Tag: Eugene Bareman

Dan Hooker Would ‘100 Percent’ Fight Islam Makhachev At UFC 267

Dan Hooker is down to fight Islam Makahchev at UFC 267 if his coach is to be believed. Hooker was seen in action this past Saturday night (Sept. 25). He competed on the preliminary portion of UFC 266. While getting to the United States proved to be a tough task for Hooker and his opponent, […]

Continue Reading Dan Hooker Would ‘100 Percent’ Fight Islam Makhachev At UFC 267 at MMA News.

Dan Hooker is down to fight Islam Makahchev at UFC 267 if his coach is to be believed.

Hooker was seen in action this past Saturday night (Sept. 25). He competed on the preliminary portion of UFC 266. While getting to the United States proved to be a tough task for Hooker and his opponent, Nasrat Haqparast, they were able to do it and made weight. In the end, it was “The Hangman” who took the unanimous decision win.

Fresh off a one-sided affair, many believe Hooker is the perfect dance partner for Makhachev. At the moment, Makhachev is in need of a new opponent for UFC 267 after Rafael dos Anjos bowed out due to an injury.

During a chat with the folks over at Submission Radio, Hooker’s coach Eugene Bareman said that his fighter wouldn’t hesitate to accept a bout with Makhachev.

“Dan will never ever refuse a fight no matter what the circumstance is. And not having a voucher and possibly staring down the barrel of being stuck over here for six months or even longer, will not make Dan refuse a fight if offered to him. As far as I know there’s no fights being offered yet, but if [UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby] calls us up I know 100 percent that Dan will take that fight. He will never refuse a fight, no matter who it’s against under what circumstances. Two days’ notice, one week’s notice, 12 weeks’ notice it doesn’t matter, he’d take it. So if that fight does swing our way, then 100 percent Dan will take it.”

Dan Hooker and Islam Makhachev have traded barbs on social media. Makhachev claimed Hooker was afraid to fight him back in 2020. “The Hangman” reminded Makahchev that he was busy with the likes of Dustin Poirier and Paul Felder.

Is Dan Hooker vs. Islam Makhachev the fight to make?

Continue Reading Dan Hooker Would ‘100 Percent’ Fight Islam Makhachev At UFC 267 at MMA News.

Coach: Israel Adesanya Has ‘Heart Set’ On Fighting Jon Jones

Eugene Bareman, the head coach of Israel Adesanya, says his pupil is set on fighting Jon Jones. For the last couple of months, Adesanya and Jones have been talking back and forth and it was expected they would meet in 2021. Yet, after “The Last S…

Eugene Bareman, the head coach of Israel Adesanya, says his pupil is set on fighting Jon Jones. For the last couple of months, Adesanya and Jones have been talking back and forth and it was expected they would meet in 2021. Yet, after “The Last Stylebender” beat Paulo Costa at UFC 253 the trash talk […]

The post Coach: Israel Adesanya Has ‘Heart Set’ On Fighting Jon Jones appeared first on MMA News.

Coach Rubbishes Israel Adesanya Steroid Claims: ‘We Laughed It Off’

AdesanyaCity Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman has rubbished the steroid accusations headed towards Israel Adesanya. Adesanya successfully defended his middleweight title following an impressive second-round TKO win over Paulo Costa at UFC 253 last month. Among the many notable things that happened on the night, many observers noted how Adesanya’s right pectoral muscle was saggy […]

Adesanya

City Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman has rubbished the steroid accusations headed towards Israel Adesanya.

Adesanya successfully defended his middleweight title following an impressive second-round TKO win over Paulo Costa at UFC 253 last month. Among the many notable things that happened on the night, many observers noted how Adesanya’s right pectoral muscle was saggy during the fight.

That led to speculation of gynecomastia and later, accusations of steroid use from many on social media. Adesanya and his team are still currently unsure of what actually happened as they await test results. But when it comes to accusations of steroid use? They could only laugh it off.

“I mean, in typical Kiwi fashion we just kinda laughed it off,” Bareman told Submission Radio. “Just cause we’re like so confident and we know that nothing could be further from the truth. So, like, when something is so outlandish, it kind of becomes funny. Cause, it’s just so outlandish it kind of takes on this comedy-type feel.

“So, I found it kind of funny. But it’s outrageous. I think it’s just outrageous. To be pretty honest, we’ve just laughed it off.” 

While there is always a chance of Adesanya taking a tainted supplement, even that has a low probability according to Bareman given how careful the team is in addition to the ethics and morals that they have.

“Just because of the ethics and morals that we have. Like, it’s just – I mean, not withstanding something maybe accidentally – and the chances of that are like slim to none as well because we’re so good at using the right approved supplements and stuff, like, it’s just never been a part of our ethics and morals at the gym,” Bareman said.

“In fact, like you said, we’ve been very outspoken against it. Like, it’s even funny that we’re even talking about it, because you said there’s an issue because obviously physically he has that anomaly on his chest, but for us, it kind of isn’t an issue. It’s just like, let’s just find out what that is and move on, and who’s the next fight.”  

As for when the results will come, Bareman expects to receive them soon.

 “I might get the results probably tomorrow, cause I think it’s Sunday over in America,” Bareman added. “The UFC has our bloods. The UFC has our… I think we did an MRI or ultrasound or one or the other, or both. We have those results to send to our physicians. The UFC has them as well.

“We just need to get to the bottom of what exactly it is, whether it’s low testosterone, whether it’s some other abnormality in the chest. We just have to get to the bottom of it, and we’re trying to, and we will have that in the next coming days, I think.” 

What do you make of the whole issue?

Coach Says Israel Adesanya Could Compete At 205 In Next Fight, Jones Responds

AdesanyaThere is a possibility UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya fights at light heavyweight next. Whether it’s against Jon Jones remains to be seen, however. Adesanya is coming off an impressive second-round TKO win over Paulo Costa at UFC 253 last month and is already targeting his next title defense against Jared Cannonier. In fact, Adesanya […]

Adesanya

There is a possibility UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya fights at light heavyweight next. Whether it’s against Jon Jones remains to be seen, however.

Adesanya is coming off an impressive second-round TKO win over Paulo Costa at UFC 253 last month and is already targeting his next title defense against Jared Cannonier. In fact, Adesanya has also gone on record stating that he would like to compete again before the end of the year.

Cannonier has to defeat Robert Whittaker first who he faces at UFC 254 on October 24. But if the American passes that test and is unable to fight Adesanya that soon, would “The Last Stylebender” move up to light heavyweight and potentially face 205-pound king Jan Blachowicz?

City Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman believes it’s a possibility.

“Yeah, I mean, if Cannonier didn’t want to turn around and fight, then Israel would definitely fight at 205,” Bareman told Submission Radio. “We’ve already had a little chat about that. He would be perfectly willing to do that. So much is just dependent on those results in the middleweight division. But yeah, if Cannonier wanted to wait longer because he didn’t want to turn around things really quickly, then maybe Israel can go to 205.

“At the moment it’s just waiting out to see how those results go in that little middleweight tournament, and then deciding, and then for the most part, some of those fighters deciding what they want to do. For us, we’ve already decided that we wanna turn around another one in 2020. So, it’s kind of like the balls in their corner.”

Of course, the one fight everyone wants to see at light heavyweight for Adesanya is a grudge match against former champion Jon Jones who is now planning a move to heavyweight.

Adesanya has long claimed that he wanted to clean out his division before facing Jones in 2021. In more recent times, he has stated fighting Jones is something he would discuss with Bareman which resulted in ridicule from Jones.

Whatever happens in the future, Adesanya is very intent on fighting Jones according to Bareman.

“He has got his heart set on doing that fight. It doesn’t matter where Jon Jones goes,” Bareman added. “If he goes to heavyweight, goes to light heavyweight, goes up and loses two fights, three fights, wins the next three fights, Israel has his heart set on that fight. So yeah, that fight’s gonna happen, I’m just not sure when.

“If we needed to fight that fight in the next six months, then I would be happy to do that, but again, that’s a team decision. That’s how we work.”

Jones would come across those comments and respond.

“If we needed to fight that fight in the next six months, then I would be happy to do that, but again” ? Shut the f*ck up, Y’all ain’t doing sh*t”

“Fighter and coach is mentioning my name in interviews but refused to sign the dotted line. Straight hoe sh*t. Mention a mans dead mother over the Internet but looking to fight Jared cannoneer ?”

What do you make of Bareman’s words?

Paulo Costa’s Manager: Coach Lied, Israel Adesanya Turned Down UFC 251 Fight

Costa AdesanyaIsrael Adesanya was offered a fight with Paulo Costa as early as UFC 251 this weekend — only for him to turn it down according to manager Wallid Ismail. Adesanya has been expected to defend his middleweight title against Costa for months but there is yet to be any movement on that front. There was […]

Costa Adesanya

Israel Adesanya was offered a fight with Paulo Costa as early as UFC 251 this weekend — only for him to turn it down according to manager Wallid Ismail.

Adesanya has been expected to defend his middleweight title against Costa for months but there is yet to be any movement on that front.

There was recent talk of them coaching on the return of The Ultimate Fighter leading up a title fight before it was denied by Adesanya’s coach Eugene Bareman, who claimed nothing regarding Adesanya and Costa fighting at all was presented his way.

Ismail: Costa Fight Was Offered For UFC 251

But according to Costa’s manager Ismail, that is a lie.

“His coach lied,” Ismail told MMA Fighting. “He has to understand that when he says something in Australia we can see it right away in Brazil through the internet. He can’t lie. There was an offer for July 11, and then they said August, and now they are talking September or October.”

Costa would confirm the same in a recent Instagram post.

As for The Ultimate Fighter, Costa’s team was campaigning to coach on “TUF” and according to Ismail, Dana White loved the idea as well.

While there is no update on that front, Ismail believes having Costa and Adesanya on the returning edition before facing each other for the title will only lead to ratings.

“It would be huge,” Ismail said. “Everybody loves watching two guys that hate each other. When was the last time you saw two undefeated guys fighting for the belt? It’s going to be incredible.”

When it comes down to a potential fight between Adesanya and Costa, there are also complications as the latter trains in Brazil and won’t be able to compete in the United States at least when the UFC returns there in August amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

For now, Ismail can only hope “The Last Stylebender” accepts a fight sooner rather than later.

“Don’t run away from this fight please,” Ismail added. “His coach is trying to act like a manager now and that’s how careers end. We’re hoping to have a date some time this year, and I just hope they stop crying. Adesanya is crying. He can’t say anything online until he actually signs the deal. If you’re offered a fight and don’t take it, you can’t say anything.”

Do you think we’ll see the fight this year?

Coach: Dustin Poirier, Dan Hooker ‘Deserve More Money’ Following UFC Vegas 4 War

Dan HookerThere is no question about it for City Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman — Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker deserve more money. Both fighters took part in a back-and-forth war in the UFC Vegas 4 headliner this past weekend that saw Poirier come out on top with the unanimous decision victory. For his efforts, “The […]

Dan Hooker

There is no question about it for City Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman — Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker deserve more money.

Both fighters took part in a back-and-forth war in the UFC Vegas 4 headliner this past weekend that saw Poirier come out on top with the unanimous decision victory.

For his efforts, “The Diamond” took home $300,000 while Hooker came away with $110,000. Both fighters also earned an additional $50,000 after earning Fight of the Night honors.

Poirier’s coach Mike Brown recently claimed Poirier should be earning million dollar paydays for his fights, especially given the amount damage he has been taking in them. It’s something fans agree with as well amid the recent fighter pay disputes some are currently having with the UFC.

UFC Fighters Need To Be Paid More

And for Bareman, there isn’t one person who can disagree that UFC fighters need to be paid more — even the people in charge.

“Who’s gonna look at that fight and say that those guys don’t deserve more money? Like, there’s not a person on earth, and that includes the people in charge of the UFC,” Bareman told Submission Radio. “If they look at that fight and think that those guys get paid enough to leave that much of their life in the cage, then they’re insane. Of course they deserve more money. In Vegas, the amount of money you get paid gets published after the fight. So, it’s out there, it’s on record for everybody to see. And after a fight like that, like, you’ve damaged yourself for life. That’s a fact. Like, there’s more and more studies coming out now, and there will be more conclusive studies in the future, that when you inflict that sort of damage on each other, you’re causing permanent injury. And no amount of money can pay for that.

“But, you gotta remember that this is a sport that we choose to do, and we, definitely most fighters feel, and most of the public out there feel that the fighters should be rewarded more for that level of commitment to each other and to the fans and to the company. I think everybody, I think most fighters are… just, the general consciousness is right. And that is, that the fighters need a greater revenue share of what the company makes. And you can’t, you can’t argue with that.”

Of course, when the question of fighter pay is posed to UFC president Dana White, his rebuttal is he is still paying his fighters their full purses unlike other leagues despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

What he fails to address, however, is the fact that the UFC can afford to do so because they were never paying enough to begin with.

“I’ve see in the media, well, mainly Dana actually, talk about that the NFL and the MLB and the NHL, they’re all trying to cut the fighters salaries in half and stuff, but he’s saying that he’s not doing it. Well, they’re getting 50 percent revenue share with their company,” Bareman added. “You can cut their salary in half when they’re getting 50 percent. Our guys over here are getting $10,000 and $10,000. In the NFL and stuff, the guys collecting the helmet and the towels in the changing room, they’re getting paid more than our guys (laughs).

“Think about it. They’re probably on the average salary. Are they getting 10 and 10 for picking up the helmets and towels and dirty sweatshirts? They’re probably getting paid more than what some of the fighters getting paid, given that obviously the fighters fight more than once, but you understand the ridiculousness of it. I think more the question is, what are the fighters asking for? Is it like, out of this world? Is it too farfetched to grant them that? And the consensus amongst the fighters and stuff, is that it’s not. Just share a bigger slice of the pie is all they really want.”

Do you agree with Bareman?