MMA News

Tag: UFC 273

  • Aljamain Sterling Tells Yan To Accept Loss Like A Man, Petr Yan Fires Back

    UFC bantamweight titleholder Aljamain Sterling and former champ Petr Yan are back at it again on social media ahead of their rematch.

    Sterling and Yan will finally meet in their highly-anticipated bantamweight title rematch at UFC 273. This comes nearly a year to the day of their first matchup when Sterling earned the belt via disqualification after Yan landed an illegal knee late in the fight.

    In a recent tweet, Sterling roasted Yan for how he’s handled the loss in their first fight last year.

    “In order to grow you need to accept your losses like a man,” Sterling said. “The first step in the process of healing is accepting your short-comings. In other words, bro, you lost!”

    If recent history was any indicator, it didn’t take Yan long to respond to Sterling’s banter. He responded by attacking how Sterling handled his controversial win over him at UFC 259.

    https://twitter.com/PetrYanUFC/status/1504077148898066434?s=20&t=3G5rx8AwLV5ZYSZPM8sRmQ

    “At least I didnā€™t (lose) my dignity like you,” Yan replied. “I can envision yourself crying after our next fight again. I will beat the living shit out of you dog. Looking forward to your healing process.”

    While Yan fired back in a big way, it was Sterling that would get the final word for now, making a play on words on Yan’s first name.

    “The only tears Iā€™ll be shedding are for your funeral, after I body bag you April 9th for the world to see,” Sterling responded. “You ā€œBetrā€ show up!”

    The rematch between Sterling and Yan was supposed to take place on multiple occasions in 2021, but the fight was moved due to various circumstances. Sterling has been battling injuries over the last few months and appears fully recovered and ready for his rematch with Yan.

    After Sterling pulled out of their originally scheduled bout at UFC 267, Yan would fight and defeat Cory Sandhagen for the interim bantamweight title. Before his controversial loss to Sterling, Yan earned the then-vacant title over JosƩ Aldo at UFC 251.

    We are just weeks away from the Sterling/Yan rematch and fans can expect plenty of banter back-and-forth between these two top 135-pounders.

    What is your prediction for Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan 2?

  • Volkanovski On Dream McGregor Clash: “I’d Fight Him At Any Weight”

    UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is eying a matchup with Conor McGregor before he eventually calls it quits.

    Volkanovski is set to make his next featherweight title defense against Chan Sung Jung (otherwise known as ‘The Korean Zombie’) in the upcoming UFC 273 headliner. He’s coming off of a largely dominant win over Brian Ortega at UFC 266.

    Volkanovski was supposed to face Max Holloway next before Holloway pulled out with an injury. Jung is the next man up, but a fight with McGregor remains on the 145-pound champion’s mind.

    In an exclusive interview with MMA News’ James Lynch, Volkanovski spoke about what the effect would be of a McGregor fight for his legacy.

    “Obviously, Conor’s always gonna get his name out there,” Volkanovski said. “You’ve gotta remember, he was a featherweight, he was a champion of my division. So, I’ve taken out the featherweight champs, so to take out, the only one left, isn’t he? Yeah, it’s just Conor. There was me, Aldo, Max, and Conor. So it makes a lot of sense. Obviously, it would be a dream. And then I’ve taken out all the other champs in my division. So that would be incredible.

    Conor McGregor
    Conor McGregor (Photo: Sportsfile)

    “You talk about the payday and the circus around it would be great, but at the same time, when you talk about legacy that’s definitelyā€”and he’s undefeated at featherweight, too. So that’d mean something.”

    McGregor hasn’t competed at featherweight since he won the unified title over JosĆ© Aldo at UFC 194. He went on to fight at welterweight and lightweight, eventually earning the 155-pound title over Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205.

    Volkanovski fought at welterweight and lightweight to begin his professional career on the Australian regional scene, but a majority of his career has been at featherweight. Volkanovski went on to allude to the flexibility when it comes to the weight class that a McGregor fight would be competed at.

    “I don’t think he’s making featherweight anytime soon [LAUGHS]. Obviously, with that fight, you’d do it at any weight. I’d do that at welterweight if I had to, whatever. We’ll see. I’ll just worry about Zombie, cause Zombie’s in front of me, and we’ll see. You might get some drunk tweets from Conor again and maybe we can ride off that, see what happens from there… 100% I would (fight McGregor at welterweight). I’d fight him at any weight.”

    Volkanovski earned the featherweight title over Holloway at UFC 245, before winning a controversial split decision in an immediate rematch at UFC 251. He’s arguably one of the greatest featherweights in UFC history and continues to climb the ranks in the all-time great discussion.

    McGregor is targeting a return to the Octagon later this year after a nasty leg break at UFC 264. It’s unclear what weight McGregor will fight at for his return, but a fight with Volkanovski may not be out of the cards as soon as this year.

    You can view MMA News’ full interview with Alexander Volkanovski below!

    Do you think we’ll ever see Alexander Volkanovski vs. Conor McGregor?

  • Bryce Mitchell Willing To Be Backup For UFC 273 Main Event

    UFC featherweight contender Bryce Mitchell is ready and willing to step up on short notice if needed to fill for the UFC 273 headliner.

    UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski will make his next title defense against Chan Sung Jung (otherwise known as ‘The Korean Zombie’) at UFC 273 on April 9. Mitchell recently defeated Edson Barboza in an impressive performance on the UFC 272 main card.

    Mitchell has been on a roll in the featherweight division and continues to climb up the rankings. If the UFC needs a backup plan should Volkanovski or Jung pull out, Mitchell appears ready to be on-weight if needed.

    Mitchell offered his services in a recent tweet to the UFC.

    https://twitter.com/ThugnastyMMA/status/1502816249071513603?s=20&t=ef8AbdA1-Jk7e19O6-T_kQ

    “If Volkanovski or Zombie backs out – call me [UFC],” Mitchell said.

    If Mitchell doesn’t end up being needed as a backup to UFC 273, he appears to have a ready opponent in Sodiq Yusuff. Following an impressive win over Alex Caceres at UFC Vegas 50 last weekend, Yusuff called out Mitchell for a fight between two rising featherweights.

    Mitchell has won six straight fights since his time on The Ultimate Fighter Season 27. His win over Barboza came after a nearly two-year layoff due to various health issues.

    Before his hiatus, Mitchell earned dominant wins over the likes of Charles Rosa and Andre Fili. Mitchell’s victory over Barboza proved that he’s a potential force in the featherweight division going forward.

    Volkanovski most recently defended his title against Brian Ortega at UFC 266. He was originally supposed to face former champion, Max Holloway, in a trilogy this year before Holloway pulled out with an injury.

    Mitchell has been the subject of conversation after speaking out on various political and societal issues. He also made an appearance on Fox News for an interview with commentator Tucker Carlson.

    While Mitchell appears to be enjoying the limelight of speaking his mind on various issues, he’s looking forward to his next appearance in the Octagon. If anything happens with the UFC 273 headliner, Mitchell could have his next fight booked sooner rather than later.

    Who do you want to see Bryce Mitchell fight next?

  • Petr Yan Trolls Aljamain Sterling Without Mercy With Edited Fight Poster

    UFC interim bantamweight champion Petr Yan is ramping up the mental warfare ahead of his rematch with official titleholder Aljamain Sterling.

    Yan and Sterling will unify the UFC bantamweight title at UFC 273 in Jacksonville, FL, nearly a year after the two top bantamweights squared off at UFC 259. Sterling won the bout via disqualification following an illegal knee from Yan in the fourth round.

    Tensions have continued to build between Sterling and Yan ahead of their highly-anticipated rematch. They were supposed to fight back at UFC 267, but Sterling pulled out with a lingering injury on short notice. Yan would go on to beat Cory Sandhagen for the interim title.

    In a recent tweet, Yan had a bit of fun at Sterling’s expense and showed that there’s still no love lost between the two 135 pounders.

    Check out Yan’s edited fight poster below.

    After seeing Yan’s tweet just hours later, Sterling issued a response of his own.

    “Bro, you lost!” Sterling tweeted.

    Sterling has yet to defend his bantamweight title since earning the belt controversially in his first matchup with Yan. The two fighters have accused each other of delaying the rematch and have gone back and forth on numerous occasions on social media.

    Despite Sterling being the current bantamweight titleholder, it’s Yan who holds a spot in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. Sterling will look to rewrite the script at UFC 273.

    What is your prediction for Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan 2?

  • Korean Zombie: Max Holloway’s Recovery “Doesn’t Make Sense”

    UFC featherweight contender “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung has questioned Max Holloway’s fast recovery from injury, which has seen the former champion pursue backup status for UFC 273.

    In the pay-per-view’s main event, reigning 145-pound king Alexander Volkanovski will hope to successfully defend his gold for the third time. In his way of doing so will be a UFC veteran renowned for his exciting style and thrilling performances throughout over a decade in the promotion.

    Volkanovski was initially slated to share the Octagon with Holloway, who’d earned another shot at reclaiming the belt with 2021 victories over Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez, for a third time at next month’s UFC 272 event.

    When “Blessed” withdrew after aggravating a previous injury, the hunt for a replacement was on. Despite the pitches from Giga Chikadze, Henry Cejudo, Josh Emmett, and Rodriguez, it was “The Korean Zombie” who was granted the chance to dethrone “The Great” Volkanovski at the April 9 event.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZnhjU5tQNd/

    Despite withdrawing from his scheduled trilogy bout with Volkanovski, it was recently revealed that Holloway has returned to training and is even open to serving as a backup fighter for the UFC 273 headliner.

    Korean Zombie Joins The Sceptical Side

    While Volkanovski made his feelings about the fast recovery crystal clear in a post on Twitter, accusing his rival of faking an injury in order to avoid a potential third defeat to the Aussie, others, including former opponent Kattar, have suggested it’s wrong to question Holloway’s withdrawal.

    Now, with opinion largely split, the new next challenger for the featherweight strap has given his take on the latest revelations. During an interview with The Schmo, “The Korean Zombie” suggested Holloway’s ability to make the UFC 273 event “doesn’t make sense.”

    Nevertheless, Jung claimed that while he won’t be pulling out himself, he’s open to an interim title clash with “Blessed” should Volkanovski be forced out of the PPV for whatever reason.

    “It doesn’t make sense that he’s gonna be ready to go in a month,” Jung said via Coach Eddie Cha. “It’s pretty crazy. (I) won’t be getting injured. (I’ll) be making April 9th. So, if Volkanovski gets injured, (I’m) down to fight Holloway.”

    If Holloway is not required on April 9, it’s likely the UFC 273 main event victor will be standing opposite him in the cage later this year for what will either be Volkanovski’s third clash with “Blessed” and fourth title defense, or Zombie’s first defense and first meeting with Holloway.

    What do you make of Alexander Volkanovski and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung’s comments about Max Holloway’s fast recovery?

  • Volkanovski Accuses Holloway Of Faking Injury, Rejects Backup Fight

    UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has sent an emphatic response to rival Max Holloway’s request to be backup for the UFC 273 title fight.

    Volkanovski and Holloway were set to collide for a trilogy clash at UFC 272 on March 5. However, mere days after news of the matchup broke, “Blessed” was forced to withdraw after aggravating a previous injury. That led to a search for a new championship challenger and the announcement of a new date for the Australian’s next defense – UFC 273 on April 9.

    Late last week, ESPN revealed Holloway had been cleared to return to training and was open to serving as a backup fighter for the UFC 273 main event. It’s fair to say that development hasn’t thrilled the reigning titleholder.

    Taking to Twitter, Volkanovski lambasted Holloway, accusing him of faking his injury. He ended the rant by seemingly declining the Hawaiian’s backup request.

    “@BlessedMMA wants to be the backup fighter for the fight he was originally scheduled to fight. so in other wordsā€¦he was never injured. Just hoping he doesnā€™t have to fight me or fight me while Iā€™m preparing for someoneā€¦but hey ‘if you ainā€™t cheating you ainā€™t trying’ā€¦NO”

    Volkanovski and Holloway have already shared the Octagon twice. At UFC 245 in December 2019, “The Great” dethroned “Blessed” via unanimous decision, securing his place on the featherweight throne as an undefeated UFC fighter. Seven months later, the pair met for the second time at UFC 251 on Fight Island. In an even tighter contest, it was Volkanovski who fell on the right side of a split decision.

    Despite acknowledging that Holloway’s five-round victories over Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez in 2021 certainly cemented the 30-year-old as the #1 contender, Volkanovski previously suggested Holloway may be keen to avoid a trilogy fight in order to prevent his legacy from being damaged by a third defeat to the Aussie.

    Holloway’s injury and subsequent recovery have clearly fueled that hypothesis in the mind of the featherweight king.

    Volkanovski Has His Sights Set On The Zombie

    After the Holloway scrap fell through, the UFC and Volkanovski were certainly not short on potential replacement opponents. From Giga Chikadze and Yair Rodriguez to Josh Emmett and Henry Cejudo, a heap of names wanted a shot at the 33-year-old’s belt.

    The man chosen, however, is a fan-favorite divisional veteran who has thrilled UFC fans since his debut in 2011. At UFC 273, “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung will have his second chance at reaching the top of the featherweight food chain.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZnhjU5tQNd/

    While it stands to reason the victor will face the challenge of Holloway later in the year, Volkanovski is clearly skeptical of that happening if he has his hand raised on April 9.

    Who do you think will leave UFC 273 with featherweight gold, Alexander Volkanovski or “The Korean Zombie?”

  • Max Holloway Cleared To Resume Training, Asks To Be UFC 273 Backup

    Max Holloway is ready to get himself back inside the UFC Octagon.

    The former featherweight champion Max Holloway is on the mend. After suffering an injury that forced him out of a title shot at UFC 272, Holloway is now healed up and ready to get back to training, sources revealed the news to ESPN on Friday. According to the report, Holloway will be ready to fight in just a few weeks and would like to serve as the backup for the title fight scheduled between champion Alexander Volkanovski and Chang Sung Jung.

    Holloway was originally the first choice to face off against Volkanovski for the title. The two were briefly linked to a fight at UFC 272 before Holloway was injured. “The Korean Zombie” was the man to step up and into the slot. The bout was then moved to UFC 273 after a welterweight matchup between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal was booked as the UFC 272 main event.

    Holloway and Volkanovski have quite a history together. The two fought two back to back in 2019 and 2020. Holloway suffered losses both times they met. He is still the #1 contender and the likely choice to stand in next against whoever takes home the belt on April 9.

    Volkanovski is undefeated in his UFC career and has not lost since 2013. He is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the 145-pound division. If he can get past Jung, a third go-around with Holloway should be on the docket. However, Jung is a tough opponent who is currently 3-1 in his last four.

    UFC 273 is set to take place on April 9 in Jacksonville, Florida. The featherweight title will serve as the main event with a bantamweight title fight between Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan as the co-main event.

    Do you think Max Holloway will regain the featherweight title in 2022?

  • O’Malley Expects “Smart” Sterling To Have A Better Plan In Yan Rematch

    Rising UFC bantamweight star Sean O’Malley has given his take on the upcoming unification showdown between champion Aljamain Sterling and interim titleholder Petr Yan.

    Since their controversial clash at UFC 259 last March, which saw Sterling crowned champion via disqualification, a rematch between “Funk Master” and Yan has been inevitable.

    While it may have been initially delayed after Sterling underwent neck surgery and later pulled off the UFC 267 card last October, we finally appear set to see the two rivals settle their score inside the Octagon.

    After Alexander Volkanovski’s next defense was moved from UFC 272 to UFC 273, the upcoming bantamweight title fight went with it. Yan and Sterling will now throw down for all the marbles on April 9.

    O’Malley Believes Sterling Has The Skills To Beat Yan

    Given the fact Yan appeared to be on his way to a comfortable victory in their first clash and has since had interim gold wrapped around his waist following an impeccable performance against Cory Sandhagen in Abu Dhabi, it’s unsurprising that “No Mercy” is being considered the favorite ahead of the rematch.

    But while the Russian is in hot form and is yet to be beaten in the UFC outside of his DQ setback, one ranked 135lber is warning against counting Sterling out.

    During an appearance on Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast earlier this month, O’Malley insisted Sterling is too “smart” to make the same mistakes and follow the same game plan he brought into UFC 259 last year. While “Sugar” doesn’t necessarily believe “Funk Master” will beat Yan, he does believe the champ has the tools to do it.

    “I do-ish (see the rematch going down the same way). But I also think Aljamain is smart. He’s not a stupid guy. He’s very, very high level, his rĆ©sumĆ© speaks for itself,” O’Malley said. “I think he went in with the wrong game plan (at UFC 259). He went in and gassed out in a couple rounds. If you watch Petr’s fights, you know he’s gonna cruise for a little bit, try to figure you out, and then start putting on the pressure in the later rounds. He does that every fight.

    “Aljamain Sterling’s gotta see that, gotta recognize that, and come in with a different game plan,” added O’Malley. “I think Aljamain has skills, and he has the skills; he could beat Petr. I don’t necessarily see it happening, but I’m not counting him out. He’s a top, top bantamweight for a reason, and I think it’s gonna be a very interesting fight.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYLfci5rx4x/

    While his status as champion has been disputed and looked down upon by some, Sterling’s ability can’t be denied, as was proven during his run before facing Yan. His five straight victories prior to UFC 259 included triumphs against Sandhagen, Pedro Munhoz, Jimmie Rivera, and Cody Stamann.

    While Yan will be looking to regain the undisputed belt he doesn’t believe he rightfully lost, Sterling will be hoping to prove many in the MMA community wrong at UFC 273 and legitimize his place on the bantamweight mountaintop.

    Who do you think will leave UFC 273 as the undisputed bantamweight king, Aljamain Sterling or Petr Yan?

  • Ian Garry Set To Return At UFC 273 Against Darian Weeks

    Former Cage Warriors champion Ian Garry will return for his second act in the UFC against Darian Weeks at UFC 273 on April 9.

    MMA journalist Marcel Dorff and Iridium Sports Agency were among the first to report the news of the booking.

    Garry passed his first UFC test with flying colors, getting the early knockout with one second left in the first round against Jordan Williams at UFC 268. He was arguably one of if not the biggest signing by the promotion in 2021.

    Garry will face a tough test against another welterweight prospect in Weeks. He most recently fell via unanimous decision to Bryan Barberena for the first loss of his professional career after successful stints in LFA and Midwest Fight League.

    Garry has been compared to another Irishman and former CW champion, Conor McGregor. After his debut win over Williams, he infamously alluded to a McGregor quote with his “We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over” declaration.

    Garry most recently earned the praise of former UFC title challenger Michael Chandler. The two of them train together down at the world-renowned Sanford MMA gym in Florida.

    Before signing with the UFC, Garry earned the CW welterweight championship over Jack Grant at CW 125. He would go on to garner the attention of the UFC brass just weeks later and made his promotional debut at the end of the year.

    At 24 years old, Garry is expected to be a welterweight to watch for years to come. If he can earn another impressive win over Weeks, he could move one step closer to a spot in the UFC rankings.

    Do you think Ian Garry is a future UFC champion?