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Coach Debunks Rogan’s Theory Of Adesanya Breaking Hand At UFC 271

Israel Adesanya’s head coach Eugene Bareman has shut down Joe Rogan’s in-fight assessment that the UFC champion broke his hand at UFC 271. Adesanya earned a unanimous decision win over former champion Robert Whittaker in the UFC 271 main event. He utilized an efficient striking attack to out-pace Whittaker, especially in the later rounds. Eyebrows…

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Israel Adesanya’s head coach Eugene Bareman has shut down Joe Rogan’s in-fight assessment that the UFC champion broke his hand at UFC 271.

Adesanya earned a unanimous decision win over former champion Robert Whittaker in the UFC 271 main event. He utilized an efficient striking attack to out-pace Whittaker, especially in the later rounds.

Eyebrows were raised when Rogan texted play-by-play commentator Jon Anik in the middle of the broadcast that he thought Adesanya had broken his right hand. Adesanya appeared to curl his right hand and not be as active with it as the fight went on.

During a recent interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Bareman clarified Adesanya’s reasoning for the inactivity with his right hand.

“No, that’s more to do with something that happened in Rounds 2 through 4, trying to get that right-hand side going,” Bareman said. “But for whatever reason, Robert was making Israel a little anxious to throw not just the right hand but the right side in terms of the leg going a little bit. [Israel] said not just the right side in terms of the upper body moving, but there was a block there that [Israel] tried to mitigate [his] way through each round. But for whatever reason, [he] wasn’t able to successfully get that right hand going the way we wanted to. So it wasn’t about a broken hand or anything, it was [mental].”

Rogan was absent from the commentary team due to an unknown conflict. It was originally reported by some outlets that it was due to a scheduling issue, but UFC President Dana White has since shut that theory down.

Adesanya has now successfully defended his title four times since knocking out Whittaker at UFC 243. He also challenged for the light heavyweight title against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 but fell short in a decision.

Bareman has clarified Adesanya’s health status with his hand and it sounds like the middleweight champion is still anticipating a return for some time this summer.

Who do you want to see Israel Adesanya fight next in 2022?

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Conor McGregor Claims He Has The ‘Best’ Ground And Pound In MMA Right Now

Conor McGregorFormer duel-weight UFC champion, Conor McGregor fancies himself as the most formidable ground and pound artist in professional mixed martial arts right now, claiming the majority of his finishes come from that method. McGregor, who is still currently sidelined amid a fractured left tibia suffered last July, is widely expected to return to the Octagon […]

Conor McGregor

Former duel-weight UFC champion, Conor McGregor fancies himself as the most formidable ground and pound artist in professional mixed martial arts right now, claiming the majority of his finishes come from that method.

McGregor, who is still currently sidelined amid a fractured left tibia suffered last July, is widely expected to return to the Octagon this summer, however, is yet to return to mixed martial arts training. 

The Dubliner most recently headlined UFC 264 in July of last year against former interim lightweight titleholder, Dustin Poirier, dropping the pair’s trilogy rubber match courtesy of a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss after he fractured his left tibia at the end of the frame. 

The 33-year-old suffered his second straight loss for the first time in his professional mixed martial arts career, following a January 2021 knockout loss to Poirier in the pair’s rematch, also suffering his first professional blemish via strikes. 

Conor McGregor holds 19 knockout victories from 22 total career wins

McGregor, who is winless since January 2020, stopped one-time lightweight title challenger and future Hall of Fame inductee, Donald Cerrone with a flurry of ground strikes following a high-kick in just 40-seconds in a welterweight pairing. And now touts himself as the best ground striker currently competing in mixed martial arts today.

“I’ve the best ground and pound in the game,” Conor McGregor posted on Instagram. “My higher % (percentage) of finishes does not actually come from my standing horizontal back hand, like most assume. My highest % of finishing wins actually come from the accuracy of my vertical punching (you ae all novices vertical striking. Arm hitters, Ask ref to stop it hitters. Fall o er on yourself hitters). I don’t miss g’n’p (ground and pound). I do not hit arms. I do not fall in. I hit soft face, head and skull.”

“It’s how you’ve seen people vs. me absolutely cut up,” Conor McGregor continued. “Looking like they’ve just got a bang of a few golf balls off the tee of a driving range. Skin fully opened. Yet me, skin like butter. Many times I’ve not even messed up my hair. That’s why a lot of these rat bags like to hate. I’m smooth like butter with it. The richest, the baddest, the most unscathed. Anyways rat bags, it’s almost yacht season, or as I like to call it, caramel butter skin season.”

Khabib Thinks Ngannou Should Box Fury Just For Money, Not For Sport

Former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov thinks heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou should box Tyson Fury for the big payday. Ngannou has alluded to moving to boxing down the line, potentially when his current UFC deal comes to a close. He’s been at odds with the UFC brass regarding a new deal and has advocated for changing…

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Former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov thinks heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou should box Tyson Fury for the big payday.

Ngannou has alluded to moving to boxing down the line, potentially when his current UFC deal comes to a close. He’s been at odds with the UFC brass regarding a new deal and has advocated for changing the promotion’s pay structure.

During a recent interview with Sky Sports, Nurmagomedov gave his thoughts on the potential Fury vs. Ngannou crossover fight.

“If they fight in the UFC yeah, Fury doesn’t have too many chances,” Nurmagomedov said. “But in boxing, I don’t see anyone even touching his face—maybe Oleksandr Usyk. Usyk is going to be a tough challenge for Fury. But Ngannou? I think he has to stay with the UFC. But if he goes to boxing and he’s making 50 or 60 million dollars— he has to. Why not?

“I know Ngannou comes from a very, very poor life in Africa. He was with no money, no home, nothing. So if someone pays you more money then go and take.” (h/t The Sun)

Nurmagomedov was reportedly offered $100 million to box Floyd Mayweather at the end of his UFC run, but he turned it down. Nurmagomedov would retire in 2020 following a win over Justin Gaethje.

Ngannou most recently defended his UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. He suffered a significant knee injury leading up to the event and is expected to miss some time following surgery.

Fury most recently defeated Deontay Wilder in their trilogy last year and has been in negotiations to fight Dillian Whyte next. Nevertheless, both Ngannou and Fury have traded barbs on social media and are interested in a future clash.

Do you want to see Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou?

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Cejudo offered to coach Garbrandt: ‘I just want to guide him’ 

Henry Cejudo after UFC 249. | Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images

Cejudo still sees something Garbrandt despite his recent struggles in the Octagon.  With Henry Cejudo and Eric Albarracin at the helm, Fight Read…


Henry Cejudo after UFC 249.
Henry Cejudo after UFC 249. | Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images

Cejudo still sees something Garbrandt despite his recent struggles in the Octagon. 

With Henry Cejudo and Eric Albarracin at the helm, Fight Ready in Phoenix, Arizona has become a home to several fighters looking to improve their game. Recent examples are former UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili and current UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, who joined Cejudo ahead of their highly anticipated rematches against Rose Namajunas and Brandon Moreno.

As the former two-division champion continues to help fighters, there is one he believes could benefit the most from his coaching. During an interview with Helen Yee, Cejudo said he spoke with Cody Garbrandt and invited him to the gym for what sounds like a revamp.

“I talked to Cody Garbrandt, too, a little bit because I think he still has the talent,” said Cejudo. “There’s a lot of opportunity for him to continue to keep growing, and I think whatever he’s done in the past, I just want to guide him. I don’t necessarily want him here full time, but just give him a two cents of how is it that I think he should probably train. How is it that he should probably take the distance because Cody is so technical, he shouldn’t be in fist fights. He needs to just technically pick you apart.

“We talked to him on the phone,” continued Cejudo. “He’s good friends with Ali [Abdelaziz]. I’m looking out for him. I think his career, it blossomed in the beginning, and it’s just a lot of trial and error, and just fighting emotional has cost him.”

Garbrandt was the former UFC bantamweight champion, who has since gone 1-5 in his past six Octagon appearances. ’No Love’ has been brutally knocked out in four of the five losses, including his flyweight debut against Kai Kara-France at UFC 269 last December. Because of those finishes, he was implored to consider retirement from the sport, but the Team Alpha Male product has no interest in doing so yet.

Despite their previous verbal run-ins on social media, Cejudo had no ill-will toward Garbrandt and extended an olive branch because he still sees something in him. Though Garbrandt has not responded to Cejudo, ‘Triple C’ left the door open for him.

“It’s up to him. I’m just looking out for the dude. I think sometimes legends have to take care of legends.”

Live! UFC Vegas 48 Media Day!

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is holding a special pre-fight media day on Wednesday for the upcoming UFC Vegas 48: “Walker vs. Hill” mixed martial arts (MMA) event, scheduled for th…


UFC Fight Night Covington v Woodley: Press Conference
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is holding a special pre-fight media day on Wednesday for the upcoming UFC Vegas 48: “Walker vs. Hill” mixed martial arts (MMA) event, scheduled for this Sat. night (Feb. 19, 2022) inside APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Fighters scheduled to appear include:

1:15 p.m. Alan Baudot
1:45 p.m. Jamahal Hill
2:00 p.m. Abdul Razak Alhassan
2:30 p.m. Parker Porter
2:45 p.m. Jamie Pickett
3:00 p.m. Nikolas Motta
3:15 p.m. Johnny Walker
4:00 p.m. Kyle Daukaus
4:45 p.m. Joaquin Buckley
5:00 p.m. Jim Miller

Note: Times and availability subject to change

Assuming we don’t have any surprise COVID cancellations or weigh-in fails, Johnny Walker and Jamahal Hill will headline the light heavyweight main event. Prior to that five-round showdown, middleweight veterans Kyle Daukaus and Jamie Pickett collide in a short notice catchweight bout of 195 pounds.

For the rest of the UFC Vegas 48 fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.

Casey O’Neill Is Ready To Be “The Best Bad Guy You’ve Ever Seen”

UFC women’s flyweight Casey O’Neill doubled down on her “bad guy” affirmation following her victory over Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 271. At Saturday’s pay-per-view in Houston, Texas, O’Neill extended her unbeaten professional record to 9-0, added an established name to her résumé, and climbed three spots to #12 on the 125-pound ladder. She accomplished those…

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UFC women’s flyweight Casey O’Neill doubled down on her “bad guy” affirmation following her victory over Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 271.

At Saturday’s pay-per-view in Houston, Texas, O’Neill extended her unbeaten professional record to 9-0, added an established name to her résumé, and climbed three spots to #12 on the 125-pound ladder.

She accomplished those feats by securing a split-decision victory over the retiring Modafferi on the February 12 prelims, although you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone other than judge Robert Alexander who scored the fight in favor of “The Happy Warrior.”

While the pre-fight and immediate post-fight narrative centered around the final hurrah of one of the pioneers of women’s MMA, “King Casey” carved her own storyline during her Octagon interview with Daniel Cormier. When telling the crowd to not boo her failed to do the trick, the Scottish-Australian prospect embraced her villainy and flipped the bird to the sold-out Toyota Center.

During her appearance at the post-fight press conference, O’Neill re-affirmed her willingness to play the ‘heel’ role, claiming she’ll be the “best bad guy” fans have ever seen.

“I’m not an American and I’m in America. I have to expect some boos,” admitted O’Neill. “When you’re fighting a fan favorite, it’s to be expected as well. Everybody loves Roxanne. If they want me to be the bad guy, I’ll be the best bad guy you’ve ever seen.”

O’Neill To UFC 271 Crowd: You’re Drinking Beers While I’m Getting Sh*t Done

As O’Neill admitted, a frosty reception was to be expected at UFC 271. A young rising contender from outside the US sent a veteran American fighter into retirement with a defeat in Houston; you’d be worried about the crowd if there weren’t boos.

However, the 24-year-old believes she deserved a little more respect from those in attendance. That, coupled with her frustration at the lack of attention on her own game and progress prior to the event, perhaps led to O’Neill’s explosive post-fight remarks.

She further told the press following the contest that while it wasn’t a good feeling, those booing her were doing so with a beverage in their hands while she went to work and got “shit done.”

“That was kinda shit. But it is what it is, you know,” said O’Neill. “At the end of the day, they’re buying tickets and they’re watching me, so, you’re paying me whether you like me or you don’t.

“Whatever you wanna do, I don’t care… If they wanna boo me, you know, they’re sitting on their seats, watching me, drinking beers, and I’m out there getting shit done. That’s the difference.”

While she perhaps hadn’t reached fan-favorite status prior to UFC 271, O’Neill has certainly had a Macbeth-esque moment with her Octagon interview and subsequent comments. But if there’s one person ready to embrace the ‘heel’ role, it’s “King Casey” O’Neill.

What did you make of Casey O’Neill’s reaction to the crowd’s boos at UFC 271?

Continue Reading Casey O’Neill Is Ready To Be “The Best Bad Guy You’ve Ever Seen” at MMA News.