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Renato Moicano Placed In Same Conversation As McGregor, Adesanya & O’Malley: ‘He’s Doing That Good Of A Job…’

At 35-years old, Renato Moicano is on the best run of his career and really seems to have hit his stride in the lightweight division. The Brazilian has been a member of the UFC roster since 2014 and has stepped foot inside the Octagon 17 times, but it’s really in the last couple years that […]

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At 35-years old, Renato Moicano is on the best run of his career and really seems to have hit his stride in the lightweight division.

The Brazilian has been a member of the UFC roster since 2014 and has stepped foot inside the Octagon 17 times, but it’s really in the last couple years that he has emerged as a major player.

His latest appearance this past weekend saw him compete in his first main event where he delivered his most impressive display to date, stopping Benoît Saint-Denis in Paris before the third round could get underway.

As he looks to secure a huge fight next time out, Moicano’s stock is only continuing to climb but the question is how much further can it go?

Chael Sonnen Says Renato Moicano Is Capturing The Attention Of The Fans Like A Superstar Does

Moicano’s profile has also increased because alongside this current run of form, his personality has really started to come across on the mic.

Whether it’s in post-fight interviews or his YouTube content, the “Money” Moicano persona is that larger-than-life personality that is going to turn heads.

Of course, none of that matters if you aren’t backing it up inside the cage and he’s covering that base very effectively.

During a recent episode of the Good Guy / Bad Guy show on ESPN MMA, Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen reviewed all the action from Paris.

Sonnen, who was extremely impressed by Moicano and knows a thing or two about getting over on the mic, said that the Brazilian is capturing that star quality which is a rare occurrence in MMA.

“Moicano is just covering all aspects of this sport. You generally can only monetize one thing. Your only commodity that you offer the sport is your performance but there is other opportunities if you can find them and that’s where Moicano, “Suga” Sean, Izzy Adesanya, for example, these guys have found another way. Conor McGregor. That’s a very elite company and to put Moicano’s name in the same conversation as Izzy and Conor and Sean, Daniel, I’m not out of bounds here, he’s doing that good of a job.”

Continue Reading Renato Moicano Placed In Same Conversation As McGregor, Adesanya & O’Malley: ‘He’s Doing That Good Of A Job…’ at MMA News.

Chael Sonnen Explains Why Upset Could Be ‘Brewing’ In Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree At UFC 307

According to Chael Sonnen, all boxes needed for a major upset are being ticked ahead of the UFC 307 main event. Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back in Utah this week to stage its latest pay-per-view from Salt Lake City’s Delta Center. Two championship clashes are set to headline, with light heavyweight kingpin Alex […]

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According to Chael Sonnen, all boxes needed for a major upset are being ticked ahead of the UFC 307 main event.

Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back in Utah this week to stage its latest pay-per-view from Salt Lake City’s Delta Center. Two championship clashes are set to headline, with light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira closing the show.

Having defended his gold successfully against both Jamahal Hill and Ji?í Procházka thus far this year, “Poatan’s” reign will next meet the threat of a surprise challenger in the #8-ranked Khalil Rountree.

Many questioned the booking, suggesting the UFC avoided giving Magomed Ankalaev a deserved shot in order to keep Pereira’s ball rolling with another striking matchup.

But for Sonnen, that line of thinking is among many reasons why he thinks an upset is “brewing” at UFC 307…

Sonnen: Pereira vs. Rountree Has All The Makings Of An Upset

During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Sonnen looked ahead to the upcoming PPV main event in Utah.

While Pereira will enter as a heavy favorite given his winning form in 2024 to date, “The American Gangster” suggested that some differences in the narratives leading up to his latest defense could present a major threat to his reign.

“This fight card has the potential to be the one. You wanna know why, Daniel? It is brewing for an upset,” Sonnen said. “I’m not giving you a prediction, but I’m telling you now, everything that could be wrong for Pereira in terms of the commonalities that everyone that’s ever been upset has faced — finding yourself in a match that’s harder than the audience knows, finding yourself in a match that’s more dangerous than you’re aware, finding yourself in a match where this guy’s gonna play your game.

“I’m not arguing that Khalil is cleaner or more talented of a kickboxer than Pereira,” Sonnen continued. “But I will argue for you, Pereira can hit you one time and put you down, Khalil only has to hit him one time and Khalil will put him down.”

Rountree will be hoping that Sonnen is correct and those apparent pre-fight factors pave the way for his shock crowning in Salt Lake City this weekend.

Read More: Glover Teixeira Explains Addition Of Sean Strickland To Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Camp

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‘Thirsty’ Jorge Masvidal Too Old to Be Re-Signed by the UFC

After retiring from mixed martial arts amid a four-fight losing skid, Jorge Masvidal is looking to make a return…

After retiring from mixed martial arts amid a four-fight losing skid, Jorge Masvidal is looking to make a return to the UFC and believes the promotion will be “begging” him to fight for a title after he “knocks” someone dead.

It’s been more than five years since ‘Gamebred’ has seen his hand raised in both MMA and boxing. Still, that hasn’t stopped the Miami native from talking a big game and insisting that he can stroll back into the Octagon whenever he feels like it and bag a big-money fight against the likes of Leon Edwards or current welterweight king Belal Muhammad.

Chael Sonnen disagrees.

Offering an unfiltered take on Masvidal’s recent comments via his YouTube channel, ‘The American Gangster’ promptly shut down the two-time title challenger by suggesting that he’s simply too old for the UFC to bother with him anymore.

“Now here we are, and I don’t predict for you that they’re gonna make that fight [Masvidal vs. Leon Edwards]. In fact, quite the opposite,” Sonnen said. “I don’t predict for you anybody at the age of 40 is going to get signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, including, if it’s a re-signing right, for a guy that’s coming back, I think of a guy who exhausts his contract, even on a winning streak, but along the way past 40.

“Thank you very much for your time. That’s what I think. But there’s not an actual rule that says otherwise” (h/t MMA Mania).

Sonnen still open to seeing Jorge Masvidal vs. Leon Edwards

While Sonnen remains steadfast in his belief that the UFC is officially out of the ‘Gamebred’ business, he can’t deny that the built-in story between Masvidal and Edwards may be too good of an opportunity for the UFC to pass up.

“Even if it’s one night, and even if it’s in a checkers move, in a game of chess, where it’s got to have a return on investments, it’s got to have reasons, and you got to this fight carries to something else. You’re right. That is the way it’s done,” Sonnen said. “So, if we are discussing Leon and Masvdial and we’re trying to figure out why trying to justify it, and how exactly did we get here? Is it fun? Is it something I would like to see, I will just remind you three piece and a soda that should answer the question you.”

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In March 2019, Masvidal infamously delivered ‘Rocky’ a “three-piece and a soda” during a backstage altercation in London. The two were scheduled to settle things inside the Octagon two years later, but Masvidal withdrew due to an injury.

Edwards went on to capture the welterweight title while Masvidal lost two more bouts before exiting the promotion in 2023.

Chael Sonnen Dismisses ‘Thirsty’ Jorge Masvidal’s UFC Comeback Talk: ‘At The Age Of 40…’

Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has his doubts when it comes to Jorge Masvidal entering the Octagon again. Masvidal — who failed in his two welterweight title bids opposite Kamaru Usman — called time on his mixed martial arts career at UFC 287 in Miami early last year. The event saw “Gamebred” comfortably outpointed […]

Continue Reading Chael Sonnen Dismisses ‘Thirsty’ Jorge Masvidal’s UFC Comeback Talk: ‘At The Age Of 40…’ at MMA News.

Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has his doubts when it comes to Jorge Masvidal entering the Octagon again.

Masvidal — who failed in his two welterweight title bids opposite Kamaru Usman — called time on his mixed martial arts career at UFC 287 in Miami early last year.

The event saw “Gamebred” comfortably outpointed by Gilbert Burns, adding to his previous losses to Colby Covington and Usman to mark his fourth straight setback inside the cage.

After announcing his retirement, the 39-year-old made his expected venture to the ring, where he ran it back with fellow ex-UFC star Nate Diaz at an event this past July.

But both during the lead-up to that bout — which he lost on the scorecards — and since, Masvidal has repeatedly expressed interest in a UFC comeback. He’s even set his sights on an opponent, calling to settle his unfinished business with Leon Edwards.

But when it comes to the UFC’s alleged interest in granting the return, Sonnen isn’t buying it…

Sonnen: Masvidal Too Old For Another UFC Stint

During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen discussed Masvidal’s comeback talk and his decision to place Edwards in his sights.

While “The American Gangster” suggested that the matchup itself makes more sense now than it did at the time of Masvidal’s retirement, he ultimately can’t envision the UFC being interested in the soon-to-be 40-year-old extending his Octagon career.

“The last time I checked on Masvidal, he was 39,” Sonnen said. “Masvidal has looked very thirsty as of late. … I don’t care how thirsty a guy is or what he looks like in that regard, if he’s calling out guys like Leon, that guy is a badass, and that is what Jorge Masvidal is. Now that fight wouldn’t make a lot of sense. That fight isn’t taking it anywhere. It’s not taking it to a title fight. For those reasons, the fight makes more sense. That’s the whole reason we couldn’t do it before; one was a champion but the other wasn’t a top contender.

“I don’t predict for you that they’re going to make that fight. In fact, quite the opposite. I don’t predict for you anybody at the age of 40 is going to get signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, including if it’s a re-signing,” Sonnen continued. “That’s what I think, but there’s not an actual rule that says otherwise.”

Regardless of Sonnen’s view, Masvidal is evidently confident of making the walk again down the line.

By the looks of things, he’s been hard at work at the American Top Team facility in Coconut Creek, Florida, training with the likes of former Bellator champion and current free agent Yaroslav Amosov.

Read More: Jorge Masvidal Continues Long-Standing Leon Edwards Feud: ‘I Will Whoop Your F**king Ass!’

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The ‘Bad Guy’ Wants to See Islam Makhachev Make a Classic WWE-Style Heel Turn

Chael Sonnen wants to see Islam Makhachev embrace his natural role as a heel. During a recent episode of…

Chael Sonnen wants to see Islam Makhachev embrace his natural role as a heel.

During a recent episode of his ESPN show Good Guy/Bad Guy with former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier, ‘The American Gangster’ spoke about the promotion’s recent struggles in finding the next big breakout star, much of it being blamed on the lack of lengthy title reigns by today’s talent.

Makhachev finds himself in a similar boat, having just completed his third defense of the lightweight title in June via a fifth-round submission victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302. Before that, the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ won back-to-back bouts against former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski.

Touting Jon Jones and Alex Pereira as the two biggest names in the game right now, Sonnen believes Makhachev could unseat them both and take his spot as the promotion’s top draw by making a classic WWE-style heel turn.

“Okay, that guy is so charismatic, and he is so secretly funny,” Sonnen said. “If he was to do a heel turn, I mean, come on, he said one of the great heel lines ever. He said a whole bunch of professors should be taking their black belts back from guys. Like that angle and that is blasphemy in this sport and nobody even knows got it. It was like this G-rated line, he didn’t use profanity, he didn’t yell. When he said it, he said it nicely” (h/t MMA News).

Sonnen certainly knows a thing or two about using his ability to talk as a way to sell himself. Going into his Hall of Fame clash with Anderson Silva at UFC 117, the West Linn, Oregon native drew in fight fans with his impeccable promo skills that saw him trash talk ‘The Spider’ in a way that no fighter had done before.

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Daniel Cormier wants to write material for Islam makhachev

Offering his take on the subject, Cormier appeared to agree with Sonnen, even suggesting that the two start writing material for Makhachev to help him go from a mild-mannered Dagestani scrapper to a Ric Flair-esque larger-than-life character on MMA’s biggest stage.

“I think that’s the move for Islam,” Cormier concurred. “He needs to get you and I to write him promos. We should write him promos. We write promos telling how much better he is than everyone. I would make him tell everybody that they don’t deserve to be in there with him and he’s just going to lord over this division until he decides to retire.”

Originally hoping to defend his title in Abu Dhabi this fall, Makhachev will be forced to sit out the remainder of the year due to an injury. When he is ready for a return, top-ranked contender Arman Tsarukyan will likely be the one waiting for him inside the Octagon.

Chael Sonnen Dismisses ‘Foolish’ Hope of Conor McGregor UFC Comeback

If you’re still holding out hope to see Conor McGregor back inside the Octagon, Chael Sonnen has some bad…

If you’re still holding out hope to see Conor McGregor back inside the Octagon, Chael Sonnen has some bad news for you.

It’s been more than three years since we last saw the Irish megastar strap on a pair of four-ounce gloves for his disastrous trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. In the time since, rumors regarding his quote-unquote “greatest comeback in combat sports history” have continuously dominated headlines.

Still, it feels as though we are no closer to seeing the former two-division titleholder back inside the Octagon than we were the day after his devastating leg break in July 2021.

A sad fact when you consider that McGregor was scheduled to headline UFC 303 on June 29 against Michael Chandler before bowing out due to a broken pinky toe weeks ahead of fight night.

McGregor’s purported opponent for his long-awaited return, Michael Chandler, appears to have finally run out of patience as he is now scheduled to square off with former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 on Saturday, November 16.

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With Chandler moving on, three-time title challenger Chael Sonnen thinks that’ll pretty much put the nail in the coffin when it comes to ever seeing ‘Mac’ inside the eight-sided cage again.

“I don’t know what to make of Conor. We’re looking foolish at this point by continuing to act as though he’s going to come back,” Sonnen said of McGregor during a recent episode of Good Guy/Bad Guy. “The truth is, the night he went down broken in two against Dustin Poirier, it was unlikely he was going to return. When he got other opportunities. Selling the whiskey brand, and finding himself in movies with Jake Gyllenhaal, it was unlikely that Conor was going to return…

“He got a stubbed pinky toe, that may or may not be broken and may or may not belong to him. When he walked away from a press conference in his hometown. And didn’t show up to [UFC 303], it was unlikely. Even baseball tells you three strikes, you’re out. At some point, we all have to accept this and move on” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Chandler Still Confident that Conor McGregor Returns

While Michael Chandler is putting the McGregor fight behind him for the time being, the former Bellator titleholder still believes that the Irishman isn’t done fighting just yet.

“I do think [he returns],” Chandler told MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin. “Maybe I’ve just been so close to it and so focused on it that you just look at his history, Conor McGregor is a nothing, nobody without the sport of mixed martial arts. Without the UFC platform. Without the legacy that he has created.

“I believe he’s romantic about it. I believe that he loves the sport. I believe that his spirit loves the sport but sometimes his body and his brain want other things. I’ve never walked a mile in that man’s shoes, neither have you, so who are we to critique him? But I do believe he comes back and when he does, I’ll be waiting. I just might have the title by then.”