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  • Dariush Predicts Gaethje Will Be Champion When He Earns A Title Shot

    UFC lightweight contender Beneil Dariush believes that when he earns the right to fight for the title, he’ll be needing to dethrone former interim champion Justin Gaethje.

    Many believe Dariush has already done enough to secure his place opposite the division’s kingpin. Since a 2018 loss to Alexander Hernandez left him 0-2-1 in three outings, the Iranian-born American has built an impressive seven-fight winning streak. During the run, Dariush had his hand raised after highlight-reel knockouts against Drakkar Klose and Scott Holtzman and decision victories over Diego Ferreira and Tony Ferguson.

    Dariush will be looking to ensure he gets his first title shot in the promotion next year. To do so, he’ll have to get past the challenge of surging Dagestani Islam Makhachev. The two top-five lightweights are expected to headline a UFC Fight Night card on February 26.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWyQIc0twjW/

    Dariush Foresees Championship Glory For “The Highlight”

    While both Dariush and Makhachev undoubtedly had a rightful claim to be fighting for gold in their next fights, one man has seemingly cemented his position as number one contender.

    After falling short of the title against Khabib Nurmagomedov last October, Justin Gaethje found himself snubbed of the chance to fight for the vacant gold after “The Eagle” retired, and without an opponent until last month.

    But when he did return to action, he did so in style. At UFC 268, Gaethje faced Michael Chandler, who’d fought for the belt in May against Charles Oliveira. In a Fight of the Year contender, “The Highlight” emerged victorious on the scorecards, likely securing his place opposite the winner of this weekend’s UFC 269 main event between Oliveira and Dustin Poirier in 2022.

    Dariush, who considers Gaethje to be a friend, is tipping the 33-year-old to go all the way. In an interview with ESPN MMA, the 32-year-old predicted that when he fights for the title, it’ll be against the current #2-ranked lightweight contender.

    “Once Justin Gaethje pops into the picture, I would lean heavy towards him, as far the championship fight. So, man, it sucks. I don’t wanna fight a friend, and I do consider Justin a friend; he’s an amazing guy. But I think he’ll be holding the belt when the time comes.”

    Before that scenario comes to fruition, a number of fights will have to play out, starting with this Saturday’s headliner. In his first defense, Oliveira will face the challenge of “The Diamond,” who’s coming off back-to-back victories over Conor McGregor in 2021.

    Do you agree with Beneil Dariush? Do you think he’ll be challenging Justin Gaethje for the title if he beats Islam Makhachev?

  • Jake Paul Put Up 500K KO Bonus To Woodley To End Fraud Rumors

    Jake Paul is putting up some incentive to stop the rumors.

    Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley are officially running it back. Woodley is stepping back into the ring with Paul after Paul’s original opponent, Tommy Fury, was injured. Paul already beat Woodley in their first outing and vowed never to rematch him again.

    However, here they are getting ready to battle again. After the first fight, people accused Paul of fixing his fights, with one rumor stating that it was in Woodley’s contract that he couldn’t KO Paul. So instead, they believe Woodley held back after having Paul on the ropes.

    Tyron Woodley Jake Paul
    (via Amanda Wescott/Showtime)

    To put an end to these rumors, Paul has decided to sweeten Woodley’s deal.

    “You know, there’s rumors going around that everyone has come to believe that my fights are rigged or that I don’t allow my opponents to knock me out in the contracts, and it’s just not true,” Paul said on The MMA Hour. “It’s completely bullshit. Of course, all these people are gonna do is try to discredit me because when you’re at the top, that’s what happens. So I just want to nip the rumors in the (bud) and give my opponent contractual—contractually, I’m giving Tyron an extra $500,000 if he can knock me out.”

    Paul is a YouTuber turned boxer. He has been known as a joker but seems to be taking his boxing career very seriously. He has had high praise from some reputable fighters recently. He has now won four boxing matches and is looking for his fifth. Despite the doubts from fans, Paul is claiming everything is on the up and up, and the 500K bonus proves that.

    “So it just nips the rumors in the (bud) and shows that all of my fights have been real, all real, and will continue to be real. It’s illegal to rig a fight or to stage a fight. It’s illegal to have things like that because it’s fraud. You can’t change the outcome of a professionally sanctioned bout. It’s illegal. You’ll end up in jail. So the fact that people even say this, we just wanted to squash the rumors.”

    Woodley is, of course, a former UFC champion and not necessarily known as a boxer. Although he lost the first outing, he has been campaigning for the rematch ever since. He feels he can defeat Paul in a second go at it.

    Paul vs. Woodley will take place on Dec. 18 in Tampa Bay, FL.

    Do you think Woodley can pull off the win and the KO for the extra $500,000?

  • Bryan Barberena Says, Unlike Nate Diaz, He’s Willing To Fight Anybody

    Bryan Barberena says that, unlike Nate Diaz, he is a true embodiment of what it means to be willing to fight anyone, anytime.

    Prior to this past weekend’s UFC Vegas 44 card, Bryan Barberena was scheduled to face UFC legend Matt Brown in a fight that carried massive Fight of the Night potential. Unfortunately, a COVID-19 contraction forced Brown to withdraw only two weeks out from the brawl. Undeterred, Barberena flew out to Vegas anyway, willing to fight literally anyone the UFC put in front of him.

    That person turned out to be the debuting Darian Weeks. After a rocky start, Barberena was able to break down the 28-year-old upstart en route to a unanimous decision victory. This short-notice free-for-all served as another example of Barberena’s identity as a throwback fighter who is always down to scrap, no questions asked.

    Dave Mandel
    Image Credit: Dave Mandel of Sherdog.com

    The same has often been said of Stockton legend Nate Diaz. Like Barberena, Diaz is often praised for his toughness and his non-discriminating willingness to scrap, regardless of the name or location. However, after Diaz publicly refused to fight “rookie” Khamzat Chimaev, Barberena is more confused by Diaz’s behavior than anything, while he is the one who is truly down to fight anyone (h/t MMA Junkie).

    “I will fight anybody. Nate Diaz, he’s a stud and whatever, but he’s over here like ‘(Khamzhat) Chimaev, you don’t deserve to fight me.’ Man, I’m here to fight everybody. If your name comes on the contract, I’m signing it. I don’t care whose name is on it – I’m signing it because I’m here to fight everybody. … I’m here to test myself against everybody. Bring it on,” Barberena said during his UFC Vegas 44 post-fight media scrum.

    Barberena isn’t the only one to throw shade at Diaz for his rejection of Chimaev. Conor McGregor called Diaz a “bitch” for turning down the fight, and Dana White implied that Diaz simply wants no part of Chimaev.

    As for Barberena, the top name he’d be willing to fight next is the same name he expected to fight last Saturday, another “anywhere, anytime” kind of guy, fellow veteran Matt Brown.

    “I would like to get the Matt Brown matchup back,” Barberena said. “That was kind of a dream matchup. He’s a legend.”

  • Sonnen: Shame On UFC Welterweights For Being Scared Of Chimaev

    Chael Sonnen has his opinion on the UFC welterweights who turn down a fight with Khamzat Chimaev.

    Up and coming star Khamzat Chimaev has been quickly rising up the UFC welterweight ranks. He is looking for a fight with any possible top opponent. He has been calling them out on social media but has not gotten much response. Chael Sonnen has his ideas about the nature of the fight business and feels that perhaps Chimaev’s reputation is what’s keeping opponents from running to the cage against him.

    “There’s a lot of ways to beat a guy, but if you can do it psychologically and you never have to get out there,” Sonnen explained on his Beyond the Fight show. “Dan Henderson had a great line one time, which is Dan was in a bar with somebody, and the guy said, ‘Hey, Dan. If I get in some trouble, you know, will you walk over there, beat this guy down for me?’ And Dan simply said, ‘Why do I need to beat him down when I can stare him down?’ And that rule of life doesn’t go away.”

    Sonnen may be implying that Chimaev’s last few performances have been scaring away his opponents. Since coming to the UFC he has had four fights, all of which were finishes, two KO’s, and two submissions. In just one year, he has risen to number 11 in the rankings. Now, he is trying to call out opponents in the top five, which may be why he is not getting a response, however, Sonnen thinks he is doing the right thing.

    “You can stare a guy down, and he backs down; it is the art of war because the great generals never fire a shot,” Sonnen said. “They don’t need to. They align their troops and make the other people retreat. And if Chimaev is successfully doing that – If less than 20 minutes of action, three double-legs, a rear-naked choke, and a left hook – If that’s going to scare an entire division away in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, then shame on them. Fair play by Chimaev.”

    Sonnen was a big trash talker in his fighting days. He could almost defeat opponents before even facing them by getting in their heads. If he feels Chimaev is planning a similar sort of game plan, then he could be sitting on the sidelines for some time. However, in this day and age, money talks, and maybe the UFC will have to pay up to get a top welterweight to step in against “Borz.”

    Who do you want to see take on Khamzat Chimaev next?

  • Bisping Names 2 Options For McGregor’s Return Other Than Poirier

    Former UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping believes there are two leading options for Conor McGregor’s return to the Octagon, neither of which is a fourth fight with Dustin Poirier.

    McGregor, a former two-division UFC champion, has been on a significant downfall since his second title crowning in 2016. In the four years that have followed, the Irishman has gone 1-3. His sole victory came at welterweight against veteran Donald Cerrone last January. That success marked a rebound from his crushing loss to arch-rival Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018.

    After re-entering the win column, McGregor would have hoped to return to lightweight title contention in 2021. Instead, the 33-year-old was knocked out for the first time, saw his 1-0 record against Dustin Poirier collapse to 1-2, and suffered a gruesome broken leg. Since sustaining the injury at UFC 264, McGregor has been on the sidelines, tangling with celebrities in public and fellow fighters on social media.

    Bisping Advises McGregor Against 4th Poirier Fight

    In recent weeks, talk of a McGregor return has certainly picked up. Having consistently provided updates on his recovery through training footage, it’s clear the former double champ is deep into the healing process. With that in mind, McGregor recently revealed his hope to begin full MMA sparring again in April 2022, with his return to the cage imminent after that.

    The options for McGregor’s comeback seem plentiful. As well as potential clashes with Michael Chandler and Max Holloway, both of whom have expressed interest in welcoming MMA’s biggest superstar back to the Octagon, a potential fourth collision with Poirier remains a possibility. If “The Diamond” dethrones Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 this weekend, that could see McGregor fighting for gold upon his return, something he guaranteed would be the case in a recent Twitter post.

    Despite those choices, UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping has given McGregor some different advice. Suggesting against the Poirier tetralogy during a recent Q&A on his YouTube channel, “The Count” said McGregor should either complete his trilogy with Nate Diaz or face former interim champ Tony Ferguson.

    “For McGregor, when he comes back, he needs to think carefully about who he fights next. If Dustin Poirier beats Charles Oliveira next week and Dustin becomes the champion, of course Justin Gaethje’s going to step in and he gets the next shot. But then there’s Islam Makhachev and the whole list of people at lightweight that want to fight for the belt. But McGregor, being who he is, McGregor being the biggest star the sport has ever seen, he may get that privilege to where he can fight Dustin Poirier for the belt because they have unfinished business. They are two and one in Dustin’s favor, but the way the last fight ended with McGregor breaking his leg does give a reason, does give explanation to the subject that perhaps they should do a fourth fight.

    “McGregor brings in eyeballs like nobody else so there is a possibility. My advice would be don’t do that. I think he should try and get his mojo back, get comfortable with the octagon again, because it’s a long layoff. Nate Diaz may be the perfect person or even Tony Ferguson.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    Conor McGregor Nate Diaz
    Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz

    With Nate Diaz having just one fight remaining on his contract, and with heavy talk of a departure from the promotion, it appears that if the UFC wishes to book a third fight between the Stockton native and McGregor, it’ll have to be the highest priority for when the Irishman is ready to return.

    On the other hand, McGregor vs. Ferguson is a matchup that would have been mouth-watering a number of years ago. Having lost three consecutive fights against Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Beneil Dariush, the idea of Ferguson facing McGregor has perhaps lost its appeal slightly. Nevertheless, it would certainly make sense given the rankings, and would give one man a path back towards the lightweight top five.

    Who do you think Conor McGregor should face when he returns to the Octagon?

  • Poirier Believes Oliveira Deserves More Respect: “Man, Raise The Guy Up”

    Dustin Poirier believes fans and fighters need to put some respect on lightweight champ Charles Oliveira’s name.

    On December 11, Poirier will make his second attempt to win the lightweight belt when he faces Oliveira at UFC 269. Since his first title bout loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019, the 32-year-old has won three in a row, including a victory over Dan Hooker and back-to-back wins against Conor McGregor.

    Oliveria will be looking to make his first title defence since defeating Chandler to claim the vacant belt in May. However some argue that victory, Oliveria’s ninth in a row, came only as a result of Poirier turning down the original offer to fight for the vacant belt. Instead of UFC gold, the “Diamond” chose to pursue a second big money fight with McGregor.

    Many now believe the onus is on Oliveria to prove his legitimacy as champ by defeating Poirier, who some consider the unofficial title holder. And as if that’s not enough, questions regarding the Brazilian’s mental strength have been consistently raised, most most notably by Justin Gaethje who recently branded Oliveira a “quitter,”  and on that basis, favors Poirier to claim the title. Chandler has similarly slapped the quitter title on “Do Bronx.”

    Charles Oliveira, Michael Chandler

    Poirier Defends Oliveira From Claims That He Isn’t A Worthy Champion

    Oliveria may be lacking respect from some of his lightweight peers, but not from the man who will attempt to dethrone him next month. Speaking to The MMA Hour, Poirier defended the honor of Oliveria as champion, saying that in knocking out Chandler, he accomplished something his chief critic, Gaethje, couldn’t.

    “Dude, the thing about fighting is: Every time the bell rings, we get a live, real-time appraisal,” said Poirier. “We change from fight to fight. Things happen. We’re in different mental spaces. We’re in different physical positions and in shape or injuries. There’s a lot of things that go on behind the scenes, but the beautiful thing is every time that bell rings, it’s an appraisal in front of the world. And if we’re going off his last appraisal, the guy got hurt and showed grit, came back, won a fight, knocked a former world champion out, something Gaethje didn’t do just recently.”

    Dustin Poirier
    Image Credit: Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    The “Diamond” believes Oliveira deserves far more respect from fans and fighters, and that he’s under no illusions that come December 11, the Brazilian won’t put up a good fight.

    “He did get pressed. He got hurt. He almost got finished. The bell rang, he came back, and won a world championship,” said Poirier. “I’m not here to put anybody down or talk bad about people. Man, people love to try to shit on people. Man, raise the guy up. He’s the world champion. It’s a tough task, and I’m doing everything I can to put myself in position to compete the best on December 11 for 25 minutes and be the world champion, a goal I set out from a very young age. And that’s just it, dude. I don’t really play into all this that much.”

    If Oliveira’s critics only remembered the adversity he overcome early in his UFC career, and consider his current phenomenal win-streak, Poirier believes they would truly see how worthy a champion he is.

    “It’s one thing to get into this organization and make it to the top, but it’s another thing to do it for a decade like he’s done. That shows that this guy’s a fighter,” said Poirier.

    What do you think? Does Charles Oliveria deserve more respect as champ?

  • Oliveira Ready To Show Who “The Real Champ” Is At UFC 269

    Charles Oliveira says he’ll prove who the “real” lightweight king is this weekend to those who continue to brand his upcoming opponent Dustin Poirier as the ‘uncrowned champion’.

    Despite an incredible journey to the top, Oliveira is seemingly being undervalued and delegitimized as champion by many, including top contender Justin Gaethje. The Brazilian believes they’ll regret underrating him come December 11 when he makes his first title defense.

    “Do Bronx” had UFC gold wrapped around his waist for the first time at UFC 262 in May. After Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement, Oliveira challenged for the vacant belt against former three-time Bellator titleholder Michael Chandler. Having looked close to being finished in the opening round, Oliveira overcame adversity to secure a second-round finish inside Houston’s Toyota Center.

    The heart-warming championship crowning came in Oliveira’s 28th Octagon outing. Not many fighters have personified the idea that hard work pays off quite like the Sao Paulo native. He’ll look to continue his story by fending off the challenge of Poirier in this weekend’s main event.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWlcJc0FVbd/

    Oliveira: “The Belt Has An Owner”

    Leaving Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena with the title will certainly be no easy task for Oliveira. Poirier is widely regarded as the best lightweight in the world, and will enter the blockbuster year-ending pay-per-view off the back of two victories over former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor.

    With that in mind, many in the combat sports community perceive “The Diamond” to be a heavy favorite for this Saturday’s headliner. Given his decision to pass up on a shot to challenge for the vacant title in favor of a money trilogy fight with McGregor, the narrative that Poirier is the uncrowned lightweight titleholder has been thrown around a lot.

    But for Oliveira, that couldn’t be further from the truth. During a recent interview with TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter, “Do Bronx” promised to show he belongs on the 155-pound throne at UFC 269.

    “People love Dustin. Like you said, he’s seen as the uncrowned champion. But I’ll show on Saturday who the real champion is; that the belt has an owner, and his name is Charles Oliveira. I’m happy with this fight, I’m ready, and I’ll show that on Saturday.” (Via a translator)

    Having been treated to a barnburner between former title challenger Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler at UFC 268 last month, this weekend’s event will mark another pay-per-view featuring a crucial clash in the lightweight division. It stands to reason the victor will be defending the gold against “The Highlight” in the second quarter of 2022.

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 269, Charles Oliveira or Dustin Poirier?

  • Jon Jones Responds To Narrative That He’s Wasted His Prime

    Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has denied the claim he’s wasted his prime years in MMA by sitting on the sidelines for the best past of two years.

    Jones, who is widely regarded as one of the leading contenders in the GOAT conversation, hasn’t been in action since UFC 247 last February. After returning from suspension in December 2018 and capturing the vacant 205-pound gold with a victory over Alexander Gustafsson, “Bones” tied Demetrious Johnson’s record for the most title defense thanks to wins against Anthony Smith, Thiago Santos, and Dominick Reyes.

    Following a narrow unanimous decision triumph over “The Devastator,” Jones vacated the belt in order to pursue a move up to heavyweight. Since then, we’ve seen a blockbuster title fight between the 34-year-old and Francis Ngannou collapse after failed negotiations, and another worrying arrest added to the record of Jones.

    Nevertheless, Jones appears as eager as ever to make his comeback and has consistently posted footage from training as his ongoing heavyweight preparation continues. He’s even been training with Henry Cejudo over at the Fight Ready gym.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWzPqr-J0t6/

    Jones: “The Story Is Far From Over”

    While lengthy layoffs are nothing new for Jon Jones, the fact he’s looking to debut at a new weight after so long away from the Octagon, coupled with his personal troubles, has left many fans and pundits doubting the former two-time champ’s ability to return to the top of the food chain.

    In a recent Twitter exchange, one user suggested that Jones, who they see as the greatest athlete of all time, has been wasting his prime years by staying outside the Octagon. That view clearly wasn’t shared by the man himself.

    In response, Jones pointed out that he’s returned from stints away from the sport and still found incredible success. “Bones” expects that to continue when he eventually makes his first appearance at heavyweight.

    “Nothing is a guarantee my guy, even with years of inactivity I’ve been able to achieve some pretty outstanding records that are still holding to this day. And the story is far from over, I got a lot more winning to do.”

    Prior to his recent arrest, in which he was charged with battery domestic violence and injuring and tampering with a vehicle, Jones was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame Fight Wing. While speaking to media at the ceremony, the Rochester native revealed he was targeting a return to action in the second quarter of 2022.

    With champion Francis Ngannou and interim titleholder Ciryl Gane set to collide in a unification bout at UFC 270, it stands to reason Jones could be in line to challenge the winner later in the year. That, of course, depends on the UFC’s willingness to meet his remuneration demands, and his upcoming court date in January.

    Do you think Jon Jones can reach the top of the UFC heavyweight division?

  • UFC’s Zhalgas Zhumagulov Has 2 Wives: ‘At First, There Were Challenges’

    As crazy as it might sound, being a professional cage fighter may not be the most challenging thing in the life of Zhalgas Zhumagulov.

    Zhumagulov is a Kazakh flyweight who has gone 1-3 in his UFC run thus far, hampering the hype that was surrounding the former Fight Nights Global champion. His most recent fight saw him suffer a TKO at the hands of Manel Kape over the weekend, who is also a highly touted prospect at 125lb.

    However, it was his personal life that was the subject of conversation recently when he was speaking on the “Let Me Interrupt You” YouTube channel. Here, the 33-year old explained that, in addition to having 6 children, he is also married to two different women at the same time, a practice that he says is normal in part of the world.

    “Yes, I have two wives—two wives and six children,” Zhumagulov said (h/t Low Kick MMA). “In principle, it’s normal. At first, there were challenges but now everything is fine.”

    As far as how he divides up his time within his polyamorous relationship, Zhumagulov says that he goes back and forth between the two wives, spending one day with each before going to the next one. This helps to keep everyone happy and maintain his relationships with the pair of women.

    ”Well, where did I leave from? If I left, for example, from my second wife, I go to the first. If I left the first, I go to the second. A day here, a day there,” Zhumagulov said.

    While this is commonplace in the region of the world that Zhalgas Zhumagulov hails from, polygamous relationships are only starting to grow in popularity in the Western world. Perhaps his example will open the eyes to others about the benefits of this type of lifestyle.

  • Julianna Peña Breaks Down What’s Made Amanda Nunes Successful

    UFC bantamweight contender Julianna Peña is planning to use the failures of Amanda Nunes’ past opponents to her advantage at UFC 269.

    Peña will meet Nunes for the bantamweight title in the UFC 269 co-main event on Dec. 11. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime for Peña, who has long called for a title shot against Nunes.

    Peña presents one of the few remaining new challenges to Nunes, who has virtually cleared out both the bantamweight and featherweight title pictures.

    During a recent interview with ESPN, Peña explained how she’s preparing for Nunes by analyzing the mistakes of previous title challengers.

    “I think in the beginning, when Amanda started her title reign, I don’t think everyone was taking her quite as serious as maybe they should have,” Peña said. “They didn’t realize at what strength and at what power she was coming. And I think that kind of had a role in it as well as the whole Ronda Rousey-type of thing where you’re already defeated before you get in there with her and you lose in 30 seconds. So I think a combination of those two things is what has made her very successful.”

    “Either they’re already mentally defeated before or they weren’t taking her strength quite as serious when they had to face her,” Pena continued. “They didn’t take the intensity quite as serious.”

    Julianna Peña Finally Gets Her Shot Against Amanda Nunes

    Peña signed with the UFC after defeating Jessica Rakoczy for The Ultimate Fighter: Season 18 championship. She went on a three-fight winning streak which included dominant performances over former UFC title challengers such as Jessica Eye and Cat Zingano.

    Peña rebounded from a tough loss to Germaine de Randamie at UFC Fight Island 4 with a submission finish over Sara McMann at UFC 257. Ever since her win over McMann, Pena has been pleading for a shot at Nunes’ title and has gone on quite the tirade of media attacks against the 135-pound champion.

    Peña has previously accused Nunes of running from her and avoiding a fight against her to defend her bantamweight title. After all the talk, she’ll finally get her chance to potentially pull off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history at UFC 269.

    Do you agree with Julianna Peña’s comments?

  • Jake Paul Unsure If He’ll Ever Fight ‘National Embarrassment’ Tommy Fury

    Jake Paul is very disappointed in Tommy Fury.

    The two were expected to throw down in a boxing match on December 18th before it was revealed that Fury had been forced out due to a broken rib and a chest infection. This resulted in a rematch being booked between Paul and the last man he beat, a freshly tattooed Tyron Woodley, after their first fight ended with a split decision in August.

    Speaking on The MMA Hour, Paul expressed his disappointment in hearing the news that Fury withdrew from their fight. He explained that he thinks the reason this happened is that the Englishman knew that the fight was going to end with him on the canvas.

    Jake Paul
    (via Getty)

    “I’m a little upset. I don’t get how grown men can be such bitches, pulling out of fights like this. I really wanted to knock the Brit out and make him the laughing stock of the internet. But I think he saw that coming, and he cracked under pressure, and I’m a little bit disappointed,” Paul said.

    As far as the reasoning for Fury pulling out of the fight, Paul is not buying his excuses, noting that he had fought with various injuries in his short career. He also stated that at first, he was just told about the chest infection and the fact that the broken rib was added on means that things are not as straightforward as Fury would like them to seem.

    “So originally, it was just like a chest infection that we had known of, and then the broken rib thing they threw in there last minute. So I really don’t know. The whole entire thing seems shady,” Paul said.

    “He lied about—the press conference in Las Vegas, he said his mom was sick so that he had to fly home, which wasn’t true at all. Tyson Fury has a history of pulling out of fights. He’s pulled out of five fights. The family is just sketchy. I feel like something else is going on over there that they don’t want to say, or they’re not as confident, or he wasn’t having a good camp, or whatever it was.”

    Jake Paul Questions The Future Of A Tommy Fury Fight

    Tommy Fury Jake Paul
    (via BT Sport Box Office)

    While it may have made sense for Jake Paul to fight Tyron Woodley again, considering the short notice nature of the fight and the fact that he already won their first fight, there was still an interest in seeing the Tommy Fury fight happen. However, the YouTuber turned boxer has his doubts that the fight will ever happen.

    Paul says that “Tommy Fumbles” has fumbled the bag once again, and that he does not necessarily want to give him the chance to do it again. He would hate to have the fight scheduled again, only for Fury to withdraw again.

    “I don’t know. I don’t know how I feel about it. For me, I almost don’t want to give him the opportunity. And let’s say I do. Let’s say I get over the emotional part of it and I’m like, ‘OK, I’ll give him this opportunity.’ Who knows if he’s gonna back out or have some excuse then or have the chest infection or not show up at the press conference? So it’s looking bad for him. And part of me just wants to be cynical and not ever give him this payday or this opportunity ever again,” Paul said.

    “He’s just an embarrassment. You let your country down, you let your team down, and you let a lot of people who hate me down. And you missed out on the biggest opportunity of your life, I think, and I think you know that.”

    Time will tell if the fight with Tommy Fury happens again, but first things first, Jake Paul has to get past Tyron Woodley once again, on December 18th. It will be interesting to see what happens after that.

  • Kara-France: Don’t Bet On Garbrandt At UFC 269

    UFC flyweight contender Kai Kara-France is confident he can upset the odds when he welcomes former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt to 125 pounds at UFC 269.

    On December 11, Kara-France will be looking to secure back-to-back wins for the first time since 2019. After building a five-fight winning streak, the New Zealander was signed by the UFC in 2018. Following a perfect 3-0 start to his career on MMA’s biggest stage, which included victories over Elias Garcia, Raulian Paiva, and Mark De La Rose, “Don’t Blink” fell to his first loss at the hands of current champion Brandon Moreno.

    What followed was a period of inconsistency. Having rebounded against Tyson Nam in front of a home crowd at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker, Kara-France was submitted by Brandon Royval last September. However, the 28-year-old burst back into contention with a memorable knockout against Rogério Bontorin at UFC 259 in March this year.

    Now, looking to stake his claim for a rematch with “The Assassin Baby,” Kara-France will face former 135-pound king Garbrandt on the UFC 269 main card.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CVG9r7ZP0NB/

    Kara-France Looks To Spoil Garbrandt’s Flyweight Debut

    Garbrandt was considered one of the top men on the roster in 2016. After going 10-0 with nine knockouts, “No Love” faced Dominick Cruz, widely renowned as one of the best bantamweights of all time, for gold at UFC 207. With a five-round masterclass, Garbrandt secured his place on the division’s mountaintop.

    Since then, the powerhouse has gone 1-4. Aside from a sole KO against Raphael Assunção, Garbrandt has fallen to losses against TJ Dillashaw, Pedro Munhoz, and Rob Font. He’ll now look to reinvent his career with a move down to 125 pounds.

    During an interview with It’s Time For Sports, Kara-France discussed what it’s like preparing to face a name as big as Garbrandt’s. The New Zealander claimed a top opponent has been long overdue.

    “It’s cool when the guys that, you know, I took their style and tried to put it into my fight game and now I’ll be standing across the cage from them and getting ready to throw down… I just can’t wait to get in there. I wanna test myself against the best. I’ve been asking the UFC for a high-profile fight, so, they finally gave it to me.”

    Kara-France also analysed the matchup. While he described the fight as a fan-favorite stylistic clash, “Don’t Blink” suggested Garbrandt won’t have the speed advantage he’s used to when he faces flyweights. Despite being the underdog heading into his ninth walk to the Octagon, Kara-France offered a warning to bettors looking to back “No Love.”

    “I guess if you know, you’re a fight fan, and you watch the UFC, you’ll know this is a great matchup. Just momentum and timing’s everything. A few years ago, Cody was the face of the UFC. He had everything, had the belt, and he was undefeated. He was part of that elite division where they were undefeated all the way until they got a title. But he never really evolved with his style. He just came forward, always swung; that’s like, his default. Whenever he gets hurt or gets clipped, he’ll resort back to swinging, which hasn’t worked out the best for him.

    T.J. Dillashaw: I: Cody Garbrandt
    Image Credit: Noah K. Murray of USA TODAY Sports

    “It’s one of these fights where I don’t need to worry about getting taken down. I know he’s too stubborn to do that. He’ll rather just go out on his shield than play it safe… Stylistically, we’re a great matchup. I come forward, I like to swing and kickbox. I’ve got great cardio. He’s always had the speed advantage at bantamweight, but now coming down to flyweight, he won’t have that speed advantage because we’re all fast… People, if they’re underestimating me, don’t put money on Cody, because you’re gonna lose it.”

    Both men will be looking to make their case for a title shot with an impressive performance at UFC 269. In the opening pay-per-view of 2022, Moreno is set to defend his belt in a trilogy bout against Deiveson Figueiredo. While the injured Askar Askarov certainly looks to be at the front of the queue to face the victor, a convincing win for Garbrandt or Kara-France on December 11 could be enough for them to leapfrog the undefeated Russian.

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 269, Kai Kara-France or Cody Garbrandt?

  • Jan Blachowicz Hopes To Be The One To Dethrone Glover Teixeira

    Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jan Blachowicz has expressed his desire to be the man who dethrones reigning titleholder Glover Teixeira.

    Blachowicz was one of the most unlikely champions in UFC history. In 2017, a defeat to Patrick Cummins left him 1-4 across a five-fight period. Just as many expected him to be released, the Pole began a remarkable turnaround. In his next 10 appearances, Blachowicz won nine, defeating the likes of Jared Cannonier, Jimi Manuwa, Nikita Krylov, Luke Rockhold, Corey Anderson, and Jacaré Souza.

    After Jon Jones vacated the 205-pound gold, Blachowicz faced Dominick Reyes for the title at UFC 253. Despite entering the fight as a considerable underdog, the 38-year-old secured a memorable championship crowning with a second-round TKO. Six months later, he defended it for the first time by adding the first blemish to middleweight king Israel Adesanya’s record.

    While many expected veteran Teixeira to be a brief stop-off on the way to a European showdown with the rising Jiří Procházka, that couldn’t have been further from the reality. At UFC 267, the Brazilian became the second oldest UFC champion in history by submitting Blachowicz in the second round.

    Blachowicz Has His Sights Set On Revenge

    Having left Abu Dhabi slightly lighter with the absence of the light heavyweight gold, Blachowicz’s attention has now turned to redemption. The Cieszyn native will look to rebound in the coming months, something he’s been used to doing across his seven-year career on MMA’s biggest stage.

    During an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Blachowicz made it clear that his desire to be on the 205-pound throne is as strong as ever. When asked to predict the likely next title fight between Teixeira and Procházka, the Polish star said he hopes the Brazilian retains so that he can be the one to dethrone him in a rematch.

    “I don’t know if Glover (is) gonna be in the same shape like (when he faced) me. Maybe him. I will keep fingers crossed for him because I would like to take the belt from his hands, you know? And I hope he still will be, you know, he not going to be retired when I get the second chance for the title. I would like to take the belt from him.”

    Blachowicz may well have the chance to secure his shot at redemption when he returns to action in 2022. The 38-year-old revealed he’s targeting March as the month for his first Octagon outing of 2022. Having shut down any talk of a clash with former title challenger Anthony Smith, Blachowicz expressed his desire to face Austrian contender Aleksandar Rakić.

    How do you think rematch between Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira would play out?

  • Watch: MMA Fighter Accused Of Fake Glove-Touch Gesture Before KO

    MMA fighter Walter Pugliesi may be guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct by ditching a glove-touch agreement in favor of a swift KO victory.

    One of the universal and long-standing unwritten rules of MMA is that if you signal that you will touch gloves with the opposing fighter, then you touch gloves—or at the very least you don’t KO the opponent as an alternative.

    The tattoo-laden Pugliesi is being accused of showing no regard for this custom during The Golden Cage 6 event that took place on Saturday. The Italian held his hand up toward his opponent while in his corner, which in MMA gesturing signals that the two will touch gloves. Instead, immediately after the fight began, Pugliesi stormed and KOed his opponent within seconds. Peep it out below (h/t Twitter user @Grabaka_Hitman).

    Here are some of the reactions from Twitter users to what transpired.

    https://twitter.com/UFCfan2004/status/1467337873909288961

    It should be noted that we cannot see the full view of the cage when Pugliesi made the gesture. Therefore, he may have been signaling to the official, and we do not know if the opponent raised his hand back towards him at any point.

    With the victory, Pugliesi moves to 8-3. His opponent, Konstantin Linnik, is now 27-22 after the sudden loss.

    What do you think? Was this foul play? Or is all fair in combat fighting?

  • Marlon Vera Wants Aldo To “Be A Man” And Accept Five-Round Rematch

    UFC bantamweight Marlon “Chito” Vera has called out top-five contender José Aldo for a five-round rematch following the Brazilian’s victory over Rob Font this past weekend.

    The pair first collided on a stacked UFC Vegas 17 card last December. At the time, Aldo was on a three-fight losing skid, having fallen to defeats against Alexander Volkanovski, Marlon Moraes, and Petr Yan. Vera, meanwhile, was riding high after becoming the first man to beat Sean O’Malley four months prior.

    Across a competitive three rounds, Aldo had the edge and secured a unanimous decision victory. While he marked his first win at bantamweight, Vera fell short of breaking into contention.

    Since their clash, both men have been in exceptional form. After avenging his previous loss to England’s Davey Grant in a Fight of the Night contest earlier this year, Vera faced former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar at UFC 268 last month. Inside Madison Square Garden, “Chito” recorded a memorable highlight-reel knockout courtesy of a front kick.

    For Aldo, two wins in 2021 against top contenders have seen him once again enter the title scene. First was a co-main event triumph over his compatriot Pedro Munhoz at UFC 265 in August. The former featherweight titleholder then extended his streak to three on Saturday with a commanding main event performance against Font, who many had tipped to fight for the title in 2022.

    Vera Shoots His Shot

    Despite their places in the rankings, which sees Vera narrowly outside the top 10 and Aldo firmly inside the top five, the Ecuadorian wants a second chapter with “Junior.”

    Taking to Twitter in the aftermath of Aldo’s latest success, “Chito” challenged the Brazilian to a five-round headliner. As far as ambitious callouts go, this is certainly up there…

    “Let’s do it again @josealdojunior be a man and take a 5 rounder with me.”

    The chance of the rematch happening is slim, at least for now. Aldo firmly has his sights set on reaching the top of the food chain again, something a victory over Vera would not help to achieve.

    While Vera will likely to have to re-adjust his target to the likes of Marlon Moraes and the loser of the upcoming Dominick Cruz vs. Pedro Munhoz clash, Aldo will be hoping to secure a title eliminator against former two-time bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw.

    Would you like to see Marlon Vera and José Aldo run it back down the line?

  • Georges St-Pierre Explains Why He Thinks Edwards Was Denied Title Shot

    Georges St-Pierre has given his thoughts on the landscape of the UFC welterweight division.

    The state of the UFC welterweight division is far from black and white at the moment. A few different scenarios have been going around lately and with a few fighters injured things could be up in the air for a while longer. One man who ruled the top of the division some time ago has his thoughts on how things should play out, that man is Georges St-Pierre.

    St-Pierre is currently retired and has a unique view of the division from the outside. He feels that number one contender Leon Edwards should be next for the title shot. he explained his reasoning behind these thoughts in an interview with BT Sports.

    “He deserves the shot. It’s unfortunate for him [that he hasn’t had it yet]. I think it’s because of the way that the Nate Diaz fight ended,” St-Pierre said. “But it happens to everybody, sometimes you get clipped. You don’t see a punch coming, you zig when you should have zagged. He did the perfect fight until that moment.”

    Champion Kamaru Usman recently defeated Colby Covington, and will need some time off with family and to heal up. In the meantime, Edwards was scheduled to face Jorge Masvidal, but that fight fell through when Masvidal suffered an injury. This leaves Edwards in a tough place. He could very well wait until Usman is ready and then get that title shot, or he could fight someone else and possibly lose out.

    “He deserves a shot, you know. You’re in the fight business, at one point you’re going to take a shot and you might get rocked. He showed incredible heart and I think he is ready for a title shot,” St-Pierre said. “But the UFC runs a business, they make money. Of course, there’s a story with Leon and [Jorge] Masvidal and as a fan, I’m curious to see what was going to happen between them as well.”

    Dana White has said that he and the UFC are looking to make something happen for Edwards. He wasn’t specific but it could be another matchup for a title eliminator matchup. The timeline for Usman’s return was not specified, but Edwards has been known to sit out for long periods of time.

    Do you agree with GSP, should Leon Edwards just get the next title shot without another fight?

  • MMA Fighter Knocks His Opponent Out Of The Cage With Flying Knee

    Brazilian MMA fighter Romero Reis put on quite the performance at a recent event, knocking his opponent out of the cage with a flying knee.

    Reis had come into the fight with a 5-5 record, but he earned what was arguably the most impressive win of his career at Home Fight Championship 3. After landing some hard low kicks on Diogo Galo, he followed it up with a flying knee that landed flush near the cage door, sending Galo flying.

    Check out Reis’ incredible moment below.

    Romero Reis’ Finish Is One Of The Most Unusual KOs In Years

    Reis’ win over Galo was a rematch a little over a year in the making, after he knocked out Galo with a similar combination at a Pitbull Fight Championship event. Entering his rematch with Galo, Reis earned a first-round submission earlier this year against Alberto Baydek Monteiro Junior.

    The flying knee knockout has become increasingly more common since Jorge Masvidal viciously finished Ben Askren with the technique at UFC 239.

    After losses in three of his first four professional fights, Reis has surely risen his stock with another wild knockout on the Brazilian regional MMA scene. He could be a name to watch over the next few years as his skill set continues to develop.

    What is your reaction to Romero Reis’ vicious knockout?

  • Michelle Waterson vs. Amanda Ribas Set For March Fight Night Card

    Michelle Waterson and Amanda Ribas will finally be sharing the Octagon with one another.

    Waterson and Ribas were booked to fight one another at UFC 257 in January on Fight Island but “The Karate Hottie” was forced out of the bout. Since then, Ribas has called her out a few times and now according to MMAFighting, they will fight one another on a Fight Night card on March 26. The location of the event has not been announced.

    Michelle Waterson (18-9) is coming off a decision loss to Marina Rodriguez back in May, which served as the main event of the card. Prior to that, she earned a split decision win over Angela Hill which was also the main event. The victory snapped her two-fight losing skid after dropping a split decision to Carla Esparza and a five-round main event decision loss to Joanna Jędrzejczyk.

    Waterson is currently ranked ninth at strawweight and does hold notable wins over Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Paige VanZant, Jessica Penne, and Cortney Casey among others.

    Amanda Ribas

    Amanda Ribas (11-2) returned to the win column back at UFC 267 as she earned a hard-fought decision win over Virna Jandiroba. In the fight prior, she was knocked out by Marina Rodriguez, who took the fight on short notice after Waterson was forced out of the scrap. The Brazilian is ranked 10th and started her UFC career out 4-0 with wins over Mackenzie Dern, Paige VanZant, Randa Markos, and Emily Whitmire.

    Currently, only two fights are official on the March 26 card which sees Jan Blachowicz take on Aleksandar Rakic in the main event at light heavyweight. Sara McMann will also battle Karol Rosa.

    Who do you think will win, Michelle Waterson or Amanda Ribas?

  • Hooker On FW Move: We’ll Cross Volkanovski Bridge When We Get To It

    Dan Hooker has spoken about the prospect of moving down to a featherweight division currently ruled by teammate Alexander Volkanovski.

    Hooker, who began his UFC career at 145 pounds, has seen the initial success he achieved after moving up to lightweight stall. Having followed a 3-3 featherweight stint with a 7-1 start at 155 pounds, which saw “The Hangman” add the names of Gilbert Burns, Al Iaquinta, Paul Felder, and James Vick to his résumé, Hooker’s pursuit for gold hit a roadblock at the top five.

    Since a main event victory in his home country last February, Hooker has seen Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler, and Islam Makhachev have their hands raised at his expense. In an effort to revitalize his career, the 31-year-old looks set to return to his old stomping ground in 2022.

    https://twitter.com/danthehangman/status/1462956932486946820

    Hooker Not Fazed By Joining Division Ruled By Teammate

    The UFC featherweight throne is currently occupied by Volkanovski, a City Kickboxing teammate of Hooker. “The Great” successfully ascended the weight classes’ mountaintop with a victory over Max Holloway in 2019, a feat he repeated in his first title defense seven months later.

    Having now brushed aside the challenge of Brian Ortega, Volkanovski, who is riding a 20-fight winning streak, has staked his claim as one of the most dominant active champions in the promotion.

    In a recent interview with It’s Time For Sports, Hooker was asked about the possibility of meeting his friend and teammate inside the Octagon if he commits to a featherweight switch. After stating they’d “cross that bridge” when they arrive at it, “The Hangman” suggested having multiple members of the team high up in a division is not a bad scenario.

    “It’s like, cross that bridge when it comes to it. That is the same as like, Brad (Riddell) in my division at lightweight. It’s never a bad position to be in. To have your training partners or your group of friends so good at fighting that you might, potentially, have to fight each other to be the best fighter in the world. That’s not the worst situation. But it’s like, I want Volk to win as well and I see him being super successful as well.”

    With the ever-changing scope of each division, Hooker also mentioned that his path may never cross with that of Volkanovski, who he predicts will go onto big things in the next few years.

    “The landscape of something can change so quickly in this sport. Over the next year you could see Volk doing some incredible things. You could see Volk moving up to lightweight and being a double champ, and then, you know, fighting Conor McGregor and walking away with $20 million or something crazy. That’s what I see for Volk. You can’t beat me. I want him to win as well, I want Brad to win as well, I want my teammates to be successful as well. It’s not like I want to be successful at their expense. I want to be successful but I want to see them do some incredible things as well.”

    Before reaching the stage where he enters contention, Hooker will first have to establish himself at 145 pounds and record some wins. In what would be a pretty tough first assignment, “The Hangman” recently revealed a clash with “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung would be at the top of his list of desired fights.

    Whoever he ends up facing, there are certainly some exciting matchups for Hooker, with the likes of Calvin Kattar, Giga Chikadze, and Shane Burgos all awaiting him at featherweight.

    Would you like to see teammates Dan Hooker and Alexander Volkanovski collide at featherweight?

  • Peña Says People Are “Sleeping On” Her Ahead Of Nunes Title Fight

    UFC women’s bantamweight contender Julianna Peña believes people are unfairly writing her off ahead of her title fight with Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 this weekend.

    After COVID-19 saw her initial championship challenge postponed, Peña will finally fight for UFC gold for the first time in Las Vegas this Saturday. “The Venezuelan Vixen” will enter the pay-per-view co-main event having gone 2-2 in her last four outings.

    Defeats to Valentina Shevchenko and Germaine de Randamie were split with a decision victory over inaugural flyweight champ Nicco Montaño. A third-round submission win against Sara McMann at UFC 257 in January was enough to secure Peña a date with the “Lioness.”

    Prior to her loss against the current 125-pound queen, Peña defeated the likes of Jessica Eye and Cat Zingano on her way to a perfect 4-0 start on MMA’s biggest stage. The Ultimate Fighter 18 winner will be looking to add the name of Nunes to an already impressive résumé on December 11.

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

    A victory will certainly be no easy task. Nunes is the consensus Female GOAT and holds both the bantamweight and featherweight titles. Since a 2014 defeat to Zingano, the Brazilian has won 12 straight contests, defended her titles seven times, and beaten names like Shevchenko, Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Holly Holm, and Raquel Pennington.

    With that in mind, it’s unsurprising not many are giving Peña a chance at having her hand raised at UFC 269. But in an interview with TMZ Sports, the number one contender suggested fans and pundits are wrongly “sleeping” on her, and admitted she’s relishing the underdog status.

    “I feel like a lot of people are sleeping on me, and they think that I’m a sacrificial lamb. But I definitely think that, you know, I know I’m definitely not a sacrificial lamb, and everybody loves an underdog. So, I’m just ready to get out there and bring something better to the table.”

    While many expect another easy ride for Nunes, former two-division title challenger Chael Sonnen shared a similar view as Peña. Although he didn’t predict an upset victory, he did suggest the 32-year-old is a lot more likely to do it than any of the champ’s previous challengers.

    Peña Has ‘Never Felt More Prepared’

    Julianna Pena
    Image Credit: Esther Lin of MMAFighting.com

    In her last two defenses, Nunes successfully retained her 145-pound gold with triumphs over Felicia Spencer and Megan Anderson, the latter of which came via a destructive first-round armbar at UFC 259 in March.

    It’s no secret that to have any hope of dethroning Nunes, Peña will have to be at the top of her game and hope that the two-division titleholder isn’t at the top of hers. According to the Washington native, she’s done everything she can ahead of the final pay-per-view of the year.

    “I am ready. I am in the zone. I have never felt more physically or mentally prepared in my life and it’s my time. It just feels so great to know that I have literally left no stone unturned. I’m ready to go. I’m in the zone… I am more ready than I’ve ever been in my life.”

    Whether her preparation will be enough remains to be seen, but Peña certainly has an aura of confidence that not many have seemed to have prior to facing Nunes. That could, of course, be shut down with another dominant performance from the Brazilian, but anything can happen in MMA…

    Do you think Julianna Peña has what it takes to dethrone Amanda Nunes?

  • Tommy Fury Speaks Out On Jake Paul Fight Withdrawal

    Tommy Fury has issued a statement after withdrawing from his scheduled boxing match with Jake Paul due to injury.

    Fury and Paul had gone back and forth on social media for months and were expected to settle their beef in the ring in Tampa, FL. But just two weeks away from the bout, news broke that Fury had pulled out of the fight.

    Fury explained his reasoning for the withdrawal via a statement through his team and promoter Frank Warren.

    “I am absolutely heartbroken that I have been forced to withdraw from my fight with Jake Paul due to a bacterial chest infection and a broken rib,” Fury said. “The beginning of my camp was going so incredibly and I never expected anything to come in my way from a victory on December 18th. I can’t express how disappointed I am and I really do hope we can get this fight rescheduled in the new year. I want this fight to still happen more than anything.”

    “I’m now regretfully putting my focus on recovery and a further reschedule date.”

    After Tommy Fury Pulled Out, Paul Vs. Woodley 2 Will Happen

    While Fury pulling out of the highly anticipated fight is disappointing to most fans, the attention will now turn towards a rematch between Paul and former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. Paul confirmed that Woodley had agreed to step in on short notice and fight him in a rematch.

    The Fury vs. Paul fight was set despite Woodley agreeing to get the infamous “I Love Jake Paul” tattoo that was agreed upon following their fight earlier this year. Paul defeated Woodley via split decision in a back-and-forth war.

    For now, the Paul vs. Fury fight is on hold as the Paul/Woodley rivalry resurfaces.

    What are your thoughts on Tommy Fury pulling out of his fight with Jake Paul?

  • Jake Paul vs Tyron Woodley 2 Set After Tommy Fury Pulls Out

    Tommy Fury has reportedly pulled out of his boxing match with YouTube sensation Jake Paul just over 10 days before the pair were scheduled to meet inside the squared circle.

    Fury and Paul have built quite the rivalry in recent weeks and months, one that was expected to come to a head at a Showtime pay-per-view on December 18. But after an initial report from YouTube personality Keemstar, sources confirmed to SunSport’s Chisanga Malata that the grudge match is off after the Englishman was forced to withdraw.

    Both men were heading into their contest unbeaten as professionals. Tommy, the younger half-brother of WBC and The Ring heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has built an unblemished 7-0 record since his debut in 2018.

    He was last in action on the undercard of Paul’s clash with former UFC welterweight titleholder Tyron Woodley in August. In his first fight outside of the United Kingdom, Fury faced former Bellator MMA fighter Anthony Taylor. After four rounds of action, “TNT” took home a unanimous decision win.

    Paul, meanwhile, is yet to face a boxer. His 4-0 record is comprised of a victory over fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib, former NBA star Nate Robinson, former ONE and Bellator 170-pound champ Ben Askren, and Woodley. While his ability with the gloves is hard to deny at this point, as many in the combat sports community have admitted, his place in the sport will likely not be legitimized until he faces and defeats a professional boxer.

    It appeared he’d have the chance to do just that on December 18, but with today’s news, the wait for that will seemingly go on. Given Paul’s pre-fight comments, which suggested he was skeptical about Fury showing up to fight, the reported withdrawal will likely begin another war of words between the pair.

    Woodley Steps In As Short-Notice Replacement

    MMA reporter Ariel Helwani has now revealed that Tyron Woodley will be stepping in on short notice to fight Jake Paul in a rematch of their August bout that saw Paul take home a decision victory.

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

    From his immediate callout in the ring to getting the previously agreed tattoo, “The Chosen One” has shown he’ll do whatever it takes to secure a chance for redemption. With Fury’s withdrawal, the former UFC champ now has the opportunity he’s been seeking.

    Despite Woodley adhering to the tattoo bet, Paul previously ruled out the possibility of fighting the veteran again. It now looks as though Paul has reneged on his renege.

    Would you like to see Tyron Woodley replace the injured Tommy Fury and rematch Jake Paul?

  • Dustin Poirier Hopes To Test Gaethje’s Oliveira Theory At UFC 269

    UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier is looking to test Justin Gaethje’s theory on champion Charles Oliveira’s resolve when he meets the Brazilian at UFC 269.

    Oliveira had UFC gold wrapped around his waist for the first time at UFC 262 in May this year. After the great Khabib Nurmagomedov vacated the title, “Do Bronx” faced relative promotional newcomer Michael Chandler for the belt in a memorable main event clash.

    Despite looking moments away from defeat in the opening round, Oliveira survived and mounted a remarkable second-frame comeback, emerging victorious via TKO. The result saw Oliveira reach the UFC mountaintop after 26 fights in the promotion. His championship crowning was added to a host of accolades, including the records for most submission wins, most finishes, and highest finishes-per-win percentage in UFC history.

    After the post-crowning euphoria, Oliveira’s focus will now be on his upcoming first defense. In the main event of UFC 269 on December 11, he’ll face #1 contender Poirier. “The Diamond” is coming off two victories over megastar Conor McGregor and has now turned his attention back to the title.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWoEEA5rAV4/

    Poirier Aims To Drag Oliveira To Deep Waters

    Following his victory over Chandler, one of Oliveira’s lightweight peers wasn’t impressed. Former interim champ Justin Gaethje claimed that even in defeat, “Iron” showed that Oliveira is a “quitter.” That’s despite the fact the Brazilian overcame early adversity to finish Chandler. According to “The Highlight,” Poirier will make the champ quit this Saturday.

    Despite not necessarily agreeing with his fellow former interim titleholder, Dustin Poirier does intend on testing his theory when he enters the cage with “Do Bronx.” In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, the Louisianan revealed his intention to test Oliveira’s perseverance by dragging him to deep waters.

    “I would love for the fight to reach that point to where we’ll find out (if Oliveira can dig deep) in front of the world. That’s a goal of mine; to get this fight into deep waters and see who really wants it more, who is willing to bleed more, and leave it all out there. Because I know I will. No question about it.

    Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier
    Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Credit: Getty Images

    “But going to what Justin said, dude, I’ve said this. I’m saying the same shit over and over again every interview. It feels corny but when a fighter goes out there, our last fight is the most important. He (Oliveira) got hurt, came back second round and showed his championship grit and finished Michael Chandler; a guy that just took Justin to hell. So, if that says anything, you’re as good as your last fight. He’s a world champion.”

    Perhaps Gaethje will have his own chance to test Oliveira’s toughness if the reigning champ successfully defends his gold against Poirier. After his victory over Chandler at UFC 268, it stands to reason “The Highlight” will challenge the UFC 269 victor in the first half of 2022.

    What do you make of Charles Oliveira’s resolve and toughness?

  • Ciryl Gane: Francis Ngannou Knows I Can Manage His Power

    UFC interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane isn’t worried about Francis Ngannou’s game-changing power ahead of their unification bout.

    Gane earned the interim heavyweight title over Derrick Lewis earlier this year at UFC 265, in a dominant performance that led to a TKO finish. He is undefeated in his still relatively young MMA career.

    Ngannou earned the heavyweight belt over Stipe Miocic by a vicious knockout at UFC 260. While Gane knows the challenges that Ngannou presents, he isn’t scared about getting hit with a big strike on the feet.

    “I think Francis did a lot these last years, and he proved he improved and he’s more intelligent,” Gane said in an interview with BT Sport. “And that’s great. He’s well-rounded now. And I think it’s gonna be more like that. Because he (knows) I can manage the power. I think he knows I can manage the power.”

    Ciryl Gane And Francis Ngannou Trained Together At MMA Factory

    Gane and Ngannou trained together briefly at MMA Factory in France before Ngannou had an alleged falling out with management and moved stateside. Ngannou now trains at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, NV where he most recently trained with Glory kickboxing champ Rico Verhoeven.

    Gane has picked up plenty of eye-opening wins since signing with the UFC in 2019. After winning his UFC debut over Raphael Pessoa, he’s earned wins over the likes of top contenders Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Junior dos Santos and Alexander Volkov.

    Gane’s kickboxing, in particular, has impressed, as he showcased in his finish over Lewis for the interim title.

    Gane vs. Ngannou is expected to be a back-and-forth war at UFC 270 and could be a perfect way for the UFC to kick-off 2022. While there appears to be some mutual respect between the two heavyweights, former teammates will become sworn enemies inside the Octagon.

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

  • McGregor Debates Filmmaker About Khabib’s Retirement & Legacy

    In this week’s installment of The Twitter Adventures of Conor McGregor, The Notorious One takes on an award-winning filmmaker in a debate about Khabib Nurmagomedov’s legacy.

    On October 24, 2020, Khabib Nurmagomedov called it a career after advancing his flawless record to 29-0 with a submission victory over Justin Gaethje. Instantly, debates began on where “The Eagle” perched among the greatest fighters to ever do it.

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    Sunday, award-winning filmmaker Will Harris recalled a moment when Khabib’s cousin, Umar Nurmagomedov, praised the former lightweight champion as the “greatest” during filming of the Anatomy of a Fighter series. According to Harris, Khabib requested that Umar’s remark be omitted from the film. This, says Harris, just goes to show how humble Khabib is at heart.

    However, going back to that October night, one of the millions of people to hear Khabib’s retirement announcement was his old nemesis, Conor McGregor.

    McGregor was quick to point out what he believed to be a contradiction to Harris’ implication of Khabib’s humility. Because Khabib did not want such recognition, McGregor argued, then why did he request to be ranked #1 on the pound-for-pound list?

    You can view the opening exchanges of the debate in the screenshot below.

    At the end of that exchange, McGregor didn’t stop at questioning Khabib’s humility but also questioned his legacy altogether. He would then brand the Dagestani a “fool” by alluding back to comments made earlier this year about Aldo no longer being in his prime or able to fight against elite competition.

    Below, the debate continues with McGregor listing his supporting points for why Khabib is merely a “good,” not great fighter. Harris then attempts to hold a mirror to McGregor about his own perceived struggles with weight after the Irishman criticized Khabib’s past scale struggles.

    In this third and final round, McGregor disputes Harris’ claim that he struggled on the scales himself by pointing out that he never missed weight. He also argued that his transition up a weight class went flawlessly.

    Overall, the debate was cordial, especially by Twitter standards, and the two fine gentlemen agreed to disagree on Khabib’s legacy.

    Check out the final exchange below:

    Conor McGregor is expected to return to competition in early 2022 after suffering a leg injury at UFC 264. His bout against Khabib took place at UFC 229 three years ago, in a contest that saw the Dagestani advance to 27-0 with a submission victory.

    Who do you side with in the above debate? Will Harris or Conor McGregor?