UFC analyst and former middleweight champion Michael Bisping has heard the critics of his fill-in for Joe Rogan at the desk at UFC 271.
Bisping was on the call with play-by-play broadcaster Jon Anik and color commentator Daniel Cormier for the recent UFC 271 pay-per-view in Houston, TX. One notable absence from the event was Rogan, who has been marred by controversy in recent weeks.
Fans were divided on Bisping’s performance at the commentary desk, with some accusing him of showing bias and not replacing Rogan adequately. Bisping has commentated UFC Fight Night events but has been rarely seen for pay-per-view broadcasts.
During a recent Q+A session on his YouTube channel, Bisping addressed his critics and whether or not he would return to work pay-per-views in the future should he be needed.
āWell, considering all the backlash from all the motherfuckers out there, probably not. Theyāre probably like, āWhoa, we gave him a try. He was fuking awful. He was biased.ā Nah. I donāt know. Weāll see. Weāll see because I was only filling in for Joe Rogan; so, probably not. Joe will more than likely be back on the next one. So, therefore, I will not. I donāt wanna take anyoneās job. And you know what? I like enjoying the pay-per-views as a fan. Now, donāt get me wrong. The best seat in the house is literally right there, working the shows.
āIf nobody can make it and they need somebody to fill in, I would be absolutely over the moon to do so. But I donāt want to take anyoneās job.ā (h/t SportsKeeda)
It was initially reported that Rogan would miss UFC 271 due to a “scheduling conflict”, which was later shut down by UFC president Dana White. After Rogan stepped away from his usual post just days before the event, Bisping filled in on short notice to help boost the commentary team.
While Rogan wasn’t present at the event, some fans chanted “We Want Rogan” throughout the fights. Bisping appears to be unbothered by the unwavering support for Rogan by his fans.
It’s not 100% clear whether or not Rogan’s absence will be long-term or short-term ahead of the UFC 272 pay-per-view next month. If Rogan opts to once again step aside, Bisping could get the call to fill once again.
What were your thoughts on Michael Bisping’s commentary at UFC 271?
UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya isn’t happy with how Robert Whittaker has handled the aftermath of their rematch at UFC 271.
Adesanya earned a unanimous decision victory over Whittaker in their main event rematch at UFC 271. It was a back-and-forth competitive fight, but Adesanya earned the win on the judges’ scorecards.
Adesanya had a similar situation happen with another of his previous opponents, Marvin Vettori. During their post-UFC 263 banter, Vettori claimed that he felt he won the fight over Adesanya.
During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Adesanya compared how Whittaker and Vettori handled their losses.
āHe and Vettori are sippin’ the same wine that Costa was sippinā,ā Adesanya said.
Adesanya went on to claim that he allegedly heard Whittaker’s team having the opposite opinion mid-fight.
āBut yeah, everyoneās entitled to their opinion. Iām not gonna try to change their opinion. But from what Iāve heard, his corner was telling him in the corner, like, āYouāre losing this fight. You need to step up.ā Thatās what Iāve heard. How the fuck you gonna think you won when your cornerās telling you youāre losing the fight?ā
Israel Adesanya Is Expected To Face Jared Cannonier Next
Israel Adesanya’s next fight might be against Jared Cannonier later this year. Cannonier earned a gruesome knockout win over Derek Brunson on the UFC 271 main card, setting up a showdown for the middleweight title.
Adesanya has previously expressed interest in a fight with Cannonier, and it appears that it’ll finally come to fruition. Before the win over Brunson, Cannonier had earned big wins over the likes of Jack Hermansson and Kelvin Gastelum.
For now, it appears that any hope of a third fight between Adesanya and Whittaker is on hold. Whittaker will need to go on another win streak to potentially earn a third chance at Adesanya.
How did you score Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker 2?
UFC lightweight Renato Moicano wants a shot at Bobby Green following their respective wins at UFC 271 last weekend.
Moicano earned a dominant win over Alexander Hernandez shortly after Green put on a striking showcase against Nasrat Haqparast. Both men are right in the thick of things in the lightweight division following their performances at UFC 271.
Some, including UFC commentator Jon Anik, have called for Green to get a main event slot at an upcoming Fight Night event.
During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Moicano spoke about what could be next in his UFC career and liked the idea of a fight with Green.
“I don’t know, let’s see what the UFC has to offer,” Moicano said. “I heard some people are asking for a main event for Bobby Green. Maybe it’s good if we do a Fight Night. I have a lot of respect for Bobby Green. On the same day, he put on a great performance, so did I. He deserves a main event. If he goes to do a main event, I want to be there and fight, promote the fight, get the fans excited about that. But let’s see what the UFC has to offer. Let’s put some guys with action like boxing versus Jiu-Jitsu. I can strike too, it’ll be a fun fight, five rounds and the fans will enjoy.”
Moicano has been known for his strong grappling base, but his striking has improved in a big way in recent outings. This could make a matchup with Green particularly entertaining for the fans.
If Green defeats Makhachev on February 26, though, Green would almost surely be looking very high up the lightweight ranks for his next fight. If he loses, a defeat suffered to Makhachev is not exactly anything to hang one’s head over or damage one’s athletic reputation, so there’s a good chance Moicano’s offer would still stand to face Green next.
Do you want to see Renato Moicano vs. Bobby Green in 2022?
UFC President Dana White has assessed where heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa sits in the division following his knockout victory over Derrick Lewis.
At UFC 271 this past weekend, two of the UFC’s hardest hitters and most prolific KO artists collided. On one side was “The Black Beast” Lewis, the promotion’s KO record holder, who was coming off a main event finish against Chris Daukaus in December. Opposite him was the rising “Bam Bam” Tuivasa, who was coming off four consecutive stoppage wins.
Inside Houston’s Toyota Center, it was the younger and more durable Tuivasa who had his hand raised. After surviving an onslaught against the cage and firing back with his own bombs, the Australian hurt Lewis in the second round before knocking him out with a brutal elbow.
Bam Bam with the BIGGEST WIN OF HIS CAREER ššŗ
White Expects Tuivasa To Be “Mixing It Up” With The Best
Entering 2020, Tuivasa was on a three-fight losing skid following consecutive defeats to Junior dos Santos, Blagoy Ivanov, and Sergey Spivak, and his place in the promotion looked insecure.
That’s a sentiment that was shared by Dana White at the UFC 271 press conference. When asked where the Aussie’s latest win puts him in the division, the UFC President said he expects Tuivasa to experience a heavy rise up the heavyweight ladder come the next rankings update.
āWell, you guys are gonna rank him. But yeah, I mean, he should be top three, top five,” said White. “So wherever he shakes out in the rankings, yeah, heāll be mixing it up with those guys.ā
Indeed, yesterday it was confirmed that Tuivasa is ranked #3 in the heavyweight division. When assessing how the title picture now shapes up, White placed Tuivasa alongside reigning champion Francis Ngannou, consensus heavyweight GOAT Stipe Miocic, and former two-time light heavyweight king Jon Jones.
āWeāll see here pretty soon how this all plays out: Jones, Stipe, Francis, and Tai now, too.ā
But if his latest win shows the rest of the division anything, it’s that he’s not just an entertainer who likes a beer, he’s a bona fide title contender on the hunt for gold.
Who would you like to see Tai Tuivasa share the Octagon with next?
Israel Adesanya’s head coach Eugene Bareman has shut down Joe Rogan’s in-fight assessment that the UFC champion broke his hand at UFC 271.
Adesanya earned a unanimous decision win over former champion Robert Whittaker in the UFC 271 main event. He utilized an efficient striking attack to out-pace Whittaker, especially in the later rounds.
Eyebrows were raised when Rogan texted play-by-play commentator Jon Anik in the middle of the broadcast that he thought Adesanya had broken his right hand. Adesanya appeared to curl his right hand and not be as active with it as the fight went on.
“No, that’s more to do with something that happened in Rounds 2 through 4, trying to get that right-hand side going,” Bareman said. “But for whatever reason, Robert was making Israel a little anxious to throw not just the right hand but the right side in terms of the leg going a little bit. [Israel] said not just the right side in terms of the upper body moving, but there was a block there that [Israel] tried to mitigate [his] way through each round. But for whatever reason, [he] wasn’t able to successfully get that right hand going the way we wanted to. So it wasn’t about a broken hand or anything, it was [mental].”
Rogan was absent from the commentary team due to an unknown conflict. It was originally reported by some outlets that it was due to a scheduling issue, but UFC President Dana White has since shut that theory down.
Adesanya has now successfully defended his title four times since knocking out Whittaker at UFC 243. He also challenged for the light heavyweight title against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 but fell short in a decision.
Bareman has clarified Adesanya’s health status with his hand and it sounds like the middleweight champion is still anticipating a return for some time this summer.
Who do you want to see Israel Adesanya fight next in 2022?
UFC women’s flyweight Casey O’Neill believes the pre-fight focus on opponent Roxanne Modafferi’s retirement ahead of UFC 271 was “disrespectful.”
In the one and only women’s fight on this past weekend’s pay-per-view card, two 125lbers at opposite ends of the MMA scale collided. While O’Neill was looking to extend her unbeaten record to 9-0 and climb further towards title contention, Modafferi was hoping to close out her 46-fight career with a triumph.
After 15 minutes of action on the prelims, it was O’Neill who had her hand raised via split decision. While “The Happy Warrior” gave it her all and made a good account of herself, there was little debate about who earned the nod, despite one dissenting judge.
What followed was a heart-warming final Octagon interview and farewell to active competition for a woman widely regarded as a pioneer for female MMA.
While O’Neill gave credit to Modafferi following the fight and showed respect for the veteran campaigner, she also revealed her frustration at the amount of attention directed towards Modafferi’s retirement ahead of their clash inside Houston’s Toyota Center.
While speaking to the media at the UFC 271 post-fight press conference, “King Casey” admitted her annoyance at the fact her own goals and pre-fight preparations were being overlooked.
Given that her opponent’s retirement wasn’t official until after their fight, the Scottish-Australian contender suggested the questions and discussion about it were “premature” during fight week.
“I was (annoyed). I felt like nobody was giving me any respect or asking me anything about myself,” admitted O’Neill. “It was all about the retirement. To be honest, the retirement wasn’t happening until after the fight, so I felt like it was a little bit premature to just be talking about that. I wanted to talk about myself, and what I’d been doing, and my game plan, and everything. I just felt like I was being brushed over and it was a little bit disrespectful.”
O’Neill: I Deserved More Respect From The Crowd At UFC 271
During her post-fight interview, O’Neill was showered with boos from the Houston crowd, who showed an immense amount of love for Modafferi. The 24-year-old employed the tactic of telling them not to boo her. Who’d have thought that wouldn’t work?
After being asked about the crowd reaction at the post-fight presser, O’Neill pinpointed the boos as another element of disrespect she felt at the PPV. While she expected a negative reaction given the scenario and her nationality, “King Casey” believes she deserved more respect from the fans.
“Listen, Roxanne is liked by everybody, so of course, I’m gonna get booed,” said O’Neill. “I’m also not American and I’m fighting in America. To be (honest), I feel like I deserved a little more respect than that.”
A record-setting performance for the KING šš¦šŗ@KingCaseyMMA secures the win via SD at #UFC271!
One sly in-fight comment from Nasrat Haqparast caused the rage in Bobby Green’s eyes that helped lead to his impressive win at UFC 271.
Green and Haqparast battled in a three-round war at UFC 271. It was a standup showcase from start to finish as Green displayed impressive boxing and movement throughout the fight.
Green and Haqparast got off to a slow start in the fight, but that changed over rounds 2 and 3. Haqparast got into Green’s face in between rounds, and that fired up Green going forward.
During his UFC 271 post-fight press conference, Green talked about what Haqparast said to him that made him visibly furious midway through the fight.
“Man, I don’t wanna do a lot of talking but he was getting under my skin,” Green said. “He was like coming with this energy and then he said he saw fear in my eyes, and that pissed me off. And I’m like, ‘Oh yeah? what’s up?’. That brings the hood out of me. I wasn’t going to say s**t but then he said s**t that hit me deep in the heart. There’s no f**king fear in me, homie, and my coach was trying to calm me down. I was hot and I just took it personally.”
Green made the Toyota Center in Houston erupt during and after the fight. He has no personal connections to the area, but the crowd was clearly in his favor before and after putting on a stellar performance against Haqparast.
In terms of what he wants next in his UFC career, Green doesn’t have a specific name in mind. But it seems likely that he’s in line for a big opportunity following an impressive win at UFC 271 after previously hinting at retirement.
UFC middleweight contender Derek Brunson addressed his fans following a disappointing loss to Jared Cannonier.
Brunson fell to Cannonier at UFC 271 via second-round knockout after a dominant opening round. He utilized his wrestling and nearly sunk in a rear-naked choke submission as the first round came to a close.
However, Cannonier was able to find his footing in the second round and overwhelm Brunson with strikes. He would eventually land a lead elbow that dropped Brunson and followed it up with heavy ground-and-pound shots.
The fight was built up as a No. 1 middleweight contender fight between two of the top-4 middleweights in the UFC. Cannonier will more than likely get the next shot at Israel Adesanya later this year.
Shortly after the loss, Brunson took to social media to address his fans and update them on how he’s doing physically and mentally.
Made a title push . Number 3 vs 4 in the world . I came up short . Life lessons . Im all good , sad but life will give you theses moments . Iāll pick myself up for one more fight . Blessings all šš¾
“Made a title push. Number 3 vs. 4 in the world,” Brunson said. “I came up short. Life lessons. I’m all good, sad but life will give you [these] moments.”
Entering UFC 271, Brunson was arguably the hottest middleweight in the UFC with five-straight wins. He hadn’t lost since falling to Adesanya at UFC 230 as the champion made his rise towards the title conversation.
Brunson has one more fight left on his deal and plans on competing once more in the Octagon before he calls it quits. Brunson made his UFC debut at UFC 155 following an up-and-down tenure in Strikeforce. Leading up to UFC 271, he alluded to retirement following the conclusion of his contract.
Who do you want to see Derek Brunson fight for his final UFC appearance?
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker thinks a trilogy with Israel Adesanya down the line may not be too far-fetched.
Whittaker and Adesanya went the distance at UFC 271 in a back and forth war. Whittaker had plenty of moments and looked improved from their first fight, but Adesanya was the more active in the later rounds and earned the unanimous decision win.
Whittaker felt he did enough to earn the win over Adesanya despite all three judges giving the reigning champion the decision. Most of the rounds were close, and some can be debated in Whittaker’s favor.
āPottery (laughs),” Whittaker said. “Nah. Honestly, a third fight between me and Izzy is inevitable, because Iām gonna stomp anybody who comes in front of me again, and he knows that too, thatās why he said āIāll be seeing you in the future.ā And I donāt see him losing the belt anytime soon, heās good, he is good. I think I am the person to beat him. My mission stays the same: beat the next guy in front of me.ā
Whittaker went on to hint that he doesn’t plan on making it a long road back to the title and winning another three fights as he did before the rematch.
āHopefully it will be quicker than that. I guess thereās obvious people I need to fight firstāthe people who I havenāt already beaten in the top ten. Then surely that puts me in a position to fight for the title again, especially considering how close this one was. Letās be honest, there arenāt a lot of people in the top ten that I havenāt had it over. I donāt know, Iām not really thinking about it. Iām more thinking about going home to my family and just cruising.ā
After getting knocked out by Adesanya at UFC 243, Whittaker went on to earn three-straight dominant wins over Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and Kelvin Gastelum. He showed better patience on the feet over his previous few fights which he showcased at UFC 271.
Cannonier will more than likely get the next title shot after a win over Derek Brunson earlier in the night. While it’s unclear what Whittaker’s exact path back to another title shot could look like, he seems intent on getting his revenge over Adesanya.
Do you think we’ll see a trilogy between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker?
UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya had a message for Robert Whittaker just seconds after their rematch at UFC 271.
Adesanya and Whittaker went five full rounds this time around in their second battle in the Octagon. The two went toe-to-toe on the feet and ground, but Adesanya was seen as more active throughout the fight.
Adesanya defeated Whittaker the first time around at UFC 243 with a vicious knockout. He has emerged as one of the UFC’s biggest stars since earning the belt.
Image Credit: Carmen Mandato/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Following their rematch, Adesanya and Whittaker shared a brief moment in the cage. The two appeared to bury the hatchet of their rivalry and show mutual respect for one another.
During his UFC 271 post-fight press conference, Adesanya revealed the content of his conversation with Whittaker as the fifth round came to a close.
āI said, you know, āI donāt like you, you donāt like me, but I respect you,ā” Adesanya said. “And he said the same thing and āIām sure in another life we could be friends.ā And I said āmaybe.ā But yeah, we’re just two guys trying to be the best in the world. But tonight Iām the best in the world.ā
Adesanya will more than likely face Jared Cannonier next after Cannonier knocked out Brunson just a couple of fights before the Whittaker rematch. He has been a target of Adesanya’s for months, and Adesanya has praised him as the dark horse of the division.
Outside of Cannonier, there aren’t a ton of first-time title challengers waiting for a shot. There is Sean Strickland, who recently earned a unanimous decision win over Jack Hermansson, but he may need to win one more to earn a shot at Adesanya.
As for Whittaker, he’ll need to win a few more to have any hope of earning a third fight with Adesanya. While their rematch was close and competitive, it’s hard to see a scenario in which these two go to battle for a third time without Whittaker going on a torrid streak.
What are your thoughts on Israel Adesanya vs. Jared Cannonier next?
The event took place in Houston, Texas at the Toyota Center. Headlining the card was a clash between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker for the middleweight title. This fight saw the first round feature Israel knocking him down with a straight left hand, but Whittaker sat down then got right back up. Whittaker did make some takedown attempts, but wasnāt successful.
The second round saw Whittaker get a takedown, but couldnāt keep him on the ground. Whittaker was more aggressive in this round. Whittaker did get a takedown in the third round, but he couldnāt keep him there. Whittaker clinched with him up against the fence. In the fourth round, Whittaker got a takedown, but Izzy was right back up so Whittaker took his back and Izzy eventually escaped. Whittaker got a takedown after a level change mid-way through the fifth round. Izzy back to his feet and they did some clinch work. Whittaker landed a solid shot out of the break. The judges gave the win to Adesanya, who retained the strap.
The co-main event saw more action between Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa. The first round was interesting as Tai was constantly looking to clinch while Lewis took him down a few different times, but never was able to keep him down. When Lewis had him up against the fence, he smashed him a few times in the face before Tai fired up and they had a fun exchange.
It all ended in the third round. Lewis started off strong by stunning him, but failed on a takedown attempt. Lewis rushed in and got clipped with a left hook that hurt him. Tai with a series of shots then dropped with him with a right elbow.
Peep the full list of performance bonus winners below.
Performance of the Night: Tai Tuivasa and Jared Cannonier
Fight of the Night: Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Sergey Morozov
Were the right choices made for the UFC 271 bonuses?
UFC 271 featured a middleweight title fight that had Israel Adesanya retain his title and another middleweight put himself next in line. Also, a warrior hung up her gloves and some heavyweights shook things up in Texas in the co-main event that made the pay-per-view fun enough.
There was a lot to take away from UFC 271, here are some things that stood out.Ā
Contracts
On Wednesday of fight week, many of the UFC regularly reporting entities had mentioned that before the fight, Israel Adesanyaās management had announced that he renewed his contract with the UFC for another multi-fight deal. Considering that he had yet to defend the title at the time and signed his end of the deal to face Whittaker the same week is either proof that fighters are getting more leverage, or his management is one of the best for athletes in MMA.
Per a release from @ParadigmSports, Israel Adesanya has signed a new multi-fight deal with the UFC, making him "one of the top paid athletes in the history of mixed martial arts."
During weigh-ins Friday morning there were some updates announced for UFC 271. William Knight came in 12 pounds over the contracted weight against his bout with Max Grishin. As a result, Knight had to forfeit 40% of his purse and the two will fight as heavyweights officially. Then, Alex Perez also missed weight as well and his match against Matt Schnell was canceled.Ā
No Rogan
You might have missed it, but Joe Rogan has been in the news a lot in recent weeks. Some of it is due to the guests he has had on his podcast and the conversations they had about COVID-19, and most recently for footage of him using a racial slur years ago. ESPN, a company owned by Disney handles the broadcast and sells the UFC pay-per-views. So, on Friday-the day before the event, it was announced that Rogan would not be calling the event.
Per a UFC official, Joe Rogan had a scheduling conflict this week and will not be on the call for UFC 271.
He is scheduled to do colour commentary for UFC 272 in March.
Tomorrow's broadcast booth will consist of Jon Anik, Daniel Cormier and Michael Bisping.
While it was said that it was due to a āscheduling conflict,ā given the current state of media, one has to wonder if that was the case. In the post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White said he expects Rogan to work again when there are no conflicts that keep him from working.
The Happy Warrior
Roxanne Modafferi fought her last fight at UFC 271. She lost a split decision to Kasey O’Neill and while the judging of the fight was questionable, the heart of Modafferi has never left any doubt. Good luck to you and whatever you do in the future.
Jared Connonier Secures His Spot Amongst Middleweights
With the win he picked up at UFC 271 over Derrick Brunson, Cannonier made sure Dana Whiteās attention was on him in the cage in his post-fight interview when he said he wanted the winner of the main event of UFC 271. Itās hard to argue that he should be next in line for the middleweight crown.
Swangin and Bangin
Both Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa delivered on their promise to put on a show in the co-main event. With minimal clinching and a lot of swinging, fans were not disappointed in the fight these two heavyweights put on. While Lewis impressed with some takedowns in round one, it would be the resilience of Tuivasa in round two that would have him win the striking exchange and catapult himself up the heavyweight rankings.
To Beat The Champā¦
Adesanya won his bout against Whittaker but Whittaker did a lot better than the first time they met. So much so, that he even felt he won the latter rounds and did enough to win. Given the odd judging in Modafferi and O’Neill’s fight, itās no surprise that the result is sure to be a topic of conversation when the UFC updates their rankings on Tuesday.Ā
Thereās obviously more to take away from this event than what is listed here. The match between Adesanya and Connonier is all but booked and with things opening up, Dana White expressed interest in adding more locations to the UFCās road schedule in 2022. Time will tell but hopefully, things get back to something close to normal.
UFC 271 went down tonight (Saturday, February 12, 2022) from Houston, Texas at the Toyota Center and we have the results. The worldās leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion compiled an excellent card for fight fans to enjoy.Ā
It was headlined by a meeting between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker in a middleweight title bout.Ā
Their first fight took place at the UFC 243 pay-per-view from Sydney, Australia at the Marvel Stadium where Israel won by TKO to win the middleweight title.Ā
The co-headliner saw a bout between Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa. Derek Brunson vs. Jared Cannonier, Alexander Hernandez vs. Renato Moicano, and Bobby Green vs. Nasrat Haqparast finished out the main card.Ā
It was certain to have a great night of fights. Check out MMA Newsā UFC 271 results below:
Bobby Green vs. Nasrat Haqparast
The first round, they had a feeling out process. Green continued to pepper him with jabs.
In the second round, Nasrat continued to push forward, but was eating shots right up the lane. Nasrat had issues with putting together combos.
Nasrat was bloodied going into the third round, but came out more aggressive, which fired up Green, who started to put together some combos. Green continued to pepper him with shots and was just in control with his speed, footwork, everything.Ā Green won by unanimous decision.
They came out firing in the first round. Renato kept looking for a takedown and eventually clinched with him up against the fence. He worked for a takedown, but Alexander had good defense. Renato got it in the middle part of the round. Alexander scrambled to his feet about a minute later and was firing away.
In the second round, Renato landed a combo then blocked a takedown and got on his back while swarming him with shots before locking in the rear-naked choke for the win.
Brunson came out and scored a takedown, but Jared got right back to his feet. Derek chased him a bit and they clinched before separating. Derek stunned him with a right hand before clinching, but Jared landed some knee strikes to the gut. Derek with another clinch attempt and took him down. Jared back up, but then Derek dropped him and got his back before locking in the rear-naked choke, but time ran out.
In the second round, Derek got a brief takedown, but Jared back up. Derek was starting to lean at a weird angle. Jared continued to tag him with an overhand right. This was a good round for Jared. With 45 seconds to go, Jared dropped him with an elbow shot then finished him on the ground.
Tai was throwing leg kicks early. Tai clinched with him up against the fence before they were separated. Lewis threw a head kick then a big right hand before they clinched again. Lewis attempted a takedown, but Tai blocked it and landed some good elbows. Lewis with a big trip takedown then smashed him with shots. Tai back up to their feet and they threw down before Tai clinched with him. Lewis with another takedown, but Tai right back up.
In the second round, Lewis stunned him with a right hand and followed up with a combo before clinching with him up against the fence. Lewis went for a takedown, but blocked. They both hurt each other. Tai hurt him then dropped him with an elbow for the win.
The first round was a feeling out process with them exchanging leg kicks. Israel knocked him down with a straight punch, but Whittaker right back up. Izzy shut down a takedown attempt and later did it again. Izzy caught him with a left hook.
The second round saw Whittaker catch him with a left hook. Whittaker started to get more aggressive, but was reaching out way too much. Whittaker caught him with a left again. Whittaker with a takedown mid-way through the round. Izzy right back to his feet. Whittakerās left leg was bruised up pretty good due to the kicks.
The third round saw Whittaker get a takedown, but it was stuffed and Izzy landed some knee shots. Moments later, Whittaker got a takedown and took his back, but Izzy stood up. Whittaker clinched with him up against the fence. They separated.
In the fourth round, Whittaker got a takedown and took his back, but Izzy stood up. Whittaker got off his back as Izzy nicely defended the choke. Izzy throughout was still putting the pressure on him and mostly winning the striking battles. Whittaker clinched with him up against the fence.
Whittaker got a takedown after a level change mid-way through the fifth round. Izzy back to his feet and they did some clinch work. Whittaker landed a solid shot out of the break. The judges gave the win to Adesanya, who retained the strap.
The UFC 271 post-fight press conference will be live once the action concludes.
In the headliner, Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker will collide in a middleweight title clash. UFC 271ās co-main event will see a heavyweight clash between Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa. More action will also be featured on the main card as Derek Brunson shares the Octagon with Jared Cannonier.Ā
The fighters from both the main and co-main events are expected to attend the post-fight press conference barring any hospital visits. Of course anyone else on the card who has a breakout performance could also attend the presser.
MMA News will be providing live coverage of the UFC 271 card. Be sure to check back here for the post-fight presser with a tentative start time of 12:15 a.m. ET.
Let us know your big takeaways once the UFC 271 post-fight press conference.
The final UFC 271 betting odds are in for as this event is quickly approaching for the Las Vegas-based promotion.
The event is here, and it goes down tonight (Saturday, February 12, 2022) from Las Vegas, Nevada at the UFC Apex facility.
The headliner will feature a slugfest with Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker in a middleweight title showdown. Moving things along, Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa goes down in a heavyweight fight.
Rounding out the main card is Derek Brunson vs. Jared Cannonier, Kyler Phillips vs. Marcelo Rojo, and Bobby Green vs. Nasrat Haqparast.
According to oddsmakers, Adesanya is a -280 favorite over Whittaker, who is a +225 underdog. Other odds for the main card include Tuivasa being a +155 underdog against Lewis, who is a -180 favorite. Here are the full betting odds:
Main Card
Israel Adesanya (-280) vs. Robert Whittaker (+225)
Derrick Lewis (-180) vs. Tai Tuivasa (+155)
Jared Cannonier (-165) vs. Derek Brunson (+145)
Kyler Phillips (-400) vs. Marcelo Rojo (+300)
Bobby Green (-140) vs. Nasrat Haqparast (+120)
Preliminary Card
Andrei Arlovski (-145) vs. Jared Vanderaa (+125)
Casey OāNeill (-380) vs. Roxanne Modafferi (+290)
Alex Perez (-380) vs. Matt Schnell (+290)
Maxim Grishin (-170) vs. William Knight (+150)
Ronnie Lawrence (-305) vs. Mana Martinez (+240)
Renato Moicano (-170) vs. Alex Hernandez (+150)
Carlos Ulberg (-235) vs. Fabio Cherant (+190)
A.J. Dobson (-115) vs. Jacob Malkoun (-105)
Sergey Morozov (-210) vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade (+175)
UFC featherweight Cub Swanson sent some advice to Alexander Hernandez after the lightweight complained about his original placement on this Saturday’s UFC 271 card.
Entering 2019, Hernandez was a highly-touted and fast-rising prospect following victories over current top-five contender Beneil Dariush and Olivier Aubin-Mercier in his first two Octagon outings.
Having returned to form last time out with a second-round submission against Jai Herbert, Moicano will look to continue his momentum at UFC 271.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVd5myLJ4iU/
Despite this matchup pitting two recognizable names against each other, it initially found itself on this weekend’s early prelims, before being bumped to the main card following post-weigh-in alterations.
While some would be eager to impress on the grand stage of a pay-per-view card wherever their placement on it, Hernandez was less than pleased before the change.
āMan, Iām fired the f*ck up because of the amount of disrespect that the UFC is showing me on this card,ā Hernandez told MMA Fighting on the We Got Next podcast. āWe have to wait four months and then Iām on the early f*cking prelims. I mean, that incites such a rage in me so Iām coming to make a statement. Iām so fired up about that. Iām so pissed off and Iām so motivated, so Iām really eager to make a statement.ā
Hernandez went on to suggest that those who were above him in the previous bout order are “statistically” below him in the promotion. That, coupled with the fact his home in San Antonio is less than 200 miles from the location of UFC 271, left the 29-year-old incredibly “frustrated” at his position.
āIām in my state, Iām practically in my city, the only other guy [from] there [fighting outside of the early prelims] is Derrick Lewisāand rightfully so, heās the co-main,ā Hernandez added. āBut how the f*ck did I get on the early, early prelims? Itās not even the prelims. Not on the main card, not on the [ESPN] prelims, itās my peers that are barely above me, or people that are statistically below that are above me [on the card]. Iām frustrated, plus weāre in Texas.
āIām gonna go out there, please the 15 people in the audience, get my 20-30 homies hyped. Iām gonna take out Moicano and make a statement and let them know not to discredit, or disrespect me like that again. Iām so fired up about it.ā
Swanson Sends Hernandez Some Advice
After receiving some heavy criticism for his comments from fans, it didn’t take long for one of Hernandez’s UFC peers to give his take.
In a tweet, featherweight veteran Cub Swanson cited the example of his rise from the early prelims to a main event spot in the space of two fights as the reason Hernandez shouldn’t have looked down on his place on the UFC 271 card.
I once got bumped from Co-main to FightPass prelims. Instead of complaining, I made it a point to hype up FightPass. I ended up getting a hand written letter from the UFC thanking me and I headlined a card two fights later
“I once got bumped from Co-main to FightPass prelims. Instead of complaining, I made it a point to hype up FightPass. I ended up getting a handwritten letter from the UFC thanking me and I headlined a card two fights later.”
Wherever his placement on the card, whether on the early prelims as initially planned or on the main card as is now set, one thing has always been clear ahead of Hernandez’s first appearance of 2022: a win is crucial.
With that sentiment being similar across the cage in Moicano’s corner, this clash should provide an intriguing affair inside Houston’s Toyota Center.
What’s your take on Alexander Hernandez’s comments? Should he have followed the mindset of Cub Swanson?
UFC heavyweight Tai Tuivasa has turned the heat up on the UFC 271 ‘shoey’ stakes by offering to drink a beer from Derrick Lewis’ cup.
Has there ever been a matchup in the UFC where the possible post-fight celebration was talked about as much as it has been ahead of Tuivasa vs. Lewis?
In the UFC 271 co-main event this weekend, we’ll see the UFC’s most prolific knockout artist face one of the hardest-hitting heavyweights, who’s on a knockout trail that’s left unconscious bodies in his wake.
But what is the leading narrative ahead of this Octagon-shaking collision? Drinking beer from a shoe. Actually, scratch that, from a cup…
Ahead of the highly-anticipated heavyweight bout, which represents a big opportunity for the 28-year-old to throw his name into the title conversation, Lewis hinted he could match Tuivasa’s trademark celebration with his own interesting take on the beer-drinking practice.
Having heard that proposal, Tuivasa went one better at UFC 271 media day on Wednesday. Wanting some of that “latte” action, as Lewis described it, “Bam Bam” said he was keen to chug a beverage from Lewis’ cup.
“He can throw it to me when I win and I’ll do a cuppy out of his ball guard then [LAUGHS]. I’m keen.”
Judging by Lewis’ response, the Australian appears to have found his American UFC peer’s line…
Lewis On Tuivasa’s ‘Cuppy’ Request: “That Guy’s Nasty”
During his own media day appearance, Lewis was told about Tuivasa’s willingness for a warm-ball “Black Beast” special (don’t expect to see that in your local anytime soon…).
It’s fair to say the 37-year-old will be keeping his guard firmly inside his shorts if the Aussie gets the win on Saturday night.
“Oh, that guy’s nasty man, I can’t do that,” said Lewis. “I don’t know. USADA needa be knocking on his door all the time, he’s gotta be taking something for his immune system. That is just nasty.”
The KO that cemented @TheBeast_UFC's place atop the record books š
Whatever happens, it seems fans can be sure of a few things come fight night; a KO/TKO, a can of beer entering the Octagon in the aftermath, and either a ‘shoey’ or a ‘cuppy’. Outside of that, we could see a new contender enter the heavyweight fray or an eight-year UFC veteran maintain his place among the heavyweight elite.
The term “people’s main event” gets thrown around more and more these days, but not many matchups embody the phrase quite like the UFC 271 co-main.
Who do you think will be left celebrating with a ‘shoey’ or ‘cuppy’ in the UFC 271 co-main event, Tai Tuivasa or Derrick Lewis?
The weigh-in results for UFC 271: Adesanya vs. Whittaker II have been logged, and we’ve got the details for you below.
At UFC 271, Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker will compete in a rematch of their 2019 battle inside Marvel Stadium. The co-main event will see heavy hitters Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa bang it out. All four men are cleared and ready to go after making weight for tomorrow night’s showcase.
Everyone else on the card has made weight also, save Alex Perez and William Knight. Perez missed weight by two pounds for his flyweight bout against Matt Schnell, and that fight has been canceled for the fourth time.
William Knight missed the light heavyweight limit by a whopping 12 pounds ahead of his bout against Maxim Grishin, and Knight will be fined 40% of his purse as the fight shifts over to heavyweight.
The UFC hosted a live UFC 271 weigh-in show, which you can view right here. And you can catch the full card for UFC 271 as well as all the viewing information below, courtesy of UFC.com.
UFC 271 Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 10:00 PM ET)
Main Event – Middleweight Title Bout: Israel Adesanya (184) vs Robert Whittaker (184)
Co-Main Event – Heavyweight Bout: Derrick Lewis (266) vs Tai Tuivasa (265)
Middleweight Bout: Jared Cannonier (185) vs Derek Brunson (185.5)
Lightweight Bout: Alexander Hernandez (156) vs Renato Moicano (156)
Lightweight Bout: Bobby Green (155.5) vs Nasrat Haqparast (156)
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker says he doesn’t like rival Israel Adesanya’s “character” and the “way he conducts himself.”
As far as active rivalries go in the 185-pound weight class, not many have as much history and intrigue as the one shared by reigning middleweight king Adesanya and top contender Whittaker.
The pair first met at UFC 243 back in October 2019. At the time, “The Last Stylebender” was a fast-rising and undefeated star who held the interim gold. On the other side, “The Reaper” was riding a nine-fight, five-year unbeaten streak, and had been champion since 2017.
After finding success on their own journeys since, Adesanya and Whittaker’s paths are set to cross again this weekend at UFC 271. While the titleholder will be looking to record his fourth successful defense and firmly establish his superiority over Whittaker, the New Zealand-born Australian is out for redemption.
But despite that, the pair are certainly not friends. During a recent interview with RT Sport, Whittaker suggested a number of factors means he and Adesanya will always be rivals.
“I think we’ll always be rivals. It’s just, I think it’s a personality thing,” said Whittaker. “The fact that we’re both middleweights, strikers, from that part of the world; I think we’ll always be rivals.”
When asked if he can foresee a route to friendship with “The Last Stylebender” in the future, Whittaker admitted it’s unlikely, largely because he’s not a fan of Adesanya’s outgoing personality and the way the champ carries himself.
“I don’t like the way he conducts himself. I don’t like his character. It doesn’t suit.”
The result has been heavily discussed, debated, and predicted. However, the fact Whittaker and Adesanya will always share some form of animosity doesn’t seem to be arguable.
Do you agree with Robert Whittaker? What are your thoughts on Israel Adesanya’s character and personality?
UFC 271 is now two sleeps away, and our staff is ready to get you even more amped up for the second pay-per-view event of 2022!
UFC 271 will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, February 12. The main card begins at 10:00 PM ET, and the ESPN2 preliminary card kicks off at 8:00 PM. The early preliminary card starts at 6:00 PM.
The main event will feature a rematch between two of the best middleweights to ever do it when Israel Adesanya faces Robert Whittaker again. Whittaker earned the rematch by winning three consecutive fights on his journey toward redemption. Will he get it? Our staff will dig into the predictions ahead.
The co-main event is quite the tricky bout to predict, as it will feature two men who can stop the show at any moment when KO king Derrick Lewis takes on Tai Tuivasa, who has won all but one of his 14 wins by KO, including every one of his four-fight winning streak.
Also on the main card, an unofficial title eliminator between Jared Cannonier and Derek Brunson is set to take place. We will also see Kyler Phillips try to bounce back from his first UFC loss against Marcelo Rojo and veteran Bobby Green return to the Octagon against Nasrat Haqparast.
UFC 271 Staff Predictions
MMA News is the place to be for all the latest UFC 271 updates. Harvey Leonard, Andrew Ravens, Ed Carbajal, and special guest Tyriece Simon have provided their picks for you.
Here is the full main card lineup for UFC 271:
UFC Middleweight Championship: Israel Adesanya (c) vs. Robert Whittaker
Heavyweight: Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa
Middleweight: Jared Cannonier vs. Derek Brunson
Bantamweight: Kyler Phillips vs. Marcelo Rojo* – NOTE: This fight has been moved to the ESPN preliminary card and has since been replaced with Alexander Hernandez vs. Renato Moicano.
Lightweight: Bobby Green vs. Nasrat Haqparast
Bobby Green vs. Nasrat Haqparast
Bobby Green, Nasrat Haqparast
Harvey Leonard: There is certainly more pressure on Haqparast in this one. The Germanās striking speed is impressive, and if he can utilize his reach advantage and land at a high volume, he could edge a decision, like how Fiziev did against Green last year. However, Haqparast can often fall into the trap of becoming too predictable. Against an experienced campaigner like Green, itās hard to picture that going unpunished.
The key for Haqparast will be variety and change-ups on the feet, something Green could look to stifle with takedowns and wrestling, similar to Hookerās UFC 266 game plan, or a mixed striking approach himself. I give a narrow edge to āKing.ā (Prediction: Bobby Green)
Andrew Ravens: A tough fight for both guys as Green is always game and going to bring a fistfight to anyone who steps up to him, so itās going to be a fun fight. Nasrat has a lot of upside and probably hasnāt even hit his prime yet. Iāll side with Hasrat by decision. (Prediction: Nasrat Haqparast)
Ed Carbajal: This opener should make for an exciting lightweight bout. Greenās experience could trump the youth and inexperience of Haqparast, but in todayās realm of combat sports, itās never been more obvious that MMA is a young manās game. Green certainly has the ingredients to put Haqparast away early, but if it goes longer than one and a half rounds, Iām going with the younger fighter. (Prediction: Nasrat Haqparast)
Tyriece Simon: This fight should be really entertaining. Bobby Green has good head movement and striking. He also has the wrestling that he can mix with his striking to create problems for Nasrat Haqparast. I think it will be a close fight, but Green gets the win. (Prediction: Bobby Green)
Final Scorecard: 2-2 Draw
Kyler Phillips vs. Marcelo Rojo
Kyler Phillips, Marcelo Rojo
Harvey Leonard: Phillips has impressed so far, and his win over Yadong should not be understated. He also shouldnāt have been handed a loss to Paiva. While heāll be looking to get back on track, Rojo will hope to rebound from his debut defeat, with his place in the promotion likely on the line.
Unfortunately, I think itās unlikely heāll be able to outpoint the more well-rounded Phillips. And given that the 26-year-old has never been finished, it looks set to be a tough task for Rojo. If he can attack Phillipsā lead leg and slow his movement, and if Phillips pushes too hard for a battle on the feet and a KO, Rojo will have a chance, but I see it as a slim one. (Prediction: Kyler Phillips)
Andrew Ravens: This is going to be a real challenge for Rojo, who is making his second UFC appearance here. Kyler will likely never be a champion, but he is someone who is solid competition and everything Iāve seen makes it seem like this is going to be a one-sided beatdown with Kyler getting it done by submission. (Prediction: Kyler Phillips)
Ed Carbajal: Phillips is a bantamweight that came out of LFA, one of the places the UFC farms a lot of talent from that does very well once theyāre signed. He is coming off a loss, but it was a decision loss, which means he was never out of the fight. Rojo came to the UFC from Combate Global and has had a few ups and downs. Heās coming off a loss, too, and while that should motivate both men for a finish, Phillips is more likely to get one. (Prediction: Kyler Phillips)
Tyriece Simon: Kyler Phillips wants to rebound from his majority decision loss against Raulian Paiva. Before his loss against Paiva, Phillips had won three fights straight, including a win over Song Yadong. Meanwhile, Rojo is looking to get his first win in the UFC. I think Phillips’ striking and speed will be too much for Rojo. (Prediction: Kyler Phillips)
Final Scorecard: 4-0 Phillips
Jared Cannonier vs. Derek Brunson
Derek Brunson Jared Cannonier
Harvey Leonard: Thereās only so many times I can count Brunson out before I learn not to underestimate him. However, Iām going to try my luck one last time. Brunsonās game plan is clear. And if he executes it like he did against Till, heāll win.
But against a middleweight as experienced and powerful as Cannonier, not to mention his strong takedown defense, I canāt see Brunson being able to turn this into a wrestling match, and anything but that favors āThe Killa Gorilla.ā (Prediction: Jared Cannonier)
Andrew Ravens: Brunson gets it done here. The longtime star has been on fire as of late and collected an impressive winning streak. Jared is a tough guy and one of the best in the division. His only loss since 2018 came against Robert Whittaker, and that should tell you all that you need to know. At 38-years-old, Brunson knows that if he wants to fight for a title, he needs to keep winning, so I think heart and focus will outperform Jared. (Prediction: Derek Brunson)
Ed Carbajal: This fight is pretty even despite the experience of Brunson over Cannonier in their MMA careers. Brunson has a slight height advantage but not enough to matter, and theyāre pretty even in reach. Cannonierās striking output seems to be greater than Brunsonās, so I would not be surprised if we see a lot of takedowns from Brunson, and that could get him a decision win. (Prediction: Derek Brunson)
Tyriece Simon: Derek Brunson has looked impressive, relying on his wrestling to win dominantly in his last four fights. However, Jared Cannonier has good takedown defense at middleweight (only been taken down once since moving to middleweight) and has power in his hands to knockout Brunson. I think Cannonier keeps the fight standing and beats Brunson. (Prediction: Jared Cannonier)
Final Scorecard: 2-2 Draw
Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa
Tai Tuivasa, Derrick Lewis
Harvey Leonard: Itās pretty unique to have a fight where a KO/TKO is effectively guaranteed, but the winner is so hard to predict. This could well come down to whoever gets a clean shot in first. My gut tells me the more patient Lewis will be able to catch the fast-starting Tuivasa as he rushes in.
However, Tuivasaās recent admission that heāll have to fight āsmartā has encouraged me about his chances. I see this one as pretty much a coin flip, but Iām leaning 51/49 in favor of āThe Black Beast.ā (Prediction: Derrick Lewis)
Andrew Ravens: Tai has been on a roll as of late while Lewis is looking to continue the ball rolling forward in his hometown. Most will side with Lewis to win here, and I think he gets it done by decision. Although Tai is a tough dude and will test the gas tank of the fan-favorite, I donāt think he has the skills to outstrike Lewis. (Prediction: Derrick Lewis)
Ed Carbajal: Up until UFC 265, Lewis was undefeated in Texas. That loss was to Ciryl Gane and his fifth time being T/KOād. Tuivasa has only been T/KOād once in his professional career, so if the chins are going to be checked between these two fan favorites, I would not be surprised if the underdog, Tuivasa pays off in this matchup. I donāt think home-field advantage matters anymore in combat sports. (Prediction: Tai Tuivasa)
Tyriece Simon: The last time Lewis fought in Houston, Texas, he lost to Ciryl Gane. I think Lewis wants to win at home, and he has the power to knock out any heavyweight. I also believe that Tuivasa will want to fight in close distance to knock out Lewis, and he will get hurt instead. (Prediction: Derrick Lewis)
Final Scorecard: 3-1 Lewis
Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker
Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, Photo credit: Zuffa LLC
Harvey Leonard: Adesanya has grown into a unique position where I think heās almost impossible to bet against, at least at middleweight. Having seen Vettoriās failed attempts to take the champ down last year, I canāt envision Whittaker being able to impose his will in the grappling department. Beyond that, how does he win? Can he outstrike Adesanya? Finish him? Itās tough to see.
But outside of his loss to Adesanya, āThe Reaperā is unbeaten since 2014 and has looked unstoppable in his last three fights. If heās at his best, and really is a ādifferent beastā on the feet now, as his manager claims, thereās no one more likely to hand Adesanya his first blemish at 185 pounds. I expect a tight contest, but one āThe Last Stylebenderā edges. (Prediction: Israel Adesanya)
Andrew Ravens: Finally, the rematch that weāve all been waiting for. The shine on Israel has started to fade compared to where he had been when he first won the title. On the flip side, Whittaker has done everything right to get back to this spot and fight for a title while also doing it in an interesting fashion.
Honestly, I wouldnāt be shocked if Whittaker wins here by split decision, as I think heās going to give Israel a real challenge. However, I do think Israel is currently the best fighter in the division, so Iāll side with him getting it done by decision. (Prediction: Israel Adesanya )
Ed Carbajal: This main event doesnāt seem as hyped as the first time around. Probably because the first time went so well for Adesanya, itās hard to think anything will go differently the second time around. But itās fun to think it would, right? Whittaker did take some time off, so thereās always a chance, but not big enough for me to not go with the current champion. (Prediction: Israel Adesanya)
Tyriece Simon: This fight is tough to call because of how skilled both fighters are. In the first fight, Robert Whittaker returned after a year recovering from injuries against a very active Israel Adesanya. In his last three wins, Whittaker looked healthy and motivated to reclaim the UFC middleweight championship.
While Adesanya has looked sensational and unbeatable at middleweight, I think Whittaker has the skills to give him problems. He may be the underdog in the fight, but I believe Whittaker can pull off the upset. (Prediction: Robert Whittaker)
Final Scorecard: 3-1 Adesanya
That’ll do it for our UFC 271 staff picks! What do you think? Do your picks look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the UFC 271 undercard below.
Israel Adesanya has brought back the hi-top fade to “remind” Robert Whittaker of UFC 243.
UFC 271 takes place on Saturday, February 12. As the headliner, Adesanya will rematch Robert Whittaker.
Apparently, Whittaker is not a fan of watching his own fights. “Bobby Knuckles” told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour that, whether victorious or not, watching his fights is a rare occurrence. Though, his coaches would prefer that he did.
But Adesanya has a remedy for Whittaker in case he forgets their first dance.
Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, Photo Credit: Zuffa LLC
“Izzy” ended their initial bout inside of round 2 by TKO. It was a devastating end to the Aussie’s 9-fight win streak.
Despite not watching their 2019 bout, Whittaker is ready for the rematch. He claims to be a different warrior and possesses the blueprint to defeat Adesanya.
Since stripping the Middleweight Championship title away from Whittaker, he has defended it with impressively stylish performances. It is “The Style Bender’s” plan to dominate once again at UFC 271.
Whittaker is undefeated since Adesanya. However, the champ remains unbothered.
It will be interesting to see what new skill set Whittaker brings this Saturday and if it will be enough to dethrone Israel Adesanya. Or maybe, just maybe, Izzy’s choice of hairstyle will stop The Reaper dead in his tracks.
What are your thoughts on Whittaker not watching his first fight with Adesanya?
Former UFC lightweight title challenger Al Iaquinta has admitted he holds some regret over his decision to face Bobby Green for his return fight at UFC 268.
After two years away from action, Al Iaquinta made a comeback to the Octagon last November. Prior to his hiatus, the New York native fell to consecutive unanimous decision losses against Donald Cerrone and Dan Hooker.
Inside the prestigious Madison Square Garden, “Raging” Al hoped to return to the win column in front of a hometown crowd. In his way of doing so was Green, a fellow veteran whose level of activity represented the opposite of Iaquinta’s across 2020 and 2021.
Having narrowly fallen to defeat against rising star Rafael Fiziev in his previous outing, “King” was also hoping for a rebound performance. With his first finish since a 2013 body kick against James Krause, Green did exactly that.
Inside the opening round, the 35-year-old dropped Iaquinta, before swarming him for the early stoppage and spoiling the homecoming.
Iaquinta: “I Should Have Picked A Different Opponent”
While Green hopes to ride the momentum from that result into his first appearance of 2022 this weekend, a main-card clash with Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 271, Iaquinta may be hanging up his gloves
Three months beyond his failed comeback, the former lightweight contender, who recorded wins against the likes of Jorge Masvidal, Diego Sanchez, and Kevin Lee during his UFC tenure, has looked back on his decision to return against an opponent as tough as Green.
āBobby Green is a tough guy. I should have picked a different opponent than that after a two-year layoff, coming off of two losses. I’m like, I wanted the best opponent, I was like, ‘I want Bobby Green, that guy is looking good right now,’” said Iaquinta. “Looking back, I should have known. I did know he was good, but maybe we’ll take it back a notch on the competition and ease it into it a little bit. I don’t know if there are tune-up fights in the lightweight division, but I don’t know about Bobby Green.ā
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If this is the end for Iaquinta, while he may have regrets about his most recent opponent, Iaquinta can certainly be proud of everything he has accomplished in the UFC up to this point. Despite never having gold wrapped around his waist, “Raging” Al went five rounds with the great Khabib Nurmagomedov for the vacant belt and faced the best of the best in the promotion across his decade on its roster.
Do you think Al Iaquinta should have returned to the Octagon against a lesser opponent in 2021?
UFC middleweight contender Robert Whittaker has detailed the host of changes he’s made ahead of his second fight against reigning 185-pound king Israel Adesanya.
What followed was a period of uncertainty for the New Zealand-born Australian, who took time away from the sport to figure out what his future held. In the end, he returned to training revitalized and with a rejuvenated love for martial arts.
Whittaker: “I’ve Changed So Many Things Since That Fight”
In the period since his championship defeat, it’s understandable Whittaker has made an abundance of changes to his team, training, and personal life.
While some have suggested it’s unlikely he’ll be able to make the necessary adjustments needed to hand Adesanya his first loss at middleweight, Whittaker and his team are confident of the opposite.
During an interview with LowKick MMA, Whittaker detailed the fresh looks and alterations he’s made to his preparation in the years since his first Octagon meeting with “The Last Stylebender,” changes which he believes have aided him both inside and outside the cage.
“All the ideas are fresh. There’s been so many changes. How long ago was that now? That’s a long time between fights. I’ve changed so many things since that fight,” said Whittaker. “I’ve changed coaching staff, I’ve changed locations, I’ve changed the way I train, why I train. I’ve changed myself as a person outside the Octagon, which directly impacts how I am inside, walking into it, how I deal with my training, how I develop my training, how I’m going through it all, how I’m going through the process. So, there’s been a lot of changes.”
Ultimately, whether he’s victorious on February 12 or not, Whittaker knows he’s made the necessary changes to feel satisfied with the UFC 271 result either way.
“I guess that’s the overriding feeling moving into this next fight,” Whittaker continued.
“It’s just that I am confident and I am satisfied with who I am and why I do it, and what I’m doing to get to this fight that when I get in there, I’m gonna give it my absolute 100%. And I will be satisfied with the result if I can do that. I didn’t get that satisfaction after the first fight.”
UFC middleweight contender Jared Cannonier wants to prove that he can wrestle with the best of them, including UFC 271 opponent Derek Brunson.
Cannonier and Brunson are set to meet in a middleweight showcase on the UFC 271 main card. Both men are vying for a potential title shot against the winner of Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker.
Cannonier has always been known for his ferocious striking and intimidating presence in the Octagon. His grappling hasn’t been discussed as much by the MMA faithful, but he showed off superb takedown defense in recent wins over Kelvin Gastelum and Jack Hermansson.
Cannonier will face a tough test against Brunson, arguably the best wrestler in the middleweight division. During his UFC 271 media day press conference, Cannonier seemed to welcome the challenge.
“I can grapple. I train at The MMA Lab and we got good grapplers, D-1 level wrestlers that I’m learning from,” Cannonier said. “They don’t have to be the same size as me, but we got some big guys in there. I’ve trained with the little guys damn near my whole career. You see how far that’s gotten me.
Jared Cannonier, Image: 2019 Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
“Yeah, I can grapple too. I can wrestle too. I have a pair of wrestling shoes my damn self. They’re probably not as worn out as his, he’s been doing it way longer than me, but my mind allows me to be as good as these other guys when I need be. You may see me taking him down if the opportunity presents itself.”
Cannonier has won four of his last five fights over some of the best contenders in the division. He has fought at multiple weight classes during his UFC career but seems to have found a home at 185 pounds.
This is arguably Cannonier’s biggest fight to date and biggest test inside the cage. If he ends up being victorious against Brunson, he’ll likely need to utilize some grappling skills in the process.
What is your prediction for Jared Cannonier vs. Derek Brunson?
UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya doesn’t expect Robert Whittaker to talk trash ahead of UFC 271 having “humbled” him in their UFC 243 contest.
Adesanya completed his undefeated climb to the top of the 185-pound mountain in October 2019. After beating Marvin Vettori, Derek Brunson, and Anderson Silva, and having collected interim gold in a FOTY-worthy clash with Kelvin Gastelum, “The Last Stylebender” had his chance for undisputed glory.
In Whittaker’s own backyard, Adesanya secured his crowning moment. After nearly finishing “The Reaper” in the opening round, the Nigerian-New Zealander completed the feat in the second frame. As well as earning his spot on the middleweight throne, Adesanya also ended the nine-fight, five-year unbeaten run of Whittaker.
Adesanya: “He Can’t Say The Sh*t He Was Saying The First Time”
Now, with their rematch set for UFC 271 this weekend, the main question on everyone’s lips is what will we see different this time around? That includes in terms of pre-fight build, performance, and result.
One thing Adesanya expects to play out differently is the fight week and interview back and forth. While narratives surrounding a personal feud and an Australia vs. New Zealand rivalry were accentuated ahead of their Melbourne clash, a factor Whittaker believes played a part in his loss, the champion expects the now-“humbled” former titleholder to approach the rematch quietly.
āI humbled him to the sense that he canāt say the sh*t he was saying the first time around because he was talking all that sh*t saying this and that. āI think Adesanya isnāt as good as he thinks he is.ā I remember that,” Adesanya said in a video uploaded to his YouTube channel. “Iām the elephant in the f*cking room. I never forget. āOh, Israelās not as good as he thinks he is.ā Iāll show you how great I think I am.ā
According to Adesanya, Whittaker’s ego was his downfall in 2019 and will likely contribute to another defeat this Saturday in Houston. While Whittaker says he’s feeling rejuvenated and with a newfound love for the sport of MMA, “The Last Stylebender” isn’t buying it yet.
āI saw a little snippet of what he was saying. Itās like he finds it hard to swallow,ā Adesanya added. āItās a hard pill for him to swallow. Heās admitting it, heās saying the right things, but heās not believing it. His ego wonāt let him and thatās his downfall. His ego. People tried to say that about me leading to the first fight. āOh, heās too egotistical. Heās not humble like Whittaker.ā Iām like, bro, stop. I am extraordinarily humble. I know my limits as a human being and my capabilities. So I know Iām the sh*t but at the same time, I know I aināt sh*t. He needs to check himself. Heās got this newfound mental clarity and it would help him positively if it was true. I just donāt buy into it.ā (h/t MMA Fighting)
The wait is over, #UFC271 fight week is šššš! š¾
While Adesanya looks to prove his superiority over Whittaker again, the New Zealand-born Aussie will be targeting redemption and a second reign on the middleweight throne. We’ll find out which party leaves the Toyota Center happy on Saturday night.
Do you expect Israel Adesanya to beat Robert Whittaker for the second time this weekend at UFC 271?
