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Video: Ngannou completely blanks Gane backstage at UFC 268

Francis Ngannou attends the UFC 261 ceremonial weigh-ins at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida to support Kamaru Usman ahead of his welterweight title bout against Jorge Masvidal. | Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa…


Francis Ngannou and Kamaru Usman wait backstage at the UFC 261 weigh-ins.
Francis Ngannou attends the UFC 261 ceremonial weigh-ins at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida to support Kamaru Usman ahead of his welterweight title bout against Jorge Masvidal. | Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC

Well, that was awkward.

UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou got into an awkward encounter with ex-teammate Ciryl Gane backstage at UFC 268 on Saturday.

Ngannou, who was in attendance to support Kamaru Usman prior to his welterweight title fight against Colby Covington, completely ignored Gane as he walked straight past him backstage at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The awkward encounter has been making the rounds on social media, check it out below.

It looked as though Gane, who used to train with Ngannou at MMA Factory in Paris, France, wanted to talk with Ngannou, but ‘The Predator’ clearly wasn’t interested.

Ngannou has gone on record to state that he felt disrespected by the UFC in booking an interim heavyweight title bout between Gane and Derrick Lewis at UFC 265.

Gane won the bout via third-round TKO and will take on Ngannou in a heavyweight title unification bout at the upcoming UFC 270 pay-per-view on Jan. 22, 2022, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Khamzat Chimaev Congratulates, Warns Kamaru Usman After UFC 268

UFC welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev congratulated his potential future opponent, Kamaru Usman on his UFC 268 victory.

Usman put on another gritty performance against Colby Covington at UFC 268, earning a unanimous decision victory in another…

Khamzat Chimaev

UFC welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev congratulated his potential future opponent, Kamaru Usman on his UFC 268 victory.

Usman put on another gritty performance against Colby Covington at UFC 268, earning a unanimous decision victory in another five-round classic. Many around the UFC community, including Chimaev, were in awe of Usman’s latest showcase.

Chimaev is fresh off his dominant first-round finish over Li Jingliang at UFC 267 and is inching closer to a shot against Usman. He entered the rankings this week as the 10th-best UFC welterweight.

While Chimaev took the time to congratulate Usman, he also used the opportunity to warn Usman of his rise towards title contention.

Khamzat Chimaev Is A Rising UFC Star At Welterweight

“Congraulations good job bro, [Kamaru Usman],” Chimaev tweeted. “I’m coming for you brother, I’m coming.”

Chimaev has taken the UFC by storm since signing with the promotion in 2020. After a successful career overseas competing in Brave CF, Chimaev has earned four straight stoppages in the UFC at welterweight and middleweight.

Chimaev rose to prominence by earning three finishes within two months last year, earning wins over Gerald Meerschaert, John Phillips, and Rhys McKee.

UFC President Dana White has made it clear that Chimaev still has a long way to go before earning a title shot, after just recently moving into the top 10 in rankings. Usman will await his next title challenger after seemingly closing the chapter on his rivalry with Covington.

Khamzat Chimaev, Kamaru Usman
Khamzat Chimaev, Kamaru Usman (Image Credits: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC & Alex Menendez/Getty Images)

A matchup between Usman and Chimaev would feature two of the best grapplers in the UFC. Usman, a former NCAA world champion wrestler, would easily be Chimaev’s toughest test of his young UFC career. Usman’s striking has also vastly improved over time, including with his knockout of Jorge Masvidal earlier this year.

Chimaev still likely needs to pick up a few more wins before entering the title conversation, but he has his eyes set on UFC gold and a future battle with Usman.

How close do you believe Khamzat Chimaev is to a UFC welterweight title shot?

Continue Reading Khamzat Chimaev Congratulates, Warns Kamaru Usman After UFC 268 at MMA News.

Conor McGregor Begins Preparation For Wheelchair Boxing Match

Conor McGregorConor McGregor has begun preparations for his next fight. McGregor hasn’t competed since snapping his tibia against Dustin Poirier in the UFC 264 headliner back in July with a return to the Octagon only expected sometime next year. However, McGregor has a fight set up next month as he takes on impressionist Al Foran in […]

Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor has begun preparations for his next fight.

McGregor hasn’t competed since snapping his tibia against Dustin Poirier in the UFC 264 headliner back in July with a return to the Octagon only expected sometime next year.

However, McGregor has a fight set up next month as he takes on impressionist Al Foran in a wheelchair boxing match.

“Today we start preparation for my wheelchair boxing match in aid of @IrishWheelchair,” McGregor tweeted Sunday. “Real excited to get in and have some fun / bust the eyeball of celebrity impersonator, Al Foran.

“Al you can be Pacino! Joe Pesci! Even big TyFury! But you still just fat Al from Tallaght to me.”

McGregor Postponed Original Wheelchair Boxing Match

Of course, McGregor was originally set to battle Foran on September 11.

However, the former two-weight champion had to pull out from the contest on the advice of his doctor as he needed more time for his leg to recover.

Though there is no exact date as of yet, it won’t be long until we see McGregor in action again. And it will certainly be interesting to see how he fares in a whole new realm of combat sports.

Will you be watching Conor McGregor take on Al Foran in their wheelchair boxing match?

Michael Chandler Sends Message To Fans From Ambulance Following UFC 268

Michael ChandlerAlthough he didn’t get a post-fight interview, Michael Chandler sent a message to the fans from an ambulance following UFC 268. Chandler suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Justin Gaethje after their back-and-forth three-round war at UFC 268 last night in New York’s Madison Square Garden. It was a violent and chaotic affair as advertised […]

Michael Chandler

Although he didn’t get a post-fight interview, Michael Chandler sent a message to the fans from an ambulance following UFC 268.

Chandler suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Justin Gaethje after their back-and-forth three-round war at UFC 268 last night in New York’s Madison Square Garden.

It was a violent and chaotic affair as advertised with Chandler having some big moments during the contest. However, Gaethje landed the bigger shots including an uppercut which dropped Chandler emphatically.

In the end, it was clear that Gaethje had won the affair.

Chandler Stock Goes Up

Despite his second defeat in a row, Chandler’s stock increased exponentially as he certainly gained a whole new legion of fans for his performance.

He made sure to thank everyone who tuned in on an Instagram Live session after the fight while he was in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.

He used a Yoda filter to hide the damage on his face.

“Trying not to release what my face looks like so I look super human to you guys. I’m an alien in an ambulance. … Hope you guys enjoyed that. I appreciate you guys. I don’t know what you guys are doing on Instagram right now, the fights are live. I love you guys, I’ll see you at the top.”

You can watch it below:

The former Bellator lightweight champion also got to take a picture with Chandler while at the hospital.

Are you a fan of Michael Chandler following that performance?

Zhang Weili After UFC 268 Defeat: “I Will Get My Belt Back”

Former UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili isn’t giving up on her pursuit of a second stint with UFC gold after her UFC 268 defeat.

Weili and UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas went back-and-forth for five rounds at UFC 268, but in the end, i…

Zhang Weili

Former UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili isn’t giving up on her pursuit of a second stint with UFC gold after her UFC 268 defeat.

Weili and UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas went back-and-forth for five rounds at UFC 268, but in the end, it was Namajunas who earned the victory on the scorecards. Weili had significant moments throughout the fight, but many believed Namajunas was the more active fighter in the exchanges.

It was a completely different fight from their first matchup at UFC 261, which ended in a Namajunas head kick knockout. Weili showed vast improvements with her grappling and hit Namajunas with heavy shots.

Despite the disappointing second loss to Namajunas, Weili says she’s keeping her head up moving forward.

Zhang Weili Isn’t Ruling Out A Third Fight With Rose Namajunas

Rose Namajunas def. Zhang Weili at UFC 268: Best photos | MMA Junkie
Image Credit: Ed Mulholland, USA TODAY Sports

“I think today’s fight (was) a close fight. I think we both performed the best of ourselves,” Weili said during the post-fight press conference. “I’m very much looking forward to a rematch with Rose. And also, I believe that I will get my belt back if I have the opportunity.”

Many believe that a Namajunas/Weili third bout isn’t completely out of the question moving forward. Namajunas will more than likely face top contender Carla Esparza for her next title defense but could meet Weili again down the line.

After getting word of Weili’s post-fight comments, Namajunas praised her determination and desire for a third bout.

“She’s committed to martial arts and being the best, so I’m sure she’s gonna do whatever it takes to try to contend for that title again,” Namajunas said during her post-fight presser. “So I wouldn’t be surprised, but we’ll see.”

Namajunas and Weili are arguably two of the best strawweight champions in UFC history. Both have accumulated massive star power worldwide and a third fight is sure to entice the interest of fans once again.

Do you think Zhang Weili will be a UFC champion again at some point?

Continue Reading Zhang Weili After UFC 268 Defeat: “I Will Get My Belt Back” at MMA News.

Report: Barber out of fight against Blanchfield at UFC 269

Maycee Barber before her fight against Miranda Maverick in July. | Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

With Barber out, the UFC is seeking out a replacement for Blanchfield.  A fight between two promising prospects in the…


Maycee Barber before her fight against Miranda Maverick in July.
Maycee Barber before her fight against Miranda Maverick in July. | Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

With Barber out, the UFC is seeking out a replacement for Blanchfield. 

A fight between two promising prospects in the flyweight division is off.

Maycee Barber has withdrawn from her upcoming fight against Erin Blanchfield at UFC 269, per a report from Nolan King of MMA Junkie. The reason for her withdrawal has not been disclosed yet. Blanchfield will remain on the card and has reportedly received a short-notice replacement that is soon-to-be finalized.

Barber was set to make her third Octagon appearance this year. The No. 13 ranked flyweight took a year off to recover from a knee injury sustained in her fight against Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 246, where she suffered the first loss of her professional career. Barber returned this past February and dropped a unanimous decision to Alexa Grasso at 258. The ‘Future’ eventually snapped a career-worst two-fight losing streak with a contested split decision over Miranda Maverick at UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw in July.

Blanchfield made her promotional debut at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann, where she earned a unanimous decision over Sarah Alpar. With the win over Alpar, the former Invicta FC standout extended her win streak to four.

UFC 269 takes place on Saturday, Dec. 11 live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The final pay-per-view of the year features two exciting championship fights. A much anticipated lightweight clash between Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier serves as the headliner of the event. The co-headliner sees dual champion Amanda Nunes return to defend her bantamweight title against No. 4 ranked contender Julianna Peña.