Look At The UFC’s Best Moments From The World’s Most Famous Arena:
Best UFC Moments From Madison Square Garden
Look At The UFC’s Best Moments From The World’s Most Famous Arena:
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Kamaru Usman Sets His Sights On MSG & All-Time Michael Jordan Status
“It’s amazing to see places like Madison Square Garden on the schedule again.” – Roger Andrew Taylor
In a time where the world continues to be widely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s nothing that feels more normal than a big fight in The …
“It’s amazing to see places like Madison Square Garden on the schedule again.” – Roger Andrew Taylor
In a time where the world continues to be widely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s nothing that feels more normal than a big fight in The Mecca, Madison Square Garden. At UFC 268, Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington will join the ranks of great fighters who have stepped onto sports’ grandest stage when they do battle in a rematch of their 2019 classic.
When you go to war in an MSG epic, it just might take years off of your life, but it also adds decades to your legacy.
Kamaru Usman has already become one of the greats in MMA before our very eyes. We’ve seen the in-cage supremacy rise out of The Nigerian Nightmare since winning The Ultimate Fighter in 2015 all the way to him having welterweight gold wrapped around his waist in 2019. As champion, he’s been the opposite of complacent, remaining hellbent on improvement and sleeplessly advancing his already uncompromising skill set.
But if you really want to take your game to the next level, there’s no better place to do it than the grand stage of Madison Square Garden.
Madison Square Garden: Where Legends Are Born
“How do you top what I’ve done in this sport so far? You top it by going to MSG.” – Kamaru Usman
For decades, we’ve seen the best fighters in the world compete at MSG: Ali, Frazier, Marciano, Jones Jr., Holyfield, the list goes on and on. And in other sports, perhaps no visitor of The Mecca made MSG his second home more than Michael Jordan.
Jordan himself said that MSG was his favorite arena to play in, and it showed in countless great performances in the arena and being a curse for Spike Lee and his beloved New York Knicks year after year. Today, with Air Jordan form, Kamaru Usman is currently flying in a class by himself.
There are many comparisons to be made between Usman and Jordan. For starters, like Jordan, Usman is known to use the words of his opponents as motivational fuel.
“I remember watching The Last Dance with Michael Jordan and I was like ‘This guy thinks like I do’ because when I go into competition with these guys, that’s how I think,” Usman told reporters in the UFC 258 post-fight press conference after defeating Gilbert Burns. “My mind is different than these guys when we get in there. I see no face. That is my Octagon. He said I have something he wants and I’m coming to get it. What’s more personal than that?”
Additionally, both men are record-setters. For Jordan, it’s scoring records and NBA Finals MVPs. For Usman, it’s most consecutive welterweight wins and the highest winning percentage in the company’s history. But the one thing that perhaps Usman and Jordan have most in common is their clutch gene.
Time after time, Usman coolly makes his Octagon entrance and goes through the steps that transform him from Kamaru Usman to The Nigerian Nightmare. And without fail, his composure remains steady as a stone as he flows with the moment, unbothered by pressure, and effortlessly sinking every big shot the UFC has ever given him.
Saturday night, Kamaru Usman will have an opportunity to join all the greats who shook The Mecca to its foundation with their love of competition. What better place for Usman to put a stamp on his place as the pound-for-pound king than by beating his top rival in his first bout since reaching #1?
A case can be made that UFC 268 will be Kamaru Usman’s most high-pressure fight to date. He’s a sizable betting favorite against his toughest opponent and biggest rival. With another big-time performance, Usman can further prove that he is indeed the Michael Jordan of the UFC today. And at this rate, especially if the ol’ MSG magic gives him the rub, he may very well someday go down as the UFC’s Michael Jordan past and future: as the greatest of all time.
Continue Reading Kamaru Usman Sets His Sights On MSG & All-Time Michael Jordan Status at MMA News.
LIVE! Watch Bellator 270 Ceremonial Weigh Ins
Bellator MMA
The place is here, 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland, and the time is now. The weigh ins for Bellator 270: “Queally vs Pitbull 2” event tomorrow (Fri., Nov. 5, 2021) on Showtime go down today (Thurs. Nov. 4) ahead o…
The place is here, 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland, and the time is now. The weigh ins for Bellator 270: “Queally vs Pitbull 2” event tomorrow (Fri., Nov. 5, 2021) on Showtime go down today (Thurs. Nov. 4) ahead of the Lightweight title fight between Peter Queally and Patricky Freire.
The early weigh-ins will take place behind closed doors, and a ceremonial event will be streamed at 5 p.m. ET in the video player above. Meanwhile, official results from the early morning weigh-in session will be posted below as they roll in:
155 lbs.: Peter Queally (155) vs. Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (153.6)
135 lbs.: James Gallagher (136) vs. Patrick Mix (137.8)
265 lbs.: Charlie Milner (263.2) vs. Gokhan Saricam (236.4)
145 lbs.: Daniel Weichel (145.6) vs. Pedro Carvalho (145.8)
155 lbs.: Daniele Scatizzi (155) vs. Brian Hooi (156)
205 lbs.: Lee Chadwick (205.6) vs. Arunas Andriuskevicus (205.4)
145 lbs.: Ilias Bulaid (145.8) vs. Georges Sasu (144.6)
145 lbs.: Ciaran Clarke (145.6) vs. Jordan Barton (143)
170 lbs.: Nicolò Solli (170.8) vs. Bobby Pallett (170.6)
115 lbs.: Danni Neilan (115.6) vs. Audrey Kerouche (114.8)
145 lbs.: Junior Morgan (156) vs. Darragh Kelly (155.4)
170 lbs.: Stephen Costello (171) vs. Yusuf Nazokatov (170.8)
MMAmania.com will deliver coverage of Bellator 270 tomorrow evening on Showtime right here. To check out the latest Bellator MMA-related news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive news archive right here.
See you then!
UFC 268 Clash: Gaethje Vs. Chandler!
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) knockout artists Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler will throw down this weekend (Sat., Nov. 6, 2021) at UFC 268 inside Madison Square Garden in New Yo…
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) knockout artists Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler will throw down this weekend (Sat., Nov. 6, 2021) at UFC 268 inside Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.
It feels like a really long time ago that Khabib Nurmagomedov retired, doesn’t it? “The Eagle” called it quits at UFC 254 in Oct. 2020, which is also the last time Gaethje made the walk. It’s surely been a bitter layoff for “The Highlight,” who has been unwillingly sidelined while vocally calling for title fights and similarly high-profile match ups. Fortunately, he has a chance for a big return here. Chandler is coming off a title fight as well, and in each of his two UFC contests so far, “Iron” has come forward swinging like a bat out of hell. This is a stellar match up that was widely demanded by fans, and it just might determine the next title contender.
Let’s take a closer look at the keys to victory for each man:
Justin Gaethje
Record: 22-3
Key Wins: Tony Ferguson (UFC 249), Edson Barboza (UFC on ESPN 2), Donald Cerrone (UFC Fight Night 158), Michael Johnson (TUF 25 Finale), James Vick (UFC Fight Night 135), Luis Palomino (WSOF 19, 23)
Key Losses: Khabib Nurmagomedov (UFC 254), Dustin Poirier (UFC on FOX 29), Eddie Alvarez (UFC 218)
Keys to Victory: Gaethje is quite arguably the most exciting fighter of all time. He’s refined his brawling instincts a great deal over the last couple years, but he’s still a knockout artist intent on landing huge shots in volume first and foremost.
Defense remains a distance second.
If Gaethje and Chandler take turns punching one another in the face, it’s not clear who falls first. Gaethje is probably a touch more durable, while Chandler has a bit more pure knockout power — who knows which man lands first?
Fortunately, each man has a pretty clear-cut path to tip the scales in his favor. For Gaethje, low kicks could push this from a 50-50 exchange to dominant victory. Chandler stands wide to maximize his explosiveness, but his calf is vulnerable as a result, a proven problem from Brent Primus to Charles Oliveira.
Michael Chandler
Record: 22-5
Key Wins: Dan Hooker (UFC 257), Benson Henderson (Bellator 243, Bellator 165), Brent Primus (Bellator 212), Patricky Freire (Bellator 157), Eddie Alvarez (Bellator 58)
Key Losses: Charles Oliveira (UFC 262), Patricio Freire (Bellator 221), Brent Primus (Bellator NYC), Will Brooks (Bellator 120, Bellator 131)
Keys to Victory: Chandler has to be among the most fast-twitch athletes in the sport today. The former All-American wrestler is simply so fast and powerful, regardless of whether that energy is being translated into a blistering right hand or blast double.
If Gaethje wants to chop up the legs to turn the tide, Chandler’s equivalent game changer is the takedown. Gaethje may be an All-American himself, but that accomplishment is over a decade old, and Gaethje has spent very little time actually wrestling in fights compared to the former Bellator champ. Based on just how easily Nurmagomedov knifed through Gaethje’s defenses once on the mat, a quick rear naked choke win from Chandler wouldn’t be a shock.
Should the takedown fail, however, feints become the key. Chandler has to feint and false start, knowing that low kick is coming. If he can convince Gaethje to throw himself out of position trying to chop calves, it will create openings for Chandler to then press forward and attack more safely.
BONUS KEY TO VICTORY!
The following applies to both men: the left hook could be such a game changer.
Both of these athletes are right hand-heavy strikers, and they really commit to the strike with all their force. If either man were to then return to his stance with the left hook, he stands a fair shot at catching his foe backing out or just generally out of position. Chandler may have just been crushed by Oliveira’s left hook, but the opening is there for both.
Bottom Line
Is this a title eliminator? Maybe.
Gaethje likely has a better shot at turning victory into a second opportunity at UFC gold. He has mild beef vs. Charles Oliveira and a previous, legendary brawl vs. Dustin Poirier. Regardless of who holds the belt in 2022, a Gaethje match up would be electric, and a knockout here likely secures such an opportunity.
Chandler’s situation is a bit more situational, as it’s likely too soon to run back the Oliveira rematch, even if the first fight was fantastic. Poirier would be a fresh opponent, however, so if he capitalizes big on this opportunity and “The Diamond” takes the crown, there’s a chance Chandler (once again) leapfrogs his fellow Lightweight contenders.
At UFC 268, Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler will slug it out. Which man remains standing when the dust settles?
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 268 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard balance on ESPNEWS/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 268: “Usman vs. Covington 2” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
‘He was put down by the common cold’ – Covington blasts Chimaev ahead of UFC 268
Colby Covington arrives backstage at UFC 261. | Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Colby Covington isn’t buying into the Khamzat Chimaev hype just yet. 2020 was a breakout year for rising undefeated welterweight Khamzat Ch…
Colby Covington isn’t buying into the Khamzat Chimaev hype just yet.
2020 was a breakout year for rising undefeated welterweight Khamzat Chimaev. The 27-year-old Stockholm-based fighter put on an impressive three-fight streak in a three-month span while setting records in the process.
“Borz” was unfortunately stopped on his tracks later in the year when he was severely hit by COVID-19. But in his return at UFC 267 last weekend against Li Jingliang, Chimaev didn’t appear to miss a step. He got the job done via first-round submission in a performance that earned him a $50,000 bonus.
Yet, despite his success, those at the top of the 170-pound ladder aren’t buying into his hype just yet. Number two-ranked Colby Covington was asked about Chimaev during a media scrum on Wednesday, and he churned out some typical COVID-19 misinformation.
“C—shot Chimaev, he’s got to do a lot more work than get three fights in the UFC. You guys hype these guys up real quick, but let’s not forget that he was put down by the common cold. He was ready to retire off the common cold,” he told the media.
“That’s a 99.9 percent survival rate to beat the common cold, and C—shot Chimaev was ready to give it up and retire. He doesn’t want to fight me. He’s got way less chance than 99.9 percent chance against me.”
Covington will get another crack at UFC welterweight gold at UFC 268 on Saturday in a rematch against reigning champion Kamaru Usman. The event takes place at Madison Square Garden.
“Heel” Covington Can Turn Into A Conservative Superhero At UFC 268
DISCLAIMER: The following editorial contains some political material that may be considered sensitive to some readers.
The culmination of The Colby Covington 2.0 Project will take place at UFC 268 in Madison Square Garden.
There were two words …
DISCLAIMER: The following editorial contains some political material that may be considered sensitive to some readers.
The culmination of The Colby Covington 2.0 Project will take place at UFC 268 in Madison Square Garden.
There were two words that started it all: “filthy animals.” After defeating Demian Maia in 2017, Covington got on the microphone and labeled the jeering Brazilian audience “filthy animals” who live in a “dump.” In Covington’s own words, this was the turning point of his career. Because from that moment on, he became widely viewed as a “heel” who was playing a character.
Since that night, Covington has gone on to have many other controversial moments, making deeply personal remarks about family members of ex-teammates; sharing NSFW details about an alleged rendezvous with Polyana Viana, who called the remarks “revolting;” mocking the traumatic injury of UFC legend Matt Hughes; and numerous other chaotic moments. The entire time, there was a common understanding in the MMA community that Covington was pouring every ounce of blood into his role as a villain, and he was plastered with attention for his efforts.
Then, there was a second turning point for Covington: his allegiance to Donald Trump and the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.
To many people, this only adds more fuel to Covington’s heel persona. After all, Trump is widely regarded as the most polarizing president of this generation, if not ever. His name alone conjures up intense emotion on opposite ends of the spectrum, from blind hatred to unshakable fealty.
At first, some considered Trump to be a rebel, a leader of a fringe sect of the Republican Party. Today, Trump and the Republican Party have become practically synonymous, which means that a celebrity embracing Trump often means getting embraced in return by millions of his followers.
Is Colby Covington still a villain? The answer to that question might seem clear to some. However, ever since joining the MAGA movement, there could be over 74 million Americans alone who view otherwise. Because as polarizing figures like Donald Trump and many others have historically proven, one man’s “heel” is another man’s hero. And Covington himself is now a prime example of this, as he now has a fanbase that rivals if not exceeds his haters.
If you look at the feedback on a Covington interview on YouTube pre-MAGA vs. post-MAGA, you’ll get a glimpse of how his “approval rating” has skyrocketed between 2017 to today. And Covington continues to grow that fanbase by strengthening his ties to prominent conservatives like Donald Trump Jr. and Candace Owens.
After Covington lost to Kamaru Usman at UFC 245, there were some large liberal platforms and media figures that celebrated what they felt Usman’s win represented. For Usman, a Nigerian immigrant, to defeat a prominent “Trump supporter” was considered by them to be poetic justice.
On Saturday, Covington says he will carry Donald Trump’s “dragon energy” with him into battle where he’ll become a demon for The Nightmare. Left unchecked, the spirit of this moment would proceed to allow diehard conservatives to throw their guy’s win in the faces of those who celebrated the UFC 245 outcome. Score one for The Red Team.
There is currently no other conservative athlete who has the potential to garner that kind of sharp reaction right now. Sure, there are other open conservatives who have larger followings than Covington, but none as provocative and whose behavior falls in such lockstep with modern right-wing tendencies.
Huh? Colby Covington? Offensive?
“People shouldn’t be so concerned with the things I’m saying on social media or what I’m saying to other fighters,” Covington said in a BT Sport interview. “You’re watching us go into a fight to try to kill each other. So, you’re bloodthirsty savages on one token, and you wanna see a guy die inside the Octagon, but on the other thing, you’re hurt by some words I’m saying? Like, what is this, the Ultimate Feelings Championship? I thought this was the Ultimate Fighting Championship.”
Translation: “Fuck your feelings, snowflakes.”
What’s that you say? Colby Covington lost to Kamaru Usman at UFC 245?
“He beat me? Oh, you think that’s beating me? By cheating? Oh, OK, yeah, that’s how a real Democrat would think,” Covington said in an interview with Yahoo Sports. “They’ve got to cheat. They’ve got to rig the elections to win. They can’t beat us fair and square.”
Translation: Rigged. Fake News.
Like any group of people, conservatives are not a monolith. There are quiet voters, public endorsers, regular donators, and then are those who shout out their team’s battle cries with a megaphone, thus amplifying their appeal and attracting a vocal fan support that matches the volume. So if it’s attention that Covington strived for when he became Colby Covington 2.0, then he could win a title at UFC 268 that might mean more to him than the UFC welterweight championship: the title of “Posterboy Conservative Athlete.”
There are many outspoken liberal athletes in the mainstream, one of whom Covington made it a point to target, but very rarely will you find an outspoken far-right conservative who is still active in their athletic career. In two days, what if a pronounced, in-your-face conservative in his athletic prime were to get his “revenge” and defeat the UFC’s best pound-for-pound fighter in Madison Square Garden? That would be the moment where Colby Covington’s star power became all he hoped it would be. And like it or not, it would turn this “textbook villain” into a conservative superhero.
Continue Reading “Heel” Covington Can Turn Into A Conservative Superhero At UFC 268 at MMA News.