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Lewis Explains Why Miocic Fight Would Be A Chance At Redemption

Derrick Lewis is looking for a fight that means something both to himself and his fans.

Derrick Lewis is one of the best fighters in the heavyweight division. Although he has never won a UFC title, Lewis has been a mainstay in the top five for many…

Stipe Miocic Derrick Lewis

Derrick Lewis is looking for a fight that means something both to himself and his fans.

Derrick Lewis is one of the best fighters in the heavyweight division. Although he has never won a UFC title, Lewis has been a mainstay in the top five for many years. Now that his title aspirations might be dimming, Lewis is looking to make a different kind of impact in the division and in his career. Lewis has an idea that excited him for his next Octagon appearance, and he believed it will excite fight fans as well.

“This last fight helped me,” Lewis told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour about his loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC 265. “It was a big experience difference and I just wanted to finally go into a fight week and not put pressure on myself, and it felt great. I plan on doing that for the rest of my career—just go out there and have fun.

“I feel like I don’t have to prove anything and that’s one of the reasons why I want to fight Stipe next. I believe that would be a great matchup for the fans and for both of us. He’s more of a wrestler, and I’m more of a wrestler, too. So it would be a great, entertaining fight.”

Lewis’s last time out was against Chris Daukaus in December. That matchup got Lewis back in the win column following his interim title shot loss to Gane. The loss to Gane was the only blemish on Lewis’s resume in that past six fights. Without the belt around his waist, Lewis is ready for a fresh face next.

“I’ve fought just about everyone in the division in the top-10. It’d be a new face, new blood, and I believe I’d be a heavy underdog in this fight,” he said. “I can get my fans their money back from the Gane fight.”

Lewis’s target of Miocic has not been reciprocated at this point. Miocic’s last outing was back in March when he lost his title to Francis Ngannou. Miocic has mentioned waiting on another shot at the belt, but he may be open to a fight in the meantime, and Lewis could be a good option.

What do you think of the hypothetical matchup between Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis?

Continue Reading Lewis Explains Why Miocic Fight Would Be A Chance At Redemption at MMA News.

Report: UFC Pay-Per-View Prices To Increase To $74.99

UFC fans will have to shell out a little extra to enjoy pay-per-views (PPVs) this year.

It isn’t cheap to be a UFC fan these days. Fans of the UFC have to pay more to watch the events than almost any other sport out there. And now, early reports in…

UFC Pay-Per-Views Dana White

UFC fans will have to shell out a little extra to enjoy pay-per-views (PPVs) this year.

It isn’t cheap to be a UFC fan these days. Fans of the UFC have to pay more to watch the events than almost any other sport out there. And now, early reports indicate that the prices will be going up again. According to Mark La Monica of Newsday Sports, the ordering price of a UFC PPV will be increasing to $74.99 this year.

The rise in price is not something new to fans. It seems that each new year has been met with rising PPV prices. Last year the price was increased by $5, from $64.99 up to $69.99. Now, the jump is once again $5 heading into the first big event of 2022.

Not only did the price per PPV event rise, but the price of an ESPN+ subscription has gone up from $89.98 to $99.98 per year. The subscription will get you access to all Fight Night cards but not PPV events.

In 2021 the UFC held 13 PPV events throughout the year. This year it will cost fans $975 to view all PPV events assuming there will be an equal number in 2022. The UFC caught some criticism when they originally decide to move their PPV model over to ESPN+. Fans were not happy about the increase in charges, but the UFC continues to break records left and right.

Just recently, Conor McGregor was bragging about the number of PPV buys he has done in his career. Additionally, Dana White is notoriously boastful about the UFC’s ability to sell-out crowds and put up amazing numbers for their big events. Even with records being broken, the prices continue to rise while fighters complain about their pay.

The increase will begin later this month when the first PPV event of 2022 takes place. UFC 270 goes down on Jan. 22 and features a heavyweight championship clash between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane live from Las Vegas, Nevada.

Will you be willing to hand out $74.99 per PPV in the new year?

Continue Reading Report: UFC Pay-Per-View Prices To Increase To $74.99 at MMA News.

O’Malley Wonders If Garbrandt Has CTE, Rejects Fight Proposal

Sean O’Malley is no longer interested in a fight with Cody Garbrandt.

Sean O’Malley is one of the most talked-about fighters in the UFC bantamweight division. He has done a great job of taking charge of his career and has moved up the ranks at his …

Cody Garbrandt Sean O'Malley

Sean O’Malley is no longer interested in a fight with Cody Garbrandt.

Sean O’Malley is one of the most talked-about fighters in the UFC bantamweight division. He has done a great job of taking charge of his career and has moved up the ranks at his own pace. Sometimes criticized by fans and fighters for not facing top-ranked opponents, that does not stop O’Malley from turning down fights that don’t make sense to him. Most recently, that means backing away from a potential fight with Cody Garbrandt.

Recently, O’Malley spoke out about the call out he received from the former bantamweight champion and why now is not the right time for him to accept a bout with Garbrandt.

“Dude, Cody (Garbrandt) wants–he’s not getting that fight (with me),” O’Malley said on his podcast, The TimboSugarShow. “When he said it, you could see in his voice (sic), ‘Oh, I want, uh’ – but that fight’s not happening. It doesn’t make sense for him to say that. I wonder if that’s CTE. He’s been knocked out five (four) times in the last two years (five years). That fights not happening, at least, not next. He needs to – it just doesn’t make sense, dude. It just literally doesn’t make sense.”

Garbrandt expressed interest in O’Malley following his failed flyweight debut at UFC 269. Since bantamweight seems like the next logical option for Garbrandt, maybe O’Malley could be an interesting choice.

Despite O’Malley saying he is no longer interested, he has been looking for a ranked opponent to face. His recent win over Raulian Paiva put him in the top fifteen for the first time in his career. Garbrandt is no longer ranked at bantamweight since he dropped to 125 pounds, but he could very well find himself back there with one fight at 135 pounds.

O’Malley is very popular and has been called out by several fighters following his last win. If he is not interested in Garbrandt anymore, he should have no trouble finding a ranked fighter to face next.

Who would you like to see Sean O’Malley face next?

Continue Reading O’Malley Wonders If Garbrandt Has CTE, Rejects Fight Proposal at MMA News.

Fury: If Jake Paul Was Serious About Boxing, He’d Reschedule Our Fight

Tommy Fury still hopes to meet Jake Paul inside the ring this year, and believes “The Problem Child” has to reschedule their clash if he’s “serious” about fighting.

Having built an unblemished 4-0 record that included victories over YouTuber AnEson…

Tommy Fury, Jake Paul

Tommy Fury still hopes to meet Jake Paul inside the ring this year, and believes “The Problem Child” has to reschedule their clash if he’s “serious” about fighting.

Having built an unblemished 4-0 record that included victories over YouTuber AnEsonGib, former NBA star Nate Robinson, and former MMA champions Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley, Paul was set for his first test against a professional boxer in the form of Fury last month.

However, “TNT” pulled out just weeks before the encounter, citing a broken rib and bacterial chest infection as the reasons for his withdrawal.

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In Fury’s place stepped in Woodley, who was looking to exact revenge on Paul for the split-decision loss the YouTuber-turned-boxer handed him last August. In the end, the former UFC welterweight champion ended the fight face down on the canvas, rendered unconscious by a brutal right hand.

While the now-5-0 Paul ponders his next opponent and step in combat sports, Fury looks set to continue pushing for a rescheduled date with the Cleveland native.

Paul Is Still The Fight Fury Wants

Despite claiming he’s targeting titles and killers in the ring this year, Fury has admitted the scale of a matchup with a star like Paul, along with the handsome paycheck, has him keen on putting the fight back together. But with Paul’s focus seemingly being on UFC stars Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz, it remains to be seen if his wish will be granted.

During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Fury claimed that if Paul doesn’t look to reschedule their match, it will prove he simply isn’t serious about fighting and the sport of boxing.

“My only thing that I wanna get done now is this fight to reschedule,” said Fury. “When somebody gets an injury that is out of their hands, completely out the hands with a broken rib, the first thing that I’d look to do, if I’m serious about fighting and seriously think I could’ve beat that guy, I would have thought, ‘Okay, no problem, you’re out, when can we reschedule?’ I’d wanna reschedule, and I’d want to prove to the world that I can beat a serious boxer, not just another MMA guy.

“That’s what we’re trying to get over at the minute. I know he’s offering (fights) to all kinds of people, but the fact of the matter is, there’s unfinished business here and this fight needs to take place,” added Fury. “How can he be serious about fighting if he’s never fought a boxer before? How can he be serious about this?

“He keeps referring to the UFC, if he wants to go and fight in the UFC, don’t put a pair of boxing gloves on. Don’t call yourself a boxer if you’ve never even fought one.”

In recent days, Jake Paul has actually created an opportunity for his presence in the sport of boxing to dwindle. Taking on Dana White and the UFC’s fighter pay structure, as he often has since stepping into the combat sports limelight, “The Problem Child” laid down a challenge.

He’s offered to enter the USADA testing pool for a fight against Masvidal inside the Octagon, and with it, his retirement from boxing. For that to happen, White must fulfill a number of clauses relating to the pay of UFC athletes and healthcare coverage.

With White’s hatred of Paul meaning the offer is extremely unlikely to be met with a serious response, it stands to reason we’ll be seeing the YouTube star enter the squared circle again in 2022. Tommy Fury will be hoping he’s the one standing opposite Paul when it happens.

Do you think Jake Paul should reschedule his fight with Tommy Fury next?

Continue Reading Fury: If Jake Paul Was Serious About Boxing, He’d Reschedule Our Fight at MMA News.

Lopez Threatens To Release Sparring Footage Of Gane Dropping Ngannou

The beef between Francis Ngannou and former coach Fernand Lopez continues to grow.

The UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has a date set to defend his title against his old training partner Ciryl Gane. The matchup is arguably one of the most …

Francis Ngannou Ciryl Gane Fernando Lopez

The beef between Francis Ngannou and former coach Fernand Lopez continues to grow.

The UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has a date set to defend his title against his old training partner Ciryl Gane. The matchup is arguably one of the most anticipated heavyweight title fights in a long time. Now, the growing animosity between Ngannou and Gane’s head coach Fernand Lopez is adding even more drama to this bout.

Recently, Lopez set forth some heavy claims that accused Ngannou of trying to keep Gane out of the UFC. Ngannou was also the target of some released footage that showed Ngannou and Gane training together.

The Cameroonian was unhappy with the clip that was released and called it misleading. According to Lopez, however, Ngannou could have been made to look much worse. And now, he is willing to release the entire length of training footage.

“That footage didn’t tell the whole story of what happened in training,” Lopez told Low Kick MMA. “There were so many opportunities where they got the better of each other in sparring, so we couldn’t have manipulated the footage. He didn’t want me to release the whole footage because, in that specific training, Francis Ngannou ate a knee shot to the liver and got dropped. Stopped the whole training. These are facts. Francis was on his backside. If he’s saying this isn’t true, I’ll release the whole footage. But, my content manager didn’t want to release it because we have privacy in the gym. When guys train in your gym, they expect things to stay in the gym.”

Ngannou and Gane trained together at MMA Factory in France before Ngannou left. Lopez, now the head coach of Gane, has expressed his problems with Nagnnou in a public capacity. In return, Ngannou publically ignored them while both were backstage at UFC 268 in New York.

Everything will soon enough be settled inside the Octagon. The real fight will be taking place on Jan. 22 at UFC 270. At that time, all sparring footage will become obsolete and the truly better man and fighter will be crowned as the UFC heavyweight champion.

Do you think Francis Ngannou has what it takes to defeat Ciryl Gane at UFC 270?

Continue Reading Lopez Threatens To Release Sparring Footage Of Gane Dropping Ngannou at MMA News.

Gaethje Hopes To Prove His Theory Right And ‘Make Oliveira Quit’

While Charles Oliveira may have proven him wrong at UFC 269, Justin Gaethje is hoping to flip the script when he gets his title shot later this year.

The Oliveira vs. Gaethje matchup was almost certainly confirmed at UFC 269. “The Highlight” effect…

Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje

While Charles Oliveira may have proven him wrong at UFC 269, Justin Gaethje is hoping to flip the script when he gets his title shot later this year.

The Oliveira vs. Gaethje matchup was almost certainly confirmed at UFC 269. “The Highlight” effectively secured his place opposite the champion in 2022 by putting on a Fight of the Year candidate with Michael Chandler. After three rounds of action, the former interim titleholder was awarded a unanimous decision and overtook Islam Makhachev and Beneil Dariush in the race for the #1-contender spot.

His opponent was decided in the final pay-per-view main event of 2021, which pitted champion Oliveira against challenger Dustin Poirier. While many expected “The Diamond” to secure a third victory of the year and experience his first undisputed title crowning, the Brazilian continued to upset the odds, this time by submitting Poirier in the third frame and recording his first successful defense.

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Like many in the MMA community, Gaethje had doubted Oliveira’s championship credentials before his clash with Poirier. As well as refusing to recognize him as the lightweight king until he beat the Louisianan, Gaethje suggested “Do Bronx” still has quit in him, something he believes Chandler proved in the opening round of the UFC 262 main event.

Having recovered from an early knockdown to deliver an imposing performance against Poirier, who some branded the “uncrowned champion,” many have suggested Oliveira has firmly proved Gaethje wrong. While admitting that to be the case at the moment in an interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, “The Highlight” intends on proving himself right when his own title shot arrives next year.

“I never said Charles Oliveira would quit in the first or second round,” Gaethje said. “The times I’m talking about is deep, deep in the fight when, you know, it gets rough, it gets hard… We’ll see. He’s proven me wrong up to this point. But, you know, my job will be to prove myself right when I step in there with him and make him quit.”

Gaethje Targets May/July Title Shot

In terms of timeframe, Gaethje suggested the contest is likely to go down in the second quarter of 2022, highlighting May as the earliest possibility.

“Even by entertainment standards, which are pretty low, I’m next,” Gaethje said. “How could I not be? … I would say earliest May, latest July.”

Given his desire to dethrone Oliveira in the champ’s home country of Brazil and the recent reports suggesting a return to the South American nation in May, it seems logical we’ll be seeing Oliveira’s second title defense headline that card if it comes to fruition.

While the hometown hero would be looking for perhaps the most memorable victory of his career, Gaethje would be hoping to spoil the party on foreign soil.

How do you think the fight between Justin Gaethje and champion Charles Oliveira will play out?

Continue Reading Gaethje Hopes To Prove His Theory Right And ‘Make Oliveira Quit’ at MMA News.