Author: Anton Tabuena

Check out the final match ups for the second day of ADCC 2022.

After a wild opening day, the incredibly stacked field of 96 grapplers have been whittled down to 28, with the semi-final rounds for each of the divisions being made official. Men’s divisions had two rounds each to make it to the final four, while the women’s field of eight per division had one match before Day 2’s medal rounds.

Full ADCC 2022 results and videos can be seen on this post, which will constantly be updated throughout the two day event.

The semi-final matches for Day 2 can be seen below:

Men’s 66 kg:

Popular grapplers like Garry Tonon, Ashley Williams, Cole Abate, Geo Martinez and AJ Agazarm were all eliminated in the opening round, showing just how stacked this field is. Filipino-American Josh Cisneros will meet Diogo Reis, while the other side of the bracket will feature long term rivals in Diego Pato and Gabriel Sousa.

Diogo Reis vs. Josh Cisneros

Diego “Pato” Oliveira vs. Gabriel Sousa

Men’s 77 kg:

Kade Ruotolo had two impressive submission finishes over Lachlan Giles and Roberto Jimenez to reach the semi-finals. Ruotolo will rematch PJ Barch, who had an impressive upset over defending ADCC champ JT Torres. On the opposite side of the bracket is fellow teenage phenom Mica Galvao, who will take on a veteran in Dante Leon.

PJ Barch vs Kade Ruotolo

Mica Galvao vs Dante Leon

Men’s 88 kg:

Teammates eliminated each other, as Tye Ruotolo, Josh Hinger and Lucas Barbosa faced off, with Barbosa ending as the sole semi-finalist from Atos. “Hulk” will face a former ADCC silver medalist in Rocha. On the other side of the bracket, Giancarlo Bodoni submitted defending ADCC champ Matheus Diniz to book his semis slot. He faces Eoghan O’Flanagan, who upset Mason Fowler by heel hook.

Giancarlo Bodoni vs. Eoghan O’Flanagan

Lucas Barbosa vs. Vagner Rocha

Men’s 99 kg:

Big names came out on top in this division, booking intriguing matches. Nicholas Meregali’s first trip to ADCC will end up with a big time semi-final match against Craig Jones, while Rafael Lovato will take on the reigning ADCC champion in Kaynan Duarte.

Rafael Lovato Jr. vs. Kaynan Duarte

Craig Jones vs. Nicholas Meregali

Men’s +99 kg:

Gordon Ryan has a super-fight with Andre Galvao in Day 2, but he is also looking to book another medal in this tournament after two dominant wins. He’ll face Roosevelt Souza, while the other side of the bracket will have two stars in Felipe Pena and Nick Rodriguez clashing.

Gordon Ryan vs Roosevelt Sousa

Felipe Pena vs Nick Rodriguez

Women’s -60 kg:

The top four seeds advanced, leading to an ADCC trilogy between Beatriz Mesquita and Ffion Davies. Defending ADCC champ Bianca Basilio will take on Brianna Ste-Marie.

Bianca Basilio vs. Brianna Ste-Marie

Ffion Davies vs. Beatriz Mesquita

Women’s +60 kg:

In the other women’s division, the favorites also came out on top and advanced. Defending ADCC champ will take on Amy Campo, while the other side of the bracket will have Rafaela Guedes facing a familiar foe in Kendall Reusing.

Gabi Garcia vs Amy Campo

Rafaela Guedes vs Kendall Reusing

Apart from these medal rounds, Day 2 of ADCC 2022 world championships will also be followed by the absolute divisions, along with the highly anticipated super-fight grudge match between Gordon Ryan and Andre Galvao. There will also be an ADCC Hall of Fame ceremony.

Semi-final matches will start at 2 p.m. ET, and you can join us for full live results, video, and discussion here.

Watch highlights from the trilogy between Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin.

Gennadiy Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez faced off for the third time on Saturday, this time a division higher at super middleweight, and for the unified titles.

GGG moved up and came in on a four fight win streak since his loss in their second bout in 2018. Canelo’s last fight was a loss to Dmitry Bivol at light heavyweight, but still came in technically as the undisputed super-middleweight champion.

After a draw in the first outing and a Canelo win in the second, the third match was far more decisive.

Golovkin seemed a bit gun shy through stretches, with the 40-year-old looking more like his age. Canelo was faster and more crisp, landing far more good shots and picking him apart for the most part.

No knockdowns were scored, and it wasn’t very competitive for stretches. In the end, it reached the judges scorecards again, with Canelo winning decision that was somehow still very close.

Official Result: Canelo Alvarez def. Gennadiy Golovkin by unanimous decision (116-112, 115-113 x2)

Check below for highlights of the fight, or here for our play-by-play of the event.

Two of the top pound-for-pound boxers have agreed to fight.

Looks like one of the best match ups boxing can put together is finally going to happen.

Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr., who are both undefeated and unanimous ranked in everyone’s pound-for-pound lists, have verbally agreed to fight in November 19 in Las Vegas.

According to a report from ESPN, “all material terms” for the undisputed welterweight championship bout have been agreed upon, with “legal language” just being finalized by each of their lawyers before officially being signed.

The revenue split, which likely was the main hold up before, has reportedly been settled, with Crawford accepting a lower share to make the fight happen. There’s also a rematch clause that the loser of the fight can trigger, with the winner of the first fight then being guaranteed bigger cut of the revenue for a potential second fight.

Spence is the current WBC, WBA and IBF champion, while Crawford holds the WBO title.

Crawford won his WBO belt in 2018 by stopping Jeff Horn, and has since defended it five times. Spence, on the other hand, won the IBF title in 2017, before taking Shawn Porter’s WBC belt in 2019 and Yordenis Ugas’ WBA title in 2022.

Both champions are still in the top of their game and have yet to taste defeat, with the 32-year-old Spence at 28-0, and 34-year-old Crawford at 38-0.

Crawford parted ways with (and also sued) Bob Arum and Top Rank last year, clearing the way for the match up to be booked as a PBC pay-per-view event.

Check out results and schedule for Day 1 and 2 of ADCC 2022 World Championships.

The 2022 ADCC World Championships happens in Las Vegas this weekend, with almost a hundred elite athletes competing for a chance to win submission grappling’s most prestigious title.

Each of the competitors are either returning champions, ADCC trials winners, or BJJ stars that were specifically invited in, making for an incredibly stacked field from young champions to legends. There will be five divisions with 16 competitors each for men, two divisions with eight competitors each for women, along with the absolute or open-weight tournaments following after.

Apart from all these jiujitsu champions competing in these two-day tournaments, there will also be a super-fight and grudge match between two of the best ever in the sport. Andre Galvao, a BJJ legend who’s a 10-time IBJJF world champ and six-time ADCC champ will take on Gordon Ryan, a three-time ADCC champ and the most dominant no-gi grappler in this era.

Join us for live results and for both days of this major event.

The entire event can be streamed at FloGrappling, and the schedule is as follows:

Friday, September 16 – 10:00 p.m. ET – Bracket Reveal and Press Conference

Saturday, September 17 – 1:00 p.m. ET – Opening rounds and Quarterfinals

Sunday, September 18 – 2:00 p.m. ET – Semis and Finals, Absolute bracket draws, ADCC Hall of Fame Ceremony, Absolute divisions, Andre Galvao vs Gordon Ryan Super Fight

---

Full results and list of competitors for ADCC 2022 can be seen below:

Men’s 66kg Results:

Competitors: Ashley Williams (Draigh), Sam McNally (East Coast Jiu-JItsu), Cole Abate (Art Of Jiu-Jitsu), Keith Krikorian (10th Planet), Diogo Reis (Fight Sports), Fabricio Andrey (Fight Sports), Jeremy Skinner, Kennedy Maciel (Alliance), Gabriel Sousa (Zr Team), Ethan Crelinsten (B-Team), Geo Martinez (10th Planet), Diego “Pato” Oliveira (Dream Art), Ruan Alvarenga (Alliance), AJ Agazarm, Josh Cisneros (Ares BJJ), Garry Tonon (New Wave Jiu-Jitsu)

Brackets:

Day 1:

Round 1:

Shane McNally Def. Garry Tonon (Points)

Diogo Reis Def. Ashley Williams (Points)

Gabriel Sousa Def. Ruan Alvarenga (Points)

Fabricio Andrey Def. Cole Abate (Decision)

Jeremy Skinner Def. AJ Agazarm (Decision)

Josh Cisneros Def. Ethan Crelinsten (Triangle/Armbar)

Diego “Pato” Oliveira Def. Keith Kirkorian (Heel Hook)

Kennedy Marciel Def. Geo Martinez (Rear Naked Choke)

Round 2:

Diogo Reis Def. Fabricio Andrey (Decision)

Diego “Pato” Oliveira Def. Kennedy Marciel (Leg Lock)

Josh Cisneros Def. Shane McNally (Decision)

Gabriel Sousa Def. Jeremy Skinner (Triangle)

Day 2:

Semifinals:

Diogo Reis Def. Josh Cisneros (Points)

Gabriel Sousa Def. Diego “Pato” Oliveira (Decision)

3rd Place:

Diego “Pato” Oliveira Def. Josh Cisneros (Points)

Finals:

Diogo Reis Def. Gabriel Sousa (Points)

Podium:

Gold: Diogo Reis

Silver: Gabriel Sousa

Bronze: Dante Leon

---

Men’s 77kg Results:

Competitors: JT Torres (Essential BJJ), Tommy Langaker, Oliver Taza (New Wave Jiu-Jitsu), Kade Ruotolo (Atos), William Tackett (Checkmat), Micael Galvao (Fight Sports), Roberto Jimenez, Kenta Iwamoto, Lachlan Giles (Absolute MMA), Mateusz Szczecinski, Magid Hage (Surfight), Nicky Ryan (B-Team), Dante Leon (Pedigo Submission Fighting), Renato Canuto (Checkmat), PJ Barch (10th Planet), Andy Varela (10th Planet)

Brackets:

Day 1:

Round 1

JT Torres Def. Kenta Iwamoto (Decision)

Mica Galvao Def. Oliver Tazza (Points)

PJ Barch Def. Tommy Kangaker (Points)

Mateusz Szczecinski Def. William Tackett (Straight Ankle Lock)

Kade Ruotolo Def. Lachlan Giles (Armbar)

Dante Leon Def. Magid Hage (Wrist Lock)

Renato Canuto Def. Nicky Ryan (Points)

Roberto Jimenez Def. Andy Valera (Rear Naked Choke)

Round 2:

PJ Barch Def. JT Torres (Points)

Kade Ruotolo Def. Roberto Jimenez (Foot lock)

Mica Galvao Def. Renato Canuto (Armbar)

Dante Leon Def. Mateusz Szczecinski (Decision)

Day 2:

Semifinals:

Kade Ruotolo Def. PJ Barch (Armbar)

Mica Galvao Def. Dante Leon (Points)

3rd Place:

Dante Leon Def. PJ Barch (Decision)

Finals:

Kade Ruotolo Def. Mica Galvao (Heel hook)

Podium:

Gold: Kade Ruotolo

Silver: Mica Galvao

Bronze: Dante Leon

---

Men’s 88kg Results:

Competitors: Matheus Diniz (Alliance), Santeri Ilius, Eoghan O’Flanagan, Giancarlo Bodoni (New Wave Jiu-Jitsu), Mason Fowler (Brasa CTA), Jay Rodriguez (B-Team), Isaque Bahiense (Dream Art), Alexandre De Jesus “Robinho”, Roberto Dib Frias, Izaak Michell (B-Team), Xande Ribeiro (Six Blades), Josh Hinger (Atos), Tye Ruotolo (Atos), Vagner Rocha (Fight Sports), Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa (Atos), Pedro Marinho (Gracie Barra)

Brackets:

Day 1:

Round 1:

Mattheus Diniz Def. Roberto Dib Frias (Points)

Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa Def. Santeri Ilius (Points)

Giancarlo Bodoni Def. Isaque Bahiense (Points)

Mason Fowler Def. Alexandre De Jesus “Robinho” (Guillotine)

Eoghan O’Flanagan Def. Xande Ribeiro (Points)

Pedro Marinho Def. Jay Rodriguez (Points)

Josh Hinger Def. Tye Ruotolo (Points)

Vagner Rocha Def. Izaak Michell (Decision)

Round 2:

Giancarlo Bodoni Def. Matteus Diniz (Triangle)

Eoghan O’Flanagan Def. Mason Fowler (Heel Hook)

Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa Def. Josh Hinger (Points)

Vagner Rocha Def. Perdro Marinho (Decision)

Day 2:

Semifinals:

Giancarlo Bodoni Def. Eoghan O’Flanagan (Estima Lock)

Lucas Barbosa Def. Vagner Rocha (Decision)

3rd Place:

Vagner Rocha Def. Eoghan O’Flanagan (Decision)

Finals:

Giancarlo Bodoni Def. Lucas Barbosa (Rear Naked Choke)

Podium:

Gold: Giancarlo Bodoni

Silver: Lucas Barbosa

Bronze: Vagner Rocha

---

Men’s 99kg Results:

Competitors: Perttu Tepponen, Luke Griffith (New Wave), Paul Ardila-Ibarra (Jucao), Joao Costa (Fight Sports), Henrique Ceconi, Kyle Boehm (10th Planet), Vinicius “Trator” Ferreira (Alliance), Rafael Lovato Jr. (Six Blades), Kaynan Duarte (Atos), Yuri Simoes (Brasa CTA), Patrick Gaudio (GF Team), Nicholas Meregali (Dream Art), Elder Cruz (Checkmat), Craig Jones (B-Team), Devhonte Johnson (Unity), Owen Livesey

Brackets:

Day 1:

Round 1:

Elder Cruz Def. Patrick Gaudio (Decision)

Kaynan Duarte Def. Owen Livesey (Points)

Craig Jones Def. Joao Costa (Shoulder Lock)

Kyle Boehm Def. Devhonte Johnson (Decision)

Vinicius Trator Ferreira Def. Paul Ardila-Ibarra (Points)

Rafael Lovato Jr. Def. Perttu Tepponen (Rear Naked Choke)

Nicholas Meregali Def. Henrique Ceconi (Kimura)

Yuri Simoes Def. Luke Griffith (Decision)

Round 2:

Kaynan Duarte Def. Elder Cruz (Points)

Rafael Lovato Jr. Def. Vinicius Trator Ferreira (Points)

Craig Jones Def. Kyle Boehm (Guillotine)

Nicholas Meregali Def. Yuri Simoes (Decision)

Day 2:

Semifinals:

Kaynan Duarte Def. Rafael Lovato Jr. (Decision)

Craig Jones Def. Nicholas Meregali (Decision)

3rd Place:

Nicholas Meregali Def. Rafael Lovato Jr. (Points)

Finals:

Kaynan Duarte Def. Craig Jones (Points)

Podium:

Gold: Kaynan Duarte

Silver: Craig Jones

Bronze: Necholas Meregali

---

Men’s +99kg Results:

Competitors: Heikki Jussila, Dan Manasoiu (New Wave), John Hansen (Pedigo Submission Fighting), Roosevelt Sousa (Fight Sports), Josh Saunders, Gordon Ryan (New Wave Jiu-Jitsu), Nick Rodriguez (B-Team), Felipe Pena (Gracie Barra), Joao Gabriel Rocha (Alliance), Victor Hugo (Six Blades), Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu (Fight Sports), Haisam Rida (Assembly Jiu-Jitsu), Orlando Sanchez (Gracie Barra), Vinny Magalhaes (10th Planet), Max Gimenis (GF Team), Damon Ramos (Renzo Gracie)

Brackets:

Day 1:

Round 1:

Gordon Ryan Def. Heikki Jussila (Rear Naked Choke)

Roosevelt Sousa Def. Joao Gabriel Rocha (Hell Hook)

Josh Hansen Def. Vinny Magalhaes (Foot Injury)

Victor Hugo Def. Dan Manasoiu (Points)

Felipe Pena Def. Josh Saunders (Points)

Nick Rodriguez Def. Damon Ramos (Points)

Haisam Rida Def. Roberto Abreu (Armbar)

Max Gimenis Def. Orlando Sanchez (Top Pressure)

Round 2:

Gordon Ryan Def. Victor Hugo (Points)

Roosevelt Sousa Def. Haisam Rida (Points)

Felipe Pena Def. Max Gimenis (Rear Naked Choke)

Nick Rodriguez Def. Josh Hansen (Rear Naked Choke)

Day 2:

Semifinals:

Gordon Ryan Def. Roosevelt Sousa (Heel Hook)

Nick Rodriguez Def. Felipe Pena (Points)

3rd Place:

Roosevelt Sousa Def. Felipe Pena (Forfeit)

Finals:

Gordon Ryan Def. Nick Rodriguez (Heel hook)

Podium:

Gold: Gordon Ryan

Silver: Nick Rodriguez

Bronze: Roosevelt Sousa

---

Women’s -60kg Results:

Competitors: Bianca Basilio (Atos), Beatriz Mesquita, Ffion Davies (Essential BJJ), Elvira Karppinen (10th Planet), Brianna Ste-Marie (Brazilian Top Team), Mayssa Bastos (Unity), Julia Maele, Adele Fornarino

Brackets:

Day 1:

Round 1:

Bianca Basilio Def. Julia Maele (Rear Naked Choke)

Brianna Ste-Marie Def. Elvira Karppinen (Points)

Ffion Davies Def. Adele Fornarino (Rear Naked Choke)

Beatriz Mesquita Def. Mayssa Bastos (Points)

Day 2:

Semifinals:

Brianna Ste-Marie Def. Bianca Basilio (Points)

Ffion Davies Def. Beatriz Mesquita (Points)

3rd Place:

Beatriz Mesquita Def. Bianca Basilio (Rear Naked Choke)

Finals:

Ffion davies Def. Brianna Ste-Marie (Points)

Podium:

Gold: Ffion Davies

Silver: Brianna Ste-Marie

Bronze: Beatriz Mesquita

---

Women’s +60kg Results:

Competitors: Gabi Garcia (Alliance), Giovanna Jara (Dream Art), Amy Campo (Zenith), Eleftheria Christodolou, Rafaela Guedes (Atos), Elisabeth Clay (Ares BJJ), Kendall Reusing (Gracie Barra), Nikki Lloyd-Griffiths

Brackets:

Day 1:

Round 1:

Gabi Garcia Def. Nikki Lloyd-Griffiths (Armbar)

Amy Campo Def. Elizabeth Clay (Points)

Rafaela Guedes Def. Eleftheria Christodolou (Points)

Kendall Reusing Def. Giovanna Jara (Guillotine)

Day 2:

Semifinals:

Amy Campo Def. Gabi Garcia (Points)

Rafaela Guedes Def. Kendall Reusing (Injury)

3rd Place:

Gabi Garcia Def. Kendall Reusing (Forfeit)

Finals:

Amy Campo Def. Rafaela Guedes (Points)

Podium:

Gold: Amy Campo

Silver: Rafaela Guedes

Bronze: Gabi Garcia

---

Men’s Absolute Results:

Brackets:

First Round:

Nick Rodriguez def. Andy Varela (Points)

Yuri Simoes def. Lachlan Giles (Points)

Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu def. Elder Cruz (Points)

Victor Hugo def. Fabricio Andrey (head and arm choke)

Felipe Pena def. Roberto Jimenez (Points)

Tye Ruotolo def. Pedro Marinho (head and arm choke)

Giancarlo Bodoni def. Haisam Rida (armbar)

Nicholas Meregali def. Vinicius “Trator” Ferreira

Second Round:

Yuri Simoes def. Nick Rodriguez (Decision)

Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu def. Victor Hugo (Points)

Tye Ruotolo def. Felipe Pena (Points)

Nicholas Meregali def. Giancarlo Bodoni (Points)

Semi-Finals:

Yuri Simoes def. Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu (Points)

Nicholas Meregali def. Tye Ruotolo (decision)

3rd place match:

Tye Ruotolo def. Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu (Forfeit due to injury)

Finals:

Yuri Simoes def. Nicholas Meregali (Points)

Podium:

Gold: Yuri Simoes

Silver: Nicholas Meregali

Bronze: Tye Ruotolo

---

Super-Fight Results:

Gordon Ryan def. Andre Galvao (Rear Naked Choke) [Recap and video here]

UFC fighters wearing Dwayne Johnson’s Project Rock shoes won’t really benefit from the new sponsorship.

“For those that walk the walk.”

That’s the slogan for the co-branded UFC and Project Rock shoes that was announced as the MMA promotion’s official footwear. During the launch, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson repeatedly praised fighters for all the hard work and sacrifice they put in daily.

Fighters and their teams have been asked to wear these new Project Rock shoes during events, but as Bloody Elbow has learned through multiple sources, these athletes won’t be getting a cut from the new deal.

According to several fighters and managers who wished to remain anonymous, athletes have not received any additional compensation for wearing the new brand. This was also confirmed by one fighter from UFC 279, who wore The Rock’s products during fight week.

“The values and foundation of Project Rock, they are so aligned with the values and the foundations of UFC, and of the fighters,” Johnson said on their most recent marketing campaign.

Since 2011, Johnson has been a client of Endeavor, which currently owns the UFC.

Nate Diaz, the main attraction for that PPV event, took shots at the UFC’s new sponsorship deal before his headlining bout.

“These shoes f–king suck,” Diaz said in an interview with UFC and ESPN’s Megan Olivi. “Look at these shoes, they made me put this shit on. F–k these shoes!”

Diaz’s comments were cut off and not included on the final clip in ESPN’s channel.

The original Reebok outfitting deal from 2014 was actually made up of two components, clothing — or uniforms — and a shoe deal. In March of 2021, Venum replaced Reebok, but only as the official uniform sponsor.

While they only rolled out their new marketing campaign recently, the UFC signed a lucrative multi-year deal with Under Armour and Project Rock back in January 2022. Under Armour is the parent company of Project Rock, leading to Dwanye Johnson’s brand to become the UFC’s official global footwear partner.

Fighters won’t be receiving any additional pay for the new products that they’ll be wearing.

Why? The way the UFC’s contracts are structured, regardless of how many new sponsorship deals, logos and products these fighters have to wear (Venum, Project Rock, Crypto.com, etc), these are all just viewed as part of the Promotional Guidelines Compliance Pay they’ve already set before.

Fighters get compensated in tiers depending on their amount of fights with the promotion or by champion/challenger status. Those that don’t comply with the guidelines would not get paid, and any additional UFC sponsorships wouldn’t technically change that contracted pay structure.

It’s also worth noting that when Reebok was previously criticized for the low pay the athletes received, the company distanced themselves and said those “are dictated by the contract between the individual fighter and the UFC.”

The UFC’s promotional guidelines from 2018 include rules for using only “approved” apparel, headwear, fight gloves, footwear, headphones, mouth guards, knee or ankle sleeves and wraps, flags, and various accessories like socks, headbands, bags, and towels.

This set up opens UFC’s already booming business for a lot of additional sponsorship opportunities and revenue streams down the road, but unfortunately not really much for fighters.

Khamzat Chimaev’s coach reveals details from the dangerous weight cut at UFC 279.

Khamzat Chimaev had a pretty disastrous weight cut for UFC 279.

According to his coach Andreas Michael, there may just be lingering effects from Chimaev’s bout with COVID-19, which made him announce his retirement after months of horrible complications. Chimaev returned in 2021 and has fought three times since, but his coach believes he just hasn’t been the same.

“He was getting muscle spasms, shaking, vomiting,” Michael revealed details from the weight cut as he spoke to MMA Fighting. “When he stood up he was passing out. I was worried about him.

“Ever since he got coronavirus and all these health issues, he’s had a little bit of a hard time making the weight,” Michael said. “Ever since that issue, his body has been a little bit off when it comes down to pushing it to the last drop. But I’m just speculating. Like I said, I’m not a physician, I’m not a doctor or anything like that, and I don’t claim to be one.”

While both Dana White and Chimaev told the media it was a doctor that pulled the plug on the weight cut, Michael says it was his decision to do so out of concern for his health.

“I told [Chimaev], ‘F—k this, your health is number one,’” Michael said. “That’s why we called the physician. We were thinking, ‘Forget about the fight. Is he alright?’ Cutting weight is very dangerous for the body if you push too hard, and I just wanted him to be OK.

“I thought to myself, ‘OK, if this means that I’m going to risk his health, then I’ve got to make an executive decision and I’ve got to be a leader and do what’s best for him.’ I talked to the doctor, and I asked him, ‘What do you think?’ The doctor told me, ‘Listen, I don’t advise that you continue cutting weight.’”

While Chimaev publicly just blamed the doctor and even Nate Diaz for the fight not pushing through, his coach was instead apologetic and called the badly botched weight cut “unprofessional.”

“I believe we just started too heavy this camp. We should have had a little more discipline and held our weight to a reasonable level, to a reasonable weight close to the one that he’s training at and going into camp. That’s basically about it,” he said.

“We can find a lot of reasons and excuses and all this. At the end of the day — I’m not slagging off Khamzat, he’s a magnificent fighter and I love him to death — but what I’m saying is that it was absolutely unprofessional from our side not to make weight. Anyone who doesn’t make weight is unprofessional, absolutely. I want to [apologize] to Nate’s camp for that. We should have both made weight, and there are no excuses.”

Michael admits that “we missed our chance there” after losing out on a main event bout with a superstar like Diaz. He also says he prefers to just make adjustments and stay at welterweight, where they’re closer to the title.