MMA News

Tag: Ali Abdelaziz

  • Islam Makhachev’s Training Partners Have To Be ‘Helped Emotionally’, Claims Manager

    Islam Makhachev’s Training Partners Have To Be ‘Helped Emotionally’, Claims Manager

    When Khabib Nurmagomedov made the decision to retire and vacate the UFC lightweight title, it meant that his teammate, Islam Makhachev, would get his time to shine. Following the title reign of Charles Oliveira that took place in-between, Makhachev ascended to the throne and he now sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings.

    Makhachev was always a highly regarded competitor but he seems to make visual improvements each and every time that he steps inside the Octagon. A big reason for that and his consistency is because like his training partner and coach, he has an incredible work ethic and drive.

    Fans have seen glimpses and heard stories about how hard Khabib works his team in the gym now that he’s leading the practices. With Makhachev set to headline UFC 311 on January 18 in a rematch with Arman Tsarukyan and Umar Nurmagomedov challenging for the bantamweight title in the co-main event, this has been no different during their residency at the UFC PI in Las Vegas.

    In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Dominance MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz provided some insight regarding the kind of cycle that Makhachev puts his training partners through on a daily basis. He said that fighters have to take rest days after going head-to-head with the lightweight champion and that has only continued to grow in recent times.

    “Listen, we have to give his training partners days off from training for them to be ready for sparring day. Seriously. We have to help guys emotionally… I grappled with him the other day and I was like, ‘What the hell am I doing?’ I can hold my own against anybody in grappling, somebody my size. But I felt like I was a little kid playing with a bear. This is how I felt. I was like, ‘There’s no sense in me even training with this guy ever again.’ In a way I felt bad, because I’m a man. But in reality, I felt so confident, how good [Makhachev] is.”

  • Manager Explains Magomed Ankalaev’s Confidence About KOing Alex Pereira: ‘He Said…Izzy Can’t Even Wash My Boots In Striking’

    Manager Explains Magomed Ankalaev’s Confidence About KOing Alex Pereira: ‘He Said…Izzy Can’t Even Wash My Boots In Striking’

    For a long time now, fight fans have theorized that Magomed Ankalaev is the biggest threat to the current light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira. The #1-ranked contender has beaten a lot of top opposition but it was his recent win over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 which seemingly solidified his status as the next in line at long last.

    However, the Rakić fight did also raise some concerns regarding the way that Ankalaev might approach a clash with “Poatan”. Throughout 2024, Ankalaev was very clear on the idea that in a fight with Pereira, he would stand and strike with him, believing that he would knock the champion out whilst many have made the case for why this wouldn’t be a smart approach.

    The Russian traded with Rakić for all three rounds this past October even after he lost the first five minutes because he didn’t attempt to test his opponent’s grappling and though he came out on top, he was clearly going out of his way to prove a point. Ankalaev has shown himself to be a very effective striker but in the current titleholder, you’re talking about a hall of fame level kickboxer.

    Ali Abdelaziz spoke in a recent interview with MMA Junkie about the confidence of the challenger right now in regards to his striking. As the manager of the number one contender, he said that his fighter is convinced that he will shock the world by stopping “Poatan” without using his grappling when they eventually go head-to-head.

    “Ankalaev, what he told me, he said, ‘I’m not wrestling with [Pereira]. I’m gonna show everybody. Izzy can’t even wash my boots in striking. I’m gonna knock Alex Pereira out. Get the respect I’ve deserved for a long time.’ It’s a long task to strike with [Pereira] and knock him out. But I believe Ankalaev can do it.”

  • Dominick Cruz Doesn’t Stand For Ali Abdelaziz’s Disrespect: ‘You Chat Sh*t That You Cannot Back Up’

    Dominick Cruz Doesn’t Stand For Ali Abdelaziz’s Disrespect: ‘You Chat Sh*t That You Cannot Back Up’

    In a recent interview with TMZ, former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz stated that he wants to fight one last time before calling time on his career. Following a four-year break in activity, Cruz returned to the Octagon at UFC 249 in 2020 where he challenged Henry Cejudo for the 135-pound title.

    Since then, he has fought three more times, earning wins over Casey Kenney and Pedro Munhoz before being stopped by Marlon Vera in August of 2022. “I’ll tell you, I think I got a last dance, I want one last dance in me,” Cruz told TMZ. “Just go out there and have fun, and when I say fun, I mean fight to the bitter death and see what I have in me.”

    His fellow UFC commentator, Jon Anik, posting on X to suggest that a rematch with Cejudo four years down the line from their first meeting would be of interest. The post received a response from the often vocal Ali Abdelaziz who is Cejudo’s manager at Dominance MMA.

    When Cruz replied to Abdelaziz calling this fight “easy money” for his fighter, the two men went back-and-forth in a series of posts.

    Cruz continued to hit back at Abdelaziz and criticized him for trash talking other fighters when he doesn’t have to face any repurcusions because he still gets paid whether or not the clients that he manages win or lose.

    “It’s easy money for you-as you get a percentage paid by your fighter no matter what, while you chat sh** that you personally cannot back up. You have no skin in the game, that’s what makes you weak.”

    The argument continued with Cejudo also catching a few strays from Cruz who said that fighting him would be like “killing you two birds with one stone”.

    “Look at your big tough guy words on X .You’re now talking about paying someone the % of money that you usually would steal from him, just to fight me for you, solely because you yourself can’t cash the checks you write with your big mouth. That’s exactly my point-that’s why you are a weakling. Henry is about as tiny a man in stature as you are mentally. You two deserve each other. Killing you two birds with one stone sounds like a lovely day of humanitarian work.”

    As is often the case, Abdelaziz continued to reply until he had the last word, seemingly welcoming Cruz to do something about it physically the next time that they see each other in person.

  • Islam Makhachev’s Manager Puts Dana White’s P4P Stance Down To Promotional Tactics

    Islam Makhachev’s Manager Puts Dana White’s P4P Stance Down To Promotional Tactics

    The manager of Islam Makhachev believes Dana White’s attempt to downplay the UFC lightweight champion’s status as pound-for-pound best is entirely down to his efforts to promote Jon Jones.

    “Bones,” a former light heavyweight kingpin who captured the heavyweight gold in his divisional debut last year, is set to make his long-awaited return to defend the belt in the UFC 309 main event next month.

    While Jones and the UFC CEO haven’t seen eye to eye in the past, White has been spreading stories of the heavyweight champ’s accolades and his continued superiority on podcasts and during interviews throughout this year.

    Among White’s claims is the suggestion that the rankings panel have massively messed up by putting Makhachev in the pound-for-pound top spot over Jones.

    During an interview with MMA Fighting, the Dagestani’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, provided his response to White’s continued dismissal of Makhachev as being worthy of the P4P crown.

    “Listen, it’s the reason why Dana White is the pound-for-pound greatest promoter on this planet,” Abdelaziz explained. “Jon Jones is fighting next month. He’s fighting a guy (in Stipe Miocic), he’s probably going to be -800 against. (This is) the best way to promote this fight, to promote Jon Jones.

    “Dana never promoted Jon Jones for some reason. But now he’s on Jon Jones’ wagon. Guess what? This promotes Jon Jones, too,” Abdelaziz continued. “He can say he’s the greatest of all time. Islam Makhachev right now currently is the pound-for-pound greatest fighter in the world by far. It’s not even second place. But Dana’s Dana. People think he’s talking gospel.”

    White isn’t along in disagreeing with Abdelaziz’s take.

    Makhachev’s expected next challenger, in-form Russian-Armenian contender Arman Tsarukyan, also put Jones above the lightweight champ while discussing the pound-for-pound order in a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn.

  • Ali Abdelaziz: O’Malley Deserves Title Shot Once Umar Nurmagomedov Is Champion

    Ali Abdelaziz: O’Malley Deserves Title Shot Once Umar Nurmagomedov Is Champion

    Umar Nurmagomedov is looking increasingly likely to be the next contender for the bantamweight title that changed hands at UFC 306.

    Merab Dvalishvili wasn’t sold on the idea following his win over Sean O’Malley last month but with several other top contenders either booked or coming off of losses, it doesn’t look like he will have much choice in the matter.

    Nurmagomedov has only fought one contender in the top 15, Cory Sandhagen, meaning that his first title defense if he was to win the belt would open up a lot of opportunities. With the biggest name in the division in “Suga” returning to the role of contender, it’s not likely to be long before he’s back in a big fight even if the fighters around him in the rankings stay active.

    Ali Abdelaziz Says Sean O’Malley Would Deserve To Fight Umar Nurmagomedov When He’s Champion

    There’s a strong chance that O’Malley finds himself in a title fight unless the likes of Deiveson Figueiredo or Petr Yan are able to make a statement when they meet.

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz spoke about how O’Malley would be at the top of their priorities if he’s successful against Dvalishvili.

    “Suga” has recently undergone surgery but if the timelines end up working out, which you’d imagine they will given his recent update, Abdelaziz said that O’Malley deserves this opportunity even if he is coming off a loss.

    “Sean O’Malley just have a surgery. The plan was Umar beat Merab and after that Umar gives Sean O’Malley a title shot coming off a loss because I believe Sean O’Malley deserves it. He built the division, he made everybody money, why not give the guy love for making the 135 (division) exciting as it is today.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley’s Coach Called ‘Hypocrite’ For Supporting Mario Bautista’s UFC 307 Win After Bashing Merab Dvalishvili

  • Ankalaev’s Manager: ‘Embarrassing’ If Pereira Avoids Next Fight

    Ankalaev’s Manager: ‘Embarrassing’ If Pereira Avoids Next Fight

    Alex Pereira made it clear in his post-fight interview at UFC 307 that he has no plans to leave the light heavyweight division right now.

    “Poatan” has flirted with both moving up to heavyweight and returning to middleweight but said himself that competing at 205-pounds is a sweet spot for him right now. Though his clash with Khalil Rountree in the main event delivered an entertaining fight, many expected Magomed Ankalaev to be his opponent in Salt Lake City.

    The #2-ranked contender will instead face Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 later this month where if he wins, there surely can be no denying him.

    Ali Abdelaziz Says Magomed Ankalaev Has To Be Next For Alex Pereira

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Ankalaev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz gave his thoughts on the current title picture at 205-pounds. He believes that Pereira’s statement on remaining at light heavyweight gives him no option but to face Ankalaev if he defeats Rakić in Abu Dhabi.

    Abdelaziz also pointed to some of his other fighters that have also had to campaign for a long time in order to get their title shots. He said that like the examples he gave, Ankalaev will make up for this long period of waiting by being champion for a significant period of time.

    “It would be embarrassing if he did this. He clearly said he’s not running, it would be clearly running but listen, let’s see what happens. Ankalaev needs to focus on Rakić but if I’m a champion and I believe I’m the best in the world, I’m going to fight anybody and listen, remember Islam Makhachev take him a long time to get there but when he’s there, he’s there for a long time.

    Khabib, Kamaru, these guys wait for a long time to become a champion, they hang around for a while and I believe this is going to be the deal for Ankalaev.” 

    Read also: Khalil Rountree Reflects On Brutal Loss To Alex Pereira At UFC 307: ‘Didn’t Win The Title But I Grew’ 

  • Prominent MMA Manager Feels Dana White Has Been ‘Playing’ Media With Jon Jones P4P Talk

    Prominent MMA Manager Feels Dana White Has Been ‘Playing’ Media With Jon Jones P4P Talk

    Renowned MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz recently asserted that he believes Dana White has been manipulating the media with his steadfast endorsement of Jon Jones’ status in the UFC pound-for-pound (P4P) rankings.

    White has dedicated a tremendous investment of effort in the past few months to championing Jones as the definitive leader in any conversation about the greatest P4P fighter in the world.

    The UFC CEO has been observed passionately debating with MMA journalists at multiple press conferences, reiterating his stance that ‘Bones’ rightfully claims the pinnacle position. This assertion is based not only on Jones’ reign of dominance in the UFC’s light heavyweight division throughout his career but also on his successful ascent to the heavyweight.

    Numerous voices within the MMA community have sought to challenge White’s claim by pointing to Jones’ inactivity in the Octagon, contending that reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev should be recognized as the rightful leader in the rankings. However, the UFC boss maintains that Makhachev still has much to achieve and may need to wait for Jones to retire to reach that esteemed status.

    Nonetheless, Makhachev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, argues that White’s fervent advocacy for Jones is merely a marketing strategy.

    Abdelaziz Says White Is Fostering Hype For Jones vs Miocic With P4P Narrative

    During a recent interview with MMA reporter Kevin Iole, Abdelaziz discussed Makhachev’s potential timeline for a return. However, the dialogue swiftly pivoted to White’s unwavering support for “Bones” as the greatest P4P fighter of all time.

    The Dominance MMA founder advocated for his client, asserting that Makhachev is the rightful kingpin of the rankings while also claiming that the UFC head honcho is merely leveraging debates about Jones to promote his return to the Octagon.

    “He [Makhachev] is the pound-for-pound #1 fighter in the world,” Abdelaziz said. “Dana can say whatever he wants, but Dana is one of the greatest promoters. We know Jon Jones is fighting Stipe [Miocic] next month. I don’t know if people care about this fight, but this is why Dana is the best because he knows how to rile people up…like he’s been playing with you guys [media].”

    “Bones” is set to defend his undisputed title against Miocic in the main event of UFC 309, scheduled for November 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This matchup marks Jones’ return to the Octagon after an injury-plagued hiatus of approximately 18 months following his victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285.

  • Ali Abdelaziz Puts Movsar Evloev ‘On The Same Level’ As Khabib, Makhachev, Usman

    Ali Abdelaziz Puts Movsar Evloev ‘On The Same Level’ As Khabib, Makhachev, Usman

    Ali Abdelaziz didn’t hold back in his admiration for Movsar Evloev, even declaring him to be on par with several UFC icons.

    Evloev was supposed to square off against former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling on the UFC 307 main card, scheduled for October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, on Wednesday, “Funk Master” announced that he had sustained an elbow injury during training, forcing him to withdraw from the fight as he won’t be able to recover in time for the event.

    The UFC has yet to officially confirm the cancellation, but Evloev has made it clear on social media that he’s been putting in the work for this fight. He’s even expressed his readiness to take on a short-notice opponent.

    The 30-year-old Russian has been unstoppable since making his UFC debut in April 2019, where he announced his arrival with a commanding unanimous decision victory over SeungWoo Choi. Evloev has racked up eight consecutive victories inside the Octagon, all via decision. He has secured notable wins along the way, including victories over Dan Ige, Hakeem Dawodu, Diego Lopes, and, most recently, Arnold Allen at UFC 297 this past January.

    Abdelaziz, who only began managing Evloev last month, is confident that the American Top Team standout has the potential to ascend to the same level of greatness as UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, and former welterweight titleholder Kamaru Usman.

    Abdelaziz Predicts Evloev Will Capture UFC Featherweight Gold By 2025

    During a recent interview with TMZSports, Abdelaziz opened up about Evloev’s relatively sparse appearances in the Octagon. The Dominance MMA founder expressed his commitment to working closely with the UFC to ensure his new client stays more active.

    He emphasized that if frequent competition is what it takes for Evloev to earn his shot at the title, he’s fully prepared to make that happen.

    “I believe that he should fight again in December or January,” Abdelaziz said. “I want to keep him busy. It doesn’t matter—Khabib had to beat 10 guys to fight for the title, same with Islam and Kamaru. If this is the route the UFC wants, he needs to just smash everyone ahead of him and show why the UFC has no choice but to give him a title shot. And guess what? He’s willing to fight anybody, anywhere, anytime. But the key here is to keep him busy against anybody, and this is what’s gonna happen.”

    Abdelaziz further added that he recently trained with Evloev and described him as one of the most dedicated fighters he’s ever encountered. The renowned MMA manager even likened the Russian’s work ethic to that of Nurmagomedov, Makhachev, and Usman.

    “I had the pleasure to train with [Evloev], and he’s one of the strongest guys I’ve ever trained with. He’s dedicated—this guy sleeps at a certain time, eats specific food, and lives and breathes fighting. I truly believe that by 2025, Movsar is going to be the featherweight champion. I believe he’s a very hard puzzle to solve and very hard to beat. The abilities he has, the discipline he has, remind me of Khabib, Islam, and Kamaru. He’s on the same level—how these guys live, how they walk, how they talk, how they train.”

    While Evloev undoubtedly possesses the skills to claim the 145-pound title in the near future with his wrestling-heavy approach, the road ahead is far from easy. A formidable lineup of dangerous contenders lies in wait, eager to challenge his ascent to the top.

  • ‘Me When I Lie’ – Fans React To Belal Muhammad’s Manager Predicting Finish In Leon Edwards Title Fight At UFC 304

    ‘Me When I Lie’ – Fans React To Belal Muhammad’s Manager Predicting Finish In Leon Edwards Title Fight At UFC 304

    Betting on the main event of UFC 304 to go the full five rounds on July 27 likely isn’t going to offer you large returns.

    Both Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad have been on dominant winning streaks in the welterweight division but neither the champion nor the challenger are particularly known for finishing fights.

    With Edwards’ very composed and calculated striking style and Muhammad’s brand of heavy and relentless grappling, they have seven finishes between them inside the Octagon.

    That being said, just under half of the Brit’s professional wins have come by stoppage, whereas Muhammad has 17 wins by decision and six finishes to his name, the last of which came against Sean Brady at UFC 280 in 2022.

    Despite this track record, the challenger’s managed recently made the bold prediction that his fighter will become the new welterweight champion without the need of the championship rounds.

    “@bullyb170 will stop Leon Edwards under three rounds,” Ali Abdelaziz wrote.

    MMA Fans React To Ali Abdelaziz Claiming Belal Muhammad Will Finish Leon Edwards

    If there is one criticism that is often thrown the way of Muhammad, it’s that he doesn’t finish enough fights or that his style isn’t the most exciting.

    It’s undeniable that he is incredibly effective, but there is an argument to be made that this approach has made it harder for him to find himself in position for a title shot.

    Fans reacted on social media to Abdelaziz believing that Muhammad will earn his fourth finish in the UFC against the man that he last faced in 2021.

    “Belal can’t finish a sandwich.”

    “Fight goes to decision is gonna be like -1000”

    https://twitter.com/DKD2421/status/1810436713615163669

    “Even Belal said that’s not happening”

    “Me when I lie”

    https://twitter.com/Jordan83835055/status/1810433123202585031

  • Jake Paul Says Kamaru Usman’s Boxing Skills Are “Fake”

    Jake Paul isn’t a fan of UFC welterweight Kamaru Usman’s chances in the boxing ring should he get an opportunity against Canelo Alvarez.

    Paul is coming off of an eventful 2021 for him in the boxing ring in which he earned three-straight wins to remain undefeated. He most recently knocked out former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in their short-notice rematch last December.

    Usman has flirted with the idea of challenging Alvarez for a crossover fight soon, with both sides expressing interest in promoting a potential bout. However, Paul thinks Usman may be making the wrong decision in targeting a matchup with Alvarez in boxing.

    Paul has proven to never be afraid to speak his mind, similar to Usman’s manager Ali Abdelaziz. In a recent interview, Abdelaziz predicted that Usman would make quick work of Alvarez if they were to fight.

    Abdelaziz took a shot at Paul and other YouTuber-turned boxers by referring to them as “fake fighters from boxing”. This prompted quite the response from Paul on social media.

    “Mr. Informant
 do us all a favor and shut your peanut head ass mouth,” Paul told Abdelaziz. “The only thing fake is your boy Usman’s boxing skills. He won the belt from Tyron Woodley by decision. You seen what I did.”

    This isn’t the first time that Paul has taken a shot at Usman. In November, he claimed that the UFC’s pound-for-pound king is “past his prime” and wouldn’t be a difficult matchup for him.

    Abdelaziz has also had his own history with Paul after predicting that Usman would knock him out inside four rounds. While Usman has improved his striking considerably over his past few fights, he has yet to make a debut in the boxing ring.

    While the chances of a Usman vs. Alvarez boxing match remain unclear, this hasn’t stopped some like Paul downplaying the idea that Usman would stand much of a chance in the ring.

    Do you agree with Jake Paul’s take on Kamaru Usman’s boxing?

  • Manager Shares The Only Way Harrison Can Fight Cyborg After PFL Deal

    MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz says talks of his client Kayla Harrison fighting Cris “Cyborg” Justino could theoretically happen, despite Harrison’s new deal with the PFL.

    Harrison concluded her free agency by re-signing with the PFL, despite lucrative offers from Bellator and the UFC. In addition to signing Harrison, the PFL announced that they intend to launch a “super fight division” to garner the attention of some of the best fighters around the sport.

    Talks of a fight between Harrison and Cyborg began when Cyborg defeated Sinead Kavanagh at Bellator 271. Harrison was a guest of Bellator President Scott Coker to watch Cyborg put on a dominant performance.

    Tensions between Harrison and Cyborg have skyrocketed in recent weeks. This was after Harrison challenged Cyborg to a fight at American Top Team before getting blocked by her on Twitter.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Abdelaziz explained how a Harrison vs. Cyborg fight can still happen down the line, which is for the reigning Bellator featherweight champion to jump ship.

    “Listen, Cyborg is a Bellator fighter. Kayla is a PFL fighter,” Abdelaziz said. Whatever super fight is gonna happen, it’s gonna happen with someone inside PFL. It’s not going to happen with someone in Bellator, because it’s a completely different entity. At the end of the day, I know both people, I’m good with both people, but it’s very hard to get two promoters to sit down and talk. I can be in the middle if they ask me to, but at the end of the day, PFL people fight people in the PFL. To be honest with you, I don’t know of any other champion in another promotion who would fight Kayla.”

    Abdelaziz went on to question whether or not a fight with Harrison is a matchup that Cyborg would want.

    “I don’t know if she does, I don’t know if she doesn’t. I just think people can say things, but when a contract is drawn, we don’t know what kind of move you’re going to make. You don’t know how you’re going to feel, what kind of butterfly you’re going to feel. One thing I can tell you, [Kayla’s] the greatest fighter of all time. It’s not Ronda, it’s not Amanda Nunes, she is. She’s the most dominant.”

    Harrison is getting ready to defend her women’s lightweight title in the upcoming 2022 PFL season. She defeated Taylor Guardado last October for her second consecutive championship in the league.

    As for Cyborg, she’s set to face Arlene Blencowe at Bellator 279 in April. She’s won five straight since losing to Amanda Nunes at UFC 232.

    If a Harrison vs. Cyborg fight will happen this year, it would have to take place in a cross-promotion event. But according to Abdelaziz, the only way the fight ever happens would be if Cyborg joined the PFL. For now, any conflict between Harrison and Cyborg will only take place from afar.

    Do you think Kayla Harrison vs. Cris Cyborg will eventually happen?

  • Manager: PFL Deal Makes Harrison Highest-Paid Female MMA Fighter

    According to Dominance MMA Management CEO Ali Abdelaziz, Kayla Harrison’s new PFL deal has made her the highest-paid female mixed martial artist in history.

    After months of speculation and uncertainty, the future of one of the most sought-after free agents in MMA was announced this week. Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and undefeated lightweight is set for some more years fighting under the promotional banner of the rising PFL organization.

    “I’m happy the free agency is over and I have a fight on the horizon,” Harrison told The New York Post via text. “I’m excited to continue to grow and challenge myself and be one of the highest-paid athletes in the sport.”

    And one of the highest-paid athletes she certainly is, if her manager is to be believed.

    Per journalist Aaron Bronsteter, Abdelaziz has said his client has shot to the top of the ladder in women’s MMA when it comes to financial gain following the signing of a new lucrative contract.

    “I spoke with Harrison’s manager @AliAbdelaziz00, who said ‘the PFL stepped up in a big way and Kayla is now the highest paid women’s mixed martial artist ever. I want to thank everyone who was involved in getting the deal done and in particular, Peter Murray and Ray Sefo.’”

    Given that she’s only 12 fights and four years deep into her career, if true, Harrison’s status as the highest-paid female MMA fighter ever is certainly an impressive achievement.

    Harrison Will Pursue A 3rd PFL Title In 2022

    While a return to the PFL seemed likely a number of weeks ago, a late offer from Bellator seemingly threw a spanner in the works. If that came to fruition, a long-awaited clash between Harrison and Cris Cyborg, who have been going back and forth on social media for months, would have been a possibility.

    Unfortunately for Bellator kingpin Scott Coker, his rival for her signature was able to match the offer, thus paving the way for this week’s confirmation.

    With her future finally laid out following five months of discussion and a tied-down place on the sport’s rumor mill, Harrison will now turn her attention to what she seemingly does best—destroying her competition inside the PFL cage and capturing gold.

    Having previously secured $1 million checks and championship glory in both 2019 and 2021, the Ohio native will be looking for a third successive dose of PFL glory when she returns for the 2022 season.

    With the addition of former Bellator featherweight champion Julia Budd to the equation, this year promises to provide the former Judoka with her stiffest tests to date.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CVkrTb8g47i/

    Do you think re-signing with PFL was the correct move for Kayla Harrison?

  • Adesanya Slams Abdelaziz For “Disgusting” Talk Of Usman Fight

    Israel Adesanya has slammed Ali Abdelaziz for comments he recently made about a superfight between the UFC Middleweight Champion and the reigning welterweight king, Kamaru Usman.

    Adesanya and Usman are currently two of the most dominant champions in MMA’s premier promotion. The pair have enjoyed a similar rise up the ladder of their respective divisions, culminating in championship glory and multiple defenses.

    “The Last Stylebender” has recorded two wins over top contender Robert Whittaker and defended his title against Paulo Costa, Yoel Romero, and Marvin Vettori. Meanwhile, “The Nigerian Nightmare” has seen off two challenges each from Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal, along with one from former teammate Gilbert Burns.

    With nine defenses between them and limited remaining challengers to their individual reigns, many have suggested the next logical step is a blockbuster showdown between the two Nigerian compatriots.

    (We also recently discussed another possible opponent for Israel Adesanya’s next fight).

    But owing to their national connection and both men’s desire to avoid dethroning a fellow African titleholder, the matchup seems unlikely. Usman even recently claimed it would take a $100 million offer to force him into the Octagon with Adesanya.

    Despite that, Usman’s manager, Dominance MMA Management CEO Abdelaziz, is still harboring hope of it coming together. He’s even suggested that if the pair are “real brothers,” they’d agree to make each other some money by sharing the cage.

    Adesanya To Abdelaziz: Are You My Brother?

    It’s safe to say Abdelaziz’s comments haven’t gone down well with the reigning middleweight king…

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Adesanya responded to the suggestion he and Usman should ditch their allegiance in the name of money-making.

    “The Last Stylebender” slammed Abdelaziz’s view as “disgusting,” and suggested Usman’s manager wouldn’t push for the superfight if he really was a fellow “African brother.”

    “The way [Abdelaziz] did it was just disgusting. I usually express that the way we do it in our gym and the code that we have,” said Adesanya. “And like I said, me and Kamaru definitely feel the same way. What’s the point? This is bigger than us. Kids are gonna look at us generations from now and be like, ‘Those guys from Nigeria, they did that. They ruled this whole thing till they left, and they left on top’—same with Francis as well.

    “[Abdelaziz] always comes up to me, ‘My brother, African brother!’ this and that. So I’m like, if you’re supposed to be a brother brother, why you trying to be selfish now and look at the dollar signs?” Adesanya concluded.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Q4wIyACBU/

    Given Adesanya’s reaction, it seems it would take a spectacular falling out in order to make him share the Octagon with Usman. With that said, it appears both men will have to look to light heavyweight if they’re to achieve two-division success.

    While the Nigerian-New Zealander has already failed in that quest once, his manager Eugene Bareman recently hinted that another attempt could be on the cards if his man can get past Jared Cannonier later this year.

    Meanwhile, “The Nigerian Nightmare” recently revealed he’d considered moving up to 205 pounds to challenge Jan Blachowicz when the Polish Powerhouse sat on the throne. It remains to be seen if the 170-pound titleholder will ever consider that jump again.

    How do you think a fight between Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman would play out?

  • Quote: Chimaev/Burns Is A Meaningful Fight, Masvidal/Covington Isn’t

    Ali Abdelaziz has suggested the rumored fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns is much more “meaningful” for the welterweight division than the UFC 272 main event grudge match between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal.

    After the withdrawal of Max Holloway saw some re-shuffling for the third and fourth pay-per-views of the year, UFC 272 was left without its originally scheduled bantamweight and featherweight title fights, and in need of a new headliner.

    What better replacement than two former friends and teammates-turned bitter rivals hashing out their differences for five rounds?

    On March 5, fans will be treated to exactly that as former title challengers Covington and Masvidal look to settle their differences in a unique non-title main event.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYr6znYsr42/

    While the backstory and feud make this one of the most anticipated headliners of the year for fans and pundits, one man believes it has little effect on the 170-pound weight class.

    During an interview with MMA Junkie, Abdelaziz, a renowned MMA manager, suggested that given both men are 0-2 against reigning champion Kamaru Usman, the UFC 272 main event lacks any real stakes in the context of the division. Instead, he believes one of his clients’ rumored next fight is the one to watch for at welterweight.

    Talk of a fight between rising star Chimaev and #2-ranked contender Burns has existed for a while now and has certainly intensified in recent weeks. Abdelaziz, who manages “Durinho” and used to work with “Borz,” believes that matchup is much more meaningful than the March PPV main event.

    “Listen, it doesn’t matter who Gilbert is gonna fight next. Gilbert, this is what he’s built for, he likes to fight. It can be anybody, Gilbert’s gonna put his hand up… If it’s Khamzat, Gilbert’s gonna fight Khamzat,” said Abdelaziz. “Great fight, I think it’s a great fight; one of the best. This is a meaningful fight. They’ve got the Masvidal and Colby (fight), I don’t think it’s a meaningful fight. I think Khamzat and Gilbert is a meaningful fight. Whoever wins can fight for the title. You’ve got the other two guys, they’re 0-2 against the champion.

    “I think (Chimaev vs. Burns) is a meaningful fight for the division,” added Abdelaziz. “Gilbert is a very good test. Gilbert (was) very close to becoming a champion. He’s the only guy to ever come close to even wobbling Kamaru or punching him… But I think if this fight happens, Gilbert is in. And I know Khamzat is probably in, too. Now it’s up to the UFC. They have to pull the trigger and make this fight happen.”

    Chimaev & Burns Seemingly Agreed To UFC 273 Clash

    Reports suggesting the UFC was targeting Chimaev’s fifth Octagon outing to be against Burns first emerged towards the back end of last year. While they initially pointed towards a January clash, talk seemed to disappear for a number of weeks, leading many to believe the promotion had gone in a different direction.

    But earlier this month, both the Brazilian and the Chechen-born Swede showed that the possibility of their booking was alive and well.

    In a story posted to Instagram by Chimaev, private messages exchanged between the two welterweight contenders appeared to show them agreeing to a fight on April 9, a date slated to host the UFC 273 pay-per-view.

    With a featherweight title bout between Alexander Volkanovski and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung already set for the event, as well as the long-awaited bantamweight unification showdown between Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan, the addition of Chimaev and Burns would certainly strengthen the PPV into one of the most stacked of the year so far.

    If the fight comes to fruition, who do you think will win, Gilbert Burns or Khamzat Chimaev?

  • White Walks Cejudo & Manager Through How To Properly Request A Fight

    Dana White has given some advice to Henry Cejudo and Ali Abdelaziz on how to get the former flyweight and bantamweight champion a fight.

    After it was revealed Max Holloway was out of his trilogy match against Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight belt, Cejudo was vocal about wanting the fight. However, the UFC showed no interest in the bout and decided to turn to the Korean Zombie instead. This was not the first time Cejudo has teased a comeback or called for a fight against Volkanovski. “Triple C” has been calling out Volkanovski frequently since his decision to retire.

    Now, White has given Cejudo and Abdelaziz some advice on what they should do if Triple C is really serious in wanting to return.

    “The thing is, Cejudo is retired,” White told Yahoo Sports (via MMAFighting). “There’s a way to go about it if you really want to fight, if that’s what you really want to do, you want the Volkanovski fight. What you don’t do is – I mean, you could. You could go online and start talking to Volkanovski and calling him names and all this stuff, but what you’d really have to do is pick up the phone and call and say, ‘Hey, what’s the procedure I need to follow to get back into a fight? I want to unretire and when can I get back into the USADA pool? How fast and what do I need to do?’ That’s how you get a fight.

    “His manager (Ali Abdelaziz) has 280,000 fighters under contract in the UFC, Cejudo’s been here forever,” White continued. “If you really want to fight, get down here and make some calls and say, ‘Hey, what do I need to do to get back in to fight? I want to jump back in.’ That’s how you do it. You don’t call people out and call them names on Twitter and then expect we’re gonna pick up the phone and go, ‘Hey, we’ve got a fight for you!’”

    Henry Cejudo
    Photo via Instagram @henrycejudo

    Henry Cejudo retired following a TKO win over Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 to defend his bantamweight title for the first and only time. Although he retired, he has continued to talk about returning. Yet, Dana White says he or his manager hasn’t made a serious effort to actually book a fight.

    For White, he makes it clear, if Cejudo is serious about returning, he needs to prove that and not demand a title fight on social media.

    “Then get it done,” White said. “You know how to do it. Have your manager call over here and get the deal done. That’s why I was saying the other night and the media is saying, ‘Well, Henry Cejudo said this and this guy said that,’ – it’s a silly conversation. This is ridiculous to even talk about. You’re asking me about a retired fighter that isn’t anywhere near coming back, to take on Alexander Volkanovski, who is in a different weight class, in a short notice fight. Why are we talking about this? How does this make sense?

    “If you really want to fight, get on the phone with your matchmaker and get the ball rolling.”

    Do you think we will see Henry Cejudo fight again?

  • Dariush: Manager Stopped Me Taking Low-Ranked Opponent In December

    UFC lightweight Beneil Dariush has revealed he wanted to stay active and fight a low-ranked opponent this month rather than wait for a top contender in 2022.

    Dariush is currently sitting at #3 in the 155-pound rankings. Having gone 0-2-1 between 2017 and 2018 thanks to losses at the hands of Edson Barboza and Alexander Hernandez, not many would have expected to see the Iranian-born American entering the top five just three years later.

    To do so, Dariush had to build an impressive seven-fight winning streak that includes victories over Thiago MoisĂ©s, Drew Dober, Diego Ferreira, and Tony Ferguson. After dominating “El Cucuy,” the 32-year-old entered contention and, in the eyes of many, earned a title shot.

    With Justin Gaethje seemingly waiting in the wings for the victor next year, Dariush will need to add another name to his rĂ©sumĂ© to book an opportunity for the belt. He’ll have the chance to do just that on February 26 when he headlines a UFC Fight Night with surging Dagestani Islam Makhachev.

    Dariush Targeted A 3rd Fight In 2021

    Dariush’s first walk to the Octagon in 2022 will mark his return after just over nine months away from the cage. After his triumph at UFC 262, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt was left high up in a lightweight landscape that didn’t seem to have a place for him at the time.

    Speaking to ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, Dariush described his frustration at struggling to find an opponent for the end of 2021 and said he’d always planned on fitting a third appearance into this calendar year.

    “It was actually not ideal for me. I was hoping to fight this December. And man, being top five, I didn’t realize how much drama there is, man, what a drama show, dude. So, I told Ali (Abdelaziz) I wanna fight December.”

    Dariush also revealed that he’d originally been offered a fight against Makhachev after the 30-year-old’s main event win in July. The UFC wanted to book the pair for a meeting at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi. With Dariush not ready and the UFC unwilling to keep the matchup together for December, the #3-ranked contender was left without an opponent.

    With that in mind, Dariush says he was more than happy to lower his sights to a top-10 or even a top-15 opponent for this month. That request, however, was not approved by his manager Ali Abdelaziz.

    “I was still expecting to fight in December. So I’m talking to Ali and Ali’s like, ‘Yeah, we’ll see, we’ll see.’ I mentioned to him like, ‘What if we fight someone top 10 or top 15?’ And he like, freaked out. He’s like, ‘You fire me if you’re gonna do this, like, get outta here.’ And then my wife overhead and she started freaking out and then my coaches (as well)… It’s so much drama. It’s no joke.”

    Dariush will finally have the chance to secure a title shot when he faces Makhachev, although he remains slightly concerned about the possibility of Conor McGregor returning straight into a championship fight. But if the UFC is a meritocracy, the winner of February 26’s headliner will have their shot at gold later in 2022.

    Do you think Beneil Dariush has what it takes to defeat Islam Makhachev on February 26?

  • Manager Pleads With The World To Accept BMF Title Is No More

    Manager to the stars, Ali Abdelaziz, is tired of hearing people talk about fighting for the BMF title.

    The BMF title was a specially crafted belt designed for and awarded to the winner of the fight between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. Ultimately, it would be Masvidal who was awarded the novelty belt, with none other than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson putting it around his waist after their UFC 244 main event was stopped by the doctor.

    Since then, and despite the fact that Dana White has made it clear that this was a one-off situation, there have been countless fighters calling for their crack at the BMF title. Everyone ranging from Leon Edwards to Colby Covington and more has asked for their own opportunity to fight for it.

    One of the more recent people to call for the BMF title was Covington, who spoke in an interview about wanting to see it up for grabs if he is to fight Jorge Masvidal, like both men and many others want.

    “Put that fuckin’ wack-ass BMF belt back on the fuckin’ line. Everybody knows who the real baddest motherfucker in this sport is. It’s Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington. Bring that fuckin’ belt out and lets fuckin’ do this shit: do The Ultimate Fighter whatever, tape for four weeks, six weeks, eight weeks, and run this fight in Miami. It makes sense,” Covington said.

    “Let’s go to American Airlines Arena. We could sell out that arena in seconds. And if we don’t go to American Airlines, we can go right up the street to BB&T Center, which is 30 minutes up the street. I’ll beat his ass in both arenas. We’ll go beat BB&T Center, go up to Broward County; then, go down to Miami-Dade County and beat his ass in American Airlines Arena. Fuckin’ little bitch Jorge.”

    Stop Asking For A BMF Belt, Says Abdelaziz

    One person who is tired of hearing talks of a BMF title is one of the biggest managers in MMA, Ali Abdelaziz. In fact, he issued something of a response to the people who are asking for it, but seemingly Colby Covington in particular.

    Posting to Twitter, Abdelaziz explained that his client, welterweight champ Kamaru Usman, is the lineal BMF champ after knocking out Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261. Therefore, he demands that nobody else asks to fight for this title, as it is no longer relevant.

    “Please stop talking about this BMF belt @USMAN84kg won that belt and he throw it in the garbage already Win some fights and try to win the undisputed UFC title. Good luck with that,” Abdelaziz wrote.

    The fact is the only time that Dana White even showed interest in bringing the BMF title back into circulation was in the event of a rematch between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. So even though Kamaru Usman might be the lineal titleholder, it is all just talk, as the actual belt does not appear to be going up for grabs anytime soon.

    Do you still acknowledge the existence of the BMF title?

  • Khamzat Chimaev: The Gilbert Burns Fight Comes Down To His Manager

    UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev has addressed rumors he could fight Gilbert Burns next, suggesting whether or not the matchup comes together is down to the Brazilian’s manager Ali Abdelaziz.

    The fact that we’re already in a position to discuss Chimaev and Burns in the same breath is remarkable. It’s a testament to the 27-year-old’s rapid and brutal rise up the UFC ranks, something he’s achieved in just over a year in the promotion.

    Last summer, “Borz” arrived in style, picking up two wins over John Phillips and Rhys McKee in the space of just 10 days on Fight Island. A couple of months later, he boosted his UFC record to 3-0 with a 17-second knockout of middleweight veteran Gerald Meerschaert.

    After being sidelined for over a year due to COVID-19 complications, something which led to a booking against top-three contender Leon Edwards collapsing, many wondered whether Chimaev could pick up where he left off in his return. Against Li Jingliang at UFC 267, he did that and more.

    The Chechen-born Swede jumped into the rankings with a memorable first-round submission victory in which he rendered “The Leech” unconscious with a rear-naked choke.

    Since his successful comeback, Khamzat Chimaev’s future has been one of the most talked about topics in the UFC. While some even called for “Borz” to be immediately accelerated to the top to challenge Kamaru Usman, UFC President Dana White suggested he needed “one or two” more wins against high-ranked contenders to earn a title shot.

    It appears Chimaev could have his chance to stake his claim for a championship opportunity in January. Recent reports suggested the promotion was targeting a matchup between the newly-arrived contender and former title challenger Gilbert Burns.

    Chimaev Believes Burns Would Accept The Fight

    During a recent appearance on the MMA Hustle podcast, Chimaev was asked about the rumored clash, which would likely serve as a title eliminator. After expressing interest in facing “Durinho,” the 27-year-old suggested it’s down to Burns’ manager Ali Abdelaziz, who Chimaev parted ways with earlier this year.

    “I don’t really know, but I’d love to fight (Burns) and we’ll see. If (his) manager Ali (Abdelaziz) says. The fighter himself, I don’t think he will refuse. The manager decides. Ali understands who I am and who he is… It seems that’s what Ali is trying to tell him, that it’s not advantageous for him. I’m number 10 and he’s number three or two. And whether (it’s) advantageous or not, I’ll get to him and to everyone anyway.” (Via translation)

    If the Dominance MMA CEO does give the green light for his man to enter the Octagon with one of his former fighters, Chimaev doesn’t believe he’ll have an issue dispatching the Brazilian. In fact, the #11-ranked contender went as far as to agree with one of the podcast hosts who claimed the matchup would be easy for him.

    “Yeah, of course. He’s small, not big. I’ll out-box him… No way he could go low on me. A jiu-jitsu fighter, there’s no way. I don’t think he will get me on the mat. When was the last time he managed that? Fighting is different. Jiu-jitsu is on the floor and you still have to get there.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWRuxxDpkk-/

    Having fallen short of the gold at UFC 258 earlier this year, Burns would be looking to secure a second crack at dethroning Usman by halting the surge of Chimaev if the booking comes together.

    After rebounding against Stephen Thompson at UFC 264, “Durinho” has made it clear he’s ready to face anyone who can get him back to the title, expect for teammate Vicente Luque, that is.

    How do you think a fight between Gilbert Burns and Khamzat Chimaev would play out?