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Bisping Names The UFC Veteran Nick Diaz Should Fight This Year

UFC Hall-of-Famer Michael Bisping has suggested a potential opponent for veteran fan favourite Nick Diaz if he returns to the Octagon this year.

Diaz’s highly-anticipated 2021 comeback wasn’t the return many had envisioned. After nearly seven years…

Michael Bisping, Nick Diaz

UFC Hall-of-Famer Michael Bisping has suggested a potential opponent for veteran fan favourite Nick Diaz if he returns to the Octagon this year.

Diaz’s highly-anticipated 2021 comeback wasn’t the return many had envisioned. After nearly seven years away from the sport, a hiatus that began following his 2015 clash with Anderson Silva, the older Diaz brother ran it back with former foe Robbie Lawler at UFC 266 in September.

The pair first collided way back in 2004 at the UFC 47 event. While Diaz recorded a memorable knockout win in that clash, their rematch was to end significantly different.

After showing glimpses of his form of old early on, albeit sluggish ones, Diaz simply couldn’t keep up the relentless pace. After eating a hard shot in the third round, the Stockton native was sent to the canvas and chose not to return to his feet.

Bisping Wants To See Diaz Challenge “Cowboy”

The next step is unclear for Diaz. From his pre-fight comments at UFC 266, in which he suggested he doesn’t enjoy fighting, to his late request for the fight with Lawler to be changed from welterweight to middleweight, it was obvious the 38-year-old wasn’t in the best shape or condition for a five-round clash with “Ruthless.”

In the eyes of many, including UFC President Dana White, Diaz’s 2021 defeat should mark the end of the veteran’s memorable career. But while that seems to be the general consensus, not everyone leans the same way.

One prominent member of the MMA community hoping to see Diaz fight this year is former middleweight titleholder Michael Bisping. During a recent YouTube Q&A, “The Count” expressed that feeling, and even named a fellow UFC veteran Diaz could face if he returns to the Octagon in the coming months.

“I would like to see him fight and I would like to see Cowboy [Donald Cerrone]. That’s a really good suggestion but it looks like Cowboy’s fighting Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

Like Diaz, Cerrone is another long-serving UFC star who appears well-past his prime and on his way out of the sport in the near future. Although there has been no official confirmation, recent rumors have hinted towards a March clash between “Cowboy” and rising star Pimblett.

Should that prove to be just conjecture, perhaps the UFC will pair Cerrone up with a fighter on the opposite end of their career to “The Baddy.” Not many fill that criteria better than Diaz.

Do you agree with Michael Bisping? Would you like to see Nick Diaz fight Donald Cerrone in 2022?

Continue Reading Bisping Names The UFC Veteran Nick Diaz Should Fight This Year at MMA News.

Charles Oliveira Says He Hasn’t Received $20K Donation Yet From Poirier

UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira hasn’t received Dustin Poirier’s promised donation yet, despite their post-UFC 269 conversations.

Oliveira defeated Poirier in the main event of UFC 269 via third-round submission, locking in a standing rea…

Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier

UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira hasn’t received Dustin Poirier’s promised donation yet, despite their post-UFC 269 conversations.

Oliveira defeated Poirier in the main event of UFC 269 via third-round submission, locking in a standing rear-naked choke in his first title defense. He had earned the belt after defeating Michael Chandler earlier this year.

Following their lightweight title fight, Poirier told Oliveira that he intends to donate $20,000 to a charity of Oliveira’s choice in his hometown of Sao Paulo, BR.

During a recent interview with Sherdog, Oliveira claimed that Poirier hasn’t lived up to his word.

“I just tell people that the money didn’t arrive yet, but if Dustin really wants to make a donation and needs those bureaucracy documents, I´ll pick some local social project in my area,” Oliveira said. “The most important thing is helping people who need to be helped, but to tell you the truth, after all the headaches I´ve been dealing with due to that Octagon proposal, I really don’t know if it was good or not.”

Dustin Poirier Is Working With Charles Oliveira’s Team

After getting word of Oliveira’s comments, Poirier assured that he intends to live up to his promise and help the champ’s community.

“For anyone asking about the $20k donation I promised, of course, I’m going to honor it!” Poirier said. “We have been in contact with Charles and his team. We are waiting for them to figure out what project they want it donated to.”

This isn’t the first time that Poirier has been involved in a donation-related controversy. Ahead of his trilogy with Conor McGregor, Poirier had accused the Irishman of failing to follow up on his promised donation to his charity, sparking a feud between the two lightweights.

It appears that Poirier intends to live up to his end of the deal, but it’s a bit surprising that it hasn’t come to fruition just yet after earlier tensions with McGregor regarding a similar issue.

What are your thoughts on this latest donation debacle?

Continue Reading Charles Oliveira Says He Hasn’t Received $20K Donation Yet From Poirier at MMA News.

Cachoeira’s Manager Blames Media For Eye-Gouge Controversy

Priscila Cachoeira’s manager, Wallid Ismail, says she wasn’t intentionally eye-gouging during her December fight against Gillian Robertson.

The controversy around Cachoeira’s fight comes from the ending sequence while she was in a rear-naked choke….

Priscila Cachoeira

Priscila Cachoeira’s manager, Wallid Ismail, says she wasn’t intentionally eye-gouging during her December fight against Gillian Robertson.

The controversy around Cachoeira’s fight comes from the ending sequence while she was in a rear-naked choke. She reached up to Robertson’s head while in the choke, with her fingers making contact with Roberton’s eyes at times. Cachoeira was submitted by Robertson in the closing seconds of the first round.

Gillian Robertson Poked

Ismail, a former UFC fighter in his own right, echoes Cachoeira’s claim that her movement towards the eyes of Robertson only happened accidentally during the sequence. He criticized those who thought otherwise in a recent interview:

“It was cowardice from the press and everyone who attacked her. She didn’t put her finger in the opponent’s eye on purpose. She just tried to push her away in the heat of the fight,” said Ismail, in an interview with Sherdog.com. “People who work in the UFC come from the fighting business, they know what I mean. We are already talking about her next fight and Priscila will return to [the] win column.”

Recent Loss Put Cachoeira Back Into Losing Ways

Image Credit: Via WMMA Rankings

Cachoeira’s loss at UFC 269 broke a two-fight winning streak she had attained. This included two finish wins, defeating Gina Mazany in May 2021, and stopping Shana Dobson a year before then.

The result kept her promotional record negative, now sitting at two wins and four losses in total. Cachoeira’s start in the UFC was rough, losing three times between 2018 and 2019. This included a fight against now UFC Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko, which concluded via second-round submission.

As stated above, Ismail says they are currently working on a new fight for Cachoeira. In the new year, she will have a chance to turn around her UFC run.

What’s your take on the controversy? Do you think Cachoeira was intentionally trying to gouge the eyes of Robertson?

Continue Reading Cachoeira’s Manager Blames Media For Eye-Gouge Controversy at MMA News.

Robert Whittaker Supports Jake Paul’s Proposal For Increased UFC Perks

Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker supports Jake Paul’s idea of the UFC brass providing healthcare to its fighters as well as other changes.

Whittaker is set to face middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in a title rematch next month…

Robert Whittaker, Jake Paul

Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker supports Jake Paul’s idea of the UFC brass providing healthcare to its fighters as well as other changes.

Whittaker is set to face middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in a title rematch next month at UFC 271. He has managed to get back to the title shot after winning three straight bouts, including most recently against Kelvin Gastelum and Jared Cannonier.

Paul recently offered to retire from boxing and sign a one-fight deal with the UFC if company president Dana White meets certain demands. This includes long-term healthcare for fighters, along with increasing fighter pay.

During a recent interview with Mirror, Whittaker praised the idea of giving UFC fighters additional benefits that extend long after their careers are over.

“It’s hard to say, all the chips are in the company’s playing field,” Whittaker said. “I would certainly love some healthcare, I would love that long-term post-fighting career security and I’m sure every fighter would. I would like different things to change.

Robert Whittaker
Robert Whittaker (Photo: Fernando Quiles Jr./MMA News)

“But I’m not crying over spilt milk, it is what it is. I’m very blessed to be able to do what I do for a living anyway. Instead of asking for what I don’t have, I’m grateful for what I do have.”

In a preliminary response to Paul’s challenge, White hit back at Paul and accused him of steroid use. Paul had previously accused White of using cocaine without sufficient evidence.

Many fighters, including Whittaker and UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal, have called for changes to be made to how fighters are treated by the promotion. The ongoing debate over UFC fighter pay has ramped up over the past year.

It’s unclear if the UFC has any upcoming plans to add benefits for its fighters, but Whittaker is certainly on board with Paul regarding long-term health care.

Do you think UFC fighters should receive long-term healthcare?

Continue Reading Robert Whittaker Supports Jake Paul’s Proposal For Increased UFC Perks at MMA News.

Pimblett Confirms Likely UFC London Fight, Hasn’t Been Offered Cerrone

Paddy Pimblett has hinted that he’ll return to action on the card expected to take place in London in March, but it seemingly won’t be against Donald Cerrone.

In mid-2021, Pimblett had signed for MMA’s premier organization and the hype surrounding …

Donald Cerrone, Paddy Pimblett

Paddy Pimblett has hinted that he’ll return to action on the card expected to take place in London in March, but it seemingly won’t be against Donald Cerrone.

In mid-2021, Pimblett had signed for MMA’s premier organization and the hype surrounding his UFC debut was rising. That first appearance finally happened at UFC Vegas 36 in September. At a European-heavy event, he joined UK stars Darren Till and Tom Aspinall on the main card.

Ahead of his first Octagon outing, Pimblett repeatedly promised to knock Luigi Vendramini out inside the first round. In the early exchanges, in which “The Baddy” appeared to be rocked and was taken down, that prediction looked unlikely.

But with less than a minute until the horn sounded, Pimblett found his rhythm and finished his Brazilian opponent on the feet. The following post-fight interview saw Pimblett well and truly announce his arrival in the UFC’s 155-pound division.

Pimblett Says “He’ll Take Someone’s head off” In The O2

Since Pimblett’s debut victory, there’s been plenty of speculation about his second fight and next opponent. The most prominent rumor surrounded a potential clash with UFC veteran Donald Cerrone. Talk of that clash first appeared after Chael Sonnen suggested “Cowboy” had told him of his interest in facing the young Liverpudlian.

But during a recent appearance on Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast, Pimblett said there’s no truth to the idea he’ll be facing Cerrone in early March, suggesting it would make no sense for the promotion to book him on a US card just weeks before they reportedly head to his home country of England.

“It’s going round everywhere, but there’s no truth to it. Nothing on my end. Do you really think that the UFC are gonna put me on a card on the 5th of March in Vegas when they’re doing London on the 19th? It doesn’t make sense… I think that was just Chael having a little go for some clickbait or something. It started with Chael.”

While it appears Cerrone won’t be the opponent, Pimblett is certainly eager to make the London walk on March 19. He further told Bisping that an appearance on the card, which is already set to feature his teammate Molly McCann and fellow UK prospect Jack Shore, is “happening.”

“I would like to fight in London, in front of my home crowd. It would be sick… That’s what I’m guessing (will happen) and that’s what I’ve been told, that me and Molly will be fighting on the same card… That’s happening. I’m gonna take someone’s head off again in the O2. I’ll announce myself once again.”

Despite the UFC’s expected return to London being just over two months away, Pimblett says he’s yet to hear anything from the promotion regarding a potential opponent. But whoever he’s matched up with, the fight is certain to have an electric crowd watching on inside the O2 arena if the London card comes to fruition.

Who would you like to see Paddy Pimblett face if the UFC returns to London for the March 19 card?

Continue Reading Pimblett Confirms Likely UFC London Fight, Hasn’t Been Offered Cerrone at MMA News.

Dustin Poirier Has Accepted Short-Notice Bout With Nate Diaz

Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has accepted a fight with Nate Diaz on just weeks’ notice if Diaz wants it.

Poirier is coming off of his lightweight title loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 269. It was the second time in his car…

Dustin Poirier, Nate Diaz

Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has accepted a fight with Nate Diaz on just weeks’ notice if Diaz wants it.

Poirier is coming off of his lightweight title loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 269. It was the second time in his career that he fell short of the lightweight title after losing previously to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019.

But Poirier appears to already be thinking about what’s next in his UFC career and has recently alluded to a move to welterweight. Just days after the loss to Oliveira, Poirier named Diaz as the one opponent who would excite him for his next trip to the Octagon.

The two have gone back-and-forth on social media for years, stemming from their scheduled fight that fell apart in 2018. Poirier and Diaz have teased a potential fight for the start of 2022, and according to Poirier, he’s been issued an official bout agreement to make it happen.

Dustin Poirier Is Waiting For Nate Diaz To Sign The Contract

Nate Diaz, Dustin Poirier
Nate Diaz, Dustin Poirier (Image Credits: Steven Ryan/Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

During a recent interview with Teddy Atlas, Poirier revealed that he’s received an offer to fight Diaz with a notice of just six weeks.

“Honestly – another thing that kinda got that flame going is a couple of days ago, I got a phone call – but I can’t talk about it,” Poirier said. “It’s a very short notice thing. Something I would hate to do is stack things against myself and take a fight on short notice, but, we’ll see what happens, man. I don’t want to give too much ‘cause I don’t know what I can say. No contract has been signed yet, but if this goes go through, I’m gonna take it. I said yes, now we’re waiting on him.” (h/t LowKickMMA)

It’s unclear if Diaz will ultimately agree to fight Poirier after saying that Poirier wasn’t worthy of fighting him. Diaz most recently fought Leon Edwards at UFC 263 and has been waiting for an opponent ever since for his return.

Assuming that Poirier is correct, it sounds like the Diaz fight has a 50-50 chance of actually coming to fruition. Now, we await Diaz’s response and whether or not he’ll sign off on the short-notice bout.

Do you think Dustin Poirier vs. Nate Diaz will happen in 2022?

Continue Reading Dustin Poirier Has Accepted Short-Notice Bout With Nate Diaz at MMA News.