, the Australian looked to intimidate the former NFL defensive end by walking out to… Spice Girls. Yep, Spice Girls. But who can fault the method when we saw a 6 ft 5 in, 260 plus-pound behemoth crumple unconscious to the canvas? Maybe we should all be listening to “Wannabe.”

    After the disappointment of Tuivasa’s clash with Sakai initially being set for the small APEX facility passed thanks to the fight’s transfer to UFC 269, the question on everyone’s lips? What would Tuivasa walk out to this time?

    When one MMA media member tried to draw the answer out at media day, the 28-year-old wasn’t biting. Instead, he promised another “banger.”

    “I’ve always got a banger on the way. Definitely, now the crowds are back, they’re always gonna get better with the crowds. I’ve got one up my sleeve. You should just wait till Saturday and we’ll pump it then.”

    When Saturday came, what were we treated to? A 1997 classic from Aqua, “Barbie Girl.” Nothing confuses the brain quite like a huge heavyweight capable of shutting anyone’s lights out strolling between the barriers to a song played at the birthday parties of most five-year-old girls.

    Maybe that’s the secret? Lure his opponents into a false sense of security and get them distracted by singing along to goofy songs in their heads? Or maybe Tuivasa is just an entertaining, charismatic, and fun-loving individual who doesn’t take life too seriously. If everything we’ve seen about “Bam Bam” is true, it’s certainly the latter.

    Some Choose Rock, Some Choose Rap, Tuivasa Chose Aqua

    During his appearance at the UFC 269 post-fight press conference, which came after he performed enough shoeys on his way to the back to floor a university fresher at their first party, Tuivasa was asked what made him choose to serenade the Vegas crowd with a dose of ‘Barbie Girl’.

    His response? As hilarious as you’d expect.

    “I’m a barbie girl. You know what I mean?” 

    After the initial laughter died down, the Australian knockout artist suggested everyone loves a bit of Aqua.

    “You can’t tell me you don’t love that song! Come on! Everyone! When that comes on, you know you’re boppin’. The crowd loved it, I loved it, and the rest is history.”

    Ultimately, that’s the best bit about Tuivasa. Fans love nothing more than knockouts. But what’s better? A funny individual who is able to entertain and draw a smile out of full arenas and those watching at home before flat-lining his opponent inside the Octagon. It truly is the best of both worlds.

    With everyone loving and enjoying his style, including himself, who would want him to change his ways? Well, maybe Greg Hardy and Augusto Sakai.

    At just 28, it stands to reason we have a whole lot of Tuivasa walkouts left to experience, and if he continues his current form, perhaps we’ll see him making his way to the Octagon to face Francis Ngannou or Ciryl Gane with ‘Blue’ by Eiffel 65 over the speakers. We can only dream…

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

    If you’re an Aqua fan, a “Barbie Girl” like Tuivasa, want to pretend you’re “Bam Bam” walking to the Octagon, or want to imagine the heavyweight powerhouse doing a shoey in the back of a pink convertable, we’ve attached the music video below for your listening pleasure.

    Don’t say MMA News doesn’t have you covered when it matters!

    What song would you like to see Tai Tuivasa walk out to for his next fight?

  • Watch: MMA Fighter’s Post-Fight Challenge Turns Into An Unhinged Riot

    Chaos ensued at a World Ertaymash Federation (WEF) event in Moscow, RU this past weekend, as an all-out brawl broke out between two teams after an MMA fighter’s post-fight challenge.

    The WEF event was a tournament where fighters from both Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan competed for a spot in the league.

    It all started after Usbek MMA fighter Namazan Samiev earned a dominant win over his Kyrgyz opponent and called for another fight with someone at the event. A promotional stare-down turned violent after Samiev attacked the challenger with a knee to the head.

    Seconds after, representatives from both teams flew into the cage with more than 50 people getting involved in the altercation.

    Check out a clip of the chaotic scene below.

    Security at the event was able to deescalate tensions and separate the two sides.

    What is your reaction to the brawl at this World Ertaymash Federation event?