Author: John Heinis

Diego Sanchez Tells ‘Disrespectful’ Conor McGregor to Respect His Elders

One of the original The Ultimate Fighter winners, Diego Sanchez, is still beefing with surging UFC featherweight contender Conor McGregor, and he has elaborated on why he doesn’t like his “disrespectful” rival. 
Appearing on this afterno…

One of the original The Ultimate Fighter winners, Diego Sanchez, is still beefing with surging UFC featherweight contender Conor McGregor, and he has elaborated on why he doesn’t like his “disrespectful” rival. 

Appearing on this afternoon’s edition of Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, The Nightmare said that McGregor should think about who some of the pioneers of this sport are before talking trash (h/t MMA Mania). 

For me, if there is one fight I could have, it’s Conor McGregor. Ill go fight him in Ireland. He wants to fight in a football stadium? I’ll fight him in a football stadium. When he jumped into the spot, he started barking up the wrong dog’s alley. I’m one of the guys who laid the bricks for this great career that he is having. I was one of the ones that created the expansion for the sport. I helped build the foundation on this big building, and the guy is just disrespectful. He doesn’t respect that, and he doesn’t respect any of the other fighters in his division that have paid dues.

Holding both the 145- and 155-pound titles in the Cage Warriors Fighting Championship in 2012, McGregor hasn’t competed at lightweight in his past four Octagon appearances. 

However, that didn’t stop the outspoken Irish striker from trying to replace an injured Norman Parke and fight Sanchez at UFC 180 next month. 

While a significant portion of fight fans could practically be heard licking their chops over the potential scrap, UFC President Dana White quickly rebutted McGregor‘s claim and said the matchup would not be happening, per Bloody Elbow.

Sanchez briefly looked like he’d still be involved in a firefight with submission specialist Joe Lauzon on November 15, but back-to-back injuries unfortunately cancelled the bout.

Meanwhile, McGregor has since signed up for a fight with Dennis Siver, which will serve as the main event of UFC Fight Night 59 in January.

Are there any set of circumstances that could produce a grudge match between McGregor and Sanchez in 2015? 

 

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Cub Swanson: I’m Getting the Next Shot at Jose Aldo If I Beat Frankie Edgar

Fight fans should at least consider pumping the brakes on a UFC featherweight title bout between Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor, particularly because Cub Swanson is just one win away from a title shot. 
Of course, bear in mind that this information …

Fight fans should at least consider pumping the brakes on a UFC featherweight title bout between Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor, particularly because Cub Swanson is just one win away from a title shot. 

Of course, bear in mind that this information is coming from Swanson himself. 

After a five-round classic between Aldo and Chad Mendes at UFC 179, fight fans were perplexed as to why McGregor, a surging 145-pound contender, is booked to fight Dennis Siver at UFC Fight Night 59 in January. 

However, according to Swanson, the match makes perfect sense: 

While Swanson may not have McGregor’s larger-than-life presence at press conferences, it’s tough to ignore his six-fight win streak inside the Octagon dating back to January 2012. 

Notching four knockouts in that 34-month span, the Greg Jackson’s MMA product most recently defeated Jeremy Stephens at UFC Fight Night 44 in June by unanimous decision. 

A win over Frankie Edgar, a former UFC lightweight champion and featherweight title challenger, at UFC Fight Night 57 next month would give the No. 2-ranked featherweight in the UFC’s official rankings a great case for a championship fight. 

McGregor, the No. 5 featherweight, is currently riding a 12-fight win streak, with his last four victories coming inside of the Octagon. 

Although his last knockout over perennial contender Dustin Poirier at UFC 178 last month was impressive, it would be difficult to argue that McGregor’s recent level of competition was greater than or equal to that of the opponents Swanson has faced. 

One factor working against Swanson is that he fought Aldo under the WEC banner back in June 2009, ending up on the wrong end of a highlight reel when he get knocked out in eight seconds with a rarely seen double flying knee. 

If Swanson and McGregor both win their respective upcoming matchups, who deserves to get the next crack at Aldo?

 

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Davis: Beating Anderson Silva ‘Would Complete My Trifecta of Brazilian Fighters’

UFC light heavyweight contender Phil Davis perplexed the majority of the fight community when he called out former longtime 185-pound champ Anderson Silva, but he maintains that the matchup makes sense. 
After a decisive, albeit largely uneventful…

UFC light heavyweight contender Phil Davis perplexed the majority of the fight community when he called out former longtime 185-pound champ Anderson Silva, but he maintains that the matchup makes sense. 

After a decisive, albeit largely uneventful, unanimous-decision win Saturday over former UFC title challenger Glover Teixeira at UFC 179 , Mr. Wonderful said he’d love a fight with Silva and explained why at the post-fight press conference (h/t Mixedmartialarts.com). 

He’s an awesome fighter, probably one of the best to ever compete in the UFC, so why not? All the questions during the media day were centered around being ‘The Brazilian Killer.’ I don’t know if I’d call myself a killer, but at the same time, that would complete my trifecta of Brazilian fighters.

While Teixeira also hails from Brazil, Davis refers to his previous victories over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and former UFC light heavyweight titleholder Lyoto Machida due to their connection to Black House and Silva.

After Little Nog initially showcased stout takedown defense at their UFC Fight Night 24 encounter in March 2011, Davis quickly adapted on the fly and found a way to get the fight to the ground. 

The former four-time NCAA Division I All-American also managed to shut down the submission game of Nogueira, a well-known Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. 

His victory over The Dragon at UFC 163 in August of last year was far less convincing, as he clearly lost the striking battle and did little damage when the fight hit the mat. 

Nevertheless, Davis’ takedowns and submission attempts were sufficient to convince the three judges he did enough to get his hand raised. 

With all that being said, his callout of Silva remains puzzling being that the all-time great is a career middleweight who has fought at 205 pounds just three times in 39 professional fights. 

On top of that, The Spider is already booked for a slugfest with former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz at UFC 183 on January 31. 

Diaz has only fought above 170 pounds twice in his 36-fight career, both of which were catchweight matchups, and has never competed at middleweight before. 

Also bear in mind that Davis has never fought at a weight class other than light heavyweight, and due to his lean, muscular physique, dropping down to 185 pounds doesn’t seem like a realistic possibility. 

In the event that Silva defeats Diaz, would there be any set of circumstances to make a bout with Davis make sense?

 

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Chad Mendes on Conor McGregor: ‘The Guy’s a Joke, I’m Gonna Get Paid Big Time’

UFC featherweight contender Chad Mendes will get his second crack at champion Jose Aldo at UFC 179 this evening, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been listening to the banter of rising star Conor McGregor. 
During Wednesday’s edition of UFC To…

UFC featherweight contender Chad Mendes will get his second crack at champion Jose Aldo at UFC 179 this evening, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been listening to the banter of rising star Conor McGregor. 

During Wednesday’s edition of UFC Tonight, Money said he actually looks forward to a showdown with The Notorious sooner than later. 

One day earlier, McGregor repeatedly mocked Mendes during an episode of UFC: Beyond the Octagon, where Mendes expressed the same sentiment about a potential McGregor fight. 

Although UFC President Dana White indicated that McGregor could get the next crack at featherweight gold after a definitive win over Dustin Poirier at UFC 178 last month (h/t MMA Fighting), the Irish superstar opted not to wait on the sidelines for very long. 

After four straight wins inside the Octagon, McGregor will square off with powerful, stocky striker Dennis Siver at UFC Fight Night 59 in January. 

With another clear-cut victory, it would be borderline impossible to deny McGregor the winner of Aldo vs. Mendes II. 

After getting knocked out by Aldo in their first encounter at UFC 142 in January 2012 (the only loss of his career), Mendes has rallied back with five straight wins, four of which came via knockout. 

While Mendes’ striking has unquestionably improved by leaps and bounds, Aldo has proved to be a cut above the rest time and time again at 145 pounds. He is riding a 17-fight win streak and looking to make his eighth straight title defense inside the Octagon. 

Will Mendes be able to pull the stunning upset tonight and set up a grudge match with McGregor? Or will Aldo and/or Siver come through in the clutch? 

 

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Conor McGregor to Featherweight Champ Jose Aldo: ‘You’re Going to Die’

Surging UFC featherweight contender Conor McGregor decided to fight again instead of waiting for a title shot, but 145-pound champ Jose Aldo is still in his crosshairs. 
“The Notorious” did a Q&A session in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil prior to the …

Surging UFC featherweight contender Conor McGregor decided to fight again instead of waiting for a title shot, but 145-pound champ Jose Aldo is still in his crosshairs. 

“The Notorious” did a Q&A session in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil prior to the UFC 179 weigh-ins, and while the crowd did not give the Irish striker a warm welcome, he still spoke his mind (h/t FOX Sports). 

I am the No. 1 contender. The next time Jose steps into the Octagon after Saturday night it will be to face me. In the meantime, I took a fight with Dennis Siver to eliminate another contender. It’s as simple as that,” McGregor explained … (Aldo) has not submitted or knocked out anybody in the past five years. How’s he going to touch me? I will be too quick for him. I will be too powerful. I will put him away.

In the midst of heckling and taunting in Portuguese, McGregor managed to fire off the phrase “Jose Aldo — u vai morrer,” which translates to “you’re going to die”. 

“Scarface,” the No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC’s official rankings, looks to make his seventh consecutive title defense in front of his UFC 179 home crowd tonight. 

The Brazilian striker once again encounters American rival Chad “Money” Mendes, whom he defeated by knockout at UFC 142 in January 2012. 

The loss is the only one in Mendes‘ 17-fight career, rebounding since then with five straight victories (four knockouts). 

Meanwhile, McGregor has won 12 fights in a row, four of which were contested inside the Octagon (three knockouts). 

Shortly after his decisive finish of perennial contender Dustin Poirier at UFC 178 in September, UFC President Dana White said McGregor could get the next championship bout at featherweight, per MMA Fighting. 

However, the former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship dual titleholder instead opted for a matchup with musclebound Russian-German striker Dennis Siver at UFC Fight Night 59 in January. 

Will Aldo once again roll through Mendes and punch his ticket for a grudge match with McGregor or will either Mendes and/or Siver manage to successfully play the role of spoiler?

 

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Report: GSP Calls First Day Back to Training ‘Humiliating’

Former longtime UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre returned to training this week after suffering a torn left ACL back in March. Apparently, it did not go particularly well. 
According to a report from this evening’s edition of UFC T…

Former longtime UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre returned to training this week after suffering a torn left ACL back in March. Apparently, it did not go particularly well. 

According to a report from this evening’s edition of UFC Tonight, “Rush” said his return to the TriStar Gym was a humbling experience. 

Reports surfaced last week that UFC President Dana White and company co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta met last week with GSP, but it seems that they did not discuss business if that’s the case, per Steven Chmielash.

St-Pierre decided to vacate his title and take a hiatus from the sport back in December, just one month removed from a razor-thin decision over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167. 

After having surgery to repair his ACL injury, the French Canadian superstar continued to make headlines as he stated that he would not return to the Octagon unless the UFC adopted a much stricter drug testing policy, per Sportsnet.

Despite there possibly being some tension between GSP and the UFC company, White said that St-Pierre would have an immediate title shot if he did decide to come back, per UFC.com.

GSP stepped away from the game riding a 12-fight win streak, boasting nine consecutive UFC title defenses, just one shy of tying the record set by ex-middleweight titleholder Anderson Silva. 

Furthermore, the 33-year-old has compiled a solid 25-2 ledger, avenging his only career losses to Matt Hughes (twice) and Matt Serra along the way.

Will St-Pierre decide he has one more title reign left in him in 2015, or will he opt to enjoy his retirement instead?

 

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com