Adesanya Has No Interest In Pro Boxing Crossover

In today’s combat sports world, crossing over from one form of fisticuffs to another has seemingly become the norm.
But it all started way back in 2010 after former heavyweight boxing champion, James Toney, decided he wanted to test his ski…

In today’s combat sports world, crossing over from one form of fisticuffs to another has seemingly become the norm.

But it all started way back in 2010 after former heavyweight boxing champion, James Toney, decided he wanted to test his skills in a mixed martial arts (MMA) against former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight king, Randy Couture.

The fight lasted all of 209 seconds, as “All American” choked out Tony via arm triangle choke in the very first round at UFC 118.

More recently, Conor McGregor made the jump into the professional boxing world, as the former UFC champ-champ took on Floyd Mayweather in a big-money bout that saw Floyd defeat “Notorious” via technical knockout (TKO) in the tenth round back in 2017.

Since then, there have been several other pro MMA fighters such as Jorge Masvidal, Tyron Woodley, Francis Ngannou and current Heavyweight champion, Stipe Miocic, looking to make the jump over to the sweet science.

One man who won’t even consider making the the switch — even for a one-off— is current UFC Middleweight title holder, Israel Adesanya. According to “The Last Styelbender,” going to a sport that takes away 80-percent of his weapons simply isn’t smart.

“This [UFC] is where I’m going to end my career,” Adesanya said, speaking on ‘Ebro in the Morning,” via The Mac Life.

“It’s silly. Why would I come to the proving ground of all fighting — the UFC — and then afterward, fight a guy and take away like 80 percent of my weapons,” Adesanya said. “I just want to kick people. I want to strangle someone. I can’t do that in boxing. I don’t want to get into the clinch and then okay, break.”

Coming from a kickboxing background, Israel prefers MMA for the sheer fact that he can attack and finish his foe with various techniques, not just one.

“Same thing with kickboxing, same thing with jiu-jitsu, same thing with judo, same thing with wrestling, they’re all limited styles of fighting. If you want to be the baddest motherfucker in the world. Pound-for-pound –everyone throws that greatest fighter, pound-for-pound is Canelo [Alvarez]. He’s the pound-for-pound maybe greatest boxer right now. Not fighter. You have to test yourself against another style.”

To hear Adesanya tell it, not even the allure of a big payday will make him go over, as he says he can — and will — make just as much money fighting inside the Octagon than he would boxing.

“People say, ‘oh, after UFC, you can go to boxing and have one super fight maybe with Canelo and make a hundred million’. I’m like, I can do that in the UFC. I might be the first fighter to do that in the UFC,” he added.

As one of the rising stars for UFC, Adesanya could very well be the promotion’s driving force for the next few years, as his skills, personality and all-around charisma have drawn the attention, admiration and respect of many, Dana White included.

For now, Israel (18-0, 7-0 UFC) could be in line for a big-time title defense against one of the most feared and dangerous combatants in all of MMA, Yoel Romero, in early 2020.

Charles Oliveira: ‘I’m the right guy’ to fight Khabib

Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Charles Oliveira wants a crack at reigning UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Lighweight contender Charles Oliveira has an appointment with Jared Gordon on Saturday night at UFC Sao Paulo. Howe…

MMA: UFC Fight Night-Rochester-Weigh Ins

Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Charles Oliveira wants a crack at reigning UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Lighweight contender Charles Oliveira has an appointment with Jared Gordon on Saturday night at UFC Sao Paulo. However, that does not stop the submission specialist from thinking about his future in the UFC.

In an interview with Ag Fight, ‘Do Bronx’ made sure to establish he was not overlooking his upcoming fight with Gordon, but could not help but claim that current lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, has yet to take on a grappler with his skill set. And Oliveira thinks could pose a real threat to the Russian’s undefeated record.

“I can’t say anything about Khabib, he’s been defeating everybody, He beat all the top guys. But they’re all strikers, none of them were jiu-jitsu guys who were unafraid of being taken down. I’m the answer to his game, I’m the right guy to fight Khabib, I think that, if I win two more fights, who knows, I might have this opportunity to fight him. It would be great since I have my jiu-jitsu and I’m not afraid of being taken down.”

Currently on a five-fight winning streak, with four submissions and one TKO victory, Charles Oliveira (27-8-1 NC) defeated the likes of Clay Guida, Jim Miller, Christos Giagos, David Teymur, and Nik Lentz, His last loss happened in December 2017, when he was TKO’d by Paul Felder.

Now, the 30-year-old is expected to meet Jared Gordon at UFC Fight Night 164, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on November 16. The card is scheduled to be headlined by a light heavyweight bout between former middleweight Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza and contender Jan Blachowicz.

Jacare Souza: Speed Will Be Difference Maker Against Jan Blachowicz

Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Jacare Souza believes his speed could cause problems for Jan Blachowicz. Souza will move up to the light heavyweight division on Nov. 16. He’ll go one-on-one with Blachowicz in the main event of UFC Sao Pa…

Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Jacare Souza believes his speed could cause problems for Jan Blachowicz. Souza will move up to the light heavyweight division on Nov. 16. He’ll go one-on-one with Blachowicz in the main event of UFC Sao Paulo. The action will take place inside Ginasio do Ibirapuera. Jacare Talks Speed Advantage Over Blachowicz […]

The post Jacare Souza: Speed Will Be Difference Maker Against Jan Blachowicz appeared first on MMA News.

Report: Edgar drops to 135, meets Sandhagen at UFC Raleigh

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar will make his bantamweight debut on January 25. Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar is headed to the bantamweight division. According to ESPN’s repor…

MMA: UFC 222-Edgar vs Ortega

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar will make his bantamweight debut on January 25.

Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar is headed to the bantamweight division. According to ESPN’s report, “The Answer” will test the waters in the 135-pound division after coming up short on a title fight against featherweight champ Max Holloway, who he lost to via unanimous decision in July.

Furthermore, Edgar’s first opponent at bantamweight will reportedly be rising prospect Cory Sandhagen, at UFC Raleigh in North Carolina. on January 25. ESPN also reports that the fight will be the night’s co-main event.

Edgar’s loss to Hollowa came after a unanimous decision victory over Cub Swanson, in April 2018. The 38-year-old ends his featherweight stint with a 8-4 record.

Undefeated in the Octagon, Cory Sandhagen (12-1) will look for his sixth straight win when he meets Edgar. During this time, the 27-year-old defeated notable names in the division such as Iuri Alcantara, John Lineker and most recently, Raphael Assuncao. His sole loss happened in February 2017, the ‘Sandman’ dropped a unanimous decision to Jamall Emmers.

UFC Raleigh is scheduled to be headlined by a heavyweight bout between former champion Junior dos Santos and contender Curtis Blaydes.

Report: JDS vs. Blaydes set to headline UFC Raleigh

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

It looks like Junior dos Santos will return to the Octagon in late January. Junior dos Santos was forced out of a December bout due to a staph infection, but the UFC has apparently…

UFC Fight Night: Ngannou v Dos Santos

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

It looks like Junior dos Santos will return to the Octagon in late January.

Junior dos Santos was forced out of a December bout due to a staph infection, but the UFC has apparently re-booked him for six weeks after that. According to a report from ESPN, JDS is set to meet Curtis Blaydes in the main event of UFC Raleigh on January 25th.

The bout has been verbally agreed to but hasn’t been completely finalized, according to the report.

Dos Santos (21-6, 15-5 UFC) had a three-fight winning streak snapped by Francis Ngannou, who stopped the former champ in just 71 seconds in June.

Blaydes (12-2, 1 NC, 7-2, 1 NC UFC) has won two fights in a row, most recently defeating Shamil Abdurakhimov via TKO in September. His only two losses in the UFC have come at the hands of the aforementioned Ngannou.

Blaydes is currently ranked as the number three contender in the official UFC rankings. Dos Santos currently sits at four.

UFC Raleigh will go down in the PNC Arena on January 25th.

Barber Faces Modafferri at UFC 246 On Jan. 18

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

No Paige VanZant? No Problem!
After failed attempts to land a fight against “12 Gauge” Maycee Barber will now shift her attention to more willing foe, as “The Future” has been boo…

UFC Fight Night: Barber v Aldrich

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

No Paige VanZant? No Problem!

After failed attempts to land a fight against “12 Gauge” Maycee Barber will now shift her attention to more willing foe, as “The Future” has been booked to face Roxanne Modafferi at the upcoming UFC 246 pay-per-view (PPV) event, according to MMA Junkie.

Maycee (21) is fresh off another dominant win, taking out Gillian Robertson at UFC on ESPN 6 just lat month in Boston, Mass (highlights). The victory was Maycee’s third straight inside the Octagon, keeping her record mint at 8-0.

Roxanne, meanwhile, is coming off a loss to Jennifer Maia at UFC on ESPN 4 this past July. one of the most-seasoned veterans in all of women’s MMA, “The Happy Warrior” has alternated wins and losses throughout her UFC career, bringing her mark inside the Octagon to 3-2.

With 39 professional bouts to her name, Modaferri has the tools and experience to give Maycee a tough night, and a win for her would be huge for her lengthy career. on the flip side, a victory for “The Future” will be another mission accomplished on her toad to a future title fight.

While not yet confirmed, Conor McGregor has stated he will return to action on Jan. 18, 2020, though an opponent has yet-to-be named. Furthermore, a Welterweight collision between former division champion, Tyron Woodley, and Leon Edwards has been tossed around to co-headline this card.