Author: Dan Hiergesell

UFC 267 is almost upon us as the incredibly stacked card goes down tomorrow afternoon (Sat., Oct. 30, 2021) live on ESPN+ from inside Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The main card will be headlined by two title fights, Jan Blachowicz vs. Glover Teixeira and Petr Yan vs. Cory Sandhagen, and is completely free to ESPN+ subscribers.

Leading into a UFC 267 lineup that is flush with primetime matchups and surging contenders the promotion has released the latest collection of “Embedded” videos. From backstage run-ins to last-second training sessions to get weight down, the behind-the-scenes action delivers a little bit of everything. Check out the latest episodes below courtesy of UFC and be sure to catch all the action tomorrow at UFC 267 live on ESPN+.

UFC 267 “Embedded” Episode 3:

Cory Sandhagen gets seen off by his dad and dogs. Glover Teixeira and foe Jan Blachowicz have high praise for one another. Amanda Ribas and Khamzat Chimaev start their fight weeks. Petr Yan stays focused on the belt. Teixeira trains with legend Big Nog.

UFC 267 “Embedded” Episode 4:

Champ Jan Blachowicz relaxes with video games; Cory Sandhagen spars. Glover Teixeira and the champ cross paths . Dan Hooker’s teammates tease him in the makeup chair. Petr Yan and the other athletes in the title fights go to open workouts.

UFC 267 “Embedded” Episode 5:

Cory Sandhagen hits the sauna. Glover Teixeira celebrates his birthday in Abu Dhabi. Champ Jan Blachowicz stays friendly with Teixeira. At the presser, those two face off, as do title fighters Petr Yan and Sandhagen plus Khamzat Chimaev and Li Jingliang.

To catch up on UFC 267 “Embedded” episodes one and two click here and here.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 267 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” bouts at 10:30 a.m. ET, followed by the ESPN+ main card start time at 2 p.m. ET.

For the rest of the UFC 267 fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.

Bruce Buffer will not be in attendance at UFC 267 this week in Abu Dhabi as he recovers from COVID-19. It will be the first time in 25 years that Buffer is not announcing a UFC pay-per-view (PPV) event. The streak was quite impressive spanning from UFC 11 to now.

Luckily, Buffer seems to be making a speedy recovery after contracting the coronavirus sometime earlier this month. The long-time UFC announcer is nearly done with quarantine and is glad he got vaccinated when he did.

During a Thursday edition of his “IT’S TIME!!!” podcast, Buffer offered an in-depth look at his battle with COVID-19 and what it took to get better.

“I thank God I’m vaccinated,” said Buffer. “I had the (Johnson & Johnson vaccine). I plan on getting the booster; now I don’t have to get that for two or three months, whatever is allowed because you’re antibodies build up with this. (The virus) knocked my feet in the dirt definitely for the first three or four days with the fever, the temperature, the body aches, the headaches. I did not lose my taste or smell thankfully. …

“Everybody’s different. Luckily no lung damage that I can tell. My lungs feel good. I’ve been doing videos and cameos and getting them out. Even when I was sick I was doing it because obviously I’m here at home.

“All I can tell you, folks, is I hope you’re vaccinated. I don’t want to start a conversation, ‘get vaxxed, not get vaxxed.’ But if I wasn’t vaccinated, who knows how this thing would’ve wound up? Bottom line.”

Fortunately, Buffer was able to get his hands on some expensive antibodies called REGN-COV the first day he tested positive. Buffer has been incredibly safe during the pandemic so he was willing to do just about anything to make sure he kept his health. This also includes taking IV, bags of vitamins, and copious amounts of zinc.

“I’m gonna tell you one thing: If I have it, if I got it, anybody can get it. Because I’m just really safe about it,” Buffer said. “They say you can be in an area breathing with the same person potentially for 15 minutes, you hear all these different scenarios. I just say that we’re all guinea pigs on a daily basis.”

As of now, Buffer seems to be on track to make his return next weekend at UFC 268 in New York City. Of course, things could change quickly and the promotion may have to turn to Joe Martinez once again.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 267 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” bouts at 10:30 a.m. ET, followed by the ESPN+ main card start time at 2 p.m. ET.

Boxers Jose Zepeda and Josue Vargas stepped on the scale for their official weigh-in Friday afternoon and things quickly took a turn for the worse.

The two fighters will collide in a main event tomorrow night (Sat., Oct. 30, 2021) live on ESPN+ from inside Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Top Rank Boxing event will also feature a bantamweight clash between Carlos Caraballo and Jonas Sultan.

On Friday, the boxers weighed in before coming face-to-face for one final showdown. After successfully tipping the scale Zepeda and Vargas were brought on stage at the same time. During some photo ops Vargas stretched his arms outward and his Puerto Rican flag was blocking Zepeda’s face. Zepeda quickly moved his hands in front and all hell broke lose.

Unlike most onstage “brawls” that result in a slap or two there were actual punches thrown between both teams. In fact, each boxer launched their best attempt at a kick, coaches got involved, and what looked to be someone’s wife stepped on stage for the melee as well.

Check it out above courtesy of Top Rank Boxing.

Zepeda, who is riding a four-fight win streak, is currently the betting underdog against Vargas entering Saturday night. That’s because Vargas is nearly 10 years younger, undefeated outside of a DQ back in 2016, and ready to make his push up the rankings.

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If Cory Sandhagen defeats Petr Yan this weekend at UFC 267 he will call himself champion. Despite the bout being for the interim UFC bantamweight title “Sandman” believes a victory over Yan, the former 135-pound champion, is good enough to crown himself king. Even when current UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is holding onto his belt in recovery.

“I think Aljamain [Sterling] had to retreat and T.J. [Dillashaw]’s village is still on fire from when I set it on fire,” Sandhagen told reporters at UFC 267’s media day (via MMA Fighting). “So if we’re talking like ancient war type stuff, which is how I like to view this game — it’s just funner for me to do it that way — I’m the guy that can take the land.”

“Those other two guys can’t right now. I’m the guy that can take the land. So I’ll see myself as champ. I know that most of the public sees Yan as the champ anyway. I know that I definitely will have some making up to do — like I definitely still need to make up my two losses against Aljamain and against T.J. also — but I’ll go home with a smile on my face, calling myself the champ if I win.”

Sandhagen, who is coming off a split-decision loss to former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw back in July, is the betting underdog in his matchup against Yan. The former Russian champion had the belt before he lost it after landing an illegal knee on Sterling at UFC 259. Yan will be out for blood so it’s imperative that “Sandman” is on his A game, especially if he wants to take home UFC gold.

If Sandhagen is able to knock off Yan this weekend in Abu Dhabi he would be open to matchups with both Sterling and Dillashaw. After all, “Funkmaster” choked out Sandhagen back in 2020 and Dillashaw just eked out that decision win. Both fights make sense if Sandhagen can take care of business at UFC 267.

“It would be beautiful for it to work out that way,” Sandhagen said. “I think that it just sucks having those two Ls on my record — one, because the Sterling fight was just sh—ty and embarrassing for me, so I would definitely like to show that I’m definitely better than that guy and I had a night that just wasn’t good. And then same with T.J. where it’s like, I lost a decision that was this close, and if I’m being honest, probably could’ve gone either way. I definitely walked out of that cage a lot less beat up than T.J. did, so it makes me feel a little weird about that.

“But no, man, I think it’d be beautiful if I get to avenge those two losses just right away after being the champ, and I think that will even speak more to how good I am in this sport also.”

Insomnia

Speaking of Sandhagen, the bantamweight contender was stone cold when Yan tried to punk him at Thursday’s UFC 267 presser (see it HERE).

Here is another clip of the sparring session between Sean Strickland and Johnny Walker.

Check out the the “greatest fighter to ever live” getting ready for his bare knuckle debut.

You gotta love the return of Khamzat Chimaev.

Paulo Costa continues to state his case to stay at 185 pounds, but it’s unlikely to happen. Ironically, he looks thinner in this video than he did for his fight with Marvin Vettori earlier this month.

Here’s Cheick Kongo trying to fat shame Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. He got away real quick.

I think we found Jake Paul’s next opponent.

Nate Diaz appreciates Claressa Shields after her first pro loss at PFL 10.

Slips, rips, and KO clips

These knockouts from UAE Warriors 23 early Thursday morning were absolutely brutal.

Oh god. This is hard to watch.

Here’s a nice little Dan Henderson KO compilation. Bisping is still the worst one.

Random Land

I’m all for animal rights, but this is a little far out there in my opinion. Do you think the MLB should substitute the term “bullpen” with “arm barn?”

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.

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Paige VanZant will be returning to the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) ring in early 2022.

This is according to BKFC president David Feldman, who told BJPenn.com that VanZant will be fulfilling the last fight on her current contract. The former UFC fighter came over to BKFC in Aug. 2020 with the hope of becoming the promotion’s biggest star. However, VanZant has lost her first two bare knuckle fights and now stands the chance of going winless in her post-UFC venture.

“We are in talks with Paige and we will be bringing her back in early 2022,” said Feldman. “It is heartbreaking for her to lose her first two fights but she is putting her heart back into this thing. We will work out a deal in the next week or so and you will see Paige VanZant back in the BKFC ring.”

Feldman isn’t sure who VanZant will fight in her return to the BKFC ring, but it likely isn’t going to be a rematch against Rachael Ostovich. The promotion will find a new opponent for what could be VanZant’s final bare knuckle fight. What she does after that is anyone’s guess.

“We could put it out to the fans to see if they want it. I’m not sure how much interest there is,” said Feldman when asked about a rematch between VanZant and Ostovich. “It was a good fight, but there are a lot of other fights for both Paige and Rachael Ostovich. Why do the same thing again? It wasn’t like it was a nailbiter. Paige did well in that fight but Rachael fight more aggressively. There are a lot of options for Paige VanZant so we will see who she fights next but she will fight out her deal.”

Insomnia

Javid Basharat got his revenge on Oron Kahlon last night on Dana White’s Contender Series for yesterday’s shocking weigh ins.

Is this bike workout going to help Zhang Weili in her rematch with Rose Namajunas at UFC 268?

Here is more footage of Weili training for her rematch with “Rose” next weekend:

Glover Teixeira is almost impossible to finish. Just look at how many times he has recovered to beat his opponent. Will he do it again this weekend at UFC 267?

UFC light heavyweight fighter Modestas Bukauskas is finally walking around after suffering THIS brutal leg injury at UFC Vegas 36.

Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold makes Texas look so damn good.

Check out Khamzat Chimaev and Makwan Amirkhani sharpening their soccer skills ahead of UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi.

This Mike Tyson-themed billboard looks pretty sweet:

Khabib Nurmagomedov was not happy that Daniel Cormier was late to their interview.

Slips, rips, and KO clips

Here are more finishes from Dana White’s Contender Series:

I counted five seconds on this blistering head kick KO. How about you?

These backhand uppercuts are something else.

Nothing like getting knocked out cold in a school gymnasium.

Random Land

Someone named Mattress Mack brought 55 nuns to World Series Game 1 between the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves. The Astros are already favorites to win the championship series, but I guess a little extra help never hurt. Check it out below:

As random as the whole nun thing is I’m more interested in knowing who the hell is this Mattress Mack. A quick Google search and I find out Mattress Mack could win a record $35.6 million payout for betting on the Astros to win the World Series. That’s like $650K per nun. Incredible.

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.

Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

UFC president Dana White wouldn’t be a good promoter if he didn’t boost up his own roster of talent. But when it comes to undefeated PFL standout, Kayla Harrison, White may have missed the mark in his recent assessment of the two-time Olympic gold medalist.

Harrison, who is widely considered one of the best female fighters in the world today, believes her skills will take her to the absolute pinnacle of the sport. That belief could one day pit Harrison against the likes of UFC double champ Amanda Nunes, which is exactly why White has stepped in to pump the brakes on Harrison’s aspirations.

“If I was her, I’d stay right where she is and keep picking off the people over there,” White recently told TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter. “I would stay there and keep fighting the type of women she’s fighting there before I would come here and fight an Amanda Nunes. That’s for damn sure.”

Harrison, who faces Taylor Guardado in the main event at PFL 10 on Oct. 27, is easily one of the biggest stars for PFL today. She’s dominant, knows how to finish fights, and has a knack for delivering when it matters most, which is why she walked away with a $1 million tournament prize back in 2019. Add in a track record of excellence and it’s easy to see why Harrison is eager to prove doubters like White wrong.

“Thanks for the advice, Uncle Dana, I appreciate you,” Harrison told media members on Monday (h/t Drake Riggs). “My job is going to focus on Oct. 27. I really don’t care what other people have to say about me or my career, my choices, or my options. I’m going to do what’s best for me, and that’s it.

“That’s what he does. That’s his job. I’m gonna talk about how I’m the greatest of all time, and he’s gonna talk about, ‘Well, calm down. No, you’re not.’ This is a game. This is a business. The difference is I really am gonna be the greatest of all time. He’s gonna see.”

PFL founder, Donn Davis, also chimed in during Monday’s media scrum and came to the rescue of Harrison. While Davis pays tribute to White and UFC for paving the way for the sport he’s convinced PFL, along with Harrison, offer something more.

“Look, as the founder of the league, this is a fighter-first league,” Davis told BJPenn.com. “I’m an entrepreneur, I see them as entrepreneurs. How far can they (the fighters) go – it’s our job to help them. How do we encourage fighters, how do we promote fighters, how do we help fighters – that’s what the PFL is all about. So we want the fighters who want to bet on themselves. Because the PFL’s a meritocracy. Win and advance, lose and go home. It’s just like the NBA or the NFL, no B.S., no politics, no social media. What happens inside the cage determines the champion. The best fighter wins – that’s what sport is.

“I respect UFC,” Davis added. “They blazed the way, but most of those fights are undercard fights. They don’t matter. It’s like the football preseason. I watch every minute of the NFL, I don’t watch any preseason. I’ll watch a title fight in the UFC, but the undercards don’t matter. With the PFL, I don’t care if it’s fight one or fight seven, you lose, you’re done for the year, it is March Madness meets MMA. So every fight matters, and how do you put the fighter first, we’re just doing something different here.”

Insomnia

Alexander Volkanovski’s detailed account of nearly getting choked out by Brian Ortega is incredible.

Here is Anderson Silva tuning up his boxing skills with an interesting tire workout:

This might be the best fight promo you see all year. After all, Jorge Masvidal vs Leon Edwards should in deed be fire.

Things turned ugly during weigh ins for Dana White’s Contender Series as Oron Kahlon calls Afghani fighter Javid Basharat a ‘terrorist.’

Never tried jump roping in a flood. Looks difficult to be honest.

Would you let Michelle Waterson slap you in the face with a tortilla shell?

Kayla Harrison talks about the time she had to put Dillon Danis in his place. No cops were needed.

Floyd Mayweather shuts down fan photo over painted nails (via TMZ):

UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou released yet another body shot challenge. Once again, “Predator” doesn’t flinch.

MMA legend Wanderi Silva just landed a limited edition Chevrolet truck in his name:

Valentina Shevchenko is so much more than just a fighter.

Slips, rips, and KO clips

This Muay Thai fighter was able to pop her arm back in place before the 10-count was up!

Could a jab get any better than this?

Random Land

I recently moved to upstate New York so I’m familiar with these pesky U-Haul trucks. They aren’t the best, but this guy clearly had some bigger issues.

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.