Oliveira survived an early barrage from Poirier in the first round to eventually earn another submission victory inside the Octagon. He gassed Poirier out in Round 3 and sunk in a nasty standing rear-naked choke to successfully defend his lightweight title.
The moments after a UFC win are some of the most satisfying that an MMA fighter can have. Unfortunately, Oliveira’s moment of triumph quickly turned into a panic after one UFC fan in the crowd stole his glasses as he was making his way out of T-Mobile Arena.
Charles Oliveira Has Glasses Snatched During Celebration
“He stole it, he wanted to take it and wear it,” Oliveira said. “We got it back. The security guys from the UFC took it back.”
Oliveira can now see clearly into the future, where he looks ahead to a potential lightweight showdown with Justin Gaethje in 2022. While the UFC hasn’t formally announced that Oliveira vs. Gaethje will happen next, UFC President Dana White has agreed that it’s the fight to make at 155 pounds.
Who would you like to see Charles Oliveira fight next?
UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou is moving on from the idea of a Jon Jones fight happening anytime in the near future.
Ngannou was widely expected to make his first title defense against Jones earlier this year, but contract negotiations never materialized as Jones remained at odds with the UFC brass. After months of speculation as to who Ngannou would fight next, the UFC opted to make an interim title bout between Ciryl Gane and Derrick Lewis, in which Gane was the victor.
Ngannou will face Gane in a heavyweight title unification bout at UFC 270, but that hasn’t calmed talks of a potential bout with Jones. During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Ngannou appeared to dismiss Jones’ targeted return for as soon as April.
“Personally I don’t really care about that anymore,” Ngannou said. “There is a lot of talk about Jon Jones. He says a lot of things, yet we are still here. I wasn’t even expecting to fight someone other than Jon Jones after the Stipe (Miocic) fight, but here I am. It’s almost 10 months away, I’m going to fight Ciryl Gane which wasn’t in the picture, in the landscape at that moment at all.”
Jon Jones Could Face The Ciryl Gane/Francis Ngannou Winner
UFC president Dana White has been relatively vague about Jones’ plan to return, stating that he isn’t even thinking about the former light heavyweight champion until 2022. After the long hiatus, Jones could still get an immediate title shot against either Ngannou or Gane.
One caveat in the mix is Jones’ ongoing legal issues stemming from his recent arrest in Las Vegas. He was arrested on battery domestic violence and vehicle tampering charges after allegedly assaulting his fiance at a casino. It’s unclear if this will impact his fighting future.
Ngannou’s latest chapter in his heavyweight career will begin nearly a year after he knocked out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 for the belt. If he’s able to get past Gane, a matchup with Jones could be back in the mix.
Do you think we’ll ever see Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones?
Dominance MMA CEO Ali Abdelaziz has offered UFC lightweight Tony Ferguson a grappling match against long-term rival Khabib Nurmagomedov.
A clash between the former interim champ and the longest 155-pound titleholder in UFC history is regarded as one of the most desired fights that got away. The pair were booked against each other on five separate occasions.
After injuries and health issues on both sides saw meetings at The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale, UFC on FOX 19, UFC 209, and UFC 223 collapse, the promotion made one last attempt to put on the blockbuster matchup at UFC 249 last year. After COVID-19 restrictions forced “The Eagle” out, the fight appeared forever doomed.
That seemed confirmed when Justin Gaethje ended Ferguson’s unbeaten run and went on to challenge Khabib at UFC 254. After the Dagestani defended the title for the third time against “The Highlight,” he announced his retirement from active competition.
Has Abdelaziz Breathed Life Into The Doomed Ferguson/Khabib Matchup?
While the feud between Ferguson and Khabib has continued over social media since the Russian officially hung up his gloves and vacated the belt earlier this year, fans have watched their exchanges with the acceptance that they’ll never see the pair share the Octagon together.
However, renowned MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz seems to believe there’s another route that could lead to “El Cucuy” and “The Eagle” competing against each other. Taking to Twitter, the Egyptian-American sent a message to Ferguson, asking him if he’d face Khabib in a grappling match.
@TonyFergusonXT what do you think about doing a grappling match with the Eagle in the future? I’m not picking on you, I’m serious. @TeamKhabib
“@TonyFergusonXT what do you think about doing a grappling match with the Eagle in the future? I’m not picking on you, I’m serious. @TeamKhabib”
Despite having impressive grappling credentials, Ferguson has been dominated on the ground in his last two fights, both of which featured gruesome submission locks.
In his loss to Charles Oliveira last year, the 37-year-old was stuck in an incredibly sunk-in armbar towards the end of the opening round. Earlier this year at UFC 262, Dariush appeared in to manufacture a similar fight-ending opportunity, this time in a kneebar. Despite surviving both, Ferguson fell on the wrong side of decisions in both outings.
Khabib, meanwhile, is regarded as one of the best grapplers in UFC history. As well as barely losing a round during his career, “The Eagle” submitted Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Conor McGregor, and Michael Johnson in the UFC.
How do you think Tony Ferguson would fare in a grappling match against Khabib Nurmagomedov?
Former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley has suggested a potential boxing match against Dan Hardy isn’t an exciting prospect for him.
Woodley has made an unlikely crossover into the world of celebrity boxing since his release from the UFC earlier this year. Following four consecutive losses against Kamaru Usman, Gilbert Burns, Colby Covington, and Vicente Luque, “The Chosen One” found himself in search of a new venture in combat sports.
That came in the surprising form of a journey into the ring to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. To the disappointment of most in the MMA community, Woodley fell on the wrong side of a split decision and allowed Paul’s unbeaten boxing record to extend.
Whilst Woodley immediately and publicly called for a rematch, even appearing to get the pre-agreed tattoo forfeit, Paul moved on and was set to face a professional boxer for the first time in the form of Tommy Fury. However, “TNT” pulled out earlier this month, leaving the door open for Woodley to snatch at an unlikely rematch. The pair will now run it back in Florida this weekend.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXJZxbwrxTI/
Woodley: Paul Rematch Is “More Exciting” Than Hardy Clash
After Fury’s withdrawal and Woodley’s short-notice opportunity, Hardy discussed his own feud with “The Chosen One” on Submission Radio, suggesting the contract had been agreed to on his end for the March date. Even with the latest development, which has seen him surprisingly support Woodley, “The Outlaw” suggested their clash could still be made in time for 2022.
However, that seems to be a largely one-sided intention. During his own appearance on Submission Radio, Woodley confirmed that he never signed the contract. The 39-year-old admitted he only wants fights against big names that excite him, boxes he doesn’t believe a Hardy matchup checks.
“If I wanted just a little easy, walk-through fight, where I feel like just going in there and beating somebody up, maybe I entertain it. But I never signed the contract to fight him. Some people on Monday were talking to my management team about me fighting him, and I’ll listen, but I didn’t commit. At the end of the day I’m focused more on this (Jake Paul rematch). This is more exciting. More people care about this. Nobody even knows who he is (Hardy).
“I’m not against anything in 2022. But when it comes down to boxing. If this trilogy with Jake goes the way I plan it… I need something that excites me. When you see Dan Hardy’s name on a piece of paper it don’t make me like, ‘Ah I gotta do this,’ you know what I mean? Avenging a loss, or fighting somebody big, or super-fights; anything like that at my point in my life right now, that gets me out the bed, gets me training. Dan Hardy, take a ticket, take a number.”
While the claim that nobody knows who Hardy is can perhaps be disputed, the idea that Paul is a much bigger draw and will bag Woodley a much more handsome paycheck certainly isn’t up for debate. That’s especially true now that “The Problem Child” has offered Woodley a $500k bonus if he can knock him out on December 18.
The first clash between Paul and Woodley, which took place in August this year, sold around 500,000 pay-per-view buys. It’s hard to imagine Woodley vs. Hardy coming even close to that figure. With those numbers in mind, it’s easy to understand why Woodley wanted to prioritize the rematch with Paul over a grudge match against Hardy.
Would you like to see Tyron Woodley and Dan Hardy settle their differences inside the squared circle next year?
The medical suspensions have been released following last Saturday’s UFC 269 event, and four fighters face a six-month layoff.
UFC 269 included one title retention in the main event and one new champion crowned. There were a total of six fighters who took home performance bonus checks for the action-packed night. If you missed any of the action at all, you can find all the results and highlights right here.
Now that the dust has settled, there’s always the grim outlook of injuries sustained and potentially long layoffs. Four fighters could be out for six months if they do not receive medical clearance, including “Suga” Sean O’Malley.
Charles Oliveira suspended until 01/11/22. No contact until 01/02/22
Dustin Poirier suspended until 01/11/22. No contact until 01/02/22
Julianna Peña suspended until 01/11/22. No contact until 01/02/22
Amanda Nunes suspended until 01/26/22. No contact until 01/11/22
Geoff Neal suspended until 01/11/22. No contact until 01/02/22
Santiago Ponzinibbio suspended until 01/26/22 for right eye laceration. No contact until 01/11/22
Kai Kara-France: No suspension
Cody Garbrandt suspended until 01/26/22. No contact until 01/11/22
Sean O’Malley must have x-ray and MRI of right hand/base of thumb. If positive, he must be cleared by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until 06/10/22. Minimum suspension no contest until 01/11/22, no contact until 01/02/22
Raulian Paiva suspended until 01/26/22. No contact until 01/11/22
Josh Emmett suspended until 01/26/22. No contact until 01/11/22
Dan Ige suspend until 01/11/22. No contact until 01/02/22
Dominick Cruz: No suspension
Pedro Munhoz must have x-ray of right foot If positive, must be cleared by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until 06/10/22. Minimum suspension no contest until 01/26/22, no contact until 01/11/22
Tai Tuivasa: No suspension
Augusto Sakai suspended until 02/10/22 for left upper lip laceration. No contact until 01/26/22
Bruno Silva facing no suspension
Jordan Wright suspended until 01/26/22. No contact until 01/11/22
André Muniz: No suspension
Eryk Anders: No suspension
Erin Blanchfield: No suspension
Miranda Maverick must have x-ray of left foot. If positive, she must be cleared by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until 06/10/22. Minimum suspension no contest until 01/11/22, no contact until 01/02/22
Ryan Hall suspended until 01/26/22 for right eye laceration. No contact until 01/11/22
Darrick Minner: No suspension
Tony Kelley must have left shoulder cleared by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until 06/10/22. Minimum suspension no contest until 01/11/22, no contact until 01/02/22
Randy Costa suspended until 01/26/22 for left eye laceration. No contact until 01/11/22
Gillian Robertson suspended until 01/11/22. No contact until 01/02/22
Dominick Cruz comes to the defense of his former foe Cody Garbrandt following UFC 269.
UFC 269 was filled with amazing finishes and great performances from top to bottom. Two men who put on a show were Dominick Cruz and Kai Kara-France. Kara-France put a beating on former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt and could have ended his promising run in the flyweight division. Cruz, however, doesn’t believe that the KO should be the end of the road for Garbarandt.
“I know that Cody is a champion,” Cruz said during UFC 269 post-fight press conference. “Obviously, in his heart and mind. I think he will get back on track. He is still very young. Cutting down to 125 is, I don’t even know how that’s possible for him, but he made it work and he said it was easy so I think he’ll be fine. Just give the guy some time and let him find his bearings with his team or whatever he needs to find. I got nothing but faith in the guy.”
There is a history between these two. Back in 2016, it was Grabrandt that defeated Cruz and took away his bantamweight belt. There was quite a bit of animosity between the two of them leading up to the fight. During the fight, it was clear that Garbrandt was quite comfortable and began mocking Cruz with dance moves. Now, five years later, Cruz, coming off a win at 135 pounds, is coming to the defense of Garbrandt, who is now riding a two-fight losing streak.
Garbrandt decided to make the move down to 125 pounds in order to try his hand at another title. Now with the loss to Kara-France, the future is unknown for Garbrandt. Curz believes that he could still continue at flyweight, but perhaps he will move back up and find himself face to face with Cruz once more.
Do you think Cody Garbrandt should remain at flyweight desire his loss to Kai Kara-France?
UFC fans could see more of Nate Diaz in the coming year after MMA reporter Ariel Helwani reported that the Stockton native’s contract has been extended.
Diaz hasn’t fought since his unanimous decision loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 263 earlier this year. He previously had one more fight left on his contract, but it appears that more fights may have been added to his deal for the same price tag.
Diaz hasn’t signed any new deal yet for more money, but that could be in the works in the coming months. Helwani reported the news via a post on his Substack page.
“Sounds like the UFC is moving on from Khamzat Chimaev vs. Nathan Diaz fight and, as a result, have extended Diaz’s contract,” Helwani said. “I think they knew that would happen and were hoping to buy time for when Conor McGregor is ready to return later this year,” the report states.
“Diaz hasn’t signed any new deal yet, so that, too, is a fascinating story to watch next year.”
Nate Diaz Has Called For Fights Against Top Contenders
Diaz and the UFC have been at a bit of a crossroads in terms of his potential next opponent. It had been speculated that Diaz would fight rising welterweight Vicente Luque next, but negotiations didn’t move forward.
Diaz has also hinted at a potential fight with Tony Ferguson, although it’s unclear what Ferguson’s plans for his return are. Ferguson last fought against Beneil Dariush at UFC 262 and has lost three straight bouts.
The UFC also offered Diaz a fight with Khamzat Chimaev, which he turned down and called Chimaev a “rookie”. Diaz’s extension could also potentially open the door to a trilogy with Conor McGregor as soon as next year.
Diaz has blossomed into a UFC pay-per-view star and could return to the Octagon sooner rather than later.
Who would you like to see Nate Diaz fight next in the UFC after having his contract extended?
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s MMA promotion Eagle FC will debut in the U.S with a few former UFC fighters.
Following his retirement from MMA competition in 2019, Khabib Nurmagomedov hasn’t strayed too far from the sport. He is still coaching the next wave of Dagestani fighters and has even opened his own MMA fight promotion. His Eagle FC is based out of Russia but is planning to begin holding shows in the United States next year. The very first event already has a location in Miami FL, and now has a headliner.
As first reported by ESPN, former UFC heavyweight Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva was scheduled to take on Tyrone Spong in the main event. However, Silva will no longer be taking part in the event and has been replaced by Russian heavyweight Sergei Kharitonov (30-8) to face Spong.
Silva, who is 42 years old, has not won an MMA bout of any kind since 2015. Although he has still been active he has now lost six in a row, five of which were by KO or TKO. Silva’s last fight was in June against Quentin Domingos for Megdan Fighting.
Nurmagomedov promised that he would be bringing Eagle FC to the States and with it some former UFC and Bellator athletes. Former UFC lightweight champion Rashad Evans will also be competing on the card.
Evans will be coming out of retirement for this Eagle FC card. He will be fighting at Lightheavyweight according to MMA Junkie. His opponent is not determined at this time.
Towards the end of Evans’ UFC career, he was on a five-fight losing streak against top opponents. His last bout was a 53-second knockout loss to Anthony Smith at UFC 225. Following his retirement, the former light heavyweight champ was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
This Eagle FC event will be taking place on Jan. 28 at FLX Arena in Miami, FL. The event will be shown on UFC Fight Pass.
Will you be tuning in to watch Eagle FC on Jan. 28?
The UFC rankings have been updated following UFC 269, and we’ve got the full report for you below!
Men’s Pound for Pound: After Charles Oliveira’s submission victory over Dustin Poirier in the UFC 269 main event, the Brazilian advances three spots up to #5. Conversely, Poirier falls three spots to #8.
Women’s Pound for Pound: Valentina Shevchenko is now the #1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the women’s rankings following Amanda Nunes’ loss to Julianna Peña at UFC 269. Nunes falls down to #3, with strawweight champion Rose Namajunas (#2) also placed in front of her. Peña skyrockets up seven spots to #4 after her submission victory over Nunes.
Peña’s move up the ranks has caused Zhang Weili (#5), Jessica Andrade (#6), Holly Holm (#7), and Carla Esparza (#8) to move down. Katlyn Chookagian (#10) and Xiaonan Yan (#11) also dropped down in this week’s rankings.
Women’s Bantamweight: Amanda Nunes is now the #1 contender after the crowning of new champion, Julianna Peña. Holly Holm is now ranked #2, and Irene Aldana sits at #3. Additionally, Pannie Kianzad (#12) and Karol Rosa (#13) swap places in the rankings.
Women’s Featherweight: N/A
Flyweight: Sumudaerji (#12) and Amir Albazi (#13) swap places for the second consecutive week.
Bantamweight: Following his victory over Pedro Munhoz at UFC 269, Dominick Cruz moves up two spots to #7 in the rankings. Marlon Vera made a big leap this week, jumping up three spots to #8 right behind Cruz. As for Munhoz, he dropped two spots to #10, and Marlon Moraes moved up one spot to #9. Frankie Edgar now sits at #11 after moving up two positions.
Sean O’Malley (Image Credit: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
And finally, “The Suga Show” has arrived in the UFC rankings, with the self-proclaimed “Unranked Champ” now being stripped of that title after debuting in the rankings at #13 following his first-round TKO of Raulian Paiva at UFC 269.
Featherweight: Josh Emmett moves up to #6, with Arnold Allen (#7) and Giga Chikadze each (#8) falling back one position.
Lightweight: Justin Gaethje is now the #1 contender, with Dustin Poirier ranked at #2 after his loss to champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 269.
Welterweight: No Changes
Middleweight: André Muniz debuts in the rankings at #13 following his eighth straight victory and advancing his UFC record to 4-0 by submitting Eryk Anders at UFC 269. This has caused Chris Weidman (#14) and Kevin Holland (#15) to drop in the rankings.
Light Heavyweight: No Changes
Heavyweight: After earning another knockout at UFC 269 over Augusto Sakai, Tai Tuivasa returns to the heavyweight rankings, landing at #11. Meanwhile, Sakai (#12), Blagoy Ivanov (#13), Walt Harris (#14), and Sergei Pavlovich (#15) each drop this week.
New UFC women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña has taken a shot at Kayla Harrison.
In the co-main event of UFC 269, Amanda Nunes was set to defend her bantamweight title against Peña in a fight most expected Nunes to win with ease. Should the champ-champ have won, it’s likely she would’ve fought Harrison at featherweight in a highly-anticipated bout but Peña ruined those plans.
“I think she’s the lesser of the training partners for her and Amanda Nunes,” Peña told MMA Junkie. “If that’s the case and I just took out Amanda, I don’t know what kind of position that would put her in. But she’s been fighting the B-leagues. I’ve been fighting in the UFC, I’ve been fighting at the top of the division. I’m fighting in the biggest league of this sport so I’m not paying too much attention to what she’s doing down there.”
After Peña’s comments, Harrison then took to Twitter to respond.
“Lawwwwwd. Don’t be doin this now Juliana!,” Harrison wrote on Twitter.
Although Julianna Peña took a shot at Kayla Harrison, it is a moot point, as a fight between them will likely never happen. Even if Harrison signs with the UFC, she will compete at featherweight, while Peña is the bantamweight champ and is comfortable at 135lbs.
However, some may consider Peña’s shot at Harrison to be a wise move, as it only adds to her name and popularity. Yet, in order for the new champ to remain the champ, she will need to beat Nunes again sometime next year. Harrison, meanwhile, remains a free agent.
What do you make of Julianna Peña taking a shot at Kayla Harrison?
After being called out by Uriah Hall multiple times, UFC middleweight contender Darren Till has admitted he’s interested in a fight with “Prime Time.”
Till was last in action at UFC Vegas 36 in September. After going 1-1 at middleweight with a debut win against Kelvin Gastelum and a main event decision setback to former champion Robert Whittaker, “The Gorilla” hoped to stake his claim for a title shot against divisional veteran Derek Brunson.
Instead, Till fell to his fourth defeat in five fights, and did so in devastating fashion. Inside Las Vegas’ Apex, the Englishman was dominated by Brunson, who’s firmly escaped gatekeeper status and become a genuine contender. He seemingly secured his place in a title eliminator against Jared Cannonier by submitting Till in the third round.
Once considered a sure-fire future welterweight champion, defeats to Tyron Woodley and Jorge Masvidal saw Till pursue success at middleweight instead. Now with consecutive losses at 185 pounds, the future is uncertain for the Liverpool native. Nevertheless, “The Gorilla” hasn’t lost confidence and believes he’ll bounce back in his next appearance.
During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Till addressed the rumors surrounding his return. The 29-year-old suggested he could feature on the March UFC Fight Night Event that is expected to take place in London. He also acknowledged Hall’s callouts, admitting the idea of facing the #9-ranked “Prime Time” is interesting to him.
“There’s a massive chance… There’s a big chance I’ll be fighting in London. We’ll see what happens with it and who it’s against. I know Uriah called me out. Let’s just see mate. I can’t say too much… Yeah, I’m interested (in facing Hall). I think he’s a good fighter. I think he’s an ugly motherfucker, but he’s not a bad fighter. Whatever, let’s see mate. I’ve got options.”
If the bout does get booked to headline the March 19 card in London, Till will be joining a host of other British fighters on the card. That includes Jack Shore, Mike Grundy, Molly McCann, and the debuting Muhammad Mokaev.
Would you like to see Darren Till and Uriah Hall headline the UFC’s return to London?
Dominick Cruz regrets his viral comments criticizing Daniel Cormier’s performance as a color analyst—sort of.
Prior to UFC 269, one story that made headlines across the MMA media was the critical remarks made by Dominick Cruz regarding Daniel Cormier’s job preparation as a color analyst. Here is a portion of what was said during the UFC 269 pre-fight media scrum.
“I watch (Jon) Anik do so much homework leading up to a fight. Like, people have no idea how much homework he has to do to be prepared for that, and the most kudos, for me, goes to him. He leads us in the broadcast with how he talks. When it comes to DC, I usually mute it. I love DC, he’s my friend, but to me, from my experience, he doesn’t do the homework. He wants to get in and out, get the job done, make his money.”
Cruz and Cormier later had a face-to-face dialogue to hash things out within hours of Cruz’s comments going viral. Cormier would then go on to serve as one of the commentators for Cruz’s UFC 269 bout against Pedro Munhoz, which saw the former bantamweight champion pick up his second consecutive win.
Dominick Cruz Shares One Regret About His Viral Comments
Photo via Facebook – Dominick Cruz
Now a week removed from his comments and with the chaos of a PPV fight week now behind him, Dominick Cruz appeared on Monday’s installment of The MMA Hourhosted by Ariel Helwani.
During the interview, Cruz was asked if he has any regrets about his comments. If he could do it again, Cruz would have said the same thing, but there is one thing he would have changed.
“I don’t regret what I said because I hadn’t eaten in three days, I hadn’t drank in two days. They asked me questions, I spoke from my heart. And I don’t really regret what I said because it wasn’t mean. It was very loving. But what I regret, I guess, is where I said it. Maybe I shouldn’t have said it there because then that allowed the media to take it and do whatever they wanted with it.”
As he did in the face-to-face discussion with Cormier, Cruz accused the media of manipulating his words for the sake of clicks. He would then clarify the point he was attempting to make when expressing the criticisms. According to Cruz, it was more about asking key, job-related questions as opposed to outright dressing down his partner.
“You and me both know I love Cormier. You love Cormier. How do you not love Cormier?” Cruz asked Helwani. “He’s got the personality of gold. I get that. This was a completely different question we had. This was about job and what is your job? ‘Not everyone needs to do it your way, Dom.’ I hear you.
“The point is, what is the job of a color analyst? Not my job. Not what is my job as a color analyst. What is your job as a color analyst? Well, is it just to know off the top of your head what these guys do? Put yourself in their position, Cormier. Would you want someone to watch film before you fight, or would you want them to not? That was the only question I asked. All the other defense came from whatever else it came from. I simply asked questions.”
Cruz stated that he was satisfied with Cormier’s commentating performance during his UFC 269 bout with Pedro Munhoz. As someone who knows full well how difficult the job of an MMA color analyst is, the bantamweight legend appreciates, more than anything, whenever someone’s best effort is made while sitting at the desk.
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya loved watching his teammate, Kai Kara-France score a violent knockout at UFC 269.
Kara-France welcomed former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt to the UFC flyweight division in brutal fashion, overwhelming him on the feet and dropping him early for the finish.
Kara-France’s win over Garbrandt propels him into the flyweight title picture, as he has now won back-to-back fights after a brief losing skid. He could potentially serve as the backup to Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo 3 next month at UFC 270.
Adesanya has become arguably just as big of a star outside of the Octagon as he is inside of it. He has a YouTube channel, Freestylebender with over 600,000 subscribers, and has also amassed over 5.5 million followers on Instagram.
Adesanya has developed into one of the most prominent personalities in combat sports today, and Kara-France may not be too far behind him following his wild knockout at UFC 269. Both men are names to watch in 2022.
Who would you like to see Kai Kara-France fight next? What’s your prediction for Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker 2?
Former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley says that while he won’t get reckless in his rematch with Jake Paul, he won’t be “as patient” as he was in their August contest.
After a four-fight losing skid saw Woodley fall from the 170-pound UFC mountaintop to being released from the promotion earlier this year, “The Chosen One” turned his attention to a new combat sports venture. In an effort to avenge his teammate Ben Askren’s first-round knockout loss to Paul, a YouTuber-turned-boxer, the 39-year-old entered the ring with the 24-year-old for what was his professional boxing debut.
Despite his experience inside the Octagon, Woodley was unable to hand “The Problem Child” his first defeat, falling to a split decision loss on the scorecards. He immediately called for a rematch and hoped for a chance at redemption, but it appeared Paul had moved on and would not be looking back at the former UFC star.
That all changed earlier this month when professional boxer Tommy Fury, originally scheduled to be Paul’s fifth opponent, pulled out, citing a broken rib and bacterial chest infection as the reasons for his withdrawal. On two weeks’ notice, Woodley stepped in to save the Showtime pay-per-view card, and secure his chance for revenge.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXTpH1YlGEE/
Will Woodley Let His Hands Go?
The major factor behind Woodley’s downfall in the UFC was his inability to let his hands go. Many believe that in a tight and competitive fight against Paul, in which Woodley never really looked hurt, the veteran’s struggle to let go played a major part in his defeat to the YouTube sensation.
During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Woodley echoed that sentiment. “The Chosen One” admitted he let Paul into the fight by not throwing enough, a mishap he’ll hope to avoid making when the pair run it back on December 18.
“I wanna go out there and just let go. For me, it’s never really been about someone beating me because they’re better, because my time has passed, or because they have better coaching, it’s all just been about me, for some reason, not letting go, and when I let go, nobody can touch me. But I didn’t let go. I let people into the fights that never should have been in the fights with me.”
Discussing what makes a fighter struggle to let go, Woodley clarified that his pursuit of “perfection” has left him far too cautious in recent appearances. Acknowledging the need to make fights “ugly” and tough, Woodley suggested he’ll approach the Paul rematch with a fresh approach.
“Overthinking, overanalyzing. Sometimes you become so skilled and learn so many techniques and defenses and counters, you’re so cautious and you know what could come. You just really wanna be perfect. Perfection, sometimes, gets in the way of mastery, you wanna master it… Sometimes you’ve gotta get a little ugly and grimey, and get in there, maybe get hit a couple times, to put yourself in position to get that opening.”
(via Amanda Wescott/Showtime)
Addressing his August defeat to Paul, Woodley insisted he wasn’t fearful of the Cleveland native’s power or hesitant to walk him down. Instead, he tried to find the balance between aggression and defense, citing Askren and Paul’s second opponent Nate Robinson as two who didn’t do so. While he won’t be as patient this time, Woodley says he certainly won’t be abandoning his defense on December 18.
“I can say I respected him too much or I can look at Nate Robinson that walked in there and ran into a punch and got smoked. My teammate Ben Askren kinda did the same thing, where his hands wasn’t in the proper position. If he got punching power, no matter who it is… I’m not saying that I was fearful, you saw me walking forward regardless, I got hit with it and I walked forward regardless… I wasn’t scared of getting punched. My training partners punch a lot harder and they’re more skilled than him. I just didn’t wanna be reckless. I think it’s a happy medium, I gotta find a line, you know, not crossing the line and just being reckless and not having my defense, but also not being as patient as I was.”
A defeat to Paul was understandably damaging for Woodley. While he now has the chance to get that loss back, and potentially set up a lucrative trilogy fight, back-to-back setbacks against “The Problem Child” would be catastrophic for the 39-year-old’s standing in combat sports. There is certainly a lot riding on Woodley vs. Paul 2.
Who do you think will have their hand raised on December 18, Tyron Woodley or Jake Paul?
In the heavyweight realm, fighters hit hard, but some hit harder than others.
Rising contender Chris Daukaus (12-3) took to MMA on SiriusXM to discuss his upcoming bout with Derrick Lewis this weekend at UFC Vegas 45. According to Daukaus, the Houston slugger hits harder than the current UFC heavyweight champion.
📽️ "I think he's got more power than Francis."@ChrisDaukausMMA discusses his December matchup with 'extremely dangerous opponent' Derrick Lewis w/@jimmysmithmma on Unlocking the Cage🛑
“I think he’s got more power than Francis Ngannou,” proclaimed Daukaus.
While it’s hard to qualify punching power, there’s no debate that Lewis hits like a Mack truck to the face. Of his 25 victories in mixed martial arts, 20 of those have ended via knockout. “The Black Beast” has been utterly outclassed more than once before detonating a single fist on his opponent’s jaw and ending the fight.
Francis Ngannou, though, is no slouch in the power department. With 16 victories to his name, Ngannou earned 12 of them with his punches. Many outlets gave the Cameroonian “KO of the Year: honors back in 2017 for his astonishing finish of Alistair Overeem.
Yet, Daukaus is no stranger to turning off another man’s lights himself. The Philadelphian has finished every UFC fight thus far with strikes. His last outing saw him TKO Shamil Abdurakhimov at UFC 266.
Derrick Lewis vs. Chris Daukaus is scheduled for UFC Vegas 45 on December 18. There, the behemoths will meet in a five-round main event.
The PFL Challenger Series will debut on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, and will stream on Friday nights exclusively on FuboTV. Prospects will have the chance to duke it out and impress a guest panel that will change from week to week and will feature celebrities such as NFL stars Ray Lewis and Todd Gurley, and boxing legends such as Mike Tyson.
The celebrity guest panel will not decide the official outcomes of the fights themselves but will play a significant role in determining which fighters will earn PFL contracts. Fans will also have the opportunity to voice their opinions during the broadcasts regarding fight decisions and who should get an opportunity in the league.
Contract winners will be entered in the league’s 2022 tournament for a chance at $1 million.
The PFL Continues To Change The MMA Landscape
“PFL Challenger Series is not your father’s contender series,” PFL Founder and Chairman Donn Davis said in a statement. “The winner of the PFL Challenger Series can become a real-world Rocky story, going from an unknown pro to World Champion holding a $1 million check in the same year.”
The PFL has added multiple new elements to how the sport of MMA is viewed, and with the level of competition it has added over the past few years. Big names such as Kayla Harrison, former UFC standout Antonio Carlos Jr. and others have made their mark on the league.
The new Challenger Series will add another angle to the league’s future and send the message that the PFL is here to stay for many years to come. It’ll be interesting to see the level of talent they’ll add through this program.
What are your thoughts on the PFL Challenger Series?
Newly crowned women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña has responded to the backlash she received for comments made following her UFC 269 title win.
After pulling off one of the biggest upsets in MMA history, Julianna Peña served as an inspiration for many people. Peña entered her fight against Amanda Nunes as a +670 underdog, with Nunes cracking four figures as a -1000 favorite.
However, it wasn’t the upset aspect that Peña noted as being historic about her victory. That, as she told reporters after the fight, would be her becoming the first birthing mother to become a UFC champion.
“The UFC absolutely needs to create a new belt for me It needs to be ‘The Baddest Mom on the Planet,’ Peña said during the UFC 269 post-fight press conference. “And you know, I’m not trying to take away anything from Amanda. She’s a wonderful mother. But I gave birth to my daughter, and I know that I feel like, for giving birth, I am the first mom champ. And that, to me, is also a little feather in the cap.”
When MMA reporter Ariel Helwani congratulated Peña on becoming the first UFC champion who gave birth to a child, he also caught some flack. This caused him to post a follow-up tweet to clarify why he feels Peña’s achievement should be celebrated.
FTR, I’m not trying to diminish anyone. Cmon. Just noting, given my immense respect for what women go through during and post-pregnancy, that this is a first and very much worth commending. That’s it. I know there are many ways to be a mom and they all deserve love + respect. 🙏
“FTR, I’m not trying to diminish anyone. Cmon. Just noting, given my immense respect for what women go through during and post-pregnancy, that this is a first and very much worth commending. That’s it. I know there are many ways to be a mom and they all deserve love + respect,” Helwani tweeted Saturday night.
Helwani would have Peña on as a guest of Monday’s installment of The MMA Hour to respond to the backlash herself. First, Helwani defended Peña from the criticism she’s received and doubled down on his belief that her achievement as the first birth mother to win UFC gold is something to be celebrated.
“Yes, it is, and my words were 1,000% misinterpreted,” Peña said. “I’m not trying to take away from Amanda as a mom-champ by any means. But what I meant to say is, you’re pregnant for 10 months, actually. And your body goes through massive changes. I went to my doctor’s appointment. I was almost 42 weeks pregnant at this point, and they’re like, ‘We gotta get this baby out now! STAT! Right now!’
“They rushed me to the ER. And I got my guts ripped open. I’m literally (lying) on the table and looking at my guts on the side. They gut me like a fish; they stuffed it all back in. If it wasn’t for Mercier Therapy, I wouldn’t have been able to get back into the Octagon. And I think that that process of healing, and taking my actual time to do that Mercier Therapy, and taking the time to heal my body and get to fighting and be able to perform at my peak is a lot. And it says a lot to be able to do that after giving birth.”
In the interview, Peña praised both Amanda and Nina Nunes for being great parents and reiterated that Amanda Nunes is a legitimate mom champ. That said, Peña believes she offers her own unique, inspirational story as a champion.
“And I’m not, by any means, trying to take away from Amanda at all. All I was simply saying is that when I gave birth, I had to put my body through the trenches to get back to this point that I’m at right now. And it’s something that should be celebrated. But I, by no means, want to take away from Amanda’s accomplishments at all. She is an incredible mom-champ. She was an incredible champion. She did so much for the sport. But I am the new champion right now, and that is the light that I want to stay in.”
The Pulse of MMA: Fan Reactions To The Sport’s Biggest Stories
In this installment of The Pulse of MMA, we look at the raw, unfiltered reactions from MMA fans to the result of UFC 269’s co-main event that saw Julianna Peña upset Amanda Nunes.
Julianna Peña def. Amanda Nunes via Submission
Amanda Nunes entered the UFC 269 co-main event as a -1000 favorite against Julianna Peña. After a strong first round, Peña would stand and trade with Nunes, getting the better of the “The Lioness,” much to the surprise of the audience in attendance. That shock would then quickly expand when Peña made the victory official with her rear-naked choke submission in the second round.
Here is one look at a stunned crowd’s reaction, including many fighters in attendance who could not believe what they just witnessed.
But what about The Pulse of MMA? What were the reactions to the fans of our great sport after witnessing such a monumental moment! You can find the raw, unfiltered commentary on the crowning of a new UFC bantamweight champion below.
Beats Nunes and quotes Nate “I’m not surprised motherfuckers”. Imagine Nunes beats Pena in the rematch quotes Conor “ suprise surprise the queen is back”. That will be epic😂
Michael Bisping likes former UFC bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes’ chances in an immediate rematch against Julianna Peña.
Nunes’ loss to Peña was arguably one of the most shocking upsets in UFC history. After some brief success early on in the fight, Nunes looked gassed in Round 2 and let Peña dictate the pace on the feet. Peña would then secure a big takedown and eventually lock in the submission for the win.
Nunes’ loss to Peña snapped an incredible run in the UFC in which she won titles at both bantamweight and featherweight. The defeat snapped a 12-fight winning streak and was her first loss since UFC 178 against Cat Zingano.
“I think she’ll come back and I think she’ll fight Julianna Peña and I think she beats Julianna in a rematch,” Bisping said. “In that first round, she outclassed Julianna. She was the better person, she put her down twice, she controlled her in the clinch, she controlled her on the ground. It was a good round for Nunes but she got tired. She got tired, you could clearly see it. And also she showed a little naivety, she showed a little lack of experience, she showed a little – she didn’t show the best fight I.Q.
“When you’re in a fight – and I’ve been there many times – when you’re in a fight, you’re in the UFC, you go in there and it’s a big fight, a main event or whatever, there’s thousands of people and you’re the f*cking star and things don’t go your way and BANG you get caught with a shot and you’re rocked, what we saw Nunes do – and it’s commendable and the crowd loved it and they’re all screaming and cheering – she just stood there swinging back and forth,” Bisping continued. “What Nunes should have done was be a little bit more crafty. She should have got on her bike, use her footwork to be a little bit more elusive, dance around the octagon a little bit, get your equilibrium back…
“Nunes probably beats her in the rematch. I’m not taking away from what she did. I honestly believe Nunes will beat her in the rematch.”
Amanda Nunes Seems Focused On Julianna Peña Rematch
While Peña stated that she’s certainly interested in a Nunes rematch, she’s also voiced his desire to avenge previous losses to Valentina Shevchenko and Germaine de Randamie.
White has all but confirmed an immediate rematch between Nunes and Peña, and it’s expected to be what’s next in the bantamweight title picture. It’s unclear when it’ll happen, but it seems like a Nunes/Peñarematch is inevitable.
How do you think Julianna Peña vs. Amanda Nunes 2 would play out?
Former two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz is open to continuing his rise back to the top with a fight against top-five contender José Aldo.
Cruz was in action for the second time in 2021 this past weekend. After rebounding from his return loss against Henry Cejudo with a split decision victory over Casey Kenney at UFC 259 in March, “The Dominator” hoped to end the year by moving further up the rankings and setting himself on a win streak with a triumph over Pedro Munhoz.
With a classic Cruz performance, he accomplished both at UFC 269. After recovering from an early knockdown, the top-10 contender composed himself and entered the flow that’s brought him so much success across his illustrious career. After three rounds of action inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, Cruz was awarded a unanimous decision win.
Having gotten past the #8-ranked bantamweight, Cruz will now be looking to fight up the rankings yet again as his pursuit for a third dose of UFC title success goes on. One name that interests many fans is José Aldo. Like Cruz, “Junior” is a former champion and a legend of the sport.
Given Aldo’s position in the rankings, it’s perhaps not surprising that Cruz would be more than willing to clash with the fellow legend. During the UFC 269 post-fight press conference, “The Dominator” said he certainly wouldn’t turn down a clash with the 35-year-old.
“Yeah I mean, I’m not gonna say no to a Aldo fight, just because, you know, that moves me closer to the title. Aldo’s a legend in the sport. I have nothing but respect for all these guys. So, I’m trying to go, you know, I’m going up towards the title… I’m not gonna say no to anything.”
It appears much more likely Cruz could be matched up with Aldo’s latest beaten foe Font over the in-form Brazilian. If he’s to fight up the rankings, the former champ’s potential options are limited to either Font, Merab Dvalishvili, Cory Sandhagen or a rematch with Cody Garbrandt, who unsuccessfully tested the flyweight waters this past weekend.
Either way, it’ll be intriguing to see how Cruz fares against some of the top-ranked opponents in the division. If he could get past Font or Sandhagen, Cruz’s name would firmly arrive in the title conversation.
Who would you like to see Dominick Cruz face next?
Despite being offered a $500,000 bonus if he can knock Jake Paul out in their December 18 rematch, Tyron Woodley is after more.
Paul and Woodley met inside the squared circle earlier this year. In their August bout, the YouTuber-turned-boxer further legitimized his venture into the sport by adding Woodley’s name to his undefeated résumé. The former UFC welterweight champion joined former ONE and Bellator 170-pound titleholder Ben Askren as the second combat sports veteran to have failed to outbox Paul in 2021.
While many still slated Paul for not facing a professional boxer, it looked like “The Problem Child” was set to eliminate that argument this month in a match against the younger half-brother of heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury. However, Tommy, who boasts an unblemished 7-0 record in the ring, pulled out just weeks out, citing a broken rib and bacterial chest infection as the reasons behind his withdrawal.
With “TNT” out and the event potentially in jeopardy, Woodley has been granted the chance for redemption he’s called for ever since his split decision defeat to Paul. In a rematch billed as “Leave No Doubt,” the pair will collide in Florida next weekend.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXJWGDjFTK6/
Woodley Believes He Deserves More
In recent weeks, talk over a potential clause in the contracts of Paul’s opponents that prevents them from knocking the Cleveland native out has become more prominent. In an effort to shut those rumors down, Paul has offered Woodley a lucrative $500,000 bonus if he’s able to secure a knockout win on December 18. But hunting an even bigger bag, “The Chosen One” wants more.
“We need a new bonus. ‘Keeping the hope alive and the card alive’ bonus. We need to add that too. Might as well say half-a-bag since that’s what we’re throwing out there. Like Dana White said, ‘Fight of the Night, Knockout of the Night, Performance of the Night’ – same thing. So I think we should throw another 500,000 just because all these people would’ve wasted their time, their training camp, their coaches, all these incidentals to train. Tommy Fury would’ve caused all of them not to fight. The venue, the ticket sales, the refunds, the sponsors. So yeah, let’s get another 500,000.” (h/t Sportskeeda)
While it seems like optimistic, who can blame Woodley for shooting his shot for some more cash, especially given the kind of numbers that seem to be prevalent in YouTuber and celebrity boxing matches.
Either way, a knockout victory on December 18 would certainly see the former UFC champ leave the ring a whole lot richer. A loss, on the other hand, would add to the embarrassment of his original defeat to the internet personality.
The stakes are as high and bizarre as you’d expect from tis matchup, although we haven’t heard any tattoos mentioned yet…
Who do you think will have their hand raised on December 18, Tyron Woodley or Jake Paul?
Former two-division UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen believes Amanda Nunes’ shocking defeat to Julianna Peña was a “mental beating,” not a physical one.
In one of the biggest upsets in UFC history, Peña secured her place on the bantamweight throne in the final pay-per-view co-main event of the year this past weekend. Heading into the contest, Nunes was unbeaten since 2014, held both the 135-pound and 145-pound titles, and had defeated the likes of Valentina Shevchenko, Cris Cyborg, and Holly Holm across a 12-fight win streak.
Peña, meanwhile, was 2-2 in her last four fights after suffering defeats to Shevchenko and Germain de Randamie. Nevertheless, “The Venezuelan Vixen” boasted unwavering confidence throughout fight week, something that crossed over into the octagon on Saturday night.
After dropping the opening round, Peña came out in the second ready to shock the world. Taking the attack to the “Lioness” on the feet like nobody before her, the 32-year-old rocked the Brazilian and wore her out. After dragging her to the mat with ease, Peña forced the tap in seconds with a rear-naked choke.
With his prediction ringing true, Sonnen has discussed the incredible result. The analyst suggested Nunes “quit” against Peña, who he doesn’t believe was in a position where she should have been able to secure a victory at the time.
“I got to tell you man, that was a different fight. We’ve seen upsets before… If you take Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas, where Mike is trying to get up and he just can’t beat the count or when Ronda Rousey got her head kicked into the third row but she didn’t want it to happen. This was totally different. Amanda flicked it. That was 100% mental beating, zero percent physical. That submission wasn’t there… That was not a move, that was absolutely not a fighting technique. Julianna was in a terrible position and Amanda quit!” (h/t Sportskeeda)
Off the back of one of the most remarkable underdog successes in the promotion’s history, talk has now turned to what the future holds for both the newly crowned bantamweight queen and the fallen “Lioness.”
If either of those happen, Nunes would seemingly look to defend her featherweight title. Whilst a super-fight with two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison has likely lost some momentum as a result of Nunes’ defeat, you’d be hard-pressed to find a fan or pundit not interested in seeing the two teammates collide still.
Do you agree with Chael Sonnen? Did Amanda Nunes quit at UFC 269?
UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington believes former teammate Dustin Poirier lost his title fight against Charles Oliveira due to his “quitter mentality.”
In the UFC 269 main event this past weekend, Poirier fell short of reaching the lightweight mountaintop for the second time in just over two years. Having failed to unify his interim title against Khabib Nurmagomedov back in 2019, “The Diamond” worked his way back to the top step of the lightweight ladder this year with back-to-back victories over former two-division champion Conor McGregor.
But in a painfully similar fashion to his submission loss against “The Eagle” in Abu Dhabi, Poirier was forced to tap out and watch his title hopes collapse yet again. Despite knocking down Oliveira, the Louisianan was unable to take advantage, and appeared to fatigue before falling to a third-round rear-naked choke.
The result was yet another heart-breaking culmination of Poirier’s inspirational journey. But while many have attempted to console him and send words of support his way, one man was certainly not going to follow suit.
Poirier’s former American Top Team teammate Colby Covington recently discussed the 32-year-old’s defeat to “Do Bronx” during an appearance on Submission Radio. After refuting the idea that Poirier’s two victories over McGregor were impressive, “Chaos” slammed what he perceives to be a “quitter mentality” the former interim lightweight titleholder has inside the Octagon.
“Just the quitter mentality of Dustin. He’s always been like that. He doesn’t like to work hard. Living off of beating Conor McGregor. What’s the big deal about beating Conor McGregor anymore these days? I mean, he has a great legacy, he did some great things in the past; the guy made a lot of money, he doesn’t have that same drive anymore. So beating a guy like that is not gonna mean you’re gonna be some world-beater and the best in the world.
“That’s what I saw. I figured he was gonna gas out and he was eventually gonna quit, and that’s what he did. Just like in the Khabib fight, he quits, he puts his head on the mat, and he leaves his neck open so he can get rear-naked choked. (I) wasn’t surprised. I told everybody… ‘Charles Oliveira, he’s gonna look like a D-1 All-American wrestler and take down Dustin, and beat him.’ That’s exactly what I predicted and that’s what happened.”
Like Poirier, Covington has also failed to win gold in two attempts between 2019 and 2021. After being finished by Kamaru Usman at UFC 245, the #1-ranked welterweight had his second shot at the title last month at UFC 268. Despite taking “The Nigerian Nightmare” the distance, Covington didn’t do enough to earn the nod on the scorecards.
While most expect Covington to settle his rivalry with former friend Jorge Masvidal next year, the 33-year-old has also consistently taken aim at Poirier and encouraged the former featherweight to challenge him at welterweight. Having suggested he’d pursue a move up to 170 pounds after winning and defending the lightweight belt, perhaps Poirier’s recent setback will see him commit to the move sooner.
Do you agree with Colby Covington’s take on Dustin Poirier’s UFC 269 loss to Charles Oliveira?
Ryan Bader will finally be defending his heavyweight title again.
Bellator announced on Monday that Bader will defend his heavyweight title against the interim champ, Valentin Moldavsky in the main event of Bellator 273 on January 29. The event will take place at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona and air live on Showtime.
Ryan Bader (28-7) has not fought at heavyweight since September of 2019 where he fought Cheick Kongo to a No Contest. Since then, he suffered a knockout loss to Vadim Nemkov to lose his light heavyweight title. “Darth” was then in the light heavyweight grand prix where he beat Lyoto Machida in the opening round before suffering a 51-second TKO loss to Corey Anderson in the semifinals.
Ryan Bader
At heavyweight in Bellator, Bader is 3-0 with one No Contest and won the vacant title after winning the grand prix. In the opening round, he knocked out King Mo in 15 seconds before winning a decision over Matt Mitrione. In the finals, he knocked out Fedor Emelianenko in 35 seconds to win the belt.
Valentin Moldavsky (11-1) is undefeated in Bellator and is the pupil of Emelianenko. In his last fight, he earned a clear-cut decision over Tim Johnson to win the interim heavyweight title. He’s 6-0 in Bellator with notable wins over Roy Nelson, Javy Ayala, and Linton Vassell. Prior to signing with Bellator, he competed in RIZIN and beat Karl Albrektsson among others.
Along with Bader vs. Moldavsky, Bellator announced former bantamweight champion, Darrion Caldwell will take on TUF: Latin America 2 featherweight winner and UFC veteran, Enrique Barzola. The fight will serve as Barzola’s Bellator debut, as he went 6-3-1 in the UFC and was not re-signed by the promotional after a draw against Rani Yahya back in March of 2020.
Who do you think will win, Ryan Bader or Valentin Moldavsky?
UFC President Dana White has big plans for bantamweight prospect, Sean O’Malley, following his latest finish over Raulian Paiva at UFC 269.
O’Malley found his range with his striking just minutes into the fight and pressured Paiva against the fence right away. After throwing a barrage of combinations, O’Malley landed a hard right hand that dropped Paiva to the canvas, ending the fight.
White, like many around UFC circles, has been impressed with O’Malley’s recent run of knockouts inside the Octagon. During his UFC 269 post-fight press conference, White hinted at a potential pay raise for O’Malley and a step up in competition.
“When you talk to him, two things: He wants to get paid and he wants to fight higher-level competition,” White said. “Looks like we’re going to have to pay him, get him some fights.”
Sean O’Malley Is A Potential Bantamweight Superstar
It didn’t take long for O’Malley to garner the attention of White following his incredible first-round knockout over Alfred Khashakyan on Season 1 of Dana White’s Contender Series. He’s looked dominant ever since, with the lone blemish on his record coming against Marlon Vera at UFC 252.
Leading up to his fight against Paiva, O’Malley called out top bantamweight contenders like Dominick Cruz and Petr Yan.
O’Malley hasn’t debuted in the bantamweight rankings yet but has managed to land on three-straight main cards in the UFC. It’s clear that the promotion thinks O’Malley can be a pay-per-view star for years to come, but it’s unclear how fast his potential rise to the title will be.
Who would you like to see Sean O’Malley fight next?
