MMA News

Tag: UFC 272

  • Smith Thinks Masvidal’s “Hate And Rage” Was A Factor in Covington Loss

    UFC fighter and commentator Anthony Smith thinks Jorge Masvidal’s hate for Colby Covington ended up being his downfall.

    Masvidal fell to his former friend turned bitter rival Covington in the UFC 272 main event via a unanimous decision. It was a culmination of bad blood and personalized trash talk that had built for months leading up to the fight.

    Covington went as far as invoking Masvidal’s personal life, specifically his ex-wife and children, into the mental warfare. This appeared to amp the intensity even more during fight week.

    After the fight, Masvidal explained that he felt “flat” with his wrestling and that it was a major factor in his loss. This prompted critiques from ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and others on his post-fight comments.

    During a recent episode of the Believe You Me podcast with Michael Bisping, Anthony Smith gave a unique insight into why he believes Masvidal fell to Covington at UFC 272.

    “I could tell all week that there was something off,” Smith said of Masvidal. “But I thought that it was just a big fight, he hates him or whatever. But there was something off all week and I couldn’t put my finger on it. So I didn’t talk about it on the pre-fight show all week long because I couldn’t really figure out what it was.

    “But I figured it out afterwards after seeing him fight. He talked about being flat, but I think he was so mentally and emotionally exhausted from his absolute hate and rage. That kind of anger and hate, even if you’re holding it in and you’re not letting it come out in your fight style, that’s so much stress. And it’s exhausting, it’s mentally and emotionally exhausting, and that’s always gonna kinda transfer to your fight style and to your own conditioning. I think he hated him too much. “

    Covington hasn’t backed away from trash-talking Masvidal in the aftermath of their fight. He recently used Masvidal’s pre-fight “headline” prediction against him in an Instagram post.

    Masvidal has squashed speculation that he may opt to retire after the loss to Covington. He seems intent on a rematch with Covington down the line and returning to the magic he found in 2019.

    Do you agree with Anthony Smith’s take on Jorge Masvidal?

  • Covington Shares Evidence Of Masvidal Allegedly Attempting Eye Poke

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington has hit back at Jorge Masvidal after the latter accused him of an intentional eye poke at UFC 272.

    Covington defeated Masvidal via a unanimous decision in their UFC 272 grudge match. The two former American Top Team teammates turned bitter rivals had been on each other’s nerves for years ahead of their eventual showdown.

    Masvidal has stated that he wants revenge against Covington and shared the aftermath of an alleged eye poke that he suffered in their matchup. After getting word of Masvidal’s accusation of Covington being a “cheating f***” for the eye poke, Covington shared an image of Masvidal possibly attempting an eye poke of his own.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbNtvvluGOA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “At least you tried…” Covington posted.

    The banter between Covington and Masvidal has appeared to escalate since the fight. The two nearly brawled after the fight came to a close at UFC 272, and Masvidal has threatened to finish his beef with Covington on the streets of Miami.

    Covington has called for a fight with another former ATT teammate, Dustin Poirier, although it’s unclear whether or not Poirier will make the move to 170. Covington is looking to potentially get a third matchup with UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman with another win streak.

    Masvidal has lost three-straight bouts, with his last victory coming against Nate Diaz for the BMF title at UFC 244. Nevertheless, he’s squashed retirement speculation and appears ready to return to the Octagon later this year.

    Do you believe Jorge Masvidal attempted to eye poke Colby Covington in retaliation?

  • Renato Moicano Told Corner Not To Stop RDA Fight At UFC 272

    UFC lightweight Renato Moicano has revealed that he told his corner not to stop his UFC 272 co-main event fight against Rafael dos Anjos.

    At this month’s pay-per-view, Moicano earned the respect of the masses by going 25 minutes with former champion dos Anjos on just four days’ notice. The Brazilian’s opportunity arose when Rafael Fiziev tested positive for COVID-19 at the start of fight week.

    Despite having some luck on the feet, Moicano was ultimately heavily beaten, both on the scorecards and physically. The tole on his body appeared so bad that many, including ‘RDA’ himself, believe the fight shouldn’t have seen the later rounds.

    Despite making it to the judges’ scorecards, some believe the decision to allow Moicano to fight beyond the third frame was irresponsible on the part of referee Marc Goddard, the cageside doctor, and the Brazilian’s American Top Team corner.

    That sentiment certainly wasn’t shared by Moicano, who suggested the opportunity to continue allowed him to show what he’s made of.

    Nevertheless, Moicano admitted he wouldn’t have been annoyed had cornerman Marcos DaMatta thrown in the towel, as color commentator Michael Bisping suggested he should have.

    “The fifth round was my best round because I was already tired and the ref asked me if the fight kept going like that, he would stop it,” Moicano explained. “I knew I had to give everything I had and gave all my energy to knock him out and I showed a lot of heart. They could not take this from me. It was good for me because I took the fight on such short notice (that) if they stopped it, I would’ve been really upset.

    “The cornerman has to know their fighters and the corner asked me if I was in the fight, and I said yes, I still wanted to fight. They told me to go out there and try to win and that is what I did. If I said I wasn’t ready or I’m done, he would’ve stopped it, but I told him I’m still in the fight. But, if he decided to throw the towel, I’m not going to be mad because he cares about me.” (h/t BJPenn.com)

    Moicano: UFC Turned Down 3-Round Request

    With the clash between ‘RDA’ and Fiziev originally being slated for a UFC Fight Night headliner in February, it had been kept as five rounds after being delayed to UFC 272. Despite the late call-up for Moicano, the co-main remained set for 25 minutes.

    It turns out that was in spite of a request from Moicano’s team. The Brasilia native confirmed to BJPenn.com that a pursuit of a three-round bout failed during negotiations with the promotion.

    “I asked for it to be three rounds and that’s what we wanted, but at the end of the day, I knew they wanted it to be five rounds,” Moicano said. “With that, I was willing to take the chance because he is a big name, a former champion, and a top contender.”

    Having taken the fight with the five-round stipulation attached, Moicano says he knew his conditioning would prove to be an issue if dos Anjos managed to impose a wrestling attack.

    Once that happened, Moicano says he anticipated a long night.

    “I was a little bit worried as I knew I couldn’t wrestle as going into the fight, I was focused on striking all five rounds as I didn’t have the energy to take him down,” Moicano added about his cardio. “If I missed a shot, I would be exhausted. I did what I could with what I had. It was a mental game for me as I knew I couldn’t put a high pace or get takedowns or grapple.

    “After he got the first takedown, I thought, ‘Man, this is going to be a long night,’” Moicano said. “In the back of my head, I thought he would shoot for the takedown but I didn’t know for sure. When I hit him and he took me down, I thought this would be hard because I didn’t have enough training to prepare for his wrestling.”

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

    Do you think the UFC 272 co-main event should have been stopped?

  • Askren Slams Masvidal For UFC 272: You Had 25 Mins To Do Something

    Former UFC, Bellator, and ONE welterweight Ben Askren has criticized Jorge Masvidal’s conduct following his loss to Colby Covington at UFC 272.

    At last weekend’s pay-per-view, one of the promotion’s long-awaited grudge matches took center stage. As former teammates, roommates, and friends, and now bitter rivals, the lead-up to the Las Vegas held event was always going to be a fiery affair.

    That certainly turned out to be true, with a host of insults and jibes flying back and forth during fight week, at the press conference, and even during the five-round contest.

    After 25 minutes of action, Covington, who had dominated much of the contest, was awarded a comfortable unanimous decision victory.

    While “Chaos” had put his previous feud versus reigning welterweight king Kamaru Usman to bed following their fight last November with a show of respect, that certainly wasn’t the case at UFC 272.

    After the final horn, security had to swarm the cage as the pair continued their exchanges. That certainly confused Askren, a former opponent of Masvidal, who questioned why “Gamebred” searched for a scrap after having 25 minutes to do what he wanted to Covington.

    “It was kinda what we expected. The thing that I get annoyed about is Jorge wants to fight him after the fight, and it’s like, listen, you just had 25 minutes to do almost anything you want,” Askren pointed out during an appearance on The MMA Hour. “You can’t eye gauge and bite, you know, we’ve got a couple rules, but not a lot. So you could do whatever you wanted for 25 minutes, and now you’re gonna act like you want more? Hey, you had 25 minutes, freakin’ do it to him.”

    UFC 272 Wasn’t The Only Criticism Askren Sent Masvidal’s Way…

    While Masvidal’s defeat and post-fight antics drew the brunt of Askren’s criticism, “Funky” left some in the tank for later.

    This time, the focus was on a new piece of ink Masvidal debuted during fight week. The tattoo is of the Miami native’s infamous flying knee knockout of Askren back in 2019. The KO, which remains the fastest in UFC history, is arguably what truly shot Masvidal into stardom.

    Discussing the tattoo he had a part in laying the foundations for, Askren branded Masvidal’s latest ink as “terrible.”

    “Ha, it’s terrible. Like, oh, God. It just looks like crap,” said Askren. “That’s something a teenager gets and you’re like, ‘Oh shit, I thought that was gonna look a lot better. I thought this was gonna be really badass, but it looks kinda dopey.’ You’d think (because) he’s rich, he could go get the best tattoo artist in the place.”

    Askren also pointed out that Masvidal’s decision to immortalize the moment on his body perhaps signifies how important it was in taking his career to the next level.

    “I think it’s semi-telling how important that singular moment was to his career, and he knows it,” claimed Askren. “And he tattooed it on his body because it was that important to him.”

    Do you agree with Ben Askren’s takes on Jorge Masvidal’s post-fight attitude at UFC 272 and new piece of ink?

  • Greg Hardy Appears To Announce UFC Release Following UFC 272 Loss

    It appears that UFC heavyweight Greg Hardy’s time with the promotion may be coming to a close based on a recent social media post.

    Hardy is coming off of a disappointing loss to Serghei Spivac at UFC 272, losing via first-round submission. Hardy has now lost three in a row after impressive wins over the likes of Maurice Greene and Yorgan De Castro.

    Hardy has had his fair share of ups and downs in the UFC, making the full-time move to MMA following a tumultuous end to his career in professional football. But Hardy appears to be turning the page to the next chapter of his athletic career, and it may not be in the UFC.

    In a recent Instagram post, Hardy appeared to say his goodbyes to UFC fans and hinted at a departure from the top MMA promotion.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbAno3JL2Fn/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading

    “What a run,” Hardy said. “Ya boy is far from done just got some fine tuning to do. Thank you to all my fans and haters. I appreciate you all. Mostly i appreciate my coaches, family, and the @ufc for giving me the opportunity to shine bright.” (h/t Bloody Elbow)

    The UFC hasn’t officially announced anything regarding Hardy’s status with the promotion and it’s not yet clear what Hardy’s next move will be. Despite the loss to Spivac, Hardy sounded optimistic about his UFC future immediately following UFC 272.

    Hardy made his UFC debut back in January 2019 after throwing an illegal knee against Allen Crowder. He would rebound in a big way with TKO finishes over Dmitry Smolyakov and Juan Adams.

    Hardy garnered the attention of UFC President Dana White after a pair of impressive wins on Dana White’s Contender Series. He also competed on the regional scene leading up to his shot on DWCS in brief stints with LFA and Rite of Passage.

    Hardy has accumulated a 7-5 record in the cage since making the move to MMA.

    What do you think is next for Greg Hardy and his MMA career?

  • Bisping & RDA Say Moicano’s Corner Should Have Thrown In The Towel

    UFC lightweight Rafael dos Anjos and Hall of Famer Michael Bisping have shared the same sentiment surrounding the decision to allow Renato Moicano to keep fighting at UFC 272.

    After the late withdrawal of Rafael Fiziev, Moicano stepped up on just five days’ notice to meet compatriot dos Anjos in the co-main event of the March 5 pay-per-view.

    While he left the Octagon after 25 minutes with the respect and admiration of the masses, he also exited having suffered a loss and an immense amount of damage in the process; an unnecessary level of damage, according to many.

    While Moicano showed gratitude to the doctor for not stopping the fight, claiming he wouldn’t have known what he was made of had the clash been ended early, the victorious dos Anjos shared a different view.

    During a post-fight appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, the former UFC lightweight champion revealed his frustration at the hesitancy for MMA corners to throw in the towel.

    “It drives me nuts because I see guys in boxing, all the time people throw the towel, stop the fight, and we don’t see that in MMA,” dos Anjos said. 

    “I think because of the small gloves, coaches think, ‘He’s gonna get a lucky punch and finish the fight,’ but I think we should see that more. I think coaches should be more aware, to know their fighters,” he added. “They’re not reacting, they’re not connecting anything that really hurts the other guy, so let’s stop it because you’re killing your fighter. I think that’s something that the coaches in MMA should be more aware of.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

    Unsurprisingly, RDA is not alone with that opinion.

    Bisping Backs RDA’s Take

    Former UFC middleweight champion Bisping, who was on commentary duty at UFC 272 and had a front-row seat for dos Anjos vs. Moicano, admitted his concern at the damage that the younger Brazilian was taking inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena during a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel.

    “That fight should have been stopped. It’s as simple as that,” Bisping asserted. “It was, not one-way traffic, but it was three layers of traffic going (towards Moicano), and one lane of traffic (coming back)… After three rounds, his eye was absolutely messed up. It actually gave me cause for concern… When I was looking at the state of Moicano’s eye, I was like, ‘Well, this is done. It’s over.’ And to be honest, the offense he was giving back, dos Anjos was never in any danger.”

    Like RDA, “The Count” believes the ATT coaches in Moicano’s corner should have undoubtedly put a stop to the beating themselves by throwing in the towel. He suggested they should have been “man enough” to prevent their man from sustaining any more damage.

    “The corner should have threw in the towel. Because right there at the end of the third round, well he can’t possibly win on points, that’s for sure,” said Bisping. “He hasn’t got the power, and the pop and snap in his punches, to finish him right now, and he’s not gonna submit Rafael dos Anjos… Cornermen need to throw the towel in. The referee let it go, the doctor let it go; the corner should have (stopped it)… They’ve gotta be man enough to say. ‘You know what? I’m gonna save you from any further damage.’

    “This is somebody’s life we’re talking about. This is somebody’s long-term health, and their fight career,” the Englishman added. “When you go through that kind of fight, never mind the physical damage, never mind your eyes and the cuts and the nose and the bones and everything that might be broken, the psychological trauma—you might never be the same again.”

    UFC 272 results: Rafael dos Anjos turns Renato Moicano into a bloody zombie, wins wide decision - MMAmania.com
    Renato Moicano, Image: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

    But despite believing the fight shouldn’t have seen a fourth or fifth frame, Bisping praised the way veteran referee Marc Goddard handled the contest. He also admitted that in his fighting days, he’d have loved the lenient attitude of the cage-side doctor.

    “Marc Goddard, the referee, I thought did a great job. He brought in the doctor on two occasions. That doctor’s a savage. I love it. If I’m fighting, I always said to the referee when they would come into my room beforehand, I would always say, ‘Hey, listen ref, do not stop this fight…’ But that fight should have been stopped in round three. It was done.”

    Bisping went on to suggest that athletic commissions need to send a mass memo to teams and coaches, advising them to have more “compassion” for their fighters and more of a “practical” outlook when it comes to stopping fights.

    https://twitter.com/moicanoufc/status/1500412999298732037

    Given his positive post-fight attitude, it appears Moicano has taken the defeat well and remains in good spirits despite the brutal beating. When he returns to the Octagon, we’ll be able to see whether the damage has had an effect on his future performances inside the cage.

    Do you agree with Michael Bisping and RDA? Should Renato Moicano’s corner have thrown in the towel during the UFC 272 co-main event?

  • Bryce Mitchell To Tucker Carlson: My Friends Think My Life Is At Risk

    UFC featherweight contender Bryce Mitchell says his political and societal views may be threatening his life.

    Mitchell is coming off arguably the biggest win of his MMA career at UFC 272, earning a unanimous decision over Edson Barboza. He dominated with his grappling and overwhelmed Barboza on the ground.

    In addition to his UFC successes, Mitchell has also been in the headlines for some of his controversial remarks on a variety of issues. Mitchell’s recently questioned the cause of mass shootings in the United States and has shared his opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

    During a recent interview with Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson, Mitchell explained why he feels his life may be in danger after sharing his thoughts on foreign and domestic issues. (h/t MMA Junkie)

    “I’m just not wanting to go waste my life fighting for some of these battles that I don’t even believe in,” Mitchell said. “I believe our leaders, a lot of these elites are guilty of treason. What they’ve done is just treasonous.

    https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1501394105632493570?s=20&t=krPZ3b9WwqD4xD4FCu19Mg

    “That’s how worried people are about the state of their country. My friends think my life could be at risk because I’m coming out here and speaking truth. I have people saying, ‘Hey, load your guns up, be ready.’ They are worried about my health because I’m coming out and speaking the truth. That’s the type of suppression and oppression that we’re living in, brother.”

    UFC 272 media day featured Mitchell discussing his views on the ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine. He believes that should the U.S. government require him to serve overseas in a global war, Mitchell plans on resisting any military mandate or draft.

    Not all of Mitchell’s views have caused controversy though. He’s also shared his plans to make a difference in his local community in Arkansas by donating a portion of each of his fight purses to help underprivileged youth and those with medical conditions.

    Mitchell is expected to return to the Octagon later this year as he looks to continue to climb the featherweight division. In the meantime, Mitchell appears unafraid to make his views known on various issues, whether you agree with him or not.

    What are your thoughts on Bryce Mitchell and his recent Fox News appearance?

  • UFC 272 Prelim Viewership Highest Since Poirier-McGregor 3 In July

    UFC 272 had apparently caught the attention of a lot of people.

    Although the card was not headlined by a title fight, UFC 272 did see a welterweight grudge match between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal. The fight was hyped up as the two were former roommates and close friends who became bitter rivals.

    Ultimately, the UFC did a good job of promoting the event as the prelims on ESPN were the highest since UFC 264 in July, which saw Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor 3 in the main event.

    “Saturday’s #UFC272 prelims averaged 1.53 million total viewers on ESPN, per UFC officials. Also aired on ESPN+ and ESPNews, but those numbers are not reported. ESPN numbers are the highest since July 2021 and the prelims for Poirier-McGregor 3, which averaged 1.61 million,” MMA reporter John Morgan reported.

    The ESPN prelims did have some solid fights, as the final fight saw Jalin Turner TKO Jamie Mullarkey in the second round. Although neither were big names, it was hyped up that the winner could very well get a ranked opponent next. The prelims also saw a potential #1 contender fight in Marina Rodriguez vs. Yan Xioanan which Rodriguez won by split decision.

    The other two ESPN prelims saw Maryna Moroz submit her former training partner and rival, Mariya Agapova in the second round. Nicolae Negumereanu beat Kennedy Nzechukwu by split decision as well.

    After the event, UFC President Dana White said this was a massive success and all the trends showed this to be a big night. If the ESPN prelims show anything, it is that UFC 272 will be one of the biggest cards of the year.

    In the main event of the card, Colby Covington dominated Jorge Masvidal over five rounds to win a clear-cut decision.

    Are you surprised with the UFC 272 viewership?

  • Jorge Masvidal Is “Surprised” He Didn’t Pounce On Covington In Round 4

    Jorge Masvidal feels he missed a big opportunity to turn the tide in his grudge match against Colby Covington at UFC 272.

    Masvidal fell via a unanimous decision to his former friend turned rival Covington. It was a war that lived up to the hype, but Covington got the better of a majority of the exchanges on the feet and ground.

    Masvidal nearly rallied in Round 4 after landing a massive right hook to Covington’s chin midway through the round. The punch dropped Covington immediately, and he appeared badly wobbled by the blow.

    However, instead of pushing forward with pressure and attempting to finish the fight, Masvidal appeared hesitant to pull the trigger and follow up the big punch.

    During his UFC 272 post-fight press conference, Masvidal talked about that moment and his regrets about not capitalizing on the opportunity.

    “Shit, and then I didn’t pounce on him after I dropped him,” Masvidal lamented. “I wasn’t surprised that he bounced up. I was surprised that I didn’t go and take his head off. I thought he was gonna shoot immediately on me, so I just (was) thinking of the wrong shit instead of just go and take his head off. I was tired; he was tired and hurt.

    “That was my chance right there. That was that window of five, six seconds to give it all I got, and make a sprint, and make a big change. Maybe I could’ve made that round 10-8, 10-7, who knows? But I didn’t take that opening.”

    Masvidal has now lost three fights in a row, including back-to-back defeats to welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. His last win came against Nate Diaz in their BMF title matchup at UFC 244.

    Masvidal signed a new deal with the UFC leading up to the fight with Covington and remains one of the promotion’s biggest stars. But he’ll need to get back in the win column in his next UFC outing to potentially earn a rematch against Covington down the line.

    What were your thoughts on Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal?

  • Colby Covington Demands To Be Paid More Than Jorge Masvidal Now

    Colby Covington wants to get paid more than his rival Jorge Masvidal following their grudge match at UFC 272.

    Covington put on arguably one of the best performances of his career against Masvidal in the main event. He outstruck Masvidal on the feet statistically and smothered him on the ground to control the fight and earn a unanimous decision victory.

    Before the grudge match, Masvidal and the UFC came to terms on a new deal that made him among the highest-paid fighters in the promotion. Now, Covington wants a bigger piece of the pie following his recent performances inside the Octagon.

    During his UFC 272 post-fight press conference, Covington stated that he feels he deserves more money from the promotion after his dominant win over Masvidal

    “I’d love it, I think I deserve it,” Covington said. “Jorge just signed his contract right before the right because he knew he was going to get his ass whooped. He wasn’t going to have any leverage or power to negotiate after I whoop his ass on Monday morning, so I want to be paid more than Jorge Masvidal now. He likes to rub that in this face that ‘oh I make more money, and this and that’. First off, no he doesn’t because he pays half of it to Maritza his ex-wife. So he doesn’t make more money than me. But secondly, I need to make more money than Jorge. He’s a flash in the pan, two-pump chump like his ex-wife Maritza said.

    Colby Covington
    Colby Covington

    “He’s 37 years old, I just turned 34 years old just before this fight. I’m in my prime, getting better every single day, and you haven’t seen the best of me. So I still got a long career ahead of me.”

    Covington called out another former American Top Team teammate, Dustin Poirier following his win over Masvidal. Poirier has said in the past that he intends to move up to 170 pounds for his next fights, but it’s unclear if that’ll come to fruition.

    Covington is expecting to return to the cage later this year and wants to be paid adequately for his efforts. This could potentially set up negotiations on a new deal between Covington and the UFC as soon as this week.

    Who do you want to see Colby Covington fight next?

  • Jędrzejczyk: Moroz Deserves Double Respect For UFC 272 Performance

    Former strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk is giving credit to Maryna Moroz for her outstanding performanceat UFC 272.

    For over a year, Moroz and Agapova have argued over disputes that took place when they were training partners, similar to the grudge match between Covington and Masvidal.

    At UFC 272, Moroz did what she set out to do that night and left no room to talk. On Saturday, she shut down their rivalry by submitting the “Demonslayer” in the second round of their match.

    Maryna Moroz and Mariya Agapova
    Maryna Moroz and Mariya Agapova, Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

    Due to injuries, the Octagon has not seen the Ukrainian fighter for two years, yet she fought like she hasn’t missed a day.

    But what makes her victory worthy of standing ovation is that she conquered her opponent during a devastating time in her country.

    Born in Vil’nohirs’k, Ukraine, Moroz fights while her family is at home. The immense pressure to fight that night, for herself and for her country, is an inspiration to many.

    Fellow American Top Team member and decorated UFC fighter Joanna Jędrzejczyk showed nothing but respect for Moroz.

    “Maryna Moroz was sitting here a minute ago. Guys, she put on a hell of a performance. It’s been two years, she hasn’t fought because of so many injuries. But we all know what’s happening in Ukraine, in Europe, and I think she deserves double bravo or respect (for) how she’s handling all of this. It’s hard. Her family is there, in Ukraine, fighting for life. So this girl has done really big things tonight. So big congrats Maryna. We are very happy for you,” Jędrzejczyk stated in a media scrum following UFC 272.

    After the impressive win, Moroz was brought to tears in a post-fight interview when explaining the situation in Ukraine.

    Moroz fought hard on March 5, and as the only female fighter in the UFC from Ukraine, she has shown how remarkable she truly is.

    What are your thoughts on Maryna Moroz’s UFC 272 performance?

  • Makhachev 100% Expects Move To 170 After Watching UFC 272 Headliner

    UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev is more convinced than ever to eventually move to welterweight after watching the UFC 272 main event.

    Makhachev has been on a roll as of late with 10 straight victories. He most recently dismantled short-notice replacement Bobby Green in his second-career UFC main event at UFC Vegas 49.

    Before the win over Green, Makhachev made quick work of top contenders such as Thiago Moisés and Dan Hooker.

    Makhachev will more than likely have to face Beneil Dariush next, as UFC President Dana White recently hinted. However, he’s already got his eyes set not just on the lightweight title but also a chance to add his name to UFC lore.

    During a recent interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Makhachev laid out what he plans to do once he gets the lightweight belt later this year.

    “I’m gonna take this belt, defend like three, five times, and I’m gonna come to welterweight division,” Makhachev proclaimed.

    UFC 272 featured a welterweight grudge match between top contenders Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal. Makhachev sat cageside to watch Covington earn a unanimous decision win over his former American Top Teammate and friend Masvidal.

    Despite Covington’s impressive performance, Makhachev garnered more motivation to eventually challenge the top welterweights in the UFC after watching the UFC 272 main event.

    UFC 272 results, highlights: Colby Covington grinds out decision win over Jorge Masvidal to end rivalry - CBSSports.com
    Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington

    “I saw this fight, I witnessed front row, when Masvidal fight versus Colby. Honestly, I really believe I can beat these guys one night, both these guys.

    “Because Colby, he have just wrestling. I can beat him easy….his striking is very (slow) and other guy, Masvidal, I think he’s so old now, he just makes some money, he have maybe couple more fights and he gonna retire.”

    Makhachev Doesn’t Expect Relationship With Usman To Be An Issue

    Following his latest win over Green at UFC Vegas 49, Makhachev hinted at a move up to welterweight, a division in which Kamaru Usman currently reigns as champion.

    While Makhachev and Usman have the same manager and seem to have a solid friendship, that hasn’t deterred Makhachev from pursuing multiple UFC belts. This is because Makhachev doesn’t expect Usman to still be competing if he gets the fight against Canelo Álvarez he’s been pushing for.

    Makhachev revealed a recent conversation with Usman and the welterweight champion’s future as the titleholder.

    “I told Usman. I told him, ‘Man, now you gonna beat Leon Edwards,” Makhachev said. “‘And after, you wanna fight vs. Canelo, make $100 million, and that’s it. Your motivation is finish.’ He say, ‘No, no, no, I’m gonna still compete.’

    “But I don’t believe when somebody have $100 million, it’s not possible (to) wake up early morning (and stay hungry). It’s not possible.”

    Usman recently underwent hand surgery and is expected to return later this year. He’s more than likely set to face Leon Edwards for his next title defense.

    Makhachev was reportedly the UFC’s top target to replace Rafael Fiziev against Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 272. However, according to Dana White, he turned down the fight and White says Makhachev will now have to face Dariush before earning a title shot.

    Makhachev has been referred to by many UFC fans as the heir apparent to Khabib Nurmagomedov, who is a mentor and coach of his. If Makhachev can earn the lightweight title, he could potentially accomplish something Nurmagomedov never did in earning multiple world titles after moving up a division.

    How do you think Islam Makhachev would do at welterweight?

  • Stephen A. Smith Rips Jorge Masvidal For Post-UFC 272 Comments

    Stephen A. Smith is not buying what UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal is selling following his loss to Colby Covington.

    Covington defeated Masvidal via unanimous decision in their welterweight grudge match after months of back-and-forth banter. Covington dominated with his wrestling and also out-landed Masvidal with his standup.

    After the fight, Masvidal claimed that he was “flat” with his wrestling, which he feels was a major reason for the loss. Covington has always been known to be a wrestler by nature but has also shown improved standup over time.

    During a recent segment of ESPN’s First Take, Smith gave his thoughts on Masvidal’s approach to the fight with Covington and his post-fight comments.

    “I’m a huge, huge Masvidal fan,” Smith prefaced. “I think he’s great for the sport because he’s got knockout power in both punches, he can obviously use that knee very well and he has improved his wrestling. But Colby Covington showed that he’s on a different level from a wrestling standpoint, and from a stamina standpoint.

    Masvidal reflects on UFC 272 loss to Covington: 'The b—ch can wrestle' - MMAmania.com
    Image Credit: David Becker/Getty Images

    “One of the things that I paid attention to coming into this fight is something that Colby Covington said. Because he knew him and they were former best friends and roommates turned enemies, Covington said, ‘Masvidal trains for his fights; I live this.’ What he was talking about is he is always in shape. He’s never out of shape. He’s renowned for his condition and the pressure he’s able to apply and how he never lets up because he keeps on coming.”

    Smith went on to point out how fatigued Masvidal looked as the fight came to a close.

    “I saw Masvidal gutsy and survive the five rounds, but while he was waving Covington on to come on, ‘Let’s get some more.’ He was literally using two security personnel to lean on because that’s how exhausted he was. Covington looked like he was just starting. He was that energized. The guy is in phenomenal shape, he’s an outstanding wrestler and Masvidal admitted that his wrestling was flat.

    “How was it flat coming into this fight knowing this guy as well as you know him and knowing what he was going to try to do to you, and how much you supposedly hate him? How you were not ready for a wrestling match, I don’t understand. It’s inexplicable.” (h/t MMA Junkie)

    Masvidal has now lost three straight bouts and hasn’t won since his BMF title victory over Nate Diaz at UFC 244. He’s anticipating a return later this year to work his way towards a potential rematch against Covington down the line.

    Smith has had a complicated relationship with the MMA community. In addition to his criticisms of Masvidal, he also came under fire after attacking Donald Cerrone on the ESPN post-fight show for his quick loss to Conor McGregor.

    What are your thoughts on how Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby Covington played out?

  • Maryna Moroz: UFC Russia Blocked Me Because I’m From Ukraine

    UFC women’s flyweight Maryna Moroz says the UFC’s official Russian Instagram account blocked her based on her nationality.

    While fighting is, in itself, an intense sport with high stakes, not many will have entered a cage in as difficult a scenario as Moroz did this past weekend. With war waging in her native country of Ukraine, “Iron Lady” took to the Octagon at UFC 272 to face Mariya Agapova.

    In the context of her fighting career, Moroz’s first-round submission represented victory in her first fight since 2020, extended her win streak to three, and earned bragging rights over her former ATT teammate.

    But more importantly, it saw the 30-year-old Ukrainian fight through an immense level of adversity and emotion that few will experience in their lifetime. Ultimately, Moroz proudly held her flag aloft inside the T-Mobile Arena and delivered a victory for her country that comes at a time when so many have experienced personal losses.

    While her focus has, and will continue to be, directed towards her family in Ukraine, an Eastern European country in the midst of a Russian invasion, it seems the tension between the two nations hasn’t been reserved for solely across the Atlantic in Moroz’s case.

    During her appearance at the post-fight press conference on Saturday night, Moroz revealed the official UFC Russia Instagram account blocked her following her previous victory, something that gave her extra motivation ahead of UFC 272.

    “Yeah (I was happy with my performance). I think people forget about me,” said Moroz. “Because before I win fight, I have records, year 2020 (was my last win). But, you know, you see, Russian Instagram doesn’t post me after my (last fight). He blocked me. But after I give interview, he unblocked, but never posted me, only posted my opponent. It gave me more energy to win this fight.”

    While she didn’t provide a name, the “he” she refers to could be the UFC’s Vice President of Russia & CIS, Andre Gromkowski, who frequently posts about the account’s growth across social media.

    When asked why she believes the account blocked her, Moroz simply said with a shrug, “Because I’m from Ukraine.”

    Moroz Reveals Difficult Pre-Fight Feelings

    Following her victory at UFC 272, Moroz was brought to tears as she took the mic in front of the crowd and entire fanbase.

    Having addressed the ongoing conflict in her country during fight week and spoken out against the man behind it, “Iron Lady” let her emotions out after what has undoubtedly been a difficult period for the flyweight.

    Discussing the pressure she felt as she tried to balance her worries about Ukraine with the preparation for her fight, Moroz further told the media about the nerves she was feeling in the days leading up to the March 5 PPV.

    “I had a lot of pressure. I was nervous about the war in Ukraine,” said Moroz. “All this week, I felt nervous, I was crying. But I tried to focus… It was really hard for me because I see in Ukraine how terrible the situation is. But I focused, and I won the fight.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

    What do you make of UFC Russia’s alleged decision to block Maryna Moroz?

  • Masvidal & Covington Reveal Trash Talk Exchanged During Fight

    UFC welterweights Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal have revealed the words they shared inside the Octagon during their main event fight at UFC 272 this past weekend.

    After months of heated back and forth, insults, historical stories, and rising animosity, Covington and Masvidal settled their score inside the cage on Saturday night. The former friends, ATT teammates, and roommates possessed a rivalry worthy of a pay-per-view headliner, even without the presence of a title on the line.

    In the end, it was “Chaos” who had the last laugh. With his imposing wrestling game, the former interim champion secured a comfortable unanimous decision and, in doing so, moved closer to making a trilogy with reigning champion Kamaru Usman a reality.

    But while it appeared the time for talking was over on Saturday night, both Covington and Masvidal have revealed things were far from quiet inside the cage.

    Covington & Masvidal Exchanged “Bitch” Jibes

    During their respective appearances at the UFC 272 post-fight press conference, the two headliners revealed the trash talk that went on during the fight. For Masvidal, the words reflected his leading pre-fight sentiment: Covington’s a “bitch.”

    “Me just telling him, ‘You’re still a bitch.’ Shit like that… I don’t even know what he said, bro. But I know I just told him, ‘You’re a bitch. I’ll get you eventually.’”

    Also bringing his own trademark insults to the forefront inside the Octagon, Covington revealed he reminded “Gamebred” who his “daddy” is inside the T-Mobile Arena.

    “I was telling him, ‘Yeah, I’m still your daddy. You know who your daddy is. I’m the king of Miami, so take this ass-whoopin’ like the little bitch. I’m glad you came out and took this ass whoopin.’”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Caykk3OuAYF/

    While Covington’s previous heated rivalry ended in a show of respect at UFC 268 last November, his feud with Masvidal certainly didn’t boast the same pleasantries following 25 minutes of action.

    As the pair head in opposite trajectories in the welterweight division, their animosity will seemingly return to trash talk and social media exchanges. But after UFC 272, “Chaos” has the added ammunition of a victory inside the Octagon.

    What is next for Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington in the UFC?

  • Bryce Mitchell: Every Time I Fight There Will Be Children Healed

    UFC featherweight contender Bryce Mitchell intends to make a difference outside of the cage following all of his future fights.

    Mitchell earned a dominant win over Edson Barboza on the UFC 272 main card. He wrestled and smothered Barboza for a majority of the fight and was able to withstand Barboza’s advances on the feet.

    After the fight, Mitchell used his post-fight Octagon interview with Joe Rogan to announce that he would be donating half of his purse to help local youth back home in Arkansas. This caused quite the positive pop from the T-Mobile Arena crowd, and he certainly gained fans for his generosity.

    During his UFC 272 post-fight press conference, Mitchell said that UFC President Dana White wants to get involved in his out-of-competition causes.

    “Dana White came up to me after the fight and said ‘Don’t give your money; I’m going to give the $45,000,’” Mitchell revealed. “I’m still going to give some money, you know? But he told me, ‘Don’t give any of your money. It’s going to be mine, and I’m going to take care of it.’ But I’m still going to do something because I just need to, but there will be more than $45,000. We have people coming out of the woodwork. So I’m planting the seed and we’re going to watch this thing grow.”

    Mitchell is the latest UFC fighter to use his platform to help those less fortunate. UFC stars such as Dustin Poirier and Kamaru Usman have helped their hometowns in a big way by being an inspiration and continuing to grow MMA.

    “Well, children are some of the most precious things on the planet, brother,” Mitchell said. “I mean, I see so much evil and wickedness in the world and so much greed, people killing for money, it makes me sick. I want to do the exact opposite. And do you know what the greatest thing I can do in that cage is? It’s inspire. That’s the greatest thing I can do in that cage is inspire people. And let me tell you why; because me, by myself, I really can’t do shit. My $45,000, when it comes to (the) medical profession, really ain’t shit. That shit’s gone in one surgery. That shit’s gone in a couple skin grafts. You see what I’m saying?

    “But if I can inspire you, and you, and you, and you, then it’s limitless, it keeps going, it’s perpetual. So the greatest thing I can do is inspire, and I really feel that I’ve done that, and I really feel that I owe that to God.”

    Mitchell went on to clarify that this isn’t just a one-time opportunity of his to make a difference for Arkansas youth.

    “Every time I fight there will be children healed through the fight.”

    Mitchell’s win over Barboza is arguably the biggest win of his young UFC career. He returned to the cage following a nearly two-year hiatus from the sport.

    While Mitchell seems proud of his performance inside the cage, he appears even more focused on his efforts outside of it. He’s looking to make an impact on children back in his hometown and continuing to use his platform for societal causes.

  • Greg Hardy Speaks Out After Disappointing Loss To Spivac At UFC 272

    UFC heavyweight Greg Hardy is looking forward and not backward following his lopsided defeat to Serghei Spivac at UFC 272.

    Hardy came out firing a series of brutal leg kicks that successfully landed on Spivac in the opening minutes. Then, he was smothered on the ground and taken down numerous times in the first round.

    After Spivac got the top mount on Hardy, he landed a series of violent ground-and-pound combinations to finish the fight. Hardy failed to defend himself and the referee stepped in just a couple of minutes into the bout.

    In a recent Instagram post following the loss, Hardy updated his fans on his health and wellbeing after losing a third straight bout.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Cav3Sn4LkXS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “I’m ok first of all for those who wanna know,” Hardy said. “No excuses, gotta get better. I don’t know what to do but say sorry. More coming for the prince of War just gotta get my shit together. Thank you to the [UFC] and [Dana White] for being in my corner. Thank you coaches and training partners and agents [First Round Management]. Everyone did their job accept for me. This one is on me and there are no excuses for me lacking. I refuse to die but I have to reevaluate for sure.”

    Hardy has now lost three fights in a row with all three coming by stoppage. His last win came against Maurice Greene in October 2020.

    Hardy has had his fair share of ups and downs in the Octagon since transitioning from professional Football to MMA. After an impressive performance on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018, he’s traded wins and losses inside the cage.

    Hardy was supposed to make his return to the Octagon earlier this year at UFC 270 before Aleksei Oleinik pulled out on short notice. He then faced a new opponent in Spivac and the fight was pushed back to UFC 272.

    UFC President Dana White has historically shown to have thin patience when it comes to fighters on losing streaks, and Hardy will likely need a win in his next appearance to remain on the UFC roster for the long term—if there is a next appearance.

    Who do you want to see Greg Hardy fight next?

  • dos Anjos Remains Dead Set On McGregor Rebooking After UFC 272 Win

    Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos still feels he has unfinished business with Conor McGregor inside the Octagon.

    dos Anjos dismantled short-notice replacement Renato Moicano in the UFC 272 co-headliner. He was originally supposed to face Rafael Fiziev before Fiziev recently tested positive for COVID-19.

    The 37-year-old dos Anjos proved that he still can compete with some of the best lightweights in the UFC with his latest win. He returned to the cage following a two-year layoff after his win over Paul Felder in his last appearance.

    dos Anjos has previously stated that he feels a fight with McGregor needs to happen before their careers come to a close. They were supposed to compete at UFC 196 when RDA held the lightweight title but pulled out with an injury.

    McGregor went on to face Nate Diaz on short notice, losing in a shocking submission defeat.

    McGregor has also expressed mutual interest in a fight with dos Anjos. The two could’ve potentially met at UFC 264 when RDA served as the backup to McGregor’s matchup with Dustin Poirier.

    dos Anjos and McGregor nearly got into a physical altercation at the UFC Apex during the UFC 264 weigh-ins.

    Rafael dos Anjos Still Set On McGregor Bout

    During his UFC 272 post-fight press conference, dos Anjos named McGregor as his top target for his next fight later this year.

    “The fight would make sense,” dos Anjos opined. “Conor is coming back in the summer.”

    dos Anjos went on to elaborate as to why a fight with McGregor would make the most sense for both parties.

    “He’s a big name, sells a lot of PPV, we have a history, too. I’m looking for names that make me want to go to the gym. Don’t wanna fight names that don’t interest me. He’s the guy that would motivate me.”

    McGregor is expected to return later this year after suffering a nasty leg break against Poirier at UFC 264. It’s unclear whether or not McGregor will return as a lightweight to face RDA following his recent weight gains.

    If McGregor is still intent on pursuing a lightweight title run, a matchup with dos Anjos would make sense. The winner could surge into the title picture and potentially earn a shot at the belt sooner rather than later.

    Do you want to see Rafael dos Anjos vs. Conor McGregor next?

  • White On Rodriguez Facing Esparza/Namajunas Winner: “Makes Sense”

    It appears that UFC strawweight contender Marina Rodriguez did enough to earn a No. 1 contender spot in her win over Yan Xiaonan at UFC 272.

    Rodriguez won a closely-contested top-5 matchup against Xiaonan in a back-and-forth war on the feet. Rodriguez struggled with Xiaonan’s speed early in the fight but found a rhythm with her pacing as the bout went on.

    Rodriguez has been on a roll in the strawweight division after an impressive 2021. She earned three-straight wins last year including lopsided victories over the likes of Michelle Waterson and Mackenzie Dern.

    During his UFC 272 post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White said it “makes sense” that Rodriguez would face the winner of Rose Namajunas vs. Carla Esparza.

    The promotion has been working on booking the Namajunas/Esparza rematch in 2022. Although it hasn’t been formally announced, it’s widely expected to be the next title fight at 115 pounds.

    Rodriguez made her UFC debut back in 2018 following a gruesome knockout of Maria Oliveira on Dana White’s Contender Series. She has yet to face Namajunas in the UFC but lost in a close split decision against Esparza in July 2020.

    Namajunas earned her second stint as the strawweight queen by knocking out Zhang Weili at UFC 261. She would follow it up by earning a decision win over Weili in their rematch at UFC 268.

    Rodriguez is looking to become the latest Brazilian UFC champion and the first Brazilian strawweight champion since Jéssica Andrade held the title in 2019. She’ll have the chance to prove herself with her next Octagon appearance, which is expected to be for a championship belt.

    Do you think Marina Rodriguez is a future UFC champion?

  • Dustin Poirier Responds To Colby Covington’s Post-Fight Callout

    Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier hit back at Colby Covington on social media following Covington’s UFC 272 callout.

    Covington defeated Jorge Masvidal in a back-and-forth war in the UFC 272 headliner. After earning a mostly-dominant win over Masvidal, Covington used his post-fight interview to call out another former American Top Team teammate in Poirier.

    Covington and Poirier have had their fair share of fallout since Covington split with ATT. Covington has taken shots at Poirier’s wife and daughter, giving them both unflattering labels. He’s also mocked Poirier following his loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 and also claimed that he made Poirier leave ATT in tears following their training sessions together.

    After getting word of Covington’s UFC 272 callout, Poirier took to social media to respond.

    “Bombaclot!” Poirier tweeted shortly after the callout.

    The term ‘Bumbaclot’ is Jamaican slang for “d**chebag” or “motherf**ker”. Poirier is clearly not a fan of Covington’s antics, especially after downplaying the idea of facing him in the Octagon.

    Poirier then went on to question why Covington would call him out instead of calling out another top UFC welterweight.

    https://twitter.com/DustinPoirier/status/1500364396903682050?s=20&t=Zy2ntaPnxhl5bmPdvkPoyQ

    “Maybez fight a welterweight contender?”

    Poirier has previously hinted at a move to welterweight in 2022 to fight Nate Diaz. The fight is still in consideration for later this year, and it’s unclear if Poirier will move to 170 pounds full-time.

    As for Covington, he’s looking to potentially earn a third fight with welterweight champion Kamaru Usman down the line. A win over another top UFC star like Poirier could give him that opportunity.

    Do you want to see Dustin Poirier vs Colby Covington next?

  • Fighters React To Covington Defeating Masvidal At UFC 272

    Colby Covington got the last word in his grudge match against Jorge Masvidal in the main event of UFC 272.

    After two years of trash talk and beef, Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal finally settled their rivalry at UFC 272 inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Covington emerged from the war victorious after a hard-fought five rounds that saw him mostly use his wrestling to get the better of his ex-teammate, but he also had some moments on the feet.

    You can catch the highlights from the main event below.

    If you placed money on a touch of gloves, that wasn’t a wise bet.

    Here’s a look at some of Covington’s wrestling skills that were on display.

    Masvidal nearly stole the fight in the fourth round with this big moment:

    No hugging it out after this one.

    Colby Covington calls out Dustin Poirier.

    Now, let’s see how fighters reacted to the UFC 272 main event.

    https://twitter.com/Actionman513/status/1500347352204275712

    UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal Results & Highlights

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC 272. We’ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

  • UFC 272 Results & Highlights: Covington Outworks Masvidal

    UFC 272 took place tonight, and you can find all the results and highlights from the card right here!

    UFC 272 took place from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada tonight, March 5, 2022. The main event featured Colby Covington taking on Jorge Masvidal in arguably the biggest grudge match the promotion has ever seen. In the co-main event, former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos took on Renato Moicano in a 160 lbs. catchweight bout. Also on the lineup was ranked featherweights Edson Barboza (#10) taking on Bryce Mitchell (#11).

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Umar Nurmagomedov def. Brian Kelleher

    In the featured early prelims, highly touted bantamweight prospect Umar Nurmagomedov took on veteran Brian Kelleher. On the heels of a kick-heavy attack, Nurmagomedov would progressively lean on his grappling skills to take over the fight and eventually earn the rear-naked choke submission victory to move to 14-0.

    Maryna Moroz def. Mariya Agapova

    In a highly anticipated grudge match between two former training partners, Maryna Moroz took on Mariya Agapova. The grappling-heavy encounter saw Agapova survive a rear-naked choke in round one, before attempting the same on Moroz. In round two, Moroz dominated on the ground, landing heavy strikes from on top, before forcing Agapova to tap after sinking in an arm triangle.

    Marina Rodriguez def. Yan Xiaonan

    In a possible women’s strawweight title eliminator, #3 ranked Marina Rodriguez took on #4 ranked Yan Xiaonan. Round one saw both fighters exchange blistering strikes. An an illegal groin strike to Xiaonan saw a brief timeout, before the Chinese ended the round with a takedown. The fast pace continued in round two, with Xiaonan eating a massive right early on, before the duo battled against the fence. The fight remained razor-thin early in round three as both fighters traded vicious strikes, before a late rally from Rodriguez saw her land a series of head strikes and a knee.

    Jalin Turner def. Jamie Mullarkey

    In this matchup between two up-and-coming lightweights, Jalin Turner dominated throughout, ending the fight early in round two via TKO.

    Main Card Highlights

    Sergey Spivak def. Greg Hardy

    Kicking off the main card was a heavyweight bout between Sergey Spivak and Greg Hardy. Hardy looked to be out of his element throughout the fight and had no answers for Spivak’s wrestling-heavy approach. Spivak took Hardy down repeatedly in the first and only round before eventually getting into full mount and winning via ground and pound. You can capture the closing moments of the fight below.

    Kevin Holland def. Alex Oliveira

    Making his welterweight debut, Kevin Holland faced up against veteran Alex Oliveira in what was a wildly entertaining, albeit short bout. Both fighters exchanged big punches in round one, before Oliveira landed a huge takedown, took Holland’s back, and attempted a rear-naked choke. In round two, Holland dropped Oliveira early, then piled on the punches to gain an impressive TKO victory. You can capture the highlights below.

    Bryce Mitchell def. Edson Barboza

    With a place in the division’s top-ten beckoning, Bryce Mitchell squared off with Edson Barboza in this featherweight bout. After sustaining heavy leg kicks early in round one, Mitchell dropped Barboza and later landed a takedown, before dominating the Brazilian from on top.

    In round two, Mitchell landed another takedown early and spent the rest of the round out-grappling Barboza, while landing heavy ground and pound.

    In round three, Mitchell took Barboza down once again. The Brazilian attempted an unlikely triangle, before Mitchell resumed dominant position, and proceeded to batter Barboza with vicious ground strikes.

    You can capture the end of the fight below.

    Rafael dos Anjos def. Renato Moicano

    The co-main event was an all-Brazilian, 160-pound catchweight affair between Rafael dos Anjos and Renato Moicano, who had taken the fight on short notice. Dos Anjos landed a takedown in round one and proceed to land heavy strikes from top position.

    In round two, dos Anjos got the better of the striking exchanges, before landing a takedown and dominating from on top. Round three saw dos Anjos land a vicious head kick, sending Moicano to the canvas. Dos Anjos piled on some heavy ground and pound, as Moicano somehow hung on for dear life.

    In round four, a visibly battered Moicano had some fleeting success in the striking exchanges, before dos Anjos took him down once again and landed brutal punches, which almost forced the ref to end the fight between rounds.

    The final round largely stayed on the feet, with Moicano landing some brutal strikes towards to mark a thrilling finish to the bout. You can catch the end of the fight below.

    Colby Covington def. Jorge Masvidal

    In what was perhaps the biggest grudge match in UFC history, the main event saw Colby Covington take on Jorge Masvidal. Taken down early, Masvidal spent most of round one fending off Colby’s rear-naked choke attempts.

    The second round saw Masvidal have some striking success before Covington took his back. The duo ended the round exchanging vicious strikes.

    In round three, Colby got a takedown early and proceeded to land heavy ground and pound.

    Round four saw Covington have increased success on the feet before Masvidal suddenly rocked Colby, sending him down on one knee.

    In the final round, Covington smothered Masvidal from on top, ending the fight with some heavy ground and pound.

    You can catch the highlights below.

    Below, you can view the quick results for tonight’s UFC 272 pay-per-view!

    UFC 272 Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass, 4:00 PM ET)

    Umar Nurmagomedov def. Brian Kelleher via submission: R1, 3:15

    Tim Elliott def. Tagir Ulanbekov via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

    Ludovit Klein def. Devonte Smith via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)

    Dustin Jacoby def. Michal Oleksiejczuk via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

    UFC 272 Preliminary Card (ESPN/ESPN+, 6:00 PM ET)

    Jalin Turner def. Jamie Mullarkey via TKO: R2, 0:46

    Marina Rodriguez def. Yan Xiaonan via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)

    Nicolae Negumereanu def. Kennedy Nzechukwu via split decision (27-29, 29-27×2)

    Maryna Moroz def. Mariya Agapova via submission: R2, 3:27

    UFC 272 Main Card (Pay-Per-View, 8:00 PM ET)

    Colby Covington def. Jorge Masvidal via unanimous decision (49-46, 50-44, 59-45)

    Rafael dos Anjos def. Renato Moicano via unanimous decision (49-45, 49-44, 50 44)

    Bryce Mitchell def. Edson Barboza via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-26, 30-27)

    Kevin Holland def. Alex Oliveira via TKO: R2, 0.38

    Sergey Spivak def. Greg Hardy via TKO (ground and pound) R1, 2:16

  • Fighters React To dos Anjos Dominating Moicano At UFC 272

    Rafael dos Anjos didn’t lose focus with the last-minute change in opponent.

    Rafael dos Anjos took on Renato Moicano in the co-main event of UFC 272 from inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    dos Anjos entered this bout coming off a victory over another short-notice opponent in Paul Felder in a Fight of the Night performance in 2020. That bout was his first fight back in the lightweight division since 2016. Moicano entered the fight with a 3-1 record in the lightweight division.

    Rafael dos Anjos dominated Renato Moicano throughout the entire fight. He used his wrestling, grappling, and ground-and-pound to make life difficult for Moicano, who stepped in on one week’s notice for this five-round bout. You can catch a glimpse of dos Anjos’ finished artwork below.

    dos Anjos won with the final scorecard of 49-45, 49-44, 50 44.

    Let’s see how fighters reacted to dos Anjos’ victory.

    https://twitter.com/GroovyLando/status/1500333850425102341

    UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal Results & Highlights

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC 272. We’ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

  • UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal Preview, Betting Odds, & Final Face-Offs

    The UFC 272 Ceremonial Weigh-Ins have wrapped up, and we have the full preview for tomorrow night’s action-packed pay-per-view below!

    Tomorrow night, UFC 272 comes at you live on pay-per-view from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The early preliminary card will begin at 6:00 PM, followed by the ESPN/ESPN+ preliminary card at 8:00 PM, and the pay-per-view starts at 10:00 PM ET.

    Three of our staff members have provided their picks and breakdowns for the main card, and the official weigh-ins were conducted earlier today, with every fighter making weight.

    The main event tomorrow night will feature Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal finally settling their rivalry for the world to see. You can catch up on our Colby Covington archives right here and the Jorge Masvidal archives here to get up to speed on all the dirt dished out ahead of tomorrow’s showdown.

    The co-main event will feature Rafael dos Anjos taking on Renato Moicano on short notice. If you missed all the drama leading up to this replacement bout being set, you can get up to speed on our RDA archives here.

    Additionally, Bryce Mitchell will take part in the biggest fight of his career when he goes up against elite striker and tested veteran Edson Barboza. Mitchell’s pre-fight rhetoric in many ways overshadowed the intrigue of such a great contest. If you missed all the hoopla surrounding Mitchell’s political views and some of the public reaction to them, you’ll want to do some reading up on our Bryce Mitchell archives here.

    Also, aside from the main event, there is another ex-teammate grudge match that may be flying under the radar, that between Mariya Agapova and Maryna Moroz. You can get caught up on the intense background story between these former teammates right here.

    For a look into every fight on tomorrow’s UFC 272 card, you can check out the UFC’s official fight-by-fight preview right here.

    Below, you can peep the full card tomorrow through every final faceoff, along with the current betting odds for each fight via 5Dimes.

    Dustin Jacoby (-190) vs Michael Oleksiejczuk (+175)

    Devonte Smith (-142) vs Ludovit Klein (+132)

    Tim Elliott (+190) vs Tagir Ulanbekov (-210)

    Brian Kelleher (+635) vs Umar Nurmagomedov (-800)

    Maryna Moroz (+164) vs Mariya Agapova (-174)

    Nicolae Negumereanu (+127) vs Kennedy Nzechukwu (-137)

    Marina Rodriguez (-250) vs Yan Xiaonan (+230)

    Jalin Turner (-145) vs Jamie Mullarkey (+135)

    Sergey Spivak (-178) vs. Greg Hardy (+167)

    Kevin Holland (-325) vs. Alex Oliveira (+295)

    Edson Barboza (+137) vs. Bryce Mitchell (-147)

    Rafael dos Anjos (-157) vs. Renato Moicano (+147)

    Colby Covington (-330) vs. Jorge Masvidal (+300)

    Closing Remarks

    Be sure to keep it locked right here on MMANews.com tomorrow for all the results, highlights, and coverage from UFC 272!

  • UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal Weigh-In Results, All Fighters On Target

    The UFC 272 weigh-in results are in, and every single fighter was on target ahead of the Las Vegas pay-per-view.

    Tomorrow night, Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal will finally turn talk into violence when they settle their feud once and for all in front of a worldwide audience. Both fighters made weight without issue, as did every other competitor on the card.

    That includes co-main eventers Rafael dos Anjos and Renato Moicano, who will be competing in a 160 lbs. catchweight bout in a short-notice bout. It also includes Edson Barboza and Bryce Mitchell, who will take the stage shortly before the two feature bouts of the evening.

    Three of our staff members broke down the entire main card with predictions, which you can find right here. And if you missed it, you can catch up on the pre-fight press conference highlights here.

    As usual, the UFC hosted a live weigh-in show, which you can check out right here.

    Finally, you can view the full UFC 272 weigh-in results and viewing information for the event below, courtesy of UFC.com.

    UFC 272 Weigh-In Results

    MAIN CARD (ESPN+ PPV, 10:00 PM ET)

    Main Event – Welterweight Bout: Colby Covington (170.5) vs Jorge Masvidal (170.5)

    Co-Main Event – Catchweight (160 lbs) Bout: Rafael Dos Anjos (160) vs Renato Moicano (160)

    Featherweight Bout: Edson Barboza (145.5) vs Bryce Mitchell (145.5)

    Welterweight Bout: Kevin Holland (170) vs Alex Oliveira (170)

    Heavyweight Bout: Serghei Spivac (243.5) vs Greg Hardy (266)

    PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+/ESPN DEPORTES, 8:00 PM ET)

    Lightweight Bout: Jalin Turner (156) vs Jamie Mullarkey (155.5)

    Women’s Strawweight Bout: Marina Rodriguez (116) vs Yan Xiaonan (116)

    Light Heavyweight Bout: Nicolae Negumereanu (205.5) vs Kennedy Nzechukwu (206)

    Women’s Flyweight Bout: Maryna Moroz (125.5) vs Mariya Agapova (126)

    EARLY PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+/ESPN FIGHT PASS)

    Featherweight Bout: Brian Kelleher (145) vs Umar Nurmagomedov (146)

    Flyweight Bout: Tim Elliott (126) vs Tagir Ulanbekov (125.5)

    Lightweight Bout: Devonte Smith (156) vs Ludovit Klein (156)

    Light Heavyweight Bout: Dustin Jacoby (205.5) vs Michal Oleksiejczuk (206)